MANASOTA & PEACE RIVER BBDs Meeting Notebook 10-21-09.docx

L649
(Completed) Hydrologic Rest-Highlands Hammock St Pk
Project Type Cooperative Funding
AOR(s)
Water Quality, Natural Systems
Basin(s) Peace River
Cooperator(s)
Project Manager ZAJAC, CHRIS
Task Manager(s)
Status Completed
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Description
This project involved the design, permitting and construction associated with the restoration of natural systems,
including a cutthroat grass-dominated seepage slope within Highlands Hammock State Park in Highlands County. In
FY2004 the Peace River Basin Board funded the Lake Wales Ridge Public Lands Hydrologic and Water Quality
Restoration Project (B171), which identified Highlands Hammock State Park as a high-priority restoration site. The
Lake Wales Ridge Public Lands Hydrologic and Water Restoration Project resulted in a final report identifying four
recommendations for the restoration of natural systems and water quality within the state park. This
project implemented one of those recommendations, the restoration of eroded jeep trails. These eroded jeep
trails resulted in deep gullies acting as ditches to drain water from adjacent seepage slope wetlands. The subsequent
draining of these seepage slope wetlands affected wetland hydroperiods, water storage, and water flow
characteristics. The FY2008 funds have been used to complete the restoration effort that began with FY2007 funds.
Benefits
The project resulted in design plans, the necessary permits, and the restoration of eroded jeep trails to restore the
hydroperiod and sheet-flow characteristics of approximately 381 acres of seepage slope wetlands and flatwoods
communities.
Costs
The total project cost is $100,000. In FY2007, the Peace River Basin Board funded $25,000 with an equal match from
FDEP. The FY2008 budget is $50,000, with the cooperator and the District each contributing half ($25,000). The
FY2008 District share is split between the Peace River Basin Board ($12,500) and the Water Protection and
Sustainability Trust Fund ($12,500). The District funding amounts shown in the table include staff salaries, travel and
central garage charges.
Additional Information
The Lake Wales Ridge watershed has undergone substantial hydrologic alterations since the early 1900's, which has
resulted in lowered lake levels, deterioration of lake water quality, reduced recharge, and local dewatering of the
surficial ground water system. Restoration and retrofit projects to solve these problems may be undertaken on existing
publicly-owned lands to benefit the region. In FY2004 the Lake Wales Ridge Public Lands Hydrologic and Water
Quality Restoration Project (B171) identified four such tracts of land as high priority restoration sites. As a result of this
project, a final report identifying several restoration projects within Highlands Hammock State Park was completed in
December 2006. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection plans to apply for cooperative funding in the
future to complete other restoration projects that were identified as part of the Lake Wales Ridge Public Lands
Hydrologic and Water Quality Restoration Project.
020 - Peace River Basin 278