Agenda 11/10/2009 Item #16E 2
Agenda Item No. 16E2
f'>lovember 10, 2009
Page 1 of 13
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to authorize the County Manager, or his designee, to submit a
$20,000 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Gopher
Tortoise Habitat Management Assistance Request to fund fire line installation at
the Conservation Collier Railhead Scrub Preserve.
OBJECTIVE: To have the Board of County Commissioners (Board) authorize the County
Manager, or his designee, to submit a Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management Assistance
Request to FWC to fund fire line installation at the 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. A formal
agreement between the Board and FWC will be needed before the project can proceed. Once
an agreement is finalized, staff will return to the Board for formal acceptance of the funding
assistance and execution of the agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT: The total cost of the project is $23,600. Collier County is requesting $20,000
in assistance from FWC. The County will provide a $3,600 cash match towards the project.
County cash match is available within the Conservation Collier Management Fund 174 budget.
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: Approval of this assistance request submittal conforms to the
County's Grant Coordination procedures - JBW.
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend that the Board of County Commissioners authorize the
County Manager, or his designee, to submit the attached $20,000 Railhead Scrub Preserve
Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management Assistance Request to FWC.
PREPARED BY: Melissa Hennig, Principal Environmental Specialist, Conservation Collier
Program, Department of Facilities Management
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Agenda Item No. 16E2
November 10, 2009
Page 2 of 13
COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Item Number:
Item Summary:
16E2
Recommendation to authorize the County Manager, or his designee, to submit a $20,000
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Gopher Tortoise Habitat
Management Assistance Request to fund fire line installation at the Conservation Collier
Railhead Scrub Preserve.
Meeting Date:
11/10/20099:00:00 AM
Approved By
Marlene J. Foord
Grants Coordinator
Date
Administrative Services
Administrative Services Admin.
10/26/2009 2:05 PM
Approved By
Jennifer White
Assistant County Attorney
Date
County Attorney
County Attorney Office
10/28/20099:08 AM
Approved By
Skip Camp, C.F.M.
Facilities Management Director
Date
Administrative Services
Facilities Management
10/29/2009 11:10 AM
Approved By
OMS Coordinator
OMS Coordinator
Date
County Manager's Office
Office of Management & Budget
10/30/20098:41 AM
Approved By
Randy Greenwald
Management/8udget Analyst
Date
County Manager's Office
Office of Management & Budget
10/30/2009 10: 23 AM
Approved By
John A. Yonkosky
Director of the Office of Management
Date
County Manager's Office
Office of Management & Budget
10/30/200912:48 PM
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Agenda Item No. 16E2
November 10, 2009
Page 3 of 13
Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management
Assistance Request
The Gopher Tortoise Management Plan places great impOliance on the ability of protected lands to support
gopher tortoise populations at levels that will ensure the ]ong-tem1 security of the species. Currently, protected
habitat in public ownership represents 40% of the estimated gopher tOlioise habitat remaining in the state. FWC
manages only 10% of the publicly owned gopher tOlioise 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
govemments which will optimize gopher tortoise carrying capacity on protected lands through appropriate habitat
management. Requests must be for active management of potentia] gopher tortoise habitat and should include
prescribed buming, and prescribed bum prep activities such as fire line installation and mechanical treatment.
Requests for assistance cannot exceed $20,000 per project but larger projects with additional funding sources may
apply. Requests must include an aerial map, soils map, FLUCCS map, and a bUlTOW 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 Pem1itting Guidelines
(April 2009). BUlTOW surveys do not have to be completed by an Authorized Gopher TOlioise Agent. Recipients
of funding assistance will be notified by Monday, 2] December 2009. Projects must begin after Monday, I
February 20] 0 and must be completed with a final invoice and project completion report submitted to FWC by
Monday, 24 May 20 10. Assistance will be prioritized based on cost per acre managed and continued plans for
management of 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 per acre managed. Projects shall be
submitted to the attention of Tera Meeks by either e-mail, I~J:'JcMecl;_8..LtMvFWCC0111, or ground mail, 620 S
Meridian, MS-2A, Tallahassee, FL 32399. Projects must be received by FWC no later than Monday, 16
~ovember 2009. Please use addition a] pages as needed. For additional information, contact Tera Meeks at 850-
410-0656 x17326.
Contact Information:
Name: Melissa Hennig Affiliation: Collier County Board of Countv Commissioners
FElD Number: 59-6000558 Is the Organization Registered in MFMP? @ No
Phone Number: 239-252-2957 E-mail Address: -1lh'Jissahel)niQ:ucollierQov.nel
Street Address: 330] East Tamiami Trail. Bui]ding W
City: Naples
State:
FL
Postal Code:
34112
Property Information:
Owner/Manager: Collier Countv Board of County Commissioners/Conservation Collier Section
City: Naples County: Collier Street Address: _J30 I East Tamiami Trail. Building W
Parcel ID (please list all): 00] 52600002
Latitude: 260 17' 58.27" Longitude: 8]0 47' 33.67"
Section: 15
Township: 48
Range:
'j~
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Is the property under conservation casement or protected by other legal document (e.g. Comprehensive Plan)? If
yes, please describe. The properiy, "Railhead Scrub South". is not under conservation easement. It is protected
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
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09/2009
Agenda Item No. 16E2
~Jovember 10, 2009
Page 4 of 13
under the Conservation Collier Ordinance 2002-63, as amended, Section 14.7 "Purchasing land using
Conservation Collier program funds permanently extinguishes all development rig:hts except those strictly
compatible with the purposes and goals of Conservation Collier... ".
Date of gopher tortoise burrow survey (must be within the last two years): February and March 2008
Are gopher tortoise burrows located on the property?
a@ (162 Estimated Number of Potentially Occupied Burrows) b. No
The survey consisted of an assessment of 80% of the potential habitat. A total of 165 burrows were found on the
property - 129 were Potentially Occupied. This number was extrapolated to 162 Potentially Occupied burrows
within 100% of the potential habitat. A burrow occupancy conversion factor of 0.5 !wpher tortoise per Potentially
Occupied burrow yielded a tortoise density calculation for the overall site of approximately 2.17 tortoises per
acre. and a tortoise density calculation by habitat of approximatelv 6.74 tortoises per acre within Xeric Oak and
approximately 0.42 tortoises per acre within Pine Flatwoods and Saw Palmetto.
How many acres of potential gopher tortoise habitat occur on the property? 42.3 acres of upland forage and
burrow habitat 10.8 acres of seasonal wetland forage habitat = 53.1 acres total
Have gopher tortoises been relocated to the property in the past (i.e. those associated with incidental take permits
or standard relocation permits)? No
Project Information:
Type of activity proposed (i.e. prescribed bum, fire line installation, tree thinning, roller chopping etc.)
Installation of 13.100 linear feet of 15 foot wide perimeter fire lines through thick vegetation via mechanical
mowing with heavy machinery.
Estimated project start date February 2,2010
Estimated date of project completion March L 2010
What is the total amount requested and how will the requested funds be utilized (i.e. summary of project costs)?
Collier County is requesting $20,000 from FWC. Fire line installation through thick veQ,etation costs
approximately $5230/acre utilizing current county contracts. Total acreage of fire lines to be installed = 4.5
acres. Total proiect cost = $23,600. Collier County will fund the remaining $3,600 required to complete
installation of the fire lines.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
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09/2009
Agenda Item No. 16E2
r'-lovember 10. 2009
Page 5 of 13
Acres of potential/occupied gopher tortoise habitat benefiting from the proposed activity 42.3 acres of upland
forae:e and burrow habitat; 10.8 acres of seasonal wetland forage habitat = 53.1 acres total
Total cost per acre managed (final invoice must reflect costs accordingly) $444.44/acre (if seasonal wetland
foralle habitat is included in the calculation); $557.n/acre (if only upland fora€le and burrow habitat is included in
the calculation) - calculations reflect total (FWC + Collier Countv) cost per acre: $23,600 -7- 53.1 acres =
$444. 44/acre: $23,600 -7- 42.3 acres = $557.92/acre
What is the direct benefit of this project to gopher tortoises? The fire line installation itself will not have a direct
benefit to the gopher tortoise; however, it will facilitate future fence installation, exotic plant removaL and
prescribed fire management. Unauthorized A TV use is occurring within the eastem portion of Railhead Scrub
South (east of the railroad tracks). A TV trails criss-cross the propertv and are a detriment to gopher tortoise
habitat. Perimeter field fence will be installed after the fire lines are cleared in order to deter unauthorized vehicle
access. Dense stands of mature invasive, exotic vegetation are present in a maiority of the wetland habitats within
the proiect area and have also be~mn to invade the pine llatwoods areas. Removal of these invasive plants will
allow for enhanced gopher tortoise burrow and forage habitat. while also facilitating prescribed fire manallement.
Both the scrubbv flatwoods and pine flatwoods habitats on site are overe:rown due to years of fire suppression.
Increased fire intervals will improve habitat for the gopher tOlioise. Once fire lines are installed and invasive
exotic vegetation is removed from site, Collier Countv will coordinate with the Florida Division of Forestrv
Urban Fire Mitigation Team (OaF) in order to conduct prescribed bums on the proiect site.
Will other species benefit from the project? If so please explain. Yes. Prescribed fire management will benefit the
following species known to inhabit Railhead Scrub South:
antlion (Mynneleontidae)
cicada (Cicadidae)
Florida harvester ant (Pogonomyrmex badius)
mole cricket (Scapteriscus spp.)
tiger beetle (Cicindela spp.)
box turtle (Terrapene Carolina)
coachwhip (Afasticophis.jlagellu/l1)
chorus frog (Pseudacris nigrita)
oak toad (B1!fo quercicus)
east em cottontail (Sylvilaguslloridanus)
east em mole (Scalopus aqllaticus)
gray fox (UrocYOI1 cinereoargenteus)
six -lined racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlil1eatus)
southem black racer (Coluber constrictor priapus)
green treefrog (Hyla cinerea)
hispid cotton rat (Sigmodol1 hispidlls)
marsh rabbit (Sylvilagus palustris)
nine-banded amladillo (Dasypus novemcinctus)
raccoon (Procyon lotor)
Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
white-tailed deer (OdocoilcllS virginianlls)
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
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Agenda Item No. 16E2
November 10, 2009
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bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
belted kingfisher (Celyle alcyon)
black vulture (Coragyps atratus)
blue-gray gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
broad-winged hawk (Buteo platypterus)
brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufilll1)
Carolina wren (Thlyothorus ludovicianus)
cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis)
common ground dove (Columbina passerina)
common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)
common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)
downy woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis)
eastern screech-owl (Megascops asio)
eastern towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
great blue heron (Ardea herodias)
great crested flycatcher (11.1yiarchus crinitus)
great egret (Ardea alba)
hairy woodpecker (Picoides villosus)
house wren (Troglodytes aedon)
loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)
mottled duck (Anasfulvigula)
mourning dove (Zenaida macroura)
northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
nOlihern parula (Panda americana )
osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
palm warbler (Dendroica palmarum)
pileated woodpecker (D/yocopus pileatus)
pine warbler (Dendroica pinus)
prairie warbler (Dendroica discolor)
red-bellied woodpecker (Melane/pes carolinus)
red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus)
red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
shiny cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)
turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)
wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
white ibis (Eudocimus albus)
white-eyed vireo (Vireo griseus)
Other species that have not been directly observed at the preserve yet are known to inhabit similar habitats, such
as the eastern indigo snake (Drvmarchon couoeri) and gopher frog (Rana cavito), could also potentially benefit
from this proiect.
Is there a management plan for this property? Yes. A two-year interim management plan exists for Railhead
Scrub South, which was acquired in 2007 to expand the existing 80-acre Railhead Scrub North. A more
comprehensive ten-year Railhead Scrub Preserve management plan exists for Railhead Scrub North. County staff
is currently revising the ten-year Railhead Scrub Preserve management plan to incorporate Railhead Scrub South.
The revision is expected to be approved by the Collier Countv Board of County Commissioners in January or
February 20 I O.
Briefly describe any plans for continued future management. In 2007, DOF installed fire lines and DEP
,_..--.
($50,600) and USFWS ($10,000) funded initial exotic removal within Railhead Scrub North. Since then, Collier
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
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A.genda Item No. 16E2
November 10. 2009
Page 7 of 13
Countv contractors have mowed the fire lines twice a veal' and routinelv treated the invasive. exotic plants to
maintain them at a density of 5% or less. This maintenance will continue into the future (current estimated cost
$15,000 annuallv; will become less expensive as fewer treatments are required).
A Collier Countv contractor will install additional fire lines within Railhead Scrub North (estimated cost $28.000)
in December of 2009. in anticipation of a spring, summer, or fall 2010 DOF controlled bum.
Partially funded through USFWS ($15,000), a native planting proiect (total estimate $44,800) is scheduled for
summer 2010 within 13 acres of Railhead Scrub North wetlands that were cleared of melaleuca in 2007.
Fencing of the eastern pOIiion of Railhead Scrub South (estimated cost $37,000) is scheduled for Januarv 2012,
but will be completed in the spring of 20] 0 if this fire line installation proiect is funded by FWC.
Initial exotic removal within Railhead Scrub South (estimated cost $96.000) is scheduled for December 2011.
County staff will seek funding throu!!h the FWC Invasive Plant Management Section and the USFWS Partners
for Fisb and Wildlife Pro!!ram and/or Coastal Ecosvstem Prol!:ram to assist with initial removal.
After initial exotic removal. Collier Countv will coordinate with DOF to conduct a controlled bum within
Railhead Scrub South, potentially in sprin!!, summer. or fall 20] 2.
Fire lines and exotic vegetation will continue to be maintained into the future at both Railhead Scrub North and
Railhead Scrub South. Staff will also coordinate with DOF to bum all habitats witbin both sections of Railhead
Scrub Preserve on schedules that mimic natural fire intervals, for example. Pine Flatwoods everv 3 - 5 years.
Additional items to include: X Aerial Map
X FLUCCS Map X Soils Map X Burrow Survey
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
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09/2009
Agenda Item No. 16E2
November 10, 2009
Page 8 of 13
Conservation Collier: Railhead Scrub Preserve
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Page 6 of 11
09/2009
Agenda Item No. 16E2
November 10, 2009
Page 9 of 13
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Page 7 of 11
09/2009
Agenda Item No. 16E2
November 10, 2009
Page 10 of 13
Railhead Scrub Preserve South Soils Map
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Page 8 of 11
09/2009
Agenda Item No. 16E2
November 10. 2009
Page 11 of 13
Railhead Scrub Preserve South Land Cover
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Page 9 of 11
09/2009
Agenda Item No. 16E2
November 10, 2009
Page 12 of 13
Railhead Scrub Preserve South
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Page 10 of 11
09/2009
Agenda Item f'Jo. 16E2
November 10, 2009
Page 13 of 13
Railhead Scrub Preserve South
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Page 11 of 11
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