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Coral Bay Indigenous Preserve and Protected Species Management Plan

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Coral Bay Indigenous Preserve and Protected Species Management Plan CORAL BAY INDIGENOUS PRESERVE AND PROTECTED SPECIES MANAGEMENT PLAN April 2021 Prepared For: D.R. Horton 10541 Six Mile Cypress Parkway Fort Myers, Florida 33966 (239) 225-2631 Prepared By: Passarella & Associates, Inc. 13620 Metropolis Avenue, Suite 200 Fort Myers, Florida 33912 (239) 274-0067 Project No. 20DRH3329 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Existing Indigenous Vegetation Preserve .......................................................................... 1 3.0 Indigenous Vegetation Preservation and Restoration ........................................................ 1 4.0 Methods to Remove and Control Exotic and Nuisance Plants .......................................... 2 5.0 Monitoring Reports ............................................................................................................ 3 6.0 Protected Species Management Plan ................................................................................. 3 6.1 American Alligator Management Plan .................................................................. 3 6.1.1 Biology ....................................................................................................... 4 6.1.2 Management Plan....................................................................................... 4 6.2 Gopher Tortoise Management Plan ....................................................................... 5 6.2.1 Biology ....................................................................................................... 5 6.2.2 Management Plan....................................................................................... 6 6.3 Wading Bird Management Plan ............................................................................. 6 6.3.1 Management Plan....................................................................................... 6 6.4 Florida Black Bear Management Plan ................................................................... 6 6.4.1 Biology ....................................................................................................... 6 6.4.2 Management Plan....................................................................................... 7 7.0 Human-Wildlife Coexistence Plan .................................................................................... 7 7.1 American Alligator ................................................................................................ 7 7.2 Wading Bird ........................................................................................................... 7 i Table of Contents (Continued) Page 7.3 Florida Black Bear ................................................................................................. 8 8.0 Preserve Signage ................................................................................................................ 8 9.0 References .......................................................................................................................... 8 ii LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1. Prohibited Invasive Exotics ................................................................................... 2 iii LIST OF APPENDICES Page Appendix A. Project Location Map .......................................................................................... A-1 Appendix B. Aerial with FLUCFCS and Wetlands Map ..........................................................B-1 Appendix C. Aerial with Site Plan and Indigenous Preserve ....................................................C-1 Appendix D. American Alligator Management and Preserve Signage .................................... D-1 Appendix E. American Alligator Informational Pamphlet ....................................................... E-1 Appendix F. Wading Bird Informational Pamphlet .................................................................. F-1 Appendix G. Florida Black Bear Informational Pamphlet ....................................................... G-1 iv 1.0 INTRODUCTION The following outlines the Lee County Indigenous Preserve and Protected Species Management Plan for Coral Bay (Project) located in Section 28, Township 43 South, Range 24 East, Lee County (Appendix A). The Project is a smaller component of the previously permitted Estates of Entrada site located west of Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) between Del Prado Boulevard and Littleton Road in North Fort Myers. The Project site is bordered by the Villages of Entrada residential community to the north; Lee County District School Board property and multiple residential communities to the south; partially developed land associated with other portions of Estates at Entrada to the east; and Lee County 20/20 Yellow Fever Creek Preserve to the west. The protected species management plan contained in this report pertains to the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), listed wading birds, and Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus). 2.0 EXISTING INDIGENOUS VEGETATION PRESERVE The Project’s preserve area totals 43.03± acres and was previously placed under conservation easement per South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Environmental Resource Permit No. 36-06057-P, issued for Estates at Entrada. The preserve areas contain a mosaic of native forested and herbaceous upland and wetland habitats (Appendix B). Additionally, 2.85± acres of critical eagle nesting habitat will be preserved and placed under conservation easement to Lee County per the Project’s approved March 2020 Bald Eagle Management Plan. The location of the preserve areas is depicted on Appendix C. Initial enhancement and restoration activities within the 43.03± acre preserve area were completed in 2008 followed by a five-year maintenance and monitoring program. On June 30, 2020, the SFWMD issued a letter of compliance for the Project and signed off on the preserve monitoring program. The following are the existing habitats proposed for indigenous vegetation preservation and enhancement within the critical eagle nesting habitat. 3.0 INDIGENOUS VEGETATION PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT Exotic removal in the 2.85± acre critical eagle nesting habitat will be conducted concurrent with Project development activities. After the initial removal of exotics, semi-annual inspections of the preserves will occur for the first two years. During these inspections, the Project area will be traversed by a qualified ecologist. Locations of nuisance and/or exotic species will be identified for immediate treatment with an appropriate herbicide. Any additional potential problems will also be noted, and corrective actions taken. Once exotic/nuisance species levels have been reduced to acceptable limits (i.e., less than five percent cover), inspections of the Project area will be conducted annually. Prior to any preserve maintenance, Lee County’s Department of Community Development (DCD) staff will be notified. 1 4.0 METHODS TO REMOVE AND CONTROL EXOTIC AND NUISANCE PLANTS Exotic vegetation will be treated/removed from the restoration area. Exotic vegetation species include, but are not limited to, the 21 species of prohibited invasive exotic species listed in Section 10-420(h) of the Lee County Land Development Code (LDC) (Table 1). Table 1. Prohibited Invasive Exotics Common Name Scientific Name Air potato Dioscorea alata Australian pines All Casuarina species Bishopwood Bischofia javanica Brazilian pepper Schinus terebinthifolia Carrotwood Cupaniopsis anacardioides Chinese tallow Sapium sebiferum Cork tree Thespesia populnea Cuban laurel fig Ficus microcarpa Downy rose-myrtle Rhodomyrtus tomentosus Earleaf acacia Acacia auriculiformis Japanese climbing fern Lygodium japonicum Java plum Syzygium cumini Melaleuca Melaleuca quinquenervia Murray red gum Eucalyptus camaldulensis Old World climbing fern Lygodium microphyllum Rose apple Syzygium jambos Rosewood Dalbergia sissoo Tropical soda apple Solanum viarum Wedelia Wedelia trilobata Weeping fig Ficus benjamina Woman’s tongue Albizia lebbeck The treatment of exotic vegetation will include one or more of the following methods: (1) cut exotics within 12 inches of ground elevation, hand remove cut vegetation, and treat remaining stump with approved herbicide; (2) girdle standing Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia) and melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia) with diameter at breast height greater than four inches and apply approved herbicide to cambium; (3) foliar application of approved herbicide to Brazilian pepper and melaleuca saplings; (4) foliar application of approved herbicide or hand pulling of exotic seedlings; and (5) foliar application of approved herbicide to nuisance grasses. The use of any chemicals which are known to be toxic to wildlife shall be prohibited at all times in close proximity to the bald eagle nest tree and within the on-site preserve areas (Appendix C). 2 Chemicals used for the purpose of controlling invasive exotic plants shall be prohibited around the base of the bald eagle nest tree. 5.0 MONITORING REPORTS A monitoring report documenting the initial condition of the critical eagle nesting habitat areas will be submitted to DCD staff prior to development order approval. A similar report will be submitted to DCD staff after the initial restoration and exotic removal activities have been completed and prior to Certificate of Compliance approval. Reports will also include a brief description of anticipated maintenance work
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