REGIONAL MITIGATION PLAN

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Mitigation Project: Myakka Mitigation Bank Project Number: SW 89 Project Manager: Wade Waltimyer, Senior Biologist, EarthBalance, Corp. Phone No: 941 – 426 - 7878 County: Sarasota Location: Sec. 33, T38S, R22E

IMPACT INFORMATION

Myakka Mitigation Bank was selected to provide mitigation for anticipated minor wetland impacts (0.3 acre) associated with expansion of an Interstate – 75 segment that crossed into the Myakka River watershed. During final roadway design, it was determined there would not be any associated wetland impacts within the basin. The bank will be evaluated to provide mitigation for wetland impacts associated with future FDOT submittals.

MITIGATION ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

Mitigation Type: Restoration, enhancement and preservation Mitigation: To be determined SWIM project? N Aquatic Plant Control project? N Exotic Plant Control Project? Y Mitigation Bank? Y Mitigation Bank Permits? Y WMD ERP# 43003997.005 ACOE # SAJ-2003-75594-IP-MGH Drainage Basin(s): Myaka River basin Water Body(s): None SWIM water body? N Project Description A. Overall project goal: The location of the Myakka Mitigation Bank (MMB) is regionally significant

because it provides tributary flow to the Myakka River, adds to an extensive habitat corridor effort to connect

Myakka River State Park to the Peace River, and the various habitats proposed for enhancement and restoration

provide rare ecosystem diversity in the basin. The primary goal of the MMB includes the restoration,

enhancement and preservation of historic herbaceous and forested wetland habitat, as well as the associated

uplands, throughout the site's 380 acres. B. Brief description of pre-construction conditions: The MMB is situated within the core of a

3,800-acre conservation area on the Longino Ranch, a +/- 8,000-acre mixed-use ranch (Figure B). The tract has

high diversity of both wetland and upland habitats. Prior to restoration construction in 2006, the upland vegetative

communities (total 224-acres) consisted of improved pasture, pine flatwoods, pine-mesic oak, laurel oak-palm

mesic hammock, live oak hammock, and live oak forest/improved pasture. Wetland communities (156 acres)

included ditches, willow heads, hydric pasture, and herbaceous marsh. A high percentage of the marsh habitat

was historically drained by agricultural ditching, resulting in improved pasture for cattle operations. Subsequently,

some exotic and nuisance species coverage established over the years. In particular, along with bahia grass,

limpograss (Hemarthria altissima) was introduced and generated primarily within the historic outer zones of

drained marshes to convert into wet pastures. C. Brief description of activities and current habitat conditions: The general strategy of the

MMB includes a three stage approach to (1) preserve and protect the property through placing the property into a

conservation easement, (2) restore the natural habitat conditions and process, and (3) manage the habitat

recovery until desired changes have occurred and are stabilized. Stage 1 is complete, and Stage 2 earthwork

activities were conducted in 2006 to reverse the hydrological degradation of past management practices, and the

restored wetland hydroperiod has lead to the eradication of exotic and nuisance plant species that were enabled

by the altered drainage patterns. The earthwork included four main components: (1) the elimination of the adverse

effects of the agricultural ditch system by the strategic placement of fill to bring the ditches up to the historic

wetland elevation, (2) the restoration of a raised trail and adjacent borrow area to 2 wetland grade; (3) the

construction of a berm/weir system along the southern boundary of the project area to restore historic wetland

hydroperiods (refer to photos); and (4) the construction of a narrow ditch to maintain current hydrologic conditions

in an adjacent off-site wetland that has been ditched through the site. Just prior to the hydrological restoration,

exotic and nuisance species eradication were conducted by sod stripping the pasture grasses and selective

herbicide application. With the completion of the initial eradication efforts and hydrologic restoration, follow-up

herbicide treatments is being intensively conducted to provide the maximum stress possible to inappropriate

plants. This is particularly critical to minimize the opportunity for limpograss regeneration since this species has

demonstrated the ability to survive if the plant material can achieve and maintain heights above surface water

elevations. Stage 3 includes a monitoring and maintenance program to correct any problems, and follow-up

eradication of exotic and nuisance species. These on-going activities are expected to be frequent after the initial

infrastructure improvements, and adjusted to an as-needed basis as the natural recruitment of desirable species

progresses. Specific provisions in the perpetual maintenance and management plan include regularly scheduled

maintenance to include remove of exotic and nuisance species, assessment of vegetative health, diversity and

zonation in each habitat, and prescribed fire management. D. Brief explanation of how this work serves to offset the impacts of the specified DOT project(s): The

MMB provides appropriate and adequate habitat conditions to compensate for wetland impacts in the Myakka

basin, and will be evaluated for potential selection to provide mitigation for wetland impacts associated with future

roadway projects. E. Brief explanation of why a mitigation bank was/was not chosen, in whole or in part, including a discussion of cost: The MMB is a mitigation bank in the Myakka River watershed basin.

F. Brief explanation of why a SWIM project was/was not chosen as mitigation, in whole or in part, including a discussion of cost, if the anticipated impacts are located within a SWIM water body: There are

currently no SWIM projects planned in the Myakka River basin that can appropriately compensate for the

proposed wetland impacts.

MITIGATION PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Entity responsible for construction: Myakka River Mitigation Bank

Contact Name: Wade Waltimyer, EarthBalance, Corporation Phone Number: 941 – 426 - 7878

Entity responsible for monitoring and maintenance: EarthBalance, Corporation

Proposed timeframe for implementation: Commence: Stage 1 – 2005, Stage 2 – 2005 –2006, Stage 3 – 2005 –

2008. Complete: Perpetual maintenance & land management plan.

Project cost: None proposed through 2010. Credit estimate will be based on the UMAM assessment of the

wetland impact areas proposed for future roadway projects submitted to the FDOT program. ATTACHMENTS

1. Description of existing site and proposed work. Refer previous discussion, SWFWMD ERP #43003997.005,

ACOE #SAJ-2003-7594-IP-MGH, attached site photos.

2. Recent aerial photograph. Refer to Figures B & C.

3. Location map and design drawings. Refer to Figure A (location map), Figure B (existing conditions), and

Figure C (proposed habitat).

4. Schedule for work implementation. Refer to previous implementation discussion.

5. Success criteria and associated monitoring plan. Monitoring and success criteria for habitat enhancement are

specified in the issued permits for the mitigation bank.

6. Long term maintenance plan. A perpetual maintenance and land management plan has been prepared

(reference Figure D) that addresses vegetative maintenance and fire management.