DOCSLIB.ORG

Draft Environmental Assessment VA Mental Health Clinic

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Draft Environmental Assessment VA Mental Health Clinic Draft Environmental Assessment for Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Health Facility Tampa, Florida January 2021 Prepared for: GSA Region 4 Prepared by: Potomac-Hudson Engineering, Inc. Tampa VA Mental Health Clinic EA Draft Finding of No Significant Impact January 2021 Draft Finding of No Significant Impact for VA Mental Health Clinic Tampa, Florida LEAD AGENCY: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), Region 4 ACTION: Finding of No Significant Impact SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Parts 1500-1508) for implementing the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 United States Code [USC] 4321 et seq.), the United States (U.S.) General Services Administration (GSA) prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to analyze and document the potential environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic impacts associated with the Proposed Action, which is to provide the Veterans Affairs (VA) with a long-term lease and operation of a build-to-suit Mental Health Clinic in the Tampa, Florida area. All discussions and findings related to the Proposed Action, the No Action Alternative, and those Alternative(s) that GSA considered, but eliminated are presented in the attached Final EA and Appendices. The Final EA is hereby incorporated by reference. The VA, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is searching for a new facility to operate a Mental Health Clinic in the area of Tampa, Florida. VHA’s mission is to honor America’s Veterans by providing exceptional healthcare that improves Veteran health and well-being. Mental Health Clinics across the country provide Veterans who suffer from a wide range of medical, psychiatric, vocational, education or social problems and illness with a safe, secure, homelike environment. GSA has actively engaged interested developers through a site proposal and bid selection process resulting in three sites within the Tampa area as potential candidates for a new build-to-suit clinic. A. PROPOSED ACTION GSA’s Proposed Action is to provide the VA with a long-term lease and operation of a consolidated and expanded build-to-suit Mental Health Clinic in the Tampa, Florida area. The proposed project would replace the existing combined 49,766 square-feet of mental health facilities located at 10770 North 46th Street, 14517 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, and 4700 North Habana Street with a new 158,000 net usable square feet state-of-the-art, energy-efficient Mental Health Clinic, 800 parking spaces, and appropriate stormwater management features. The Proposed Action includes consideration of a build-to-suit Mental Health Clinic on 3 different site alternatives identified during GSA’s developer proposal process. B. PURPOSE AND NEED: The purpose of the Proposed Action is to provide the VHA and Veterans within the Tampa Florida area with a new build-to-suit Mental Health Clinic that is appropriately sized, state-of-the-art, and energy-efficient with enlarged and consolidated Mental Health Clinic including a domiciliary. This would be accomplished in the Tampa area through GSA’s assistance in the identification of a suitable developer and site to construct the new Mental Health Clinic and enter into a long-term lease agreement. The proposed new build-to-suit Mental Health Clinic is needed to expand and consolidate care and to improve overall Veteran satisfaction in the Tampa area by providing a new and larger facility with expanded mental health services. The existing leased Mental Health Clinic facilities totaling approximately 49,766 square feet are spread across three facilities throughout the Tampa area and are inadequate to accommodate existing and anticipated future Veteran needs. C. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT GSA invited public participation in decision-making on new proposals through the NEPA process. On November 12, 2021, GSA sent letters to solicit scoping comments to approximately 17 public agencies, public officials, and federally-recognized Native American tribes. GSA did not receive any scoping comments. i Tampa VA Mental Health Clinic EA Draft Finding of No Significant Impact January 2021 The Draft EA was available for public review and comment after publication of the Notice of Availability in the Tampa Bay Times. The public was invited to provide comments to GSA on the Draft EA during a 15-day comment period extending from January 17, 2021 to February 1, 2021. The Draft EA was available electronically on GSA’s website. The Draft EA was distributed to cognizant agencies and interested parties. D. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED: Alternative 1 – Temple Terrace Highway: Alternative 1 consists of a 20-acre wooded site near the intersection of Temple Terrace Highway and David Road. The main entrance to the facility would be off Temple Terrace Highway. Alternative 2 – Bearss Road: Alternative 2 consists of a 28.1-acre site near the intersection of Bearss Avenue and N 12th Street. The site is currently utilized for recreational purposes and includes a paintball facility, golf driving range, and a boat repair facility. The main entrance to the facility would be off Bearss Road. Alternative 3 – U.S. Highway 301: Alternative 3 consists of a 51.6-acre wooded site near the intersection of US Highway 301 and East Sligh Avenue. Construction activities and the footprint of the proposed facility would be located within up to 30 acres of the northern and central portion of the 51.6-acre site. The main entrance to the facility would be off East Sligh Avenue. NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE Under the No Action Alternative, GSA would not pursue a long-term lease and operation of a new build-to-suit and consolidated Mental Health Clinic for the VA. The VHA would continue to serve the Tampa area Veterans through their existing under-sized facilities scattered throughout the Tampa area. E. MITIGATION MEASURES: The Final EA examined the potential effects of the Proposed Action and No Action Alternative and determined the following would either not be affected or would sustain negligible impacts from the Proposed Action and not require further evaluation: infrastructure and utilities, health and safety, socioeconomics, and materials and waste. The following ten resource areas were analyzed in more detail: land use, cultural resources, geology and soils, water resources, biological resources, air quality, transportation and parking, noise, environmental justice, and site contamination. The EA also considered cumulative impacts that might reasonably occur as a result of the Proposed Action. Based on the analysis contained in the Final EA, GSA determined that the lease, construction and operation of the proposed VA Mental Health Clinic in the Tampa, Florida, area under the Proposed Action at any of the three site alternatives, would not have significant adverse impacts, either individually or cumulatively, on the human, natural or cultural environments. Under the No Action Alternative, the VA Mental Health Clinic in Tampa, Florida would not be constructed, and existing conditions would remain unchanged. As such, implementation of the No Action Alternative would not result in any impacts to considered resource areas; the current facilities would continue to be inadequately sized for the existing patients local to the Mental Health Clinic in Tampa and would not be capable of accommodating the anticipated growth of the Veteran population and service need. The following table summarizes specific permits, approvals and requested agency measures identified within the EA to avoid, minimize and mitigate impacts. ii Tampa VA Mental Health Clinic EA Draft Finding of No Significant Impact January 2021 Land Use • (Temple Terrace and Bearss Avenue Site Alternatives 1 & 2): Any potential change in site zoning would be conducted in accordance with the Unincorporated Hillsborough County Comprehensive Plan and the Hillsborough County Land Development Code. Cultural Resources • (All Site Alternatives): If prehistoric or historic artifacts, such as pottery or ceramics, projectile points, dugout canoes, metal implements, historic building materials, or any other physical remains that could be associated with Native American, early European, or American settlement are encountered at any time within the project site area, the permitted project shall cease all activities involving subsurface disturbance in the vicinity of the discovery. The applicant shall contact the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, Compliance Review Section at (850)-245-6333. Project activities shall not resume without verbal and/or written authorization. In the event that unmarked human remains are encountered during permitted activities, all work shall stop immediately and the proper authorities notified in accordance with Section 872.05, Florida Statutes. Geology & Soils • (All Site Alternatives): The potential for erosion would be minimized and/or avoided through compliance with an approved National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) which requires the development of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). See Section 3.4.3 of the EA for a list of example sediment and erosion control best management practices (BMPs). • (All Site Alternatives): Before construction begins an Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) would be required to be obtained from the Southwest Florida Water Management District which will review stormwater management practices to avoid adverse impacts related
Load more

Recommended publications
  • "National List of Vascular Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands: 1996 National Summary."
    Intro 1996 National List of Vascular Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands The Fish and Wildlife Service has prepared a National List of Vascular Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands: 1996 National Summary (1996 National List). The 1996 National List is a draft revision of the National List of Plant Species That Occur in Wetlands: 1988 National Summary (Reed 1988) (1988 National List). The 1996 National List is provided to encourage additional public review and comments on the draft regional wetland indicator assignments. The 1996 National List reflects a significant amount of new information that has become available since 1988 on the wetland affinity of vascular plants. This new information has resulted from the extensive use of the 1988 National List in the field by individuals involved in wetland and other resource inventories, wetland identification and delineation, and wetland research. Interim Regional Interagency Review Panel (Regional Panel) changes in indicator status as well as additions and deletions to the 1988 National List were documented in Regional supplements. The National List was originally developed as an appendix to the Classification of Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats of the United States (Cowardin et al.1979) to aid in the consistent application of this classification system for wetlands in the field.. The 1996 National List also was developed to aid in determining the presence of hydrophytic vegetation in the Clean Water Act Section 404 wetland regulatory program and in the implementation of the swampbuster provisions of the Food Security Act. While not required by law or regulation, the Fish and Wildlife Service is making the 1996 National List available for review and comment.
    [Show full text]
  • Cocoa Beach Maritime Hammock Preserve Management Plan
    MANAGEMENT PLAN Cocoa Beach’s Maritime Hammock Preserve City of Cocoa Beach, Florida Florida Communities Trust Project No. 03 – 035 –FF3 Adopted March 18, 2004 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE I. Introduction ……………………………………………………………. 1 II. Purpose …………………………………………………………….……. 2 a. Future Uses ………….………………………………….…….…… 2 b. Management Objectives ………………………………………….... 2 c. Major Comprehensive Plan Directives ………………………..….... 2 III. Site Development and Improvement ………………………………… 3 a. Existing Physical Improvements ……….…………………………. 3 b. Proposed Physical Improvements…………………………………… 3 c. Wetland Buffer ………...………….………………………………… 4 d. Acknowledgment Sign …………………………………..………… 4 e. Parking ………………………….………………………………… 5 f. Stormwater Facilities …………….………………………………… 5 g. Hazard Mitigation ………………………………………………… 5 h. Permits ………………………….………………………………… 5 i. Easements, Concessions, and Leases …………………………..… 5 IV. Natural Resources ……………………………………………..……… 6 a. Natural Communities ………………………..……………………. 6 b. Listed Animal Species ………………………….…………….……. 7 c. Listed Plant Species …………………………..…………………... 8 d. Inventory of the Natural Communities ………………..………….... 10 e. Water Quality …………..………………………….…..…………... 10 f. Unique Geological Features ………………………………………. 10 g. Trail Network ………………………………….…..………..……... 10 h. Greenways ………………………………….…..……………..……. 11 i Adopted March 18, 2004 V. Resources Enhancement …………………………..…………………… 11 a. Upland Restoration ………………………..………………………. 11 b. Wetland Restoration ………………………….…………….………. 13 c. Invasive Exotic Plants …………………………..…………………... 13 d. Feral
    [Show full text]
  • Cultural Resources Work Plan for the Proposed Levy Nuclear Plant Project, Levy, Citrus, Marion, Hernando, Sumter, Polk, Hillsborough, and Pinellas Counties, Florida
    CULTURAL RESOURCES WORK PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED LEVY NUCLEAR PLANT PROJECT, LEVY, CITRUS, MARION, HERNANDO, SUMTER, POLK, HILLSBOROUGH, AND PINELLAS COUNTIES, FLORIDA MASTER CONTRACT # 442498-003 PREPARED FOR PROGRESS ENERGY FLORIDA, INC. BY MICHAEL A. ARBUTHNOT, M.S., ROBERT AUSTIN, PH.D., JOSH TORRES, M.A., AND NICHOLAS J. LINVILLE, M.A. CONTRIBUTIONS BY EMILY M. POWLEN, M.S., MEG GAILLARD, M.A., TRAVIS FULK, M.A., AND CHRIS ALTES, B.A. MICHAEL ARBUTHNOT, M.S., RPA PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR ROBERT AUSTIN, PH.D., RPA PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR SOUTHEASTERN ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH, INC. WWW.SEARCHINC.COM APRIL 2011 This page intentionally left blank. Southeastern Archaeological Research, Inc. April 2011 Work Plan for the Proposed LNP Project EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Southeastern Archaeological Research, Inc. (SEARCH) prepared this work plan at the request of Progress Energy Florida (PEF) pursuant to the requirements outlined in two Conditions of Certification (COCs) from the Department of State, Florida Division of Historical Resources (FDHR). PEF will add 180 circuit miles of transmission lines across multiple counties in Florida in order to maintain reliability and move energy efficiently to customers throughout the region and state, where service demands are anticipated to grow by 25% over the next decade. This technical document provides a cultural resources desktop evaluation and work plan for the Levy Nuclear Plant (LNP) Project, which includes seven preferred rights-of-way (ROW) and three accessory parcels totaling 149 miles of preferred ROW and 246 acres, respectively. The project area extends through portions of eight counties: Levy, Citrus, Marion, Hernando, Sumter, Polk, Hillsborough, and Pinellas. This document includes an overview of the natural environment to identify areas best suited to prehistoric land use, and archival and cartographic research to identify areas of historic settlement.
    [Show full text]
  • GERMANY ACCEPTS ARMISTICE TERMS and ALL HOSTILITIES ARE CONCLUDED; CONDITIONS ANNOUNCED by PRESIDENT President Announces Signing of Armistice
    THE WAR THUS CQMES TO AN END-Woodrow Wilson PUBLLFHED DAZLY under order of THE PREXIDENT of THE UNZTED STATES by COMMITTEE on PUBLIC ZNFORMATZON GEORGE CREEL, Chairman * * COMPLETE Record of U. .. GOVERNMENT .Activities VOL. 2 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1918. No. 460 GERMANY ACCEPTS ARMISTICE TERMS AND ALL HOSTILITIES ARE CONCLUDED; CONDITIONS ANNOUNCED BY PRESIDENT President Announces Signing of Armistice. My fellow countrymen: The armistice was signed this morning. Everything for which America fought has been accomplished. It will- now be our fortunate duty to assist by example, by sober, friendly counsel, and by mnaterial aid in the establishment of just democracy throughout the world. WOODROW WILSON. The Secretary of State an- armistic, between the Allies November 11, 1918, and that nounces the receipt of advices and the United States and Ger- hostilities would cease at 11 from.Paris which state Jha the many was signed at 5 a. In., a. m. to-day. DRAFT CALLS SUSPENDED, GERMANY TO GIVE UP ALSACE-LORRAINE, SECRETARY OF WAR ANNOUNCES DEMOBILIZE ARMIES, MAKE REPARATION, Men Now Entrained for Camps UNDER TERMS OF THE AGREEMENT SIGNED Also to be Turned Back as Far as Possible. stupendous change it will in some President Tells Con- degree lighten my sense of respon- gress of Armistice sibility to perform in person the At 10.50 o'clock this morning the See- duty of communicating to you some retary of \Yar made the following an- Terms of the larger circumstances of the nouncement: situation with I have suspended further calls under which it is necessary At a joint session of the two to deal.
    [Show full text]
  • To Download the Publication
    Past Forward Tampa Bay Past Forward Florida About AIA Past Forward Florida is a partnership among the Tampa Bay The American Institute of Architects (AIA) was created in 1857. Through Times Newspaper in Education program (NIE), the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Florida, the American Institute of education, government advocacy, community redevelopment and public Architects Tampa Bay and the AIA Tampa Bay Architectural outreach activities, the AIA works toward a public environment that is Heritage Committee. responsive to the people it serves while representing the professional By bringing together the expertise of the educational, media, interests of America’s architects. Visit aia.org for more information. architectural and historic preservation communities, Past AIA Florida was founded in 1912. The AIA Florida mission is to unite, Forward Florida is a unique, quality resource for educators, families, visitors and community members in Tampa Bay and educate and position architects to lead the shaping of Florida’s future. Visit throughout Florida. aiafla.org for more information. Past Forward Florida is a three-part multimedia project AIA Tampa Bay is the local chapter of AIA, representing approximately 600 members in Hillsborough, celebrating the diverse architecture, history and cultures of Pinellas, Polk, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter and Pasco counties. AIA provides programs and services Florida with a special focus on the Tampa Bay area. including educational programs, design competitions and community service programs and serves as Florida Architecture: the united voice of the architecture profession. Visit aiatampabay.com to learn more. 100 Years. 100 Places. The Architectural Heritage Committee of AIA Tampa Bay seeks to preserve and protect the integrity of AIA Florida’s Florida Architecture: 100 Years.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 14. Wildlife and Forest Communities 341
    chapteR 14. Wildlife and Forest Communities 341 Chapter 14. Wildlife and Forest communities Margaret Trani Griep and Beverly Collins1 key FindingS • Hotspot areas for plants of concern are Big Bend National Park; the Apalachicola area of the Southern Gulf Coast; • The South has 1,076 native terrestrial vertebrates: 179 Lake Wales Ridge and the area south of Lake Okeechobee amphibians, 525 birds, 176 mammals, and 196 reptiles. in Peninsular Florida; and coastal counties of North Species richness is highest in the Mid-South (856) and Carolina in the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The Appalachian- Coastal Plain (733), reflecting both the large area of these Cumberland highlands also contain plants identified by subregions and the diversity of habitats within them. States as species of concern. • The geography of species richness varies by taxa. • Species, including those of conservation concern, are Amphibians flourish in portions of the Piedmont and imperiled by habitat alteration, isolation, introduction of Appalachian-Cumberland highlands and across the Coastal invasive species, environmental pollutants, commercial Plain. Bird richness is highest along the coastal wetlands of development, human disturbance, and exploitation. the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, mammal richness Conditions predicted by the forecasts will magnify these is highest in the Mid-South and Appalachian-Cumberland stressors. Each species varies in its vulnerability to highlands, and reptile richness is highest across the forecasted threats, and these threats vary by subregion. Key southern portion of the region. areas of concern arise where hotspots of vulnerable species • The South has 142 terrestrial vertebrate species coincide with forecasted stressors. considered to be of conservation concern (e.g., global • There are 614 species that are presumed extirpated from conservation status rank of critically imperiled, imperiled, selected States in the South; 64 are terrestrial vertebrates or vulnerable), 77 of which are listed as threatened or and 550 are vascular plants.
    [Show full text]
  • Historical Biogeography of the Endemic Campanulaceae of Crete
    Journal of Biogeography (J. Biogeogr.) (2009) 36, 1253–1269 SPECIAL Historical biogeography of the endemic ISSUE Campanulaceae of Crete Nicoletta Cellinese1*, Stephen A. Smith2, Erika J. Edwards3, Sang-Tae Kim4, Rosemarie C. Haberle5, Manolis Avramakis6 and Michael J. Donoghue7 1Florida Museum of Natural History, ABSTRACT University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, Aim The clade Campanulaceae in the Cretan area is rich in endemics, with c. 2National Evolutionary Synthesis Center, Durham, NC, 3Department of Ecology and 50% of its species having restricted distributions. These species are analysed in the Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, context of a larger phylogeny of the Campanulaceae. Divergence times are Providence, RI, USA, 4Department of calculated and hypotheses of vicariance and dispersal are tested with the aim of Molecular Biology (VI), Max Planck Institute understanding whether Cretan lineages represent remnants of an older for Developmental Biology, Tu¨bingen, continental flora. 5 Germany, Section of Integrative Biology and Location The Cretan area: Crete and the Karpathos Islands (Greece). Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA, 6Botany Methods We obtained chloroplast DNA sequence data from rbcL, atpB and Department, Natural History Museum of matK genes for 102 ingroup taxa, of which 18 are from the Cretan area, 11 are Crete, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece endemics, and two have disjunct, bi-regional distributions. We analysed the data and 7Department of Ecology and Evolutionary using beast, a Bayesian approach that simultaneously infers the phylogeny and Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA divergence times. We calibrated the tree by placing a seed fossil in the phylogeny, and used published age estimates as a prior for the root.
    [Show full text]
  • Tampa Bay's Railroad History
    Tampa Bay’s RailRoad HisToRy all aboard: Tampa Bay’s railroad history Silvery-sleek, on sun-bleached tracks With barrel-chested engines, Dolomite black “Those were the trains of yesterday! “ But where might smoke and thunder stay? 71st New York Where might great metro-liners rest, Volunteers arrive in Port Tampa, As they rumble ’cross-the-country with their smoke-filled crests? 1898, courtesy USF Library from The Epic of Tampa Union Station Special Collections by James E. Tokley Sr., Hillsborough County Poet Laureate Sanford-St. Petersburg train, 1893, courtesy Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System Henry Plant supervising the transport of Army troops by railroad to Tampa, where they boarded ships to fight the Spanish-American War in Cuba, 1898; Tampa Bay Times photo Newspaper in Education NIE staff LAFS.4-5.L.1.2; LAFS.4-5.L.1.3; LAFS.4-5.L.1.4; LAFS.4-5.L.1.5; LAFS.4- The Tampa Bay Times Newspaper in Jodi Pushkin, manager, [email protected] 5.L.1.6 Education (NIE) program is a cooperative Sue Bedry, development specialist, [email protected] effort between schools and the Times Hillsborough County Historic Preservation Challenge Grant to encourage the use of newspapers in © Tampa Bay Times 2014 This project was supported by a Historic Preservation Challenge Grant print and electronic form as educational awarded by the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners. The resources. Credits Hillsborough County Historic Preservation program aims to foster planning Our educational resources fall Researched and written by Jodi Pushkin and Sue Bedry, Tampa Bay Times that “encourages the continued use and preservation of historic sites and into the category of informational Designed by Stacy Rector, Fluid Graphic Design LLC structures.” The Historic Preservation Challenge Grant program was founded in text.
    [Show full text]
  • Recovery Plan
    RECOVERY PLAN B ROOKSVILLE BELLFLOWER (Campanula robinsiae) and COOLEY’S WATER-WILLOW (Justicia cooleyi) U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region I:~.1 RECOVERY PLAN FOR BROOKSVILLE BELLFLOWER (Campanula robinsiae) AND COOLEY’S WATER-WILLOW (Justicia cooleyi) prepared by Richard A. Hilsenbeck, Senior Research Botanist Florida Natural Areas Inventory Tallahassee, Florida and David Martin, Botanist Jacksonville, Florida Field Office U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for Southeast Region U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Atlanta, Georgia Approved: ~, Jr. Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Date: June 20, 1994 DISCLAIMER Recovery plans delineate reasonable actions which are believed to be required to recover and/or protect listed species. Plans are published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, sometimes prepared with the assistance of recovery teams, contractors, State agencies, and others. Objectives will be attained and any necessary funds made available subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved, as well as the need to address other priorities. Recovery plans do not necessarily represent the views nor the official positions or approval of any individuals or agencies involved in the plan formulation, other than the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They represent the official position of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service only after they have been signed by the Regional Director or Director as an~roved. Approved recovery plans are subject to modification as dictated by new findings, changes in species status, and the completion of recovery tasks. Literature citation should read as follows: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1993. Recovery Plan for Brooksville Bellflower (Campanula robinsiae) and Cooley’s water-willow (Justicia cooleyz).
    [Show full text]
  • BROOKSVILLE BELLFLOWER COOLEY's WATER WILLOW Campanula Robinsiae Justicia Cooleyi
    BROOKSVILLE BELLFLOWER COOLEY'S WATER WILLOW Campanula robinsiae Justicia cooleyi Photo of Brooksville Bellflower. Photo courtesy Mimi Williams. Photo of Cooley’s Water Willow. Photo courtesy of Bruce Hansen. FAMILY: Brooksville bellflower - Campanulaceae (Bellflower family) Cooley's water willow - Acanthaceae (Acanthus family) STATUS: Endangered (Federal Register, July 27, 1989) DESCRIPTIONS: Brooksville bellflower, an annual herb, has a slender taproot and slender, four-angled stems 0.4 to 6 inches (1 to 15 centimeters) tall. Its largest leaves, ovate to elliptic, are at the base of the plant. Leaves are narrower and shorter closer to the top. Many of this plant's flowers are closed, self-pollinating, and inconspicuous. Those that are open and cross- pollinating are solitary, with .04 to .10-inch long sepals and a deep purple, bell-shaped corolla. Flowering occurs in the spring during March and April. The seeds produced by this species are the smallest of any North American bellflower (Shetler and Morin 1986). Cooley's water willow is a short, rhizomatous, perennial herb. Less than 16 inches (40 centimeters) tall, this herb has upright, quadrangular, stems and leaves up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) long. Flowers are borne on forked, zigzag branches which are slightly longer than the leaves. The petals are fused into a two-lipped corolla with a slightly longer lower lip. This lower lip is mottled lavender and white. The rest of the corolla is bright lavender-rose. Flowering takes place from August to December. An 0.47-inch (1.2-centimeter) capsule is the fruit (Kral 1983; Perkins 1979). RANGE AND POPULATION LEVEL: Both plants are native to the Brooksville Ridge, in north central Hernando County, Florida.
    [Show full text]
  • “Conservation in Progress” Is a Biannual Summary Posted on the Bok Tower Gardens Website As a Rare Plant Informational Tool for Website Visitors
    “Conservation in Progress” is a biannual summary posted on the Bok Tower Gardens website as a rare plant informational tool for website visitors. Highlights of the Conservation Program achievements from January – June 2014: Etoniah Rosemary (Conradina etonia) This aromatic evergreen shrub, which smells of lemon, pine, and mint, is federally endangered and has been in curation at Bok Tower Gardens since 1993. With the only known population in Etoniah Creek State Forest, Etoniah rosemary is endemic to Putnam County, Florida. Recent surveys indicate that the entire species is comprised of only about 1000 plants. In 2014, aging individuals in the National Collection were propagated, adding vigor to the old accessions. Additionally, 100 new individuals, taken as cuttings from the natural population, were added to the collection. The newest accessions were collected with the goal of representing a large portion of the genetic variation remaining in the species. Each new plant was tagged with an individual identification number and will be monitored as long as they remain at Bok Tower Gardens. Their addition into the National Collection will ensure that the species has continued protection from extinction into the future. Conservation through education of Garden visitors With large numbers of the public visiting Bok Tower Gardens each year, the Rare Plant Conservation Program has a unique opportunity to educate a diverse audience on issues and techniques surrounding conservation of endangered Florida plants. Having over 2000 individual plants from 34 of the rarest species across the state in one location has been an effective tool for linking concepts including differences in plant morphology, symbiotic relationships, environmental interactions, and ecosystem niches to people of all ages.
    [Show full text]
  • 1996 Synonymy Synonym Accepted Scientific Name Source Abama Americana (Ker-Gawl.) Morong Narthecium Americanum Ker-Gawl
    National List of Vascular Plant Species that Occur in Wetlands: 1996 Synonymy Synonym Accepted Scientific Name Source Abama americana (Ker-Gawl.) Morong Narthecium americanum Ker-Gawl. KAR94 Abama montana Small Narthecium americanum Ker-Gawl. KAR94 Abildgaardia monostachya (L.) Vahl Abildgaardia ovata (Burm. f.) Kral KAR94 Abutilon abutilon (L.) Rusby Abutilon theophrasti Medik. KAR94 Abutilon avicennae Gaertn. Abutilon theophrasti Medik. KAR94 * Acacia smallii Isely Acacia minuta ssp. minuta (M.E. Jones) Beauchamp KAR94 Acaena exigua var. glaberrima Bitter Acaena exigua Gray KAR94 Acaena exigua var. glabriuscula Bitter Acaena exigua Gray KAR94 Acaena exigua var. subtusstrigulosa Bitter Acaena exigua Gray KAR94 * Acalypha rhomboidea Raf. Acalypha virginica var. rhomboidea (Raf.) Cooperrider KAR94 Acanthocereus floridanus Small Acanthocereus tetragonus (L.) Humm. KAR94 Acanthocereus pentagonus (L.) Britt. & Rose Acanthocereus tetragonus (L.) Humm. KAR94 Acanthochiton wrightii Torr. Amaranthus acanthochiton Sauer KAR94 Acanthoxanthium spinosum (L.) Fourr. Xanthium spinosum L. KAR94 Acer carolinianum Walt. Acer rubrum var. trilobum Torr. & Gray ex K. Koch KAR94 Acer dasycarpum Ehrh. Acer saccharinum L. KAR94 Acer drummondii Hook. & Arn. ex Nutt. Acer rubrum var. drummondii (Hook. & Arn. ex Nutt.) Sarg. KAR94 Acer nigrum var. palmeri Sarg. Acer nigrum Michx. f. KAR94 Acer platanoides var. schwedleri Nichols. Acer platanoides L. KAR94 * Acer rubrum ssp. drummondii (Hook. & Arn. ex Nutt.) E. Murr. Acer rubrum var. drummondii (Hook. & Arn. ex Nutt.) Sarg. KAR94 Acer rubrum var. tridens Wood Acer rubrum var. trilobum Torr. & Gray ex K. Koch KAR94 Acer saccharinum var. laciniatum Pax Acer saccharinum L. KAR94 Acer saccharinum var. wieri Rehd. Acer saccharinum L. KAR94 * Acer saccharum ssp. nigrum (Michx. f.) Desmarais Acer nigrum Michx.
    [Show full text]