Agenda 01/26/2016 Item #16D 5 1/26/2016 16.D.5.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to approve the electronic submittal of an Application Form for the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida's State Wildlife Grants Program to facilitate the
use of controlled burns as a management tool to support upland habitats within specIfi
ed
Conservation Collier Preserves.
OBJECTIVE: To apply for $119,000 in funding to facilitate prescribed fire within Nancy Payton,
Pepper Ranch, Railhead Scrub, Redroot, and Rivers Road Preserves.
CONSIDERATIONS: The State Wildlife Grants Program provides federal funding to every state and
territory to support cost-effective conservation aimed at preventing wildlife from becoming imperiled.
State Wildlife Action Plans, required by the State Wildlife Grants Program, have been developed by each
state and help guide spending to ensure that funds are spent wisely and effectively in ways that will
benefit wildlife populations and their habitat. Under the Florida Wildlife Action Plan, the number one
goal for Terrestrial habitats is to increase the use of fire as a management tool to support upland habitat
conservation that benefits Florida's species of greatest conservation need.
Habitats within Conservation Collier's Nancy Payton, Pepper Ranch, Railhead Scrub, Redroot, and
Rivers Road Preserves are fire-dependant. With a small staff and limited equipment, the Conservation
Collier Program relies on the assistance of the Florida Forest Service, local Fire Departments and other
local government agencies to conduct prescribed fires within Conservation Collier lands. It is challenging
to coordinate multiple agencies for assistance. As a result, prescribed fires are underutilized as a
management tool within these preserves. If funding is received from the State Wildlife Grant Program,
starting in FY18, a prescribed fire contractor will be hired to conduct burns over a three year period
within fire-dependant habitats at these preserves.
A minimum 35% non-federal match is required with this grant. Staff is proposing a match of$150,700
(56%) from the Conservation Collier Management Fund. The match will be funds already budgeted for
routine management activities like fire line creation/maintenance and exotic removal in FY18, FY19, and
FY20. These activities are included in proposed future budgets under the Conservation Collier Ten-year
Financial Plan approved at the April 8, 2014 Board meeting(Agenda item 11 B ).
If this item is approved, staff will coordinate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) for
the electronic submittal of the application by the submittal deadline of February 5. 2016.
FISCAL IMPACT: The total cost of the project is $269,700. Collier County is requesting $119,000 in
funding towards hiring a prescribed fire contractor. The County will provide a $150,700 cash match over
three fiscal years within the existing level of service toward routine management activities to prepare for
prescribed fire. County cash match will be available within the FY18, FY19, and FY20 Conservation
Collier Management Fund 174 operating budgets.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: This proposal supports Objective 7.3 of the Conservation and
Coastal Management Element of the County Growth Management Plan, which requires the County to
continue to implement programs that conserve and protect endangered and threatened wildlife species.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item is approved for form and legality and requires a majority vote
for Board approval. -JAB
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1/26/2016 16.D.5.
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County Commissioners approves the electronic submittal of
an Application Form for the F V Fiorida's State Wildlife Grants Program tc facilitate too use O7
controlled burns as a management tooi to support upland habitats within Conservation Collier Preserves.
Prepared by: Melissa Hennig, Senior Environmental Specialist. Parks and Recreation Division
Attachment:
1) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida's State Wildlife Grants Program
Application Form
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1/26/2016 16.D.5.
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of Counts'Commissioners
Item Number: 16.16.D.16.D.5.
Item Summary: Recommendation to approve the electronic submittal of an Application
Form for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Florida's State Wildlife Grants
Program to facilitate prescribed fire within Conservation Collier Preserves.
Meeting Date: 1/26/2016
Prepared By
Approved By
Name: HennigMelissa
Title: Environmental Specialist, Senior, Conservation Collier
Date: 12/15/2015 2:30:18 PM
Name: Washburnllonka
Title: Manager-Park Operations, Parks &Recreation
Date: 12/17/2015 11:29:14 AM
Name: TownsendAmanda
Title: Division Director-Operations Support,Public Services Department
Date: 12/21/2015 10:03:23 AM
Name: WilliamsBarry
Title: Division Director-Parks &Recreation, Parks &Recreation
Date: 12/29/2015 11:1 1:09 AM
Name: BelpedioJennifer
Title: Assistant County Attorney, CAO General Services
Date: 12/29/2015 3:12:53 PM
Name: Joshua Thomas
Title: Grants Support Specialist,Grants Management Office
Date: 1/4/2016 10:54:03 AM
Name: CarnellSteve
Title: Department Head-Public Services,Public Services Department
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1/26/2016 16.D.5.
Date: ,"5/2016 3.34:71 PM
Dame: Beipedioiennifer
Title: Assistant County Attorney. CAO General Services
Date: 1/6/2016 8:13:31 AM
Name: KlatzkowJeff
Title: County Attorney,
Date: 1/6/2016 11:54:31 AM
Name: StanleyTherese
Title: Manager-Grants Compliance, Grants Management Office
Date: 1/12/2016 3:06:15 PM
Name: FinnEd
Title: Management/Budget Analyst, Senior, Office of Management&Budget
Date: 1/14/2016 9:28:26 AM
Name: CasalanguidaNick
Title: Deputy County Manager, County Managers Office
Date: 1/15/2016 10:34:45 AM
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1/26/2016 16.0.5.
"5H A"° Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission �u,
YINIY t•wR.11dA�'B.
Florida's State Wildlife Grants Program
Application Form
Project Title Conservation Collier Preserves' Prescribed Fire Project
Principal Investigator Partners
Name Affiliation Co-PI?
Name Melissa Hennig :, ,, ;,>>, Mike Weston Florida Forest Service 0
Department Parks and Recreation-Conservation Cc
Institution Collier County Board of County Comma
Address 15000 Livingston Road
City Naples
State FL ZIP 34112 Authorizing Official
Phone (239)252-2957
Name Tim Nance
.4lail melissahennig @colliergov.net
Title Collier County Board of County Commissioners Chaid
Phone (239)252-8604
ii
Project Start Date 10/01/17 Maximum
Three Year E-Mail TimNance @colliergov.net
Project End Date 06/30/20 Duration
Target Big Cypress fox squirrel,Florida panther,Florida black bear,Northern bobwhite,Bald eagle,Audubon's crested caracara,
Species Southeastern American kestrel,Common ground-dove,Eastern screech-owl,Chuck-will's-widow,Red-headed woodpecker,Hairy
woodpecker,Red-cockaded woodpecker,Loggerhead shrike,Eastern diamond-backed rattlesnake,and gopher tortoise
Target
Habitats Scrub.Natural Pineland,and Mixed Hardwood-Pine Forest
Project Project would be within five separate preserves in different locations
Location throughout Collier County. Requested Grant $119,000.00
Funding
❑ No Fieldwork
FWC Match
patch Collier County Conservation Collier Land Management Fund Non-FWC Match $150,700.00
urce
Total Project Cost $269,700.00
FWC/SWG-2,Florida State Wildlife Grants Program Application Form,November 2014 (68-1.003,F_A.C,)
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Relevance to Florida's State Wildlife Action Plan and Florida's Wildlife Legacy Initiative Implementation Goals
;Tnis proposed protect is intendec to re-introduce fire into 209 acres of fire dependant nabitai and continue prescribed fire V.itnirt 71 acre, o
fire dependant habitat.incompatible Fire is one of 32 multiple habitat threats identified in the Florida Wildlife Action Plan. in the plan,the
following is identified as a Conservation Action to abate incompatible fire: increasing the ability of landowners to burn so that fire
management meets habitat needs. The target species listed above have been observed within the Conservation Collier Preserve's identified for
prescribed fire through this project proposal. Without prescribed fire,the habitats that support these target species are threatened.
Additionally,this project will meet the Florida's Wildlife Legacy Initiative's Terrestrial Implementation Goal of increasing the use of fire as a
management tool to support upland habitat conservation that benefits Florida's Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
Explain need for project
The Conservation Collier Program currently manages 19 different preserves throughout Collier County totalling approximately 4,000 acres
with a staff of 2 full-time employees and 1 full-time employee that is split between administrative and land management duties. With such a
small staff,coordinating prescribed fire within fire suppressed-mostly urban-habitats has proven difficult. Staff has worked with Florida
Forest Service to re-introduce fire into 2 preserves within the past 6 years;however,staffing shortages within Florida Forest Service,and the
complexities of fire re-introduction adjacent to urban areas has made conducting prescribed fires challenging. Without funding for a
prescribed fire contractor,it is unlikely that the acreage proposed in this application will be burned through prescribed fire.
Project objectives
This project is intended to re-introduce fire into a total of 209 acres of fire dependant habitat within 3 preserves and continue prescribed fire
within a total of 78 acres of fire dependant habitat within 2 preserves. Seventeen separate burns will be conducted by a prescribed fire
contractor in order to achieve this objective. Contracted burns will reduce fuel loads,and will make future prescribed fires in these preserves
safer for staff to conduct in coordination with Florida Forest Service.
Benefits to Florida's Species of Greatest Conservation Need and habitats
The Florida Species of Greatest Conservation Need listed above rely on the fire-dependant habitats that are present within the 5 preserves
targeted for this project. Without prescribed fire,these habitats-primarily Scrub and Natural Pineland-are vulnerable to both additional
fire-suppression,resulting in eventual succession to different habitat types,and catastrophic wildfire. Not only will this proposed project
have immediate benefits to fire dependant habitats through fire,but it will also have long term benefits by reintroducing fire into fire
suppressed habitats so that these habitats can be burned into the future on 3-5 year fire return intervals.
Project approach and methodology
Conservation Collier matching funds will be used to create new fire-lines,maintain existing fire-lines,and treat invasive exotic plants within
the 5 preserves proposed for grant funding-Nancy Payton Preserve,Pepper Ranch Preserve,Railhead Scrub Preserve,Red Root Preserve,
and Rivers Road Preserve. Grant funds, if received,will be used to hire a prescribed fire contractor to conduct 17 prescribed fires-burning a
minimum of 287 acres over a span of 3 years. Burn units will need to be relatively small within urban,fire-suppressed preserves.
Conservation Collier staff will consult with Florida Forest Service and/or the prescribed fire contractor in order to determine appropriate burn
units within the 3 preserves that are fire-suppressed-Pepper Ranch Preserve,Railhead Scrub Preserve,and Rivers Road Preserve.
Conservation Collier staff will assist the prescribed fire contractor wherever needed during each burn.Staff will also take photos before, 1
week post-fire,6 months post-fire, 1 year post-fire,and annually thereafter for each prescribed fire that is conducted,in order to capture the
change fire has on the habitat.
FWC/SWG-2,Florida State Wildlife Grants Program Application Form,November 2014 (68-1.003,F.A.C.) Save As?nn Form
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o Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
7 Florida's State Wildlife Grants Program
O`x ' W p
uq Application Form Instructions
ltION
The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission appreciate your interest in State Wildlife
Grants funding. State Wildlife Grants provides a funding opportunity for individuals,organizations and institutions to participate in the on-
going process of data collection,conservation,management and restoration to benefit the species of greatest conservation need and address the
threats identified in Florida's State Wildlife Action Plan. For additional information,consult Florida's State Wildlife Grants Program
Guidelines.
The application form serves as a cover page and summarizes your proposed project. Applicants whose projects are selected for additional
consideration will be asked to submit a proposed budget and scope of work with additional details. Application forms not submitted using this
form may be deemed ineligible for funding.All sections of the application form are limited to the space provided.
Partners:Partners are integral to the implementation of Florida's State Wildlife Action Plan. List the names and affiliations of those
contributing funding,supplies,equipment use,coordination,review or other support. To add a partner click"+"and to remove a partner click
"-".This section also allows you to enter co-principal investigators by checking the box.
Authorizing Official: Typically the director of the applicant's agency or grant manager if different from the principal investigator.If
Authorizing Official is not applicable,leave blank.
Project Duration: While projects may take less than three years to complete,projects of greater than three years'duration may not be
considered for funding. Consult the grant announcement or your Florida's Wildlife Legacy Initiative contact for additional guidance
concerning expected start dates for projects.
Target Species: List which of the Species of Greatest Conservation Need will benefit from this project. Consult Florida's State Wildlife
Action Plan for the list of species. Species may be listed at any taxonomic level.
rget Habitats:List which of the habitats will benefit from this project. Consult Florida's State Wildlife Action Plan for the list of habitats.
Project Location: Identify the counties in which work will occur,as well as more explicit description of location(s)if space allows.If the
project will occur in all counties,enter statewide as the location.
Match Source: Identify sources of match. Match cannot include federal funds. Consult the grant announcement or your Florida's Wildlife
Legacy Initiative contact for additional guidance concerning match and the proportion required.
Relevance:Explain this project's relevance and significance to the management and conservation of Florida's Species of Greatest
Conservation Need and habitats as described in Florida's State Wildlife Action Plan. Also describe how this project will meet one or more of
Florida's Wildlife Legacy Initiative Implementation Goals.
Need: Provide justification for undertaking the project,such as a problem to be solved or opportunity to be used. Also consider the
implications if this project is not funded,or funded at a later time,
Objectives: Describe what will be accomplished during the project. Objectives must be specific and measurable,and should identify
knowledge to be gained and products created as a result of this project.
Benefits: Describe the benefits to Florida's Species of Greatest Conservation Need and habitats as a result of this project. Consider impacts
both from this project and later,as a result of this project.
Approach and Methodology: For each objective,summarize specific procedures and any data analyses that will be used and the roles of key
project personnel.
If you have additional questions about this form or State Wildlife Grants,please contact Florida's Wildlife Legacy Initiative.
'"en you have completed the form, please e-mail it to your State Wildlife Grants contact. You may also save or print a copy for your
Jrds;this form is enabled for saving in Adobe Reader.
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