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Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program Technical Report 16-3 Final 3/9/2017

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Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program Technical Report 16-3 Final 3/9/2017 Identifying and Diagnosing Locations of Ongoing and Future Saltwater Wetland Loss: Mangrove Heart Attack Credit: Whitney Gray, 2011, Little Panther Key, Pine Island Sound Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program Technical Report 16-3 Final 3/9/2017 326 West Marion Avenue Punta Gorda, Florida 33950 (941) 575-5090 www.CHNEP.org The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program is a partnership of citizens, elected officials, resource managers and commercial and recreational resource users working to improve the water quality and ecological integrity of the greater Charlotte Harbor watershed. A cooperative decision-making process is used within the Program to address diverse resource management concerns in the 4,700-square-mile study area. Many of these partners also financially support the Program, which, in turn, affords the Program opportunities to fund projects. The entities that have financially supported the Program include the following: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Southwest Florida Water Management District South Florida Water Management District Florida Department of Environmental Protection Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority Polk, Sarasota, Manatee, Lee, Charlotte, DeSoto, and Hardee Counties Cities and Towns of Sanibel, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Punta Gorda, North Port, Venice, Fort Myers Beach, Winter Haven, Bonita Springs, and Estero. This publication was authored by: • Lisa B. Beever, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program • James W. Beever III, Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council • Roy R. “Robin” Lewis III, Coastal Resources Group, Inc. • Laura Flynn, Coastal Resources Group, Inc. • Terry Tattar, University of Massachusetts • Liz Donley, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program • E.J. Neafsey, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Acknowledgement: The Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves provided boat access, captains and expertise. Melynda Brown was the captain on July 27, October 8 and November 5, 2015. Mary McMurray was the captain on July 20, August 25, 2015 and February 18, 2016. Arielle Taylor-Manges was the captain on September 9 and September 25, 2015. Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve manager Cheryl Clark captained the boat on November 17, 2015. The Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park provided off-road access and assistance from Jay Garner on April 18, 2016. James Beever conceived of the project, was persistent for most of a decade in obtaining the grant funding. Robin Lewis coined the term “Mangrove Heart Attack.” Lisa Beever was the GIS Analyst and primary author. Laura Flynn and Liz Donley performed the final edits. Suggested citation: Beever, L., J. Beever, R. Lewis, L. Flynn, T. Tattar, E. Donley, E. Neafsey. 2016. Identifying and Diagnosing Locations of Ongoing and Future Saltwater Wetland Loss: Mangrove Heart Attack. Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program. Punta Gorda, Florida. Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program Policy Committee Mr. Doug Mundrick, Co-Chair Mr. Jon Iglehart, Co-Chair Water Protection Division South District Director U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 4 Florida Department of Environmental Protection Cities Counties Agencies Hon. S. Delshay Turner Hon. Bill Truex Ms. Patricia M. Steed City of Arcadia Charlotte County Central Florida Regional Planning Council Hon. Adrian Jackson Vacant Mr. Phil Stevens City of Bartow Desoto County Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Hon. Fred Forbes City of Bonita Springs Vacant Mr. Phil Flood Hardee County South Florida Water Management District Ms. Connie Jarvis City of Cape Coral Hon. Larry Kiker Mr. Don McCormick Vacant Lee County Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council City of Fort Myers Hon. Anita Cereceda Hon. Robin DiSabatino Mr. John Henslick Town of Fort Myers Beach Manatee County Southwest Florida Water Management District Hon. Debbie McDowell Mr. Jeff Spence City of North Port Polk County Hon. Gary Wein City of Punta Gorda Hon. Mike Moran Sarasota County Hon. Mick Denham City of Sanibel Hon. Fred Fraize City of Venice Mr. M J Carnevale City of Winter Haven Hon. Katy Errington Village of Estero Management Committee Co-Chairs Ms. Shelley Thornton Mr. Mike Kirby Ms. Gillian Carney Technical Advisory Committee Co-Chairs Mr. Keith Kibbey Ms. Elizabeth Staugler Ms. Shelley Thornton Citizens Advisory Committee Co-Chairs Mr. Roger DeBruler Mr. Kayton Nedza Debi Osborn Staff Jennifer Hecker, Executive Director Elizabeth S. Donley, JD, Deputy Director Jaime G. Boswell, MS, Environmental Scientist This “Identifying and Diagnosing Locations of Ongoing and Future Saltwater Wetland Loss: Mangrove Heart Attack” report was developed under Assistant Agreement No. CD-00D23814 awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has not been formally reviewed by EPA. The views expressed are solely those of the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program and EPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned. Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................1 Purpose .......................................................................................................................2 Background ................................................................................................................3 Mangrove Forest in the CHNEP Study Area .............................................................................. 6 Mangrove Community Types ................................................................................................... 11 Mangrove Productivity and Ecosystem Functions ................................................................... 16 Mangrove Forest Death and Mangrove Forest Heart Attacks .................................................. 17 Salt Marshes of the CHNEP Study Area .................................................................................. 23 Salt Marsh Types of the CHNEP .............................................................................................. 25 GIS Library of Mapping Resources .........................................................................36 True Color Aerials .................................................................................................................... 36 Historic Aerials ......................................................................................................................... 36 Infrared Aerials ......................................................................................................................... 38 Lidar .......................................................................................................................................... 39 Water Management District 2008-09 Land Use Maps ............................................................. 40 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 2003 Landsat Interpretation.............................. 41 United State Geological Survey 2015 Landsat Interpretation .................................................. 42 FLUCCS Maps for Charlotte Harbor and Tidal Peace and Myakka Rivers ...........43 Classification of Mangrove Forest Type................................................................................... 43 Mapping Techniques ................................................................................................................. 46 Mapping Analysis ..................................................................................................................... 50 Mangrove Forest Field Investigation .......................................................................61 Site Selection ............................................................................................................................ 61 Field Investigation Methods ..................................................................................................... 63 Pre-Visit Analysis ..................................................................................................................... 72 Mangrove Species Composition by Geomorphology ............................................................... 73 Mangrove Forest Structure by Geomorphology ....................................................................... 80 Mangrove Health by Species and Geomorphology .................................................................. 93 Spectral Modeling to Determine Mangrove Condition .........................................103 Landsat Data Retrieval and Preparation ................................................................................. 103 Top of Atmosphere Conversion .............................................................................................. 115 Mangrove v. Not Mangrove calls using Landsat 8 ................................................................. 116 Final Mangrove Map Series and Analysis .............................................................117 Landsat Interpretation Refinement ......................................................................................... 117 Mangrove Geomorphology and Species using Landsat 8....................................................... 118 Mangrove Geomorphology and Species Recalibration .......................................................... 129 Predicted and Observed Species Identification ....................................................................... 130 Landsat Interpretation of Geomorphology and Species .......................................................... 131 Mangrove Condition
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