Agenda 03/25/2008 Item #16E 2
Agenda Item No. 16E2
March 25, 2008
Page 1 of 10
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to authorize the County Manager, or his designee, to submit a
Bureau of Invasive Plant Management (BIPM) grant proposal to the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for $132,000 to fund an invasive,
exotic plant removal project at the Conservation Collier Railhead Scrub Preserve.
OBJECTIVE: To have the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) authorize the County
Manager, or his designee, to submit a proposal to the FDEP to fund an invasive, exotic plant
removal project at the Railhead Scrub Preserve.
CONSIDERATIONS: The Upland Plant Management Section of the BIPM funds individual
invasive plant removal projects on public conservation lands throughout the State. If the grant is
received, the BIPM will pay state contractors for work that will be performed on the Railhead
Scrub Preserve property. 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: The total cost of the project is $132,000. Collier County is requesting
$102,000 in FDEP contractor services. The County will provide a $30,000 cash match towards
invasive, exotic vegetation maintenance. 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 grant application submittal conforms to the
County's Grant Coordination procedures.
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend that the Board of County Commissioners authorize the
County Manager, or his designee, to submit the attached Railhead Scrub Preserve grant
proposal to the FDEP BIPM.
PREPARED BY: Melissa Hennig, Principal Environmental Specialist, Conservation Collier
Program, Department of Facilities Management
Page I of]
Agenda Item No. 16E2
March 25, 2008
Page 2 of 10
COLLIER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Item Number:
Item Summary:
16E2
Recommendation to authorize the County Manager, or his designee, to submit a Bureau of
Invasive Plant Management (BIPM) grant proposal to the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection (FDEP) for $132.000 to fund an invasive, exotic plant removal
project at the Conservation Collier Railhead Scrub Preserve.
Meeting Date:
3/25/2008 90000 AM
Prepared By
Melissa Hennig
Environmental Specialist
Date
Administrative Services
Facilities Management
2/22/20083:16:19 PM
Approved By
Debra Eurom
Assistant Grant Coordinator
Date
Administrative Services
Administrative Services
2/26/20088:16 AM
Approved By
Skip Camp, C.F.M.
Facilities Management Director
Date
Administrative Services
Facilities Management
2/26/2008 2: 18 PM
Approved By
Len Golden Price
Administrative Services Administrator
Date
Administrative Services
Administrative Services Admin.
3/11/200811:35AM
Approved By
OMS Coordinator
Applications Analyst
Date
Administrative Services
Information Technology
3/11/20081:41 PM
Approved By
Laura Davisson
Management & Budget Analyst
Date
County Manager's Office
Office of Management & Budget
3/16/20083:36 PM
Approved By
James V. Mudd
County Manager
Date
Board of County
Commissioners
County Manager's Office
3/17/20081:50 PM
file://C :\Agenda Test\Export\] 03 -March%2025, %202008\ 16. %20CONSENT%20AG ENDA \... 3/1 9/2008
Agenda Item No. 16E2
March 25, 2008
Page 3 of 10
Collier County
Railhead Scrub Preserve Phase 2
Initial Removal Project
Southwest Florida Invasive Species Working Group
Contact Information
Agency: Collier County Facilities Management Department
Contact Person/Site Manager: Melissa Hennig, Principal Environmental Specialist
Mailing Address: 3301 Tamiami Trail East, Building W
Naples, FL 34112
Phone: (239) 252-2957
Fax: (239) 252-6720
E-mail: MelissaHenni~(!I;collier~ov.net
Method of Control
Contractual Services
DEP Contractor
Proiect Goals
Alllygodium, Austrailian pine, Brazilian pepper, melaleuca, earleaf acacia, downy
rosemyrtle, carrotwood, and any other FLEPPC Category I or 2 plants within the
Railhcad Scrub Preserve will be initially treated.
Agenda Item No. 16E2
March 25, 2008
Page 4 of 10
SCOPE OF WORK:
Proiect Location
The Railhead Scrub Preserve is located in the Northwest corner of Collier County,
Florida in Sections 10 and 16, Township 48 South, Range 25 East (See Map I). This
I 35-acre preserve is management by the Collier County Conservation Collier Program.
Proiect Description
In 2007, large stands of melaleuca were mowed within a 13.5 - acre area of the preserve
by a DEP contractor under a BIPM melaleuca project. Additionally, funds from USFWS
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program have been used to treat the surrounding areas.
This project proposes treating the remaining 121.5 acres of the preserve that contain
varying densities of exotic plants.
A large majority of the Railhead Scrub Preserve is xeric oak scrub habitat containing few
exotic species; however, the main target areas consist of hydric pine flatwoods, pine
flatwoods and cypress areas that have been invaded by lygodium, Austrailian pine,
Brazilian pepper, melaleuca, earleaf acacia, downy rosemyrtle, and carrotwood.
Approximately 13.7 acres are heavily infested (90%-95% density) and can be removed
with mechanical mowing along the western and southern edges (ZONE I).
Approximately 13.7 acres of the preserve contain dense exotics (85%-90% density) that
are not accessible with machinery. These areas (ZONE 2) will be treated in place. The
remaining 105.5 acres (ZONE 3) will need to be swept for scattered exotic plants (10%
density) that will be treated in place (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
control of FLEPPC Category I and 2 plants within the Railhead Scrub Preserve,
including any equipment, labor, supply, and herbicide needs, will be the responsibility of
the contractor. The contractor will take precautions to avoid harming any native
vegetation or wildlife.
ZONE 1
Exotics within ZONE I will be mechanically mulched using heavy machinery,
such as a Brontosaurus or Hydro-ax. After stumps are cut, they will be treated
with an appropriate herbicide per label rates, or the contractor will return within
three months ofremoval to treat re-growth with an appropriate herbicide per label
rates. Lygodium within this zone that is growing into native trees will be treated
via the "poodle-cut" method.
ZONE 2
Melaleuca and downy rosemyrtle within ZONE 2 will be cut down and their
stumps will be treated using an appropriate herbicide per label rates. Melalueca
will be chopped into 4 - foot sections and piled. All other exotic vegetation can
be treated in place basally using an appropriate herbicide per label rates.
2
Agenda Item No. 16E2
March 25. 2008
Page 5 of 10
ZONE 3
All large trees> 4 ft. dbh will be treated in place basally or frill and girdle using
an appropriate herbicide per label rates. All small trees and seedlings will be
treated in place basally or cut stump treated using an appropriate herbicide per
label rates.
Other Requirements and Provisions
Heavy equipment may only operate along established trails within the preserve or within
ZONE 1. In pine flatwood areas where gopher tortoises may be present, Facilities
Management staff will conduct surveys prior to exotic removal. Heavy equipment will
remain at least 25 feet from any gopher tortoise burrow. A SFWMD Environmental
Resource Permit is not required for this project. A Collier County Vegetation Clearing
Pernlit will be obtained for this project.
Proiect Time Frame
The project must be completed during the latter portion of the dry season (normally late
March - early June). Some sections of the mechanical removal will take place within a
seasonally wet area.
3
Agenda Item No. 16E2
March 25, 2008
Page 6 of 10
Fundinl! Information
Estimated Total Project Cost = $132,000
State Funding Desired = $102,000 - Initial treatment
Matching Funds = $30,000 - Maintenance treatment for 2 years after initial treatment.
Budget based on 2007 mowing project on southern Railhead Scrub Preserve and similar
treat in place proj ects.
4
Agenda Item No. 16E2
March 25, 2008
Page 7 of ,oJ
PROPOSAL INFORMATION:
Conservation Land Qualification
This property was purchased by Collier County with funds from the Conservation Collier
Program. It is listed in FNAl Florida Conservation Lands.
Abilitv to Maintain Site After Initial Treatment
Funding for maintenance is available within the Conservation Collier budget. Zones 1 and 2
will be treated quarterly for the first year after treatment and semi-annually for the second
year if control has been successful in the first ycar after treatment. Zone 3 will be treated on
an as needed basis.
Restoration Plan for Native Plants
Native plants from the site and the surrounding lands should be an adequate seed source to
re-vegetate the 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 Endangered Species or Habitats
A large gopher tortoise (Gopherus polvphemus, SSe) population currently inhabits the scrub
areas of the preserve. Other probable listed species within the preserve include: Gopher Frog
(Ran a areolata, SSe), Eastern Indigo Snake (Diymarcher cora is, T), Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus
leucocephalus) and Woodstork (Mvctcria americalla).
Public Education Program
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 inc\udc: benches, picnic tables, and educational signs containing information
pertaining to both native and invasive exotic vegetation.
5
MAP!
Railhead Scrub Preserve Road Map
BONITA BEACH RD
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IMMOKALEE RD
Railhead Scrub Preserve
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- Major Roads in South Florida
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Agenda Item No. 16E2
March 25, 2008
Page 8 of 10
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Collier County Property
Appraiser
Agenda Item No. 16E2
March 25, 2008
Page 9 of 10
MAP 2
Conservation Collier Railhead Scrub Preserve Aerial Map
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Exotics: Railhead Phase II
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Melaleuca mowed in 2007
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Agenda Item No. 16E2
March 25, 2008
Page 10 of 10
MAP 3
Railhead Scrub Preserve Black and White Exotics Map
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wL2ZJ Melaleuca mowed in 2007 13.S ac.
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