Native Habitat Inventory Final Report 2004 - St. Lucie County

Table 2. Community Types present on site and their rankings.
FNAI Natural Community Acreage FNAI Rank Global FNAI Rank State
BW / Depression Marsh 25.2 G4? S3
MF / Mesic Flatwoods 63.1 G? S4
NA – agriculture 6.0
Site History/Habitat Disturbance – The northwest portion of the site underwent
major alterations for construction of raised blocks of land for row crops. The entire site has
been used for cattle. Native wetlands are being invaded by exotic and/or nuisance species.
The entire site is surrounded by: a major canal along the west side, an interstate highway
along the south end, a large citrus operation on the north end, and a large golf course
community along the northeast and east sides. The site also contains a large farm home and
compound on the northwest corner. Dense concentrations of Brazilian pepper trees occur in
portions of the pine flatwoods.
Table 3. Listed Species observed.
Common Name Scientific Name Federal
Status
Florida Joint-tail
Grass
State
Status
FNAI Rank
Global/State
Coelorachis
tuberculosa none T none none
Endemic to
Florida
Table 4. Invasive Exotic Species observed.
Common Name Scientific Name FLEPPC
Status
State
Status
Federal
Status
Brazilian Pepper Schinus terebinthifolius Cat I prohibited none
Cogongrass Imperata cylindrica Cat I noxious noxious
Ownership/Notes – Perhaps the rare grass on this site could be introduced into other
suitable areas that are being preserved. There are 6 landowners. The largest landowners are
Reserve Homes Inc. (104 acres) and PGA Reserve (46 acres).
Recommendation/Management Requirements – In spite of the rare plant, this site
should be a very low priority for preservation/restoration. It is probably too impacted by
encroaching development to be able to manage properly. Burning would be the most useful
management tool for restoration of the habitats. The interstate highway and large golf
course community will make burning difficult. Fire could certainly be managed as long as
the area across the canal west of the site remains undeveloped, but this will change. The
margins of the wetlands as well as the wetlands proper need to be burned even though
removing some of the roads and blocking ditching would help. The very large and tall
berms along the canal will be a constant source of reinvasion of exotic plants as will the
edge of the interstate highway.
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