Native Habitat Inventory Final Report 2004 - St. Lucie County

Site Number: 15
Site Rank: B Total Acreage: 169
Edge Acreage: 106 Percent Core to Edge: 63
Table 1. Ecological Criteria Scores by Natural Community Type. This is an areaweighted
average value score for each natural community present on site. Numbers in
bold have significant above average resource value (>3.0). Natural Communities in bold
have at least two of the content resource values (rarity, connectivity, and completeness)
above average (>3.0). Overall Ecological Value = 0.44
FNAI Natural
Community Rarity Connectivity Completeness Vulnerability Manageability
BW /
Depression
Marsh 2.6 1 3.5 3.3 3.6
MF / Mesic
Flatwoods 3 1 2 5 4
NA –
agriculture 0 0 0 0 0
Key Features – This site is a complex of pine flatwoods and isolated depressional
wetlands. There is a large population of the state listed plant species Florida Joint-tail Grass
(Coelorachis tuberculosa) that occurs in some of the wetlands.
Importance – Although a small site, the integrity of the vegetation on most of this
property is intact. The state listed Florida Joint-tail Grass, a threatened species, occurs in
quantity.
Connectivity – Greater than a half mile from existing conservation lands.
Proximity to Urban Areas – Site is within the city of Port St. Lucie.
Proximity to primary and secondary roads – Within 500 feet of a major roadway.
Hydrology – The overall hydrological conditions are fair. Most of the isolated
wetlands have been heavily disturbed by roads, ditching, and a major canal, but are still
functioning. These wetlands can be managed to restore most or all of the natural boundaries
and vegetation. Major alteration of a few wetlands occurs in the northwest portion due to
land alterations for row crops, ditching and construction of raised blocks of land.
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