Mangrove Point Mitigation Bank

Monitoring Plan

The Monitoring Plan for the Mangrove Point Mitigation Bank (MPMB) has been designed to quantitatively measure components of ecological function that will most accurately indicate increased benefit to fish and wildlife. By comparing the data collected to the success criteria (Attachment E), this Monitoring Plan provides reasonable assurance that increased benefits to fish and wildlife derived from the proposed restoration activities can be objectively demonstrated. Monitoring protocols were developed for each habitat (UMAM assessment area). The Monitoring Plan will measure components of ecological function in each habitat that clearly indicate an increase in ecological function that benefits fish and wildlife. Please refer to the associated Monitoring Station Map Set: Fish and Wildlife Monitoring Location Map, Vegetation Transect Monitoring Location lVlap, and Hydrological Regime Monitoring Location Map for the locations of sampling stations and transects in each habitat. Because each habitat provides different ecological functions to different suites of fish and wildlife, the monitoring protocols have been tailored to measure those ecological functions that are most beneficial to the target wildlife suite. The following habitats have individualized success criteria and monitoring protocols:

1) Saltern 2) Tidal Tributaries 3) Mangrove Forest 4) Shrub Swamp 5) Oligohaline Marsh 6) Saltern Ponds 7) Tidal Pool

Baseline Monitoring

Baseline Monitoring will be conducted in all habitats for a period of one year prior to construction to document the currently reduced ecological function. These baseline data will be compared to data collected at control locations and compared to data collected in each habitat after restoration in order to document the anticipated increase in ecological function and document that success criteria have been attained.

1) Saltern

The assessment areas that will be monitoring with this protocol include the following: 660 Saltern, 660A Saltern - Altered, and 743M Spoil Piles - Saltern.

a) Bird Utilization

Bird utilization of salterns in Tampa Bay was documented in a monitoring report titled The Effects ofSaltern Restoration at Weedon Island Preserve: Final Report (Wildlands Conservation 2008). In this report, bird utilization was recorded at Weedon Island Preserve in Pinellas County, as well as two other control sites nearby. In the third year of monitoring, an additional control site, the restored saltern on Wolf Branch Park adjacent to MPMB, was added. The data set that was generated from this monitoring illustrated that the saltern on Wolf Branch Park was highly functional for wading Mangrove Point Mitigation Bank birds and shorebirds - an appropriate control site for comparison. Additionally, the monitoring methodology generated a robust data set that was used to compare the Weedon Island restoration site to control sites in order to determine restoration success. Because this report utilized a nearby control site and a suitable methodology to detennine restoration success, the bird monitoring section of this Monitoring Plan closely mimics the methodology described in the report.

The reference site, Wolf Branch Park, is adjacent to the MPMB. This site was chosen to compare the increase in onsite ecological function provided to wildlife after restoration. The saltern on Wolf Branch Park has been previously restored to a large expansive saltern by removing the mosquito ditches and spoil piles, the same restoration technique proposed for MPMB. This restoration was successful as evidenced by the monitoring data collected regarding wading bird and shorebird use. The saltern on Wolf Branch Park is providing optimal ecological function because the saltern was being utilized by many shorebirds and wading birds, including several threatened and endangered species as well as the reddish egret, the rarest wading bird in North America.

The saltern bird monitoring consists of simultaneous monitoring of the saltern on MPMB and the restored saltern on Wolf Branch Park. Pedestrian surveys will be conducted for 30 minutes near dawn (when most bird species are most active) along transects down the middle of both salterns (Fish and Wildlife Monitoring Location Map). Six (6) monitoring events will be conducted every quarter (4 times a year) for a total of 24 monitoring events annually. The timing of the monitoring events will combine lunar cycle - full moon, new moon, and mid-moon - with tidal cycle - high tide and low tide - to adequately represent the different temporal variations of saltern habitat use. Bird species, abundance, and habitat use (i.e. foraging, loafing, nesting, etc.) will be recorded. Birds will be reported as obligate wetland, facultative wetland, and upland species; threatened and endangered species presence will be noted.

b) Vegetative Structure and Composition

Data will be collected annually in the fall. Percent aerial coverage will be recorded for each herbaceous species, algal mats, and bare sand within 1m X 1m plots every 50 feet along transects (Vegetation Monitoring Transect Map). Percent cover for each species, algal mats, and bare sand will be swnmed from all quadrats and divided by the total monitored area to determine the percent aerial coverage. ''Typical saltern spec!es" are those species listed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection as species commonly found in salterns (FDEP 2011). Mangrove trees and shrubs are defmed as any four of the mangrove species taller than O.Sm. Aerial coverage will be determined by measuring tree percent cover within Sm X Sm plots along transects at the same location as the 1m X 1m herbaceous plots. Percent cover of the mangrove trees and shrubs will be summed from all quadrats and divided by the total monitored area to determine the percent aerial coverage.

c) Hydrological Regime

Tidal staff gauges with automated data loggers will be established in the saltern patches and the adjacent mosquito ditches in the southern, central, and northern reaches of the saltern on MPMB (HydrologicaJ Regime Monitoring Location Map). These tidal gauges will record the water levels in the saltern patches and in the mosquito ditches continuously for one year prior to

2 Mangrove Point Mitigation Bank restoration (to establish the baseline) and for at least one year after restoration (until hydrological restoration has been demonstrated to be successful). Water depth readings will he recorded hourly to generate graphs of [he hydrologic regime. Comparison of graphs with similar tidal cycles before and after restoration will illustrate the restoration of the hydrological regime.

2) Tidal Tributaries

The assessment areas that will be monitoring with this protocol include the following: 511 Mosquito Ditches and Spoil Piles and 513 Clogged Tributary.

a) Fish Utilization

Fish utilization in tidal tributaries in Tampa Bay has been documented by several studies. The primary studies that have been utilized to develop the fish monitoring methodology for MPMB include the following: Distribution and diversity offish in Tampa Bay mangrove swamp and the effects of rotary ditching (Brown 1987 - USF Master's thesis) and The Utility of Breder traps for sampling mangrove and high marsh fish assemblages (Sargent & Carlson 1987). Because these reports suggested that Breder traps are effective at sampling mangrove resident fish species, and the data collected are capable of comparison to control sites (or comparison of the same site before and after restoration), the fish monitoring methodologies were considered appropriate.

The reference site for fish monitoring of the tidal tributaries is especially important because it has been documented that different fish communities are found in different regions throughout Tampa Bay (Krebs et al 2007). Because of these larger-scale differences, the reference sites must be close to the monitoring site in an effort to reduce any geographic disparity. As such, the reference site includes an unobstructed tributary located nearby on E.G. Simmons Park. Fish and nekton are able to access this tributary from Tampa Bay, so the fish community will be representative of those species that could utilize the tidal tributaries on MPMB.

Fish will be captured utilizing Breder traps opened for 2-3 hours around low tide. Three sampling sites will be established in the southern, central, and northern reaches of the MPMB in order to document that the increase in ecological function occurred throughout the entire site (Fish and Wildlife Monitoring Location Map). One Breder trap will be established at each site. The tidal tributaries will be sampled at low tide to evaluate the critical ecological functions of fish refuge and access; the keystone ecological function of the tidal tributaries is maintenance of subtidal habitat at low tide. Three (3) monitoring events will be conducted every quarter (4 times a year) for a total of 12 monitoring events annually. These monitoring events will coincide with the low tide bird monitoring events - full moon, new moon, and mid-moon - to adequately represent the different variations of the lunar cycle. Fish species and abundance will be recorded. Fish will be released to the greatest extend practicable. Fish unable to be identified in the field will be identified in the laboratory. Fish will be reported as resident, transient, and schoolers.

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b) Water Quality

In order for fish and nekton to utilize the mangrove forest during high tides, there must be enough oxygen in the water column of the tidal tributaries for respiration during low tides. Dissolved oxygen (DO) will be measured at each capture location utilizing a standard DO meter. Dissolved oxygen shall be measured monthly for a period of one year to establish baseline conditions and for a period of at least one year after construction to establish "with mitigation" conditions. Data representing the baseline and "with mitigation" conditions will be compared monthly by sampling station and as composited annual values.

c) Hydrological Regime

Tidal staff gauges with automated data loggers will be established in the mosquito ditches in the southern, central, and northern reaches of the mangrove forest and within tluee locations of the tidal tIibutary connecting the saltern ponds on MPNm (Hydrological Regime Monitoring Location Map). These tidal gauges will record the water levels in the mosquito ditches and tidal tributary continuously for one year prior to restoration (to establish the baseline) and for at least one year after restoration (until hydrological restoration has been demonstrated to be successful). Water depth readings will he recorded hourly to generate graphs of the hydrologic regime. Comparison of graphs with similar tidal cycles before and after restoration will illustrate the restoration of the hydrological regime.

d) Vegetative Structure and Composition

Data will be collected annually in the fall. Mangrove trees and shrubs are defmed as white, black, and red mangrove species taller than O.Sm. Aerial coverage will be detennined by measuring tree and shrub percent cover within Sm X Sm plots at randomly selected spoil piles (Vegetation Monitoring Transect Map). Percent cover of the mangrove trees and shrubs will be sununed from all quadrats and divided by the total monitored area to detennine the percent aerial coverage.

3) Mangrove Forest

The assessment areas that will be monitoring with this protocol include the following: 612A Adjacent Mangroves.

a) Fish Utilization

The fish monitoring protocol for the mangrove forests is very similar to the fish monitoring protocol for the tidal tributaries described previously. The reference sites for fish monitoring of the mangrove forest are adjacent to the monitoring sites for the tidal tributary. The reference sites include mangrove forest adjacent to the unobstructed tributary located nearby on E.G. Sinunons Park. Fish and nekton are able to access this tributary from Tampa Bay, so the fish conununity that utilizes the adjacent mangrove forest will be representative' of those species that could utilize the mangrove forest on MPMB.

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Fish will be captured utilizing Breder traps opened for 2-3 hours around high tide. Three sampling sites will be established in the southern, central, and northern reaches of the MPMB in order to document that the increase in ecological function occurred throughout the entire site (Fish and Wildlife Monitoring Location Map). One Breder trap will be established at each site. The mangrove forest will be sampled at high tide to evaJuate the ability for fish that are seeking refuge in the adjacent tidal tributaries to expand into the mangrove forest when the high tide expands out of the banks of the tidal tributary and sheet flows into the mangrove forest. Three (3) monitoring events will be conducted every quarter (4 times a year) for a total of 12 monitoring events annually. These monitOling events will coincide with the high tide bird monitoring events - full moon, new moon, and mid-moon - to adequately represent the different variations of the lunar cycle. Fish species and abundance will be recorded. Fish will be released to the greatest extend practicable. Fish unable to be identified in the field will be identified in the laboratory. Fish will be reported as resident, transient, and schoolers.

b) Water Quality

In order for fish and nekton to utilize the mangrove forest during high tides, there must be enough oxygen in the water column that spreads across the mangrove forest floor for respiration. Dissolved oxygen (DO) will be measured at each capture location utilizing a standard DO meter. Dissolved oxygen shall be measured monthly for a period of one year to establish baseline conditions and for a period of at least one year after construction to establish "with mitigation" conditions. Data representing the baseline and "with mitigatbn" conditi.ons will be compared monthly by sampling station and as composited annual values.

c) Hydrological Regime

Tidal staff gauges with automated data loggers will be established in the mangrove forest in the southern, central, and northern reaches of MPMB (Hydrological Regime Monitoring Location Map). These tidal gauges will record the water levels in the mangrove forest continuously for one year prior to restoration (to establish the baseline) and for at least one year after restoration (until hydrological restoration has been demonstrated to be successful). Water depth readings will he recorded hourly to generate graphs of the hydrologic regime. Comparison of graphs with similar tidal cycles before and after restoration will illustrate the restoration of the hydrologicaJ regime.

4) Shrub Swamp

The assessment areas that will be monitoring with this protocol include the following: 643 Shrub Swamp and 643A Shrub Swamp - Altered.

a) Fish Utilization

The fish monitoring protocol for the shrub swamp is very similar to the fish monitoring protocol for the mangrove forest described previously. The reference site for fish monitoring of the shrub swamp is adjacent to the unobstructed tributary of Wolf Branch Creek located nearby on Wolf Branch Park. Fish and nekton are able to access this creek from Tampa Bay, so the fish community that utilizes

5 Mangrove Point Mitigation Bank the adjacent shrub swamp will be representative of those species that could utilize the shrub swamp onMPMB.

Fish will be captured utilizing Breder traps opened for 2-3 hours arOlmd high tide. Three sampling sites will be established in the southem, central, and northern reaches of the MPMB in order to document that the increase in ecological function occurred throughout the entire site (Fish and Wildlife Monitoring Location Map). One Breder trap will be established at each site. The shrub swamp will be sampled at high tide to evaluate the ability for fish to expand into the shrub swamp when the high tide expands upslope of the mangrove forest. Three (3) monitoring events will be conducted every quarter (4 times a year) for a total of 12 monitoring events annually. These monitoring events will coincide with the high tide bird monitoring events - full moon, new moon, and mid-moon - to adequately represent the different variations of the lW1ar cycle. Fish species and abundance will be recorded. Fish will be released to the greatest extend practicable. Fish unable to be identified in the field will be identified in the laboratory. Fish will be reported as resident, transient, and schoolers.

b) Water Quality

In order for fish and nekton to utilize the shrub swamp during high tides, there must be enough oxygen in the water column that spreads across the shrub swamp floor for respiration. Dissolved oxygen (DO) will be measured at each capture location utilizing a standard DO meter. Dissolved oxygen shall be measured monthly for a period of one year to establish baseline conditions and for a period of at least one year after construction to establish "with mitigation" conditions. Data representing the baseline and "with mitigation" condi~ions will be compared monthly by sampling station and as composited annual values.

c) Hydrological Regime

Tidal staff gauges with automated data loggers will be established in the shrub swamp in the southern, central, and northern reaches of MPMB (Hydrological Regime Monitoring Location Map). These tidal gauges will record the water levels in the shrub swamp continuously for one year prior to restoration (to establish the baseline) and for at least one year after restoration (until hydrological restoration has been demonstrated to be successful). Water depth readings will he recorded hourly to generate graphs of the hydrologic regime. Comparison of graphs with similar tidal cycles before and after restoration will illustrate the restoration of the hydrological regime.

d) Vegetative Structure and Composition

Data will be collected annually in the fall. Percent aerial coverage will be recorded for each herbaceous species and bare groW1dJopen water within 1m X 1m plots every 50 feet along transects (Vegetation Transect Monitoring Location Map). Percent cover for each species will be summed from all quadrats and divided by the total monitored area to determine the percent aerial coverage. Percent aerial coverage will be composited for those species denoted as typical saltern species. "Typical saltern species" are those species listed by the Rorida Department of Environmental Protection as species conunonly found in salterns (FDEP 2011). Mangrove trees and shrubs are defmed as any four of the mangrove species taller than O.Sm. Aerial coverage will be determined by

6 Mangrove Point Mitigation Bank measuring tree and shrub percent cover within Sm X Sm plots along transects at the same location as the 1m X 1m herbaceous plots. Percent cover of the mangrove trees and shrubs will be summed from all quadrats and divided by the total monitored area to determine the percent aerial coverage.

S) Oligohaline Marsh

The assessment areas that will be monitoring with this protocol include the following: 647 Oligohaline Marsh, 660A Oligohaline Marsh - Altered, 743S Spoii Piles - Oligohaline Marsh, 811 Dirt Road, and 742 Borrow Pit.

a) Vegetative Structure and Composition

Data will be collected annually in the fall. Percent aerial coverage will be recorded for each herbaceous species and bare ground/open water within 1m X 1m plots every SO feet along transects (Vegetation Transect Monitoring Location .Map). Percent cover for each species will be summed from all quadrats and divided by the total monitored area to determine the percent aerial coverage. Trees and shrubs are defmed as any species taller than O.Sm. Aerial coverage will be determined by measuring tree and shrub percent cover within Sm X Sm plots along transects at the same location as the 1m X 1m herbaceous plots. Percent cover of the trees and shrubs will be summed from all quadrats and divided by the total monitored area to determine the percent aerial coverage.

6) Saltern Ponds

The saltern ponds will be connected via tidal tributaries to the waters of Tampa Bay. Since these saltern ponds are extensions of tidal tributaries, the monitoring methods for fish utilization, water quality (DO), and hydrological regime are the same as tidal tributaries. The reference site for the saltern pond fish monitoring is an undisturbed pond within the mangrove forest on adjacent E.G. Simmons Park that has unrestricted fish access (Fish and WildJife Monitoring Location Map).

The assessment areas that will be monitoring with this protocol include the following: S2S Saltern Ponds.

7) Tidal Pool

The tidal pool is connected via a tidal flat to the restored wetlands on Wolf Branch Park. This adjacent tidal flat provides foraging habitat for several wading bird and shorebirds, including several threatened and endangered species as well as the reddish egret, the rarest wading bird in North America. The bird monitoring protocol for the tidal pool is very similar to the bird monitoring protocol for the saltern described previously. The reference sites for bird monitoring of the tidal pool is the adjacent tidal flat located nearby on Wolf Branch Park (Fish and Wildlife Monitoring Location Map). The bird community that utilizes the adjacent tidal flat will be representative of those species that could utilize the tidal pool on MPMB.

The assessment areas that will be monitoring with this protocol include the following: S26 Tidal Pool (the target community type of the northern part of 742 - Borrow Pit.

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REFERENCES

Brown, J.E. 1987. Distribution and diversity of fish in Tampa Bay mangrove swamp and the effects of rotary ditching. Master's thesis, University of South Florida

Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2012. Typical saltern vegetation list accessed on September 22,2012 at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/watcr/wetlands/delineationlwetcommlsaltemhtm

Krebs, J.M., A. B. Brame, and c.c. McIvor. 2007. Altered mangrove wetlands as habitat for estuarine nekton: Are dredged and channels and tidal creeks equivalent? Bulletin of Marine Science. 80(3):389-861.

Sargent, W.B. and Carlson, P.R. Jr. 1987. The Utility of Breder traps for sampling mangrove and high marsh fish assemblages. Florida Department of Natural Resources Bureau of Marine Research, St. Petersburg, FL

Wildlands Conservation. 2008. The Effects of Saltern Restoration at Weedon Island Preserve. Final Report.Prepared for Pinellas County Environmental Foundation contract # 2005-0003-022.

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