Agenda 01/09/2024 Item #16A 3 (Applicationto Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission for wetland restoration within Pepper Ranch Preserve)01/09/2024
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to authorize staff to submit an application to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission to be eligible to receive funding assistance services worth $35,000 in FY 2025 for wetland
restoration within the Conservation Collier Pepper Ranch Preserve and to authorize staff to accept such
funding assistance services, if awarded.
OBJECTIVE: To seek $35,000 worth of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Aquatic Habitat
Restoration/Enhancement Subsection funding assistance for wetland restoration within the Conservation Collier
Pepper Ranch Preserve.
CONSIDERATIONS: Pepper Ranch Preserve is located north and west of Lake Trafford in Immokalee, Florida.
The Conservation Collier Program’s acquisition of the preserve was recognized as an opportunity to protect
wetland water resource values associated with Lake Trafford. Due to the exclusion of fire, several wetland areas on
the preserve have become dominated by the woody, native shrub Carolina willow (Salix caroliniana). Funding
from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Aquatic Habitat Restoration / Enhancement
Subsection (AHRES) would facilitate the reduction of the willow coverage to allow restoration of the marshes, an
open herbaceous habitat preferred by wildlife and native wetland plants.
AHRES is responsible for managing, enhancing, and preserving aquatic habitat in Florida for the long-term well-
being of fish and aquatic wildlife and the benefit of people in Florida. AHRES biolo gists involved with the
management of Lake Trafford have recommended that Collier County apply for project funding assistance through
AHRES. Projects are developed in coordination with FWC staff through teams developed to ensure a multi -
disciplinary approach to habitat management.
If funding is awarded, AHRES will pay state contractors for work performed on the Pepper Ranch Preserve
property. No State funds will be transferred to Collier County. If this agenda item is approved, staff will coordinate
with FWC for the electronic submittal of the application. As such, the Chairman's signature on the application is not
required.
FISCAL IMPACT: If funding assistance is awarded, it will provide an added value of up to $35,000 for services
provided by FWC.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: This proposal supports Goal 3 and Objective 7.3 of the Conservation
and Coastal Management Element of the County Growth Management Plan, which requires the County to protect
its groundwater resources to ensure the highest water quality practical and to continue to implement programs that
conserve and protect endangered and threatened wildlife species.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item is approved for form and legality and requires a majority vote for Board
approval. -SAA
RECOMMENDATION: To authorize staff to submit an application to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission to be eligible to receive funding assistance services worth $35,000 in FY 2025 for wetland restoration
within the Conservation Collier Pepper Ranch Preserve and to authorize staff to accept such funding assistance
services, if awarded.
Prepared by: Christal Segura, Environmental Specialist II, Development Review Division
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. AHRE Funding Application FY24-25 (PDF)
2. MAP FWC AHRES - Proposed Willow Treatment Areas (PDF)
16.A.3
Packet Pg. 372
01/09/2024
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.A.3
Doc ID: 27363
Item Summary: Recommendation to authorize staff to submit an application to the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission to be eligible to receive funding assistance services worth $35,000 in FY 2025 for
wetland restoration within the Conservation Collier Pepper Ranch Preserve and to authorize staff to accept such
funding assistance services, if awarded.
Meeting Date: 01/09/2024
Prepared by:
Title: Technician – Development Review
Name: Lucia Martin
11/29/2023 10:44 AM
Submitted by:
Title: Environmental Specialist –
Name: Jaime Cook
11/29/2023 10:44 AM
Approved By:
Review:
Development Review Summer BrownAraque Additional Reviewer Completed 11/30/2023 9:21 AM
Transportation Management Operations Support Evelyn Trimino Additional Reviewer Completed
12/04/2023 2:38 PM
Operations & Regulatory Management Michael Stark Additional Reviewer Completed 12/04/2023 6:11 PM
Unknown Jaime Cook Division Director Completed 12/11/2023 12:42 PM
Growth Management Community Development Department Diane Lynch Department Review Completed
12/13/2023 12:31 PM
County Attorney's Office Sally Ashkar Level 2 Attorney Review Completed 12/13/2023 3:15 PM
Growth Management Community Development Department James C French Growth Management Completed
12/14/2023 6:01 PM
Grants Erica Robinson Level 2 Grants Review Completed 12/18/2023 1:32 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 12/18/2023 1:36 PM
Office of Management and Budget Debra Windsor Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 12/18/2023 1:51 PM
Office of Management and Budget Laura Zautcke Additional Reviewer Completed 12/27/2023 9:48 AM
Grants Therese Stanley Additional Reviewer Completed 01/02/2024 2:27 PM
County Manager's Office Amy Patterson Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 01/03/2024 11:47 AM
Board of County Commissioners Geoffrey Willig Meeting Pending 01/09/2024 9:00 AM
16.A.3
Packet Pg. 373
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Aquatic Habitat
FY24/25 Aquatic Habitat Restoration/Enhancement Funding Application - Short Form Conservation & Restoration
Project Name: Section
Project Manager:Water Body:
Pepper Ranch Preserve
Contact Phone:County:Collier
AHRE Contact:Water Body Acres:2,247
Contact Phone:Project Acres:App. 35-70
Major Water Uses:
Species of Concern:
Staff/Team Reviewed:
Carolina willow 35-70 $34,999
TOTAL COST:$34,999
Pepper Ranch Preserve Vegetation Management
Christal Segura (Conservation
Collier Program)
239 252 2495
* Estimated costs for HERBICIDE work should use the values of $100 (helicopter) and $150 (airboat) per acre, regardless of herbicide used. Estimated costs for
REVEGETATION should use the values of $1.25 (bare-root; sedges, grasses, 1.5"-rhizome bulrush), $2.50 (bare-root; 3"-rhizome bulrush), $2.50 (4" liner), and $5.00 (1-
gallon) per herbaceous plant; and $10 (3-gallon), $35 (7-gallon), $60 (15-gallon), and $200 (25-gallon) per shrub/tree, regardless of species used. Estimated costs for
MECHANICAL treatment should use the values of $7,500 (harvesting), $2,500 (shredding), $500 (disking), and $100 (mowing) per acre.
#UNKNOWN!
SRAT
Insert map of water body below. Add locations of boat ramps and areas proposed for management, including management action. Please insert map
as a "jpg" file. Please keep map's size within the box below.
PLEASE USE THE TABS BELOW TO FIND THE SCIENTIFIC NAMES AND CHEMICAL NAMES TO BE USED WHEN FILLING OUT THIS FORM.
Control / Transplanting Method(s) (i.e. airboat or helicopter [including recommended herbicides],
harvesting, shredding, disking, mowing, or revegetation [including plant size and spacing])
Plants to be Controlled or
Transplanted
Rodney Hudson
561 882 5751
Funding limit for this short form application
shall not exceed $34,999.99.
This form should be used for AHRE funding
requests involving minor-level aquatic
vegetation management (herbicide and
mechanical treatment) and revegetation.
hiking, birding, educational, camping, fishing
panther, Alligator, Limpkin, Snowy Egret, White Ibis, SE American Kestrel, FL sandhill
crane, Bald eagle, Woodstork, Audubon’s crested caracara
mechanical clearing (* cost per acre based on other similar FWC projects)
Acres / # Plants
Managed
Estimated
Cost*
Management Action/Objective: This project is within/adjacent to and hydrologically connected to the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (#17) which is
listed as one of the high-priority sites identified by the Florida’s Freshwater Priority Resources: a guide for future management (2017) wetland assessment. Pepper
Ranch Preserve (PRP) covers approximately 2,247 acres, and is located in Collier County, FL north of Lake Trafford. PRP provides aquifer recharge, natural flood
protection, water purification, preservation of wildlife habitat, and public recreation. Various hiking and mountain biking trails allow visitors to become familiar with
the area’s distinctive natural communities: pine flatwoods, oak hammocks, sawgrass marshes, and pop-ash sloughs. Managed quota hunting for hog, deer, and
turkey is allowed on PRP during established seasons. Camping is allowed, with a permit. PRP is located within FWC Priority 1 Habitat for Florida panther.
Additionally, many other native wildlife species have been documented on PRP, and the ranch is included in lands considered to be strategic habitat areas for black
bear and listed wading bird species (Cox, 1994).
Carolina willow is invasive in habitats at PRP where fire has been suppressed and/or hydrology has been altered. This woody species requires maintenance
management to limit expansion of monotypic stands and promote establishment of diverse native plant communities, and improve recreational use (e.g. wildlife
viewing). The project manager will be responsible for participating in contractor oversight. The objective of the project is to decrease willow coverage by 75% within
the project area within 2 years. Desired future habitat condition: decreased coverage of undesirable vegetation and increase in cover of desirable native vegetation.
Evaluation method: vegetation survey and annual qualitative monitoring to estimate percent cover of vegetation present and establish photo-points for 2 years.
The County is also providing match as in-kind services/County funds related to additional invasive/exotic species management (ex. Brazilian pepper, Wright's
nutrush) and prescribed fire in wetland habitats. The County also recently acquired additional important wetland habitats just north of the shores of Lake Trafford
(red and yellow polygons on below map).
16.A.3.a
Packet Pg. 374 Attachment: AHRE Funding Application FY24-25 (27363 : Conservation Collier Pepper Ranch Preserve Funding Assistance Application Request)
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Preserve Boundary
Proposed Willow Treatment
0 0.5 10.25 Miles /
Pepper Ranch Preserve6315 Pepper Rd, Immokalee, FL 34142 239-252-2495 ConservationCollier.com
16.A.3.b
Packet Pg. 375 Attachment: MAP FWC AHRES - Proposed Willow Treatment Areas (27363 : Conservation Collier Pepper