March 6, 2018

Louie Dimillo Summerpark Homes 2981 West State Road 434, Suite 100 Longwood, Florida 32779

Proj: First Place Subdivision Site - Polk County, Florida Parcel IDs: 27-26-12-000000-034030 and 27-26-12-000000-032250 Section 12, Township 26 South, Range 27 East (BTC File # 160-03) Re: Wildlife Survey Report

Dear Mr. Dimillo:

During February of 2018, Bio-Tech Consulting, Inc. (BTC) conducted an environmental assessment, including a wildlife survey, of the approximately 26.94-acre First Place Subdivision site. This site is located on the north side of Old School House Road East, just south of the insection of Ronald Reagan Parkway and Lee Jackson Highway (U.S. Highway 547); within Section 12, Township 26 South, Range 27 East, in unincorporated Polk County, Florida (Figures 1, 2, and 3). This environmental assessment includes the following elements.

• Review of the soil types within the project boundaries; • field evaluation of land use types/vegetative communities; and, • field review for occurrence of protected flora and fauna.

SOILS

According to the Soil Survey of Polk County, Florida, prepared by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), three (3) soil types occur within the site boundaries (Figure 4). These soil types include the following:

Louie Dimillo, Summerpark Homes First Place Subdivision Site – Polk County, Florida (BTC File #160-03) Wildlife Survey Report Page 2 of 7

• Samsula muck, frequently ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes (#13) • Tavares fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes (#15) • Placid and Myakka fine sands, depressional (#25) • Astatula sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes (#46) • Astatula sand, 5 to 12 percent slopes (#88)

The following presents a brief description of each of the soil types mapped for the site:

Samsula muck, frequently ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes (#13) is a very poorly drained organic soil found in swamps and marshes. The surface layer of this soil type generally consists of black to dark reddish brown muck to a depth of about 31 inches. Samsula soil has a seasonal high water table at or above the surface except during extended dry periods. Permeability of this soil type is rapid.

Tavares fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes (#15) is a moderately well drained soil found on broad uplands and knolls on the flatwoods. The surface layer of this soil type generally consists of dark grayish brown fine sand about 8 inches thick. The seasonal high water table for this soil type is at a depth of 40 to 80 inches for several months in most years. Permeability of this soil type is rapid or very rapid.

Placid and Myakka fine sands, depressional (#25) are very poorly drained soils found in depressions mostly on the flatwoods. The surface layer of this soil type generally consists of black fine sand about 18 inches thick. Placid soil is ponded for at least 6 months during most years. Permeability of this soil type is rapid.

Astatula sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes (#46) is an excessively drained soil found on sandy upland ridges. The surface layer of this soil type generally consists of dark gray sand about 7 inches thick. Astatula soil does not have a water table within a depth of 72 inches. Permeability of this soil type is very rapid.

Astatula sand, 5 to 12 percent slopes (#88) is an excessively drained, sloping to moderately steep soil found around sinks and depressions and on the side slopes of high sand ridges. Typically, the surface layer is gray fine sand about 3 inches thick. The water table is always below 80 inches and is usually below 120 inches. Permeability of this soil type is very rapid.

The Florida Association of Environmental Soil Scientists (FAESS) considers the main components of the Samsula muck, frequently ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes (#13) and Placid and Myakka fine sands, depressional (#25) soil types associated with the site to be hydric. The FAESS also considers inclusions present in the Samsula muck, frequently ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes (#13) and Placid and Myakka fine sands, depressional (#25) soil types associated with the site to be hydric. This information can be found in the Hydric Soils of Florida Handbook, Fourth Edition, March 2007.

Louie Dimillo, Summerpark Homes First Place Subdivision Site – Polk County, Florida (BTC File #160-03) Wildlife Survey Report Page 3 of 7

LAND USE TYPES/VEGETATIVE COMMUNITIES

The First Place Subdivision Site currently supports two (2) land use types/vegetative communities. These land use types/vegetative communities were identified utilizing the Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System, Level III (FLUCFCS, FDOT, January 1999) (Figure 5). The on-site upland community is classified as Improved Pasture (211). The on-site wetland/surface water community is classified as Wetland Forested Mixed (630). The following provides a brief description of each of these on-site land use types/vegetative communities:

Uplands:

211 Improved Pasture

The uplands existing on the site consist of improved pastureland. This area was historically a citrus grove which has since been converted to improved pasture. This community is most consistent with the Improved Pasture (211) FLUCFCS classification. Vegetation observed within this community type included bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), prickly pear cactus (Opuntia humifusa), laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia), black cherry (Prunus serotina) golden raintree (Koelreuteria paniculata), saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), sabal palm (Sabal palmetto), greenbriar (Smilax spp.) passion flower (Passiflora incarnata), and muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia).

Wetlands/Surface Waters:

630 Wetland Forested Mixed

The forested wetland system identified on-site was observed within the north-central portion of the site. This community is most consistent with the Wetland Forested Mixed (630) classification. Vegetation identified within this community included sweet bay (Magnolia virginiana), red maple (Acer rubrum), slash pine (Pinus elliottii), broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus), cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea), cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto), muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia), and wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera).

WILDLIFE AND PROTECTED SPECIES

Using methodologies outlined in the Florida’s Fragile Wildlife (Wood, 2001); Measuring and Monitoring Biological Diversity Standard Methods for Mammals (Wilson, et al., 1996); and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FFWCCs) Gopher Tortoise Permitting Guidelines (revised May 2017); an assessment for “listed” floral and faunal species was conducted at the site on February 26, 2018. This survey, included both direct observations and indirect evidence, such as tracks, burrows, tree markings and birdcalls that indicated the presence of species observed. The survey focused on species that are “listed” by the FFWCC’s Official Louie Dimillo, Summerpark Homes First Place Subdivision Site – Polk County, Florida (BTC File #160-03) Wildlife Survey Report Page 4 of 7

Lists - Florida’s Endangered Species, Threatened Species and Species of Special Concern (May 2017) that have the potential to occur in Polk County (Table 1). No plant species “listed” by either the state or federal agencies were identified on the site during the assessments conducted. The following is a list of those wildlife species identified during the evaluation of the property:

Reptiles and Amphibians brown anole (Norops sagrei) eastern black racer (Coluber constrictor) gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) green anole (Anolis carolinensis)

Birds Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

Mammals coyote (Canis latrans) eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) northern raccoon (Procyon lotor) Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

One (1) of the above wildlife species, the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), is identified in the FFWCC’s Official Lists - Florida’s Endangered Species, Threatened Species and Species of Special Concern (May 2017). The following provides a brief description of this wildlife species as it relates to the development of the property.

Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) State Listed as “Threatened” by FFWCC

Gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) have been identified within the site boundary. Currently the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is classified as a “Category 2 Candidate Species” by USFWS, and as of September 2007, is now classified as “Threatened” by FFWCC, and as “Threatened” by FCREPA. The basis of the “Threatened” classification by the FFWCC for the gopher tortoise is due to habitat loss and destruction of burrows.

Gopher tortoises are commonly found in areas with well-drained soils associated with xeric pine- oak hammock, scrub, pine flatwoods, pastures and abandoned citrus groves. Several other protected species known to occur in Polk County have a possibility of occurring in this area, as Louie Dimillo, Summerpark Homes First Place Subdivision Site – Polk County, Florida (BTC File #160-03) Wildlife Survey Report Page 5 of 7

they are gopher tortoise commensal species. These species include the eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi), Florida mouse (Podomys floridanus), and the gopher frog (Rana capito). However, none of these species were observed during the survey conducted.

The site was surveyed for the existence of gopher tortoises through the use of pedestrian transects. Fifty-two (52) active/inactive gopher tortoise burrows were observed and recorded using GPS technology (Figure 6). Based on fifty-two (52) potentially occupied burrows, it is estimated that approximately thirty-two (32) gopher tortoises may occupy these burrows. This number is based on a factored occupation rate of 0.614 (Affenburg-Franz). Therefore, for the purpose of estimating costs associated with the site, as many as thirty-two (32) gopher tortoises are estimated to occupy these burrows.

The FFWCC provides three (3) options for developers that have gopher tortoises on their property. These options include: 1) avoidance (i.e., 25-foot buffer around burrow), 2) preservation of habitat, and 3) off-site relocation. As such, resolution of the gopher tortoise issue will need to be permitted through FFWCC prior to any construction activities.

Based on the tortoise population that exists on the site and the expected residential development plan, there is only one (1) potential option for resolving the gopher tortoise issue. This option is off-site relocation and would require that any gopher tortoises within twenty-five (25) feet of the proposed construction activities be relocated off-site to an approved recipient site.

Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) State protected by F.A.C. 68A-16.002 and federally protected by both the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (1918) and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (1940)

In August of 2007, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) removed the Bald Eagle from the list of federally endangered and threatened species. Additionally, the Bald Eagle was removed from FFWCC’s imperiled species list in April of 2008. Although the Bald Eagle is no longer protected under the Endangered Species Act, it is still protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and FFWCC’s Bald Eagle rule (Florida Administrative Code 68A-16.002 Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus Leuchocephalus).

In May of 2007, the USFWS issued the National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines. In April of 2008, the FFWCC adopted a new Bald Eagle Management Plan that was written to closely follow the federal guidelines. Under FFWCC’s new management plans, buffer zones are recommended based on the nature and magnitude of the project or activity. The recommended protective buffer zone is 660 feet or less from the nest tree, depending on what activities or structures are already near the nest. A FFWCC Eagle permit is not needed for any activity occurring outside of the 660-foot buffer zone. No activities are permitted within 330 feet of a nest during the nesting season, October 1 through May 15 or when eagles are present at the nest.

Louie Dimillo, Summerpark Homes First Place Subdivision Site – Polk County, Florida (BTC File #160-03) Wildlife Survey Report Page 6 of 7

In addition to the on-site evaluation for “listed” species, BTC conducted a review for any FFWCC recorded Bald Eagle nests on or in the vicinity of the site. This review revealed that there is one Bald Eagle nest (ID #PO-172), through the 2016-2017 nesting season, within one (1.0) mile of the site. According to FFWCC, Bald Eagle nest ID #PO172 is located 4,646 feet (southeast) from the site boundary. Since the site is located outside of the 660-foot buffer zone for this nest, no further action should be required pertaining to Bald Eagle nests.

Wood Stork (Mycteria Americana) Federally Listed as “Endangered” by USFWS

It should also be noted that the site is located within a Wood Stork Nesting Colony Core Foraging Area. The Wood Stork (Mycteria Americana) is listed as “Endangered” by both the FFWCC and the USFWS. Wood storks are large, long-legged wading birds, about 45 inches tall, with a wingspan of 60 to 65 inches. Their plumage is white except for black primaries and secondaries and a short black tail. The head and neck are largely unfeathered and dark gray in color. The bill is black, thick at the base, and slightly decurved. Wood Storks are birds of freshwater and estuarine wetlands, primarily nesting in cypress or mangrove swamps. They feed in freshwater marshes, narrow tidal creeks, or flooded tidal pools as well as roadside ditches. Particularly attractive feeding sites are depressions in marshes or swamps where fish become concentrated during periods of falling water levels.

Based on our review of available databases, there is no record of a Wood Stork rookery on the property or within close proximity. The USFWS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) require that any impacts to on-site ditches and/or wetlands, which would eliminate a portion of the Wood Stork foraging habitat, be either mitigated through the purchase of mitigation credits or recreated elsewhere on-site so that there would be no net loss of Wood Stork foraging habitat.

The environmental limitations described in this document are based on observations and technical information available on the date of the on-site evaluation. This report is for general planning purposes only. The limits of any on-site wetlands/surface waters can only be determined and verified through field delineation and/or on-site review by the pertinent regulatory agencies. The wildlife surveys conducted within the subject property boundaries do not preclude the potential for any listed species, as noted on Table 1 (attached), currently or in the future.

Louie Dimillo, Summerpark Homes First Place Subdivision Site – Polk County, Florida (BTC File #160-03) Wildlife Survey Report Page 7 of 7

Should you have any questions or require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (407) 894-5969. Thank you.

Regards,

Nathan Johnson Field Biologist

Joseph Galletti Vice President

attachments Legend

First Place Subdivision

Sources: Esri, HERE, DeLorme, USGS, Intermap, INCREMENT P, NRCan, Esri Japan, METI, Esri China (Hong Kong), Esri Korea, Esri (Thailand), MapmyIndia, NGCC, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community

0 0.25 0.5 1 First Place Subdivision Miles Polk County, Florida Project #: 160-03 Figure 1 ² Produced By: NTJ Location Map Date: 3/6/2018 Legend

First Place Subdivision

0 100 200 400 First Place Subdivision Feet Polk County, Florida Project #: 160-03 Figure 2 ² Produced By: NTJ 2017 Aerial Photograph Date: 3/6/2018 Legend First Place Subdivision

0 150 300 600 First Place Subdivision Feet Polk County, Florida Project #: 160-03 Figure 3 ² Produced By: NTJ USGS Topographic Map Date: 3/6/2018 2 25 47 17 3

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35 15

58 13

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88 13 35

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46

15 Legend First Place Subdivision

Polk County Soils 17 13 : Samsula muck, frequently ponded, 0 to 1 percent slopes

15 : Tavares fine sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes 88 25 : Placid and Myakka fine sands, depressional 3 46 : Astatula sand, 0 to15 5 percent slopes 21 36 88 : Astatula sand, 5 to 12 percent slopes

0 100 200 400 First Place Subdivision Feet Polk County, Florida Project #: 160-03 Figure 4 ² Produced By: NTJ USDA - NRCS Soils Map Date: 3/6/2018 630

211

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First Place Subdivision FLUCFCS 211, Improved Pastures

630, Wetland Forested Mixed

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¶[ GT Burrows (52)

Survey Tracklog

0 100 200 400 First Place Subdivision Feet Polk County, Florida Project #: 160-03 Figure 6 ² Produced By: NTJ Wildlife Survey Map Date: 3/6/2018 Table 1: Potentially Occurring Listed Wildlife and Plant Species in Polk County, Florida

Scientific Name Common Name Federal State Status Status REPTILES Alligator mississippiensis American alligator SAT FT(S/A) Drymarchon corais couperi eastern indigo snake LT FT Gopherus polyphemus gopher tortoise C ST Lampropeltis extenuata short-tailed snake N ST Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus Florida pine snake N SSC Plestiodon egregius lividus blue-tailed mole skink LT FT Plestiodon reynoldsi sand skink LT FT BIRDS Ammodramus savannarum floridanus Florida grasshopper sparrow LE FE Aphelocoma coerulescens Florida scrub-jay LT FT Athene cunicularia floridana burrowing owl N ST Caracara cheriway Crested Caracara LT FT Egretta caerulea little blue heron N ST Egretta tricolor tricolored heron N SSC Falco sparverius paulus southeastern American kestrel N ST Grus canadensis pratensis Florida sandhill crane N ST Haliaeetus leucocephalus bald eagle N ** Mycteria americana wood stork LT FT Pandion haliaetus osprey N SSC* Picoides borealis red-cockaded woodpecker LE FE Platalea ajaja roseate spoonbill N ST Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus Everglade snail kite LE N Rynchops niger black skimmer N ST MAMMALS Eumops floridanus Florida bonneted bat LE FE Sciurus niger shermani Sherman's fox squirrel N SSC VASCULAR PLANTS Bonamia grandiflora Florida bonamia LT E Calamintha ashei Ashe's savory N T Calopogon multiflorus Many-flowered Grass-pink N T Centrosema arenicola Sand Butterfly Pea N E Chionanthus pygmaeus pygmy fringe tree LE E Chrysopsis highlandsensis Highlands Goldenaster N E Cladonia perforata Perforate Reindeer Lichen LE E Clitoria fragrans scrub pigeon-wing LT E Coelorachis tuberculosa Piedmont Jointgrass N T Conradina brevifolia short-leaved rosemary LE E Crotalaria avonensis Avon Park rabbit-bells LE E Dicerandra frutescens scrub mint LE E Drosera intermedia spoon-leaved sundew N T Eriogonum longifolium var gnaphalifolium scrub buckwheat LT E Hartwrightia floridana hartwrightia N T Hypericum cumulicola Highlands scrub hypericum LE E Hypericum edisonianum Edison's ascyrum N E Illicium parviflorum star anise N E Lechea cernua nodding pinweed N T Lechea divaricata pine pinweed N E Liatris ohlingerae Florida blazing star LE E Lupinus aridorum scrub lupine LE E Matelea floridana Florida spiny-pod N E Nemastylis floridana Celestial Lily N E Nolina brittoniana Britton's beargrass LE E Ophioglossum palmatum hand fern N E Panicum abscissum cutthroat grass N E Paronychia chartacea ssp chartacea paper-like nailwort LT E Pecluma plumula Plume Polypody N E Pecluma ptilodon Swamp Plume Polypody N E Peperomia humilis Terrestrial Peperomia N E Platanthera integra Yellow Fringeless Orchid N E Polygala lewtonii Lewton's polygala LE E Polygonella basiramia Florida Jointweed LE E Polygonella myriophylla Small's jointweed LE E Prunus geniculata scrub plum LE E Pteroglossaspis ecristata Giant Orchid N T Rhynchospora megaplumosa Large-plumed Beaksedge N E Salix floridana Florida willow N E Schizachyrium niveum Scrub Bluestem N E Stylisma abdita scrub stylisma N E Thelypteris serrata Toothed Maiden Fern N E Warea amplexifolia clasping warea LE E Warea carteri Carter's warea LE E Zephyranthes simpsonii Redmargin Zephyrlily N T Ziziphus celata scrub ziziphus LE E

FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS

LE-Endangered: species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. LT-Threatened: species likely to become Endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range. SAT-Endangered due to similarity of appearance to a species which is federally listed such that enforcement personnel have difficulty in attempting to differentiate between the listed and unlisted species. C-Candidate species for which federal listing agencies have sufficient information on biological vulnerability and threats to support proposing to list the species as Endangered or Threatened. XN-Non-essential experimental population. N-Not currently listed, nor currently being considered for listing as Endangered or Threatened.

STATE LEGAL STATUS - ANIMALS

FE- Listed as Endangered Species at the Federal level by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service FT- Listed as Threatened Species at the Federal level by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service FXN- Federal listed as an experimental population in Florida FT(S/A)- Federal Threatened due to similarity of appearance ST- State population listed as Threatened by the FFWCC. Defined as a species, subspecies, or isolated population which is acutely vulnerable to environmental alteration, declining in number at a rapid rate, or whose range or habitat is decreasing in area at a rapid rate and as a consequence is destined or very likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future. SSC-Listed as Species of Special Concern by the FFWCC. Defined as a population which warrants special protection, recognition, or consideration because it has an inherent significant vulnerability to habitat modification, environmental alteration, human disturbance, or substantial human exploitation which, in the foreseeable future, may result in its becoming a threatened species. (SSC* for Pandion haliaetus (Osprey) indicates that this status applies in Monroe county only.) N-Not currently listed, nor currently being considered for listing.

** State protected by F.A.C. 68A-16.002 and federally protected by both the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (1918) and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (1940)

STATE LEGAL STATUS - PLANTS

E-Endangered: species of plants native to Florida that are in imminent danger of extinction within the state, the survival of which is unlikely if the causes of a decline in the number of plants continue; includes all species determined to be endangered or threatened pursuant to the U.S. Endangered Species Act. T-Threatened: species native to the state that are in rapid decline in the number of plants within the state, but which have not so decreased in number as to cause them to be Endangered.

N-Not currently listed, nor currently being considered for listing. 2/21/2018 Print Bald Eagle Nest Data

This report w as generated using the bald eagle nest locator at https:/ / public.myfwc.com/ FWRI/ EagleNests/ nestlocator.aspx on 2/ 21/ 2018 8:56:32 AM.

Search Entered: Within 1 miles of latitude 28.239076 and longitude -81.568879; All Search Results

1 record(s) were found; 1 record(s) are shown

Bald Eagle Nest Map:

Map dataReport ©2018 a map Google error

Results per page: Bald Eagle Nest Data Search Results: All

Last Last Nest Tow n- Ran- Sec- Gaz Act Act Act Act Act Dist. County Latitude Longitude Know n Sur- ID ship ge tion P age 13 14 15 16 17 (Mi) Active veyed PO172 Polk 28 13.81 81 33.51 26S 27E 13 85 2013 2013 * Y * * * 0.88 "Y" denotes an active nest "U" denotes a nest that was visited but status was undetermined "N" denotes an inactive nest "*" denotes a nest that was not surveyed "-" denotes an unobserved nest

https://public.myfwc.com/FWRI/EagleNests/PrintData.aspx 1/1