ASHTON PLACE (F.K.A. ORANGE RIVER 130) LISTED SPECIES MANAGEMENT PLAN April 2021 Prepared For: 11400 Orange River LLC 2970 Luckie Road Westin, Florida 33331 (305) 992-8467 Prepared By: Passarella & Associates, Inc. 13620 Metropolis Avenue, Suite 200 Fort Myers, Florida 33912 (239) 274-0067 Project No. 20ORL3287 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Lee County Protected Species Survey ............................................................................... 1 3.0 Site Plan ............................................................................................................................. 2 4.0 Florida Pine Snake Management Plan .............................................................................. 3 4.1 Biology ................................................................................................................... 3 4.2 Management Plan................................................................................................... 3 5.0 Wood Stork and Listed Wading Bird Management Plan................................................... 3 5.1 Management Plan................................................................................................... 4 6.0 Least Tern Management Plan ............................................................................................ 4 7.0 Florida Black Bear Management Plan ............................................................................... 4 7.1 Biology ................................................................................................................... 4 7.2 Management Plan................................................................................................... 5 8.0 Florida Panther Management Plan ..................................................................................... 5 8.1 Biology ................................................................................................................... 5 8.2 Management Plan................................................................................................... 6 9.0 Big Cypress Fox Squirrel Management Plan ..................................................................... 6 9.1 Biology ................................................................................................................... 6 9.2 Pre-Construction Surveys ...................................................................................... 7 9.3 Management Plan................................................................................................... 7 i Table of Contents (Continued) Page 10.0 Florida Bonneted Bat Management Plan ........................................................................... 7 10.1 Biology ................................................................................................................... 7 10.2 Pre-Construction Surveys ...................................................................................... 8 10.3 Management Plan................................................................................................... 8 11.0 Human-Wildlife Coexistence Plan .................................................................................... 9 11.1 Wading Bird ........................................................................................................... 9 11.2 Florida Black Bear ................................................................................................. 9 11.3 Florida Panther ....................................................................................................... 9 11.4 Big Cypress Fox Squirrel ..................................................................................... 10 11.5 Florida Pine Snake ............................................................................................... 10 12.0 Community Education Plan ............................................................................................. 10 13.0 References ........................................................................................................................ 10 ii LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1. Listed Wildlife Species Observed .......................................................................... 2 Table 2. Listed Plant Species Observed ............................................................................... 2 iii LIST OF APPENDICES Page Appendix A. Project Location Map ......................................................................................... A-1 Appendix B. Aerial with Site Plan .......................................................................................... B-1 Appendix C. Florida Black Bear Informational Pamphlet ...................................................... C-1 Appendix D. Florida Panther Informational Pamphlet ............................................................ D-1 Appendix E. Florida Pine Snake Information ......................................................................... E-1 Appendix F. Wading Bird Informational Pamphlet ................................................................ F-1 Appendix G. FWCC List of Bear-Resistant Garbage Containers ........................................... G-1 Appendix H. Big Cypress Fox Squirrel Informational Pamphlet ............................................ H-1 iv 1.0 INTRODUCTION This report documents the Listed Species Management Plan for Ashton Place (f.k.a. Orange River 130) (Project). The proposed Project consists of a single-family residential development with associated preserve area, stormwater management system, and created flow-way. Details associated with the proposed site plan are provided below in Section 3.0. The management plan contained in this report pertains to the Florida pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus), wood stork (Mycteria americana) and other listed wading bird species, least tern (Sternula antillarum), Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus), Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi), Big Cypress fox squirrel (Sciurus niger avicennia), and Florida bonneted bat (Eumops floridanus). The Project site totals 128.79± acres and is located in Section 1, Township 44 South, Range 25 East, Lee County (Appendix A). More specifically, the Project is bordered to the west by Staley Road, to the south by Homestead Lane, and the north by Orange River Boulevard. The subject property consists primarily of pastureland that is actively utilized for cattle grazing, with forested upland and wetland habitats along the southeastern boundary. The wetlands on-site contain various degrees of exotic vegetation including, but not limited to, Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia), java plum (Syzygium cumini), carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides), shoebutton ardisia (Ardisia elliptica), and wetland nightshade (Solanum tampicense). A ditch traverses the Project site lengthwise, conveying surface flow from south to north and terminating at the Orange River. The wetland system on-site has been drained, as indicated by mostly facultative species within the herbaceous stratum and thick sub-canopy establishment by cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto) and java plum. Additionally, the wetlands on-site have been degraded by cattle grazing activities. 2.0 LEE COUNTY PROTECTED SPECIES SURVEY Passarella & Associates, Inc. (PAI) conducted a Lee County Protected Species Survey (PSS) on the Project site on June 24, 2020. No listed wildlife species were directly observed during the PSS. However, a gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) burrow and a Florida black bear (Ursus americanus floridanus) scratch tree were recorded during the PSS. The gopher tortoise burrow was recorded in a woodland pasture area (FLUCFCS Code 213). The gopher tortoise is a state-listed threatened species. The Florida black bear scratch tree was recorded in disturbed wetland/mixed hardwood conifer habitat (FLUCFCS Code 6309). The Florida black bear is not listed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) but is protected under the Lee County Land Development Code (LDC) and Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) 68A-4.009. Two listed plant species were documented on the Project site during the PSS, the Northern needleleaf (Tillandsia balbisiana) and cardinal airplant (Tillandsia fasciculata). The Northern needleleaf is listed as threatened by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), and the common wild pine is listed as endangered by the FDACS. 1 A report outlining the result of the PSS was provided in the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Environmental Resource Permit application (No. 201030-5011) submitted for the Project. A summary of the listed wildlife (sign) and plants observed during the PSS are provided in Tables 1 and 2, respectively. Table 1. Listed Wildlife Species Observed Status Common Name Scientific Name FWCC USFWS Reptiles Gopher tortoise (burrow) Gopherus polyphemus ST - Mammals Florida black bear (scratch tree) Ursus americanus floridanus ** - FWCC – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission USFWS – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ST – State Threatened **Protected under the Lee County LDC and F.A.C. 68A-4.009 Table 2. Listed Plant Species Observed Status Common Name Scientific Name FDACS USFWS Cardinal airplant Tillandsia fasciculata SE - Northern needleleaf Tillandsia balbisiana ST - FDACS – Florida Department of Agriculture