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2011 South Florida Conservation Report

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2011 South Florida Conservation Report U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 2011 South Florida Conservation Report From Our Field Supervisor: Our work to address Our Common History, environmental contaminants in Our Common Future south Florida, recover imperiled species, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a species and estuaries to the south. We rich conservation history in south Florida. have begun the C-111 Spreader Canal restore coastal President Theodore Roosevelt created Project to rehydrate Taylor Slough in Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge Everglades National Park. We have in 1903, the first refuge in our country started the important work needed habitats and develop and a cornerstone of today’s world- to restore Biscayne Bay. Ground was renowned refuge system. Our ecological broken on the Site 1 Impoundment landscape conservation services office has been a central part of Project, which will provide water storage south Florida conservation for over half a considered essential to restoring the century and was one of the first offices of Everglades’ health and viability. Ground approaches through its kind. was also broken on the Faka Union canal pump station at the Picayune Strand. our regulatory tools is Water infrastructure projects in the More projects are needed and on the way. 20th Century had significant unintended Restoration is the best hope we have for negative consequences, causing dramatic recovery of some of our most endangered a key part of broader declines in bird life and a downward spiral birds. in the health of the ecosystem. Habitat efforts to conserve loss from development and the damage Our work to address environmental from invasive species such as melaleuca, contaminants in south Florida, recover Brazilian pepper and Old World climbing imperiled species, restore coastal habitats south Florida’s natural fern took a toll on our environment and and develop landscape conservation continue to have a negative impact. approaches through our regulatory heritage. More recently, invasive reptiles like tools is a key part of broader efforts to the Burmese python have further conserve south Florida’s natural heritage. complicated our conservation mission. The relationships we have built are our conservation force multiplier, helping While these threats were emerging to bring as many tools to the table as during the 20th Century, another change possible and to achieve the greatest was occurring. People saw the decline potential benefits for our trust resources. of our environment and demanded conservation. Government agencies, These tools are extremely important as farmers, ranchers, environmental we tackle the challenge of climate change, organizations and others set differences the transformational conservation aside and rethought water infrastructure. question of our time. In this adversity is opportunity. We can rewrite the This diverse array of partners spoke with conservation playbook, envision what the one voice and convinced the country to future will bring and force ourselves to try something new: restoration at the ask how the decisions of today will stand ecosystem scale with a cost of billions up to the conditions of tomorrow. and a time horizon of decades. The partnership culminated in the Water This is an exciting time to work in Resources Act of 2000, which officially conservation. We have a unique launched the Comprehensive Everglades opportunity to restore an ecosystem, Restoration Plan. recover imperiled species and help lead the transformation of conservation policy We have now reached a pivotal point in required in the face of climate change. the history of Everglades restoration: We have much to be proud of in south Paul Souza, Field Supervisor from planning to turning dirt. We broke Florida, but our work has only begun. South Florida Ecological Services Field ground on a 1-mile bridge along the Office, credit Denise Ritchie. Tamiami Trail to begin restoring water Front cover photo: a Florida scrub-jay flow. We launched an important next prepares to explore its habitat, credit phase of the Picayune Strand Restoration Vince Lamb. project to benefit panthers, many other A Landscape Conservation Cooperative in Peninsular Florida Strategic Habitat Conservation (SHC) is We’re fortunate in peninsular Florida to Another example is the statewide a science-based framework for making have many forward thinking partners habitat conservation plan for sea turtles management decisions about where and such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife and coastal habitat we’re developing how to deliver conservation efficiently to Conservation Commission who have with partners across Florida. The achieve specific biological outcomes. already led a broad public dialogue innovative use of conservation banking to on shared responsibilities. This LCC strategically locate, acquire and manage We’re talking with many partners to would build upon the work that has been important habitat for imperiled species is create shared conservation priorities and accomplished by many partners to date. one more. a Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) to realize this vision. A network of partnerships within the Our challenge is to take SHC to the Department of the Interior and beyond is next level through the creation of an SHC is a way of thinking and of doing answering key scientific questions such as LCC, which will help us set conservation business that requires us to set specific “How much flow do we need to restore priorities with our diverse array of biological goals, allows us to make the Everglades?” and “How can we partners, target the greatest needs and strategic decisions about our work, and conserve populations of species to ensure improve results on the ground. encourages us to constantly reassess they can reap the benefits of restoration and improve our actions. We have an when it is accomplished?” increasingly urgent need to embrace a strategic approach due to a rapidly Many facets of SHC are showcased in changing world. Fortunately, SHC is alive this conservation report. One example is and well in south Florida. Its five basic the Picayune Strand Restoration Project, elements are: a 55,000-acre, crown jewel restoration project that will benefit the Florida n Setting Targets – Biological Planning; panther and other species. n Developing a Plan to Meet the Goals – Conservation Design; n Implementing the Plan – Conservation Delivery; n Measuring Success and Managing Adaptively – Outcome-Based Monitoring; and n The Iterative Process of Improving – Assumption-Based Research. One of the most ambitious restoration projects in the world is underway right here in south Florida. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan will help return many of the ecosystem functions of the past and help populations of imperiled species rebound. A science and monitoring program required under Everglades restoration — the Monitoring and Assessment Plan — will inform adaptive management and help us know when we’ve met biological targets. An egret catches rays from the rising sun, credit Jessie Dickinson. Climate Change Florida is feeling the effects of global warming. We are reviewing current science on climate change factors such as increasing temperature, changing rainfall patterns and sea level rise when evaluating activities in south Florida that affect listed species and Manatees like this one could be adversely affected by climate change. As sea level their habitats. rises and is accompanied by other impacts to water quality, the seagrasses manatees rely on as a primary food source will likely be negatively impacted. Rising sea levels Our actions to date include: may also cause saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers and coastal waters that provide freshwater vegetation and drinking water for manatees, credit Larry Linton. n developing a temperature model; We’re working with the Massachusetts Major outputs of the study will include n monitoring indicators of climate change; Institute of Technology (MIT) and data that characterizes the potential the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) impacts on the Everglades from n focusing on conserving priority species; to develop regional-scale “alternative climate change and will provide needed futures” that spatially simulate likely information for strategic habitat n developing partnerships with climatic, hydrologic and land use conservation planning efforts in south traditional and untraditional partners; conditions in the decades ahead. Florida. n implementing proactive land The collaboration will examine the conservation efforts (leverage partners impacts of such changes on animals to acquire habitat); and plants and their habitats in the Everglades and Florida Keys ecosystems. n monitoring shifting shorelines (habitat Possible impacts to south Florida’s changes that affect coastal species); and vulnerable national wildlife refuges will n implementing teleworking and using be a key focus in our assessment work hybrid vehicles for office staff (to with MIT and USGS. reduce the office’s carbon footprint). Florida Panthers: A Priority Focus Recovery will require partnerships, the tireless work of many and a long-term commitment. We and our partners must continue to work together to conserve habitat, carefully monitor genetic integrity, build highway crossings to allow safe passage and encourage everyone in Florida to contribute. While the challenges are daunting, we also have some success stories to share and reason for hope. By the early 1990s, when the panther population was only 20 to 30 animals, it became clear genetic problems
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