Great Wolf Parcels

GREAT WOLF PARCELS

FLORIDA BONNETED BAT TREE CAVITY SURVEY COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA

Prepared For:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1520 Royal Palm Square Blvd. #310 Fort Myers, FL 33905

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services (USFWS) South Florida Ecological Services Field Office 1339 20th Street Vero Beach, FL 32960

Prepared By:

Earth Tech Environmental, LLC 10600 Jolea Avenue Bonita Springs, FL 34135 239.304.0030 www.eteflorida.com

March 30, 2021 Florida Bonneted Bat Tree Cavity Survey

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION ...... 3 2.0 LOCATION ...... 3 3.0 EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS ...... 4 4.0 FLORIDA BONNETED BAT (Eumops floridanus) ...... 7 5.0 SURVEY MATERIALS & METHODS ...... 8 6.0 RESULTS ...... 8 7.0 SUMMARY ...... 10 8.0 REFERENCES ...... 11

EXHIBITS

Figure 1 Site Location Map Figure 2 Aerial Map Figure 3 FLUCCS Map Figure 4 Florida Bonneted Bat Consultation Map Figure 5 Tree Cavity Locations

APPENDICES Appendix A Tree Cavity Photographs

Earth Tech Environmental, LLC www.eteflorida.com Florida Bonneted Bat Tree Cavity Survey

1.0 INTRODUCTION Earth Tech Environmental (ETE) conducted a cavity survey in January 2021 for Florida bonneted bat (FBB) (Eumops floridanus) on the property referred to as Great Wolf Parcels (Subject Property) prior to development. Tree cavities/potential roost sites were originally identified by ETE during a Protected Species Survey in August 2020.

2.0 LOCATION The Subject Property for this report consists of two adjacent parcels (Folios: 26095006187 and 26095006161) which are located on the City Gate PUD property. Specifically, the Subject Property is located on the northeast corner of the intersection of I-75 and Collier Boulevard in Collier County, Florida. According to the property boundary provided by Davidson Engineering, the Subject Property totals approximately 20.18 acres. See Figure 1 below for a location map.

Figure 1. Site Location Map

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Figure 2. Aerial Map

3.0 EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS The Subject Property is largely vacant and vegetated with upland communities. Varying amounts of exotic vegetation are present throughout the property. A water management area is found in the northwest portion. Linear cleared areas are found running north-south through the Subject Property, as well as along the northern and southern boundaries. City Gate Boulevard North borders the northern property line. See Figure 2 above for an aerial map.

The locations of the listed FLUCCS communities can be seen in Figure 3 below. See Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System (Department of Transportation, Surveying & Mapping Geographic Mapping Section, 1999) for definitions.

The Subject Property has the following surrounding land uses:

North: City Gate Blvd N/SFWMD Building/Golden Gate Canal/Residential East: Collier County Sports Complex & Event Center South: Collier County Sports Complex & Event Center/Lake West: City Gate (undeveloped)

The Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council’s (FLEPPC) list of invasive species contain Category I and Category II species that may be found on the Subject Property. Category I species are invasive exotics that are altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives (FLEPPC). Category II species are invasive exotics that are increasing

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in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant communities (FLEPPC). A significant factor in mapping vegetative associations and local habitats is the invasion of these species such as Brazilian pepper, ear leaf acacia, melaleuca, Caesar weed, and air potato. Levels of exotic density were mapped by using field observations and photo interpretation as shown in Figure 3. Modifiers, or “E” designators, are appended to the FLUCCS codes to indicate the approximate density of exotics in the canopy and/or sub-canopy.

TABLE 1. FLUCCS COMMUNITIES AND CORRESPONDING ACREAGES FLUCCS CODE DESCRIPTION ACREAGE 186 Community Recreational Facilities (under construction 1.57 321-E1 Palmetto Prairies (<25% Exotics) 0.07 411-E1 Pine Flatwoods (<25% Exotics) 9.38 411-E2 Pine Flatwoods (26-50% Exotics) 5.02 740 Disturbed Lands 1.23 742 Water Management Areas 2.39 814 Roadways 0.52 Site Total: 20.18

E1 = <25% Total Exotic Coverage E2 = 26-50% Total Exotic Coverage E3 = 51-75% Total Exotic Coverage E4 = >75% Total Exotic Coverage

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Figure 3. FLUCCS Map

FLUCCS 186 This community is found in the southwest corner of the property and consists of the Sports Park development.

FLUCCS 321-E1, Palmetto Prairies (<25% Exotics) This community is found as a small area in the southwest corner and is dominated by saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) with scattered slash pine (Pinus elliottii) in the canopy.

FLUCCS 411-E1, Pine Flatwoods (<25% Exotics) This community makes up the majority of the eastern portion of the property with low levels of exotic vegetation. It is dominated by slash pine with fewer cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto). The mid-story consists of saw palmetto, earleaf acacia (Acacia auriculiformis), myrsine (Myrsine cubana), buckthorn (Sideroxylon tenax), and lesser amounts of scattered bald cypress (Taxodium distichum). Groundcover consists of beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), brackenfern (Pteridum aquilinum), greenbrier (Smilax spp.), and grapevine (Vitis rotundifolia).

FLUCCS 411-E2, Pine Flatwoods (26-50% Exotics) This community is found on the southwestern portion of the property. It contains similar vegetation as the 411-E1 community above, though with greater levels of exotic vegetation, primarily earleaf acacia.

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FLUCCS 740, Disturbed Land Disturbed lands are those which have been changed primarily from human activities. On the site, these areas consist of trails and previously cleared areas.

FLUCCS 742, Water Management Areas This community is found in the northwest corner of the property, as well as running linearly north-south through the property and generally consist of collection areas in association with water management.

FLUCCS 814, Roadways This area is found running parallel to City Gate Boulevard North along the northern property boundary.

4.0 FLORIDA BONNETED BAT (Eumops floridanus) The Florida bonneted bat was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 by the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) on November 1, 2013. The project area falls within the United States Fish and Wildlife Service’s Florida bonneted bat Consultation Area (See Figure 4).

According to the USFWS Florida Bonneted Bat Guidelines (October 2019), the following cavity characteristics are used to identify potential cavity trees:

• Slash pine, longleaf pine, royal palm, cypress (typically in snags, but can be in live trees) • Rounded cavities made by woodpeckers • Trees >33 feet in height, >8 inch diameter at breast height (DBH), with cavity elevation >16 feet • Cavity opening ≥1 inch

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Figure 4. Florida Bonneted Bat Consultation Map

5.0 SURVEY MATERIALS & METHODS During the August 2020 Protected Species Survey, each habitat community was searched for potential cavities. This was accomplished using a series of transects throughout each vegetation community. If necessary, transect integrity was maintained using a handheld GPS in track mode.

If any suspected roost sites/cavities were identified, they were initially evaluated for activity by looking for the presence of guano and noise associated with roost chatter. Each suspected roost location or cavity was flagged, numbered, and recorded utilizing a Trimble GPS for identification.

During the cavity peeping activities conducted in January 2021, each flagged tree cavity was inspected using a pole-mounted cavity inspection camera and the contents of each cavity were documented. Photographic documentation can be found in Appendix A.

If the size of the cavity opening and interior of the cavity permitted, the cavity was inspected first with the camera pointing up and then with the camera pointing down. The cavity inspection camera measures approximately 1’’ x 1.25.’’ Cavities that were smaller than the inspection camera were not inspected. The telescoping inspection pole extends to approximately 30 feet; any cavities higher than 30 feet were not inspected.

6.0 RESULTS The following section describes the results of the cavity survey within the project area.

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The cavity survey was conducted on August 28th, 2020 and the cavity peeping activities occurred on January 7th, 2021. Table 2 describes the results of each cavity inspection. No visual/audible indications (presence of guano, noise/chatter, etc.) were observed at any the cavity trees. A photo log of cavity trees that were able to be peeped are attached in Appendix A. A total of six (6) cavity trees were initially identified/flagged (see Figure 5 below). Several of the cavities were either too small/shallow or too high to peep.

Figure 5. Tree Cavity Locations

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TABLE 2. TREE CAVITY INFORMATION TREE CAVITY CONDITION AND HEIGHT OF CAVITY INSPECTION STATUS NUMBER SPECIES OF TREE (FT) Cavity A: 35.5 Cavity A: Did not peep – Obstruction 1 Dead Slash Pine Cavity B: 37 Cavity B: Did not peep – Too shallow Cavity A: 40+ Cavity A: Did not peep- Too high/ small 2 Dead slash pine Cavity B: 40+ Cavity B: Did not peep- Too high/ small Cavity C: 40+ Cavity C: Did not peep- Too high/ small 3 Dead slash pine 40+ Did not peep- Too high Cavity A: 20 Cavity A: Vacant Cavity B: 24 Cavity B: Vacant 4 Dead slash pine Cavity C: 30 Cavity C: Did not peep- Too high Cavity D: 36 Cavity D: Did not peep- Too high Cavity A: 40+ Cavity A: Did not peep- Too high Cavity B: 40+ Cavity B: Did not peep- Too high 5 Dead slash pine Cavity C: 40+ Cavity C: Did not peep- Too high Cavity D: 40+ Cavity D: Did not peep- Too high South South Cavity A: 27 Cavity A: Did not peep- Too small Cavity B: 28 Cavity B: Did not peep- Too small Cavity C: 34 Cavity C: Did not peep- Too high Cavity D: 35 Cavity D: Did not peep- Too high Cavity E: 37 Cavity E: Did not peep- Too high 6 Dead slash pine North North Cavity A: 38 Cavity A: Did not peep- Too high Cavity B: 40+ Cavity B: Did not peep- Too high Cavity C: 40+ Cavity C: Did not peep- Too high Cavity D: 40+ Cavity D: Did not peep- Too high Cavity E: 40+ Cavity E: Did not peep- Too high

7.0 SUMMARY ETE conducted a search for potential Florida bonneted bat cavities/potential roost sites on the Great Wolf Parcels property in January 2021. Six (6) tree cavities were initially identified during a Protected Species Survey that was conducted in August 2020. The six (6) cavities were inspected in which no apparent signs of Florida bonneted bats or roosting were observed during the cavity survey.

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8.0 REFERENCES

Collier County Property Appraiser. http://www.collierappraiser.com

Florida’s Bonneted Bat Consultation Guidelines. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. South Florida Ecological Services Office. October 2019.

“Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species”- Official List. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Updated December 2018. http://myfwc.com/media/1515251/threatened-endangered-species.pdf http://myfwc.com/imperiledspecies/

Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. “2019 FLEPPC List of Invasive Plant Species.” www.fleppc.org

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 2011a. Florida bonneted bat biological status review report. March 31, 2011. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Tallahassee, Florida.

Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification (FLUCCS) Handbook. Florida Department of Transportation. January 1999. http://www.fdot.gov/geospatial/documentsandpubs/fluccmanual1999.pdf http://www.fdot.gov/geospatial/doc_pubs.shtm

Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 2012. FNAI - element tracking summary. Tallahassee, Florida. June 20, 2012. http://www.fnai.org/trackinglist.cfm [Accessed: July 10, 2012].

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APPENDIX A

TREE CAVITY PHOTOGRAPHS

Earth Tech Environmental, LLC www.eteflorida.com Great Wolf Parcels: Tree Cavity Photographs

Tree Cavity 1 A (35.5’), B (37’)

External View – Did not peep, cavity A obstructed, cavity B too shallow