The URL can be used to link to this page

Agenda 09/10/2013 Item #16D 6 9/10/2013 16.D.6. 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, exotic plant treatment, and dead tree removal at Nancy Payton Preserve in the amount of$15,000. OBJECTIVE: To fund fire line maintenance, exotic plant treatment, and dead tree removal at Nancy Payton 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 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, exotic plant treatment, and dead tree removal at Nancy Payton Preserve in the amount of$15,000. PREPARED BY: Melissa Hennig, Senior Environmental Specialist,Parks and Recreation Department Packet Page-1119- 9/10/2013 16.D.6. Attachments: Memo signed by County Manager FWC Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management Assistance Request Packet Page -1120- 9/10/2013 16.D.6. COLLIER COUNTY Board of County Commissioners Item Number: 16.16.D.16.D.6. 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, exotic plant treatment, and dead tree removal at Nancy Payton Preserve in the amount of$15,000. Meeting Date: 9/10/2013 Prepared By Name: BetancurNatali Title: Operations Analys,Parks&Rec-NCRP Admin 8/14/2013 8:12:21 AM Submitted by Title: Environmental Specialist,Principal,Facilities Management Name: HennigMelissa 8/14/2013 8:12:22 AM Approved By Name: SuleckiAlexandra Title: Environmental Specialist, Senior,Facilities Manage Date: 8/14/2013 8:32:51 AM Name: Washburnllonka Title: Manager-Park Operations,Parks&Recreation Date: 8/14/2013 9:49:54 AM Name: AlonsoHailey Title: Operations Analyst,Public Service Division Date: 8/22/2013 12:26:16 PM Name: Joshua Thomas Title: Grants Support Specialist, Date: 8/22/2013 1:55:29 PM Packet Page-1121- 9/10/2013 16.D.6. Name: BelpedioJennifer Title:Assistant County Attorney,County Attorney Date: 8/22/2013 3:11:55 PM Name: CarnellSteve Title: Purchasing/General Services Director Date: 8/22/2013 4:24:04 PM Name:KlatzkowJeff Title: County Attorney Date: 8/22/2013 4:52:49 PM Name: StanleyTherese Title: Management/Budget Analyst, Senior,Office of Manage Date: 8/23/2013 9:58:28 AM Name:FinnEd Title: Senior Budget Analyst, OMB Date: 8/23/2013 5:28:25 PM Name: KlatzkowJeff Title: County Attorney Date: 8/26/2013 9:14:35 AM Name: IsacksonMark Title: Director-Corp Financial and Mgmt Svs,CMO Date: 8/27/2013 10:32:12 AM Packet Page-1122- 9/10/2013 16.D.6. Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management ti- ° 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/Department/Program: Christal Segura/Parks and Recreation/ Conservation Collier Program Affiliation: Collier County Board of County Commissioners FEID Number: 59-6000558 Phone Number: 239-252-2495 E-mail Address: Christalsegura(a7colliergov.net Street Address: 15000 Livingston Road City: Naples State: FL Postal Code: 34109 Project Site Information: Owner/Manager: Collier County Board Of County Commissioners/Christal Segura, Conservation Collier City: Naples, FL County: Collier Parcel ID (please list all): 61730440005 and 61731240000 Latitude: 25° 11' 50"N Longitude: 81°40' 3"W Section: 24 Township: 49 Range: 46 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 1 of 10 07/2012 Packet Page -1123- 9/10/2013 16.D.6. Is the project site under conservation easement designated as public conservation lands?If yes,please describe. The property, "Nancy Payton Preserve", is not under conservation easement however, 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): A 100% burrow survey of the preserve was conducted in September 2011. Are gopher tortoise burrows located within the proposed project area? a. Yes (115 Potentially Occupied; 3 Abandoned) 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 All work to be done by a third party contactor for$15,000 (see map on page 9 for project areas) 71 acres—Exotic Plant Maintenance (ongoing treatment)—3 treatments focusing on invasive grasses- $6,750 20 acres—Mowing dead and fallen snags adjacent to firebreaks and located within 25 feet of burrows-$7,000 2.5 acres- Mowing and treating existing fire lines-2.5 acres-$1,250 (Mowing of snags and firebreaks will be done with a small posi-trac machine with a flail mowing head) Estimated project start date: October 8, 2013 Estimated project completion date: May 20, 2014 Acres of potential/occupied gopher tortoise habitat benefiting from the proposed activity(s): 71 acres Total cost per acre of gopher tortoise habitat managed: $211 per acre What is the direct benefit to gopher tortoises from the proposed management activities? • Treating invasive exotic plants and grasses will continue to increase ground cover diversity by allowing native plants and food sources to grow in. • Snags along the firebreaks hinder the ability to conduct a safe prescribed burn. Standing snags could also fall in storms and potentially damage or block burrow entrances or could possibly injure the tortoises directly. Mowing/mulching the dead trees will prevent these occurrences. • Mowing and maintaining the fire lines, which are 8 - 10 feet in width and encompass approximately 2.25 acres, will prepare the site for upcoming prescribed burns. Firebreaks will be mowed every 6 months. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 2 of 10 07/2012 Packet Page-1124- 9/10/2013 16.D.6. Will other wildlife species benefit from the project? Yes! Removing invasive exotic plants and grasses will allow more native mid-story and ground cover plants and food sources to grow in. The preserve is also foraging habitat for red-cockaded woodpeckers. Keeping the understory free of invasive plants and grasses will improve the quality of their habitat as well as removing snags next to potential cavity trees. Florida Panthers and white-tailed deer have been observed on the property multiple times. Keeping the firebreaks clear and removing hazardous snags near the firebreaks will allow for safer prescribed burning. Other species that have been observed on the preserve include: Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus Brown Thrasher Toxoxtoma rufum Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis American Kestrel Falco sparverius Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata Eastern Screech Owl Otus asio American Robin Turdus migratorius Barred Owl Strix varia Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum Northern Bobwhite Brown-headed Quail Colinus virginianus Nuthatch Sitts pusilla Mourning Dove Zenaidura macroura Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus Common Ground- Columbina passerina Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea dove Red-headed Melanerpes Woodpecker erythrocephalus White eyed Vireo Vireo griseus Red bellied Melanerpes carolinus Pine Warbler Dendroica pin us Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens European Starling Sturnus vulgaris Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula Red-cockaded Picoides borealis Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis Woodpecker Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus Eastern (formerly Pipilo Rufous-sided)Towhee erythrophthalmus Great Crested *House Sparrow Passer domesticus Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus Green Heron Butorides striatus Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus Wood Duck Aix sponsa Pileated Dryocopus pileatus Woodpecker Mottled Duck Anas fulvigula Great Crested Myiarchus crinitus Flycatcher Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 3 of 10 07/2012 Packet Page-1125- 9/10/2013 16.D.6. Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus Bald Eagle Haliaeetus White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus leucocephalus Red-shouldered Buteo lineatus Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Purple Martin Progne subis Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Tufted Titmouse Parus bicolor Least Tern Sterna antillarum Brown-headed Sitta pusilla Nuthatch Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus Common dove Columbina passerina Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis Eastern Screech- Otus asio Northern Mimus polyglottos Owl Mockingbird Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia *European Starling Sturnus vulgaris Barred Owl Strix varia Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus Common Chordeiles minor Eastern Towhee Pipilo Nighthawk erythrophthalmus Chuck-will's-widow Caprimulgus Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis carolinensis Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica Red-winged Agelaius phoeniceus Blackbird Ruby-throated Archilochus colubris Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna Hummingbird Red-headed Melanerpes Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula Woodpecker erythrocephalus Red-bellied Melanerpes carolinus Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major Woodpecker Downy Picoides pubescens Red-cockaded Picoides borealis Woodpecker Woodpecker 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) and gopher frog (Rana capita), could also potentially benefit from this project. Is there a management plan for this property? Yes- a 10 year management plan that is updated every 5 years Amok Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 4 of 10 07/2012 Packet Page-1126- 9/10/2013 16.D.6. Briefly describe any plans for continued future management. The preserve will continue to be burned on a 3-5 year rotation. The next burn is planned for Winter 2014. On-going exotics maintenance and monitoring will continue to occur on the preserve every year in perpetuity and firebreaks will continue to be maintained. *Other notes: FWC funds were granted for gopher tortoise habitat management assistance on this property in 2010. Since then, County staff has documented an enormous increase in the amount of tortoise burrows. The ground cover diversity has also greatly improved. The last prescribed burn was conducted in July 2011, and mechanical harvesting was used to thin-out the slash pine canopy in December 2011. Possibly due to drought conditions that followed the burn in July 2011, pine bark beetles moved in, and several pines died in the 20 acre area highlighted as part of this project for snag removal. Many were removed during the thinning project; however, a great number of snags still remain. How did you learn of this habitat management assistance opportunity? E-mail 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 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 5 of 10 07/2012 Packet Page-1127- 9/10:2:11 3 16.D.6. Nancy Payton Preserve 2013 Aerial . , ig _..fi} � r , �. „ 'A�w "_ - •,1'$5«vi,r sq ;t pry ` Y , L. ,,,.-.. * : .. f, -t_ .-, w 1p � 19TH AV EtSW �' > :; ,: , ,, ,,, . �" e ir. :,,,• 7.s-sozeLMOR/1" ' 1-f„?,21 'Irr VP; ' t . ,,, , 23RD. F �_�� ,�.� �* � i ,z �► t• ° �' ,. BRANTLEY.BLVD, " e x i� '� a 1 { K awu8-" j CON .......ATLON N LLi en ,_� WLE Legend oamion { s Nancy Payton Preserve i I i l i c"�° °w"'`y 0 250 500 1,000 Feet Date Source:Collier Property Appresera Cone ervatian Collier GI S Date G:Concervetion ColierlmepelecqukedWancyPay tonPreaervetandmenagement5 2013aerlaLmxd1 Jpg Map Date:612SFt Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 6 of 10 07/2012 Packet Page-1128- 9/10/2013 16.D.6. Nancy Payton Preserve FLUCCS Map 44/ ; am ': t IIg • O I • • • • • • • •) •• • •` • •• ' ' � P. fi ® r t .� x • 7 C - ,` � Via, ' '''' _., ,,! ,E U , Legend '� ! • 1 Nancy Payton Preserve • I # Burrows :;� 0 Potentially Occupied-115 - ® • ! Abandoned-3 } • • eel' a u Land Use Cover FLUCCS'CODE N 4110 Pine Fla twoods ON" AT[ON j�, .1•LLIER `yE �' 6210 Cypress s III ' I - 321 Palmetto � < �,<; 2410 Tree Nurseries cOi "y y 0 100 200 400 Feet Firebreaks Date Source Collier Property Apprak era Conservation Collier GIS Date G:Coneervetion CogierlmgsslacqutredlNeecyPayton Preaervegandmanegementl Area for Snag removal 2013 FLUCCS.znzd&Jpg m,Date:6129113 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 7 of 10 07/2012 Packet Page -1129- 9/10/2013 16.D.6. KNancy Payton Preserve Soils Map fi , :'a .. a E , : t mss 1-:',. �.� � � �� ,..,aw,* .: •mss" ` $ �` � `�' C jai- 6` �'� . # i '-Is'''''',1 i • ® • • • f • •S � LI • •• ce 4k • r® • -°t, a t q • •r , ,,L , ,,,,i 4,,-',*-1 ,'.,:'' ;t � 'Yug � � � �` ^^ � I • te ,'"-. -76 1 P•• d s h yam Legend . a y' • Nancy Payton Preserve Burrows j t E 0 Potential) occupied- 115 • Abandoned-3 C ° S oilType� 2-Hol o aw,Fine Sand,Limestone'Substratum I ATCON w F ON e•LLi ER 3-Malabar Fine Sand '- s 7-]mmokalee FineSand l ' ` 125101 I I 16-Oldsmar Fine Sand C" 76'caidat`y 0 125 250 500 Feet Aglinitt Date Source Collier Properly Appresers Firebreaks Coneerverion Collier GIS Dee G:conservelien Co ier a e�easnencyPeytonPre oe�evendmeneye.nenn Area for Snag removal 2013soilsmnd&pg Map Dare:629113 Page 8 of 10 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 07/2012 Packet Page-1130- 9/10/2013 16.D.6. Nancy Payton Preserve Gopher Tortoise Burrow Survey 2011 p • • 04 1 � • e 7 • e ;• e • p • • • • • • f•e •• •.• j •mi fir^ la • 1 �1 • p t • ds a 1, x t. '' tA'.....-,, • • N CON : A7 ' •LL1ER tONf legend S Nancy Payton Preserve IIIIIIfil Burrows cO f'-,,count.), 0 125 250 500 Feet • Abondoned-3 Data Source.Collier Property Appreaers C000e,v Ion Collier GIS Dete G.Cons ervation CogierLnaps1ncg ucedlNancyPeytonPrecerveYendmenegemenfl 0 Potentially;Occupied-115 GopherfortoiseSurvey2011 mad 8 jog Nap Date.6111/12 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Page 9 of 10 07/2012 Packet Page-1131- 9/10/2013 16.D.6. Nancy Payton Preserve Proposed Project Areas ,,, we w� " ". t �t�. :+NCSrwr.r i.. u. v. �e....... - w.:.....w g�_ w it.,I, ,v".•- ' e . i't. e° .6 C., e . J 1 ° 3. " �v�tom':• ° • t g V �- ,• e ti L .a Legend CON ATION ` Nancy Payton Preserve LIIER ;.mow _ N E Burrows a s 0 Potentially Occupied-115 I ' ' ' 1 ' ' • Abandoned-3 C" 7Q'�O""Ly 0 125 250 500 Feet Date Source:Collier Property Appraeers Firebreaks AlaiiAt Dote Sou tion Collier 1310 Dme G:Conservation Colierlmeps lecquiedlNencyPeytonPreservelandmenegementl Area for Snag removal 2013projecterees.med&jpg 9 Nap Bete.6!29113 Page 10 of 10 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 07/2012 Packet Page -1132- 9/10/2013 16.D.6. (O IIICT Gown-1;y Grant Application Reviewed and Approved `; .. Coutlty Manager,or designee:. Office of Management & Budget t : :. yr` . County Manager 1 c/1 (sla«) 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: August 1,2013 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 Conservation Collier is requesting$15,000 from the Florida Fish and.Wildlife Conservation Commission in order to fund fire line maintenance, exotic plant treatment, and dead tree removal at the Nancy Payton 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, exotic plant treatment, and dead tree removal at the'..Nancy Payton Preserves:,There are no matching requirements for this grant. The application is due August 16,2013. Due to the BCC summer schedule,your approval is submit the application,followed b ,BCC after the fact approval at the September 10,2013 required to,u pp 5 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 Tamiami Trail East,Suite 201 •Naples.Florida 34112-5746.239-252-8973•FAX 239-252-8828 Packet Page-1133-