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Agenda 09/10/2013 Item #16D 5 9/10/2013 16.D.5. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Recommendation to provide after-the-fact approval for the submittal of a Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management Assistance Request to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to fund fire line maintenance and exotic plant treatment at Railhead Scrub Preserve in the amount of$15,000. OBJECTIVE: To fund fire line maintenance and exotic plant treatment at Railhead Scrub Preserve. CONSIDERATIONS: The FWC Gopher Tortoise Management Plan places great importance on the ability of protected lands to support gopher tortoise populations at levels that will ensure the long-term security of the species. Currently, protected habitat in public ownership represents 40% of the estimated gopher tortoise habitat remaining in the state. FWC manages only 10% of the publicly owned gopher tortoise habitat statewide and has therefore identified the need to partner with other public agencies. To help facilitate habitat management, FWC is requesting projects from local governments which will optimize gopher tortoise carrying capacity on protected lands through appropriate habitat management. Requests must be for active management of potential gopher tortoise habitat and should include prescribed burning, and prescribed burn prep activities such as fire line installation and mechanical treatment. Collier County has received assistance from this FWC program in the past- $20,000 to install fire breaks at Railhead Scrub Preserve in 2009 and $15,000 to reduce vegetative fuel and install fire breaks at Nancy Payton Preserve in 2010. This FWC program is similar and not a grant program; it is an assistance program. An agreement between the Board and FWC is not required to accept the funds. Therefore, if Collier County is selected to receive assistance, the funds will be sent to Collier County and further Board action is not needed. The assistance request was due to FWC on August 16, 2013. Because of the Board's summer schedule, the County Manager's approval was required to timely submit this request. Collier County CMA #5330 authorizes the County Manager to approve the submittal of grant applications with subsequent Board of County Commissioners action at the next available Board meeting to ratify the approval as "after-the- fact." FISCAL IMPACT: The total cost of the project is $15,000. No match is required. If Collier County is awarded $15,000 in assistance from FWC, funds will be appropriated within the Grants Management System. There will be no fiscal impact for this project. 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 has been approved for form and legality and requires a majority vote for Board action. -JAB RECOMMENDATION: Recommend that the Board provides after-the-fact approval for the submittal of a Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management Assistance Request to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to fund fire line maintenance and exotic plant treatment at Railhead Scrub Preserve in the amount of$15,000. PREPARED BY: Melissa Hennig, Senior Environmental Specialist,Parks and Recreation Department Attachments: Memo signed by County Manager, Packet Page -1103- 9/10/2013 16.D.5. FWC Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management Assistance Request Packet Page-1104- 9/10/2013 16.D.5. COLLIER COUNTY Board of County Commissioners Item Number: 16.16.D.16.D.5. Item Summary: Recommendation to provide after-the-fact approval for the submittal of a Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management Assistance Request to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to fund fire line maintenance and exotic plant treatment at Railhead Scrub Preserve in the amount of$15,000. Meeting Date: 9/10/2013 Prepared By Name: BetancurNatali Title: Operations Analys,Parks&Rec-NCRP Admin 8/13/2013 10:53:45 AM Submitted by Title: Environmental Specialist,Principal,Facilities Management Name: HennigMelissa 8/13/2013 10:53:47 AM Approved By Name: Washburnllonka Title: Manager-Park Operations,Parks&Recreation Date: 8/13/2013 3:01:00 PM Name: SuleckiAlexandra Title: Environmental Specialist, Senior,Facilities Manage Date: 8/13/2013 5:13:32 PM Name:AlonsoHailey Title: Operations Analyst,Public Service Division Date: 8/22/2013 12:25:12 PM Name: Joshua Thomas Title: Grants Support Specialist, Date: 8/22/2013 1:55:40 PM Packet Page-1105- 9/10/2013 16.D.5. Name: BelpedioJennifer Title: Assistant County Attorney,County Attorney Date: 8/22/2013 3:11:45 PM Name: CarnellSteve Title: Purchasing/General Services Director Date: 8/22/2013 5:00:24 PM Name:KlatzkowJeff Title: County Attorney Date: 8/23/2013 9:17:12 AM Name: StanleyTherese Title: Management/Budget Analyst, Senior,Office of Manage Date: 8/23/2013 9:45:13 AM Name: FinnEd Title: Senior Budget Analyst, OMB Date: 8/23/2013 5:29:03 PM Name: OchsLeo Allow Title: County Manager Date: 8/25/2013 11:00:59 AM Packet Page -1106- 9/10/2013 16.D.5. c Fti atip y C #r Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management Assistance Funding Requirements The Gopher Tortoise Management Plan places great importance on the ability of protected lands to support gopher tortoise populations at levels that will ensure the long-term security of the species. Currently, protected habitat in public ownership represents 40%of the estimated gopher tortoise habitat remaining in the state. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission manages only 10% of the publicly owned gopher tortoise habitat statewide and has therefore identified the need to partner with other public agencies. To help facilitate habitat management, FWC is requesting projects from counties and municipalities which will optimize gopher tortoise carrying capacity on protected lands through appropriate habitat management. Requests must be for active management of potential gopher tortoise habitat. Management activities consist of prescribed burning, and/or a combination of multiple activities to assist with prescribed burn such as fire line installation, mechanical treatment, fuel reduction, and exotic removal. Requests for assistance must manage at least 25 acres of gopher tortoise habitat, cannot include permitted gopher tortoise recipient sites or sites with a submitted recipient site application, and cannot exceed $15,000 per project (but larger projects with additional funding sources may apply). Requests must include an aerial map, soils map, FLUCCS map, and a burrow survey. For sites less than 50 acres, surveys should consist of an assessment of at least 15% of the potential habitat. For sites larger than 50 acres, surveys should consist of an assessment of at least 5% of the potential habitat.The burrow survey should be conducted according to the survey protocol included in Appendix 4 of the Gopher Tortoise Permitting Guidelines (November 2011). Burrow surveys do not have to be completed by an Authorized Gopher Tortoise Agent but must have been conducted within the last two years. Project proposals must be received by FWC no later than Friday, 16 August 2013. Recipients of funding assistance will be notified by Friday, 6 September 2013. Projects must begin after Monday, 7 October 2013 and must be completed with a final invoice and project completion report submitted to FWC by Friday, 23 May 2014. Assistance will be prioritized based on cost per acre managed and plans for ongoing habitat management on the property. Submission of a request does not guarantee assistance from FWC.Assistance will be provided as cost reimbursement which must be invoiced as total cost.Projects shall be submitted to the attention of Allie Perryman by either e-mail, Alexandra.Perryman @MyFWC.com or ground mail, 620 S. Meridian, MS-2A, Tallahassee, FL 32399. Please use additional pages as needed. For additional information, contact Allie Perryman at(850) 921-1145. Contact Information (all entities must be registered in MvFloridaMarketPlace and contact info below must match My Florida Market Place registration information): Name/Depaitment/Program: Melissa Hennig/Parks and Recreation/Conservation Collier Affiliation: Collier County Board of County Commissioners FEID Number: 59-6000558 Phone Number: 239-252-2957 E-mail Address: melissahennig @colliergov.net Street Address: 15000 Livingston Road City: Naples State: FL Postal Code: 34109 Project Site Information: Owner/Manager: Collier County Board of County Commissioners/Melissa Hennig, Conservation Collier City: Naples County: Collier Parcel ID (please list all): 00143120009 and 00152600002 Latitude: 26° 18' 8.51" Longitude: 81°47' 26.99" Section: 10 and 15 Township: 48 Range: 25 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Page 1 of 11 09/2009 Packet Page-1107- 9/10/2013 16.D.5. Is the project site under conservation easement designated as public conservation lands?If yes,please describe. The property, "Railhead Scrub Preserve", is not under conservation easement. It is protected under the Conservation Collier Ordinance 2002-63, as amended, Section 14.7 "Purchasing land using Conservation Collier program funds permanently extinguishes all development rights except those strictly compatible with the purposes and goals of Conservation Collier...". Date of most recent gopher tortoise burrow survey(must be within the last two years): July 10 and July 15, 2013 Are gopher tortoise burrows located within the proposed project area? Y (645 potentially occupied Estimated Number of Burrows) b.No Have gopher tortoises been relocated to the property in the past(i.e.,those associated with incidental take permits or standard relocation permits)? No For each proposed management activity,list the number of acres that will be managed and total funds requested (e.g., 50-acre prescribed burn completed by third party contactor for$3,000)? Total funding request is $15,000 for all work below to be done by a third party contractor: 7.9 acres-fire line maintenance for$3,000—two maintenance mowing events of 22,975 ft x 15 ft firebreaks—one time in October 2013 and one time in April 2014. 111.2 acres-exotic plant maintenance completed by third party contractor for$12,000—one maintenance sweep of exotic plants in October/November 2013. Estimated project start date: October 8, 2013 Estimated project completion date: April 30, 2014 Acres of potential/occupied gopher tortoise habitat benefiting from the proposed activity(s): 111.2 acres Total cost per acre of gopher tortoise habitat managed: $134.89/acre What is the direct benefit to gopher tortoises from the proposed management activities?The fire line maintenance itself does not have a direct benefit to the gopher tortoise; however, it facilitates future prescribed fire management. Maintenance control of invasive plants will allow for enhanced gopher tortoise burrow and forage habitat, while also facilitating prescribed fire management. Both the scrubby flatwoods and pine flatwoods habitats on site are overgrown due to years of fire suppression. Increased fire intervals will improve habitat for the gopher tortoise. Collier County will continue to coordinate with the Florida Forest Service Urban Fire Mitigation Team (FFS) and the North Naples Fire Department in order to conduct prescribed burns on the project site. Because of its location, Amok Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Page 2 of 11 09/2009 Packet Page -1108- 9/10/2013 16.D.5. prescribed fire within Railhead Scrub Preserve has been difficult to schedule. Continued maintenance of firelines and exotic plants will ensure that windows of opportunity for scheduling prescribed fire are not missed. Collier County staff has reached out to neighboring communities within the last year to let them know that prescribed fires within the preserve will hopefully be scheduled in the near future. Will other wildlife species benefit from the project?If so please explain. Yes. Exotic plant control and prescribed fire management will improve habitat for the benefit of the following species known to inhabit Railhead Scrub Preserve: antlion (Myrmeleontidae) Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) cicada (Cicadidae) white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Florida harvester ant(Pogonomyrmex badius) bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) mole cricket (Scapteriscus spp.) belted kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) tiger beetle (Cicindela spp.) black vulture (Coragyps atratus) box turtle (Terrapene Carolina) blue-gray gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum) broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus) six-lined racerunner (Cnemidophorus brown thrasher(Toxostoma rufum) sexlineatus) Carolina wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) southern black racer(Coluber constrictor cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) priapus) common ground dove (Columbincr passerina) green treefrog(Hyla cinerea) common nighthawk(Chordeiles minor) chorus frog (Pseudacris nigrita) common yellowthroat (Geathlypis trichas) oak toad (Bufo quercicus) Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii) eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax eastern mole (Scalopus aquaticus) auritus) gray fox(Urocyon cinereoargenteus) downy woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris) eastern screech-owl (Megascops asio) nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) eastern towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) raccoon (Procyon lotor) glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission(FWC) Page 3 of 11 09/2009 Packet Page -1109- 9/10/2013 16.D.5. gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) palm warbler(Dendroica palmarum) great blue heron (Ardea herodias) pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) great crested flycatcher(Myiarchus crinitus) pine warbler(Dendroica pinus) great egret (Ardea alba) prairie warbler(Dendroica discolor) hairy woodpecker (Picoides villosus) red-bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) house wren (Troglodytes aedon) red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) mottled duck (Anas fulvigula) shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis) mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) northern parula (Parula americana) white ibis (Eudocimus albus) osprey (Pandion haliaetus) white-eyed vireo (Vireo griseus) Assilk Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission(FWC) Page 4 of 11 09/2009 Packet Page-1110- 9/10/2013 16.D.5. Other species that have not been directly observed at the preserve yet are known to inhabit similar habitats, such as the eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi), could also potentially benefit from this project. Is there a management plan for this property? Yes, a comprehensive ten-year Railhead Scrub Preserve Management Plant was approved by the Board of County Commissioners in June 2010. Briefly describe any plans for continued future management. In 2010, Collier County received FWC Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management Assistance Funding to install the firebreaks in the southern portion of Railhead Scrub Preserve. Although staff has not yet been able to coordinate a prescribed fire in this urban preserve,the 2010 fire line installation allowed County contractors to more efficiently perform initial exotic plant removal and install a fence to deter vehicle trespass. Since 2010, County contractors have mowed the fire lines twice a year and routinely treated the invasive, exotic plants to maintain them at a density of 5%or less. Fire lines and exotic vegetation will continue to be maintained into the future at Railhead Scrub Preserve. Staff will also coordinate with the FFS and North Naples Fire Department to try to burn all fire dependant habitats within Railhead Scrub Preserve on schedules that mimic natural fire intervals, for example, Pine Flatwoods every 3 —5 years. Additionally, within the next three months, staff will contract a heavy machinery operator to place large boulders or create tall sand berms in front of areas along the fencelines where vehicle trespass continues to occur. How did you learn of this habitat management assistance opportunity? An e-mail from FWC- MyFWC@public.govdelivery.com Additional items to include: X Aerial Map* X FLUCCS Map* X Soils Map* X Burrow Survey* *Maps must include the overall property boundary and the location of all proposed habitat management activities Exotic vegetation maintenance will occur throushout the entire preserve; therefore, exotic plant maintenance areas are not specifically identified on the attached maps. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 5 of 11 07/2012 Packet Page -1111- 9/10/2013 16.D.5. Railhead Scrub Preserve Aerial Map,4,..„ f .j .e. e y s x �� ''Q s�MretRE `, s -*_ k s i4iT ., _w .t ,3*.f j „it .* . i 'a 1" 11161111111*.,XS • " ..- « . No Legend ". Railhead Scrub Preserve Boundary oli Firebreaks . 0 320 640 Feet Source:Parcels&2012 aerial-Cartier County a=roperty Ap iser ,. ...41*— I I I G:Conservatt on Cogiertenapsiacquired propediesgt ahead Scrub! andmanagementlaeriaLaud-7-2013 i..ct�t r t�rrrtr�rt' Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 6 of 11 07/2012 Packet Page-1112- 9/10/2013 16.D.5. Rat.lhead Scrub Preserve FLUCCS Map ,..., - ,, Legend Railhead Scrub Preserve Boundary 111111111111Firebreaks Habitats 1111 Saw Palmetto 4 IIII Ditch Swale ., z ,,.: ,,,; Hydric Pine Flatwoods t -,-- - ' Bare Sand 1111 Borrow Pit . , , , 1 ' 1111 Electrical Power Transmission Line Cypress : i;:: ,,,,:l Cypress, Cabbage Palm. Pine . I , 1111 Pine Flatwoods ,;. Wet Prairie Xeric Scrub 031( ,...,54740.3*Mges MO,,,,WW,V,In I '' ! 74: f . ■, 43 "1110 5, k .....- 4 .....,..._ .. 1 . , 1 ''''''‘' 1.-a.,,. :. ,,. -,,,:,,,, . I :,,,,,,,,,,,,‘,.- „., - -, - . ., . . , . , . . - ' I , 0 2&) 560 Feet IIIII1 Source:Parcels-Collier County Property Appra II I iser i G:Conserralion Collierfroaps/acquired propertiestRailhead Scrub/ land managerrientiFLUCCS.mad-T-2013 Cottile r Coatily Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 7 of 11 07/2012 Packet Page-1113- 9/10/2013 16.D.5. Railhead Scrub Preserve Soils Map Legend IIMI Railhead Scrub Preserve Boundary 41111111110Firebreaks 7-IMMOKALEE FINE SAND . 33" f ; 17-BASINGER FINE SAND-Hydric . K IA'''',',, 18- RIVIERA FINE SAND, LIMESTONE SUBSTRATUM- Hydric 1 2 -B 7Ch, RIVIERA, LIMESTONE SUBSTRATUM AND CCIPELANQ FS. I�EPRESSIaNAL-Hydric �y � LI,isi 32- URBAN LAND F __ ,a'y➢°1' t. " ;33- URBAN LAND HOLOPAW-BASINCER CGMPLEX ;,i f 39-SATELLITE FINE SAND W B9-WATER „ E 3'8 y \\ :y , t8 yd t a ?:fir 35 :T=1: I, f P 327 39 ' i ' a, S©urce:Parcels&2 012 aerial-Collier County Property Appraiser t G.Canservatr�,n Coilierimap sdacquired prapertiestRailhead Scrub/ ~. -ill.—> 0 310 600 Feet + AillAk £..<tz r aorieland managemen aeriaimxd 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1-7-2013 I i i Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 8 of 11 07/2012 Packet Page-1114- 9/1n,,,/2013 16'D.5. Scrub Preserve y Map ..... Railhead- - Tortoise Burrow ,_,:. ....,. ,.... Gopher s - , ''ii, ,• ,' ,r Z"'= ",; 'i'' ,4: ",,': I. r. '',• ,,,,,,,.. ,-,:''''',''. Legend , . . _end b Preserve Boundary - K Gopher Scru Tortoise Habitat • w Trait• !e : j"' 4 • ammilm PRFoa:iihbnert7:adal e 1 r : .• ' • i Burrow Gopher occuBp juedrrows . .:,;. Tortoise • socte • .,,z,,,e„ 2 tnntially ,,,,, ';c - 4-‘, , • 0 P°- "4:i ii .,,,-,','- ed , Abanoc'n '" ' ':;,-.,:' , S ,1 0 11111 l'.4* Ct.);flit.,1 County Railhea e 9 of 1 ..,, is&20.12,aerial-Source:.-.1:;70n c nille!im aa-7-2013 riaLul G:Collser ' mentiae land imanage lat-Collier Cpcdoupen ftPiess2fperty Ar.dpirsacirs,tebrl Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page_1115_ j: 7 I I 1300Pag0670/02()F1C9712ttl 'r- ---'- Packet 9/10/2013 16.D.5. Collier County Railhead Scrub Preserve Gopher Tortoise Burrow Survey Results ,00100, Surveys conducted 7/10/13 and 7/15/13 by Melissa Hennig 9.6 acres out of 111.2 acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat was surveyed-8.6 96 of the potential gopher tortoise habitat was surveyed at Railhead Scrub Preserve. Burrow# Le Long Status Size Class 1 25.30766 -81.78851 Potentially Occupied Adult 2 25.30756 -81.78848 Potentially Occupied Adult 3 25.30768 -81.78840 Potentially Occupied Adult 4 26.30769 -81.78839 Potentially Occupied Adult 5 26.30765 -81.78833 Potentially Occupied Adult 6 26.30762 -81.78828 Potentially Occupied Adult 7 26.30759 -81.78825 Potentially Occupied Adult 8 26.30770 -81.78810 Potentially Occupied Adult 9 26.30768 -81.78806 Potentially Occupied Adult 10 26.30775 -81.78795 Potentially Occupied Adult 11 25.30774 -81.78752 Potentially Occupied Adult 12 26.30783 -81.78778 Potentially Occupied Adult 13 25.30781 -81.78790 Potentially Occupied Adult 14 25.30781 -81.78807 Potentially Occupied Adult 15 25.30778 -81.78810 Abandoned Adult 16 26.30777 -81.78824 Potentially Occupied Adult 17 25.30833 -81.78836 Abandoned Adult "Not 18 25.30518 -81.78893 Potentially Occupied Adult 19 26.30525 -81.78908 Potentially Occupied Adult 20 25.30533 -81.79044 Potentially Occupied Adult . 21 26.30539 -81.78965 Potentially Occupied Adult 22 26.30536 -81.78909 Potentially Occupied Adult 23 25.30532 -81.78904 Potentially Occupied Adult 24 26.30527 -81.78895 Potentially Occupied Adult 25 . 26.30528 -81.78894 Abandoned Adult• 26 25.30538 -81.78874 - Potentially Occupied Adult 27 26.30539 -81.78863 Potentially Occupied Adult 28 26.30536 -81.78841 Potentially Occupied Adult 29 26.30377 -81.78731 Potentially Occupied Adult 30 26.30378 -81.78878 Potentially Occupied Adult 31 25.30371 -81.78884 Abandoned Adult 32 25.30370 -81.78935 Potentially Occupied Adult 33 26.30377 -81.78943 Potentially Occupied Adult 34 26.30373 -81.78951 Potentially Occupied Adult 35 25.30359 -81.78970 Potentially Occupied Adult 35 25.30392 -81.78823 Potentially Occupied Adult 37 26.29989 -81.79139 Potentially Occupied Adult 38 26.29957 -81.79136 Potentially Occupied Adult 39 26.29952 -81.79138 Potentially Occupied Adult Am% Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 10 of 11 07/2012 Packet Page-1116- 9/10/2013 16.D.5. Collier County Railhead Scrub Preserve Gopher Tortoise Burrow Survey Resuks Burrow# 1a1 LonR Status Size Class 40 26.39934 '81J9138 Abandoned Adult 41 26.29923 '81.79139 Potentially Occupied Adult 42 26.29820 -81J9138 Potentially Occupied Adult 43 26.29967 -81.79149 Abandoned Adult 44 26.29974 '01.79151 Potentially Occupied Adult 45 26.30024 -81.79147 Potentially Occupied Adult 46 26.30032 '81J9147 Potentially Occupied Adult 47 20.28703 -81.79341 Potentially Occupied Adult 48 26.29755 -81.79336 Abandoned Adult 49 26.23760 '81.79340 Potentially Occupied Adult 50 26.29800 -81.79341 Potentially Occupied Adult 51 26.29844 -81.79347 Abandoned Adult 52 26.29771 '81.79346 Potentially Occupied Adult 53 26.29669 `81.79345 Abandoned Adult 54 26.29754 -8I.79253 Abandoned Adult 55 26.29768 -81.79250 Potentially Occupied Adult 56 26.29778 -81.79258 Potentially Occupied Adult 57 26.29799 -81.79251 Abandoned Adult 58 25.29797 -81.79262 Potentially Occupied Adult 59 26.29802 '8I.79253 Abandoned Adult 60 26.29880 '81.79260 Abandoned Adult 61 26.299I4 -81.79256 Potentially Occupied Adult 62 26.29891 -81.79263 Potentially Occupied Adult 63 26.29882 '81.75254 Potentially Occupied Adult 64 25.29804 -81.79264 Potentially Occupied Adult 65 26.30120 -81.79301 Potentially Occupied Adult 66 26.30864 '81.79310 Potentially Occupied Adult 67 26.30080 '81.79308 Potentially Occupied Adult 68 26.29754 -81J9100 Potentially Occupied Adult 09 26.29871 -81.79098 Potentially Occupied Adult PARTIAL SURVEY BURROW TOTALS Potentially Occupied 56 Abandoned 13 Total Burrows 69 BURROW ES1IMATE FOR EN1IRE PRESERVE Potentially Occupied burrows�Acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat surveyed=Estimated.burrows per acre 56PQ burrows+9'b acres=S'8P8 burrows per acre Total acreage of potential gopher tortoise habitat X Estimated burrows per acre=Estimated burrows.in preserve 111.2 acres X 5.8 P0 burrows per acre=645 PO burrows Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 11 of 11 07/2012 Packet Page-1117- 9/10/2013 16.D.5. oLLIeTur -ty Grant Application Reviewed and Approved PP PP w. ~<r: ,-,A,,,•; County Manager,fir.,, •wt or-designee e / J Ofice of Management & Budget = . ; , ;„ ` : County Manager IIdate) After-the-Fact Approval by the BCC is required the September 10,2013 BCC meeting. TO: Leo Ochs, County Manager CC: Melissa Hennig,Conservation Collier FROM: Joshua Thomas, Grant Support Specialist DATE: July 26.2013 SUBJECT: County Manager review and approval of a 2013 Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management Assistance Application sponsored by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in the amount. of$15,000 oitotc Conservation Collier is requesting$15,000 from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in order to fund fire line maintenance and exotic plant treatment at the Railhead Scrub Preserve. The FWC Gopher Tortoise Management Plan places great importance on the ability of protected lands to support gopher tortoise populations at levels that will ensure the long term security of the species. Currently,protected habitat in public ownership represents 40% of the estimated gopher tortoise habitat remaining in the state. FWC manages only 10%of the publicly owned gopher tortoise habitats statewide and has therefore identified the need to partner with other public agencies. To help facilitate habitat management,FWC is requesting projects from local governments which will optimize gopher tortoise carrying capacity on protected lands through appropriate habitat management. Projects will include fire line maintenance and exotic plant treatment at the.Railhead Scrub Preserve.There are no matching requirements for this grant. The application is due August 16, 2013. Due to the BCC summer schedule,your approval is required to submit the application, followed by BCC after the fact approval at the September 10,2013 BCC meeting. Once you have reviewed the application,please sign in the box above and call me for pickup at 239-252-8989. Thank you,and please let me know if you have any questions regarding this request. .. 3299 Tatman Trail East,Suite 201 •Naples,Florida 34112-5746.239-252-8973•FAX 239.252-8828 Packet Page-1118-