Bahia Honda State Park Project Plan, Project B

Bahia Honda State Park Project Plan,2014 Project B

BAHIA HONDA STATE PARK WETLAND ENHANCEMENT PLAN, PROJECT B

Revised April 13, 2018

Prepared for:

U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS Regulatory Division – Jacksonville District P.O. Box 4970 Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019

Prepared by:

COASTAL RESOURCES GROUP, INC. Sponsor of: Keys Restoration Fund In-Lieu Fee Program (KRF) 11449 Calhoun Ct. Venice, FL 34293

Keys Restoration Fund In-Lieu Fee Bahia Honda State Park Wetland Enhancement Plan, Project B SAJ-2012-02902

IN THE TESTIMONY WHEREOF COASTAL RESOURCES GROUP, INC. has hereunto set their hands this September 19, 2017.

Your signature below, as the Sponsor, indicates the following:

That you have read, understood, accepted, and agreed to comply with the terms and provisions of the In-Lieu Fee Program Instrument (ILF Instrument), In-Lieu Fee Mitigation Project Plan, and any associated Department of the Army permit for the Bahia Honda State Park Wetland Enhancement Plan, Project B.

Coastal Resources Group, Inc. Roy R. Lewis III Typed/Printed Name

______Signature

President Title IN THE TESTIMONY WHEREOF THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS has hereunto set their hands this ______day of ______, 2017.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District

______Typed/Printed Name

______Signature

______Title

TABLE OF CONTENTS: TABLE OF CONTENTS: ------4 List of Figures and Tables: ------5 I. SITE ENHANCEMENT PLAN ------6 1.1 Project Background ------6 Location: ------6 1.2 Objectives ------9 Benefits to Ecoregion: ------9 1.3 Site Selection ------9 1.4 Site Protection Instrument ------10 1.5 Baseline Information ------10 Ecological Characteristics: ------10 Plant Communities: ------12 Historic and Existing Hydrology: ------17 Jurisdictional Waters and Soil Conditions: ------24 1.6 Determination of Credits ------26 UMAM: ------26 Location and Landscape Support: ------26 Water Environment: ------26 Vegetation Community: ------27 Credit Release Schedule: ------27 1.7 Mitigation Work Plan ------28 Construction Schedule and Estimated Costs ------45 1.8 Maintenance Plan ------48 1.9 Performance Standards ------48 Hydrology Performance Standards: ------48 Vegetation Performance Standards: ------48 1.10 Monitoring Requirements ------49 1.11 Long Term Management Plan ------50 1.12 Adaptive Management Plan ------51 Construction Adaptive Management: ------51 Monitoring Adaptive Management: ------51 1.13 Financial Assurances ------52 1.14 Other Information ------52 Historical Resources and Preservation: ------52 1.15 Literature Cited ------53

LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES: Figure 1. Bahia Honda State Park Location. ------7 Figure 2. Bahia Honda Wetland Restoration Projects Areas A, B and C. ------8 Figure 3. Bahia Honda Project Area B. ------8 Figure 4. Bahia Honda State Park Community Types (Monroe County). ------14 Figure 5. Project B Community Types and Existing Conditions. ------15 Figure 6. Bahia Honda Project B Enhanced Conditions. ------16 Figure 7. Bahia Honda Historical Aerial 1955. ------20 Figure 8. From Lewis et al. 1994, showing lagoon and areas of Fill within the Project Boundary. ------21 Figure 9. Existing Habitat Types, Conditions and Flow Patterns. ------22 Figure 10. Blocked Tidal Channel on West Side of Road. ------23 Figure 11. Flooding at FA1 with Spoil Mounds in Background. ------23 Figure 12. Spoil Mound Prohibiting Drainage into Nearby Tidal Creek. ------23 Figure 13. Approximate Wetland Line. ------24 Figure 14. NRCS Soil Map, Project B Area of Interest. ------25 Figure 15. Overview of Bahia Honda Project B Enhancement Plan. ------31 Figure 16. Culvert C1 Detail. ------32 Figure 17. Culvert C2 and OW1 and OW2 Connection Details. ------33 Figure 18. Culvert C3 Detail. ------34 Figure 19. Detail of FA1 Enhancement Plan. ------37 Figure 20. FA2 and FA3 Enhancement Plan Details. ------38 Figure 21. Location of Spoil Mounds SM1 - SM11. ------39 Table 1. Federally and State Listed Endangered (E), Threatened (T) or Species of Special Concern (SSC) that occur or Potentially Occur at Bahia Honda State Park. ------11 Table 2. Federally Listed Plant Species that May be Present within Bahia Honda. ------12 Table 3. List of Imperiled Plant Species Identified on Bahia Honda. ------13 Table 4. Bahia Honda State Park Community Types, Area and Condition. ------13 Table 5. Expected Restoration Area Results ------17 Table 6. UMAM Scoring Table Summary (TEST).------27 Table 7. Credit Release Schedule (TEST). ------28 Table 8. Summary of Spoil Mounds SM1-SM11, Area, Percent Cover of Vegetation and Proposed Actions. ------44 Table 9. Summary of Restoration Plan Impacts and Benefits. ------45 Table 10. Proposed Construction Schedule. ------47 Table 11. Pre-Construction Design and Construction Costs. ------47 Table 12. Performance Activities and Success Criteria. ------49 Table 13. Post-Construction Monitoring Costs. ------50

I. SITE ENHANCEMENT PLAN

1.1 PROJECT BACKGROUND

Bahia Honda State Park is a publicly owned parcel with exposure to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico at Bahia Honda Key in Monroe County. The property is owned and managed by the Florida Park Service (FPS) within the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). This project was originally proposed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and approved for funding by the previous Keys ILF Mitigation Program (Keys Environmental Restoration Fund, KERF) in the KERF Work Performance Report submitted April 2007. The entire project area encompasses approximately 26.5 acres of wetland restoration within three smaller project areas (A, B and C). The project was originally proposed by KERF in 2003, but never constructed and eventually transferred to the new Keys Restoration Fund (KRF) ILF Mitigation Program in the Instrument approved by the Corps on July 1, 2013. Since the basic project plan was previously approved in the KRF ILF Instrument, modification to the Instrument as is required for a new ILF project site was not needed. The Bahia Honda State Park Wetlands Restoration and Enhancement Project preliminary mitigation project plan dated December 4, 2013 (KRF, 2013) was approved by the Interagency Review Team (IRT) on February 3, 2014. The Bahia Honda Mangrove and Wetland Enhancement Project A was completed by KRF on October 25, 2016.

This restoration plan for Project Area B has been prepared in conjunction with Park staff using available historic information, current information, site inspections, survey information and general expertise of Park and KRF staff. Historic information includes review of previous KERF files and photointerpretation of historical aerials. Hydrologic information was collected during September and October 2014 using standard water level loggers strategically placed to evaluate the movement of water through the system. Results of this evaluation are included in the Bahia Honda Project B Wetland Enhancement Management and Monitoring Baseline Report (2017). Several site visits by KRF staff and targeted surveyed locations have provided adequate information to determine the best methods to restore and enhance hydrologic conditions at this site.

Submitted herein is the Bahia Honda State Park Wetland Enhancement Plan, Project B (BHB) in accordance with components required by the (Mitigation Rule [40 CFR 332.4 (c) (1 thru 14)] for an ILF project and required by Compensatory Mitigation for Losses of Aquatic Resources: Final Rule, April 10, 2008 for final plans and Section 5a of the Keys Restoration Fund Final ILF Mitigation Program Instrument, July 1, 2013.

LOCATION: Bahia Honda State Park occupies the entirety of Bahia Honda Key, Monroe County. The entrance to the park is located at 36850 Overseas Hwy at Mile Marker 37. The property encompasses 524 acres within Section 34; Township 66S; Range 30E. The majority portion of the Park lies south of U.S. Hwy 1 and includes a campground, public beaches, interpretive and office facilities, staff housing, walking trails, and a marina. The northwest corner of the Park north of US 1 holds primitive campsites, rental cabins, and staff housing. The site includes a variety of natural features including coastal berm hammock which includes the largest population of silver palm hammock in the continental U.S., salt marsh, beach dune, freshwater interdunal swale, submerged resources and mangrove forest (Figure 1). The overall project includes restoration of three areas (A, B and C) for a total area of approximately 26.5 acres (Figure 2). Project B only is included in this plan and encompasses approximately 15.1 acres including uplands (road 6 and living quarters) which are excluded from conservation. Project B is located on the north side of the Park at 24.663687°N and -81.270733°W (Figure 3).

Figure 1. Bahia Honda State Park Location.

FIGURE 2. BAHIA HONDA WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS AREAS A, B AND C.

FIGURE 3. BAHIA HONDA PROJECT AREA B.

1.2 OBJECTIVES 40 CFR 332.4 (c) (2)

The BHB Project will re-establish historic hydrological connections that will enhance areas of currently impounded stressed mangrove, mangrove scrub and high marsh and provide enhancement to water quality within the interior open water lagoons. In addition, restored tidal connections will enhance corridors for fish and invertebrate movement to and from open waters of the Gulf of Mexico into the shelter and foraging areas of the mangrove forest and high marsh during high tides that will also benefit local wading birds and small mammals.

The objective of this project is to restore 10.13 acres of tidal connections between stressed mangrove and high marsh areas and the Gulf of Mexico. Specific project goals are:

➢ enhance approximately 5.24 acres of stressed mangrove and 1.88 acres of scrub mangrove through improvements in hydrology, water quality and tidal flushing and remove 0.03 acre of spoil mound from scrub mangrove and 0.08 acre of spoil from stressed mangrove ➢ enhance 0.60 acre of vegetated tidal marsh through removal or alteration of 0.17 acre spoil mounds and installation of guard rails/fencing to prohibit vehicle entry ➢ enhance 0.71 acre of un-vegetated lime rock with dispersal of suitable fine fill material from spoil mounds to encourage natural colonization of wetland plants ➢ enhance fishery production as well as wading and shorebird feeding habitat within 1.42 acres of tidal ponds

BENEFITS TO ECOREGION: Development activities in the Florida Keys ecoregion historically altered tidal circulation and flow patterns in wetlands, and excavation and fill projects in wetlands resulted in the direct loss of these important habitats. The BHB Project is located within Bahia Honda State Park which is committed to the restoration, enhancement and preservation of native habitats. This project will address the needs of the ecoregion by restoring and enhancing the functions of wetlands and open water through improvements in hydrology, water quality and tidal flushing and support the State’s commitment to protecting environmental resources. Improved wetland conditions will also help protect and support the adjacent tropical hardwood forest flora and the local fauna by providing a buffer from storm energy.

1.3 SITE SELECTION 40 CFR 332.4 (c) (3)

The BHB Project was initially chosen as a potential project by the prior in-lieu fee program in 2003 and transferred to KRF in the Final ILF Mitigation Program Instrument approved by the Corps on July 1, 2013. The project serves as a good candidate for a mitigation project because of the need for restoration, location, accessibility, practicability of accomplishing ecological resource restoration and enhancement and likelihood of success. BHB is managed by the State Park Service and this project has been identified by the Park staff as a priority project on the Florida Ecological Restoration Inventory (www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wetlands/feri/index.htm). Bahia Honda State Park supports a mosaic of natural features including coastal berm hammock, including the largest population of silver palm in the continental U.S., freshwater interdunal swale, salt marsh, beach dune, mangrove wetlands, as well as submerged resources. Therefore, it is critical to make conscious efforts to maintain the integrity of the

9 site. Most areas are accessible by road and trail making restoration activities practicable. The plan is straightforward with restoration of hydrology through clearing of existing natural and man-made tidal channels, construction of new culverts and pipes and replacement of an existing culvert to allow water flow. The alteration and/or removal of some fill material to enhance existing high marsh wetlands will make the likelihood of success high and future quantitative monitoring and maintenance feasible.

1.4 SITE PROTECTION INSTRUMENT 40 CFR 332.4 (c) (4)

Bahia Honda State Park (Park) is owned by the State of Florida and is managed by the Division of Parks and Recreation. The State of Florida has established numerous provisions regarding the continued ownership and management of Florida State Parks, including the establishment of non-lapsing endowments created in Title XVIII, Public Lands and Property, of the Florida State Statues; more specifically Chapters 258 (State Parks and Preserves) and Chapter 259 (Land Acquisitions for Conservation or Recreation), which provide funding allocations for the continued management of State Parks.

In addition, FS Section 259.032(10) requires that all State Lands must develop, maintain, and update a management plan that specifically details the key management activities necessary to achieve the preservation and protection of its natural resources. Prior to construction, KRF and the Park will enter into an agreement which authorizes KRF to carry out the restoration and enhancement activities, and binds the Park to maintaining the restored sites in perpetuity.

1.5 BASELINE INFORMATION 40 CFR 332.4 (c) (5)

ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS: Bahia Honda State Park is part of the physiographic region of high coral keys with an average elevation of approximately five feet and a maximum elevation of eight to ten feet (FDEP, 2003). The Park encompasses 524 acres of uplands, wetlands, and submerged lands (FDEP, 2003). Uplands are comprised of mostly man-made amenities including roads and boardwalks for public access. Lower elevation areas support mangrove forest, estuarine and marine tidal wetlands, beach dune, and coastal lagoons and berm habitats (Figure 4). There are eleven federal and fifteen state listed fauna species that occur or potentially may occur within the Park (Table 1).

TABLE 1. FEDERALLY AND STATE LISTED ENDANGERED (E), THREATENED (T) OR SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN (SSC) THAT OCCUR OR POTENTIALLY OCCUR AT BAHIA HONDA STATE PARK.

TAXON / COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME STATE STATUS FEDERAL STATUS

FISH Key silverside Menidia conchorum T Rivulus marmoratus Mangrove rivulus SSC

Key blenny Starksia starcki SSC

Smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata E

REPTILES

Florida Keys mole skink Eumeces egregius SSC

Atlantic salt marsh snake Nerodia clarkia taeniata T T

American Crocodile Crocodylus actus T

BIRDS Calidris canutus rufa T Red Knot

Vermivora bachmanii E Bachman’s warbler

Charadrius melodus T Piping plover

Sterna dougallii T Roseate tern T

Platalea ajaja Roseate spoonbill SSC

Little blue heron Egretta caerulea SSC Egretta rufescens Reddish Egret SSC

Snowy Egret Egretta thula SSC Egretta tricolor Tricolored Heron SSC

Osprey Pandion haliaetus T Pelecanus occidentalis Brown Pelican SSC Sterna antillarum Least Tern T

White Ibis Eudocimus albus SSC

Wood stork Mycteria americana T

MAMMALS Trichechus manatus West Indian manatee E

INSECTS Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri Miami blue butterfly E Heraclides aristodemus ponceanus Schaus swallowtail butterfly E

PLANT COMMUNITIES: There are seven distinct natural communities found within Bahia Honda State Park (Monroe County) (Figure 4). There are seven federally listed plant species that could potentially occur within Bahia Honda, however these species are not salt tolerant and it is unlikely they would be present within our project boundaries (Table 2). Plant surveys conducted by Park staff have identified seventeen imperiled plant species including sea lavender (Argusia gnaphalodes) and the rare species yellow wood (Zanthoxylum flavum). Designated species are identified by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDA) (Table 3). Approximate acreage and current condition for each natural area community type totaling approximately 442 acres are shown in Table 4. Remaining areas of the park (~82 acres) have been developed for recreational use.

Plant communities found within the Project B footprint include mangrove forest consisting of all three species of mangroves; red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle), black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) and white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa), and associated buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus), and tidal high marsh consisting of salt grass (Distichlis spicata), saltwort (Batis maritima) and sea purslane (Sesuvium portulacastrum). Road construction, vehicle damage and deposition of sand and some solid waste have blocked natural tidal flows into interior mangrove, buttonwood and tidal marsh areas resulting in approximately 5.24 acres of stressed mangrove forest, 1.88 acres of stressed scrub mangrove, 0.77 acre of vegetated wetland fill and spoil mounds and 0.71 acre of un-vegetated fill area (Figure 5, Table 5). Previous attempts to install and maintain small PVC and one concrete culvert to allow for tidal exchange have not been successful. The purpose of this project is to alleviate the stress on the impounded mangroves and high marsh by restoring the natural tidal hydroperiods and ensuring that water can exit during low tide to prevent excess flooding. Enhancement activities will result in 5.32 acres of enhanced mangrove forest, 1.91 acres of enhanced scrub mangrove and 1.48 acres of mixed vegetated and non- vegetated fill areas that support and potentially support wetland species (Figure 6 and Table 5). Additionally, by restoring the hydrology, there will be improved water quality for 1.42 ac of open water ponds, for a total enhancement area of 10.13 acres.

TABLE 2. FEDERALLY LISTED PLANT SPECIES THAT MAY BE PRESENT WITHIN BAHIA HONDA.

TAXON / COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME FEDERAL STATUS

Big Pine partridge pea Chamaecrista lineata keyensis E Blodgett’s silverbush Argythamnia blodgettii T

Florida semaphore cactus Consolea corallicola E

Garber’s spurge Chamaesyce garberi T

Key tree cactus Pilosocereus robinii E

Sand flax Linum arenicola E

Wedge spurge Chamaesyce deltoidea serpyllum E

TABLE 3. LIST OF IMPERILED PLANT SPECIES IDENTIFIED ON BAHIA HONDA.

TAXON / COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME FDACS FNAI

Sea lavender Argusia gnaphalodes LE G4,S3 Byrsonima lucida G4G5,S3 Locustberry LT G3,S1 Small-flowered lilythorn Catesbaea parviflora LE G1,S1 Garber’s spurge Chamaesyce garberi LE

Silver palm Coccothrinax argentata LT G4,S3

Rhacoma Crossopetalum rhacoma LT G5,S3 G4,S2 Milkbark Drypetes diversifolia LE Guajacum sanctum G2,S1 Lignumvitae (cultivated) LE G5,S2 Manchineel Hippomane mancinella LE G5,S1 Cuban jacquemontia Jacquemontia havanensis LE G4,S2 Sky blue morning glory Jaccquemontia pentanthos LE Jacquinia keyensis G4,S3 Joewood LT Manilkara jaimiqui subsp. emarginata G4,S3 Wild dilly LT G3G4,S3 West Indian mahogany (cultivated) Swietenia mahagoni LT Thrinax morrisii Key thatch LE G4G5,S3 Thrinax radiata Florida thatch palm LE G4G5,S2 Zanthoxylum flavum Yellow wood LE G4,S2

*FDACS ranking indicates LE for Listed as Endangered Species and LT for Listed as Threatened Species in the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. *FNAI ranking indicates the global (G) and state (S) rarity of a species: 1 = critically imperiled; 2 = imperiled; 3 = rare, restricted, or otherwise vulnerable to extinction; 4 = apparently secure; 5 = demonstrably secure. or variety that is imperiled or rare.

TABLE 4. BAHIA HONDA STATE PARK COMMUNITY TYPES, AREA AND CONDITION.

Community Type Acreage Current Condition Mangrove Forest ~191.50 Severely Stress – Good (see below) Scrub Mangrove ~27.20 Severely Stress-Good Buttonwood Forest ~23.30 Moderate Stress due to impounding waters Salt Marsh ~19.00 Good Coastal Hammock ~21.40 Good Beach Berm ~26.40 Good Open Water ~133.10 Semi-Impounded Total Natural Areas 441.90 *Note there are 82.1 acres of developed upland for a total of 524 acres.

FIGURE 4. BAHIA HONDA STATE PARK COMMUNITY TYPES (MONROE COUNTY).

FIGURE 5. PROJECT B COMMUNITY TYPES AND EXISTING CONDITIONS.

FIGURE 6. BAHIA HONDA PROJECT B ENHANCED CONDITIONS.

TABLE 5. EXPECTED RESTORATION AREA RESULTS

Current Current Restoration Enhanced Community Type Condition Acres % Cover Type Acres Mangrove Forest 5.24 Moderate Stress (including 70% Enhancement 5.32 0.11 acres of restored tidal creek area) Scrub Mangrove 1.88 Moderate Stress 30% Enhancement 1.91 Buttonwood/High 0.77 Minimal Stress- due to 85% Enhancement 0.77 Marsh/Vegetated construction debris and Fill spoil mounds (0.17 ac of the 0.80 ac) Exposed Limerock 0.71 Severe stress/Non 15% Enhancement 0.71 vegetated – due to vehicle damage Open Water 1.42 Moderate Stress – n/a Enhancement 1.42 Impounded conditions Total 10.13 10.13 *Note 1.20 acres of uplands on site are not included for conservation.

HISTORIC AND EXISTING HYDROLOGY: Man-made alterations, mainly the construction of U.S. Hwy 1 and interior access roads, have resulted in changes in hydrology including restricting areas connecting to open water and the closure of natural and dredged tidal creeks throughout the Park.

Historically, Bahia Honda Key supported a mosaic of wetland communities through a network of natural tidal channels and an interior lagoon open to both the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic sides of the island. During the early 1900s construction of the Flagler railroad (completed in 1912) bisected the natural lagoon preventing north south tidal flow (Figure 7). Later construction and improvements to U.S. Hwy 1 provided public access to Bahia Honda Key and further isolated portions of the tidal wetlands from direct connections to tidal waters. Over time, solid waste disposal, roads, campgrounds and recreational areas altered the natural hydrology resulting in areas of degraded wetland habitat.

BHB was a part of a small (6.60 ac) lagoon system surrounded by scrub mangrove, high marsh, and mangrove forest (Lewis et al. 1994) (Figures 7 and 8). Unfortunately, the area was altered by placement of a Monroe County landfill that later was cleared of most of the fill and debris and developed into a road and Park staff living quarters (Figure 8). With the closing of the landfill and subsequent development, the Department of Natural Resources installed two culverts (one at the northwest corner and one at the southwest corner of the lagoon) to improve tidal circulation, however these culverts eventually became blocked (Lewis et al, 1994).

Improvements for tidal exchange to mangroves east of the road and living quarters were completed in 1981 with the construction of a circulation cut (CC in Figure 8) (~20’ x 80”) on the northeast

17 side of the shoreline (Lewis et al., 1994) (Figures 8 and 9). At that time, the area was tidal high marsh, scrub mangrove, and a mangrove forest fringe. Pre and post construction monitoring documented changes in hydrology, improved water quality and greater biodiversity (Jordan 1986).

Lewis et al. (1994) reports that during a 1991 site visit, the circulation cut remained opened, however, over time the opening closed and narrowed once again reducing tidal exchange. These conditions promoted the accumulation of sediments and eventual expansion of mangroves, further reducing the tidal exchange to the area, in particular the ability for the site to properly drain. There remains four open water areas (OW1 – OW4, Figure 9), remnant of the shallow lagoon, however these areas retain water during much of the year. The frequency and duration of flooding on mangroves has a direct effect on the health of a mangrove forest (Lewis, 2005). At BHB, the extended periods of flooding in much of the mangrove forest has resulted in a total of 5.24 acres of stressed mangrove forest and 1.88 acres of stressed scrub mangrove (Figure 9).

Currently, the area east of the access road is comprised of mostly mangrove forest with 4.3 acres of stressed mangrove, 1.90 acres of remnant mangrove scrub and two remaining fill areas (1.30 acres) from the old landfill (Figure 9). The original mangrove lagoon is now fragmented with four open water areas (total 1.40 acres) by the overgrowth of mangroves and access road that have blocked some of the channels connecting open water areas, impounding the waters, and limiting access and use by fish, invertebrates and wading and sea birds (Figure 9).

The area west of the road was historically mangrove forest (Figures 7 and 8). Alterations to hydrology include the construction of the access road and the excavation of a borrow pit for the new approach to the new Bahia Honda bridge at the southwest corner. The culvert installed during development at the southwest corner of the lagoon was presumably meant to create tidal exchange between the lagoon and mangroves west of the road, however this culvert is nonfunctioning (Figure 9). Frequent and long term inundation of water during high tides and rain events is evident through multiple on site observations and likely due to closing of tidal creeks preventing drainage. Currently, approximately 3.90 acres of mangrove are stressed and 0.1 acre high marsh is filled.

Mangroves on both sides of the road are exhibiting indications of stress at varied levels (Figure 9). Even with the excavation of a circulation cut, mangroves east of the road have taken advantage of conditions that have allowed accumulation of sediments and expansion of the mangroves into the once shallow lagoon and thus closing the circulation cut. Mangroves west of the road are indicating moderate levels of stress with loss of trees and canopy cover and observed long periods of standing water and lack of observed fish use (Figure 10).

Water level data collected September-October 2014 indicates a significant decrease in the level, duration and frequency of water exchange within the impounded mangroves as compared to the natural tidal range. The continued pattern of frequent and long duration flooding is detrimental to a healthy mangrove forest (Lewis 2005). The eventual outcome without intervention would be a collapse of vegetative cover resulting in the site providing minimal benefit to the biodiversity of the area. Hydrological

18 restoration is proposed to improve tidal exchange and drainage for the enhancement of the stressed mangroves.

The three areas of historic fill have been scraped down to limerock or elevations that support wetland species. The largest of the fill areas (FA-1) encompasses 1.40 acres of both vegetated (0.8 ac) and exposed un-vegetated limerock (0.6 ac). This area is slightly perched at average of +0.20 ft NAVD 88 compared to an average of -0.15 ft NAVD 88 in the adjacent mangroves. Elevation transect readings indicate the area is slightly sloped to the north and west resulting in flooding of road as water drains from the site (Figure 9). On the eastern half of FA-1, there remains eight “spoil mound” sites that reach a maximum of +2.69 ft NAVD 88 above limerock elevations. Some of the spoil mounds prevent drainage to the north and/or laterally into the adjacent mangroves (Figures 11 and 12). It is proposed that all or a portion of these spoil mounds be removed, partially removed or breached to improve routine water flow and encourage continued natural colonization of wetland species into currently non-vegetated areas. Suitable material excavated from the spoil mounds will be “spread out” in a thin layer on the exposed limestone currently devoid of vegetation to encourage wetland groundcover colonization into this area. In addition, we propose a guard rail or fence be established along the road to prevent vehicle access.

Two smaller fill areas, FA-2 (0.10 acres) and FA-3 (0.10 acres) to the south are largely un-vegetated (Figure 9). These areas flood during high tides and rain events, however appear to adequately drain. It is proposed to install a barrier (guard rail/fence) to prevent vehicles from using this location as a “turn around” point and to allow wetland vegetation to colonize at FA-2. FA-3 is comprised of crushed limerock and small boulders. A small berm has been constructed along the mangrove edge to prevent flooding of the road during high tides and rain events. It is proposed that the fill material be removed and the site restored to mangrove. With the installation of the new culverts for mangrove enhancement, flooding should be minimized and the need for the small berm alleviated. However, due to the very low elevation of the access road in some locations, it will be necessary to add material to the road to stop the erosion into the mangroves from the flooding.

Bahia Honda Project B Location

Bahia Honda Project B

FIGURE 7. BAHIA HONDA HISTORICAL AERIAL 1955.

Old Landfill Site

FIGURE 8. FROM LEWIS ET AL. 1994, SHOWING LAGOON AND AREAS OF FILL WITHIN THE PROJECT BOUNDARY.

FIGURE 9. EXISTING HABITAT TYPES, CONDITIONS AND FLOW PATTERNS.

FIGURE 10. BLOCKED TIDAL CHANNEL ON WEST SIDE OF ROAD.

FIGURE 11. FLOODING AT FA1 WITH SPOIL MOUNDS IN BACKGROUND.

FIGURE 12. SPOIL MOUND PROHIBITING DRAINAGE INTO NEARBY TIDAL CREEK.

JURISDICTIONAL WATERS AND SOIL CONDITIONS:

Delineation of waters of the United States was determined by aerial photo interpretation, onsite evaluations by KRF and review of soils maps and 2009 LU/LC maps provided by Monroe County. Nearly 90% of the project area is located within wetlands identifiable using 2012 ortho-photography obtained through Monroe County. Since the majority of the project is located within wetlands and advance credits will not be sold for this project, the use of aerial photo interpretation and GIS based boundary delineation of wetland areas is reasonable (Figure 13). Additionally, review of NRCS soils mapping indicates that Undorthents-Urban land complex and Keywest Marl, tidal is found within Project B boundaries which are typically found in Keys wetlands (Figure 14).

FIGURE 13. APPROXIMATE WETLAND LINE.

FIGURE 14. NRCS SOIL MAP, PROJECT B AREA OF INTEREST.

1.6 DETERMINATION OF CREDITS 40 CFR 332.4 (c) (6)

UMAM: KRF has been authorized by the Corps to issue new compensatory mitigation credits for unavoidable impacts to Keys wetlands utilizing the Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM), a functional assessment method used to determine the amount of mitigation needed to offset adverse impacts to wetlands and other surface waters and to award and deduct ILF Program or mitigation bank credits. Although funding for the Bahia Honda Project B is derived from fees (KeyMig) assessed to federal permittees prior to the use of UMAM and prior to approval of the KRF ILF Program Instrument, this assessment method has been applied at the Bahia Honda Project B site to test the process and determine the approximate amount of advance credits generated by the project. Details regarding UMAM calculations are available upon request.

LOCATION AND LANDSCAPE SUPPORT: Bahia Honda State Park covers the entirety of Bahia Honda Key and provides recreational activities such as tent, camper, and cabin camping, shoreline access, swimming/snorkeling and walking/hiking trails. Although there is public access to a substantial portion of the Park, public areas are well identified and a maximum number of people are allowed to enter daily. Remote areas of the Park without public access include a natural lagoon, portions of the coastal berm, and mangrove forest with natural and man-made tidal creeks. Bahia Honda State Park supports a variety flora and fauna within wetlands and surrounding uplands including Federal and State listed Threatened, Endangered and Species of Special Concern. Overall landscape support is moderate and includes both areas that support and maintain wetland functions and large areas that are limited in wetland functions due to development and closed tidal connections. Conditions in Project Area B are insufficient to provide optimum wetland functions due to tidal connections blocked by roads and 0.30 acre of spoil mounds that result in approximately 5.24 acres of stressed mangrove area, 1.88 acres of stressed scrub mangrove, 0.60 acres of disturbed high marsh, 0.71 acre of exposed limerock with sparse vegetation and 1.42 acres of impounded open water area. Outside land use is unlikely to have an impact on the area, however to ensure continued tidal flow, routine maintenance will be required. Benefits to water quality are expected and restoration of wetland hydrology should support downstream conditions. Downstream habitats are not dependent on Project Area B, however, the connectivity of mangrove forest to open waters supports many marine species during developmental stages. Future landscape support includes the commitment from property owners for future maintenance that will be established by a non-lapsing endowments created in Title XVIII, Public Lands and Property, of the Florida State Statues; more specifically Chapters 258 (State Parks and Preserves) and Chapter 259 (Land Acquisitions for Conservation or Recreation), which provide funding allocations for the continued management of State Parks. UMAM calculations for landscape support are summarized in Table 6.

WATER ENVIRONMENT: Water levels and flows are currently impaired with blockages including a road, overgrown red mangrove prop roots and aerial roots, black mangrove pneumatophores, sediments, spoil mounds and debris. Blockages have resulted in 5.24 acres of stressed mangrove area and 1.88 acres of stressed scrub mangrove. Conditions within Project Area B are insufficient to fully support local and migratory wildlife. Water quality conditions are stagnant without regular flushing. UMAM calculations for water environment are summarized in Table 6.

VEGETATION COMMUNITY: Project Area B is comprised of mixed mangrove species including red mangrove, black mangrove, white mangrove and buttonwood ranging in height from 1m to over 3m. Groundcover species include saltgrass, saltwort, and sea purslane. Visual estimates indicate approximately 70% of the mangrove forest is comprised of moderately stressed mangrove showing signs of adventitious roots and standing water and 100% of the scrub mangrove, high marsh and open water are affected by the impounded water. No invasive species are observed in proposed restoration area. Post restoration, regeneration of mangroves and tidal marsh to full functional ability is estimated to take approximately 5 years. Diversity of species will likely be established within 5 years. Restored flushing will facilitate natural recruitment of mangrove and tidal marsh seeds from surrounding areas, and natural marsh rhizome growth back into impacted marsh areas is expected within 5 years. Topographic features include a tidal creek connecting to the Gulf of Mexico that will require routine monitoring to ensure continued tidal flow. Staff housing and roadways are located adjacent to assessment area. UMAM calculations for vegetation community are summarized in Table 6.

TABLE 6. UMAM SCORING TABLE SUMMARY (TEST). REVISED 3/22/2018

Summary of Restoration Area Relative Functional Gain (RFG) Mitigation Assessment Area Impact Impact Type Acreage FL

Mangrove Impact Removal/ Alteration 0.12 -0.0636 High Marsh/Including Vegetated Temporary Removal 0.26 -0.1638 Spoil Mounds Impact Total Functional Loss 0.38 -0.2274 Mitigation Assessment Area Mitigation Mitigation Type Acreage RFG Mangrove Mitigation Enhancement 7.23 1.1500 High Marsh Mitigation Enhancement 1.48 0.2200 Total Functional Gain 8.71 1.3700 Total Difference 8.59 1.1426

CREDIT RELEASE SCHEDULE: A credit release schedule is not necessary for this project, no credits will be released. However, we have provided a typical credit release schedule as a test for future projects. The schedule is intended to release credits when critical milestones are met and approved by the IRT. This schedule assumes that a total of 1.1426 credits would be available for release based on the approved UMAM scoring for functional lift gained by the restoration and meeting all performance standards (Table 7).

27 TABLE 7. CREDIT RELEASE SCHEDULE (TEST).

Description of Criteria for Credit Release – Not for official use % Credit Release Release

1. ACOE approval of project, submittal of baseline monitoring report and 10% 0.11426 approval by IRT, recording of approved land protection agreement, financial assurances escrowed. 2. Post construction, submittal and approval of as-built surveys, submittal and 10% 0.11426 approval of Time Zero Report 3. One year post construction and meeting performance standards, submittal 15% 0.17139 and approval of first annual monitoring report 4. Second year meeting performance standards, submittal and approval of 15% 0.17139 second annual monitoring report 5. Third year meeting performance standards, submittal and approval of the 15% 0.17139 third annual monitoring report 6. Fourth year meeting performance standards, submittal and approval of the 15% 0.17139 fourth annual monitoring report 7. Fifth year meeting performance standards, submittal and approval of the 20% 0.22852 fifth annual monitoring report Credit Total 100% 1.1426

1.7 MITIGATION WORK PLAN 40 CFR 332.4 (c) (7)

The BHB restoration plan includes two components, mangrove/scrub mangrove enhancement (7.23ac) and high marsh enhancement (1.48ac), that combined, provide 8.71 acres of improved conditions for the long term health of the sites mangrove forest and sustainability of wetland habitats over time. Secondary benefits to the plan include improved water quality within the interior open water areas (1.42ac) and overall improved habitat conditions for wildlife. Total enhancement area is 10.13 acres. Considerations in the development of this plan include:

• the current health and vitality of the mangrove forest and need for restoration and/or enhancement • enhancement functions for marine life, local and migratory birds and wildlife • the ability to cost effectively and efficiently enhance stressed mangrove areas • minimizing impacts of enhancement activities • future maintenance needs • resiliency and adaption of the site to sea level rise (SLR)

The plan for 7.23 acres of mangrove and scrub mangrove forest enhancement includes improving the hydrological connections across the existing road and within existing tidal creeks and/or flow pathways to allow improved tidal exchange and drainage for the interior mangrove forest areas. Restoring the existing natural patterns of tidal flow pathways (currently blocked) for drainage of impounded waters will help alleviate stress on the affected mangroves and improve the overall health of the mangrove forest. The design takes into account previous efforts for such improvements, and the difficulties of maintaining

28 culverts and circulation cuts with limited access. Therefore, all improvements are made within areas that accessible, maintenance friendly and provide the optimum ability for tidal exchange. The plan includes:

1. Install one culvert (C1) under the access road to connect an existing tidal creek to the east to the natural flow path through the mangrove forest to the west and to open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, 3,600sq ft (0.08 ac) of mangrove will be altered/removed to restore the tidal creek to allow for water flow and drainage and 150 sq ft (0.003 ac) of mangrove impacted in the east creek to allow temporary access to living quarters for local residents only during construction (Figures 15 and 16).

2. Install pipe(s) (C2) under the access road to allow tidal exchange between the high marsh to the east (FA1) to the natural flow path through the mangrove forest to the west. A temporary road will be constructed within the exposed limestone areas void of vegetation to the east allowing access to living quarters for local residents only during construction. Approximately 100 sq ft (0.002 ac) of mangrove on the west side of the culvert will be impacted for construction (Figures 15 and 17).

3. Alter 360 sq ft (0.008 ac) of mangrove between remnant open water areas OW1 and OW2 to allow drainage. Approximately 1760 sq ft (0.04 ac) of mangrove and wetland vegetation will be temporarily impacted to allow access for small equipment and hand crews for construction (Figures 15 and 17).

4. Replacing an existing non-functioning culvert (C3) at the correct elevation under the access road between OW4 and mangroves to the west. Approximately 375 sq ft (0.009 ac) of mangrove will be impacted for replacement of the culvert and temporary road to the east to allow access to living quarters for local residents only during construction and 450 sq ft (0.01 ac) of mangrove removed along the existing tidal creek on the west side of the road to facilitate flow through the culvert (Figures 15 and 18).

Culvert 1 (C1) will be installed to allow flow under the road from the existing tidal creek identified by survey data and field verification to the west to a blocked tidal creek to the east. Approximately 0.06 acres of mangrove will be altered by removal of prop roots and pneumatophores within the tidal creek and along the natural flow path to the west and 0.03 ac of mangrove altered in the existing tidal creek to the east (total 0.09ac). All work will be completed using small machinery and/or hand tools. A temporary access road will be constructed to the east to allow access to living quarters. Approximately 150 sq ft (0.008 ac) of mangrove will be temporarily impacted. Material from the temporary access road will be removed and re-used on the permanent road as repair from equipment damage. Silt screens and turbidity curtains will be deployed as required to minimize turbidity. Both sewer and water lines have been located and run adjacent to the roadside. These utilities will be GPS located and marked prior to any excavation to avoid damage to the lines. We anticipate that some adaptions to the culvert placement during construction will be necessary to avoid re-routing lines, however, if no other alternative is possible and lines need to be re-routed, this work will be done in coordination with the Park staff with contingency funds set aside for unforeseen issues that arise during construction. We do not anticipate any turbidity issues within the Gulf of Mexico open waters. See Figure 16 for details.

Culvert 2 (C2) will be installed to allow flow from the high marsh (fill area FA1) under the road to the west. One or two pipes may be used in this area depending on elevations needed. Approximately 100 sq ft (0.002ac) of mangrove will be impacted for the culvert replacement and to facilitate flow through the culvert. A temporary road will be constructed to the east in areas void of vegetation to allow access to living quarters Material from the temporary access road will be removed and re-used on the permanent road as repair from equipment damage. Silt screens and turbidity curtains will be deployed as required to minimize turbidity. We do not anticipate any turbidity issues within the Gulf of Mexico open waters. We anticipate that some adaptions to the culvert placement during construction will be necessary to avoid re-routing lines, however, if no other alternative is possible and lines need to be re-routed, this work will be done in coordination with the Park staff with contingency funds set aside for unforeseen issues that arise during construction. See Figure 17 for details.

Additionally, 360 sq ft (0.008ac) of mangrove will be altered between OW1 and OW2 to remove overgrown mangrove pneumatophores and sediment blockages to allow water flow and drainage (Figure 17). Minor hand excavation may be needed to remove sediment blockages. Small equipment access will be used through area with the least amount of vegetative cover (Figure 17). However, minor impacts of approximately 1760 sq ft (0.04 ac) of mangrove and wetland vegetation may be impacted to access this area. We anticipate the impacted vegetation will recover within a 2 year period.

Culvert 3 (C3) will be replaced at the correct elevations to improve circulation in the mangrove scrub area and provide drainage to open water areas 3 and 4 (OW3 and OW4). Approximately 450 sq ft (0.01 ac) of mangrove to the west of the road will be removed for the culvert replacement and to facilitate flow through the culvert. Temporary mangrove removal of 375 sq ft (0.009 ac) will be necessary to construct a temporary access road to the east to allow access to living quarters. Material from the temporary access road will be removed and re-used on the permanent road as repair from equipment damage. Silt screens and turbidity curtains will be deployed as required to minimize turbidity. We do not anticipate any turbidity issues within the Gulf of Mexico open waters. We anticipate that some adaptions to the culvert placement during construction will be necessary to avoid re-routing lines, however, if no other alternative is possible and lines need to be re-routed, this work will be done in coordination with the Park staff with contingency funds set aside for unforeseen issues that arise during construction. See Figure 18 for details.

Expected results include improvement of the tidal exchange and flow of water between the east and west sides of the access road and the enhancement of 5.32 acres of stressed mangrove area, 1.91 acres of stressed scrub mangrove, 0.77 acres of high marsh, and 0.71 acre of exposed lime rock with sparse vegetation and 1.42 acres of open water area. The improvement of tidal exchange and the facilitation of drainage will have a direct effect on the general health of the interior stressed mangrove forest. Additionally, water conditions and access to interior habitats will improve for use by marine life and for foraging opportunities for wading and sea birds and wildlife.

Approximate Location of Sewer Line

Approximate Location of Water Line

FIGURE 15. OVERVIEW OF BAHIA HONDA PROJECT B ENHANCEMENT PLAN.

Approximate Water Line

Approximate Sewer Line

FIGURE 16. CULVERT C1 DETAIL.

Approximate Water Line

Approximate Sewer Line

FIGURE 17. CULVERT C2 AND OW1 AND OW2 CONNECTION DETAILS.

Approximate Water Line

Approximate Sewer Line

FIGURE 18. CULVERT C3 DETAIL.

Fill Area Rehabilitation for Wetland Enhancement

In addition to mangrove enhancement, this plan consists of improving high marsh conditions at three fill sites. Two sites, FA-1 and FA-2 are located within east of the road and the third, FA-3 west of the road (Figure 15). Each area requires a different approach to enhancement and all areas total 1.48 acres of exposed limerock and native vegetated areas including spoil mounds. All sites were once dominated by high marsh and scrub mangrove. Areas east of the road were used as a fill disposal site that was scraped down in the 1970s exposing the underlying Miami oolite base. Although these are previously filled sites, we are not proposing complete removal of remaining fill. The variation in topography has allowed the natural colonization of wetland vegetation including scattered black and white mangroves, buttonwood, salt grass, sea purslane, and saltwort. The sites, particularity FA-1 provide suitable habitat for wetland functions, however all sites have blockages to routine tidal exchange as well as vehicle damage and will benefit from either the removal of some fill and/or breaching areas to improve water flow and prevention of further vehicular damage. Additionally, the importance of the topographic variations may prove to enable wetland migration, especially mangrove, as SLR affects areas of lower elevations. Therefore, we are proposing specific enhancement activities for each area for the sustainability of biodiversity and long term sustainability of wetland habitats over time.

Overall enhancement activities include:

1. Excavation of select sites through removal and/or alteration of the existing spoil mounds to allow improved flow patterns 2. removal of debris such as concrete blocks and building materials 3. installation of vehicle barriers to prevent traffic to the area 4. breach four areas in fill area FA1 to allow drainage

The largest of the fill areas, FA-1, encompasses 1.40 acres of vegetated and non-vegetated fill material perched at an average elevation of ~+0.20’ NAVD88 above mangrove elevations. Approximately half of the area (0.60 acre) is vegetated with scattered black and white mangroves, buttonwood, salt grass, sea purslane, and saltwort. Routine tidal exchange is limited by the access road and nine separate spoil mound areas (SM1- SM9, Figures 19 and 21). The area floods during high tides and rain events with drainage to the west (flooding the road) and northwest into an existing tidal creek. However, drainage is hindered by the road and a large spoil mound to the northwest (SM4). This area is also commonly used as a “turn around” location for vehicles further impeding the spread of groundcover. The spoil mounds are varied in size, shape and vegetative cover (Table 8), however all the spoil mounds support wetland vegetation. Therefore, it is important to consider the function of each mound, the potential for enabling mangrove migration with SLR and minimizing impacts to existing wetland vegetation. A water line runs through a portion of the proposed excavation area and will be located prior to excavation. We do not anticipate any issues with working near this line and no alterations should be necessary.

FA-2 encompasses 0.1 acre and is largely scraped down to limerock with minimal vegetation (<5%). Enhancement activities include removing spoil mound SM10 to connect drainage from FA2 to the open water area and adding a limited amount of fill material from spoil mound SM10 to the site to the barren limestone area facilitate natural colonization of wetland groundcover. A barrier will be

35 constructed (guard rail/fence) to prevent vehicles from using this location as a “turn around” point (Figures 20 and 21).

FA-3 encompasses 0.1 acre comprised of gravel fill and small boulders with minimal vegetation (<5%). A small berm has been constructed along the mangrove edge to prevent flooding of the road during high tides and rain events. Enhancement activities include removal of fill materials to appropriate elevations to facilitate wetland vegetation colonization. With the installation of the new culverts, flooding should be minimized and the need for the small berm alleviated (Figures 20 and 21).

Although, there are some impacts (approx. 0.15 ac) associated with the removal and/or alteration of the spoil mounds, the overall benefit of the enhanced fill area will provide improved habitat conditions for fish, invertebrates, wading and sea birds and wildlife and sustaining the overall biodiversity of the Park. We expect natural colonization of groundcover and potentially some buttonwood or mangrove in some areas currently void of vegetation, however due to the nature of the site, we do not expect full coverage of vegetation. This area will provide improved foraging opportunities for local wildlife as well as preserve the habitat utilized by species such as the giant land crab. Preserving variation in topography and allowing some fill material to remain will most likely allow for the natural migration of mangrove to higher elevations as a result of SLR. Colonization of vegetation will be quantitatively monitored as well as qualitative observations of wildlife use.

To minimize impacts, we are proposing to breach specific locations within the fill to allow drainage and preserve as much vegetation as possible and selectively alter the spoil mounds as described below. Summary of the enhancement plan impacts and benefits are summarized in Table 9.

Approximate location of above ground and below ground utilities in FA1

Figure 19. Detail of FA1 Enhancement Plan.

Approximate Sewer Line

Approximate Water Line

FIGURE 20. FA2 AND FA3 ENHANCEMENT PLAN DETAILS.

FIGURE 21. LOCATION OF SPOIL MOUNDS SM1 - SM11.

Taking in consideration the impediments and benefits of the spoil mounds to the area we are proposing the following alternatives:

SM1: This spoil mound is lightly vegetated and consists of mostly construction materials and concrete rubble.

• Completely remove spoil mound working in between existing vegetation to minimize impacts. • See Figure 21 for location.

SM2: This spoil mound is lightly vegetated and consists of mostly construction materials and concrete rubble.

• Completely remove spoil mound working in between existing vegetation to minimize impacts. • See Figure 21 for location.

SM3: This spoil mound is lightly vegetated and consists of mostly construction materials and concrete rubble.

• Completely remove spoil mound working in between existing vegetation to minimize impacts. • See Figure 21 for location.

SM4: This spoil mound is moderately to heavily vegetated and varies in topography. The location of this spoil mound blocks drainage of the site to the north (Figure 21).

• Breach berm in 2 or 3 location to allow water to drain from site. • Remove any construction debris. • Leave the existing unvegetated topography largely intact for natural revegetation

• Close up view of SM4

SM5: This spoil mound is heavily vegetated with wetland groundcover and scattered buttonwood and mangrove.

• Remove debris as needed around vegetation with careful attention not to disturb existing ground cover. • Partial removal of areas that are not supporting wetland vegetation. • See Figure 21 for location.

SM6: This spoil mound is moderately vegetated.

• Remove areas of debris only. • See Figure 21 for location.

SM7: This spoil mound is moderately vegetated.

• Remove areas of debris and vegetated spoil and preserve black and white mangroves • See Figure 21 for location.

SM8: This spoil mound is moderately vegetated.

• Remove spoil mound. • See Figure 21 for location.

SM9: This spoil mound is moderately vegetated.

• Remove spoil mound to surrounding mangrove elevation • See Figure 21 for location.

SM10: This spoil mound is mostly vegetated. A portion of the mound to be removed to provide drainage from FA2 to open water.

• Remove a portion of spoil mound • See Figure 21 for location

SM11: This spoil mound is sparsely vegetated.

• Remove spoil to mangrove elevation for restoration of mangrove to this area • See Figure 21 for location

Table 8. Summary of Spoil Mounds SM1-SM11, Area, Percent Cover of Vegetation and Proposed Actions.

Spoil Estimated Area SQ Area % Cover of Mound Proposed Action Impact to FT Acre Vegetation ID vegetation SM1 206 0.004 <5% Remove <5% SM2 96 0.002 <5% Remove <5% SM3 558 0.012 <5% Remove <5% SM4 2280 0.050 80% Breach and Selectively remove 25% debris as needed. SM5 3022 0.070 90% Selectively remove debris as 25% needed SM6 255 0.006 60% Remove areas of un-vegetated fill 20% SM7 856 0.020 60% Remove areas of un-vegetated fill 25% SM8 54 0.001 20% Remove 20% SM9 225 0.005 10% Remove 20% SM10 1220 0.030 100% Remove for tidal exchange 100% SM11 3444 0.080 20% Remove for mangrove restoration 20% Total 12,216 0.28

TABLE 9. SUMMARY OF RESTORATION PLAN IMPACTS AND BENEFITS.

Community Current Area Impacts for Enhanced Area after Benefits Type Condition (ac) Construction Spoil Mound (ac) Removal Help stop decline of Stressed Moderate mangrove forest and 5.24 0.14 5.32 Mangrove Stress improve water quality and functions for wildlife Help stop decline of Stressed Moderate mangrove forest and Scrub 1.88 0.01 1.91 Stress improve water quality and Mangrove functions for wildlife Enhance hydrology to the site for future High Marsh Minimal sustainability and 0.60 0.04 0.60 Vegetated Stress resilience for SLR and improve functions for marine and wildlife use. Enhance exposed limerock High Marsh to support additional Un-vegetated Severe 0.71 0.00 0.71 wetland species for (exposed Stress improved function for limerock) marine and wildlife use. Remove ~ 50% of spoil Minimal mounds to facilitate tidal Spoil Mounds 0.28 0.11 0.17 Stress exchange in area

Improvement Improved water quality to Water Moderate and habitat for marine 1.42 na 1.42 Quality for Stress and wildlife use. Open Water Total 10.13 0.30 10.13

CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE AND ESTIMATED COSTS Construction is anticipated to begin in summer/fall 2018 after permitting is complete (Table 10). Construction will adhere to best practices to ensure no runoff or debris encroaches upon wetland areas outside of the working area. Silt screen will be used when appropriate. Construction costs for labor and materials and final inspections and survey is $173,205. A contingency fund of $20,000 for unforeseen corrections during construction is added for a total construction cost of $193,205 (Table 11). After construction, $42,000 is budgeted for post construction monitoring for five years (with monitoring contingency). Total project cost is $235,205. If the construction contingency is not needed for course

45 corrections, these funds (total $20,000) will be returned to the main project account to be used on another project once approved. It is proposed, this project be funded through the prior KERF funding sources for Bahia Honda with a balance of $155,780 and the “Old $ Tidal” fund of $79,425 available and that has not previously been assigned to any KERF project.

TABLE 10. PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE.

START DATE ESTIMATED ACTIVITY COMPLETION DATE 1 Pre-Construction Design/IRT Review 2015 Sept 2017 (completed) 2 Permitting Sept 2017 July 2018 3 Mobilization August 2018 Sept 2018 4 Tidal Creek Clearing and OW1-OW2 August 2018 Sept 2018 4 Construction C1 August 2018 Sept 2018 5 Construction C2 August 2018 Sept 2018 6 Construction C3 August 2018 Sept 2018 7 Wetland Enhancement FA1, FA2 and FA3 August 2018 Sept 2018 8 Guard rail/Fence installation FA1 and FA2 and August 2018 Sept 2018 road repairs as needed 9 Demobilization August 2018 Sept 2018 10 Post Construction Survey, as-build and August 2018 Sept 2018 compliance inspections 11 Initiating Time Zero Monitoring Oct 2018 Oct 2018 *Note schedule sequence may change due to amount of rainfall and standing water.

TABLE 11. PRE-CONSTRUCTION DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION COSTS.

ESTIMATED COST ACTIVITY 1 Mobilization/RGB Utility Location (water,electric,phone,internet) 11,000 2 Tidal Creek Clearing and OW1-OW2 27,670 3 Construction C1 40,845 4 Construction C2 15,915 5 Construction C3 25,275 6 Wetland Enhancement (Spoil Removal) FA1, FA2 and FA3 34,000 7 Guard rail/Fence installation FA1 and FA2 and road repairs as needed 12,000 8 Demobilization 4,500 9 Post Construction Survey, as-build and compliance inspections 2,000 10 *Construction Contingency 20,000 Subtotal Construction $193,205 11 Monitoring 35,000 12 *Monitoring Contingency 7,000 Project Total $235,205 *Items in orange are contingent funding, funds will be used on another project if not needed as contingency for this project.

1.8 MAINTENANCE PLAN 40 CFR 332.4 (c) (8) The maintenance plan for BHB is designed to require only moderate routine maintenance once performance standards have been achieved. The use of a passive culvert system at the appropriate diameters to achieve the maximum velocity of water possible within budget constraints is planned. The tidal creek will require routine maintenance including trimming prop roots from channels and removing any accumulated sediments creating blockages.

1.9 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS 40 CFR 332.4 (c) (9)

KRF will use ecologically-based standards to determine whether the BHB is achieving its overall objectives of restoring the natural tidal regime as much as possible to the interior wetlands and enhancing mangrove forest and high marsh habitat that is currently stressed. Standards will include direct quantitative measurement of hydrology and vegetation cover.

HYDROLOGY PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: Monitoring of hydrologic performance standards will include direct measurement of the level, duration and frequency of tidal flooding within interior mangroves compared to the natural tidal regime at a reference location. Measurements will be determined by the installation of three HOBO® autonomous water level recorders within the project site prior to construction (baseline) and repeated measurements taken annually after restoration activities. Success criterion is the significant increase of level, duration and frequency of tidal flooding within the mangrove forest as compared to baseline conditions (Table 12). See Bahia Honda Project B Wetland Enhancement Management and Monitoring Baseline Report for details.

VEGETATION PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: The goal of this proposed monitoring is to show an increase in wetland vegetation in areas now void of vegetation and show recovery of wetland vegetation in areas that will be temporarily impacted by removal of spoil mounds. An increase of 70% cover by mangroves and/or buttonwood or tidal high marsh species by the end of the five year monitoring period determines successful ecological restoration. If none of these criteria are met, contingency restoration will be proposed to the IRT (Table 12). See Bahia Honda Project B Wetland Enhancement Management and Monitoring Baseline Report for details.

TABLE 12. PERFORMANCE ACTIVITIES AND SUCCESS CRITERIA.

Success Criteria for Hydrologic Success Criteria for Vegetation Performance Activity Restoration Restoration Baseline monitoring to show lack of tidal signals 1. Baseline Monitoring No Success Criteria and need for hydrologic restoration 2. Completion of Hydrologic monitoring demonstrating improved Construction and Time Zero routine tidal flows and positive drainage during No Success Criteria (same as baseline) Monitoring- Reporting rain events for C1, C2 and C3. Hydrologic monitoring demonstrating improved 5% or greater vegetative cover of mangrove 3. Year One Interim routine tidal flows and positive drainage during (seedlings) and/or tidal wetland plant Monitoring and Reporting rain events for C1, C2 and C3. species within treatment plots Hydrologic monitoring demonstrating improved 20% or greater vegetative cover of 4. Year Two Interim routine tidal flows and positive drainage during mangrove and/or tidal wetland plant species Monitoring and Reporting rain events for C1, C2 and C3. within treatment plots Hydrologic monitoring demonstrating improved 40% or greater vegetative cover of 5. Year Three Interim routine tidal flows and positive drainage during mangrove and/or tidal wetland plant species Monitoring and Reporting rain events for C1, C2 and C3. within treatment plots Hydrologic monitoring demonstrating improved 50% or greater vegetative cover of 6. Year Four Interim routine tidal flows and positive drainage during mangrove and/or tidal wetland plant species Monitoring and Reporting rain events for C1, C2 and C3. within treatment plots Hydrologic monitoring demonstrating improved 70% or greater vegetative cover of 7. Year Five Final Monitoring routine tidal flows and positive drainage during mangrove and/or tidal wetland plant species and Reporting rain events for C1, C2 and C3. within treatment plots

1.10 MONITORING REQUIREMENTS 40 CFR 332.4 (c) (10)

Ecologically-determined monitoring standards based on site conditions and best methods are proposed to determine whether the compensatory mitigation project is achieving its objectives over the 5-year monitoring period. Standards include measures of performance of the culverts and tidal channels to enhance and improve tidal flows and flushing, as well as drainage during high rainfall and storm conditions. Additionally natural recovery of wetland vegetation in the restored/enhanced wetland areas will be monitored to show improvement in percent cover and stature of wetland vegetation. The full monitoring plan including background information, monitoring description and graphics, performance criteria and schedule are provided in the Bahia Honda Project B Wetland Enhancement Management and Monitoring Baseline Report. Monitoring costs over a five year period are estimated to be $35,000 with a 20% Monitoring Contingency fund of $7,000 for a total monitoring cost of $42,000 (Table 13). If the $7,000 Monitoring Contingency is not needed for adaptive management or course corrections, the funds will be returned to the main project account to be used on another project upon approval.

TABLE 13. POST-CONSTRUCTION MONITORING COSTS.

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION ESTIMATED COSTS 1 Time Zero Hydrological and vegetation 5,000 2 Time Zero + 6 Vegetation only 2,500 3 Time Zero + 12 Hydrological and vegetation 5,000 4 Time Zero + 18 Vegetation only 2,500 5 Time Zero +24 Hydrological and vegetation 5,000 6 Time Zero + 36 Hydrological and vegetation 5,000 7 Time Zero + 48 Hydrological and vegetation 5,000 8 Time Zero + 60 Hydrological and vegetation 5,000 9 Monitoring Contingency 7,000 Total 42,000

1.11 LONG TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN 40 CFR 332.4 (c) (11)

It is anticipated that long-term management of the project site will be minimal and consist of routine site inspections of flow-ways and/or analysis of aerial photography to ensure that the restored areas continue to thrive and have not been degraded in any way. During the 5-year monitoring and reporting phase of the project, visual inspection and quantitative monitoring and reporting will be conducted to ensure the success of the restoration efforts and to focus on means to decrease the need for long-term maintenance (See Bahia Honda Project B Enhancement Management and Monitoring Baseline Report). The Florida State Division of Parks and Services has agreed to the long-term monitoring, and maintenance of the sites beyond the required 5-year monitoring plan.

In the case of an unforeseen Force Majeure events, such as hurricanes, damage to vegetation is expected to recover over time. If a Force Majeure event occurs within the outlined monitoring period, success criteria may need to be re-evaluated as to the reasonable recovery period within the monitoring time frame. In addition, utilities located within the conservation areas may be damaged. Repair to above and below ground infrastructure/utilities may be required that will temporarily damage vegetation. Impacts to these areas must be mitigated by restoring any disturbance to the topography to original grade by either the contractor in charge of repairs or the Park. Additionally, debris must be removed from conservation areas by avoiding or minimizing impacts to vegetation and any pathways or debris locations restored to the original grade for vegetation recovery. Under no circumstances should these areas be used for disposal or dumping of storm debris.

1.12 ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT PLAN 40 CFR 332.4 (c) (12)

CONSTRUCTION ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT: Ecological restoration projects are often complicated and it is likely that unforeseen changes in site conditions or other components of the project may require adjustments to the original plan in order to achieve success. The majority of the BHB project is straightforward with the replacement of the existing culverts, installation of the new culvert, the removal of debris and vegetation from existing tidal creeks, and removal of spoil mound material. However, both sewer and water lines have been located and run adjacent to the roadside. These utilities will be GPS located and marked prior to any excavation to avoid damage to the lines. We anticipate that some adaptions to the culvert placement during construction will be necessary to avoid re-routing lines, however, if no other alternative is possible and lines need to be re-routed, this work will be done in coordination with the Park staff with contingency funds set aside for unforeseen issues that arise during construction. Potential adjustments during construction that we have already identified include but are not limited to:

1. Minor changes in location of trimmed mangroves to the ground based on final field review and coordination with the Park 2. Additional surveys and utility locations taken as needed 3. If needed, modifications to excavated elevations will be shown in as-built surveys.

Our adaptive management plan will include clearly identifying the issue needing to be addressed and notification to the permitting agencies for major changes such as additional areas of mangrove clearing. Modification to elevations and slight changes in locations will be identified on as-built surveys. To help guide decisions, our adaptive management plan includes five steps:

1. Identify the issue that could potential adversely impact the compensatory mitigation success 2. Evaluate alternatives, collect additional field data if necessary to determine feasibility of alternatives 3. Evaluate whether the issue is minor and reportable on as-built surveys or if permitting agency notification is required. This will be the responsibility of KRF 4. Present notifications to the permitting agencies immediately 5. Cooperatively work with the permitting agencies to find the best solution to ensure mitigation success

KRF will be responsible for working with the contractors in implementing the adaptive management measures. A contingency fund of approximately 10% of the construction costs will be set aside to fund any major management changes (Table 11).

MONITORING ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT: Once construction is complete, monitoring will immediately begin with Time Zero. Monitoring will be semiannually for the two years (Time 0, 0 + 6 months, 0 + 12, 0 + 18 months, 0 + 24 months) in order to identify any issues that are adversely affecting the mitigation so that corrections can be made immediately. Subsequent monitoring will continue for an additional three years (five years total) post construction during, 0 + 36 months, 0 + 48 months, 0 + 60 months. If monitoring data shows that the mitigation project is not meeting or is not likely to meet performance standards, the IRT will be notified. Adaptive management procedures for post construction monitoring include the following 5 steps:

1. Evaluate data and determine source complicating success of the mitigation project 2. Identify alternatives to mediate the issues 3. Present data and alternatives to the IRT 4. Cooperatively work with the IRT to determine the best solution 5. Implement corrective actions and report to IRT

KRF will be responsible for implementing the adaptive management measures. A contingency fund of approximately 20% ($7,000) of the monitoring costs will be set aside to fund any major management changes (Table 13).

1.13 FINANCIAL ASSURANCES 40 CFR 332.4 (c) (13) Bahia Honda State Park (Park) is owned by the State of Florida and is managed by the Division of Parks and Recreation. The State of Florida has established numerous provisions regarding the continued ownership and management of Florida State Parks, including the establishment of non-lapsing endowments created in Title XVIII, Public Lands and Property, of the Florida State Statues; more specifically Chapters 258 (State Parks and Preserves) and Chapter 259 (Land Acquisitions for Conservation or Recreation), which provide funding allocations for the continued management of State Parks.

1.14 OTHER INFORMATION 40 CFR 332.4 (c) (14)

HISTORICAL RESOURCES AND PRESERVATION: As required by the KRF ILF Instrument, the Florida Department of State Division of Historical Resources, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), and the FPS were consulted to determine the possible presence of historic sites and to obtain any archaeological site location data for Bahia Honda State Park. Location maps and project plans were provided to these entities and information and recommendations were obtained in response. This was done to ensure that cultural resources that may be affected by the project are identified and all information about known sites gathered, including historic properties and cultural resources listed in or determined eligible, or potentially eligible, for the National Register, and areas that have been surveyed, even if no sites were found.

After reviewing the proposed project at Bahia Honda State Park for possible effects on historic properties listed, or eligible for listing, the FL Division of Historical Resources concluded that the proposed work is not likely to have an effect on historic properties at the site providing all ground disturbing activities be monitored by someone who has completed the Archaeological Resource Management (ARM) training program.

Additionally, 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, work in the vicinity of the discovery will be stopped and the Florida Department of State, Division of Historical Resources, and Compliance Review Section at (850)-245-6333 will be notified. Project activities will not resume without verbal and/or written authorization. In the event that unmarked human remains are encountered during permitted activities, all work will stop immediately and the proper authorities notified in accordance with Section 872.05, Florida Statutes.

1.15 LITERATURE CITED

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). 2003. Bahia Honda State Park unit management plan. 29 p

Jordan, WR. 1986. The effects of re-establishing tidal circulation to a mangrove lagoon, Bahia Honda Key, Monroe County, Florida. FDOT. FL-ER-32-86. 189 p.

KRF. 2013. Bahia Honda State Park wetlands restoration and enhancement project preliminary mitigation project plan. 7 p.

KRF. 2017. Bahia Honda Project B Wetland Enhancement Management and Monitoring Baseline Report. 18 pgs.

Lewis, R. R, C. Kruer, S. Treat and S. Morris. 1994. Wetland Mitigation Evaluation Report, Florida Keys Bridge Replacement. Florida Dept. of Transportation WPI No.6116901, SP No. 90000-1560. 88 pp. + appends.

Lewis, R. R. 2005. Ecological engineering for successful management and restoration of mangrove forests. Ecol. Eng. 24(4 SI):403-418.