Habitat Conservation Plan for Florida Key Deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium) and other Protected Species on Big Pine Key and No Name Key, Monroe County, Florida Prepared for: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1339 20th Street Vero Beach, Florida 32960-3559 Prepared by: Monroe County 2798 Overseas Highway, Suite 410 Marathon, Florida 33050 Florida Department of Transportation, District VI 1000 NW 111th Avenue, Room #6101 Miami, Florida 33172 Florida Department of Community Affairs 2796 Overseas Highway, Suite 212 Marathon, Florida 33050 With assistance from consultants: URS Corporation 700 S. Royal Poinciana Blvd., Suite 1000 Miami Springs, Florida 33166 April 2003 April 2006 Revision Table of Contents Section Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................1 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND.........................................................................9 1.1 Background and Purpose of the Plan..........................................................................9 1.1.1 Historical Background and Memorandum of Agreement..........................11 1.1.2 Coordinating Committee............................................................................12 1.1.3 Objectives of the Plan ................................................................................12 1.2 Plan Development Process and Methodology ..........................................................13 1.2.1 Technical Studies.......................................................................................13 1.2.2 Public Information and Involvement .........................................................13 1.3 HCP Covered Area ...................................................................................................15 1.4 Regulatory Basis of the HCP ....................................................................................15 1.4.1 Endangered Species Act............................................................................15 1.4.2 Clean Water Act.........................................................................................16 1.4.3 Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act .................................................16 1.4.4 Other Federal Actions................................................................................17 1.5 Key Elements of the HCP.........................................................................................17 1.5.1 Background and Studies ............................................................................17 1.5.2 Covered Activities: Avoidance and Minimization of Impacts ..................18 1.5.3 Mitigation and Implementation..................................................................18 2. BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS.........................................................................................20 2.1 Covered Species........................................................................................................20 2.1.1 Florida Key Deer (Odocoileus virginianus clavium).................................20 2.1.2 Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris hefneri)..........................22 2.1.3 Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais couperi).................................25 2.2 Species Not Covered.................................................................................................26 2.2.1 Federally Listed Species Not Covered.......................................................26 2.2.2 State Listed or Protected Species Not Covered .........................................27 2.3 Vegetation and Habitat .............................................................................................28 2.3.1 Pinelands....................................................................................................28 2.3.2 Hammocks .................................................................................................30 2.3.3 Freshwater Wetlands..................................................................................31 2.3.4 Saltwater Marsh/Buttonwood Marsh .........................................................32 2.3.5 Mangroves..................................................................................................32 2.4 Scientific Basis of the HCP: The Key Deer PVA Model and Its Application..........33 2.4.1 Field Studies of Key Deer Population Dynamics ......................................33 2.4.2 Development of the Key Deer PVA Model...............................................34 2.4.3 PVA Model Analysis and Results..............................................................38 2.4.4 Application of the PVA Model to the HCP ...............................................39 2.4.5 The Tier System: A Planning Tool to Manage Development and Conservation................................................................................................43 i Table of Contents Section Page 3. LAND USE CONDITIONS................................................................................................45 3.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................45 3.2 Land Ownership........................................................................................................45 3.3 Habitat Management Activities................................................................................47 3.4 Covered Activities....................................................................................................48 4. ALTERNATIVE PLANNING STRATEGIES ................................................................50 4.1 Introduction...............................................................................................................50 4.2 Planning Strategies Analyzed ...................................................................................51 4.2.1 Alternative #1: No Action Alternative/No Take.......................................51 4.2.2 Alternative #2: Reduced Take ..................................................................51 4.2.3 Alternative #3: Preferred Alternative........................................................51 4.3 Comparison of Alternatives ......................................................................................52 5. CONSERVATION STRATEGY AND PROCEDURES.................................................53 5.1 Biological Goals........................................................................................................53 5.1.1 Habitat Protection ......................................................................................53 5.1.2 Minimize the Increase of Human-Related Mortality of Key Deer ............53 5.2 Summary of Take and Its Effects on the Covered Species.......................................54 5.2.1 Florida Key Deer........................................................................................54 5.2.2 Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit.........................................................................55 5.2.3 Eastern Indigo Snake.................................................................................56 5.3 Conservation Strategy - Mitigation Measures and Procedures.................................56 5.3.1 Conservative Assumptions and Level of Take ..........................................56 5.3.2 Avoidance and Minimization.....................................................................57 5.3.3 Habitat Mitigation and Habitat Banking....................................................60 5.3.4 Habitat Management..................................................................................61 5.3.5 Regulatory Actions....................................................................................62 5.3.6 Other Considerations.................................................................................62 5.4 Monitoring and Reporting.........................................................................................63 5.4.1 Annual Reporting.......................................................................................64 5.5 Adaptive Management..............................................................................................65 5.6 Changed Circumstances............................................................................................66 5.7 Unforeseen Circumstances........................................................................................66 5.8 No Surprises..............................................................................................................66 6. IMPLEMENTATION AND FINANCING.......................................................................67 6.1 Regulatory Actions...................................................................................................67 6.1.1 Roles and Responsibilities .........................................................................67 6.1.2 Implementation Schedule...........................................................................67 6.2 Funding .....................................................................................................................68 6.3 Permit Amendment Procedures ................................................................................69 6.4 Permit Renewal or Extension....................................................................................70 7. REFERENCES....................................................................................................................71 ii Table of Contents