PROJECT DEVELOPMENT & ENVIRONMENT STUDY SR 997 / SW 177th AVENUE / KROME AVENUE SOUTH FROM SW 296th STREET (AVOCADO DRIVE) TO SW 136th STREET (HOWARD DRIVE) FM NO.: 249614-4-22-01 ETDM No. 7800 Endangered Species Biological Assessment Florida Department of Transportation, District Six 1000 NW 111th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33172 September 2013 SR 997/SW 177th Avenue/Krome Avenue (South) PD&E Study Endangered Species Biological Assessment TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................. 1-1 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .............................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 EXISTING CONDITIONS ...................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 LAND USE ......................................................................................................................... 2-2 2.3 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT .......................................................................................... 2-5 2.4 ALTERNATE CORRIDORS ................................................................................................... 2-7 2.5 PROJECT ALTERNATIVES ................................................................................................... 2-9 2.5.1 No-Build Alternative ................................................................................................ 2-9 2.5.2 Transportation System Management (TSM) Alternative ....................................... 2-10 2.5.3 Action Plan Alternative .......................................................................................... 2-11 2.5.4 Proposed Build Alternatives .................................................................................. 2-14 3.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS ............................................................................................... 3-1 3.1 NATURAL COMMUNITIES (UPLANDS/WETLANDS) ............................................................ 3-1 3.1.1 Upland Communities ............................................................................................... 3-8 3.1.2 Wetland /Surfacewater Communities ..................................................................... 3-12 3.1.3 Other Notable Communities in Close Proximity to the Project ............................. 3-14 3.2 PROTECTED SPECIES AND HABITATS .............................................................................. 3-17 3.2.1 Survey Methodology ............................................................................................... 3-19 3.2.2 Protected Species Coordination Results ................................................................ 3-19 3.2.3 Protected Species Survey Results ........................................................................... 3-20 3.2.4 Designated Habitats Results .................................................................................. 3-38 3.2.5 Other Notable Sites/Habitats ................................................................................. 3-42 4.0 PROJECT IMPACTS ....................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 HABITAT IMPACTS ............................................................................................................ 4-1 4.1.1 Upland Communities ............................................................................................... 4-1 4.1.2 Wetland/Surface Water Communities ...................................................................... 4-1 4.1.3 Other Notable Communities in Close Proximity to the Project ............................... 4-3 4.2 LISTED SPECIES IMPACTS .................................................................................................. 4-5 4.2.1 Mammals .................................................................................................................. 4-6 4.2.2 Birds ......................................................................................................................... 4-7 4.2.3 Reptiles ..................................................................................................................... 4-8 4.2.4 Mollusks ................................................................................................................. 4-10 4.2.5 Plants ..................................................................................................................... 4-10 4.3 DESIGNATED HABITAT IMPACTS ..................................................................................... 4-10 4.3.1 Critical Habitats .................................................................................................... 4-10 4.3.2 South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan Consultation Areas .......................... 4-10 4.3.3 Strategic Habitat Conservation Areas ................................................................... 4-11 4.3.4 Essential Fish Habitat............................................................................................ 4-11 4.3.5 Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) ........................................................... 4-11 4.3.6 Other Notable Sites/Habitats ................................................................................. 4-20 5.0 SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 5-1 6.0 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 6-1 i SR 997/SW 177th Avenue/Krome Avenue (South) PD&E Study Endangered Species Biological Assessment LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1-1 Project Location Map ........................................................................................... 1-2 Figure 2-1 Existing Two-Lane Rural Typical Roadway Section .......................................... 2-2 Figure 2-2 Land Use Map ...................................................................................................... 2-3 Figure 2-3 Alternate Corridors .............................................................................................. 2-8 Figure 2-4 Action Plan (Original) Proposed Typical Roadway Section ............................. 2-12 Figure 2-5 Action Plan (Modified) Proposed Typical Roadway Section ............................ 2-13 Figure 2-6 Alternative 1 Proposed Typical Roadway Section (Rural) ................................ 2-15 Figure 2-7 Alternative 2 Proposed Typical Roadway Section (Rural) ................................ 2-16 Figure 2-8 Alternative 3 Proposed Typical Roadway Section (Rural) ................................ 2-17 Figure 2-9 Alternative 4 Proposed Typical Roadway Section (Rural) ................................ 2-18 Figure 2-10 Alternative 5 Proposed Typical Roadway Section (Suburban) ......................... 2-19 Figure 2-11 Alternative 5 Proposed Typical Roadway Section (Rural) ................................ 2-20 Figure 3-1 Natural Communities Map ................................................................................... 3-2 Figure 3-2 Natural Communities Map ................................................................................... 3-3 Figure 3-3 Natural Communities Map ................................................................................... 3-4 Figure 3-4 Natural Communities Map ................................................................................... 3-5 Figure 3-5 Natural Communities Map ................................................................................... 3-6 Figure 3-6 Natural Communities Map ................................................................................... 3-7 Figure 3-7 Additional Communities Map ............................................................................ 3-16 Figure 4-1 Owaissa Bauer Pineland Preserve Addition No. 1 Avoidance Alternative ....... 4-13 Figure 4-2 Proposed Owaissa Bauer Minimization Treatment (Typical) ........................... 4-14 Figure 4-3 View of Weedy Herbaceous Disturbed Area (at Owaissa Bauer Pineland Preserve Addition No. 1) .................................................................................................. 4-16 LIST OF TABLES Table 3-1 Summary of ETAT Natural Resources Comments ............................................ 3-18 Table 3-2 Listed Species Potentially Occurring within the Project Study Corridor .......... 3-21 Table 4-1 Direct Surface Water Impacts .............................................................................. 4-2 Table 4-2 Encroachment into Owaissa Bauer Pineland Preserve Addition No. 1 per Build Alternative.......................................................................................................... 4-11 Table 4-3 Impacts with Minimization Treatment per Build Alternative ............................ 4-15 Table 4-4 Vegetation Community Impacts within Owaissa Bauer Pineland Preserve Addition No. 1 ................................................................................................... 4-16 Table 4-5 Encroachment into Florida Audubon Society Property per Build Alternative .. 4-20 Table 4-6 Vegetative Canopy Impacts Within and Directly Adjacent to Florida Audubon Society Property ................................................................................................. 4-21 Table 5-1 Federal-Listed Species with the Potential to Occur ............................................. 5-3 ii SR 997/SW 177th