Loading...
Agenda 06/14/2011 Item #16E3 . . . 6/14/2011 Item 16.E.3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Recommendation to authorize submittal of an Invasive Upland Plant Removal Program grant proposal to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Consenration Commission's Invasive Plant Management Section for contractor senrices to treat invasive exotic vegetation within Pepper Ranch Presenre - SSA 7 in the amount of $76,000. OBJECTIVE: To maintain Pepper Ranch Preserve - SSA 7 free of invasive, exotic plants that were initially treated in the winter of201 O. CONSIDERA TIONS; The Invasive Plant Management Section (IPMS) of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) funds individual invasive plant removal projects on public conservation lands throughout the State. If the grant is received, the IMPS will pay State contractors to retreat invasive, exotic plants within Pepper Ranch - SSA 7 - work worth approximately $76,000. No funds will be transferred to Collier County. Staff anticipates that a formal agreement between the BCC and the State will be needed before the project can proceed. Once an agreement is finalized, staff will return to the BCC for formal acceptance of the grant award and execution of the agreement. FISCAL IMPACT: If this grant application is awarded, it v.~ll save the Conservation Collier Program approximately $76,000. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This Executive Summary has been reviewed by the County Attomey's Office and has been found legally sufficient. A majority vote is required for approval. - STW GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: This proposal supports Objectives 6.2 and 7.3 of the Conservation and Coastal Management Element of the County Growth Management Plan, which require the County to protect and conserve wetlands and the natural functions of wetlands and continue to implement programs that conserve and protect endangered and threatened wildlife specles. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of County COlmnissioners authorizes the County Manager, or his designee, to submit the attached grant proposal to FWC's IPMS for contractor services to remove invasive exotic vegetation within Pepper Ranch Preserve - SSA 7. Prepared By: Melissa Hennig, Principal Enviromnental Specialist, Facilities Management Department Attachments: IPMS grant proposal Packet Page -1849- ":i . . . ..~ 6/14/2011 Item 16.E.3. COLLIER COUNTY Board of County Commissioners Item Number: 16.E.3. Item Summary: Recommendation to authorize submittal of an Invasive Upland Plant Removal Program grant proposal to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Invasive Plant Management Section for contractor services to treat invasive exotic vegetation within Pepper Ranch Preserve - SSA 7 in the amount of $76,000. Meeting Date: 6/14/2011 Prepared By Name: HennigMelissa Title: Environmental Specialist, Principal,Facilities Management 5/27/2011 2:06:58 PM Submitted by Title: Environmental Specialist, Principal,Facilities Management Name: HennigMelissa 5/27/2011 2:06:59 PM Approyed By Name: SmithKristen Title: Administrative Secretary,Risk Management Date: 5/31/20119:46:28 AM Name: CampSkip Title: Director - Facilities Management,Facilities Manage Date: 5/31/2011 10:00:53 AM Name: Joshua Thomas Title: Grants Support Specialist, Date: 5/31/2011 10:20:50 AM Name: PriceLen Title: Administrator - Administrative Services, Date: 5/31/2011 3:20:35 PM Packet Page -1850- . . . Name: WilliamsSteven Title: Assistant County Attorney,County Attorney Date: 6/1/2011 2:03:29 PM Name: K1atzkowJeff Title: County Attorney, Date: 6/1/2011 3:38:00 PM Name: Stan1eyTherese Title: ManagementlBudget Analyst, Senior,Office of Management & Budget Date: 6/5/2011 7:33:01 PM Name: K1atzkowJeff Title: County Attorney, Date: 6/6/2011 11:19:44 AM Name: IsacksonMark Title: Director-Corp Financial and Mgmt Svs,CMO Date: 6/6/2011 11:58:41 AM Packet Page -1851- 6/14/2011 Item 16.E.3. 6/14/2011 Item 16.E.3. . Conservation Collier Pepper Ranch Preserve SSA 7 Exotic Maintenance Project . Contact Infonnation Agency: Collier County Conservation Collier Program Collier County Administrative Services Division Contact Person/Site Manager: Christal Segura, Enviroml1ental Specialist Mailing Address: 3335 Tamiami Trail East Naples, FL 34112 Phone: (239) 252-2495 E-mail: ChristalSeQura@.collien!Ov.net Method of Control Contractual Services . Proiect Goal 100% Maintenance of Old world climbing fern, Brazilian pepper, guava, and any other FLEPPC Category 1 or 2 plants within the Pepper Ranch Preserve SSA 7.. Packet Page -1852- 6/14/2011 Item 16.E.3. ! SCOPE OF WORK: Proiect Location The i2,5l2-acre Pepper Ranch Preserve is managed by the Collier County Conservation Coll~er Program and is located along the northern shoreline of Lake Trafford west of the tow~ of Immokalee, FL. The Preserve is within Sections 22, 26, 27, 28, 33 & 35, Tov.tnship 46 South, Range 28 East, Collier County (See Map 1). Although contiguous and :managed as one unit, the preserve consists of two distinct areas. The western most portlon and part of the northern most portion of the preserve - 985 acres - have been designated as Stewardship Sending Area 7 (SSA 7). The remaining 1,527 acres of the preserve will be used by Collier County to obtain Panther Habitat Units for mitigation of future Collier County capital improvement projects taking place within panther habitat.. Ovet 42,000 acres of public and private conservation lands are adjacent to the western bOUl~dary of the Pepper Ranch Preserve; these lands include the Corkscrew Marsh which serves as the headwaters for Collier County's supply of drinking water. The adjacent State landi is managed by SFWMD. Proiect Description Thi~ project proposes 100% follow-up maintenance treatment of varying densities of inv~sive, exotic vines and plants within approximately 722 acres of Pepper Ranch Preserve. ! . The!treatment target areas consists of upland hardwood forest, mixed wetland hardwoods, harqwood conifer mixed, woodland pasture, and wet prairies. The entire project area wo~ld be treated using foliar applications on Lygodium sp, and any remaining FLEPPC Category 1 and 2 plants. See Maps 2 and 3. Work Specifications The: contractor 'will be responsible for the control of any target trees and seedlings and the application of any herbicides within the designated target areas. All aspects of the con~rol ofFLEPPC Category 1 and 2 plants within the Pepper Ranch Preserve, including any I equipment, labor, supply, and herbicide needs, 'will be the responsibility of the contractor. The contractor will take precautions to avoid hanning any native vegetation or ,*ildlife. . All FLEEPPC Category I and 2 plants within the project area will be treated with an appropriate herbicide per label rates. All Lygodium will be treated in place with a foliar application or by using the "poodle cut method". All other FLEPPC Category I and 2 plants within this zone will be treated in place with foliar or basal applications. Pr01ect Time Frame Th~ project area will need to be treated during dry season or after water recedes ! No~ember-June. i I Funding Information Est~mated Total Project Cost = $76,000 ! I To~al Request from FWC = $76,000 ! i I 2 i ! Packet Page -1853- . . . . 6/14/2011 Item 16.E.3. PROPOSAL INFORMATION: Conservation Land Qualification This property was purchased by Collier County with funds from the Conservation Collier Program. It is listed in FNAI Florida Conservation Lands. Initial Treatment The initial treatment of the entire project area was completed in February 2011 and the first follow-up maintenance will be completed by May 2011. Restoration Plan for Native Plants Native plants from the site and the surrounding lands should be an adequate seed source to re-vegetate tbe area. Because the site is within a managed preserve with few exotic upland plants present, no replanting efforts are being planned at this time. Threatened or Endamrered Species or Habitats The following listed species have been observed at the Pepper Ranch property: Florida Panther (Felis concolor c01yii, E), Florida black bear (Ursus americanusfloridanus, T), Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Woodstork (Mycteria americana), American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis, SSC and T), Florida sandhill crane (Grus canadensis pratensis, T), Audubon's crested caracara (Polyborus plancus audubonii, T), Limpkin (Aramus guaran, SSe), Snowy egret (Egretta thula, SSe), white ibis (Eudocimus albus, SSe) and numerous freshwater wetland dependent listed bird species. The parcels are located within FFWCC Priority 1 Habitat for Florida Panther and are included in lands considered to be strategic habitat areas for black bear and listed wading bird species (FFWCC, 1994, Closing the Gaps). Public Education PrO!rram The site was purchased as a Conservation Collier property. Public access is an important aspect of the Conservation Collier Program. Future plans for the site after exotic vegetation removal include: hunting, horseback riding, hiking trails, mountain biking, camping and educational signage containing information pertaining to both native and invasive exotic vegetation. 3 Packet Page -1854- 6/14/2011 Item 16.E.3. MAP! . l/) C'O Q) ~ 0=( . w Q) t) C'O z+oo c ro 0::: c ~ ~ 2 Q) c a. .co 00 a. 2 ro Q) Q) 00 Q) l- e. 2: .2 <X: Q) 15 lii 00 Q) >< l- I- W ::l a.. l- +-' ro ..c 0 Z "- t) ro C) c ro Q) c a::: I- '0 <( I- 13 c Q) ::l c.. Q) 0 I- 'C c.. .0' I- Q) I- ::l s:: a.. a.. en Q) DO C) . Q) ...J Packet Page -1855- 6/14/2011 Item 16.E.3. . MAP 2 " u " co " " 'E 'iii' ::;: " " ~ .!! " ~ III " w rt Q) Co) c C'Cl c Q) - c C'Cl 2: Co) :0:; 0 >< w Q) .~ I/) C'Cl > C I/) Q) "- Co) C'Cl . N N ..... I C'Cl Q) "- <C - Co) Q) ...... e a.. Q) > "- Q) I/) Q) "- a.. J:: Co) C C'Cl c::: "- Q) c.. c.. Q) a.. . Packet Page -1856-