Agenda 08/13/2024 Item #16A 4 (Conservation Collier Pepper Ranch Preserve Final Management Plan)08/13/2024
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to approve the Conservation Collier Pepper Ranch Preserve Final Management Plan 10 -
year update under the Conservation Collier Program.
OBJECTIVE: To obtain approval from the Board of County Commissioners (Board) for the 10-year update to the
Pepper Ranch Preserve Final Management Plan.
CONSIDERATIONS: The 2,655-acre Preserve in Immokalee was acquired in 2009. On June 28, 2011, Agenda
Item 16E6, the board approved a final management plan for the preserve. Subsequent updates have made the plan
operational for the Pepper Ranch Preserve since that time.
Changes in this plan include:
• Updated maps,
• Updated property status information,
• Additions to plant or animal lists,
• Status of exotic plant and animal infestations, and
• Streamlining of text,
• Updated Prescribed Fire Information.
The program has a practice of holding a public meeting at the time of the Final Management Plan 10 -year update.
On April 24, 2024, a hybrid Zoom, and in-person meeting was held to allow community input on the draft plan. No
public comment was received.
The Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee (CCLAAC) reviewed the plan on June 5, 2024,
and recommends the Board approve the updated plan.
FISCAL IMPACT: The average cost for preserve management over the next five years is estimated at $265,150
per year. This includes invasive plant and trail maintenance, landscaping services, and park ranger staff. Funds are
available within the Conservation Collier Land Management Fund (1062) and Pepper Ranch Conservation Bank
(0673) to accomplish these activities.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: Management of Conservation Collier lands to support appropriate
public access is consistent with and supports Policy 1.1.5 and Objective 1.3 in the Recreation and Open Space
Element of the Collier County Growth Management Plan.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: The Conservation Collier Ordinance (No. 2002-63, as amended), in Section 13,
provides a legal framework for the development of management plans and for the use of environmentally sensitive
lands. This item is approved for form and legality and requires a majority vote for Board action. -SAA
RECOMMENDATION: To approve the attached updated 10-year Final Management Plan for Pepper Ranch
Preserve and direct staff to implement the updated plan.
Prepared by: Christal Segura, Environmental Specialist II, Growth Management Community Development
Department
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. [Linked] Preserve Management Plan -10-YR Update -final version (PDF)
2. [Linked] Preserve Management Plan -10-YR Update - strikethrough (PDF)
16.A.4
Packet Pg. 425
08/13/2024
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.A.4
Doc ID: 29323
Item Summary: Recommendation to approve the Conservation Collier Pepper Ranch Preserve Final Management
Plan 10-year update under the Conservation Collier Program.
Meeting Date: 08/13/2024
Prepared by:
Title: Technician – Development Review
Name: Lucia Martin
06/27/2024 9:37 AM
Submitted by:
Title: Environmental Specialist –
Name: Jaime Cook
06/27/2024 9:37 AM
Approved By:
Review:
Growth Management Community Development Department Diane Lynch GMD Approver Completed
07/02/2024 12:43 PM
Development Review Summer BrownAraque Other Reviewer Completed 07/03/2024 1:43 PM
Unknown Jaime Cook Division Director Completed 07/09/2024 11:11 AM
Transportation Management Operations Support Evelyn Trimino GMCDD Reviewer Completed
07/11/2024 9:00 AM
County Attorney's Office Sally Ashkar Level 2 Attorney Review Completed 07/17/2024 10:17 AM
Growth Management Community Development Department James C French Growth Management Completed
07/19/2024 9:38 AM
Procurement Services Diane Lynch GMCDD Reviewer Skipped 08/02/2024 2:00 PM
Development Review Matt Denison GMCDD Reviewer Completed 08/05/2024 11:58 AM
Office of Management and Budget Debra Windsor Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 08/05/2024 12:11 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 08/05/2024 4:43 PM
Office of Management and Budget Laura Zautcke OMB Reviewer Completed 08/06/2024 9:01 AM
County Manager's Office Ed Finn Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 08/06/2024 10:48 AM
Board of County Commissioners Geoffrey Willig Meeting Pending 08/13/2024 9:00 AM
16.A.4
Packet Pg. 426
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 1
Pepper Ranch Preserve
Land Management Plan
Managed by: Conservation Collier Program
Collier County, Florida
May 2024 – May 2034 (10-yr update)
Prepared by:
Conservation Collier Staff
Growth Management & Community Development Department
G:\Conservation Collier\Land Management\PepperRanchPreserve\Land Management Plans\FinalManagementPlan\PRP_10 year revision.do
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 2
Pepper Ranch Preserve
Land Management Plan Executive Summary
Lead Agency: Conservation Collier Program
Properties included in this Plan: Pepper Ranch Preserve
Preserve lands consist of ten contiguous parcels located within Sections 22, 26, 27,
28, 33, 34 & 35, Township 46 South, Range 28 East, in Collier County. A property
survey and full legal description is provided in Appendix 1.
Parcel Folio Numbers
00052360002 00053560005
00053200006 00053815006
00053000002 00053813008
00052960004 00053805003
00053840000 00053440002
Total Acreage: 2,655.2 acres
Same table with more detail later in the plan
Management Responsibilities:
Agency: Collier County - Conservation Collier Program
Preserve Manager: Designated Collier County Environmental Specialist
Designated Land Use: Preservation
Unique Features: Largest Conservation Collier acquisition to date at 2,655.2 acres with
frontage on north side of Lake Trafford
Archaeological/Historical: The Pepper Ranch Preserve is within an area of historical
and archaeological probability. One prehistoric and archaeological site has been
discovered near Lake Trafford and the visitor center is considered a historic structure.
Other historical and archaeological sites are most likely present on the property.
Management Needs:
Monitoring of biological resources,
Exotic plant removal and maintenance,
Conduct a hydrological analysis of the preserve to better determine restoration needs,
Possible restoration of select areas after exotic removal,
Implementation of a prescribed fire management program,
Habitat management to enhance protection of native and listed species populations,
and
Monitoring public use.
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Conservation Collier Program 3
Public Involvement:
Community involvement in the review of this management plan and all future updates are
coordinated through the general public via public meetings. The community at large will
be contacted through direct mailing notices to residents, other preserve managers and
businesses within 2,000 feet of the preserve boundaries. Official public notices will be
posted on the County website. Staff will seek to coordinate management actions, such as
exotic removal and prescribed fires with managers/owners of adjoining public and private
lands.
Over 19 Boy Scouts have volunteered time and materials to improve the preserve and
trail systems such as building picnic tables, kiosks, hitching posts, campground design
and development and campground fire rings, marking trails and installing bat boxes. Each
achieved their Eagle Scout status as a result of their contribution.
The off-road cycling group, the Florida Mudcutters, were active partners from May 2012-
2020. Members volunteered over 2,000 hours developing and maintaining the preserve’s
mountain biking trails.
Public Use
The amount of public use the preserve receives during open season is increasing every
year. Several different user groups utilize the preserve for different recreational
opportunities.
Each year in late September early October, Southeastern sunflowers (Helianthus agrestis)
bloom in 100 acres of pasture on the west side of the preserve. The program has held
special sunflower viewing events since 2013 to allow the public to drive in to see the
flowers. It has been a very popular event drawing 1000’s of people.
Management Goals:
Goal 1: Maintain high quality habitat with limited disturbance for the benefit of
native flora and fauna
Goal 2: Develop and implement a baseline monitoring program
Goal 3: Remove or control populations of invasive, exotic or problematic flora and
fauna to restore and maintain natural habitats
Goal 4: Implement a Prescribed Fire Management Plan
Goal 5: Restore native vegetation as needed
Goal 6: Monitor public use
Goal 7: Facilitate uses of the site for educational purposes
Goal 8: Provide for security and disaster preparedness
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Conservation Collier Program 4
Goal 9: Implement and comply with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS)
requirements for the established Panther Conservation Bank. Provide
County Panther Habitat Unit (PHUs) mitigation through an onsite Panther
Conservation Bank.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 9
1.1 Conservation Collier: Land Acquisition Program and Management
Authority ........................................................................................................10
1.2 Purpose and Scope of the Land Management Plan ........................................10
1.3 Location of the Pepper Ranch Preserve .........................................................10
1.4 Regional Significance of the Pepper Ranch Preserve ....................................11
1.5 Nearby Public Lands and Designated Water Resources ................................13
1.6 Public Involvement ........................................................................................14
2.0 Natural Resources ......................................................................................................14
2.1 Physiography .................................................................................................14
2.1.1 Topography and Geomorphology ......................................................14
2.1.2 Geology ..............................................................................................14
2.1.3 Soils....................................................................................................17
2.1.4 Hydrology/Water Management .........................................................19
2.2 Climate ...........................................................................................................19
2.3 Natural Plant Communities ............................................................................20
2.3.1 Uplands: Upland Mixed Forest ..........................................................26
2.3.2 Wetlands: Depression Marsh ............................................................27
2.3.3 Wetlands: Slough ..............................................................................28
2.3.4 Wetlands: Bottomland Forest ............................................................29
2.3.5 Uplands: Mesic Flatwoods .................................................................30
2.3.6 Other Natural Communities ..............................................................31
2.3.7 Altered Communities ........................................................................33
2.4 Native Plant and Animal Species ..................................................................34
2.4.1 Plant Species .....................................................................................34
2.4.2 Animal Species .................................................................................34
2.5 Listed Species ...............................................................................................38
2.5.1 Listed Plant Species ..........................................................................38
2.5.2 Listed Animal Species ......................................................................42
2.6 Invasive, Non-native and Problem Species ..................................................44
2.6.1 Invasive and Problem Plant Species .................................................45
2.6.2 Invasive and Problem Animal Species ..............................................47
3.0 Previous Conditions of the Preserve; Current Use of the Preserve and
Adjacent Land Uses ...................................................................................................49
3.1 Previous Land Uses of the Preserve ..............................................................49
3.2 Previous Land Uses of Adjoining Properties .................................................52
3.3 Current Land Uses of the Preserve ...............................................................53
3.4 Current Land Uses of Adjoining Properties ..................................................53
3.5 Cultural, Historical and Archeological Resource Protection ........................54
3.6 Major Accomplishments since Acquisition ..................................................55
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Conservation Collier Program 6
4.0 Future Use of the Pepper Ranch Preserve including Management Issues,
Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................55
4.1 Management Plan Framework .......................................................................55
4.1.1 Preserve Manager: Contact Information ............................................56
4.2 Planned Uses and Assessment of their Impacts .............................................56
4.2.1 Identification of Public Uses Consistent with Preservation,
Enhancement, Restoration, Conservation and Maintenance of
the Resources .....................................................................................56
4.3 Desired Future Conditions .............................................................................58
4.4 Goals for the 10-year period 2010-2020 ........................................................58
4.5 Establish an Operational Plan for the Pepper Ranch Preserve ......................87
4.5.1 Maintenance .......................................................................................87
4.5.2 Estimated Annual Costs and Funding Sources ..................................87
4.5.3 Potential for Contracting Restoration and Management
Activities by Private Vendors ............................................................89
5.0 Literature Cited ..........................................................................................................90
TABLES
Table 1 Acquisition History and Status of Pepper Ranch Preserve ..................................9
Table 2 Public Lands Located near the Pepper Ranch Preserve .......................................13
Table 3 Extent of Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System
Designations from 2009 on the Pepper Ranch Preserve ......................................22
Table 4 Summary of Natural Communities on the Pepper Ranch Preserve .....................25
Table 5 Breeding Bird Species Recorded in the Corkscrew and Immokalee
Quadrangles Encompassing the Pepper Ranch Preserve .....................................36
Table 6 Listed Plant Species Detected at the Pepper Ranch Preserve ..............................39
Table 7 Non-Indigenous and Invasive Plant Species at Pepper Ranch Preserve ..............45
Table 8 Major Accomplishments during previous years ..................................................55
Table 9 Invasive, Exotic Plant Species Control Plan for the Pepper Ranch Preserve
FLEPPC Category I species .................................................................................64
Table 10 Prescribed Burn Table………………………………………………………..74
Table 11 Panther Habitat Unit Calculations excluding SSA 7 – Pre-Restoration ..............87
Table 12 Monitoring and Reporting Schedule for Panther Conservation Bank .................89
Table 13 Estimated Annual Land Management Budget .....................................................89
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Conservation Collier Program 7
FIGURES
Figure 1 General Location of and Directions to Pepper Ranch Preserve. .......................11
Figure 2 Conserved Lands in Collier County, Florida Including Lands Owned by
Conservation Collier. ........................................................................................12
Figure 3 Preserves and Protected Lands in the Vicinity of Pepper Ranch Preserve .......13
Figure 4 Aerial View of the Pepper Ranch Preserve .......................................................15
Figure 5 Soil Units on the Pepper Ranch Preserve .........................................................16
Figure 6 Distribution of Natural Communities and other Land Uses on the Pepper
Ranch Preserve; 2009 FLUCFCS Layer ...........................................................22
Figure 7 Extent of Natural Plant Communities Currently Found on the Pepper
Ranch Preserve..................................................................................................24
Figure 8 1940 Aerial View of Pepper Ranch Preserve ...................................................48
Figure 9 1953 Aerial View of Pepper Ranch Preserve ...................................................49
Figure 10 1963 Aerial View of Pepper Ranch Preserve ...................................................50
Figure 11 Pepper Ranch Easement and Overlay Map .......................................................56
Figure 12 Pepper Ranch Preserve Exotic Plant Treatment Phases ...................................62
Figure 13 Pepper Ranch Preserve Burn Unit Map ……………………………………69
Figure 14 Total Pepper Ranch Pepper Ranch Visitation……………………………..….80
Figure 15 Current Public Use Map ..................................................................................82
Figure 16. Conservation Bank & Vegetation Monitoring Transect Map .........................87
APPENDICIES
Appendix 1 Pepper Ranch Preserve Legal Description
Appendix 2 Floristic Inventory of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Appendix 3 Pepper Ranch Preserve Master Wildlife Species Inventory
Appendix 4 Land Use Compatibility Matrix
Appendix 5 Parcel Folio Map of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Appendix 6 Wildlife Camera Photographs
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Conservation Collier Program 8
1.0 Introduction
The Pepper Ranch Preserve is 2,655 acres of natural and agricultural lands located along
the north shore of Lake Trafford in north central Collier County, Florida. The preserve
contains various native plant communities, including bottomland forest, upland mixed
forest, strand swamp, slough, pine flatwoods, depression marshes, and improved pastures.
A site assessment to determine compliance with the Conservation Collier initial screening
criteria was completed in November 2007 and the Conservation Collier Program
purchased the property in February 2009. The County holds fee simple title to the Pepper
Ranch Preserve. Additional adjacent properties were acquired in 2023. The Conservation
Collier program manages these lands under authority granted by the Conservation Collier
Ordinance 2002-63 as amended (2007-65) (available from www.municode.com). Initial
acquisition activities are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1: Acquisition History and Status of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Year Benchmark
2006 FLUCFCS mapping of a portion of the preserve conducted by Scheda
2007 Property nominated to the Conservation Collier Program
2007 Initial Site Assessment by Conservation Collier Staff
2007 Acceptance of Initial Criteria Screening Report by the Conservation Collier
Land Acquisition Advisory Committee
2008 Phase I Environmental Assessment Conducted by Environmental Consulting
and Technology, Inc. for Collier County
2008 Approved for purchase by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC)
2009 Purchase of the Pepper Ranch property 2,512 acres
2009 Developed Interim Management Plan
2009 BCC approved the Interim Management Plan
2011 Final Land Management Plan approved by BCC
2019 5-year update to Final Land Management Plan approved by BCC
2023 Purchased three adjacent properties- 143.30 acres
The preserve consists of approximately 46% (±1223.96 acres) wetland plant communities
and approximately 54% (±1431.29 acres) upland plant communities. Conservation,
restoration and natural resource-based recreation are the designated uses of this property.
Management activities allowed include those necessary to preserve, restore, secure and
maintain this environmentally sensitive land for the benefit of present and future
generations. Public use of the site must be consistent with these management goals.
This is the 10-year update to the Final Management Plan for the Pepper Ranch Preserve.
The initial Final Management Plan was approved by the Collier County Board of County
Commissioners (BCC) on June 28, 2011. Changes made to this plan during the 10-year
review process will be brought before the BCC for their approval in 2024.
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Conservation Collier Program 9
1.1 Conservation Collier: Land Acquisition Program and Management Authority
The Conservation Collier program was originally approved by voters in November 2002
and subsequently confirmed in the November 2006 ballot referendum. Both voter-
approved referendums enable the program to acquire environmentally sensitive
conservation lands within Collier County, Florida (Ordinance 2002-63, as amended)).
Properties: that protect rare habitat, aquifer recharge, flood control, water quality
protection, and listed species habitat are considered. The BCC appointed a Land
Acquisition Advisory Committee to consider any selected or nominated properties that
an owner has indicated a willingness to sell. The committee recommends property
purchases for final approval by the BCC.
Lands acquired with Conservation Collier funds are titled to “COLLIER COUNTY, a
political subdivision of the State of Florida, by and through its Conservation Collier
program.” The Collier County BCC established the Conservation Collier program to
implement the program and to manage acquired lands. As such, Conservation Collier
holds management authority for the Pepper Ranch Preserve. Conservation Collier is
therefore established to acquire, preserve, restore, and maintain vital and significant
threatened natural lands, forest, upland and wetland communities located in Collier
County, for the benefit of present and future generations.
1.2 Purpose and Scope of the Land Management Plan
The purpose of the plan is to provide management direction for Pepper Ranch Preserve
by identifying the goals and objectives necessary to eliminate or minimize any threats to
the resources and integrity of the preserve. This text is a working document that
establishes the foundation of the ten-year plan by identifying the appropriate management
techniques necessary to preserve and/or restore the resource.
This plan will balance resource restoration and protection with natural resource-based
recreational and educational use while looking at restoration needs, listed species
protection and maintenance of the site free of invasive, exotic plant and animal species.
This plan is divided into sections that incorporate an introduction, descriptions of the
natural and cultural resources, projected uses of the property, management issues, and
goals and objectives.
1.3 Location of the Pepper Ranch Preserve
Pepper Ranch Preserve is located at 6315 Pepper Road just west of the town of
Immokalee, Florida (See Figure 1; legal description in Appendix 1). It is in north central
Collier County, along the north shoreline of Lake Trafford within Sections 22, 26, 27, 28,
33, 34, and 35, Township 46 South, and Range 28 East.
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Figure 1: General Location of the Pepper Ranch Preserve.
1.4 Regional Significance of the Pepper Ranch Preserve
Ecosystem services such as the protection of water resources, flood control, maintenance
of nutrient cycles, preservation of biological diversity, carbon sequestration, and the
availability of recreational lands are imperative for the well-being of the citizens of
Collier County and may be achieved through the preservation of natural areas . As of
2023, approximately 68% (over 886,970 acres) of all land in Collier County were
protected in conservation areas (Figure 2) and managed by private, local, state and
federal agencies (FNAI 2023). Collier County’s Conservation Collier Program manages
the 2,655.2-acre Pepper Ranch Preserve; it contains upland mixed forest, strand swamp,
slough, prairie hammock, pine flatwoods, improved pasture, dry prairie, freshwater
marshes, bottomland forest, and wet prairie.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 11
Figure 2: Conserved Lands in Collier County, Florida Including Lands Owned by
Conservation Collier.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 12
1.5 Nearby Public Lands and Designated Water Resources
Pepper Ranch Preserve shares its western and a portion of its northern boundary with the
Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed or CREW Trust conservation lands. The
closest Conservation Collier Program property to Pepper Ranch Preserve is the Caracara
Prairie Preserve, which is approximately 1.23 miles directly to the west. Other preserves,
in order of increasing distance, are provided in Table 2. Figure 3 shows the locations of
these preserves.
Table 2: Public Lands Located near the Pepper Ranch Preserve
Name Distance
(miles) Direction Type
CREW 0.00 W State
Caracara Prairie Preserve 1.23 W Conservation Collier
Corkscrew Swamp
Sanctuary 2.03 SW National Audubon Society
Red Root Preserve 5.26 S/SW Conservation Collier
Imperial Marsh Preserve 5.63 SE Lee County Conservation
20/20
Figure 3: Preserves and Protected Lands in the Vicinity of Pepper Ranch Preserve
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Conservation Collier Program 13
1.6 Public Involvement
Community involvement in the review of this management plan and all future updates are
coordinated through the general public via public meetings. The community at large will
be contacted through direct mailing notices to residents, other preserve managers and
businesses within 2,000 feet of the preserve boundaries. Official public notices will be
posted on the County website.
Staff worked with Immokalee Civic Group(s) including the Immokalee Community
Redevelopment Association, Collier County Sheriff’s Department and neighboring
property owners to discuss public use and access issues. Two public meetings were held
in 2010 to provide the general public an opportunity to review and comment on the first
Pepper Ranch Preserve Final Land Management Plan.
Conservation Collier and the Collier County Board of County Commissioners (BCC)
held two workshops in 2010 with outdoor sportsmen’s clubs and hunters to develop a
Hunt Program for Pepper Ranch Preserve.
The Public Hunt Management Plan was brought for BCC approval in April 2010.
Conservation Collier staff was directed to hold two additional public meetings to
determine if hunting should be limited to youth hunts only or to the general public. The
results of these meetings were to hold at least two youth hunts per year and leave the
remaining hunts open to the general public.
The off-road cycling group the Florida Mudcutters, were active partners from May 2012-
2021. Members volunteered over 2,000 hours to develop and maintain biking trails in
designated locations along the western portion of the preserve.
The Caloosa Saddle Club, a local horseback riding group, expressed interest in bringing
groups to the Preserve to ride on designated trails. Both groups provided County staff
input on the conceptual plan for the trails.
Nineteen Boy Scouts have volunteered time and materials to improve the preserve and
trail systems such as building picnic tables, kiosks, hitching post, campground design and
development and campground fire rings, marking trails and installing bat boxes.
Staff will seek to coordinate management actions, such as exotic removal and prescribed
fires with managers/owners of adjoining public and private lands.
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Conservation Collier Program 14
2.0 Natural Resources
2.1 Physiography and Topography
Pepper Ranch Preserve lies within the Floridian section of the Coastal Plain. The Coastal
Plain extends from New Jersey to Texas and was formed mainly from sedimentary rocks
deposited in marine environments (U.S. Geological Survey, USGS 2004). The site is
located in the Southwestern Slope region of the South Florida Water Management
District (SFWMD). According to the Florida Geographic Data Layer (FGDL), taken
from the USGS Quadrangle Map, the topography of the area is relatively level with an
average elevation of twenty feet above sea level and slopes gently southwestward toward
the Gulf of Mexico. Surface water percolates directly through the pervious ground or it
collects in natural depressions and man-made ditches onsite. In natural areas, when the
ground is completely saturated the accumulated surface water will drain offsite through
sheet flow. Figure 4 provides a current aerial view of the Pepper Ranch Preserve and
surrounding area.
2.1.1 Topography and Geomorphology
The site is located in the Southwestern Slope region of the South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD). According to the Florida Geographic Data Layer
(FGDL), taken from the USGS Quadrangle Map, the topography of the area is relatively
level with an average elevation of twenty feet above sea level and slopes gently
southwestward toward the Gulf of Mexico. Surface water percolates directly through the
pervious ground or it collects in natural depressions and man-made ditches onsite. In
natural areas, when the ground is completely saturated the accumulated surface water will
drain offsite through sheet flow.
2.1.2 Geology
The geology of northern Collier County, where the Pepper Ranch Preserve is located, is
characterized by complex sequences of interbedded sands, clays, and limestone. Closest
to the surface is the Holocene aged Pamlico Sand Formation, approximately ten feet thick
and composed primarily of unconsolidated quartz sand and some silt. The Pamlico Sand
unconformably overlies the Pleistocene aged Fort Thompson and Caloosahatchee
Formations, which vary from a few feet to more than twenty feet in thickness and are
characterized by shelly and sandy limestone with vugs and solution cavities (Miller
1986).
Below the Fort Thompson and Caloosahatchee Formations are the Ochopee and
Buckingham Members of the Pliocene aged Tamiami Formation, which are at least 200
feet thick in the surrounding areas (Oaks & Dunbar 1974). The Ochopee Limestone
unconformably overlies the Buckingham Limestone and/or the equivalent Cape Coral
Clay. This unconformity marks the bottom of the surficial aquifer separating it from the
brackish underlying aquifer below. Then the Hawthorn Formation, rich in phosphate and
other heavy minerals (Scott 1988), overlies the Oligocene age Suwannee Limestone and
Eocene age Ocala Limestone that form the Floridan Aquifer System in Southwestern
Florida. The Pepper Ranch Preserve is located within the Southwestern Slope.
Geologically, this is the dominant feature of Collier County (Campbell 1990). Figure 4
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Conservation Collier Program 15
provides a current aerial view of the Pepper Ranch Preserve.
Figure 4: Aerial View of the Pepper Ranch Preserve
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Conservation Collier Program 16
2.2 Soils
Mapped soils on this parcel were identified by the Natural Resource Conservation
Services (NRCS) as Riviera Copeland fine sand, Oldsmar fine sand, Riviera fine sand, Ft.
Drum and Malabar, Chobee Winder and Gator soils, Boca Riviera and Copeland
depressional, Tuscawilla fine sand, Winder Riviera Chobee soils depressional, and
Pennsuco silt loam (Figure 5).
The following soils descriptions comprise the six hydric or depressional soils at Pepper
Ranch Preserve. Winder Riviera Chobee soils underlie 17.6% of the Pepper Ranch
Preserve and are very poorly drained soils, or depressional soils; they are typical of
marshes. Riviera Copeland fine sand, which underlies 13.3% of the Pepper Ranch
Preserve, is another hydric or depressional soil found on the preserve. They are a poorly
drained soil and are typical of sloughs and cypress swampsChobee Winder and Gator
soils comprise 7.4% of Pepper Ranch Preserve. They are very poorly drained soils found
in depressions and marshes. Under natural conditions these soils are ponded for 6
months or more of the year, for most years. Pennsuco silt loam is a poorly drained soil
found on low prairies and it comprises 4.1% of the soils found at Pepper Ranch Preserve.
Under natural conditions, the seasonal high-water table is within a depth of 12 inches for
4-6 months during most years. The Boca, Riviera and Copeland map unit is a hydric soil
that comprises 2.8% of the soils found at Pepper Ranch Preserve. It is found in
depressions, cypress swamps, and marshes. Under natural conditions, these soils are
ponded for 6 months or more each year. During the remainder of the year the water table
is within a depth of 12 inches, and it recedes to a depth of 12-40 inches during extended
dry periods. Only a small percentage of the soils at Pepper Ranch Preserve are Riviera
fine sand (0.1%), which is a poorly drained soil found in sloughs and broad, poorly
defined drainageways.
The following soils descriptions comprise the three non-hydric soils found at Pepper
Ranch Preserve. Tuscawilla fine sand underlies 30.5% of the Pepper Ranch Preserve and
is a non-hydric or non-wetland soil association found in areas typical of flatwoods and
hammocks. Under natural conditions, the seasonal high-water table is at a depth of 6-18
inches for 1-6 months during most years. The remainder of the year the water table is
below 18 inches Oldsmar fine sand underlies 18.2% of the Pepper Ranch Preserve and is
also a non-hydric soil. Oldsmar fine sand is a nearly level and poorly drained soil found
in pine flatwoods. During extended dry periods, the water table may recede to a depth of
40+ inches, but under natural conditions, the seasonal high-water table is between a depth
of 6-18 inches. Fort Drum and Malabar fine sands are non-hydric soils typically found
on ridges adjacent to sloughs. These soils comprise 4.6% of the soils at Pepper Ranch
Preserve.
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Figure 5: Soil Units on the Pepper Ranch Preserve
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Conservation Collier Program 18
2.1.4 Hydrology/Water Management
Near the surface, the aquifer is highly permeable and the groundwater flows toward the
west. However, permeability decreases downward from a porous limestone into poorly
indurated sandstone cemented by micrite. The aquifer grades from freshwater downward
into brackish water due to the proximity of the Gulf of Mexico to the west and the
brackish water in the intermediate aquifer made primarily of Miocene aged sediments.
Below that, the Hawthorne formation typically marks the upper boundary of the Floridian
aquifer, which is contained within the underlying Oligocene age Suwannee Limestone
(Lodge 2005).
There are numerous ditches and berms at Pepper Ranch Preserve that are associated with
the former agricultural activities. There are also elevated roads with associated ditches
that run through the center of the preserve, initially in an east-west direction, then running
north-south all the way to the southwestern portion of the preserve (see Figure 6 for land
use and cover map). These ditches and berms are likely affecting the hydrology of the
wetlands in which they connect.
The Surficial Aquifer is an aquifer close to the surface and unconfined, typically
associated with the groundwater table. This aquifer is generally limited to smaller uses
such as household or small agricultural uses. The Lower Tamiami aquifer is below this
aquifer and is recognized as being useful for long-term water needs. According to the
SFWMD’s technical publication 95-02 (Fairbank & Hohner 1995), the Surficial Aquifer
recharge capacity on the Pepper Ranch Preserve is moderate at 43 to 56 inches annually,
with parts of the eastern portion of the preserve exhibiting a recharge capacity of less
than 43 inches annually. The Lower Tamiami Aquifer recharge capacity on the preserve
is relatively low ranging from less than 7 inches and up to 14 inches annually.
2.2 Climate
The Pepper Ranch Preserve is located in an area of Florida where humid subtropical and
tropical savanna climatic patterns overlap, with temperatures moderated by winds from
the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Sharply delineated wet and dry seasons and
average monthly temperatures greater than 64º Fahrenheit characterize a tropical savanna
climate. Monthly rainfalls may exceed ten inches during the wet season. On the other
hand, humid subtropical climates typically show less extreme rainfall fluctuations
between wet and dry seasons and average monthly temperatures are less than 64º
Fahrenheit in some months.
The average annual temperature for the coastal portion of Collier County is
approximately 75º Fahrenheit. The warmest months are usually July and August. The
humidity is high during these months, but frequent afternoon thunderstorms prevent
excessively high temperatures. Two-thirds of the annual rainfall occurs in the wet
season from May to October. Thunderstorms are frequent during the wet season,
occurring every two out of three days between June and September. Rainfall records for
the area indicate that there is not significant variation in the annual rainfall throughout
much of the county; however, large variations often occur during a single year. The
Atlantic hurricane season extends from June through November with peak activity
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 19
occurring in September and October when ocean temperatures are highest.
2.3 Natural Plant Communities
A plant community refers to the suite of floristic species that form the natural vegetation
of any place. In addition to anthropogenic influences, the combination of factors such as
geology, topography, hydrology, underlying soils and climate determine the types of
plants found in an area. These plants, in turn determine the animal species that may be
found there. The description or classifications of these floral communities differ by
agency and are based on an agency’s goals and objectives for identifying plant
communities. As some categorizations are broad (e.g., forest) while others are specific
(e.g., mesic pine flatwoods), determining how each organization classifies a community
may be difficult. The plant communities observed on the Pepper Ranch Preserve are
presented using the Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System
(FLUCFCS) created by the Florida Department of Transportation (1999). This system
classifies all land uses including plant communities. These classifications were then
translated to the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) classifications. The Guide to the
Natural Communities of Florida (1990) was utilized to convert from FLUCFCS to FNAI
designations.
In the fall of 2009 Johnson Engineering ecologists mapped the vegetation communities
and other land uses found on the Pepper Ranch Preserve using the FLUCFCS
designations. There are 25 distinct plant communities/land uses on the preserve. Some
of these land uses are further described as disturbed and/or by the level of invasive exotic
plants they exhibit. The number 9 qualifier in the FLUCFCS code represents a
disturbance in the plant community, generally due to a hydrologic impairment and in
some cases the disturbance is from a cleared understory. The letter E qualifier represents
the level of invasive exotic vegetation present by percent cover. Table 3 summarizes the
plant communities mapped for the Pepper Ranch Preserve in 2009. The table also
provides a brief description of each FLUCFCS code. Figure 6 visually depicts these land
cover designations from 2009. Due to the size of Pepper Ranch Preserve, a 2’x3’ map of
the land cover designations for 2009 is provided in Appendix 2.
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Conservation Collier Program 20
Table 3: Extent of Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System (FLUCFCS)
Designations from 2009 on the Pepper Ranch Preserve
FLUCFCS
Code Description Wetland
Status Acreage
1641 Oil field N 5.63
211 Improved pasture N 619.26
2111 Cattle pen N 0.38
3109 Upland prairie, disturbed N 3.73
310E1 Upland prairie, disturbed, exotics 5-24% N 37.35
310E2 Upland prairie, disturbed, exotics 25-49% N 4.01
3209 Upland shrub, disturbed N 3.53
411 Pine flatwoods N 149.95
4119 Pine flatwoods, disturbed N 40.80
4119E1 Pine flatwoods, disturbed, exotics 5-24% N 1.44
4119E2 Pine flatwoods, disturbed, exotics 25-49% N 27.45
4119E4 Pine flatwoods, exotics 75-100% N 3.69
422 Brazilian pepper, non-hydric N 1.15
427/428 Oak/Cabbage palm N 11.22
427E1 Oak, exotics 5-24% N 1.57
428E1 Cabbage palm, exotics 5-24% N 3.82
428E3 Cabbage palm, exotics 50-74% N 4.31
434 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm N 270.92
4349 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm, disturbed N 1.99
4349E1 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm, disturbed, exotics 5-24% N 149.74
4349E2 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm, disturbed, exotics 25-49% N 8.86
434B Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm, burned N 34.65
437 Australian pine N 1.15
743 Spoil N 1.24
743E4 Spoil, exotics 75-100% N 9.49
8145 Shell road, graded and drained N 20.63
8146 Primitive trail N 4.90
512 Ditches OSW 34.49
512E4 Ditches, exotics 75-100% OSW 0.66
742 Borrow pond OSW 1.43
211H Improved pasture, hydric W
47.70
6151 Red maple swamp W 76.56
6152 Pop ash swamp W 15.05
6162 Pond apple depression W 0.71
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 21
6169E1 Pond apple, laurel oak, cabbage palm, disturbed, exotics 5-24% W 0.83
6189 Willow/shrub wetland, disturbed W 5.44
6192 Brazilian pepper, hydric W 4.26
621 Cypress W 82.41
624 Cypress, pine, cabbage palm W 2.51
624E1 Cypress, pine, cabbage palm, exotics 5-24% W 41.15
630 Wetland forested mix W 145.46
630E1 Wetland forested mix, exotics 5-24% W 3.85
631 Shrub wetland W 243.38
6319E1 Shrub wetland, disturbed, exotics 5-24% W 12.26
6319E2 Shrub wetland, disturbed, exotics 25-49% W 0.56
631E1 Shrub wetland, exotics 5-24% W 1.35
641 Freshwater marsh W 42.60
6419 Freshwater marsh, disturbed W 44.83
6419E1 Freshwater marsh, disturbed, exotics 5-24% W 70.99
6419E2 Freshwater marsh, disturbed, exotics 25-49% W 26.19
6419E3 Freshwater marsh, disturbed, exotics 50-74% W 5.92
641E1 Freshwater marsh, exotics 5-24% W 135.72
641E2 Freshwater marsh, exotics 25-49% W 26.37
641E3 Freshwater marsh, exotics 50-74% W 1.27
643 Wet prairie W 5.21
6439E2 Wet prairie, disturbed, exotics 25-49% W 7.50
643E1 Wet prairie, disturbed, exotics 5-24% W 0.49
Total 2510.01
W – wetland
N – non-wetland
OSW – other surface water
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 22
Figure 6: Distribution of Natural Communities and other Land Uses on the Pepper Ranch Preserve; 2009 FLUCFCS Layer
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 23
The vegetation classification scheme of the FNAI and the Florida Department of Natural
Resources (FDNR) (1990) are presented in Table 4. This table is based on the natural
plant communities observed on the Pepper Ranch Preserve. The following subsections
(2.3.1 - 2.3.6) provide information about the natural plant communities observed on the
preserve according to their FNAI designations. Subsection 2.3.7 describes the altered
communities found at Pepper Ranch Preserve. Figure 7 visually depicts the FNAI
designations for the preserve based on the 2009 field verifications.
Table 4: Summary of Natural Communities on the Pepper Ranch Preserve
FNAI Natural
Community
Type
Global
Rank
State
Rank
Percent
Cover1
Comments
Bottomland forest G4 S3 9.87% Also called bottomland hardwoods and mesic hammock
Depression marsh G4 S4 14.09% Also called isolated wetland and ephemeral pond
Dry prairie G2 S2 1.94% Also called palmetto prairie
Mesic flatwoods G4 S4 8.97% Also called pine flatwoods
Prairie Hammock G3 S3 0.83% Also called palm/oak hammock and hydric hammock
Slough G3 S3 10.25%
Strand swamp G4 S4 3.28% Also called cypress strand
Upland mixed forest G4 S4 18.56% Also called upland hardwood and mesic hammock
Wet flatwoods G4 S4 1.74% Also called hydric flatwoods
Wet prairie G3 S2 0.53% Also called savannah and coastal prairie
1 70.06% of Pepper Ranch Preserve is comprised of natural communities. The remaining 29.94% is
comprised of altered communities as described in subsection 2.3.7.
Definition of Global (G) element ranks:
G2 = Imperiled globally because of rarity (6-20 occurrences or very little remaining
area, e.g., <10,000 acres) or because of some factor(s) making it very vulnerable
to extinction throughout its range;
G3 = Either very rare and local throughout its range or found locally (even abundantly
at some of its locations) in a restricted range or because of other factors making it
vulnerable to extinction throughout its range, 21 to 100 occurrences;
G4 = Apparently secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range,
especially at the periphery.
Definition of State (S) element ranks:
S2 = Imperiled in state because of rarity (6-20 occurrences or little remaining area) or
because of some factor(s) making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout it
range;
S3 = Rare or uncommon in state (on the order of 21 to 100 occurrences);
S4 = Apparently secure in state, although it may be rare in some parts of its state range.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 24
Figure 7: Extent of Natural Plant Communities Currently Found on the Pepper Ranch Preserve.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 25
2.3.1 Uplands: Upland Mixed Forest
The upland mixed forest community comprises approximately 18.56% of the Pepper
Ranch Preserve, the largest acreage of which is located primarily in the southwestern
portion of the preserve but also occurs throughout the preserve in smaller acreages
(Figure 7).
Upland mixed forests in south
Florida are also known as upland
hardwoods, mesic hammocks,
prairie hammocks, xeric
hammocks, hydric hammocks
(FNAI 1990) and mesic
temperate hammocks (USFWS
1999). This plant community at
Pepper Ranch Preserve is
characterized by live oaks
(Quercus virginiana) and laurel
oaks (Quercus laurifolia) (both
hardwood species), south Florida
slash pine (Pinus elliottii var.
densa), cabbage palms (Sabal
palmetto), and some cypress
(Taxodium spp.) and strangler
figs (Ficus aurea), that together
generally form a closed canopy. The midcanopy includes myrsine (Myrsine guainensis),
dahoon holly (Ilex cassine) and wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera). The plant species found in
the understory are mainly native species including blue maindencane (Amphicarpum
muhlenbergianum), foxtail grass (Setaria sp.), carpet grasses (Axonopus spp.), slender
goldenrod (Euthamia caroliniana), musky mint (Hyptis alata), chocolate weed (Melochia
corchorifolia), swamp fern (Blechnum serrulatum), capeweed (Phyla nodiflora), wild
coffee (Psychotria nervosa) and varying densities of the invasive exotic torpedo grass
(Panicum repens). Originally in the disturbed portions of this community, Brazilian
pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) comprised up to 24% of the midcanopy otherwise it is
present at less than 5% coverage. In the herbaceous layer of the disturbed areas of this
community there were significant levels (26-50% coverage) of caesarweed (Urena
lobata) and some (1-5% coverage) dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium). These areas
have been treated several times since acquisition, however a significant seed source
exists. Ongoing maintenance is being conducted on an annual or bi-annual basis.
The closed canopy and abundant hardwood mast provided by this plant community
attract wildlife species seeking food, cover, roosting, and nesting sites. Additionally,
these areas are ideal stopover areas for migratory passerines. Since these communities
occur on relatively well-drained sites, they are also attractive for human habitation and
recreational uses. These anthropogenic uses have increased the number of invasive plant
and animal species in these areas and have resulted in degraded hardwood forests
throughout the state (USFWS 1999).
Upland Mixed Forest Community within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 26
Depression Marsh Community within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
2.3.2 Wetlands: Depression Marsh
Depression marsh, also known as freshwater marsh, isolated wetland, or ephemeral pond,
comprises approximately 14.09% of the Pepper Ranch. Even though these wetlands are
present throughout the preserve, they are more prevalent in the central portion of the
preserve and eastward to the property boundary.
Freshwater marshes are often scattered among upland, pine flatwoods communities as is
the case at Pepper Ranch Preserve. Only 12% of this plant community at Pepper Ranch
Preserve appears to be
hydrologically undisturbed.
This determination was
made solely by observing
the plant composition in
the disturbed marshes,
which consisted of varying
levels of upland and
transitional species,
nuisance and invasive
exotic species, as well as
by noting the relatively low
water levels or lack thereof
in comparison to the
seemingly undisturbed
marshes. Further
hydrologic investigations
would be necessary to
determine if hydrology was
the actual cause of the
noted disturbance.
Native plant species found within this plant community included maidencane (Panicum
hemitomon), Southeastern sunflower (Helianthus agrestis), blue maidencane, American
cupscale (Sacciolepis striata), pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), alligator flag (Thalia
geniculata), swamp fern , sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense), narrowfruit horned beaksedge
(Rhyncospera inundata), southern beaksedge (Rhyncospora microcarpa), pale
meadowbeauty (Rhexia mariana), bulltongue arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia), musky
mint, Virginia buttonweed (Diodea virginiana), common buttonbush (Cephalanthus
occidentalis), lemon bacopa (Bacopa caroliniana), spikerushes (Eleocharis spp.),
American white waterlily (Nymphaea odorata), broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon
virginicus), sand cordgrass (Spartina bakeri), redtop panicum (Panicum rigidulum), and
corkwood (Stillingia aquatica). The nuisance and invasive exotic plant species observed
in this community include torpedo grass, dog fennel, caesarweed , Southern crabgrass
(Digitaria ciliaris), tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum), alligator weed (Alternanthera
philoxeroides), Brazilian pepper, melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia), Peruvian
primrosewillow (Ludwigia peruviana), and valamuerto (Senna pendula var. glabrata).
In Florida, these marshes are influenced by their subtropical location, fluctuating water
levels, frequency and intensity of fire, organic matter accumulation and hard water
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Conservation Collier Program 27
(Kushlan 1990). These factors, combined with the dominant species found within a
marsh, dictate the category within which the marsh is placed. Six major categories of
freshwater marshes are recognized in Florida. The marshes in the Pepper Ranch Preserve
are generally within the “flag marsh” category. These marshes usually have a moderate
(flooded 6 to 9 months) hydroperiod, a moderate (about once every ten years) fire
frequency and moderate to high (usually less than one meter deep to over a meter deep)
accumulation of organic material (Kushlan 1990).
2.3.3 Wetlands: Slough
Sloughs are generally abundant throughout Florida and at Pepper Ranch Preserve this
community comprises 10.25% of the preserve. It is located almost entirely in the western
portion of the preserve, and most of this community extends onto the adjacent CREW
land.
According to the FNAI Guide to the
Natural Communities of Florida
(1990), sloughs are characterized as
broad shallow channels, inundated
with flowing water except during
extreme droughts. They are the
deepest drainageways within strand
swamps and swale systems. The
vegetation structure of sloughs is
variable but at Pepper Ranch Preserve
it is characterized, in general, by
Carolina willow (Salix caroliniana),
which is dominate, Carolina (pop) ash
(Fraxinus caroliniana). Sawgrass,
bog hemp (Boehmeria cylindrica) and
climbing hempweed (Mikania
scandens) were some of the
herbaceous species observed in the
understory.
The canopies formed in these sloughs,
especially in south Florida, are ideal
moist, warm habitats for rare and
endangered tropical epiphytes. Many
Caribbean species that occur in this
community are virtually never
encountered in other Florida habitats. Pond apple branches are often heavily loaded with
epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, and ferns. Typical animals include ribbon snake,
cottonmouth, opossum, gray squirrel, black bear, raccoon, mink, otter, Florida panther,
and white-tailed deer (FNAI 1990).
Sloughs often occur over the lowest part of linear depressions in the underlying limestone
bedrock. The peat soils found in sloughs can be destroyed by catastrophic fires that often
occur during droughts. The typical hydroperiod in this community is at least 250 days per
Slough Community within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 28
year. Sloughs are often found in association with cypress swamps and may also occur in
floodplain swamps and basin swamps (FNAI 1990).
Sloughs are extremely vulnerable to hydrologic disturbance and must have a reliable,
quality water source to persist. The lack of invasive plant species observed in this
community at Pepper Ranch Preserve is indicative of a high-quality system.
2.3.4 Wetlands: Bottomland Forest
This community at the Pepper Ranch Preserve appears in association with Lake Trafford
along the southern perimeter of the preserve, and with the large slough occurring on the
western portion of the preserve. This natural community covers 9.87% of the preserve.
Bottomland forest is characterized as a
low-lying, closed-canopy forest of tall,
straight trees with either a dense
shrubby understory and little ground
cover, or an open understory and ground
cover of ferns, herbs, and grasses (FNAI
1990). At Pepper Ranch Preserve the
latter is most often observed, with red
maple (Acer rubrum) as the dominate
canopy tree, some buttonbush in the
midcanopy and sawgrass, alligator flag,
swamp fern, and cinnamon fern
(Osmunda cinnamomea) in the
understory.
The canopy of these forests is dense and
closed, except during winter in areas
where deciduous trees predominate, as
in Pepper Ranch Preserve. The air
movement and light penetration are thus
generally low, making the humidity high
and relatively constant. Because of
these characteristics, bottomland forests
rarely burn. This is also a very stable
community that requires a hundred years
or more to mature. Nearly all
bottomland forests in Florida have been logged, which often leaves long-lasting scars
from soil disturbance (FNAI 1990).
Bottomland Forest Community
within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 29
2.3.5 Uplands: Mesic Flatwoods
The pine flatwoods community comprises approximately 8.97% of the Pepper Ranch
Preserve. This plant community is located predominately in the central and eastern
portions of the preserve. Pine flatwoods are one of the most wide -ranging terrestrial
plant communities in Florida and consequently one of the most influenced by
anthropogenic activities (Abrahamson & Hartnett 1990). Fire strongly influences the
community structure and composition of this community. The term pine flatwoods is a
general categorization of areas that are dominated by various species of pine (Pinus spp.)
trees. Pine flatwoods may be found in mesic flatlands where the landscape is made up of
flat, moderately well drained sandy substrates with a mixture of organic material, often
with an underlying hard pan layer. An open canopy forest of widely spaced pine trees
with little or no understory but a dense ground cover of herbs and shrubs characterize
natural, mesic flatwoods that have been burned regularly (FNAI 1990).
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) NRCS
classification system refers to
these areas as South Florida
flatwoods. South Florida
flatwoods are typically savannas,
a type of plant community
intermediate between forest and
grassland. Mesic pine
flatwoods are also called mesic
flatwoods, pine savanna,
cabbage palm savanna, and pine
barrens. The flatwoods at
Pepper Ranch are characterized
by a south Florida slash pine
dominate canopy with some live
oaks, wax myrtle and saw
palmetto (Serenoa repens) in the
subcanopy, and a myriad of herbs and forbs forming the ground cover, such as: swamp
fern, grape vine (Vitis rotundifolia), American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), tall
elephant’s foot (Elephantopus elatus), greenbrier (Smilax sp.), caesarweed, and tick-
trefoil (Desmodium sp.).
Mesic flatwoods provide essential forested habitat for a variety of wildlife species
including Neotropical migratory birds, wide-ranging large carnivores, mid-sized
carnivores, ground-nesting vertebrates, tree-cavity dependent species, tree-nesting species
and non-aquatic plant life. “At the current rate of habitat conversion, the mesic pine
flatwoods, once the most abundant upland habitat in South Florida, is in danger of
becoming one of the rarest habitats in South Florida” (USFWS 1999c).
Mesic Flatwoods Community within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Steven W. Woodmansee
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 30
2.3.6 Other Natural Communities
All other natural communities (strand swamp, dry prairie, wet flatwoods, prairie
hammock, and wet prairie) at the Pepper Ranch Preserve collectively cover less than 9%
of the preserve.
Strand swamp is most commonly known as cypress
swamp and it is strictly found in the western portion of
Pepper Ranch Preserve in association with the slough
natural community. The typical vegetation found in this
community at Pepper Ranch Preserve includes: cypress
(Taxodium ascendens) in the canopy, Carolina (pop) ash
in the midcanopy, and the understory is mainly open
water with some alligator flag, pickerelweed, and
sawgrass.
The dry prairie community at Pepper Ranch Preserve is
located in the extreme southwest and eastern portions of
the preserve. Portions of this community exhibit no
canopy, but where a canopy is present it is at less than
10% coverage and is made up of south Florida slash pine
and cabbage palms. The midcanopy appears to have
been cleared at one time and now consists
mainly of saw palmetto and wax myrtle.
The understory is dominated by
bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), and other
grasses and herbs present including: blue
maidencane, torpedo grass, knotroot
foxtail (Setaria parviflora), big
carpetgrass (Axonopus furcatus),
chocolate weed, tall elephant’s foot, tick-
trefoil, musky mint, netted pawpaw
(Asimina reticulata), slender goldenrod,
wire grass (Aristida stricta), and a variety
of sedges. The disturbed portions of this
community located in the eastern part of
the preserve exhibit less native plant
diversity, which has been replaced by
cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), smutgrass (Sporobolus indicus), Peruvian primrose
willow, Caesar’s weed, and Brazilian pepper. The disturbance to the portions of this
community located in the southwestern part of the preserve appears to be due to a cleared
canopy. The invasive plants in these areas have been treated several times since
acquisition, however a significant seed source exists. Ongoing maintenance is being
conducted on an annual or bi-annual basis.
Strand Swamp Community within
Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Dry Prairie Community within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 31
The wet flatwoods of Pepper Ranch Preserve are
exclusively found in the western portion of the preserve
and they exhibit cypress, south Florida slash pine and
cabbage palms in the canopy, little to no midcanopy
and an understory similar to the adjacent strand swamp
community.
The prairie hammocks at Pepper Ranch Preserve are an
upland community comprised of predominately live
oaks and cabbage palms in the canopy and a
midcanopy and understory similar to the upland mixed
forest as described above.
There are only four small areas of wet
prairie at Pepper Ranch Preserve
located in the southwestern portion of
the preserve and they exhibit the
following plant species: blue maidencane, sand
cordgrass, corkwood, broomsedge bluestem, haspan
flatsedge (Cyperus haspan), spadeleaf (Centella
asiatica), cypress witchgrass (Dichanthelium
ensifolium var. unciphyllum), southern
umbrellasedge (Fuirena scirpoidea), maidencane,
narrowfruit horned beaksedge, narrowleaf blue-
eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium). Portions
of this community also had the invasive exotic
torpedo grass, up to 50% coverage, and the
remaining portions are free of invasive exotic
vegetation. These invasive plant areas have been
treated several times since acquisition, however a
significant seed source exists. Ongoing
maintenance is being conducted on an annual or bi-
annual basis.
Wet Flatwoods Community within
Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Steven W. Woodmansee
Prairie Hammock Community
within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Wet Prairie Community
within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 32
2.3.7 Altered Communities
The most common community at Pepper Ranch Preserve is the improved pastures, which
is an altered community; they comprise 26.57% of the preserve. The majority of the
pastures exhibit upland grass and forbs species dominated by bahiagrass with a mixture
of the following species: limpograss (Hemarthria altissima), ragweed (Ambrosia
artemisiifolia), dogfennel, smutgrass,
bushy bluestem (Andropogon
glomeratus var. hirsutior), tick-trefoil,
capeweed, creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis
corniculata), rabbitbells (Crotalaria
rotundifolia), flatsedges, torpedo grass,
purple thistle (Cirsium horridulum),
knotroot foxtail, big carpetgrass,
woodland false buttonweed
(Spermacoce assurgens), and crabgrass.
Most of the pastures at Pepper Ranch
Preserve were rimmed with large
Brazilian pepper trees associated with
ditch/berm and fence lines. These
infestations have been removed and
treated. In the far western portion of the
preserve there is a hydric pasture that exhibits more wetland species than the other
pastures and the underlying soils are hydric soils. There is a midcanopy in the hydric
pasture of pop ash, Brazilian pepper, and Carolina willow. The herbaceous layer consists
of southeastern sunflower, torpedo grass, bushy bluestem, spadeleaf, Virginia
buttonweed, blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum), musky mint, and southern
beaksedge.
Three oil fields are located adjacent to the hydric pasture at Pepper Ranch Preserve, two
of which are currently in operation. An elevated, graded shell road traverses the preserve
and provides access to the oil fields in the western portion of the preserve. There are also
numerous primitive roads and trails that provide access to the pastures and to the lodge;
the latter is located in the southeastern portion of the preserve. Ditches are typically
associated with the roads, trails, oil fields and pastures of the preserve. A few borrow
ponds are scattered throughout the preserve, usually located within pastures to provide
water for the cattle. These borrow ponds typically have spoil piles.
Improved Pastures within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo taken by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
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Conservation Collier Program 33
2.4 Native Plant and Animal Species
The Pepper Ranch Preserve is composed of several upland and wetland natural
communities as well as altered communities such as the dominant feature, the improved
pastures. This section discusses the flora and fauna observed within these communities
and the next section (2.5) discusses all listed species in greater detail.
2.4.1 Plant Species
To date, 416 plant species have been recorded at the preserve (Appendix 2). A
comprehensive plant survey was conducted in September 2009 by botanist Steven W.
Woodmansee of Pro Native Consulting. An additional survey of Pepper Ranch Preserve
was conducted in May of 2010 to capture species in bloom that might have been missed
during the fall survey. Of these 416 species, 334 (80%) are native to Florida and 82 are
non-native (20%). Of the 82 non-native species, 32 are listed on Florida Exotic Pest Plant
Council’s (FLEPPC) 2017 List of Invasive Plant Species (24- Category I and 8 -Category
II). An updated plant survey will be conducted in 2024-2025.
2.4.2 Animal Species
Occurrences of fauna at the preserve are based on direct visual and aural observations
made by staff biologists, wildlife cameras, and volunteers during site visits or evidence or
from activity such as spoor, scat, or burrows found since acquisition, numerous wildlife
cameras have been deployed throughout the preserve and several wildlife surveys have
been conducted to provide a more complete list. Appendix 3 provides a comprehensive
list of animals, both native and non-native, recorded on the Pepper Ranch Preserve to
date. A total of 108 bird species, 17 mammals, 16 reptiles, 11 amphibians, 21 butterflies
and moths, and 20 dragonfly/damselfly species have been recorded through 2024.
The Florida Breeding Bird Atlas (FWC 2003) lists 49 avian species that have been
recorded as confirmed, probable, or possible breeding in the vicinity of the site (Table 5).
The Breeding Bird Atlas documents breeding distributions of all bird species in Florida
between 1986 and 1991. Due to the size and diversity of natural communities found at
Pepper Ranch Preserve, it is likely several of these species may breed at the preserve.
Pepper Ranch Preserve is adjacent to the 5,000-acre Corkscrew Marsh, a freshwater
wetland system home to the most historically productive wood stork nesting colony in the
nation. The wetland components of Pepper Ranch Preserve provide vital foraging habitat
for nesting woodstorks and successfully fledged chicks who utilize the preserve
throughout the nesting season and beyond. In addition to contributing to wood stork
nesting success in the area, Pepper Ranch Preserve is a priority nesting area for migratory
swallow-tailed kites who utilize the property from February-August. In cooperation with
FWC CREW WEA biologists, Conservation Collier staff conduct nest search and nest
monitoring surveys of swallow-tailed kites on the preserve from February-June each year.
Pepper Ranch Preserve wetland habitats provide nesting habitat for the Florida sandhill
crane, a species designated as state-threatened by FWC. Pepper Ranch is a keystone
portion of the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed and provides vital connectivity
and dispersal corridors for wildlife traveling between CREW, Corkscrew, Camp Keis,
Panther Refuge, and Big Cypress.
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Table 5: Breeding Bird Species Recorded in the Corkscrew and Immokalee
Quadrangles Encompassing the Pepper Ranch Preserve
Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name
Green Heron Butorides virescens Red-cockaded Woodpecker Picoides borealis
Yellow-crowned
Night-Heron
Nyctanassa violacea Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
Wood Duck Aix sponsa Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
Mottled Duck Anas fulvigula Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus
Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
King Rail Rallus elegans Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Purple Martin Progne subis
Limpkin Aramus guarauna Northern Rough-winged
Swallow
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Tufted Titmouse Baeolophis bicolor
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
Common Ground-Dove Columbina passerina Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptilia caerulea
*Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum
Barn Owl Tyto alba Northern Parula Parula americana
Eastern Screech-Owl Megascops asio Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor
Barred Owl Strix varia Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Chuck-will's-widow Caprimulgus carolinensis Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-headed
Woodpecker
Melanerpes
erythrocephalus
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Red-bellied
Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
* = non-native species Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major
2.5 Listed Species
Official lists of rare and endangered species are produced at the federal level by the
USFWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and at the State level by the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida Department
of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). FNAI produces a list of rare and
endangered species and maintains a database of occurrences of these species in Florida.
The Institute for Regional Conservation (IRC) also ranks native plant species by
conservation status in the 10-county area of South Florida. The following subsections
(2.5.1 and 2.5.2) discuss the listed, rare and protected plant and animal species found
within the Pepper Ranch Preserve in detail. 2.5.1 Listed Plant Species
The Florida State Statute titled “Preservation of Native Flora of Florida” (Statute
581.185) provides the following definitions:
• Endangered plants mean species of plants native to the state that are in imminent
danger of extinction within the state, the survival of which is unlikely if the causes of
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a decline in the number of plants continue, and includes all species determined to be
endangered or threatened pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended, Pub. L. No. 93-205 (87 Stat. 884).
• Threatened plants mean species native to the state that are in rapid decline in the
number of plants within the state, but which have not so decreased in such number as
to cause them to be endangered.
• Commercially exploited plants mean species native to the state, which are subject to
being removed in significant numbers from native habitats in the state and sold or
transported for sale.
There are sixteen (16) plant species at Pepper Ranch Preserve that are considered listed
species, three (3) as endangered, nine (9) as threatened, and 4 as commercially exploited
(Table 6). One species, Tillandsia x smalliana is listed in Table 6 because it is a hybrid
between two endangered species but is not itself listed by the FDACS. A brief
description of the species listed in Table 7 and their status is included in the following
paragraphs.
Two (2) additional plant species found at Pepper Ranch Preserve are designated as
critically imperiled in South Florida (SF1) by the Institute for Regional Conservation
(IRC). IRC is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection, restoration, and
long-term management of biodiversity on a regional basis, and to the prevention of
regional extinctions of rare plants, animals, and natural communities. This designation
refers to the extreme rarity (five or fewer occurrences, or fewer than 1,000 individuals) of
a species, or its extreme vulnerability to extinction due to some natural or human factor.
E: Endangered, T: Threatened, CE: Commercially Exploited
SF1: Critically imperiled in South Florida (as designated by IRC)
Table 6: Listed Plant Species Detected at the Pepper Ranch Preserve
Common Name Scientific Name Status
Cardinal airplant Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica E
Giant airplant Tillandsia utriculata E
Meadow jointvetch Aeschynomene pratensis E
Catesby’s Lily Lilium catesbaei T
Everglades palm Acoelorraphe wrightii T
Reflexed wild-pine Tillandsia balbisiana T
Leatherleaf airplant Tillandsia variabilis T
Long strap fern Campyloneurum phyllitidis T
Needleroot airplant orchid Harrisella porrecta T
Northern needleleaf Tillandsia balbisiana T
Simpson’s stopper Myrcianthes fragrans T
Twisted airplant Tillandsia flexuosa T
Florida butterfly orchid Encyclia tampensis CE
Royal fern Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis CE
Cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea CE
Saw palmetto Serenoa repens CE
Oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum SF1
Quillwort arrowhead Sagittaria isoetiformis SF1
Reddish wild pine (native hybrid) Tillandsia x smalliana
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Six (6) of the fifteen listed plant species found on the Pepper Ranch Preserve are
classified as bromeliads. Bromeliads are members of the pineapple family
(Bromeliaceae). While some of these species may be found growing terrestrially, most
native bromeliads found in Florida are found growing attached to tree trunks and
branches and may therefore be referred to as epiphytes (a plant that lives upon other
plants; from Greek “epi” = upon “phyte” = plant). The leaves and/or roots of these
airplants (depending on the species) absorb the water and nutrients they need from the air
and from the rain that falls through the canopy of the tree on which they are found. Since
epiphytes use their roots only to anchor themselves to another plant, they are considered
non-parasitic.
Even though the 6 listed bromeliad species found on the Pepper Ranch Preserve are fairly
common in the state, they are listed due to illegal collecting and the destruction of the
habitats in which they are found. Additionally, infestation by the introduced Mexican
bromeliad weevil (Metamasius callizona) has been implicated in the decline of many
airplant populations around the state. Currently, there are no control measures in place for
the Mexican bromeliad weevil however, close research and monitoring is taking place.
Cardinal Airplant (Tillandsia fasciculata), is also known as common wild pine and
stiff-leaved wild pine. T. fasciculata is listed as an endangered plant by the State of
Florida and has been recorded in 24 counties throughout Florida (Wunderlin & Hansen
2008). This epiphyte was frequently found in South Florida before the introduction of the
Mexican bromeliad weevil. Today, it may be found in hammocks, cypress swamps and
pinelands.
Giant airplant (Tillandsia utriculata) also known as the giant wild pine, is the largest
epiphyte and is relatively common in hammocks and swamps in South Florida. It can
reach 12-30 inches in height and its flower spike may be more than six feet in height. It
is also listed by the State of Florida as endangered.
Meadow jointvetch (Aeschynomene pratensis), is endemic to Florida, meaning it occurs
nowhere else in the world. It is a State endangered species that has been recorded in only
four (4) southern Florida counties (Wunderlin and Hansen 2008).
Reddish wild pine (Tillandsia x smalliana), is a hybrid orchid derived from the crossing
of two State endangered native orchids T. balbisiana and T. fasciculata var. densispica; it
is not itself listed by FDACS. This species has been recorded in only seven (7) southern
Florida counties (Wunderlin and Hansen 2008).
Catesby’s Lily (Lilium catesbaei) is an herb endemic to the U.S. southeastern coastal
plain and is listed as a threatened species in the State of Florida. It is found nearly
throughout Florida and has been recorded in 50 counties (Wunderlin and Hansen 2008).
In Collier County, it has only been recorded at Wet Woods Preserve, Railhead Scrub
Preserve, Big Cypress National Preserve, Collier Seminole State Park, Florida Panther
National Wildlife Refuge, Picayune Strand State Forest, and Pepper Ranch Preserve.
Johnson Engineering found it on the preserve on October 8, 2009 in the mesic flatwoods
located in the southeastern portion of the preserve.
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Everglades palm (Acoelorraphe wrightii) is a State threatened species that has been
recorded in only three (3) southern Florida counties (Wunderlin and Hansen 2008). This
salt-tolerant palm is at the northern limit of its range in southern Florida. It was once
common here but many plants were taken for the nursery trade (Bush and Morton 1969).
Leatherleaf airplant (Tillandsia variabilis) is a State threatened species that has been
recorded in ten (10) southern Florida counties (Wunderlin and Hansen 2008). Like other
airplants described in this plan, leatherleaf airplant is typically found in hammocks and
cypress swamps.
Long strap fern (Campyloneurum phyllitidis) is a State threatened species that is
epiphytic in hammocks and swamps and can sometimes grow on rocks or on walls in
limestone sinkholes where it is reduced in size (eflora – flora of NA).
Needleroot airplant orchid (Harrisella porrecta) is widespread in the central and
southern counties of Florida and is considered a threatened species. This airplant’s
flowering period is between August and November. Other common names are the jingle
bell orchid or the leafless orchid (Brown 2002).
Northern needleleaf (Tillandsia balbisiana) also known as reflexed wild pine, is an
epiphytic, “tank” bromeliad and is listed as a threatened plant by the State of Florida.
Wunderlin and Hansen reported this species in 22 counties throughout Florida as of 2008
(Wunderlin and Hansen 2008). Reflexed wild pine is an occasional species in South
Florida and is usually found in scrub, pinelands, strand swamps, hammocks, mangrove
swamps and on shell ridges/mounds.
Simpson’s stopper (Myrcianthes fragran) is a State threatened species found in
hammocks. The red flaking bark of this tree can confuse its identification with the
invasive exotic guava (Psidium guajava).
Twisted airplant (Tillandsia flexuosa), a State threatened species, is less common in
Florida than the other Tillandsia species listed in this plan, but still frequent, especially in
coastal ecosystems. It has been recorded in ten (10) southern Florida counties
(Wunderlin and Hansen 2008).
Florida butterfly orchid (Encyclia tampensis) is locally abundant in central and
southern counties of Florida; it is commercially exploited. They grow on a wide variety
of trees including live oak, red maple, bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), pop ash and
pond apple. They normally flower in June or July but may also flower at other times of
the year (Brown 2002).
Royal fern (Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis) is not in danger of being extirpated in
Florida because of habitat loss, habitat fragmentation or attack by an exotic, invasive
pest, but because of commercial exploitation. According to Nelson (2000), the fibers
from the stem of royal fern have been used as a growing medium to grow orchids as well
as to make ropes and nets. Additionally, this species is believed to have medicinal
benefits; other parts of the plant may have been used to treat wounds and broken bones,
relieve sprains and to help alleviate coughs and diarrhea. In Florida, this species is found
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in hydric areas such as wet flatwoods, cypress swamps, floodplains, stream banks and
bogs.
Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) is widespread in swamps, wet woods and wet
meadows throughout North and South America (Cobb et al. 2005). Its status as
Commercially Exploited as listed by the FDACS makes it illegal to collect it in the wild
but it is commercially available for native landscaping.
Oak mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum)
Oak mistletoe is a parasitic evergreen subshrub and despite its name it can be found
growing on other broadleaf trees such as red maple (Acre rubrum). This plant is not listed
by the State of Florida but has been recognized by IRC as a critically imperiled species for South
Florida. This is a temperate species at the southern end of its range, and it is possible it has
always been uncommon in South Florida (Gann et al. 2002).
Quillwort arrowhead (Sagittaria isoetiformis)
This plant is not listed by the State of Florida but has been recognized by IRC as a critically
imperiled species for South Florida. As with oak mistletoe, this is also a temperate species at the
southern end of its range, and it is possible it has always been uncommon in South Florida (Gann
et al. 2002).
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
This plant was added as commercially exploited in 2018 by FDACS due to the illegal harvesting
of the palmetto berries that it produces. Harvesting the berries now requires a permit from the
State of Florida. Berry harvesting is not allowed on the Pepper Ranch Preserve. It is a slow
growing palm that is well adapted to fire. It grows in wet to dry flatwoods and hammocks
throughout Florida. The berries are known to treat urinary health issues and prostate cancer.
They provide food for bears and other wildlife species.
2.5.2 Listed Animal Species
The Preserve Master Wildlife Species Inventory is located in Appendix 3. It indicates
which of the wildlife species documented for Pepper Ranch Preserve are protected by the
USFWS () and FWC (). Listed wildlife species that have been observed at Pepper Ranch
Preserve to date include: American Alligator, Audubon’s Crested Caracara, Big Cypress
Fox Squirrel, Everglades Snail Kite, Florida Little Blue Heron, Florida Panther, Gopher
Tortoise, Roseate Spoonbill, Sandhill Crane, Southern Bald Eagle, Tricolored Heron, and
Wood Stork. The following is a brief description of the conservation status for those
species occurring at the preserve that are currently listed as threatened or endangered by
the State or federal government.
American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
The American alligator is listed as threatened by FWC and USFWS for its similarity in
appearance with the endangered American crocodile. Alligators are seen throughout the
preserve on a regular basis and they are quite numerous in Lake Trafford that borders the
Preserve to the south.
Audubon’s Crested Caracara (Polyborus plancus audubonii)
This State and federally threatened species nests predominately in cabbage palms where
it will lay 2-3 eggs in late winter. Agricultural development for improved pastures and
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citrus groves, as well as indiscriminant killing has contributed to the caracara’s decline in
Florida. It was officially listed on the federal list of threatened species in August 1987
(Kale and Maehr 1990).
Big Cypress Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger avicennia)
Also known as the mangrove fox squirrel, the FWC lists Big Cypress Fox Squirrel as
threatened in Florida. This species was first observed at Pepper Ranch Preserve by
Wilson Miller in 2005 during a listed species survey however, none have been observed
by staff since acquisition in 2009. While the species is widespread in eastern and central
North America, the subspecies is endemic to southwestern Florida – specifically in the
Immokalee Rise, Big Cypress Swamp, and Devil’s Garden area in Collier County. Some
areas of this range have become vacated, while many other suitable areas are being
altered or becoming isolated through development. The subspecies uses most types of
forest occurring in its range. However, dense interiors of mixed cypress-hardwood
strands seem to be avoided by Big Cypress fox squirrels due to dense populations of gray
squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) occupying these areas. Big Cypress fox squirrels have
been reported in cypress swamp, pine flatwoods, tropical hammock, hardwood hammock,
mangrove swamp, and suburban habitats including golf courses and residential areas in
native vegetation. Big Cypress fox squirrel densities appear to be quite low, and on this
basis the subspecies can be considered inherently rare (Humphrey & Jodice 1992).
Everglades Snail Kite
Everglades Snail Kites are listed as endangered species by FWC and USFWS. These
birds are raptors that feed in freshwater marshes mainly on apple snails. Over the past
century, as much of their habitat was drained and water stopped flowing through
parts of the Everglades, the snail kite population plummeted. It was one of the first
birds put on the endangered species list in the 1960 ’s. Efforts to restore the
Everglades have helped it recover, bringing back native vegetation and restoring the
flow of water back into the marshes . These bird s are often seen on th e preserve.
Florida Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis pratensis)
Sandhill cranes occur in pastures, open prairies and freshwater wetlands in peninsular
Florida from the Everglades to the Okefenokee Swamp. They build large nests in thick
patches of vegetation in freshwater wetlands where they will typically lay two eggs.
Nesting lasts from January through June (Kale and Maehr 1990). They are listed as a
threatened species in the State of Florida.
Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi)
This large cat is a year-round resident of undeveloped lands in South Florida including
the Pepper Ranch Preserve. It is listed as endangered by both FWC and USFWS.
Panthers prefer hardwood hammocks and pine forests with numerous saw palmettos for
resting, raising kittens, and stalking prey. Panthers are losing their habitat in South
Florida and males require a large range. Increased development and traffic are another
reason why this species is listed as endangered. Telemetry data from FWC demonstrates
Florida panther frequently use the adjacent CREW lands and have used the Pepper Ranch
Preserve on a few occasions. In their third revision to the Florida Panther Recovery Plan
the USFWS (2008) states that there are three priority zones identified as important for
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Panther photo taken by wildlife
camera on the preserve in 2023
panther habitat conservation: (1) Primary Zone – lands essential to the long-term viability
and persistence of the panther in the wild; (2) Secondary Zone – lands contiguous with
the Primary Zone, currently used by few panthers, but which could accommodate
expansion of the panther population south of the Caloosahatchee River; and (3) Dispersal
Zone – the area which may facilitate future panther expansion north of the
Caloosahatchee River. The Pepper Ranch Preserve is entirely within the Primary Zone
for the Florida panther. Wildlife cameras have been installed throughout the preserve and
have taken hundreds of photos of panther on the preserve since 2010. Panther kitten
photos have been captured on the cameras on several occasions over the past 14 years.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Panther Team has
detected a disease affecting panthers and bobcats in our region called Feline
leukomyelopathy (FLM). The cause and effect of FLM on Florida’s wild felid
populations remains unknown. Panthers with this disease have been detected on the
Pepper Ranch Preserve through footage captured on FWC and other wildlife cameras.
FWC continues to research and monitor the panther population with continued camera
monitoring and increasing the amount of radiocollared panthers on the preserve and in
the surrounding area.
Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)
This medium-sized, native land turtle is listed by the State as a threatened species.
Gopher tortoises are typically found in dry, upland habitats including scrub, xeric oak
hammock, sandhills and dry pine flatwoods. Burrows are created for protection from
weather, fire, and predators; they also provide refugia for more than 300 other species of
animals. Active burrows may exist in the pine flatwoods communities at Pepper Ranch
Preserve.
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
This heron is listed as threatened by the State of Florida. They are a small wading bird
that that inhabit fresh, salt and brackish water environments in Florida. Threats to this
species include development, degradation of feeding habitat and exposure to pesticides
and toxins.
Roseate Spoonbill (Platale ajaja)
This species is listed as threatened in the state of Florida. Threats include the loss of
adequate food sources and habitat degradation. Other threats include habitat loss and
Panther with two kittens on the Pepper
Ranch Preserve June 2023
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disturbance, pesticides, and illegal shootings. This species is seen on a frequent basis on
the preserve.
Southern Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus)
On June 29, 2007, the bald eagle was officially delisted and removed from the federal
Endangered Species List in the lower 48 states. However, according to the USFWS
Division of Migratory Bird Management, this bird of prey will continue to be protected
by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Lacey Act and the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act.
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)
This bird species was first sighted on the preserve by staff in 2008, and on regular
occasions since then, is listed as threatened by both FWC and USFWS. Also known as
the wood ibis or flint head, this species is one of the largest wading birds found in Florida
and the only stork in the United States. The wood stork is a tactile feeder and may be
found in fresh, brackish, and saltwater ecosystems. Because of its dependence on
naturally functioning hydrologic systems, the National Audubon Society refers to this
wading bird as the “barometer of the Everglades”. For this reason, the wood stork is an
excellent environmental indicator of wetland health (Mazziotti 2002).
2.6 Invasive, Non-native and Problem Species
In an ecological context, an invasive species is one that is aggressive in growth and
expansion of range and tends to dominate others; its establishment and dominance can
cause widespread harm to an ecological system by altering a plant community’s species
composition, susceptibility to fire and hydrology. Non-indigenous species (i.e., non-
native or exotic species) are those that have been introduced purposefully or accidentally
to an area outside their normal range. The characteristics of some of these species (high
rate of growth/reproduction, no natural predators, easily dispersed, able to out-compete
native species) make them invasive. Some indigenous species (a species whose natural
range included Florida at the time of European contact circa 1500 AD or a species that
has naturally expanded or changed its range to include Florida) may also become
invasive. Invasions by native and non-native species often follow an alteration to
ecosystem function, disruption of the food web, large-scale fragmentation of an
ecosystem and/or disturbance (e.g., clearing, fire, drought, etc.) of an area. While some
native species may become invasive, the establishment and dominance of non-native
species is of particular concern. The exotic plant and animal species documented within
the preserve and those that have a potential to occur within the preserve are discussed in
the following sections.
2.6.1 Invasive and Problem Plant Species
FISC (Florida Invasive Species Council formerly known as FLEPPC) maintains a list of
exotic plants that have been documented to (1) have adverse effects on Florida’s
biodiversity and plant communities, (2) cause habitat loss due to infestations and (3)
impact endangered species via habitat loss and alteration. To date, 82 non-indigenous or
non-native plant species have been detected within Pepper Ranch Preserve (Table 7),
accounting for 20% of the plant species recorded there. Of the 82 exotic species, 32 are
listed by FISC (23 Category I and nine Category II). FISC defines Category I plants as
those that alter native plant communities by displacing native species, change community
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structures or ecological functions, or hybridize with natives. Category II plants have
increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant communities
to the extent shown by Category I species. These definitions do not rely on the economic
severity or geographic range of the problem, but rather on the documented ecological
damage caused by these plants (FLEPPC 2009).
Table 7: Non-Indigenous and Invasive Plant Species at Pepper Ranch Preserve
Scientific Name Common Names FISC Category
Abrus precatorius ROSARY PEA; BLACKEYED SUSAN I
Ageratum conyzoides TROPICAL WHITEWEED
Albizia lebbeck WOMAN'S TONGUE I
Alternanthera philoxeroides ALLIGATORWEED II
Alysicarpus ovalifolius FALSE MONEYWORT; ALYCE
CLOVER
Alysicarpus vaginalis WHITE MONEYWORT
Amaranthus spinosus SPINY AMARANTH
Asclepias curassavica SCARLET MILKWEED
Blechum pyramidatum BROWNE'S BLECHUM II
Casuarina glauca GRAY SHEOAK; SUCKERING
AUSTRALIAN-PINE I
Citrus x aurantium SOUR ORANGE; GRAPEFRUIT;
SWEET ORANGE
Citrus x jambhiri ROUGH LEMON
Commelina diffusa COMMON DAYFLOWER
Crotalaria pallida var. obovate SMOOTH RATTLEBOX
Cuphea carthagenensis COLOMBIAN WAXWEED
Cynodon dactylon BERMUDAGRASS
Cyperus rotundus NUTGRASS
Desmodium triflorum THREEFLOWER TICK-TREFOIL
Eichhornia crassipes COMMON WATER-HYACINTH I
Eleusine indica INDIAN GOOSEGRASS
Emilia fosbergii FLORIDA TASSELFLOWER
Eragrostis atrovirens THALIA LOVEGRASS
Eragrostis ciliaris GOPHERTAIL LOVEGRASS
Eugenia uniflora SURINAM CHERRY I
Eulophia graminea (no common name)
Ficus macrocarpa INDIAN LAUREL I
Hedychium coronarium BUTTERFLY GINGER
Hemarthria altissima LIMPOGRASS II
Hydrilla verticillate WATERTHYME, HYDRILLA I
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Hymenachne amplexicaulis TROMPETILLA, WEST INDIAN MARSH
GRASS I
Hyptis verticillate JOHN CHARLES
Imperata cylindrical COGONGRASS I
Indigofera hirsute HAIRY INDIGO
Kigelia pinnata SAUSAGE TREE
Lantana camara LANTANA, SHRUBVERBENA I
Leucaena leucocephala WHITE LEADTREE II
Ludwigia peruviana PERUVIAN PRIMROSEWILLOW I
Lygodium microphyllum SMALL-LEAF CLIMBING FERN I
Macroptilium lathyroides WILD BUSHBEAN
Mangifera indica MANGO
Medicago lupulina BLACK MEDIC
Melaleuca quinquenervia PUNKTREE I
Melinis repens ROSE NATALGRASS I
Momordica charantia BALSAMPEAR II
Murdannia nudiflora NAKEDSTEM DEWFLOWER
Murdannia spirata var. parviflora ASIATIC DEWFLOWER
Nephrolepis multiflora ASIAN SWORD FERN I
Oldenlandia corymbosa FLATTOP MILLE GRAINES
Panicum maximum GUINEAGRASS II
Panicum repens TORPEDO GRASS I
Paspalum notatum BAHIAGRASS
Paspalum urvillei VASEYGRASS
Pennisetum polystachion WEST INDIAN PENNISETUM;
MISSIONGRASS II
Phoenix roebellini PYGMY DATE PALM
Pistia stratiotes WATER-LETTUCE I
Pouzolzia zeylanica POUZOLZ'S BUSH
Pseudelephantopus spicatus DOG'S-TONGUE
Pseudogynox chenopodioides MEXICAN FLAMEVINE
Psidium cattleianum STRAWBERRY GUAVA I
Psidium guajava GUAVA I
Pteris vittate CHINESE LADDER BRAKE II
Richardia grandiflora LARGEFLOWER MEXICAN CLOVER
Sacciolepis indica INDIAN CUPSCALE
Salvinia minima WATER SPANGLES
Schinus terebinthifolia BRAZILIAN PEPPER I
Senna alata CANDLESTICK PLANT
Senna obtusifolia COFFEEWEED; SICKLEPOD
Senna pendula var. glabrata VALAMUERTO I
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Solanum diphyllum TWOLEAF NIGHTSHADE II
Solanum viarum TROPICAL SODA APPLE I
Spermacoce verticillata SHRUBBY FALSE BUTTONWEED
Sphagneticola trilobata CREEPING OXEYE, WEDELIA II
Sporobolus indicus var. pyramidalis WEST INDIAN DROPSEED,
SMUTGRASS I
Syzygium cumini JAVA PLUM I
Thelypteris dentate DOWNY MAIDEN FERN; DOWNY
SHIELD FERN
As of the February 2009 upon acquisition of the Pepper Ranch Preserve by the
Conservation Collier program, the most problematic non-indigenous or exotic, invasive
plant species was torpedo grass, Brazilian pepper, and cogon grass. To date, exotic plant
treatments have taken place on the majority of the preserve, The control/removal of
invasive, exotic species is discussed in detail in section 4 of this document.
2.6.2 Invasive and Other Potential Problem Animal Species
Although Florida does not have an official exotic, invasive animal species list, at least
400 exotic fish and wildlife animal species have been reported in Florida, and
approximately 125 species are established.
Three non-indigenous, invasive animal species have been documented on the preserve:
the brown anole (Anolis sagrei), the feral pig (Sus scrofa), and the Cane toad (Rhinella
marina). One potentially problematic species is the coyote (Canus latrans). Based on the
natural communities found within the preserve, proximity to residential areas and
geographic location, several more species (native and non-native) have the potential to
impact Pepper Ranch Preserve to varying degrees and may yet be observed on site during
future visits and wildlife surveys.
3.0 Previous Conditions of the Preserve; Current Use of the Preserve
and Adjacent Land Uses
3.1 Previous Land Uses of the Preserve
The earliest aerial photographs obtained of the preserve were taken in 1940, 1953 and
1963 (Figures 8, 9, and 10). Digital images were downloaded from the U.S. Department
of Interior USGS historic aerial photo web page (USDI 2004) and the Florida Department
of State Aerial Photography of Florida web page (FDOS 2006) and georeferenced in
ArcGIS 9, ArcMap Version 9.3. Aerial photographs (1975 – 2009) from the Collier
County Property Appraiser web page were also reviewed.
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Figure 8: 1940 Aerial View of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Review of the historic aerial photographs revealed Lake Trafford Road and Pepper Road
(both inside and along the edge of the preserve) existed in 1940. In 1940, the majority of
the preserve was natural with the exception of one agricultural field in the southeast
portion of the preserve in Section 26, Township 46 South, Range 28 East (identified as
Folio Nos. 00052680009 and 00052640007 on the Collier County Property Appraiser
web site) and one agricultural field in the northernmost central extent of the preserve in
Section 22, Township 46 South, Range 28 East (identified as Folio No. 00052360002 on
the Collier County Property Appraiser web site). Two areas cleared for homesteads
appear on the 1940 aerial photograph in the southeastern extent of the preserve, one of
which is the area surrounding the current caretaker house located at the main preserve
entrance on the south side of Pepper Road. A trail from the homestead to Lake Trafford
is evident on the 1940 aerial photograph. The other homestead appears on the 1940 aerial
photograph east of the current caretaker house near Pepper Road along the northeast
boundary of Section 35.
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Figure 9: 1953 Aerial View of Pepper Ranch Preserve
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Figure 10: 1963 Aerial View of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Between 1940 and 1953, no further development was evident in the preserve. Between
1953 and 1963, the majority of the site agricultural fields and associated ditches were
created. Between 1963 and 1975, a crescent shaped agricultural field was added at the
central western extent of the site agricultural fields. Between 1975 and 1980, the east -
west portion of Trafford Oaks Road was constructed, dividing the marsh and forested
wetlands through which it was constructed.
Prior to 1995, the only additional development in the preserve included the construction
of three oil fields adjacent to the hydric improved pasture at the central western extent of
the preserve and the construction of two agricultural fields in the most eastern extent of
the preserve (in the northeast corner of Section 35). Two of the three oil fields are
currently active. In 2023, the third field was converted into a saltwater disposal site.
Brine from the two active wells is injected back into ground at this site. The two
agricultural fields have been fallow since approximately 2006 and are currently
overgrown with grasses and shrubs.
3.2 Previous Land Uses of Adjoining Properties
Based on review of the 1940 aerial photograph, the lands that adjoin the preserve were
natural. In 1953, canals were excavated from Lake Trafford and agricultural fields were
constructed around them. Natural plant communities were converted to agricultural
fields on lands southeast of Lake Trafford and south of Lake Trafford Road east of the
preserve. Adjoining lands west and southwest of the preserve, the majority of which are
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now part of the major wetland slough on CREW lands, remained undeveloped.
By 1963, agricultural fields and residential properties (±2.5 or ± 5.0 acre properties north
and south of Lake Trafford Road) were constructed to the east between the preserve and
the town of Immokalee. By 1975, a large agricultural field was constructed northeast of
the preserve. The wetland slough (currently on CREW lands) and natural communities
immediately north and south of the preserve remained undeveloped. Between 1980 and
1985 Trafford Oaks Road was extended from its western terminus to the south. Estate-
sized residential properties along the south extension of Trafford Oaks Road were
developed with homes and borrow ponds. These properties adjoin the southwestern
extent (Section 33) of the preserve. By 1985, agricultural development surrounding Lake
Trafford had increased, however, the major wetland slough to the west and northwest of
the Lake and the wetland slough south of the Lake remained undeveloped. Throughout
the 1990s and early 2000s, residential development continued along Lake Trafford Road
east of the preserve and agricultural uses remained on lands northeast of the preserve.
In 1990, SFWMD purchased the lands that encompass the major wetland slough located
west and northwest of the preserve. These lands are referred to as the Corkscrew
Regional Ecosystem Watershed or CREW. Through its adjacency to CREW project
lands, the preserve is connected to several thousands of acres of preserved land in
southeast Lee County and Northwest Collier County, including diverse systems located in
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Panther Island Mitigation Bank, other CREW lands, the
Southwest Florida Regional Airport 7,000-acre mitigation site and Conservation Collier’s
±367-acre Caracara Prairie Preserve.
3.3 Current Land Uses of the Preserve
Currently, there is a cattle lease with Hood Citrus Caretaking, Inc. and a mineral rights
lease with Newport Oil on the Pepper Ranch Preserve. The current cattle lease started in
September 2019 and encompasses 1,636 acres of the preserve. The lease is for a five-
year period with option to renew for two additional terms of one year. It brings in
revenue for the program each year. If the current cattle lease is not renewed, the County
will publicize a request for proposal (RFP) to the public to ensure that the current lease is
replaced, in order to ensure a fair process for bidding on cattle leases.
The oil drilling lease covers the two quarter sections in which the oil wells exist
(southwest quarter of Section 28 and northwest quarter of Section 33, both in Township
46 South, Range 28 East). The rights reserve all minerals below 250 feet.
The preserve will be open to the public every Friday and non-hunt or holiday Saturdays
and Sundays from November through the end of June. When open, the public will also be
allowed to obtain a daily permit that will allow them to gain access to all areas of the
preserve that are open for public access.
Each year in late September early October, Southeastern sunflowers (Helianthus agrestis)
bloom in 100 acres of pasture on the west side of the preserve. The program has held
special sunflower viewing events since 2013 to allow the public to drive in to see the
flowers. It has been a very popular event drawing 1000’s of people.
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Public use of the preserve must be consistent with the preserve management goals and is
discussed in section 4 of this document.
3.4 Current Land Uses of Adjoining Properties
The Pepper Ranch Preserve is bordered on its west and northwest boundaries by the
CREW project lands. These are lands purchased by the SFWMD under the Save our
Rivers program. Adjacent to the west are CREW project lands known as the CREW
Marsh; to the north are SFWMD lands, agricultural lands and orange groves; to the east
are SFWMD and residential lands (town of Immokalee); and to the south are Lake
Trafford, estate-sized residential properties (Trafford Oaks), and agricultural and
undeveloped lands owned by Baron Collier Investments, Ltd.
Directly south of CREW project lands and connected to them are private conservation
lands owned by the National Audubon Society (Corkscrew Swamp), more conservation
lands owned by the SFWMD (Bird Rookery Swamp) and various private mitigation
lands, all together encompassing 60,000 acres, of which over 42,000 acres is currently
held in conservation. The SFWMD makes certain capital improvements to its lands such
as fencing, access roads/trails, and may provide basic public facilities on lands.
Additionally, habitat management such as exotic plant species removal and prescribed
burning may be conducted. Florida Statutes (F.S. 373.59) also require the SFWMD to
develop appropriate public use.
The organization most frequently associated with CREW project lands is the CREW
Land and Water Trust, Inc. (CREW TR), a nonprofit environmental education
organization established in 1989 to coordinate the land acquisition, land management,
and public use in the 60,000-acre CREW project area. The CREW TR does not own the
land but operates in partnership with the SFWMD.
Approximately 180 acres of conservation land exists along the central eastern boundary
of the Pepper Ranch Preserve. A 625-acre impoundment that serves as a dredge disposal
site for nutrient-laden muck from the bottom of Lake Trafford is located east of the
conservation land. The Lake Trafford hydraulic dredging restoration project is being
conducted by SFWMD in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (FDEP) and through the cooperative efforts of various local organizations and
state and federal agencies. Phase I of the restoration project, completed in 2006, removed
over three million cubic yards of muck from the deeper portions of the lake. Phase II and
III removed several million additional cubic yards of muck from the lake. The project
was completed in in November 2010.
Eight sections of land owned by Turner Grove Citrus LTD Partnership located to the
northeast of the ranch, and extending into Lee County, currently have citrus groves on
them.
3.5 Cultural, Historical and Archeological Resource Protection
The Pepper Ranch Preserve is within an area of historical and archaeological probability.
Before conducting any development near Lake Trafford, County staff ordered a Phase I
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Reconnaissance Cultural Resource Survey which was conducted in November 2010 by
the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy, Inc. The survey was conducted in the
area surrounding the lodge/visitor center. Prehistoric and historic archaeological sites
were found, and the lodge/visitor center building was deemed historical. Recovered
cultural materials included artifacts and faunal bone. Prehistoric remains included three
sand tempered pottery sherds. One test hole uncovered a prehistoric midden site that
included a component of historic refuse. Additional historical and archaeological sites
are most likely present on the property. Before conducting any additional development,
the County will obtain Archaeological Surveys within the area(s) to be developed. When
possible, the County will refrain from building in areas identified as potential
archaeological sites. If development is unavoidable in areas identified as potential
archaeological sites, the County will develop improvements under the guidance of an
archaeologist. In addition, the County will notify the Division of Historical Resources
immediately if further evidence is discovered to suggest any archaeological or historic
resources are present in areas that were not identified in the Phase I. If such resources are
identified on-site, a professional survey and assessment shall be instituted. The
archaeologist shall prepare a report outlining results of the assessments and issue
recommendations to County staff about management of any sites discovered, per
provisions of the Land Development Code Section 2.2.25. This report shall be sent to the
Division of Historical Resources. The County shall cooperate fully with direction from
the Division of Historical Resources on the protection and management of archaeological
and historical resources. The management of these resources will comply with the
provisions of Chapter 267, F.S., specifically Sections 267.061 2 (a) and (b).
The visitor center is now considered a historical structure in Collier County. This
designation was granted by the County’s Historical/Archeological Preservation Board.
Retaining this structure and the designation may provide benefits to Conservation Collier
in terms of obtaining future grant funds for restoration.
3.6 Major Accomplishments since Acquisition
Collier County purchased the Pepper Ranch Preserve in February of 2009. The table
below lists the accomplishments since acquisition of the property.
Table 8: Major Accomplishments During Previous Years
Accomplishment Year(s)
Cattle Vat Cleanup 2009
Removal of Old Structures 2009
Creation of a New Trail by the Lodge 2009
First Youth Hog Hunt Held 2010
Public Hog and Small Game Hunts Began 2010
Initial Exotic vegetation treatment and maintenance began 2009
New Bathroom Facility and Campground were built 2013
New Security Gates Installed 2013
Lake Overlook Boardwalk completed 2015
USFWS Conservation Bank was established 2018
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4.0 Future Use of the Pepper Ranch Preserve including Management
Issues, Goals and Objectives
This section describes the main management issues, goals and objectives for the Pepper
Ranch Preserve as well as the overall management framework. Central to the
management of the Preserve is the mission of the Conservation Collier Program, and the
goals and objectives set forth in this management plan.
4.1 Management Plan Framework
Each property purchased by Conservation Collier shall have its own management plan.
At the time the Pepper Ranch Preserve was purchased, the Conservation Collier
Ordinance required that an “Interim” Management Plan be developed within 60 days of
closing. Interim plans include basic items such as removal of invasive, exotic vegetation
and trash, establishing site security, developing management partnerships and planning
for public access. The interim plan for this site was officially approved in September
2009. The ordinance then requires a “Final” ten-year management plan be developed
within two years. Subsequently, the property management plan must then be reviewed
every five years. Final management plans, however, are considered living documents and
can be updated at any time. Review of all management plans start in the Lands
Evaluation and Management subcommittee and must be approved by both the CCLAAC
and the Collier County BCC.
4.1.1 Preserve Manager: Contact Information
The site manager for Pepper Ranch Preserve will be a designated Collier County
Environmental Specialist who may be contacted through electronic mail:
ConservationCollier@ColliercountyFL.gov.net
4.2 Public Uses and Assessment of their Impacts
While visitor attendance increases every year, public uses will be consistent with the
primary goals of conservation, preservation, restoration and maintenance of the resource.
Details of public uses for the Pepper Ranch Preserve and an assessment of their potential
impacts are provided in the following sections.4.2.1 Identification of Public Uses
Consistent with Preservation, Enhancement, Restoration, Conservation and Maintenance
of the Resources.
The Conservation Collier Ordinance 2002-63 constrains the use of this property to
“primary objectives of managing and preserving natural resource values and providing
appropriate natural resource-based recreational & educational opportunities.” Natural
resource-based recreation shall mean all forms of uses, which are consistent with the
goals of this program, and are compatible with the specific parcel (Ord. No. 02-63, as
amended§ 5, 12-3-02). Additionally, no dumping, use of unauthorized vehicles, or
removal or destruction of natural or historical/archaeological resources will be permitted
within the preserve. The goal is to allow limited, non-destructive public access to native
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plant communities and animal species. Currently, the preserve rules are those identified
in Collier County Ordinance 76-48 (available from www.municode.com), as amended.
The following are consistent uses for this particular site: hiking, nature photography,
camping, mountain biking, horseback riding, bird watching, and hunting. Inconsistent
uses include off-road vehicle use (ORV), cell phone towers, shooting ranges, and the
recreational use of drones.
There is one lease and a number of easements existing on the Pepper Ranch Preserve, as
identified below (see Figure 11):
Lease:
A cattle lease held by Hood Citrus Caretaking, Inc. covers 1,636 acres of property, for the
sole purpose of cattle grazing and incidental activities that are directly related to beef
cattle production for a term of three (5) years, commencing on September, 10, 2019, with
two 1 year renewal options, with payments, terms and provisions as set forth in Cattle
Lease, attached as an Exhibit to the Pepper Ranch Purchase Agreement. This lease
brings in revenue for the property management. Staff also obtained a range management
study from Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to further direct cattle lease
operations at Pepper Ranch Preserve. The current lease and every lease thereafter should
abide by the best management practices outlined in the current NRCS range management
plan for the property.
Easements:
• Access Easement entered into on February 6, 2009, with Lake Trafford Ranch LLP
for a 30’ wide strip of land running along the main interior ranch road, following an
overall east to west directional track, and leading from the main ranch gate to the oil
wells situated along the western side of the ranch. Recorded in O.R. Book 4425 and
Page 3302, Public records of Collier County. The grantee is responsible for
maintenance of this easement.
• Access Easement entered into February 2, 2009 by Lake Trafford Ranch LLP in favor
of Baron Collier Investments (BCI), Ltd., a Florida Limited partnership, over a 15’
wide strip of land running over the same main interior access road as the above
easement but before arriving at the oil wells, turning south to facilitate access to a
parcel adjoining the southern boundary of the Pepper Ranch Preserve. Access is
granted solely for purposes of ingress and egress to serve specific activities on the
BCI lands, which are cattle grazing, ranching, hunting and forestry. Recorded in O.R.
Book 4425, Page 3263, Public Records of Collier County. The grantee is responsible
for maintenance of this easement.
• Stewardship Easement Agreement recorded in OR Book 4089, Page 3837, Public
Records of Collier County.
• Drainage Easement for 40’ along SE corner of property in Section 35, recorded in
O.R. Book 49, Page 147, Public Records of Collier County.
• Access Easement in favor of Trafford Oaks for 60’ as for portion of Trafford Lakes
Road that traverses Pepper Ranch property, as recorded in O.R. Book 907, Page 1383,
Public Records of Collier County.
• A Conservation Bank was established through the USFWS on 1,516.84 acres of the
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preserve in October 2018. The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast was granted a
perpetual conservation easement over this area and was designated as the permanent
steward of this Conservation Easement.
Conservation Collier staff will maintain an open line of communication with the oil well
operators to develop operational protocol where needed and to ensure this operation
continues in a safe and clean manner at the preserve. This level of coordination will also
be extended to the cattle lease holder on land management activities at the preserve.
An apiary lease may be considered in the future for the preserve. This will be advertised
for bid to the general public and will be approved by the BCC before implementation. A
minimal amount of hives will be allowed to be placed on the property away from public
use areas.
No other easements, concessions or leases exist on Pepper Ranch Preserve or are
proposed for the future, unless they further conservation objectives.
Figure 11. Pepper Ranch Preserve Easement and Overlay Map
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4.3 Current and Future Desired Conditions
This section includes a description of the current and proposed future conditions for the
site’s natural areas. Management techniques to achieve these conditions are outlined in
section 4.4.
After managers complete recommended management actions, Pepper Ranch Preserve
will consist of upland mixed forest, strand swamp, slough, prairie hammock, pine
flatwoods, dry prairie, freshwater marshes, bottomland forest, and wet prairie. These
communities will have a similar structure and composition to those that existed before
non-indigenous people settled the region and before the exclusion of fire. Through
restoration efforts the site will be vegetated with appropriate native flora that will provide
suitable cover for a variety of wildlife species.
4.4 Goals for the 10-year period 2024-2034
A set of goals and objectives for Pepper Ranch Preserve were developed in conjunction
with the drafting of this Management Plan. The goals and objectives in this plan are
tailored specifically for Pepper Ranch Preserve based on the purposes for which the lands
were acquired, the condition of the resources present, and the management issues for the
property. On-site managers should be familiar with this entire Management Plan. Goals
and objectives from the Interim Management Plan for the Pepper Ranch Preserve were
reviewed to determine whether they should be included in this plan. The goals and
objectives presented here reflect programmatic goals and ideas of Conservation Collier
personnel in charge of managing and protecting the area. Specific application of
management techniques may take into consideration input by user groups and other
stakeholders from outside the program, accommodating user needs and desires where
practicable and where overarching management goals are not violated.
Management issues are discussed below in separate sections. Within each section,
approaches for dealing with these issues are described. The ability to implement the
specific goals and objectives identified in this plan is dependent upon the availability of
staffing and funding sources. The following goals have been identified for Pepper Ranch
Preserve:
Goal 1: Maintain high quality habitat with limited disturbance for the benefit of
native flora and fauna
Goal 2: Develop and implement a baseline monitoring program
Goal 3: Remove or control populations of invasive, exotic or problematic flora and
fauna to restore and maintain natural habitats
Goal 4: Implement a Prescribed Fire Plan
Goal 5: Restore native vegetation as needed
Goal 6: Monitor public use
Goal 7: Facilitate uses of the site for educational purposes
Goal 8: Provide for security and disaster preparedness
Goal 9: Implement and comply with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS)
requirements for the established Panther Conservation Bank. Provide
County Panther Habitat Unit (PHUs) mitigation through an onsite Panther
Conservation Bank.
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GOAL 1 MAINTAIN HIGH QUALITY HABITAT WITH LIMITED DISTURBANCE FOR
THE BENEFIT OF NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA
Action Item 1.1 Maintain the existing boundary fence and access gates on the
Pepper Ranch Preserve as needed.
Currently, a fence is present along most of the Pepper Ranch Preserve boundary with
the exception of the western boundary which this preserve shares with the adjacent
CREW lands, also there is no fence along the southeastern boundary along the Lake
Trafford shoreline. Under the existing cattle lease the lessee is responsible for the
installation and maintenance of all fences on the preserve necessary for retaining
cattle on the property. Firebreaks will be installed along fence lines that exist along
upland areas. This will also allow for better access for fence line patrolling and
maintenance.
Action Item 1.2 Maintain signs encouraging people to stay on public access trails
situated on the preserve.
Signs will be posted along public access trails to remind visitors to remain on the
trails for their safety and the protection of the natural resources of the preserve.
Action Item 1.3 Identify locations of rare and listed native plant species.
The location of these species has been identified using a global positioning system
(GPS) device and mapped to allow staff to monitor them. All future sightings of such
plants will be GPS-located and mapped accordingly. Public trails will be constructed
to avoid areas where rare and listed species exist. These locations will not be shared
with the public to protect these rare plants.
Action Item 1.4 Enforce regulations prohibiting trash or dumping in or near the
preserve.
Staff will monitor the preserve on a regular basis and if dumping occurs, enforcement
actions will be sought through the County Sheriff’s Department.
Action Item 1.5 Identify actual and potential locations of resident animal life and
take steps such as locating visitor amenities away from animal nesting sites.
An inventory of sensitive areas, such as location of listed plant species and animal
nesting sites, will be maintained based on existing knowledge and to be built upon
with all future protected species surveys that are conducted at the preserve. During
the development of public use facilities this inventory will be utilized to locate the
amenities away from known sensitive areas.
Action Item 1.6 Avoid non-target damage to native plants and animals,
especially rare species, during invasive, exotic plant treatments.
If the use of herbicides is appropriate during the treatment of invasive, exotic plant
species, decisions on the types of herbicides utilized will be made on the best
information available at the time of exotic removal. Licensed County or State
contractors will be monitored closely to ensure the proper herbicide applications are
being utilized while treating the site. In addition, close attention will be taken to
identify listed species that may be attached to invasive trees being cut down or
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Conservation Collier Program 56
removed. Individuals of these species will be relocated prior to removal. Special
attention will be given to avoid damage to native species in the vicinity of exotic
removal activities.
Action Item 1.7 Note, research and provide input as to all site development
occurring adjacent to Pepper Ranch Preserve to determine that the proper site
development permits have been obtained and that the site development complies
with the permits.
Activities on adjacent and neighboring properties may have an impact on the
indigenous plant and animal life on the Pepper Ranch Preserve. As such, all existing
local, state, and federal regulations should be strictly followed and enforced during
any site development adjacent to the preserve. It shall be the responsibility of the
developer to establish erosion control measures and vegetation protection measures
(i.e., protective fencing or barriers). If any site developer working in areas adjacent to
the preserve does not take the necessary control measures, construction shall be
immediately halted until control measures are put into place and mitigation and/or
remediation will be the sole responsibility of the developer.
GOAL 2: DEVELOP A BASELINE MONITORING PROGRAM
Action Item 2.1 Establish a long-term biological monitoring program and
conduct additional wildlife surveys.
Long-term management of the preserve should be based on biological data. Changes
following baseline conditions should be assessed as negative or positive, and
management strategies changed appropriately. This section discusses information
needs and long-term monitoring needs.
Pro Native Consulting has conducted a floristic inventory of the Pepper Ranch
Preserve; these findings will comprise the baseline floristic data on which future
actions will be based. The site should be inspected by Conservation Collier staff at
least twice a year and thoroughly inventoried at regular intervals (every10 years) to
detect new invasions (by natives or exotics) and extirpations. Areas undergoing
extreme restoration should be assessed more frequently. While some wildlife data
has been collected, additional data should be collected, especially on invertebrates,
small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The site manager may contract this work
out or enlist the assistance of local volunteers and educators to coordinate student
research projects. Wildlife surveys, like plant surveys, should take place at regular
intervals (ca. 10 years) to detect long-term trends.
White-tailed deer surveys have been conducted once a year at the preserve since 2011
and will continue annually to provide population trend data and to aid in the County’s
panther mitigation requirements as well as providing staff with the number of surplus
animals that will be allowed to be taken in the Quality Wildlife Management Hunt
Program. Spotlight surveys collect data including: number of deer observed, deer
sighting location, and gender ratios.
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Additionally, game species presence and distribution is monitored at the preserve
throughout the year with the help of wildlife cameras. In addition to surveys and
camera trap monitoring, opportunistic observations of wildlife sign are collected by
staff, volunteers, visitors, and hunters to monitor game species presence.
Frog breeding call surveys started in May 2018 to determine which frog species are
present on the preserve. The data collected during these surveys will help to set the
foundation for our understanding of baseline species diversity and richness ahead of
any future hydrologic restoration efforts, monitor for species utilization of specific
breeding ponds, monitor for the presence of exotic/invasive predatory species like
Cuban treefrog and cane toad, and contribute important data to existing and ongoing
frog monitoring networks throughout Southwest Florida. The number of frog species
is a good indicator of a healthy wetland habitat. To date, 11 different species of frogs
and toads have been recorded on the preserve.
Photo points were be established throughout the preserve when the panther mitigation
bank baseline survey requirements were set-up. Locations of photo points were be
recorded with a GPS unit and all photographs taken at these locations will be taken at
a standard height and angle of view. These photos will help to monitor exotic removal
efforts and native plant recruitment, as well as the result of other land management
activities. If necessary, more photo points will be established to aid in management
decisions.
GOAL 3: REMOVE OR CONTROL POPULATIONS OF INVASIVE, EXOTIC OR
PROBLEMATIC FLORA AND FAUNA TO RESTORE AND MAINTAIN NATURAL
HABITATS
Action Item 3.1 Prioritize the removal of invasive, exotic and/or problematic
plant species.
Due to the size of Pepper Ranch Preserve, it was necessary to prioritize the exotic
control efforts by area of the preserve. The preserve has been divided up into 3
management phases 1-3 (Figure 12). The years on the map indicate when each phase
was treated. In general, the management units assist the preserve manager in
prioritizing and allocating resources available for the management of Pepper Ranch
Preserve.
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Conservation Collier Program 58
Figure 12. Pepper Ranch Preserve Exotic Plant Treatment Phases
Action Item 3.2 Acquire services of licensed and qualified contractor(s) for the
removal and treatment of invasive, exotic and/or problematic plant species.
Since acquisition in 2009, the preserve has received multiple annual treatments for FISC
(Florida Invasive Species Council) Category I & II species. Collier County maintains a
contract that requires acquiring bids from approved exotic plant contractors for each project.
If the project is state funded, state approved contractors are used to complete the project.
The approved contractors use the appropriate herbicide to treat each specific species. They
also use gps track logs to show the areas covered by their crew. The following table (Table
10) describes recommended controls (Langeland & Stocker 2001; Langeland 2008) of
the Category I, invasive, exotic plant species recorded to date on the Pepper Ranch
Preserve. These recommended control methods may be altered by site managers
dependent on new information and products available on the control of these species.
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Table 9: Invasive, Exotic Plant Species Control Plan for the
Pepper Ranch Preserve FISC Category I species1
Scientific Name Common Name Recommended Control(s)2
Abrus precatorius Rosary pea;
Treat base of vine with 10% Garlon 4. Site must
be revisited several times to pull seedlings.
Albizia lebbeck woman's tongue
Basal bark treatment with 10% Garlon 4. Cut
stump treatments are also effective with 50%
Garlon 3A or 10% Garlon 4. Small seedlings
can be hand-pulled.
Melaleuca
quinquenervia
Melaleuca, punktree, paper
bark
For seedlings and saplings: (1) hand pull, being
sure not to break plant off of root system and
remove or place in piles to help reduce the
chance that they will re-root or; (2) Treat with
foliar, low volume spot application of 5%
Rodeo. For mature trees: (1) Fell large trees with
chain saw leaving a level surface, or fell small
trees with machete and treat with triclopyr or
glyphosate products according to frill and girdle
directions on SLN. Use aquatic versions where
standing water is present. Monitor for
resprouting and retreat as necessary. (3) Mature
trees are very difficult to control with foliar
applications.
Eugenia uniflora Surinam cherry
For seedlings and small plants up to ½ inch
diameter, use a basal bark treatment with 10%
Garlon 4. This species takes a long time to die,
and may require a subsequent herbicide
application. For larger stems, use a cut-stump
treatment with either 50% Garlon 3A or 10%
Garlon 4. Seedlings should be hand pulled.
Ficus microcarpa Indian laurel
Basal bark application of 10% Garlon 4 is
effective.
Imerata cylindrical cogongrass
3-4 qt. Roundup Pro or 0.5 qt. Fusulade per acre.
For high volume, spot treatment use 3%-5%
Roundup Pro. Herbicides should be used in
combination with burning or tillage for optimum
control. See IFAS publication SS-AGR-52 for
additional information.
Ludwigia peruviana Peruvian primrosewillow
Treatments can be basal bark, foliar and/or cut
stump, depending on the size of the plant, with
Renovate 3 in aquatic conditions or Garlon 4 in
upland areas. Adjust percentage of chemical
based on application method.
Lygodium
microphyllum small-leaf climbing fern
Thoroughly spray foliage to wet with 1.25%
Garlon 4 (4 pt/acre), 0.6% Roundup Pro
(maximum 5 pt/acre), 1.0%-3.0% Rodeo
(maximum 7 pt/acre). Only Rodeo can be used if
plants are growing in aquatic site. Plants
growing high into trees, cut vines and treat
lower portions. Do not apply when plants are
under environmental stress.
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1 FLEPPC 2009: Category I plants are those that alter native plant communities by displacing
native species, change community structures or ecological functions, or hybridize with natives
(FLEPPC 2009)
2 All species except as cited otherwise 3 (Stokes 2009) 4(Langeland 2008) 5(Langeland et al. 2003)
Table 9: Invasive, Exotic Plant Species Control Plan for the
Pepper Ranch Preserve FISC Category I species1 (continued)
Scientific Name Common Name Recommended Control(s)2
Melinis repens rose natalgrass
Foliar application of 1-2% Roundup will
provide control. Roundup (glyphosate) is a
short-term solution, because regrowth from
seed is rapid.3
Nephrolepis brownii Asian sword fern
A foliar application of Roundup at 1.5%
provides control. Follow-up applications are
necessary.4
Panicum repens torpedo grass
Foliar application of 0.75%-1.5% Rodeo
and surfactant solution. Re-apply as
necessary when plants re-grow to within 4-6
inches in height; or foliar application of
0.5% spot treatment.
Pistia stratiotes water-lettuce
Foliar application with endothall, diquat , or
rodeo
Psidium cattleianum strawberry guava Basal bark application of 10% Garlon 4.
Psidium guajava Guava Basal bark application of 10% Garlon 4.
Schinus
terebinthifolia Brazilian pepper
Cut-stump treatment with 50% Garlon 3A, 10%
Garlon 4 or a basal bark application of 10%
Garlon 4. Foliar application of Garlon 4, Garlon
3A, Roundup Pro, Roundup Super Concentrate,
or Rodeo, according label directions may be
used where appropriate. Glyphosate products are
less effective when used alone in spring and
early summer. Use Rodeo where plants are
growing in aquatic sites.
Scleria lucustrus Wright’s nutrush
Must be treated before it seeds. Foliar
application of a 0.05% solution of herbicide
product that contains 2 lb a.i. diquat dibromide
(with surfactant) to small seedlings, which
should be present in June, Follow-up
application in mid-July, when plants are more
developed, will require solutions of 0.1% to
0.2%.
Senna pendula var.
glabrata valamuerto
Foliar application, spray to wet with 1-2%
Roundup Pro.5
Solanum diphyllum
Two-leafed
nightshade
Foliar application of 1% Garlon 4 or 3%
Roundup.
Solanum viarum tropical soda apple
Foliar application of 1% Garlon 4 or 3%
Roundup.
Syzygium cumini Java plum
Mature trees may take up to 9 months to
die. Cut-stump treatment with 50% Garlon
3A or 10% Garlon 4, or use a basal bark
treatment with 10% Garlon 4.
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Action Item 3.3 Monitor invasive, exotic or problematic animal species.
To date, three (3) introduced animal species have been documented on the Pepper
Ranch Preserve, the brown anole, cane toad and the feral hog. Brown anoles and cane
toads are too numerous to control at this point. Attempts to control the Feral hog
population are discussed below in Action item 3.4.
Action Item 3.4 Implement the Quality Wildlife Management Hunt Program to
assist in Feral Hog Management
It is doubtful that the total eradication of this species at Pepper Ran ch Preserve can be
achieved, however, efforts will be made to reduce their population and limit the
damage they cause to natural areas, native plants and animals. In late 2009, the
Collier County BCC approved a contract with the USDA Wildlife Services for the
control of feral hogs at the preserve, which was part of the property Interim
Management Plan. As a result, fourteen hogs were trapped and euthanized in a short
time. On January 12, 2010, Item 10D, the BCC voted to cancel the USDA contract
due to public opposition and directed staff to develop a hunt program to attempt to
control the hogs and to consider trapping at a later date if they cannot be controlled
through normal hunting. As a result, the first Annual Youth Hunt was held at the
preserve in April 2010, with the assistance of FWC, and 4 hogs were harvested as a
result. The Pepper Ranch Quality Wildlife Management Hunt Program for this
preserve was then developed and began on September 11, 2010. In 2010-2011, a
total of two youth hunts and six public hunts were conducted. This program did
provide some control of the hog population at Pepper Ranch, however only 8 total
hogs were harvested during the first hunting season. Hunting alone may not properly
manage the hog population and thus a monitoring program could be developed to
assess the amount of hog damage to natural communities. Efforts will be made to
request assistance from nearby colleges to conduct such studies. Additional control
measures such as trapping may be necessary to protect the resource. Hogs do
however, provide a food source for the Florida Panther.
GOAL 4: IMPLEMENT PRESCRIBED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
Fires were a naturally occurring event in native communities prior to mankind’s
intervention. The primary ecological functions of fire are to eliminate accumulated
plant material, return nutrients to the soil, and germinate fire-dependent species. In
today’s preserve areas prescribed burning is an essential tool in both land and wildlife
management and helps reduce potential damage and hazards from wildfires in the
wildland/urban interface areas. Proper prescribed burns promote the growth of green
shoots, roots, and rhizomes of grasses and sedges that are then available for foraging.
In wetlands, burning creates deep pools and edges for nesting and feeding of
waterfowl and controls undesirable vegetation.
Much of Collier County is comprised of natural communities in general, that are
dependent on fire to maintain species composition and diversity. The use of
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prescribed fire as a management tool will be critical to the long-term health of the
natural communities and native species at the Pepper Ranch Preserve.
Action Items 4.1: Implement the Pepper Ranch Prescribed Fire Management
Plan
Below is the prescribed fire management plan for Pepper Ranch Preserve. A
Certified Prescribed Burn Manager will implement the prescribed fire management
plan according to the specific needs of Pepper Ranch Preserve.
Objectives
The prescribed fire plan for the Pepper Ranch Preserve will be a program that mimics
the natural fire cycle for the various natural community types identified within the
preserve. Timing, based on weather conditions and ignition practices can be modified
to accomplish goals ranging from exotic vegetation control to wildlife habitat
enhancement and fuel reduction within burn units. This prescribed fire management
plan will be implemented at Pepper Ranch Preserve for ecological purposes. The
goals and objectives established for the preserve will be clearly laid out and
incorporated into each prescription. Generally, prescribed burns conducted at the
Pepper Ranch Preserve will involve a variety of firing techniques over a range of
weather conditions to create mosaic burn patterns that will benefit an array of wildlife
species.
Burn Units
The size of the Pepper Ranch Preserve, in conjunction with habitat fragmentation by
existing (oil fields, cattle grazing) and future uses (lodge, possible housing, camping
areas and public use trails) of the preserve create a complex mosaic of fire dependent
communities. This will be taken into consideration when subdividing the preserve
into burn units. The creation of burn units not only facilitates the application of
prescribed fire, it will also help create a mixture of burned and unburned areas across
the preserve. Patches of unburned habitat in conjunction with newly burned areas
will increase habitat heterogeneity, ensuring a wide range of habitat compositions
year-round for use by a diversity of wildlife species. The size and boundaries of each
burn unit should be established based on the preserve boundaries and the location of
existing barriers such as fence lines, ditches, roads and other existing structures. The
division of burn units may change over time as the prescribed fire plan is
implemented and on-the-ground logistics become more obvious. Fire breaks will
consist of primitive roads, trails disked to bare mineral soil, wet lines or foam lines
and/or natural vegetation breaks. When the Pepper Ranch Preserve burn plan is
implemented, additional manmade barriers may be constructed as a result of the
development of public use facilities.
If new fire breaks are needed, efforts will be made to minimize disturbance to
existing native vegetation during their creation and maintenance, and no wetlands will
be adversely impacted as a result of fire break construction. In the event of a wildfire
FFS may require the creation of fire breaks within existing wetlands. If plow lines
are put in as a result of a wildfire, whether they are in a wetland or upland, efforts will
be made to mitigate by grading those areas to prior grade.
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Burn Frequency and Burn Season
Historically the frequency of wildfire in Florida’s ecosystem varied from year to year.
However, fire frequency for natural communities as found within the Pepper Ranch
Preserve will generally follow these guidelines (FNAI 1990):
• wet prairies – annual (1-2 year cycle) or frequent (3-7 year cycle);
• dry prairie – frequent (1-4 year cycle);
• mesic pine flatwoods – frequent (2-4 year cycle);
• hydric pine flatwoods – frequent (3-7 year cycle);
• depression marshes – more frequent around the periphery (3-7 year cycle) and
becoming more occasional toward the center (8-25 year cycle);
• cypress/pine/cabbage palm – transitional community from moist upland to
hydric sites – occasional (8-25 year cycle);
• cypress strand/dome swamp – occasional around the periphery (8-25 year
cycle) and rare in the deepest peat towards the center of the strand/dome (26-
100 year cycle);
• slough – occasional (8-25 year cycle) or rare (26-100 year cycle);
• prairie hammock – occasional or rare; if oak and palm dominated on drier
sites tolerate occasional light ground fires, but more diverse hammocks rarely
burn;
• upland mixed forest – rare or no fire; densely closed canopy limits air
movement and light penetration, making high humidity relatively constant.
Burn units incorporating multiple natural communities under different fire cycles will
be burned based on the community requiring the shortest cycle. The other
communities within that burn unit that are on a longer fire cycle will likely not burn
as frequently since fuels will not have built up. The seasonality, weather factors, or
ignition techniques of the prescribed burn will also be chosen to selectively burn the
community within the unit with the shortest fire cycle.
Fire maintenance of hydric hammocks will be accomplished primarily by burning the
adjacent flatwoods and marshes, reducing the fuel needed to ignite the hammock.
Maintenance of natural species composition and protection from excess fuel build-up
will be accomplished by allowing fire to enter the edges but not completely burn
through the hammocks. Fire will be introduced into the edges of hammocks under
moist conditions that will not result in a destructive fire through the hammock. Fire
frequency in this situation will be dictated by the frequency of fires in adjacent
communities.
Fire will be applied to freshwater marshes in conjunction with the burning of
surrounding pine flatwoods to maintain open herbaceous ponds and control woody
plants found primarily on the edge of these depressions. The centers of depression
marshes are much wetter than the surrounding flatwoods and may not burn at the
same time the flatwoods are ignited. In this case, a separate fire under guarded
conditions may be needed to carry the fire across the marsh. In cypress strands, fire is
beneficial for the control of hardwoods and reduction of ground fuels near their
outside edge. Conditions dry enough to burn soils in the center of strands, or muck
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fires, would most likely be damaging to trees within them. The burning of cypress
strands will take place only when moist conditions allow for light surface fires in the
outer portion of the dome and avoid muck fires. Fire will be excluded from strands
under dryer conditions.
Qualitative observations will be made within each burn unit on an annual basis to
determine current fuel loads, habitat structure, and habitat quality. The burn schedule
will then be modified as needed based on these qualitative observations. Areas where
fire cannot be implemented will instead be mowed, roller chopped, or pruned to
mimic effects of fire. The burn manager will conduct post-burn inspections to ensure
the burn objectives are being met for each natural community. When possible,
vegetation monitoring activities will be conducted around burn events to help assess
the effectiveness of the prescribed burn regime.
Pile Burning
Burning of agricultural piles of vegetative debris may be conducted as needed. The
piles must be placed in an open area such as a pasture and the piles must be placed at
least 50 feet from a forested area or structure. A permit must be issued by the Florida
Forest Service. When burning restrictions are in place, the piles may only be burned
by a Certified Pile Burn Manager licensed by FFS. When no restrictions are in place,
the piles may be burned by trained staff, contractor or by the acting cattle manager
after a permit is issued. Persons conducting the burning must have a water source
large enough to extinguish the fire and a front-end loader or other similar type of
machine present before proceeding with burning.
Burn Schedule
Generally, prescribed burns within the Pepper Ranch Preserve will be conducted
during the growing season (mid-March through early September) as well as during
the dry season (November to mid-May). Essentially burns will be scheduled when
conditions allow, and the timing selected to best suit the objectives for each burn unit,
as well as to provide protection to listed species.
Burn Manager Duties
Florida Statute 590.125 and Chapter 5I-2 of the Florida Administrative Code (FAC)
grant the FFS the authority to regulate prescribed burning in Florida. Prescribed
burning will be planned and carried out by a Certified Prescribed Burn Manager (as
licensed by the FFS) and experienced fire crews utilizing a Prescribed Burn Plan
form, referred to from here on as the prescription. The planning and application of
prescribed burning will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local
regulations.
Each prescription will include the following at a minimum:
• purpose for the burn;
• brief description of the natural community type(s) to be burned;
• a map depicting the location of the burn, firebreak locations, potential hazard
areas and escape routes for the fire crew;
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• acceptable ranges of weather and soil moisture conditions;
• a pre-burn inspection of burn unit, firebreaks and any potential hazards
(including power transmission lines, active cattle grazing locations, and
existing manmade structures) within the burn unit;
• names and contact information for neighbors, lease holders, local fire district
and other pertinent stakeholders to be contacted prior to ignition;
• techniques used to ignite the controlled burn;
• personnel, equipment and safety requirements;
• personnel assignments and responsibilities; and
• post-burn evaluation.
All necessary permits and authorizations will be obtained by the Certified Prescribed
Burn Manager before implementation of the burn. As part of each prescription, the
burn manager will develop an emergency action plan that will include escape routes
for all personnel and actions to be taken in the event of unexpected weather changes
or fire behavior.
Weather and Fuel Considerations
When developing recommendations for a prescribed burn, the burn manager will
consider weather and fuel conditions including, but not limited to: wind, relative
humidity, temperature, rainfall and soil moisture, airmass stability and atmospheric
dispersion. It will be the responsibility of the Burn Manager to obtain current
weather forecasts from FFS, and other weather sources as necessary, prior to
executing the prescribed burn. Although preferred weather and fuel conditions may
vary based on specific burn objectives, Wade and Lundsford (1989) suggest the
following as preferred conditions for prescribed burns in southern forests:
• 6 to 20 mph persistent surface winds;
• 30 to 55 percent relative humidity;
• temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit are recommended when the
primary objective is to control undesirable species;
• damp soil moistures;
• slightly unstable or neutral airmass stability; and
• The Keech-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) of 0 to 600 dependent on burn
objectives.
Smoke Management
Smoke management is an essential component of the burn prescription. The burn
manager will evaluate the potential impacts of each prescribed burn to smoke-
sensitive areas located within a 20-mile radius from the location of the burn by
employing a Screening System, such as recommended in Wade and Lundsford
(1989). Based on definitions contained within the state regulations, smoke sensitive
areas are areas within which smoke could have an adverse impact for reasons of
visibility, health or human welfare (NRCS 2003). Monitoring of the prescribed burn
will continue until smoke no longer presents a potential hazard and there is no
potential for the fire to reignite and cause an uncontrolled fire.
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Post-Burn Evaluation
The purpose of the post-burn evaluation is to ensure the objectives of the burn were
attained and gain information to be used in future burns (Wade and Lundsford 1989).
The post-burn evaluation will be conducted by the burn manager within one week
following the burn, as well as a second evaluation after the first post-fire growing
season. Quantitative vegetation monitoring, photo documentation and wildlife
monitoring can be implemented to further aid in determining if the objectives of each
burn were met.
Action Item 4.2 Develop Burn Units
Burn units have been delineated for Pepper Ranch Preserve, as outlined in the
prescribed fire management plan above prior to the implementation of the plan See
Figure 13.
Figure 13. Pepper Ranch Preserve Burn Unit Map
Action Item 4.3 Install Perimeter Fire Lines
Fire lines will be installed utilizing best management practices to minimize impacts to
mature trees, natural communities and wildlife populations. Firebreaks will be disked
or mulched down to soil and will go around all mature pine trees; they will be a
maximum of 8-10 feet wide.
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Action Item 4.3 Implement Memorandum of Understanding with the
Central/South Florida Prescribed Fire Working Group
On September 8, 2022, The Board of County Commissioners signed the
Central/South Florida Prescribed Fire Working Group MOU to add the Conservation
Collier Program to the list of approved agencies. This MOU allows other local
agencies to assist the program with prescribed burning on all Conservation Collier
Preserves.
Conservation Collier staff will assume all responsibilities for prescribed burns and
other land management activities conducted on property for which it has management
authority. This includes, but is not limited to, preparing burn prescriptions (including
smoke screening plans), preparing the site for burning, obtaining the burn
authorization and managing the burn. Burn prescriptions and burn unit maps will be
provided to all participating personnel, local fire districts and Florida Forest Service
personnel. Safety and operational briefings will be conducted prior to ignition. The
County will have its own Certified Burn Manager in charge of the burn.
Since 2019, Conservation Collier staff has conducted 5 prescribed burns on the
preserve. The dates, specific burn units, and acres burned are listed in table 10 below.
Table 10. Prescribed Burn Table
Pepper Ranch Burn Unit Date Acres
Unit 6 1/25/19 67
Unit 7 4/3/19 84
Unit 6 &7 6/28/23 153
Unit 12 9/6/23 42
Unit 10 and 3 adjacent
pastures
1/25/24 106
GOAL 5: RESTORE NATIVE VEGETATION AS NEEDED
Action Item 5.1 Evaluate the feasibility of conducting a hydrological analysis of
the preserve to better determine restoration needs.
During the fieldwork conducted by Johnson Engineering, Inc. in the fall of 2009 it
was noted that many of the natural wetland communities at Pepper Ranch Preserve
are disturbed; as described in section 2.3. This disturbance appears to be hydrologic
in nature due to the lack of standing water observed in these wetland communities in
comparison to the undisturbed wetlands, and by the relatively high number of upland
and exotic/nuisance plant species observed in the disturbed wetlands. A hydrological
analysis of the preserve would provide a baseline for the development of a hydrologic
restoration plan for Pepper Ranch Preserve. The presence of invasive exotic
vegetation can be related to a hydrologic disturbance. Identifying hydrologic
disturbances and proposing remedial measures (i.e. ditch removal or ditch blocks) at
the preserve would not only work towards the restoration of natural plant
communities but also possibly help limit exotic plant invasions in those areas. The
analysis could be taken a step further to incorporate water quality analysis especially
as it pertains to water flows into Lake Trafford.
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A hydrologic analysis of the preserve would generally involve the placement of
surface and ground water level monitoring wells at strategic locations throughout the
preserve, mapping ditches and canals on the preserve, reviewing historic aerial
photography of the preserve and determining the historic sheet flow patterns on site.
This monitoring will be funded with mitigation funds.
Surface and ground water level monitoring wells installed for the purpose of this
hydrologic analysis could be left in place for long-term, on-going monitoring at
Pepper Ranch Preserve. The data collected would help monitor the health of wetland
systems on site over time, as well as provide a baseline of wetland function that could
help evaluate possible effects from proposed adjacent land use changes (i.e. if a mine
was ever proposed adjacent to the preserve).
Action Item 5.2 Maintain a revised GIS map and description of FNAI natural
communities and disturbed areas on the property.
Maintaining updated maps will help to guide restoration efforts.
Action Item 5.3 Plant native plant species in their appropriate habitats.
Periods following exotic removal and prescribed fire (or mechanical treatment) are
essential to the recruitment of native plants. If native plant recruitment is not
sufficient from the surrounding, intact seed source, efforts will be made to plant
indigenous flora in appropriate habitats. Natural area restoration of Pepper Ranch
Preserve should include only site-specific native plant material that has been
determined to be non-problematic at the site and whenever possible, site-specific seed
sources should be utilized. In addition, hardwoods that may invade the natural areas
(mesic pine flatwood area) should not be planted.
GOAL 6: MONITOR PUBLIC USE
Action Item 6.1 Develop and maintain access and required facilities for intended
public uses.
There are many opportunities for public use at the Pepper Ranch Preserve due to the
size of the preserve, its proximity to the community of Immokalee and the diversity
of natural communities present. In addition to general public uses at the preserve,
there are also revenue-generating uses as presented above, cattle lease and oil fields,
hunting, apiary lease, as well as mitigation uses that are already in place for the
preserve, such as a panther conservation bank. Wetland mitigation was considered but
was denied by the SFWMD and Army Corp. of Engineers. All of the different uses
considered and requested by the public may not be compatible with one another and
thus a compatibility matrix was devised to better illustrate when and where at Pepper
Ranch Preserve the different uses can occur. This matrix is included in this plan as
Appendix 4.
The Pepper Ranch Preserve is open to the public on Friday, and non-hunt or holiday
Saturdays and Sundays from November through June of each year. Daily Use
Permits will be required by all visitors and will be issued before access can be
granted. County staff will be stationed in the visitor’s center to provide access and
assistance to visitors. A temporary gate code for the electric gate will be given to
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Conservation Collier Program 69
visitors to access the northern access area when they check in with the Park Ranger.
Visitors must also check out before they leave for the day. This will ensure that all
visitors are accounted for at the end of each day security cameras are also facing each
preserve entrance to help monitor ingress and egress.
A bathroom facility with showers was built in 2015 along with two new septic
systems and a water treatment system.
The Collier County Parks and Recreation Program has been administering and
staffing the visitor center, campgrounds and pole barn rentals since 2014. In 2023
Conservation Collier agreed to fund half of the park ranger position. This includes the
hunt check station attendant.
To avoid impacts to natural communities at Pepper Ranch, guidelines were developed
for the allowable uses on all proposed trails and other amenities. Guidelines include
instructions for users such as staying on trails to avoid altering the natural
communities, and to take only pictures and leave only footprints. The trail systems at
Pepper Ranch utilize existing trails and other impacted areas and were developed
along the natural edge of natural communities where their construction had
minimized disturbances, as well as avoided impacts to marshes and other wetland
systems. Most of the trails are not ADA accessible; however, all new trails will be
evaluated for vehicle class use for ADA access. All visitors can view a large
representative view of the preserve by taking the scenic drive through the preserve.
The implementation of the public uses at Pepper Ranch Preserve remains dependent
on funding, safety issues, site security and the availability of staff. The Current
Public Use Map (Figure 15) incorporates the following components:
The South Public Access Area will be situated on the south side of Pepper Road with a
parking area and trailhead that will lead to the lodge/visitor’s center.
• The visitor center – Conservation Collier staff has renovated the existing
lodge facility for use as a visitor center. The visitor center could also be
rented for special events. Policies were created though Parks and Recreation
in regard to special events and lodge rentals. Staff will research historical
grants for future funding opportunities as needed.
• The Kowachobee Trail – The Kowachobee trail is accessible from the south
public entrance. It is made up of three loops that total approximately 0.9
miles, heading east from the trailhead/parking area, meandering through oak
hammock, mesic flatwoods and dry prairie communities; there is a short
segment of boardwalk crossing over a depressional marsh. Benches and
interpretive signage exist at strategic locations along the trail.
• The boardwalk – The boardwalk (length = approximately 812’ or less) was
constructed at the south end of the south public access area trailhead/parking
area and leads to a covered lake overlook platform.
• The lake overlook platform –A covered lake overlook platform was
constructed at the terminus of the boardwalk and allows visitors to view Lake
Trafford from a raised elevation. This was built on the existing raised
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shoreline and not directly over Lake Trafford. A local Boy Scout added a
large bench to the overlook as part of an Eagle Scout Project in 2017.
• Camping areas- A small camping area with 10 campsites was developed in
the current eastern pasture area located between the entrance to the south
public access area and the visitor center. This is open to the public on Friday
and Saturday nights when the preserve is open. This campground is accessible
to tent campers with vehicles, but not RV’s. An RV may only be allowed in
this campground for use by a campground host or possibly under other special
circumstances. There is no water or electricity located at the individual
campsites. Camping is limited to hunters only during hunt weekends.
Campground host- An RV pad with full hook-up was constructed and placed on a
small, improved area just south and west of the gate to the south public access
area. Campground hosts are allowed to bring in an RV and live there during the
months that the preserve is open to the public in exchange for minor duties that
would include looking over the campground, grounds upkeep, and trail
maintenance work. It would also be beneficial to have a County Sheriff’s
Department officer or FWC officer reside there to keep watch over the property.
Public Use
The amount of public use the preserve receives during open season is increasing
every year. Several different user groups utilize the preserve for different
recreational opportunities. The graph below (Figure 14) provides a snapshot of
the amount of visitor use since 2012.
Figure 14. Pepper Ranch Preserve Visitor Use by Category 2014-2023
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The North Public Access Area is accessible from the north gate at the end of Pepper
Road and provides public access for a scenic drive, hiking trails, multi-use trails,
mountain bike trails and primitive camping areas. This northern area is accessible after
checking in at the visitor center. All trails that double as firebreaks will be maintained on
a regular basis, new trail creation and maintenance may be dependent on the demand for
use and available resources.
• The Scenic Drive- the public is allowed to drive through the Preserve along
the main access road after obtaining a free daily use permit and a temporary
access code from the visitor center. This allows the public to view the
majority of the preserve by vehicle and to view the wildlife and different
ecosystems present. The driving tour is approximately 6.4 miles round trip
and does not include the easement road that leads to the south property
boundary. Visitors are required to check out at the visitor center before they
depart. During wet conditions, the public will be asked to keep vehicles on the
main roads during their tour and to drive at slow speed for safety. During
normal dry conditions, they may park in the designated trailhead parking
areas.
• Hiking trails – Hiking trails provide a view of live oak hammocks, mesic
flatwoods, cypress sloughs, open prairie and depression marshes. Currently,
there are six (6) different trail areas totaling approximately 15.2 miles which
are all open to hikers. Hikers and trail runners can use all trails designated as
multi-use, including horseback or mountain bike trails with caution. Hikers
must yield to bikers and horseback riders. Many trails already exist as
firebreaks. Benches and interpretive signage have been placed at strategic
locations along the trails.
• Mulit-use Trails- (Hiking & Horseback riding) –Trails designated multi-use,
accessible to horses and hikers, total 10 miles. This total includes the main
access road and easement road. An area in the south central portion of the
preserve will take riders though 3 miles of prairie, mesic flatwoods, oak
hammock and marshes. It will also lead to the crossroads of the oil well road
and the south easement road. Traveling south on this easement road will lead
to the southwestern most multi-use trails which are approximately 2.7 miles in
length. The public will be required to park cars and horse trailers at the visitor
center and enter through the north entrance gate or at a designated parking
area at the trailheads. Equestrian use at Pepper Ranch Preserve may also
require additional amenities such as watering and feeding areas. A small hand
pump well may be installed in areas near riding trailheads. Riders are required
to show documentation of a negative Coggin’s test when they check in at the
visitor’s center. Existing trails and firebreaks will be used as horse-back
riding trails and in general are approximately 8-10 feet wide. The majority of
the multi-use will not be shared with mountain bikers for safety reasons,
however both user groups may have to pass each other on occasion on the
main access roads. Signs have been posted to use caution when approaching
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 72
horses. When horse riders are checked in at the visitor center, hikers and
bikers will be notified to use caution and to stay on designated trails. All
multi-use trails will be maintained by the County and with help from
volunteer groups.
• Mountain biking trails- There are three main mountain biking (off-road
cycling) trails. The total length of the trails are approximately 13 miles in
length, this includes the main access road, easement road and a small portion
of the multi-use trails. The majority of the biking trails are very narrow in
width and are kept separate from the horseback-riding trails. However, hikers
and trail runners may share the mountain biking trails with caution. The main
trailhead, is located in the west center, south of the main road that leads to the
oil wells. There is a parking area with a kiosk and picnic tables for public use.
The two trails that start off the parking area are named Panther Pass and Black
Bear Berm. This area was formerly harvested of cabbage palms, as a result
there were several existing trails that were used to create approximately 3.2
miles of winding single-track trail through the forested area. The third trail is
called Kite flight and it is a 5. mile partial perimeter trail that runs along the
edges of the pastures and starts from the end of the Black Bear Berm Trail in
the west central portion of the preserve, and continues north along the pasture
edges to the northern property boundary. It turns to the east and circles back
down the multi-use trail past the cattle pens to the main road. Visitors will
follow the main road back to the parking area or visitor center. USFWS is
requiring that no new trails are cut into the woods. They are requiring this as
part of the Florida Panther Conservation Easement regulations.
The majority of the trails are narrow single-track trails created and maintained
by the use of hand tools such as a weed cutter and loppers etc. Helmets must
be worn by bikers on these trails at all times. Trails are specifically marked.
Special gates and wooden bridges/crossovers were installed where the trail
crosses through cattle fences and over ditches. During rainy season, portions
of the trails may be closed due to wet conditions. Bikers may park at the main
visitor center and ride to the trails or may also park in designated parking area
near the trailheads.
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Conservation Collier Program 73
Figure 15: Current Public Use Map 2024
Since these trails need to be maintained by hand, they are expensive to maintain by
contractors. If the cost of trail maintenance becomes too high or if maintenance funds are
reduced, the length of the kite flight trail can be shortened.
Action Item 6.2 Pepper Ranch Quality Wildlife Management Hunt Program
The Pepper Ranch Preserve Public and Youth Hunt program has been providing public
land hunting access opportunities since September 2010. Two hunt programs are
available for community participation, a public hunt program open to Collier County
residents awarded a quota permit through application, and FWC administered Youth
Hunts available to area youth aged 12-17. Regulated hunts permit harvest of migratory
birds, small game, hogs, deer, and turkey during specified seasons by hunters awarded a
quota permit with specified bag limits. During hunt weekends, the preserve is closed for
regular public access and a hunter check station is manned by Program staff.
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Conservation Collier Program 74
Action Item 6.3 Recreational Drone Use is Prohibited
The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), for recreational use by the general
public is prohibited within the preserve. Drones have been proven to cause stampedes
with horses and cattle, they can interfere with prescribed burning and wildfire
operations, and they also may infringe on the privacy and safety of preserve visitors.
Requests by search and rescue organizations, fire and law enforcement agencies, other
governmental and first-response agencies for a scheduled operation of non-recreational
UAV on the preserve must be directed through the Division’s Administrative Offices.
Approval may be given for the purposes of training or reconnaissance through the
Division Director.
For all other non-recreational requests related to media, land management or research, a
permit through Conservation Collier or it’s designated agency or representative may be
issued on a case by case basis. Each permit application will be signed by the Growth
Management Director and will be adequately evaluated as to the appropriateness of the
requested activities and whether the use of a UAV will result in unacceptable impacts
to the preserve and visitors. If a permit is issued, it will clearly identify the designated
area(s) where the UAV may be operated within the preserve. The permit will also
contain the terms and conditions to ensure safe operation and will mitigate any
unacceptable impact to the resources and the public. Users will specifically be advised
not to fly them in the bald eagle nesting zone west of the main campground during
nesting season, or near cattle or horseback riding areas. Coordination will need to be
carried out if riders are on the property. County staff can only enforce drone use when
they take off and land on our property. Drones that are flown over the preserve from
other properties are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA). All permitted users should abide by the FAA applicable laws and regulations.
GOAL 7: FACILITATE USES OF THE SITE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
Actions Item 7.1 Develop interpretive signage to educate preserve visitors.
On completed trail systems, site-specific signage, including directional and plant
identification signage, has been installed. Additional signage to educate visitors on
general ecosystem information should also be created. Additional smaller trail
specific interpretive signs will be placed at the various trailheads.
Action Item 7.2 Provide maps and brochures for the public
Brochures and trail maps for the preserve outlining the native plant communities,
wildlife present, and trail locations will be offered to visitors during the check in
process. Trail maps may also be available at the specific trailheads. The preserve
manager or park ranger will inspect these boxes monthly and will refill the brochures
as necessary.
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Conservation Collier Program 75
GOAL 8: PROVIDE A PLAN FOR SECURITY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Action Item 8.1 Discourage any unauthorized visitation to the preserve at night
and identify the hours of operation.
A security light and sign designating park hours as sunrise to sunset has been installed
at the entrances to the preserve. If problems arise, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office
and/or FWC currently patrol the area and site on a routine basis. An automatic gate or
temporary keypad combination at the entrance allows nighttime access to the preserve
to registered campers, law enforcement, and staff only. Campers will be advised that
the northern public use area is only available for access from dawn to dusk.
Action Item 8.2 Enforce regulations prohibiting trash and landscape debris
dumping in or near the preserve.
Currently, illegal dumping is not occurring on or near the preserve. Monthly property
inspections will be conducted to monitor for such activity. Staff will work with the
Collier County Sheriff’s Office if problems start to arise.
Action Item 8.3 Survey trees along trails and the perimeter of the property for
damage.
Staff will routinely monitor the trees along the walking and hiking trails to determine
if diseased, weak, or damaged trees/limbs exist and if so remove them to reduce the
risk of visitor injury. Due to the length of the proposed trails at Pepper Ranch
Preserve this activity will likely require the assistance from volunteers and/or the
Department of Corrections work crews, as feasible.
Action Item 8.4 Visit the preserve within 48 hours after a major storm event to
assess damage.
Staff will take photos of damage and fill out appropriate Collier County Risk
Management Department or FEMA forms. If damage is extensive, the entire preserve
or the affected portions will be closed until public safety hazards are cleared.
Action Item 8.5 Promptly clear storm debris from preserve.
If necessary, a Collier County emergency debris removal contractor will be
contracted as soon as possible after the storm to schedule clean up. Removal of debris
and damaged or downed trees along the trail system may be needed. Downed trees
and limbs that do not appear to be a public safety hazard will be cleared at the
discretion of the Preserve Manager. The preserve will be closed temporarily until the
potential hazards are eliminated.
Action Item 8.6 Public Safety Response
Visitors will be given the phone number to the visitor’s center incase of emergency.
If a visitor is lost or injured, staff will notify the CCSO and EMS. Staff will attempt
to locate the visitor in distress by use of a 4x4 vehicle or UTV until additional help
arrives. An AED (automatic electronic defibrillator) is installed in the visitor center
to utilize until EMS arrives. A helicopter can land close to the visitor center and the
mountain bike trailhead parking area if needed.
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GOAL 9: IMPLEMENT AND COMPLY WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE
SERVICE (USFWS) REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ESTABLISHED
PANTHER CONSERVATION BANK. PROVIDE COUNTY PANTHER
HABITAT UNIT (PHU) MITIGATION THROUGH AN ONSITE PANTHER
CONSERVATION BANK
A Panther Conservation Bank was created in 2018 through the USFWS on 1,516.84
acres of the Preserve (See Figure 16). This created an inter-departmental partnership
for Collier County. The mitigation or PHU’s generated by the Pepper Ranch Preserve
Conservation Bank are being utilized for offsetting the panther habitat impacts from
Collier County transportation and other public works projects while providing the
funding necessary to manage the preserve.
The information provided below in Action Items 9.1 and 9.2 were necessary for the
creation of the Conservation Bank.
Action Item 9.1 Provide Panther Habitat Unit calculations for the area of Pepper
Ranch Preserve Conservation Bank.
Table 11 provides PHU calculations for the Pepper Ranch Preserve Conservation
Bank, which consists of lands that are outside of Stewardship Sending Area 7 (SSA
7). The calculations are based on baseline conditions at the preserve using September
2012 USFWS habitat suitability scores.
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USFWS Habitat Type FLUCFCS
Code FLUCFCS Description Area
(acres)
USFWS
Assigned
PHU Value
PHU's
Pine forest 411 Pine flatwoods 149.89 9.5 1,423.95
Hardwood-Pine 434 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm 180.35 9.3 1,677.26
Cypress swamp 621 Cypress 0.72 9.2 6.64
630 Wetland forested mix 23.81 9 214.31
6151 Red maple swamp 76.47 9 688.26
6152 Pop ash swamp 2.69 9 24.21
6162 Pond apple depression 0.71 9 6.41
Shrub swamp/brush 631 Shrub wetland 4.38 5.5 24.07
Improved pasture 211 Improved pasture 549.67 5.2 2,858.28
641 Freshwater marsh 29.55 4.7 138.90
643 Wet prairie 2.10 4.7 9.85
743 Spoil 1.24 3 3.72
3109 Upland prairie, disturbed 3.73 3 11.19
3209 Upland shrub, disturbed 3.56 3 10.69
4119 Pine flatwoods, distrubed 40.80 3 122.39
4349 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm, disturbed 0.002 3 0.01
6189 Willow/shrub wetland, distrubed 5.44 3 16.31
6419 Freshwater marsh, disturbed 27.21 3 81.64
8146 Primitive trail 1.51 3 4.53
4119E1 Pine flatwoods, disturbed, exotics 5-24%3.39 3 10.18
4349E1 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm, disturbed, exotics 5-
24%68.73 3 206.19
6169E1 Pond apple, laurel oak, cabbage palm, disturbed,
exotics 5-24%0.83 3 2.49
6319E1 Shrub wetland, disturbed, exotics 5-24%4.72 3 14.17
6419E1 Freshwater marsh, disturbed, exotics 5-24%70.00 3 210.00
4119E2 Pine flatwoods, disturbed, exotics 25-49%1.24 3 3.71
4349E2 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm, disturbed, exotics 25-
49%8.86 3 26.57
6319E2 Shrub wetland, disturbed, exotics 25-49%0.09 3 0.26
6419E2 Freshwater marsh, disturbed, exotics 25-49%26.19 3 78.57
6439E2 Wet prairie, disturbed, exotics 25-49%7.50 3 22.50
6419E3 Freshwater marsh, disturbed, exotics 50-74%3.46 3 10.37
743E4 Spoil, exotics 75-100%8.16 3 24.47
4119E4 Pine flatwoods, disturbed, exotics 75-100%3.69 3 11.06
Hardwood swamp
Marsh/Wet Prairie
Barren/Disturbed Lands
Table 11: Panther Habitat Unit Calculations excluding SSA 7 – Pre-Restoration
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Conservation Collier Program 78
USFWS Habitat Type FLUCFCS
Code FLUCFCS Description Area
(acres)
USFWS
Assigned
PHU Value
PHU's
422 Brazilian pepper, non-hydric 0.40 3 1.20
6192 Brazilian pepper, hydric 0.84 3 2.53
437 Australian pine 1.16 3 3.47
428E1 Cabbage palm, exotics 5-24%1.14 3 3.41
428E3 Cabbage palm, exotics 50-74%3.29 3 9.86
180 Campground 11.86 0 -
700 Cattle Dipping Vat Remediation Area 1.02 0 -
8145 Shell road, graded and drained 14.31 0 -
512 Ditches 24.92 0 -
512E4 Ditches, exotics 75-100%0.66 0 -
742 Borrow pond 0.78 0 -
Dry prairie with 14.5%
exotic plant coverage 310E1 Upland prairie, exotics 5-24%35.11 6.3 / 3 204.42
Dry prairie with 37%
exotic plant coverage 310E2 Upland prairie, exotics 25-49%4.01 6.3 / 3 20.36
Hardwood Forest with
14.5% exotic plant
coverage
427E1 Oaks, exotics 5-24%1.57 9 / 3 12.73
Hardwood Swamp with
14.5% exotic plant
coverage
630E1 Wetland forested mix, exotics 5-24%1.80 9 / 3 14.61
Shrub swamp/brush with
14.5% exotic plant
coverage
631E1 Shrub wetland, exotics 5-24%1.35 5.5 / 3 6.91
Marsh/Wet Prairie with
14.5% exotic plant
coverage
641E1 Freshwater marsh, exotics 5-24%83.40 4.7 / 3 371.43
Marsh/Wet Prairie with
37% exotic plant
coverage
641E2 Freshwater marsh, exotics 25-49%17.26 4.7 / 3 70.27
Marsh/Wet Prairie with
62% exotic plant
coverage
641E3 Freshwater marsh, exotics 50-74%1.27 4.7 / 3 4.62
TOTAL 1,516.84 8,669.0
Water
Exotic/Nuisance Plants
Urban
To determine the amount of PHU’s available for mitigation, the above calculations
were performed based on site conditions pre-restoration. USFWS informed County
staff that credit will only be given for restoration outside of the scope of this
management plan. Control of invasive, exotic vegetation and prescribed fire will not
result in additional PHU credits. The Pepper Ranch Preserve Conservation Bank,
excluding SSA 7, generated a total of 8,669.0 PHUs. Since 2019, 2,703 credits have
been utilized to mitigate Collier County capital projects. A total of 5,965 PHU credits
remain to mitigate future Collier County capital projects.
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Conservation Collier Program 79
Action Item 9.2 Provide a Monitoring Plan per USFWS requirements for the
Pepper Ranch Preserve Conservation Bank.
Upon establishment of the panther conservation bank, the USFWS required a
monitoring plan for the lands within the designated bank to ensure the bank continues
to meet its success criteria in perpetuity. Below is the monitoring plan for the Pepper
Ranch Preserve Conservation Bank.
Monitoring
Baseline monitoring was completed by a consultant within 60 days of approval of the
Bank by the Service and a baseline monitoring report was forwarded to Service staff in
Vero Beach within 45 days of the monitoring event. Time-zero monitoring will be
completed within 60 days of the completion of initial prescribed fires. As with the
baseline monitoring report, the time-zero monitoring report will be forwarded to
Service staff in Vero Beach within 45 days of the monitoring event. Annual monitoring
will begin 12 months following the time-zero monitoring event and continue for a total
of five years. Annual monitoring reports will be forwarded to Service staff in Vero
Beach prior to January 31 each year. If, at the end of five years of monitoring, the
Bank has reached success criteria, monitoring will be conducted once every five years
to ensure that success criteria are met in perpetuity. If success criteria are not met,
annual monitoring will continue until they are achieved. A summary of the reporting
schedule can be found in Table 12.
Table 12 : Monitoring and Reporting Schedule for Panther Conservation Bank
Report Monitoring Implemented Delivery
Baseline Monitoring Within 60 Days of Approval 45 days
Time-Zero Monitoring Within 60 Days of Initial Restoration 45 days
Annual Monitoring Year 1 12 Months After Time-Zero
Monitoring
45 days
Annual Monitoring Year 2 1 Year from Previous Report January 31
Annual Monitoring Year 3 1 Year from Previous Report January 31
Annual Monitoring Year 4 1 Year from Previous Report January 31
Annual Monitoring Year 5 1 Year from Previous Report January 31
Five-Year Monitoring
(Year 10)
5 Years from Previous Report January 31
Every 5 years thereafter 5 Years from Previous Report January 31
In addition to the information outlined below, the monitoring report will include a general
overview of the land management activities (i.e. prescribed burns, exotic vegetation
maintenance, pasture restoration activities, etc.) conducted since the previous monitoring
report and planned maintenance and management activities during the next period.
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Conservation Collier Program 80
Vegetation Monitoring:
Permanent monitoring transects were established during the baseline monitoring event in
2019 and are located throughout the preserve to include a thorough representation of the
various habitats onsite. Three vegetative strata were sampled along each transect and will
be representative of habitat types throughout the preserve. These strata are: overstory
[plants greater than four inches diameter breast height (DBH)], understory (plants greater
than four inches DBH and greater than three feet in height), and ground cover (all non-
woody plants and woody plants less than three feet in height). The overstory and
understory vegetation will be sampled in 10 m2 plots and the ground cover vegetation
will be sampled in 1m2 plots along each monitoring transect. Panoramic photographs will
be taken at the beginning of each transect to provide physical documentation of the
condition and appearance of the property as well as any changes taking place. The
panoramic photographs will be included in each monitoring report. For the overstory and
understory strata, the relative canopy closure for each species will be recorded. Average
shrub height will be recorded for all species identified in the understory stratum. Percent
coverage and average height for all saw palmetto will be recorded for plots located within
habitats with saw palmetto. The percent cover of groundcover species and bare ground
are estimated for the herbaceous study plots along each transect. Exotic and nuisance
vegetation coverage within the plots will be recorded. Survival rate evaluations will
occur throughout the site to include a thorough representation of the various habitats
onsite. There area a total of 17 transects with 51 sample plots.
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Conservation Collier Program 81
Figure 16. Conservation Bank & Vegetation Monitoring Transect Map
Exotic and Nuisance Species Monitoring:
In addition to the permanent monitoring transects, existing disturbed areas, such as fence
lines, fire breaks, and primitive roads / trails, will be surveyed annually, using the FWC
protocol, by vehicle and meandering pedestrian transects to assess the site for the
presence and percent coverage of exotic vegetation species. Following the annual exotic
vegetation surveys, an exotic vegetation map will be prepared illustrating the locations of
exotic and nuisance vegetation in need of corrective action. The map will be provided to
a County contractor annually to ensure timely and effective treatment.
Wildlife Utilization:
Spotlight transect surveys will be utilized to census white-tailed deer due to the large
acreage of open habitat within the Preserve, density of forested habitat, and the available
roads and trails. For each transect the spotlighting visibility will be estimated once per
season, before conducting the spotlight census. The spotlighting visibility will be
calculated as the acreage of habitat perpendicular to each transect which can be surveyed
for white-tailed deer. Visibility will be dependent on the density and height of vegetation
and also the terrain. Two hundred yards will be the maximum distance from which
visibility will be quantified and white-tailed deer will be censused. Visibility stations will
be placed every 0.10 miles along and at the beginning and end of each transect. At each
visibility station a one-million candle power spotlight will be used to illuminate the
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Conservation Collier Program 82
habitat perpendicular to both sides of each transect. A Bushnell Laser Range Finder Sport
450 will be used to determine the distance, in yards, to the nearest obstruction which
would deter viewing a deer on either side of each transect. The laser range finder will
have an accuracy of +/- one yard. The spotlighting visibility per transect and cumulative
spotlighting visibility will be calculated as the acreage of visibility.
Spotlight transect surveys will begin one-half hour after sunset. The deer spotlight census
will follow the methodology described by Mitchell (1986). Six transects will be surveyed
in order during each census and each transect will be surveyed without interruption until
completed. All census data for each transect will be recorded on a separate data sheet.
The data recorded will include: transect number, official sunset, date, time survey began,
time survey ended, temperature, wind direction, average wind speed, percent cloud cover,
name of personnel, number of bucks, number of does, number of fawns, and number of
unknown deer.
.
A minimum of three personnel will be utilized for each of the spotlighting censuses: one
driver, and two spotlight observers. A four-wheel drive pickup truck will be utilized for
each census and the spotlight observers will be stationed in the bed of the pickup. For
each transect the vehicle will be driven at 5-10 mph and each spotlight observer will scan
the habitat on their side of the vehicle with a one-million candle power spotlight. If a deer
is observed the vehicle will briefly stop and the spotlight observer will use binoculars to
identify the age and sex of each deer observed.
For each group of deer the spotlight observers will classify each deer as either buck, doe,
fawn, or unidentified. A group will consist of one single deer by itself or more than one
deer grouped together; and the grouping of deer will be subjective - meaning the spotlight
observer will determine how deer in an area are grouped. Sex and age will be recorded
for each deer only if all the deer in that group can be sexed and aged. If one deer in the
group cannot be identified, then all the deer in the group will be classified as unidentified
in order to reduce bias when estimating the total number of bucks, does, and fawns on the
Preserve.
The annual wildlife monitoring reports will include the following information:
• Results of the annual spotlight survey.
• A brief description of work performed since the previous report (if applicable)
along with a discussion of any modifications to the survey methodology.
• A list of all wildlife species observed during the survey.
• Direct evidence (i.e., tracks, scat, visual sightings, and rub trees) of panther prey
species observed during each sampling period.
• Hunt harvest data (if applicable).
Regular and periodic observations of wildlife will be made during all monitoring events
and other site visits by qualified ecologists. This will consist of recording evidence and
signs of wildlife (i.e., direct sightings, vocalizations, burrows, nests, tracks, droppings,
etc.). The number of white tailed deer, feral hog, and panther observations at the site will
be recorded during each monitoring event and included in the annual reports.
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Conservation Collier Program 83
4.5 Establish an Operational Plan for the Pepper Ranch Preserve
This section provides management recommendations for operation of the Pepper Ranch
Preserve. It discusses maintenance and budgeting needs, the possibilities for contracting
the restoration activities, coordination and other management issues.
4.5.1 Maintenance
Initially, the primary maintenance activities for the preserve includes invasive exotic
species control, trail maintenance and site security. Particularly important are the security
measures to prevent trespassing and to maintain the signage and fencing (where installed)
in good condition. Signs that effectively convey the desired message provide an
opportunity for increasing environmental education and awareness. Significant
maintenance activities will be necessary for the upkeep of all public facilities including
but not limited to the trailheads/parking areas, visitor center, campgrounds, boardwalks,
restrooms and interpretive signage.
4.5.2 Estimated Annual Costs and Funding Sources
Preliminary budget estimates for Pepper Ranch Preserve include cost breakdowns
associated with resource restoration and management. The funding source identified for
the restoration and management activities is the Conservation Collier Program
Management Trust Fund. Grants will be sought to supplement existing management
funds particularly for the areas within SSA 7. Staff utilizes the Collier County Sheriff’s
Department Civil Citation program for certain labor projects and may also separately
involve the County Scout programs and volunteers for trail maintenance and
enhancement.
The budget in Table 13 represents the actual and unmet budgetary needs for managing
the lands and resources of the preserve over ten years. The table shows the actual costs of
land management activities over the past 5 years, and the estimated costs over the next 5
years. The budget considers available funding and is consistent with the direction
necessary to achieve the goals and objectives for Pepper Ranch Preserve.
In August of 2017, a thorough building assessment was conducted by engineers and
building inspectors on all the structures on the property. It was determined that several
structural issues need to be addressed to maintain the historical visitor center and pole
barns. Maintenance on these structures has been conducted by Facilities Management
over the years. The cottage/caretaker’s home was demolished in 2019. It had major
structural and mold issues since the program purchased the preserve, and the cost to
continue to mitigate these ongoing problems was excessive. A concrete pad was installed
in 2020 at the north end of the campground with a full hook-up to allow a campground
host to reside there during the months that the preserve is open. Plans exist to remove and
replace the existing pole barn and to add a hunt cleaning station. The program also plans
to build a large equipment storage shed. Estimated costs for planning and construction of
this project are estimated in fiscal years 2025 and 2026. The cost will not come out of the
Pepper Ranch Management Fund, it will be budgeted in the Conservation Collier Capital
Project Fund.
Table 13. Estimated Annual Land Management Budget
*Actual numbers are included from FY 2009-2020 through 2023-2024. Numbers are estimated FY 2024-2025 through 2029-2030.
*Labor Services: Fees associated with the Park Ranger Position and Check Station Attendants for Public Hunts
*Utilities: include electricity, water, garbage services, and phone & internet
Item 2019-2020
(FY20)
2020-2021
(FY21)
2021-2022
(FY22)
2022-2023
(FY23)
2023-2024
(FY24)
2024-2025
(FY25)
2025-2026
(FY 26)
2026-2027
(FY27)
2027-2028
(FY28)
2028-2029
(TY29)
2029-2030
(FY30)Total
CAPITAL
CONSTRUCTION/IMPROVEMENTS/EQUIP 10,136 100,000 200,000 $310,136
OTHER CONTRACTURAL SERVICES
FIREBREAK/TRAIL MAINTENANCE/REDUCTION 8,000 13,100 60,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 $431,100
EXOTIC MAINTENANCE 70,000 100,110 86,110 81,500 155,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 $1,092,720
FENCING 27,400 7,816 2,176 25,560 10,000 10,000 10,000 $92,952
LANDSCAPING SERVICES 14,000 14,000 15,200 10,800 12,000 14,000 14,000 14,000 14,000 14,000 14,000 $150,000
PASTURE MOWING 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 $22,500
CONSULTING/SURVEYS/MONITORING 19,600 5,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 $144,600
SIGNS 200 500 900 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 $4,750
PEST ABATEMENT 400 350 1,200 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 $7,550
DEBRIS SERVICES 8,400 $8,400
PORT-A-POTTY RENTAL 300 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 $6,700
VISITOR CENTER MAINTENANCE 10,000 10,000 $20,000
TOTAL OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 120,000 135,376 107,986 210,060 236,550 198,550 188,550 198,550 188,550 198,550 198,550 1,981,272
STAFF/VOLUNTEER RELATED
LABOR SERVICES 0 850 220 700 16,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 $113,770
VOLUNTEER RELATED 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 $1,100
TOTAL STAFF RELATED 100 950 320 800 16,100 16,100 16,100 16,100 16,100 16,100 16,100 114,870
OTHER OPERATIONAL EXPENSES
FIELD SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT 1,200 2,000 8,000 2,200 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 $41,400
UTILITIES (ALL)5,800 5,700 6,500 8,800 6,500 6,500 6,500 6,500 6,500 6,500 6,500 $72,300
LICENSING & PERMITTING 700 700 100 50 500 500 5,000 500 500 500 500 $9,550
COUNTY DEPT. SERVICES 1,000 1,200 1,000 1,300 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 $11,500
JANITORIAL 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 $11,000
OFFICE SUPPLIES/POSTAGE 500 100 100 25 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 $3,525
PRINTING/BROCHURES 0 0 0 0 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 $1,400
TOTAL OPERATIONAL EXPENSES 10,200 10,700 16,700 13,375 13,600 13,600 18,100 13,600 13,600 13,600 13,600 150,675
GRAND TOTAL:$130,300 $157,162 $125,006 $224,235 $266,250 $328,250 $422,750 $228,250 $218,250 $228,250 $228,250 $2,556,953
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 86
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Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 91
Appendix 1
Pepper Ranch Preserve Legal Description
Appendix 2
Floristic Inventory of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Abrus precatorius ROSARY PEA; BLACKEYED SUSAN 11-100 A I x
28-Sep Dicot SAPINDACEAE Acer rubrum RED MAPLE 1001 - 10,000 N x x x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE
Acmella oppositifolia var.
repens OPPOSITELEAF SPOTFLOWER 101-1000 N x
30-Sep Dicot ARECACEAE Acoelorraphe wrightii EVERGLADES PALM 1
CN &
N?T x
28-Sep Pteridophyte PTERIDACEAE Acrostichum danaeifolium GIANT LEATHER FERN 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Aeschynomene americana SHYLEAF 11-100 N x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Aeschynomene pratensis MEADOW JOINTVETCH 101-1000 N E x
29-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Ageratum conyzoides TROPICAL WHITEWEED 2-10 A x
30-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Albizia lebbeck WOMAN'S TONGUE 11-100 A I x x
28-Sep Dicot AMARANTHACEAE Alternanthera philoxeroides ALLIGATORWEED 10,001-100,000 A II x x CR
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Alysicarpus ovalifolius
FALSE MONEYWORT; ALYCE
CLOVER 11-100 A x
30-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Alysicarpus vaginalis WHITE MONEYWORT 11-100 A x
29-Sep Dicot AMARANTHACEAE Amaranthus australis SOUTHERN AMARANTH 11-100 N x
28-Sep Dicot AMARANTHACEAE Amaranthus spinosus SPINY AMARANTH 11-100 A x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Ambrosia artemisiifolia COMMON RAGWEED 1001-10000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot VITACEAE Ampelopsis arborea PEPPERVINE 10,001-100,000 N x x x x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE
Amphicarpum
muhlenbergianum BLUE MAIDENCANE 10,001-100,000 N x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE
Andropogon glomeratus var.
glaucopsis PURPLE BLUESTEM 1001-10,000 N X
30-Sep Monocot POACEAE
Andropogon glomeratus var.
hirsutior BUSHY BLUESTEM 101-1000 N X
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE
Andropogon glomeratus var.
pumilus BUSHY BLUESTEM 1001-10,000 N X X X
29-Sep Monocot POACEAE Andropogon ternarius SPLITBEARD BLUESTEM 11-100 N x
Vascular Plants Of Pepper Ranch Conservation Area, Collier County, Florida
List created by Steven W. Woodmansee, Pro Native Consulting
List compiled in the field by: Steven W. Woodmansee with Bill Brammell & Anik Smith September 28-30, 2009, April 21-22, 2010
13-May-10
1 of 18
Woodmansee, 05/13/10
FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Andropogon virginicus BROOMSEDGE BLUESTEM 10,001-100,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot ANNONACEAE Annona glabra POND APPLE 101-1000 N x x x x x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Apios americana GROUNDNUT 11-100 N x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Aristida patula TALL THREEAWN 11-100 N x
29-Sep Monocot POACEAE Aristida stricta var. beyrichiana WIREGRASS 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Dicot APOCYNACEAE Asclepias curassavica Scarlet Milkweed 11-100 A x CR
30-Sep Dicot APOCYNACEAE Asclepias pedicellata SAVANNAH MILKWEED 2-10 N x
28-Sep Dicot ANNONACEAE Asimina reticulata NETTED PAWPAW 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Axonopus fissifolius COMMON CARPETGRASS 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Axonopus furcatus BIG CARPETGRASS 10,001-100,000 N x x x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Baccharis glomeruliflora SILVERLING 10,001-100,000 N x x x
22-Apr Dicot ASTERACEAE Baccharis halimifolia GROUNDSEL TREE 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot PLANTAGINACEAE Bacopa caroliniana
LEMON BACOPA; BLUE
WATERHYSSOP 11-100 N x
28-Sep Dicot PLANTAGINACEAE Bacopa monnieri HERB-OF-GRACE 1001 - 10,000 N x x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Balduina angustifolia COASTALPLAIN HONEYCOMBHEAD 11-100 N x
28-Sep Dicot RHAMNACEAE Berchemia scandens
ALABAMA SUPPLEJACK; RATTAN
VINE 1001-10,000 N x x x x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Bidens alba BEGGARTICKS; ROMERILLO 10,000-100,000 N x x
28-Sep Pteridophyte BLECHNACEAE Blechnum serrulatum
TOOTHED MIDSORUS FERN;
SWAMP FERN 1001-10,000 N x x x x x
28-Sep Dicot ACANTHACEAE Blechum pyramidatum BROWNE'S BLECHUM 1001-10,000 A II x x
28-Sep Dicot URTICACEAE Boehmeria cylindrica FALSE NETTLE; BOG HEMP 1001-10,000 N x x x
29-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Boltonia diffusa SMALLHEAD DOLL'S DAISY 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot OROBANCHACEAE Buchnera americana AMERICAN BLUEHEARTS 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot LAMIACEAE Callicarpa americana AMERICAN BEAUTYBERRY 101-1000 N x x x
22-Apr Monocot COMMELINACEAE Callisia ornata FLORIDA SCRUB ROSELING 2-10 N x
2 of 18
Woodmansee, 05/13/10
FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?21-Apr Dicot CAMPANULACEAE Campanula floridana FLORIDA BELLFLOWER
10,001 -
100,000 N x
29-Sep Pteridophyte POLYPODIACEAE Campyloneurum phyllitidis LONG STRAP FERN 2-10 N T x
28-Sep Monocot CANNACEAE Canna flaccida BANDANNA-OF-THE-EVERGLADES 11-100 N x x
21-Apr Monocot CYPERACEAE Carex longii LONG"S SEDGE
1,000,001-
10,000,000 N x x
29-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Carex lupuliformis FALSE HOP SEDGE 101-1000 N x x
21-Apr Monocot CYPERACEAE Carex vexans FLORIDA HAMMOCK SEDGE 1001-10,000 N x x x
22-Apr Dicot LAURACEAE Cassytha filiformis LOVE VINE 2-10 N x
30-Sep Dicot CASUARINACEAE Casuarina glauca
GRAY SHEOAK; SUCKERING
AUSTRALIAN-PINE 11-100 A I x
21-Apr Dicot CELTIDACEAE Celtis laevigata SUGARBERRY, HACKBERRY 2-10 N x x
28-Sep Dicot ARALIACEAE Centella asiatica SPADELEAF
100,001-
1,000,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot RUBIACEAE Cephalanthus occidentalis COMMON BUTTONBUSH 101-1000 N x x x x
29-Sep Dicot CERATOPHYLLACEAE Ceratophyllum demersum COONTAIL 101-1000 N x x
30-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Chamaecrista fasciculata PARTRIDGE PEA 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Chamaecrista nictitans SENSITIVE PEA 11-100 N x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE
Chamaecrista nictitans var.
aspera SENSITIVE PEA 1000-10,000 N x x
30-Sep Dicot EUPHORBIACEAE Chamaesyce blodgettii LIMESTONE SANDMAT 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot EUPHORBIACEAE Chamaesyce hirta PILLPOD SANDMAT 2-10 N x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Chrysopogon pauciflorus FLORIDA FALSE BEARDGRASS 11-100 N x
29-Sep Dicot APIACEAE Cicuta maculata SPOTTED WATER HEMLOCK 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Cirsium horridulum PURPLE THISTLE 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Cirsium nuttallii NUTTALL'S THISTLE 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot VITACEAE Cissus verticillata SEASONVINE; POSSUM GRAPE 11-100 N x x
29-Sep Dicot RUTACEAE Citrus x aurantium
SOUR ORANGE; GRAPEFRUIT;
SWEET ORANGE 11-100
CA &
A x
30-Sep Dicot RUTACEAE Citrus xjambhiri ROUGH LEMON 2-10
CA &
A x, MH CR
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Cladium jamaicense JAMAICA SWAMP SAWGRASS 101-1000 N x x x x
22-Apr Dicot EUPHORBIACEAE Cnidoscolus stimulosus SPURGE NETTLE, TREAD-SOFTLY 2-10 N x
3 of 18
Woodmansee, 05/13/10
FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?28-Sep Monocot COMMELINACEAE Commelina diffusa COMMON DAYFLOWER
100,001 -
1,000,000 A x x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Conoclinium coelestinum BLUE MISTFLOWER 1000-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Conyza canadensis CANADIAN HORSEWEED 1000-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Coreopsis leavenworthii LEAVENWORTH'S TICKSEED 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot CORNACEAE Cornus foemina
SWAMP DOGWOOD; STIFF
DOGWOOD 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Crotalaria pallida var. obovata SMOOTH RATTLEBOX 1000-10,000 A x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Crotalaria rotundifolia RABBITBELLS 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot LYTHRACEAE Cuphea carthagenensis COLOMBIAN WAXWEED 10,000-100,000 A x x x
30-Sep Dicot CONVOLVULACEAE Cuscuta pentagona FIVEANGLED DODDER 11-100 N x x x
28-Sep Dicot APOCYNACEAE Cynanchum scoparium LEAFLESS SWALLOWWORT 11-100 N x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Cynodon dactylon BERMUDAGRASS
1,000,001 -
10,000,000 A x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Cyperus croceus BALDWIN'S FLATSEDGE 1000-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Cyperus haspan HASPAN FLATSEDGE 101-1000 N x x x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Cyperus ligularis SWAMP FLATSEDGE 101-1000 N x x x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Cyperus polystachyos MANYSPIKE FLATSEDGE 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Cyperus retrorsus PINEBARREN FLATSEDGE 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Cyperus rotundus NUTGRASS 1001-10,000 A x x
21-Apr Monocot CYPERACEAE Cyperus surinamensis TROPICAL FLATSEDGE 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Desmodium incanum ZARZABACOA COMUN 10,000-100,000 N x x x
29-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Desmodium paniculatum PANICLED TICKTREFOIL 11-100 N x x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Desmodium triflorum THREEFLOWER TICKTREFOIL 10,000-100,000 A x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Dichanthelium commutatum VARIABLE WITCHGRASS 1000-10,000 N x x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE
Dichanthelium ensifolium var.
unciphyllum CYPRESS WITCHGRASS 101-1000 N x
4 of 18
Woodmansee, 05/13/10
FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Dichanthelium laxiflorum OPENFLOWER WITCHGRASS 101-1000 N x x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Dichanthelium portoricense HEMLOCK WITCHGRASS 10,000-100,000 N x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE
Dichanthelium strigosum var.
glabrescens ROUGHHAIR WITCHGRASS 1001-10,000 N x
29-Sep Dicot CONVOLVULACEAE Dichondra carolinensis CAROLINA PONYSFOOT 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Digitaria ciliaris SOUTHERN CRABGRASS 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot RUBIACEAE Diodia virginiana VIRGINIA BUTTONWEED 1001-10,000 N x x x x x
28-Sep Dicot EBENACEAE Diospyros virginiana COMMON PERSIMMON 1001-10,000 N x x x x
22-Apr Dicot CARYOPHYLLACEAE Drymaria cordata WEST INDIAN CHICKWEED 101-1000 N x
21-Apr Dicot ACANTHACEAE Dyschoriste angusta PINELAND TWINFLOWER 101-1000 N x
29-Sep Monocot POACEAE Echinochloa muricata ROUGH BARNYARDGRASS 101-1000 N x
21-Apr Monocot POACEAE Echinochloa walteri COAST COCKSPUR 2-10 N x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Eclipta prostrata FALSE DAISY 1001-10,000 N x x
21-Apr Monocot PONTEDERIACEAE Eichhornia crassipes COMMON WATER-HYACINTH 101-1000 A I x
30-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Eleocharis baldwinii
BALDWIN'S SPIKERUSH;
ROADGRASS 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Eleocharis geniculata CANADA SPIKERUSH 10,000-100,000 N x x
30-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Eleocharis interstincta KNOTTED SPIKERUSH 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Elephantopus elatus TALL ELEPHANTSFOOT 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Eleusine indica INDIAN GOOSEGRASS 101-1000 A x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Emilia fosbergii FLORIDA TASSELFLOWER 11-100 A x x
29-Sep Monocot ORCHIDACEAE Encyclia tampensis FLORIDA BUTTERFLY ORCHID 11-100 N CE x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Eragrostis atrovirens THALIA LOVEGRASS 101-1000 A x
29-Sep Monocot POACEAE Eragrostis ciliaris GOPHERTAIL LOVEGRASS 101-1000 A x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Eragrostis elliottii ELLIOTT'S LOVEGRASS 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Erechtites hieraciifolius AMERICAN BURNWEED; FIREWEED 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Erigeron quercifolius OAKLEAF FLEABANE 1001-10,000 N x x
21-Apr Dicot ASTERACEAE Erigeron vernus EARLY WHITETOP FLEABANE 101-1000 N x
5 of 18
Woodmansee, 05/13/10
FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?29-Sep Monocot ERIOCAULACEAE Eriocaulon compressum FLATTENED PIPEWORT 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot APIACEAE Eryngium baldwinii BALDWIN'S ERYNGO 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot APIACEAE Eryngium yuccifolium
BUTTON RATTLESNAKEMASTER;
BUTTON ERYNGO 11-100 N x
29-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Erythrina herbacea CORALBEAN; CHEROKEE BEAN 11-100 N x,MH
29-Sep Dicot MYRTACEAE Eugenia uniflora SURINAM CHERRY 1 A I x
28-Sep Monocot ORCHIDACEAE Eulophia alta WILD COCO 101-1000 N x
29-Sep Monocot ORCHIDACEAE Eulophia graminea 0 A x CR
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Eupatorium capillifolium DOGFENNEL 10,000-100,000 N x x x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Eupatorium leptophyllum FALSEFENNEL 11-100 N x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Eupatorium mikanioides SEMAPHORE THOROUGHWORT 2-10 N x
21-Apr Dicot ASTERACEAE Eupatorium mohrii MOHR'S THOROUGHWORT 11-100 N x
30-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Eupatorium rotundifolium
ROUNDLEAF THOROUGHWORT;
FALSE HOREHOUND 11-100 N x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Eustachys glauca SALTMARSH FINGERGRASS 11-100 N x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Eustachys petraea PINEWOODS FINGERGRASS 1001-10,000 N x x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Euthamia caroliniana SLENDER FLATTOP GOLDENROD 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot MORACEAE Ficus aurea STRANGLER FIG; GOLDEN FIG 101-1000 N x x x x
30-Sep Dicot MORACEAE Ficus microcarpa INDIAN LAUREL 1 A I x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Fimbristylis caroliniana CAROLINA FIMBRY 101-1000 N x
30-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Fimbristylis cymosa HURRICANEGRASS 11-100 N x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Fimbristylis dichotoma FORKED FIMBRY 11-100 N x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Fimbristylis spadicea MARSH FIMBRY 101-1000 N x x
29-Sep Dicot OLEACEAE Fraxinus caroliniana
CAROLINA ASH; WATER ASH; POP
ASH 101-1000 N x x x
30-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Fuirena scirpoidea SOUTHERN UMBRELLASEDGE 1001-10,000 N x x
30-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Galactia elliottii ELLIOTT'S MILKPEA 101-1000 N x
30-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Galactia regularis EASTERN MILKPEA 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Galactia volubilis DOWNY MILKPEA 101-1000 N x x x
22-Apr Dicot RUBIACEAE Galium tinctorium STIFFMARSH BEDSTRAW 11-100 N x x
6 of 18
Woodmansee, 05/13/10
FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?21-Apr Dicot ASTERACEAE Gamochaeta falcata
NARROWLEAF PURPLE
EVERLASTING 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot ONAGRACEAE Gaura angustifolia SOUTHERN BEEBLOSSOM 101-1000 N x
21-Apr Dicot ERICACEAE Gaylussacia dumosa DWARF HUCKLEBERRY 2-10 N x
21-Apr Dicot GERANIACEAE Geranium carolinianum CAROLINA CRANESBILL 101-1000 N x CR
21-Apr Dicot VERONICACEAE Gratiola ramosa BRANCHED HEDGEHYSSOP 2-10 N x
28-Sep Monocot ORCHIDACEAE Habenaria floribunda
TOOTHPETAL FALSE REINORCHID;
MIGNONETTE ORCHID 101-1000 N x x x
21-Apr Dicot RUBIACEAE Hamelia patens FIREBUSH 2-10 N x
29-Sep Monocot ORCHIDACEAE Harrisella porrecta
NEEDLEROOT AIRPLANT ORCHID;
THREADROOT ORCHID 101-1000 N T x
28-Sep Monocot ZINGIBERACEAE Hedychium coronarium BUTTERFLY GINGER 1 CA CR
22-Apr Dicot ASTERACEAE Helenium amarum SPANISH DAISY, BITTERWEED 2-10 N x
21-Apr Dicot CISTACEAE Helianthemum corymbosum PINEBARREN FROSTWEED 11-100 N x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Helianthus agrestis SOUTHEASTERN SUNFLOWER 1001-10,000 N x x x x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Hemarthria altissima LIMPOGRASS
1,000,000-
10,000,000 A II x x
22-Apr Dicot MALVACEAE Hibiscus grandiflorus SWAMP ROSEMALLOW 2-10 N x
30-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Hieracium megacephalon COASTALPLAIN HAWKWEED 101-1000 N x
30-Sep Dicot RUBIACEAE Houstonia procumbens INNOCENCE; ROUNDLEAF BLUET 11-100 N x,MH x
21-Apr Monocot HYDROCHARITACEAE Hydrilla verticillata WATERTHYME, HYDRILLA 11-100 A I x
28-Sep Dicot ARALIACEAE Hydrocotyle umbellata
MANYFLOWER
MARSHPENNYWORT
1,000,000-
10,000,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot ARALIACEAE Hydrocotyle verticillata WHORLED MARSHPENNYWORT 1001-10,000 N x x x x
28-Sep Dicot HYDROLEACEAE Hydrolea corymbosa SKYFLOWER 11-101 N x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Hymenachne amplexicaulis TROMPETILLA
1,000,000-
10,000,000 A I x x
21-Apr Dicot CLUSIACEAE Hypericum brachyphyllum COASTALPLAIN ST. JOHN'S-WORT 11-100 N x x
28-Sep Dicot CLUSIACEAE Hypericum cistifolium ROUNDPOD ST.JOHN'S-WORT 101-1000 N x
30-Sep Dicot CLUSIACEAE Hypericum crux-andreae ST.PETER'S-WORT 11-100 N x
7 of 18
Woodmansee, 05/13/10
FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?28-Sep Dicot CLUSIACEAE Hypericum hypericoides ST.ANDREW'S-CROSS 1001-10,000 N x x
21-Apr Dicot CLUSIACEAE Hypericum mutilum DWARF ST. JOHN'S-WORT 11-100 N x
21-Apr Dicot CLUSIACEAE Hypericum reductum ATLANTIC ST. JOHN'S-WORT 2-10 N x
28-Sep Dicot CLUSIACEAE Hypericum tetrapetalum FOURPETAL ST.JOHN'S-WORT 1001-10,000 N x
22-Apr Monocot HYPOXIDACEAE Hypoxis wrightii BRISTLESEED YELLOW STARGRASS 1 N x
28-Sep Dicot LAMIACEAE Hyptis alata
CLUSTERED BUSHMINT; MUSKY
MINT 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot LAMIACEAE Hyptis verticillata JOHN CHARLES 1001-10,000 A x x
28-Sep Dicot AQUIFOLIACEAE Ilex cassine DAHOON 101-1000 N x x x x
28-Sep Dicot AQUIFOLIACEAE Ilex glabra INKBERRY; GALLBERRY 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Imperata brasiliensis BRAZILIAN SATINTAIL 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Imperata cylindrica COGONGRASS 101-1000 A I x x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Indigofera hirsuta HAIRY INDIGO 101-1000 A x
28-Sep Dicot CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea cordatotriloba TIEVINE 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea indica OCEANBLUE MORNING-GLORY 11-100 N x x
28-Sep Dicot CONVOLVULACEAE Ipomoea sagittata SALTMARSH MORNING-GLORY 11-100 N x x
28-Sep Dicot AMARANTHACEAE Iresine diffusa JUBA'S BUSH 1001-10,000 N x x
21-Apr Monocot JUNCACEAE Juncus marginatus SHORE RUSH, GRASSLEAF RUSH 101-1000 N x
21-Apr Monocot JUNCACEAE Juncus megacephalus BIGHEAD RUSH 11-100 N x x
30-Sep Monocot JUNCACEAE Juncus scirpoides NEEDLEPOD RUSH 11-100 N x x
21-Apr Dicot ACANTHACEAE Justicia angusta PINELAND WATERWILLOW 11-100 N x
21-Apr Dicot BIGNONIACEAE Kigelia pinnata SAUSAGE TREE 2-10 A x CR
28-Sep Dicot MALVACEAE Kosteletzkya pentacarpos VIRGINIA SALTMARSH MALLOW 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Monocot HAEMODORACEAE Lachnanthes caroliana CAROLINA REDROOT 101-1000 N x
29-Sep Monocot ERIOCAULACEAE Lachnocaulon anceps WHITEHEAD BOGBUTTON 101-1000 N x
21-Apr Dicot VERBENACEAE Lantana camara LANTANA, SHRUBVERBENA 11-100 A I x x
21-Apr Dicot CISTACEAE Lechea torreyi PIEDMONT PINWEED 2-10 N x x
28-Sep Monocot ARACEAE Lemna obscura LITTLE DUCKWEED
1,000,000-
10,000,000 N x x x x
21-Apr Dicot BRASSICACEAE Lepidium virginicum VIRGINIA PEPPERWEED 2-10 N x
30-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Leucaena leucocephala WHITE LEADTREE 2-10 A II x
8 of 18
Woodmansee, 05/13/10
FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?8-Oct Monocot LILIACEAE Lilium catesbaei CATESBY'S LILY; PINE LILY 1 N T x
21-Apr Dicot VERONICACEAE Linaria canadensis CANADA TOADFLAX 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot PLANTAGINACEAE Lindernia dubia var. anagallidea YELLOWSEED FALSE PIMPERNEL 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot PLANTAGINACEAE Lindernia grandiflora SAVANNAH FALSE PIMPERNEL 11-100 N x
28-Sep Dicot ONAGRACEAE Ludwigia curtissii CURTISS' PRIMROSEWILLOW 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Dicot ONAGRACEAE Ludwigia maritima SEASIDE PRIMROSEWILLOW 1001-10,000 N x x
21-Apr Dicot ONAGRACEAE Ludwigia microcarpa SMALLFRUIT PRIMROSEWILLOW 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot ONAGRACEAE Ludwigia octovalvis MEXICAN PRIMROSEWILLOW 1001-10,000 N x x x x
28-Sep Dicot ONAGRACEAE Ludwigia peruviana PERUVIAN PRIMROSEWILLOW 1001-10,000 A I x x x
28-Sep Dicot ONAGRACEAE Ludwigia repens CREEPING PRIMROSEWILLOW 1001-10,000 N x
30-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Lygodesmia aphylla ROSE-RUSH 11-100 N x
28-Sep Pteridophyte SCHIZAEACEAE Lygodium microphyllum SMALL-LEAF CLIMBING FERN 11-100 A I x x
28-Sep Dicot ERICACEAE Lyonia fruticosa COASTALPLAIN STAGGERBUSH 11-100 N x
21-Apr Dicot LYTHRACEAE
Lythrum alatum var.
lanceolatum LANCELEAF WINGED LOOSESTIFE 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Macroptilium lathyroides WILD BUSHBEAN 101-1000 A x x
21-Apr Dicot ANACARDIACEAE Mangifera indica MANGO 2-10 A x
22-Apr Dicot FABACEAE Medicago lupulina BLACK MEDIC 101-1000 A x CR
30-Sep Dicot MYRTACEAE Melaleuca quinquenervia PUNKTREE 11-100 A I x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Melanthera nivea SNOW SQUARESTEM 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Melinis repens ROSE NATALGRASS 11-100 A I x
28-Sep Dicot MALVACEAE Melochia corchorifolia CHOCOLATEWEED 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot CUCURBITACEAE Melothria pendula CREEPING CUCUMBER 101-1000 N x x
30-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Mikania cordifolia FLORIDA KEYS HEMPVINE 11-100 N x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Mikania scandens CLIMBING HEMPVINE 101-1000 N x x x
28-Sep Dicot CUCURBITACEAE Momordica charantia BALSAMPEAR 101-1000 A x x
28-Sep Dicot MORACEAE Morus rubra RED MULBERRY 11-100 N x
28-Sep Monocot COMMELINACEAE Murdannia nudiflora NAKEDSTEM DEWFLOWER 1001-10,000 A x x x
28-Sep Monocot COMMELINACEAE
Murdannia spirata var.
parviflora ASIATIC DEWFLOWER 10,001-100,000 A x x x
9 of 18
Woodmansee, 05/13/10
FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?30-Sep Dicot MYRTACEAE Myrcianthes fragrans TWINBERRY; SIMPSON'S STOPPER 2-10 N T x
28-Sep Dicot MYRICACEAE Myrica cerifera
SOUTHERN BAYBERRY; WAX
MYRTLE 1001-10,000 N x x x x x x x
21-Apr Monocot HYDROCHARITACEAE Najas guadalupensis SOUTHERN WATERNYMPH 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Pteridophyte NEPHROLEPIDACEAE Nephrolepis exaltata SWORD FERN; WILD BOSTON FERN 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Pteridophyte NEPHROLEPIDACEAE Nephrolepis multiflora ASIAN SWORD FERN 101-1000 A I x x x
28-Sep Dicot NYMPHAEACEAE Nymphaea elegans TROPICAL ROYALBLUE WATERLILY 101-1000 N x x x x
28-Sep Monocot ORCHIDACEAE Oeceoclades maculata MONK ORCHID 1001-10,000 N x x x
28-Sep Dicot RUBIACEAE Oldenlandia corymbosa FLATTOP MILLE GRAINES 1001-10,000 A x
28-Sep Dicot RUBIACEAE Oldenlandia uniflora CLUSTERED MILLE GRAINES 1001-10,000 N x x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Oplismenus hirtellus WOODSGRASS; BASKETGRASS 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Pteridophyte OSMUNDACEAE Osmunda cinnamomea CINNAMON FERN 11-100 N CE x
29-Sep Pteridophyte OSMUNDACEAE Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis ROYAL FERN 11-100 N CE x x
28-Sep Dicot OXALIDACEAE Oxalis corniculata
COMMON YELLOW WOODSORREL;
CREEPING WOODSORREL 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Dicot APIACEAE Oxypolis filiformis WATER COWBANE 101-1000 N x
21-Apr Dicot ASTERACEAE Packera glabella BUTTERWEED 101-1000 N x
30-Sep Monocot POACEAE Panicum hemitomon MAIDENCANE 1001-10,000 N x x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Panicum hians GAPING PANICUM 1001-10,000 N x
30-Sep Monocot POACEAE Panicum maximum GUINEAGRASS 11-100 A II x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Panicum repens TORPEDO GRASS
1,000,000-
10,000,000 A I x x x x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Panicum rigidulum REDTOP PANICUM 10,000-100,000 N x x x x
30-Sep Monocot POACEAE Panicum virgatum SWITCHGRASS 101-1000 N x
29-Sep Dicot URTICACEAE Parietaria floridana FLORIDA PELLITORY 101-1000 N x
10 of 18
Woodmansee, 05/13/10
FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?28-Sep Dicot VITACEAE Parthenocissus quinquefolia VIRGINIA CREEPER; WOODBINE 1001-10,000 N x x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Paspalum conjugatum SOUR PASPALUM; HILOGRASS 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Paspalum floridanum FLORIDA PASPALUM 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Paspalum notatum BAHIAGRASS
1,000,000-
10,000,000 A x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Paspalum repens WATER PASPALUM 11-100 N x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Paspalum setaceum THIN PASPALUM 1001-10,000 N x x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Paspalum urvillei VASEYGRASS 11-100 A x
28-Sep Dicot PASSIFLORACEAE Passiflora suberosa CORKYSTEM PASSIONFLOWER 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Pectis glaucescens SANDDUNE CINCHWEED 101-1000 N x
29-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Pectis prostrata SPREADING CINCHWEED 101-1000 N x
30-Sep Monocot POACEAE Pennisetum polystachion
WEST INDIAN PENNISETUM;
MISSIONGRASS 101-1000 A x
28-Sep Dicot LAURACEAE Persea palustris SWAMP BAY 101-1000 N x x x x x
28-Sep Pteridophyte POLYPODIACEAE Phlebodium aureum GOLDEN POLYPODY 1001-10,000 N x x x x x x
28-Sep Monocot ARECACEAE Phoenix roebellini PYGMY DATE PALM 1 CA x CR
21-Apr Dicot VISCACEAE Phoradendron leucarpum OAK MISTLETOE 11-100 N x
28-Sep Dicot VERBENACEAE Phyla nodiflora
TURKEY TANGLE FOGFRUIT;
CAPEWEED 1001-10,000 N x x x x x
28-Sep Dicot PHYLLANTHACEAE
Phyllanthus caroliniensis subsp.
saxicola ROCK CAROLINA LEAFFLOWER 101-10,000 N x
29-Sep Dicot SOLANACEAE Physalis pubescens HUSK TOMATO 11-100 N x
28-Sep Dicot SOLANACEAE Physalis walteri WALTER'S GROUNDCHERRY 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Dicot PHYTOLACCACEAE Phytolacca americana AMERICAN POKEWEED 101-1000 N x x
21-Apr Dicot LAMIACEAE Piloblephis rigida WILD PENNYROYAL 11-100 N x
28-Sep Gymnosperm PINACEAE Pinus elliottii SLASH PINE 1001-10,000 N x x x x
28-Sep Monocot ARACEAE Pistia stratiotes WATER-LETTUCE 1001-10,000 A I x
22-Apr Dicot ASTERACEAE Pityopsis graminifolia NARROLEAF SILKGRASS 11-100 N x
28-Sep Pteridophyte POLYPODIACEAE
Pleopeltis polypodioides var.
michauxiana RESURRECTION FERN 1001-10,000 N x x x x x
11 of 18
Woodmansee, 05/13/10
FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Pluchea baccharis ROSY CAMPHORWEED 101-1000 N x
21-Apr Dicot ASTERACEAE Pluchea carolinensis CURE-FOR-ALL 2-10 N x
29-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Pluchea foetida STINKING CAMPHORWEED 101-1000 N x
29-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Pluchea odorata SWEETSCENT 101-1000 N x
30-Sep Dicot POLYGALACEAE Polygala lutea ORANGE MILKWORT 11-100 N x
21-Apr Dicot POLYGALACEAE Polygala nana CANDYROOT 2-10 N x
21-Apr Dicot POLYGALACEAE Polygala rugelii YELLOW MILKWORT 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot POLYGALACEAE Polygala violacea SHOWY MILKWORT 10,000-100,000 N x x x
29-Sep Dicot POLYGONACEAE Polygonum glabrum DENSEFLOWER KNOTWEED 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot POLYGONACEAE Polygonum punctatum DOTTED SMARTWEED
100,000-
1,000,000 N x
28-Sep Dicot TETRACHONDRACEAE Polypremum procumbens RUSTWEED; JUNIPERLEAF 10,000-100,000 N x x
28-Sep Monocot PONTEDERIACEAE Pontederia cordata PICKERELWEED 1001-10,000 N x x x x
28-Sep Dicot URTICACEAE Pouzolzia zeylanica POUZOLZ'S BUSH 101-1000 A x x
22-Apr Dicot HALORAGACEAE Proserpinaca palustris MARSH MERMAIDWEED 101-1000 N x
21-Apr Dicot HALORAGACEAE Proserpinaca pectinata COMBLEAF MERMAIDWEED 101-1000 N x
30-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Pseudelephantopus spicatus DOG'S-TONGUE 11-100 A x
21-Apr Dicot ASTERACEAE Pseudogynox chenopodioides MEXICAN FLAMEVINE 11-100 A x x CR
28-Sep Dicot MYRTACEAE Psidium cattleianum STRAWBERRY GUAVA 11-100 A I x x CR
28-Sep Dicot MYRTACEAE Psidium guajava GUAVA 101-1000 A I x x x
21-Apr Pteridophyte PSILOTACEAE Psilotum nudum WHISK FERN 2-10 N x
28-Sep Dicot RUBIACEAE Psychotria nervosa WILD COFFEE 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot RUBIACEAE Psychotria sulzneri SHORTLEAF WILD COFFEE 11-100 N x
29-Sep Pteridophyte DENNSTAEDTIACEAE
Pteridium aquilinum var.
pseudocaudatum TAILED BRACKEN 1001-10,000 N x x x x
29-Sep Pteridophyte PTERIDACEAE Pteris vittata CHINESE LADDER BRAKE 101-1000 A II x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Pterocaulon pycnostachyum BLACKROOT 101-1000 N x
21-Apr Dicot APIACEAE Ptilimnium capillaceum
MOCK BISHOPSWEED,
HERBWILLIAM 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot FAGACEAE Quercus laurifolia LAUREL OAK; DIAMOND OAK 1001-10,000 N x x x x x x
12 of 18
Woodmansee, 05/13/10
FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?28-Sep Dicot FAGACEAE Quercus minima DWARF LIVE OAK 1001-10,000 N x
21-Apr Dicot FAGACEAE Quercus myrtifolia MYRTLE OAK 11-100 N x
30-Sep Dicot FAGACEAE Quercus pumila RUNNING OAK 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot FAGACEAE Quercus virginiana LIVE OAK 1001-10,000 N x x x x
28-Sep Dicot MYRSINACEAE Rapanea punctata MYRSINE; COLICWOOD 1001-10,000 N x x x x x x
30-Sep Dicot MELASTOMATACEAE Rhexia mariana
PALE MEADOWBEAUTY;
MARYLAND MEADOWBEAUTY 11-100 N x x
28-Sep Dicot ANACARDIACEAE Rhus copallinum WINGED SUMAC 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Rhynchosia minima LEAST SNOUTBEAN 11-100 N x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Rhynchospora colorata STARRUSH WHITETOP 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Rhynchospora corniculata
SHORTBRISTLE HORNED
BEAKSEDGE 11-100 N x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Rhynchospora divergens SPREADING BEAKSEDGE 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Rhynchospora fascicularis FASCICLED BEAKSEDGE 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Rhynchospora inundata
NARROWFRUIT HORNED
BEAKSEDGE 101-1000 N x
30-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Rhynchospora microcarpa SOUTHERN BEAKSEDGE 101-1000 N x
30-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Rhynchospora odorata FRAGRANT BEAKSEDGE 11-100 N x
29-Sep Dicot RUBIACEAE Richardia grandiflora LARGEFLOWER MEXICAN CLOVER 11-100 A x
28-Sep Dicot ROSACEAE Rubus trivialis SOUTHERN DEWBERRY 1001-10,000 N x x x
30-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Rudbeckia hirta BLACKEYED SUSAN 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot ACANTHACEAE Ruellia caroliniensis CAROLINA WILD PETUNIA 11-100 N x
22-Apr Dicot POLYGONACEAE Rumex verticillatus SWAMP DOCK 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot ARECACEAE Sabal palmetto CABBAGE PALM 10,001-100,000 N x x x x x x x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Saccharum giganteum SUGARCANE PLUMEGRASS 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Sacciolepis indica INDIAN CUPSCALE 10,001-100,000 A x x
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FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Sacciolepis striata AMERICAN CUPSCALE 1001-10,000 N x x
21-Apr Monocot ALISMATACEAE Sagittaria isoetiformis QUILLWORT ARROWHEAD 11-101 N x
28-Sep Dicot ALISMATACEAE Sagittaria lancifolia BULLTONGUE ARROWHEAD 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot SALICACEAE Salix caroliniana
CAROLINA WILLOW;
COASTALPLAIN WILLOW 1001-10,000 N x x x x
30-Sep Pteridophyte SALVINIACEAE Salvinia minima WATER SPANGLES 101-1001 A x
28-Sep Dicot APOCYNACEAE Sarcostemma clausum WHITE TWINEVINE
10,0001-
100,000 N x x x x x
28-Sep Dicot ANACARDIACEAE Schinus terebinthifolia BRAZILIAN PEPPER 10,001-100,000 A I x x x x x x
22-Apr Monocot CYPERACEAE Scirpus tabernmontani SOFTSTEM BULRUSH 101-1000 N x
30-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Scleria ciliata FRINGED NUTRUSH 11-100 N x
21-Apr Monocot CYPERACEAE Scleria triglomerata TALL NUTGRASS, WHIP NUTRUSH 11-100 N x x
30-Sep Monocot CYPERACEAE Scleria verticillata LOW NUTRUSH 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot PLANTAGINACEAE Scoparia dulcis SWEETBROOM; LICORICEWEED 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Senna alata CANDLESTICK PLANT 2-10 A x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Senna ligustrina PRIVET WILD SENSITIVE PLANT 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Senna obtusifolia COFFEEWEED; SICKLEPOD 1001-10,000 A x
28-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Senna pendula var. glabrata VALAMUERTO 101-1000 A I x x
28-Sep Dicot ARECACEAE Serenoa repens SAW PALMETTO 1001-10,000 N x x x x
30-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Sericocarpus tortifolius WHITETOP ASTER; DIXIE ASTER 11-100 N x
29-Sep Dicot FABACEAE Sesbania herbacea DANGLEPOD 101-1000 N x x
29-Sep Monocot POACEAE Setaria magna GIANT BRISTLEGRASS 11-100 N x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Setaria parviflora
YELLOW BRISTLEGRASS;
KNOTROOT FOXTAIL 1001-10,000 N x x x
28-Sep Dicot MALVACEAE Sida rhombifolia CUBAN JUTE; INDIAN HEMP 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Dicot MALVACEAE Sida ulmifolia
COMMON WIREWEED; COMMON
FANPETALS 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Dicot SAPOTACEAE Sideroxylon reclinatum FLORIDA BULLY 101-1000 N x x
21-Apr Monocot IRIDACEAE Sisyrinchium angustifolium NARROWLEAF BLUE-EYED GRASS 1001-10,000 N x
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Woodmansee, 05/13/10
FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?28-Sep Monocot SMILACACEAE Smilax auriculata EARLEAF GREENBRIER 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Monocot SMILACACEAE Smilax bona-nox SAW GREENBRIER 1001-10,000 N x x
29-Sep Monocot SMILACACEAE Smilax laurifolia
LAUREL GREENBRIER; BAMBOO
VINE 101-1000 N x x x
28-Sep Monocot SMILACACEAE Smilax tamnoides BRISTLY GREENBRIER; HOGBRIER 1001-10,000 N x x x x x
28-Sep Dicot SOLANACEAE Solanum americanum AMERICAN BLACK NIGHTSHADE 101-1000 N x x
30-Sep Dicot SOLANACEAE Solanum diphyllum TWOLEAF NIGHTSHADE 11-100 A II x x CR
28-Sep Dicot SOLANACEAE Solanum viarum TROPICAL SODA APPLE 1001-10,000 A I x x x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Solidago fistulosa PINEBARREN GOLDENROD 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Solidago leavenworthii LEAVENWORTH'S GOLDENROD 1001-10,000 N x
29-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Solidago sempervirens SEASIDE GOLDENROD 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Solidago tortifolia TWISTEDLEAF GOLDENROD 1001-10,000 N x x
30-Sep Monocot POACEAE Sorghastrum secundum LOPSIDED INDIANGRASS 11-100 N x
28-Sep Dicot RUBIACEAE Spermacoce remota WOODLAND FALSE BUTTONWEED 1001-10,000 N x x x
28-Sep Dicot RUBIACEAE Spermacoce verticillata SHRUBBY FALSE BUTTONWEED 1001-10,000 A x x
30-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Sphagneticola trilobata CREEPING OXEYE 1001-10,000 A II x
21-Apr Monocot ORCHIDACEAE Spiranthes vernalis SPRING LADIESTRESSES 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE
Sporobolus indicus var.
pyramidalis WEST INDIAN DROPSEED 10,000-100,000 A x x x
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Stenotaphrum secundatum ST. AUGUSTINE GRASS 1001-10,000 N x x
29-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Symphyotrichum carolinianum CLIMBING ASTER 101-1000 N x x x
28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Symphyotrichum elliottii ELLIOTT'S ASTER 101-1000 N x x
30-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Symphyotrichum simmondsii SIMMONDS' ASTER 101-1000 N x
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FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?28-Sep Dicot ASTERACEAE Symphyotrichum subulatum ANNUAL SALTMARSH ASTER 101-1000 N x
21-Apr Monocot ERIOCAULACEAE Syngonanthus flavidulus YELLOW HATPINS 11-100 N x
30-Sep Dicot MYRTACEAE Syzygium cumini JAVA PLUM 11-100 A I x, MH
28-Sep Gymnosperm CUPRESSACEAE Taxodium ascendens POND-CYPRESS 1001-10,000 N x
29-Sep Dicot LAMIACEAE Teucrium canadense
WOOD SAGE; CANADIAN
GERMANDER 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Monocot MARANTACEAE Thalia geniculata ALLIGATORFLAG; FIREFLAG 1001-10,000 N x x x
29-Sep Pteridophyte THELYPTERIDACEAE Thelypteris dentata
DOWNY MAIDEN FERN; DOWNY
SHIELD FERN 101-1000 A x x x
29-Sep Pteridophyte THELYPTERIDACEAE Thelypteris interrupta
HOTTENTOT FERN; WILLDENOW'S
FERN 101-1000 N x x
29-Sep Pteridophyte THELYPTERIDACEAE Thelypteris kunthii
WIDESPREAD MAIDEN FERN;
SOUTHERN SHIELD FERN 11-100 N x x
28-Sep Pteridophyte THELYPTERIDACEAE
Thelypteris palustris var.
pubescens MARSH FERN 1001-10,000 N x x x
29-Sep Dicot ACANTHACEAE Thunbergia grandiflora SKYVINE 11-100 A, CA x x CR
28-Sep Monocot BROMELIACEAE Tillandsia balbisiana NORTHERN NEEDLELEAF 101-1000 N T x x x x
28-Sep Monocot BROMELIACEAE
Tillandsia fasciculata var.
densispica
CARDINAL AIRPLANT; COMMON
WILD PINE; STIFF-LEAVED WILD
PINE 1001-10,000 N E x x x x x
29-Sep Monocot BROMELIACEAE Tillandsia flexuosa
TWISTED AIRPLANT; BANDED
AIRPLANT 1 N T x
28-Sep Monocot BROMELIACEAE Tillandsia recurvata BALLMOSS 101-1000 N x x x x x
28-Sep Monocot BROMELIACEAE Tillandsia setacea SOUTHERN NEEDLELEAF 101-1000 N x x x x x x
28-Sep Monocot BROMELIACEAE Tillandsia usneoides SPANISH MOSS 1001-10,000 N x x x x x x x
28-Sep Monocot BROMELIACEAE Tillandsia utriculata
GIANT AIRPLANT; GIANT WILD
PINE 101-1000 N E x x x
29-Sep Monocot BROMELIACEAE Tillandsia variabilis
LEATHERLEAF AIRPLANT; SOFT-
LEAVED WILD PINE 11-100 N T x
29-Sep Monocot BROMELIACEAE Tillandsia x smalliana REDDISH WILD-PINE 11-100 N x
28-Sep Dicot ANACARDIACEAE Toxicodendron radicans EASTERN POISON IVY 1001-10,000 N x x x x x
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FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?30-Sep Monocot COMMELINACEAE Tradescantia zebrina WANDERING-JEW; INCHPLANT 101-1000 A x
30-Sep Dicot CELTIDACEAE Trema micrantha NETTLETREE 2-10 N x
21-Apr Dicot FABACEAE Trifolium repens WHITE CLOVER 11-100 A x CR
28-Sep Monocot POACEAE Tripsacum dactyloides
EASTERN GAMAGRASS;
FAKAHATCHEEGRASS 11-100 N x x
29-Sep Dicot MALVACEAE Triumfetta semitriloba SACRAMENTO BURRBARK 2-10 A x
28-Sep Monocot TYPHACEAE Typha domingensis SOUTHERN CATTAIL 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot MALVACEAE Urena lobata CAESARWEED 10,000-100,000 A II x x x x x
30-Sep Monocot POACEAE Urochloa distachya TROPICAL SIGNALGRASS 101-1000 A x
29-Sep Dicot LENTIBULARIACEAE Utricularia foliosa LEAFY BLADDERWORT 101-1000 N x x
30-Sep Dicot LENTIBULARIACEAE Utricularia gibba HUMPED BLADDERWORT 1001-10,000 N x
28-Sep Dicot ERICACEAE Vaccinium myrsinites SHINY BLUEBERRY 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot VERBENACEAE Verbena brasiliensis BRAZILIAN VERVAIN 11-100 A x x CR
21-Apr Dicot VERBENACEAE Verbena scabra
SANDPAPER VERVAIN, HARSH
VERVAIN 101-1000 N x
21-Apr Dicot FABACEAE Vicia acutifolia FOURLEAF VETCH 1001-10,000 N x x x x
21-Apr Dicot VIOLACEAE Viola lanceolata BOG WHITE VIOLET 101-1000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot VITACEAE Vitis cinerea var. floridana FLORIDA GRAPE 101-1000 N x
28-Sep Dicot VITACEAE Vitis rotundifolia MUSCADINE 1001-10,000 N x x x x
28-Sep Pteridophyte VITTARIACEAE Vittaria lineata SHOESTRING FERN 101-1000 N x x x x
28-Sep Pteridophyte BLECHNACEAE Woodwardia virginica VIRGINIA CHAIN FERN 1001-10,000 N x x
28-Sep Dicot XIMENIACEAE Ximenia americana TALLOW WOOD; HOG PLUM 101-1000 N x x x
30-Sep Monocot XYRIDACEAE Xyris caroliniana CAROLINA YELLOWEYED GRASS 101-1000 N x
21-Apr Monocot XYRIDACEAE Xyris elliottii ELLIOTT'S YELLOWEYED GRASS 11-100 N x
28-Sep Monocot XYRIDACEAE Xyris smalliana SMALL'S YELLOWEYED GRASS 101-1000 N x
30-Sep Monocot AGAVACEAE Yucca aloifolia SPANISH BAYONET; ALOE YUCCA 1 CN
17 of 18
Woodmansee, 05/13/10
FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Date Group Family Scientific Name Common_Name
Population
Estimate Native StatusState StatusEPPC StatusDisturbed WetlandDisturbed UplandHammock ComplexDepression MarshMesic FlatwoodsPop Ash SwampPond Apple SwampStrand SwampHydric Hammock"Oak Midden" (Mesic Hammock)County Record?T
E
I
II
5/22/2010. Wooodmansee, S.W. , Personal observations of vascular plants at Pepper Ranch Preserve, Collier County, FL. Pro Native Consulting, Miami, FL.
Potentially Invasive
Population Estimates are measured using a Log10 scale, they represent preliminary estimates only
9/28/2009. Wooodmansee, S.W. & W. Brammell, Personal observations of vascular plants at Pepper Ranch Preserve, Collier County, FL. Pro Native Consulting, Miami, FL & Johnson Engineering, Inc., Fort Myers, FL.
9/29/2009. Wooodmansee, S.W. & A. Smith, Personal observations of vascular plants at Pepper Ranch Preserve, Collier County, FL. Pro Native Consulting, Miami, FL & Johnson Engineering, Inc., Fort Myers, FL.
9/30/2009. Wooodmansee, S.W. & A. Smith, Personal observations of vascular plants at Pepper Ranch Preserve, Collier County, FL. Pro Native Consulting, Miami, FL & Johnson Engineering, Inc., Fort Myers, FL.
10/08/2009. A. Smith & C. Roberts, Personal observations of vascular plants at Pepper Ranch Preserve, Collier County, FL. Johnson Engineering, Inc., Fort Myers, FL.
Native Status
5/21/2010. Wooodmansee, S.W. & A. Smith, Personal observations of vascular plants at Pepper Ranch Preserve, Collier County, FL. Pro Native Consulting, Miami, FL & Johnson Engineering, Inc., Fort Myers, FL.
Threatened
Endangered
State Status
EPPC Status
Invasive CN = Native to Florida, Cultivated only
A = Not Native
CA = Cultivated Only, not native
N = Native to Florida
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FINAL Pepper Ranch Preserve List of Plants
Appendix 3: Pepper Ranch Preserve Master Wildlife Species Inventory
Updated February 2024
Faunal Species Observed at Pepper Ranch Preserve
Common Name Scientific Name Protection Status
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
America Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
American Robin Turdus migratorius
Anhinga Anhinga anhinga
Audubon’s Crested Caracara Polyborus plancus audubonii T (FWC, USFWS)
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Delisted (USFWS & FWC)
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Barred Owl Strix varia
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
Black-bellied whistling ducks Dendrocygna autumnalis
Black-Crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Black Skimmer Rynchops niger
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptula caerulea
Blue-headed vireo Vireo solitarius
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
Boat-tailed Grackle Agelaius phoeniceus
Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum
Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Common Bobwhite Colinus virginianus
Cedar Waxwing Bobycilla cedrorum
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina
Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus
Florida Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis pratensis T (FWC)
Forester’s Tern Sterna forsteri
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
Great Egret Ardea alba
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Green Heron Butorides virescens
House Wren Troglodytes aeson
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Limpkin Aramus guarauna
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea T(FWC)
Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus
Merlin Falco columbarius
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata
Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
Northern Flicker Sphyrapicus varius
Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
Northern Parula Parula americana
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Painted Bunting Passerina ciris
Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus
Prairie Warbler Setophaga discolor
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus
Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
Redhead Aythya americana
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Roseate Spoonbill Ajaia ajaja T (FWC)
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendulata
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
Sedge Wren Cistothorus stellaris
Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus
Snail Kite Tostrhamus sociabilis E (FWC and USFWS)
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor T (FWC)
Tufted Titmouse Belolphus bicolor
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
Western Kingbird Tryannus verticalis
White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus
White Ibis Eudocimus albus
White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo
Wilson’s snipe Gallinago delicata
Wood Stork Mycteria americana T(FWC), T (USFWS)
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea
Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
Yellow-throated Warber Setophaga dominica
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
Armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus
Big Cypress Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger avicennia T (FWC) –not observed by
staff
Bobcat Lynx rufus
Coyote Canis latrans
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit Sylvilagus floridanus
Feral Hog* Sus scrofa
Florida Black Bear Ursus americanus floridanus
Florida Panther Puma concolor coryi E (FWC); E (USFWS)
Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus T (FWC) T (USFWS)
Grey fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
Marsh Rabbit Sylvilagus palustris
Opossum Didelphis virginiana
Raccoon Procyon lotor
River otter Lontra canadensis
Round-tailed Muskrat Neofiber alleni
White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus
American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis T (FWC) -T (USFWS)1 (S/A)
Black Racer Coluber constrictor priapus
Brown Anole* Anolis sagrei
Brown watersnake Nerodia taxispilota
Coral Snake Micrurus fulvius
Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus
Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus
Florida Box Turtle Terrapene carolina bauri
Florida Softshell Apalone ferox
Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus T (FWC)
Green Anole Anolis carolinensis
Pigmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius
Red-bellied Turtle Pseudemys rubriventris
Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina
Three-striped Mud Turtle Kinosternon bauri
Yellow Rat Snake Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata
Cane Toad* Rhinella marina
Cuban Tree Frog* Osteopilus septentrionalis
Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad Gastrophryne carolinensis
Greenhouse Frog* Eleutherodactylus planirostris
Southern Toad Anaxyrus terrestris
Green Treefrog Hyla cinerea
Oak Toad Anaxyrus quercicus
Pig Frog Lithobates grylio
Southern Cricket Frog Acris gryllus
Southern Leopard Frog Lithobates sphenocephalus
Squirrel Treefrog Hyla squirella
White Peacock Anartia jatrophae
Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae
Monarch Danaus plexippus
Queen Danaus gilippus
Viceroy Limenitis archippus
Zebra Longwing Heliconius charitonius
Phaon Crescent Phycoiodes phaon
Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus
Barred Yellow Eurema daira
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae
Orange-barred Sulphur Phoebis philea
Long-tailed Skipper Urbanus proteus
Dorantes Longtail Urbanus dorantes
Three-spotted Skipper Cymaenes tripunctus
Fiery Skipper Hylephilia phyleus
Horace's Duskywing Erynnis horatius
Ocola Skipper Panoquina ocola
Red-waisted Florella Moth Synganmua florella
Beet Webworm Moth Spoladea recurvalis
Southern Milky Argyria Moth Argyria lacteella
Wine-tinted Oenobotys Moth Oenobotys vinotinctalis
Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis
Pin-tailed Pondhawk Erythemis plebeja
Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis
Regal Darner Coryphaeschna ingens
Halloween Pennant Celithemis eponina
Four-spotted Pennant Brachymesia gravida
Band-winged Dragonlet Erythrodiplax umbrata
Little Blue Dragonlet Erythrodiplax minuscula
Needham's Skimmer Libellula needhami
Roseate Skimmer Orthemis ferruginea
Golden-winged Skimmer Libellula auripennis
Slaty Skimmer Libellula incesta
Hyacinth Glider Miathyria marcella
Spot-winged Glider Pantala hymenaea
Eastern Amberwing Perithemis tenera
Carolina Saddlebags Tramea carolina
Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata
Two-striped Forceptail Aphylla williamsoni
Citrine Forktail Ischnura hastata
Rambur's Forktail Ischnura ramburii
List of Abbreviations:
FWC = Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
USFWS = United States Fish and Wildlife Service
E = Endangered
T = Threatened *- Invasive Exotic Species
Appendix 4
Pepper Ranch Preserve –
Land Use Compatibility Matrix
Pepper Ranch Preserve - Compatibility Matrix
hiking
mountain
biking
primitive
camping
horseback
riding hunting fishing
nature
photography
special
events
lodge
rental ecotourism campground archery
Panther
Conservatio
n Bank
wetlands
mitigation
water
storage SSA oil drilling
cattle
grazing
hiking
mountain biking
primitive camping
horseback riding
hunting
fishing
nature photography
special events logde rental
ecotourism
campground
archery
Panther Conservation Bank
Wetlands Mitigation
water storage
SSA
oil drilling
cattle grazing
Uses are compatible throughout the Preserve
Uses are compatible but on seperate portions of the Preserve
Uses are not compatible during certain times of the year
PUBLIC USES MITIGATION & LAND USE
OTHER REVENUE
GENERATING Conservation
Collier
Ordinance No.
2007-65
Conservation Collier Ordinance No. 2007-
65MITIGATION & LAND USEOTHER REVENUE GENERATINGPUBLIC USES
Appendix 5
Parcel Folio Map of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Appendix 6. Wildlife Camera Photographs
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 1
Pepper Ranch Preserve
Land Management Plan
Managed by: Conservation Collier Program
Collier County, Florida
May 2024 January 2019 – May 2034 January 2024 (105-yr update)
Prepared by:
Johnson Engineering & Conservation Collier Staff;
Growth Management & Community Development Department
Collier County Parks and Recreation Division
G:\Conservation Collier\Land Management\PepperRanchPreserve\Land Management Plans\FinalManagementPlan\PRP_105 year revision.doc
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 2
Pepper Ranch Preserve
Land Management Plan Executive Summary
Lead Agency: Conservation Collier Program
Properties included in this Plan: Pepper Ranch Preserve
Preserve lands consist of tenfive contiguous parcels located within Sections 22, 26,
27, 28, 33, 34 & 35, Township 46 South, Range 28 East, in Collier County. A
property survey and full legal description is provided in Appendix 1.
Parcel Folio Numbers
00052360002 00053560005
00053200006 00053815006
00053000002 00053813008
00052960004 00053805003
00053840000 00053440002
Total Acreage: 2,655.2 acres
Original Acreage Breakdown: Same table with more detail later in the plan
Natural Community Acreage
Improved pasture 619.64
Depression marsh, disturbed 311.29
Upland mixed forest 270.92
Slough 243.38
Bottomland forest 241.63
Upland mixed forest, disturbed 160.59
Mesic flatwoods 149.95
Strand swamp 82.41
Mesic flatwoods, disturbed 77.20
Improved pasture, hydric 47.70
Dry prairie, disturbed 45.09
Wet flatwoods 43.66
Depression marsh 42.60
Ditches 35.15
Upland mixed forest, burned 34.65
Shell road, graded and drained 20.63
Slough, disturbed 14.17
Prairie hammock 11.22
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 3
Spoil, exotics 9.49
Natural Community (continued) Acreage
Wet prairie, disturbed 7.99
Bottomland forest, disturbed 6.27
Prairie hammock, disturb
ed 5.88
Oil field 5.63
Wet prairie 5.21
Primitive trail 4.90
Brazilian pepper, hydric 4.26
Dry prairie 3.53
Borrow pond 1.43
Spoil 1.24
Australian pine 1.15
Brazilian pepper 1.15
TOTAL 2510.01
Management Responsibilities:
Agency: Collier County - Conservation Collier Program
Preserve Manager: Designated Collier County Environmental Specialist
Designated Land Use: Preservation
Unique Features: Largest Conservation Collier acquisition to date at 2,655.2 acres with
frontage on north side of Lake Trafford
Archaeological/Historical: The Pepper Ranch Preserve is within an area of historical
and archaeological probability. One prehistoric and archaeological site hwas already
been discovered near Lake Trafford and the visitor center is considered a historic
structure. Other historical and archaeological sites are most likely present on the
property. The County will notify the Division of Historical Resources immediately if
evidence is discovered to suggest that any additional cultural resources are present.
Management Needs:
Monitoring of biological resources;
Exotic plant removal and maintenance
Conduct a hydrological analysis of the preserve to better determine restoration needs;
Possible restoration of select areas after exotic removal;
Implementation of a prescribed fire management program;
Habitat management to enhance protection of native and listed species populations;
and
Monitoring public use.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 4
Public Involvement:
Community involvement in the review of this management plan and all future updates are
coordinated through the general public via public meetings. The community at large will
be contacted through direct mailing notices to residents, other preserve managers and
businesses within 2,0001,500 feet of the preserve boundaries. Official public notices will
be posted on the County website. Staff will seek to coordinate management actions, such
as exotic removal and prescribed fires with managers/owners of adjoining public and
private lands.
Over 19 Boy Scouts have volunteered time and materials to improve the preserve and
trail systems such as building picnic tables, kiosks, hitching posts, campground design
and development and campground fire rings, marking trails and installing bat boxes. Each
achieved their Eagle Scout status as a result of their contribution.
The off-road cycling group, the Florida Mudcutters, were active partners from May 2012-
2020. Members volunteered over 2,000 hours developing and maintaining the preserve’s
mountain biking trails.
Public Use
The amount of public use the preserve receives during open season is increasing every
year. Several different user groups utilize the preserve for different recreational
opportunities.
Each year in late September early October, Southeastern sunflowers (Helianthus agrestis)
bloom in 100 acres of pasture on the west side of the preserve. The program has held
special sunflower viewing events since 2013 to allow the public to drive in to see the
flowers. It has been a very popular event drawing 1000’s of people.
The table and graph below provide a snapshot of the increase in visitor use. and the
breakdown of use by the different user groups.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 5
Total Pepper Ranch Preserve Visitation 2010 - 2017
Pepper Ranch Preserve Visitor Use by Category 2014-2017
Management Goals:
Goal 1: Maintain high quality habitat with limited disturbance for the benefit of native
flora and fauna
(Old Language to remove- Eliminate or significantly reduce human impacts to
indigenous flora and fauna)60
Goal 2: Develop and implement a baseline monitoring program
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 6
Goal 3: Remove or control populations of invasive, exotic or problematic flora and
fauna to restore and maintain natural habitats
Goal 4: Implement a Create a Prescribed Fire Management Plan
Goal 5: Restore native vegetation as needed
Goal 6: Monitor public use
Goal 7: Facilitate uses of the site for educational purposes
Goal 8: Provide a plan for security and disaster preparedness
Goal 9: Provide preliminary panther habitat unit (PHU) calculations and a draft
monitoring plan per U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) requirements
for an onsiteImplement and comply with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services
(USFWS) requirements for the established Ppanther Cconservation Bbank.
Provide County Panther Habitat Unit (PHUs) mitigation through an onsite
Panther Conservation Bank.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 9
1.1 Conservation Collier: Land Acquisition Program and Management
Authority ........................................................................................................10
1.2 Purpose and Scope of the Land Management Plan ........................................10
1.3 Location of the Pepper Ranch Preserve .........................................................10
1.4 Regional Significance of the Pepper Ranch Preserve ....................................11
1.5 Nearby Public Lands and Designated Water Resources ................................13
1.6 Public Involvement ........................................................................................14
2.0 Natural Resources ......................................................................................................14
2.1 Physiography .................................................................................................14
2.1.1 Topography and Geomorphology ......................................................14
2.1.2 Geology ..............................................................................................14
2.1.3 Soils....................................................................................................17
2.1.4 Hydrology/Water Management .........................................................19
2.2 Climate ...........................................................................................................19
2.3 Natural Plant Communities ............................................................................20
2.3.1 Uplands: Upland Mixed Forest ..........................................................26
2.3.2 Wetlands: Depression Marsh ............................................................27
2.3.3 Wetlands: Slough ..............................................................................28
2.3.4 Wetlands: Bottomland Forest ............................................................29
2.3.5 Uplands: Mesic Flatwoods .................................................................30
2.3.6 Other Natural Communities ..............................................................31
2.3.7 Altered Communities ........................................................................33
2.4 Native Plant and Animal Species ..................................................................34
2.4.1 Plant Species .....................................................................................34
2.4.2 Animal Species .................................................................................34
2.5 Listed Species ...............................................................................................38
2.5.1 Listed Plant Species ..........................................................................38
2.5.2 Listed Animal Species ......................................................................42
2.6 Invasive, Non-native and Problem Species ..................................................44
2.6.1 Invasive and Problem Plant Species .................................................45
2.6.2 Invasive and Problem Animal Species ..............................................47
3.0 Previous Conditions of the Preserve; Current Use of the Preserve and
Adjacent Land Uses ...................................................................................................49
3.1 Previous Land Uses of the Preserve ..............................................................49
3.2 Previous Land Uses of Adjoining Properties .................................................52
3.3 Current Land Uses of the Preserve ...............................................................53
3.4 Current Land Uses of Adjoining Properties ..................................................53
3.5 Cultural, Historical and Archeological Resource Protection ........................54
3.6 Major Accomplishments since Acquisition ..................................................55
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Conservation Collier Program 8
4.0 Future Use of the Pepper Ranch Preserve including Management Issues,
Goals and Objectives .................................................................................................55
4.1 Management Plan Framework .......................................................................55
4.1.1 Preserve Manager: Contact Information ............................................56
4.2 Planned Uses and Assessment of their Impacts .............................................56
4.2.1 Identification of Public Uses Consistent with Preservation,
Enhancement, Restoration, Conservation and Maintenance of
the Resources .....................................................................................56
4.3 Desired Future Conditions .............................................................................58
4.4 Goals for the 10-year period 2010-2020 ........................................................58
4.5 Establish an Operational Plan for the Pepper Ranch Preserve ......................87
4.5.1 Maintenance .......................................................................................87
4.5.2 Estimated Annual Costs and Funding Sources ..................................87
4.5.3 Potential for Contracting Restoration and Management
Activities by Private Vendors ............................................................89
5.0 Literature Cited ..........................................................................................................90
TABLES
Table 1 Acquisition History and Status of Pepper Ranch Preserve ..................................9
Table 2 Public Lands Located near the Pepper Ranch Preserve .......................................13
Table 3 Extent of Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System
Designations from 2009 on the Pepper Ranch Preserve ......................................221
Table 4 Summary of Natural Communities on the Pepper Ranch Preserve .....................254
Table 5 Faunal Species Observed at Pepper Ranch Preserve ...........................................34
Table 56 Breeding Bird Species Recorded in the Corkscrew and Immokalee
Quadrangles Encompassing the Pepper Ranch Preserve .....................................368
Table 67 Listed Plant Species Detected at the Pepper Ranch Preserve ..............................39
Table 78 Non-Indigenous and Invasive Plant Species at Pepper Ranch Preserve ..............45
Table 89 Major Accomplishments during previous years ..................................................55
Table 910 Invasive, Exotic Plant Species Control Plan for the Pepper Ranch Preserve
FLEPPC Category I species .................................................................................642
Table 10 Prescribed Burn Table………………………………………………………..74
Table 11 Panther Habitat Unit Calculations excluding SSA 7 – Pre-Restoration ..............872
Table 12 Monitoring and Reporting Schedule for Panther Conservation Bank .................894
Table 13 Estimated Annual Land Management Budget .....................................................898
Table 14 Potential Contracting for Restoration and Management Activities .....................89
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 9
FIGURES
Figure 1 General Location of and Directions to Pepper Ranch Preserve. .......................11
Figure 2 Conserved Lands in Collier County, Florida Including Lands Owned by
Conservation Collier. ........................................................................................12
Figure 3 Preserves and Protected Lands in the Vicinity of Pepper Ranch Preserve .......13
Figure 4 Aerial View of the Pepper Ranch Preserve .......................................................15
Figure 5 Soil Units on the Pepper Ranch Preserve .........................................................16
Figure 6 Distribution of Natural Communities and other Land Uses on the Pepper
Ranch Preserve; 2009 FLUCFCS Layer ...........................................................22
Figure 7 Extent of Natural Plant Communities Currently Found on the Pepper
Ranch Preserve..................................................................................................24
Figure 8 1940 Aerial View of Pepper Ranch Preserve ...................................................48
Figure 9 1953 Aerial View of Pepper Ranch Preserve ...................................................49
Figure 10 1963 Aerial View of Pepper Ranch Preserve ...................................................50
Figure 11 Pepper Ranch Easement and Overlay Map .......................................................56
Figure 12 Pepper Ranch Preserve Exotic Plant Treatment Phases ...................................62
Figure 13 Pepper Ranch Preserve Burn Unit Map ……69
Figure 142 Total Pepper Ranch Pepper Ranch Visitation……………………………..….80
Figure 13 Pepper Ranch Visitor Use Log by Category 2014-2017………………….…81
Figure 154 Current Public Use Map Conceptual Site Plan for Pepper Ranch
Preserve .............................................................................................................82
Figure 16. Conservation Bank & Vegetation Monitoring Transect Map .........................87
APPENDICIES
Appendix 1 Pepper Ranch Preserve Legal Description
Appendix 2 Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System Designations
for Pepper Ranch Preserve – (2’x3’ map)
Appendix 3 Florida Natural Areas Inventory Designations for Pepper Ranch Preserve
– (2’x3’ map)
Appendix 4 Floristic Inventory of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Appenidix 5 Pepper Ranch Preserve Master Wildlife Species Inventory Floristic
Inventory of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Appendix 5 Management Unit Map of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Appendix 6 Cattle Lease
Appendix 7 Pepper Ranch Preserve – Quality Wildlife Management Hunt Program
2010 and 2011 Brochure
Appendix 8 Pepper Ranch Preserve – Land Use Compatibility Matrix
Appendix 69 Parcel Folio Map of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Appendix 170 Wildlife Camera Photographs
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 10
1.0 Introduction
The Pepper Ranch Preserve is 2,655 510.01 acres of natural and agricultural lands located
along the north shore of Lake Trafford in north central Collier County, Florida. The
preserve contains various native plant communities, including bottomland forest, upland
mixed forest, strand swamp, slough, pine flatwoods, depression marshes, and improved
pastures.
A site assessment to determine compliance with the Conservation Collier initial screening
criteria was completednducted in September, October and in November 2007 and the
Conservation Collier Program purchased the property in February 2009. The County
holds fee simple title to the Pepper Ranch Preserve. Additional adjacent properties were
acquired in 2023. The Conservation Collier program manages these lands under authority
granted by the Conservation Collier Ordinance 2002-63 as amended (2007-65) (available
from www.municode.com). Initial acquisition activities are summarized in Table 1.
Table 1: Acquisition History and Status of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Year Benchmark
2006 FLUCFCS mapping of a portion of the preserve conducted by Scheda
2007 Property nominated to the Conservation Collier Program
2007 Initial Site Assessment by Conservation Collier Staff
2007 Acceptance of Initial Criteria Screening Report by the Conservation Collier
Land Acquisition Advisory Committee
2008 Phase I Environmental Assessment Conducted by Environmental Consulting
and Technology, Inc. for Collier County
2008 Approved for purchase by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC)
2009 Purchase of the Pepper Ranch property 2,512 acres
2009 Developed Interim Management Plan
2009 BCC approved the Interim Management Plan
2011 Final Land Management Plan approved by BCC
2019 5-year update to Final Land Management Plan approved by BCC 5-year
update and approved by the CCLAAC
2023 Purchased three adjacent properties- 143.30 acres
The preserve consists of approximately 4643% (±1223.961087.15 acres) wetland plant
communities and approximately 5457% (±1431.291422.86 acres) upland plant
communities. Conservation, restoration and natural resource-based recreation are the
designated uses of this property. Management activities allowed include those necessary
to preserve, restore, secure and maintain this environmentally sensitive land for the
benefit of present and future generations. Public use of the site must be consistent with
these management goals.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 11
This is the 10-year update to the Final Management Plan for the Pepper Ranch Preserve.
The initial Finalis 10-year Management Plan was approved by the Collier County Board
of County Commissioners (BCC) on June 28, 2011.6/28/11. This plan replaced the
Interim Management Plan. Changes made to this plan during the 105-year review
process will be brought before the BCC for their approval in 202418.
1.1 Conservation Collier: Land Acquisition Program and Management Authority
The Conservation Collier program was originally approved by voters in November 2002
and subsequently confirmed in the November 2006 ballot referendum. Both voter-
approved referendums enable the program to acquire environmentally sensitive
conservation lands within Collier County, Florida (Ordinance 2002-63, as amended)
2007-65). Properties must support at least two of the following qualities to qualify for
further consideration: that protect rare habitat, aquifer recharge, flood control, water
quality protection, and listed species habitat are considered. The BCC appointed a Land
Acquisition Advisory Committee to consider any selected or nominated properties that
an owner has indicated a willingness to sell. The committee recommends property
purchases for final approval by the BCC.
Lands acquired with Conservation Collier funds are titled to “COLLIER COUNTY, a
political subdivision of the State of Florida, by and through its Conservation Collier
program.” The Collier County BCC established the Conservation Collier program to
implement the program and to manage acquired lands. As such, Conservation Collier
holds management authority for the Pepper Ranch Preserve. Conservation Collier is
therefore established to acquire, preserve, restore, and maintain vital and significant
threatened natural lands, forest, upland and wetland communities located in Collier
County, for the benefit of present and future generations.
1.2 Purpose and Scope of the Land Management Plan
The purpose of the plan is to provide management direction for Pepper Ranch Preserve
by identifying the goals and objectives necessary to eliminate or minimize any threats to
the resources and integrity of the preserve. This text is a working document that
establishes the foundation of the ten-year plan by identifying the appropriate management
techniques necessary to preserve and/or restore the resource.
This plan will balance resource restoration and protection with natural resource-based
recreational and educational use while looking at restoration needs, listed species
protection and maintenance of the site free of invasive, exotic plant and animal species.
This plan is divided into sections that incorporate an introduction, descriptions of the
natural and cultural resources, projected uses of the property, management issues, and
goals and objectives.
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Conservation Collier Program 12
1.3 Location of the Pepper Ranch Preserve
Pepper Ranch Preserve is located at 6315 Pepper Road just west of the town of
Immokalee, Florida (See Figure 1; legal description in Appendix 1). It is in north central
Collier County, along the north shoreline of Lake Trafford within Sections 22, 26, 27, 28,
33, 34, and 35, Township 46 South, and Range 28 East.
Figure 1: General Location of the Pepper Ranch Preserve.
1.4 Regional Significance of the Pepper Ranch Preserve
Ecosystem services such as the protection of water resources, flood control, maintenance
of nutrient cycles, preservation of biological diversity, carbon sequestration, and the
availability of recreational lands are imperative for the well-being of the citizens of
Collier County and may be achieved through the preservation of natural areas. As of
202317, approximately 68% (over 886,970880,980 acres) of all land in Collier County
were protected in conservation areas (Figure 2) and managed by private, local, state and
federal agencies (FNAI 20232008). Collier County’s Conservation Collier Program
manages the 2,655.22,510.01-acre Pepper Ranch Preserve; it contains upland mixed
forest, strand swamp, slough, prairie hammock, pine flatwoods, improved pasture, dry
prairie, freshwater marshes, bottomland forest, and wet prairie.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 13
Figure 2: Conserved Lands in Collier County, Florida Including Lands Owned by
Conservation Collier.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 14
1.5 Nearby Public Lands and Designated Water Resources
Pepper Ranch Preserve shares its western and a portion of its northern boundary with the
Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed or CREW Trust conservation lands. The
closest Conservation Collier Program property to Pepper Ranch Preserve is the Caracara
Prairie Preserve, which is approximately 1.23 miles directly to the west. Other preserves,
in order of increasing distance, are provided in Table 2. Figure 3 shows the locations of
these preserves.
Table 2: Public Lands Located near the Pepper Ranch Preserve
Name Distance
(miles) Direction Type
CREW 0.00 W State
Caracara Prairie Preserve 1.23 W Conservation Collier
Corkscrew Swamp
Sanctuary 2.03 SW National Audubon Society
Red Root Preserve 5.26 S/SW Conservation Collier
Imperial Marsh Preserve 5.63 SE Lee County Conservation
20/20
Figure 3: Preserves and Protected Lands in the Vicinity of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 15
1.6 Public Involvement
Community involvement in the review of this management plan and all future updates are
coordinated through the general public via public meetings. The community at large will
be contacted through direct mailing notices to residents, other preserve managers and
businesses within 2,0001,500 feet of the preserve boundaries. Official public notices will
be posted on the County website.
Staff worked with Immokalee Civic Group(s) including the Immokalee Community
Redevelopment Association, Collier County Sheriff’s Department and neighboring
property owners to discuss public use and access issues. Two public meetings were held
in (January 28 and February 11, 2010) to provide the general public an opportunity to
review and comment on the firstis Pepper Ranch Preserve Final Land Management Plan.
Conservation Collier and the Collier County Board of County Commissioners (BCC)
held two workshops in (February 18 and March 18, 2010) with outdoor sportsmen’s clubs
and hunters to develop a Hunt Program for Pepper Ranch Preserve. Over 20 people
attended the February 18th, 2010 meeting, including representatives from the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Commissioner Coletta, to discuss
how best to create a Hunt Program for the preserve. A significant amount of information
was collected from this meeting to incorporate into a Hunt Management Plan for the
preserve including how often to allow hunts, how many hunters, what types of weapons,
check station and registration logistics etc.
After the February 18th, 2010 meeting, the first draft of the Hunt Management Plan was
created and posted for public review. During the March 18th, 2010 meeting,
approximately 10 local hunters attended including Commissioner Coletta, to review the
draft Hunt Management Plan. The consensus at this meeting was to divide the ranch into
sections and each hunter would have to stay in their section during the hunt. The use of
rifles was also discussed as well as safety zones and parking areas.
Over the weekend of April 16-18, 2010, the first Annual Youth Hunt was held at Pepper
Ranch Preserve. FWC and volunteers managed the hunt and it was a huge success.
Fifteen youth hunters participated, age 12-17, and 4 hogs were harvested.
At the April 27, 2010 Collier County BCC meeting, the draft The Public Hunt
Management Plan for Pepper Ranch was brought for BCC approval in April 2010. At
this meeting, Conservation Collier staff was directed to hold two (2) additional public
meetings to determine if hunting should be limited to youth hunts only or to the general
public. These meetings were held on May 12 and May 19, 2010. The results of theseat
meetings were to hold at least two2 youth hunts per year and leave the remaining hunts
open to the general public.
Two additional public meetings were held to provide the public an opportunity to give
input on the required 5-year plan update. The meetings were held on March 21, 2017 in
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 16
Immokalee, and the second was held at the Collier County Extension office on March 28,
2017.
The off-road cycling group representing Southwest Florida, the Florida Mudcutters,
werehave been active partners from since May 2012-2021. Members have volunteered
over 2,000 hours to develop and maintain biking trails in designated locations along the
western portion of the preserve.
The Caloosa Saddle Club, a local horseback riding group, expressed interest in bringing
groups to the Preserve to ride on designated trails. Both groups provided County staff
input on the conceptual plan for the trails.
NineteenSeveral Boy Scouts have volunteered time and materials to improve the preserve
and trail systems such as building picnic tables, kiosks, hitching post, campground design
and development and campground fire rings, marking trails and installing bat boxes.
Staff will seek to coordinate management actions, such as exotic removal and prescribed
fires with managers/owners of adjoining public and private lands.
2.0 Natural Resources
2.1 Physiography and Topography
Pepper Ranch Preserve lies within the Floridian section of the Coastal Plain. The Coastal
Plain extends from New Jersey to Texas and was formed mainly from sedimentary rocks
deposited in marine environments (U.S. Geological Survey, USGS 2004). The site is
located in the Southwestern Slope region of the South Florida Water Management
District (SFWMD). According to the Florida Geographic Data Layer (FGDL), taken
from the USGS Quadrangle Map, the topography of the area is relatively level with an
average elevation of twenty feet above sea level and slopes gently southwestward toward
the Gulf of Mexico. Surface water percolates directly through the pervious ground or it
collects in natural depressions and man-made ditches onsite. In natural areas, when the
ground is completely saturated the accumulated surface water will drain offsite through
sheet flow. Figure 4 provides a current aerial view of the Pepper Ranch Preserve and
surrounding area.
2.1.1 Topography and Geomorphology
The site is located in the Southwestern Slope region of the South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD). According to the Florida Geographic Data Layer
(FGDL), taken from the USGS Quadrangle Map, the topography of the area is relatively
level with an average elevation of twenty feet above sea level and slopes gently
southwestward toward the Gulf of Mexico. Surface water percolates directly through the
pervious ground or it collects in natural depressions and man-made ditches onsite. In
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 17
natural areas, when the ground is completely saturated the accumulated surface water will
drain offsite through sheet flow.
2.1.2 Geology
The geology of northern Collier County, where the Pepper Ranch Preserve is located, is
characterized by complex sequences of interbedded sands, clays, and limestone. Closest
to the surface is the Holocene aged Pamlico Sand Formation, approximately ten feet thick
and composed primarily of unconsolidated quartz sand and some silt. The Pamlico Sand
unconformably overlies the Pleistocene aged Fort Thompson and Caloosahatchee
Formations, which vary from a few feet to more than twenty feet in thickness and are
characterized by shelly and sandy limestone with vugs and solution cavities (Miller
1986).
Below the Fort Thompson and Caloosahatchee Formations are the Ochopee and
Buckingham Members of the Pliocene aged Tamiami Formation, which are at least 200
feet thick in the surrounding areas (Oaks & Dunbar 1974). The Ochopee Limestone
unconformably overlies the Buckingham Limestone and/or the equivalent Cape Coral
Clay. This unconformity marks the bottom of the surficial aquifer separating it from the
brackish underlying aquifer below. Then the Hawthorn Formation, rich in phosphate and
other heavy minerals (Scott 1988), overlies the Oligocene age Suwannee Limestone and
Eocene age Ocala Limestone that form the Floridan Aquifer System in Southwestern
Florida. The Pepper Ranch Preserve is located within the Southwestern Slope.
Geologically, this is the dominant feature of Collier County (Campbell 1990). Figure 4
provides a current aerial view of the Pepper Ranch Preserve.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 18
Figure 4: Aerial View of the Pepper Ranch Preserve
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 19
2.1.23 Soils
Mapped soils on this parcel were identified by the Natural Resource Conservation
Services (NRCS) as Riviera Copeland fine sand, Oldsmar fine sand, Riviera fine sand, Ft.
Drum and Malabar, Chobee Winder and Gator soils, Boca Riviera and Copeland
depressional, Tuscawilla fine sand, Winder Riviera Chobee soils depressional, and
Pennsuco silt loam (Figure 5).
The following soils descriptions comprise the six hydric or depressional soils at Pepper
Ranch Preserve. Winder Riviera Chobee soils underlie 17.6% of the Pepper Ranch
Preserve and are very poorly drained soils, or depressional soils; they are typical of
marshes. These soils under natural conditions remain ponded, i.e. have standing water,
for 6 months or more during most years. Examples of natural vegetation found on these
soils include: sawgrass, maidencane, pickerelweed, fireflag, willow, and other wetland
plants (Liudahl et al. 1990). Riviera Copeland fine sand, which underlies 13.3% of the
Pepper Ranch Preserve, is another hydric or depressional soil found on the preserve.
They are a poorly drained soil and are typical of sloughs and cypress swamps. During
times of high rainfall, the soils are covered by shallow, slowly moving water for about 7
days. Otherwise during most of the wet season, under natural conditions, the seasonal
high-water table is within a depth of 12 inches for 3-6 months; and for the remainder of
the year the water table is below a depth of 12 inches receding to 40 inches or below
during extended dry periods (Liudahl et al. 1990). Chobee Winder and Gator soils
comprise 7.4% of Pepper Ranch Preserve. They are very poorly drained soils found in
depressions and marshes. Under natural conditions these soils are ponded for 6 months
or more of the year, for most years. The water table recedes to within 12 inches the
remainder of the year and down to 12-40 inches during extended dry periods. Natural
vegetation consists of pickerelweed, maidencane, rushes, fireflag, sawgrass, willow, and
a few cypress trees (Liudahl et al. 1990). Pennsuco silt loam is a poorly drained soil
found on low prairies and it comprises 4.1% of the soils found at Pepper Ranch Preserve.
Under natural conditions, the seasonal high-water table is within a depth of 12 inches for
4-6 months during most years. A few inches of water is above the surface during
extremely wet periods. Natural vegetation typically consists of sawgrass, reeds, scattered
areas of cypress, maidencane, needlegrass, sedges, wax myrtle, and other wetland plants
(Liudahl et al. 1990). The Boca, Riviera and Copeland map unit is a hydric soil that
comprises 2.8% of the soils found at Pepper Ranch Preserve. It is found in depressions,
cypress swamps, and marshes. Under natural conditions, these soils are ponded for 6
months or more each year. During the remainder of the year the water table is within a
depth of 12 inches, and it recedes to a depth of 12-40 inches during extended dry periods.
The natural vegetation consists mostly of cypress, pickerelweed, rushes, fireflag,
sawgrass, and willow (Liudahl et al. 1990). Only a small percentage of the soils at
Pepper Ranch Preserve are Riviera fine sand (0.1%), which is a poorly drained soil found
in sloughs and broad, poorly defined drainageways. Under natural conditions, the
seasonal high-water table is within a depth of 12 inches for 3-6 months during most
years. During the other months, the water table is below a depth of 12 inches, and it
recedes to a depth of more than 40 inches during extended dry periods. During periods of
high rainfall, the soil is covered by shallow, slowly moving water for about 7 days.
Natural vegetation found on these soils consists of scattered areas of South Florida slash
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 20
pine, cypress, cabbage palm, wax myrtle, sand cordgrass, gulf muhly, blue maidencane,
South Florida bluestem, and chalky bluestem (Liudahl et al. 1990).
The following soils descriptions comprise the three non-hydric soils found at Pepper
Ranch Preserve. Tuscawilla fine sand underlies 30.5% of the Pepper Ranch Preserve and
is a non-hydric or non-wetland soil association found in areas typical of flatwoods and
hammocks. Under natural conditions, the seasonal high-water table is at a depth of 6-18
inches for 1-6 months during most years. The remainder of the year the water table is
below 18 inches. During times of drought, the water table can recede to a depth of
greater than 40 inches. Natural vegetation consists of oak, cabbage palm, red maple, red
bay, South Florida slash pine, wax myrtle, maidencane, and chalky bluestem (Liudahl et
al. 1990). Oldsmar fine sand underlies 18.2% of the Pepper Ranch Preserve and is also a
non-hydric soil. Oldsmar fine sand is a nearly level and poorly drained soil found in pine
flatwoods. During extended dry periods, the water table may recede to a depth of 40+
inches, but under natural conditions, the seasonal high-water table is between a depth of
6-18 inches. Flora typically associated with this soil type includes South Florida slash
pine, cabbage palm, saw palmetto and wax myrtle (Liudahl et al. 1990). Fort Drum and
Malabar fine sands are non-hydric soils typically found on ridges adjacent to sloughs.
These soils comprise 4.6% of the soils at Pepper Ranch Preserve. Under natural
conditions, the seasonal high-water table is at a depth of 6-18 inches for 1-6 months
during most years. During the remainder of the year, the water table is below a depth of
18 inches, and it recedes to a depth of more than 40 inches during extended dry periods.
Natural vegetation found on these soils is generally South Florida slash pine, saw
palmetto, live oak, cabbage palm, wax myrtle, chalky bluestem, creeping bluestem, low
panicum and pineland threeawn (Liudahl et al. 1990).
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
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Figure 5: Soil Units on the Pepper Ranch Preserve
2.1.4 Hydrology/Water Management
Near the surface, the aquifer is highly permeable and the groundwater flows toward the
west. However, permeability decreases downward from a porous limestone into poorly
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 22
indurated sandstone cemented by micrite. The aquifer grades from freshwater downward
into brackish water due to the proximity of the Gulf of Mexico to the west and the
brackish water in the intermediate aquifer made primarily of Miocene aged sediments.
Below that, the Hawthorne formation typically marks the upper boundary of the Floridian
aquifer, which is contained within the underlying Oligocene age Suwannee Limestone
(Lodge 2005).
There are numerous ditches and berms at Pepper Ranch Preserve that are associated with
the former agricultural activities. There are also elevated roads with associated ditches
that run through the center of the preserve, initially in an east-west direction, then running
north-south all the way to the southwestern portion of the preserve (see Figure 6 for land
use and cover map). These ditches and berms are likely affecting the hydrology of the
wetlands in which they connect.
The Surficial Aquifer is an aquifer close to the surface and unconfined, typically
associated with the groundwater table. This aquifer is generally limited to smaller uses
such as household or small agricultural uses. The Lower Tamiami aquifer is below this
aquifer and is recognized as being useful for long-term water needs. According to the
SFWMD’s technical publication 95-02 (Fairbank & Hohner 1995), the Surficial Aquifer
recharge capacity on the Pepper Ranch Preserve is moderate at 43 to 56 inches annually,
with parts of the eastern portion of the preserve exhibiting a recharge capacity of less
than 43 inches annually. The Lower Tamiami Aquifer recharge capacity on the preserve
is relatively low ranging from less than 7 inches and up to 14 inches annually.
2.2 Climate
The Pepper Ranch Preserve is located in an area of Florida where humid subtropical and
tropical savanna climatic patterns overlap, with temperatures moderated by winds from
the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Sharply delineated wet and dry seasons and
average monthly temperatures greater than 64º Fahrenheit characterize a tropical savanna
climate. Monthly rainfalls may exceed ten inches during the wet season. On the other
hand, humid subtropical climates typically show less extreme rainfall fluctuations
between wet and dry seasons and average monthly temperatures are less than 64º
Fahrenheit in some months.
The average annual temperature for the coastal portion of Collier County is
approximately 75º Fahrenheit. The warmest months are usually July and August. The
humidity is high during these months, but frequent afternoon thunderstorms prevent
excessively high temperatures. Two-thirds of the annual rainfall occurs in the wet
season from May to October. Thunderstorms are frequent during the wet season,
occurring every two out of three days between June and September. Rainfall records for
the area indicate that there is not significant variation in the annual rainfall throughout
much of the county; however, large variations often occur during a single year. The
Atlantic hurricane season extends from June through November with peak activity
occurring in September and October when ocean temperatures are highest.
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2.3 Natural Plant Communities
A plant community refers to the suite of floristic species that form the natural vegetation
of any place. In addition to anthropogenic influences, the combination of factors such as
geology, topography, hydrology, underlying soils and climate determine the types of
plants found in an area. These plants, in turn determine the animal species that may be
found there. The description or classifications of these floral communities differ by
agency and are based on an agency’s goals and objectives for identifying plant
communities. As some categorizations are broad (e.g., forest) while others are specific
(e.g., mesic pine flatwoods), determining how each organization classifies a community
may be difficult. The plant communities observed on the Pepper Ranch Preserve are
presented using the Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System
(FLUCFCS) created by the Florida Department of Transportation (1999). This system
classifies all land uses including plant communities. These classifications were then
translated to the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) classifications. The Guide to the
Natural Communities of Florida (1990) was utilized to convert from FLUCFCS to FNAI
designations.
In the fall of 2009 Johnson Engineering ecologists mapped the vegetation communities
and other land uses found on the Pepper Ranch Preserve using the FLUCFCS
designations. There are 25 distinct plant communities/land uses on the preserve. Some
of these land uses are further described as disturbed and/or by the level of invasive exotic
plants they exhibit. The number 9 qualifier in the FLUCFCS code represents a
disturbance in the plant community, generally due to a hydrologic impairment and in
some cases the disturbance is from a cleared understory. The letter E qualifier represents
the level of invasive exotic vegetation present by percent cover. Table 3 summarizes the
plant communities mapped for the Pepper Ranch Preserve in 2009. The table also
provides a brief description of each FLUCFCS code. Figure 6 visually depicts these land
cover designations from 2009. Due to the size of Pepper Ranch Preserve, a 2’x3’ map of
the land cover designations for 2009 is provided in Appendix 2.
Table 3: Extent of Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System (FLUCFCS)
Designations from 2009 on the Pepper Ranch Preserve
FLUCFCS
Code Description Wetland
Status Acreage
1641 Oil field N 5.63
211 Improved pasture N 619.26
2111 Cattle pen N 0.38
3109 Upland prairie, disturbed N 3.73
310E1 Upland prairie, disturbed, exotics 5-24% N 37.35
310E2 Upland prairie, disturbed, exotics 25-49% N 4.01
3209 Upland shrub, disturbed N 3.53
411 Pine flatwoods N 149.95
4119 Pine flatwoods, disturbed N 40.80
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4119E1 Pine flatwoods, disturbed, exotics 5-24% N 1.44
4119E2 Pine flatwoods, disturbed, exotics 25-49% N 27.45
4119E4 Pine flatwoods, exotics 75-100% N 3.69
422 Brazilian pepper, non-hydric N 1.15
427/428 Oak/Cabbage palm N 11.22
427E1 Oak, exotics 5-24% N 1.57
428E1 Cabbage palm, exotics 5-24% N 3.82
428E3 Cabbage palm, exotics 50-74% N 4.31
434 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm N 270.92
4349 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm, disturbed N 1.99
4349E1 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm, disturbed, exotics 5-24% N 149.74
4349E2 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm, disturbed, exotics 25-49% N 8.86
434B Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm, burned N 34.65
437 Australian pine N 1.15
743 Spoil N 1.24
743E4 Spoil, exotics 75-100% N 9.49
8145 Shell road, graded and drained N 20.63
8146 Primitive trail N 4.90
512 Ditches OSW 34.49
512E4 Ditches, exotics 75-100% OSW 0.66
742 Borrow pond OSW 1.43
211H Improved pasture, hydric W
47.70
6151 Red maple swamp W 76.56
6152 Pop ash swamp W 15.05
6162 Pond apple depression W 0.71
6169E1 Pond apple, laurel oak, cabbage palm, disturbed, exotics 5-24% W 0.83
6189 Willow/shrub wetland, disturbed W 5.44
6192 Brazilian pepper, hydric W 4.26
621 Cypress W 82.41
624 Cypress, pine, cabbage palm W 2.51
624E1 Cypress, pine, cabbage palm, exotics 5-24% W 41.15
630 Wetland forested mix W 145.46
630E1 Wetland forested mix, exotics 5-24% W 3.85
631 Shrub wetland W 243.38
6319E1 Shrub wetland, disturbed, exotics 5-24% W 12.26
6319E2 Shrub wetland, disturbed, exotics 25-49% W 0.56
631E1 Shrub wetland, exotics 5-24% W 1.35
641 Freshwater marsh W 42.60
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6419 Freshwater marsh, disturbed W 44.83
6419E1 Freshwater marsh, disturbed, exotics 5-24% W 70.99
6419E2 Freshwater marsh, disturbed, exotics 25-49% W 26.19
6419E3 Freshwater marsh, disturbed, exotics 50-74% W 5.92
641E1 Freshwater marsh, exotics 5-24% W 135.72
641E2 Freshwater marsh, exotics 25-49% W 26.37
641E3 Freshwater marsh, exotics 50-74% W 1.27
643 Wet prairie W 5.21
6439E2 Wet prairie, disturbed, exotics 25-49% W 7.50
643E1 Wet prairie, disturbed, exotics 5-24% W 0.49
Total 2510.01
W – wetland
N – non-wetland
OSW – other surface water
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 26
Figure 6: Distribution of Natural Communities and other Land Uses on the Pepper Ranch Preserve; 2009 FLUCFCS Layer
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 27
The vegetation classification scheme of the FNAI and the Florida Department of Natural
Resources (FDNR) (1990) are presented in Table 4. This table is based on the natural
plant communities observed on the Pepper Ranch Preserve. The following subsections
(2.3.1 - 2.3.6) provide information about the natural plant communities observed on the
preserve according to their FNAI designations. Subsection 2.3.7 describes the altered
communities found at Pepper Ranch Preserve. Figure 7 visually depicts the FNAI
designations for the preserve based on the 2009 field verifications. Due to the size of
Pepper Ranch Preserve, a 2’x3’ map of the FNAI designations is provided in Appendix 3.
Table 4: Summary of Natural Communities on the Pepper Ranch Preserve
FNAI Natural
Community
Type
Global
Rank
State
Rank
Percent
Cover1
Comments
Bottomland forest G4 S3 9.87% Also called bottomland hardwoods and mesic hammock
Depression marsh G4 S4 14.09% Also called isolated wetland and ephemeral pond
Dry prairie G2 S2 1.94% Also called palmetto prairie
Mesic flatwoods G4 S4 8.97% Also called pine flatwoods
Prairie Hammock G3 S3 0.83% Also called palm/oak hammock and hydric hammock
Slough G3 S3 10.25%
Strand swamp G4 S4 3.28% Also called cypress strand
Upland mixed forest G4 S4 18.56% Also called upland hardwood and mesic hammock
Wet flatwoods G4 S4 1.74% Also called hydric flatwoods
Wet prairie G3 S2 0.53% Also called savannah and coastal prairie
1 70.06% of Pepper Ranch Preserve is comprised of natural communities. The remaining 29.94% is
comprised of altered communities as described in subsection 2.3.7.
Definition of Global (G) element ranks:
G2 = Imperiled globally because of rarity (6-20 occurrences or very little remaining
area, e.g., <10,000 acres) or because of some factor(s) making it very vulnerable
to extinction throughout its range;
G3 = Either very rare and local throughout its range or found locally (even abundantly
at some of its locations) in a restricted range or because of other factors making it
vulnerable to extinction throughout its range, 21 to 100 occurrences;
G4 = Apparently secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range,
especially at the periphery.
Definition of State (S) element ranks:
S2 = Imperiled in state because of rarity (6-20 occurrences or little remaining area) or
because of some factor(s) making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout it
range;
S3 = Rare or uncommon in state (on the order of 21 to 100 occurrences);
S4 = Apparently secure in state, although it may be rare in some parts of its state range.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
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Figure 7: Extent of Natural Plant Communities Currently Found on the Pepper Ranch Preserve.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 29
2.3.1 Uplands: Upland Mixed Forest
The upland mixed forest community comprises approximately 18.56% of the Pepper
Ranch Preserve, the largest acreage of which is located primarily in the southwestern
portion of the preserve but also occurs throughout the preserve in smaller acreages
(Figure 7).
Upland mixed forests in south
Florida are also known as upland
hardwoods, mesic hammocks,
prairie hammocks, xeric
hammocks, hydric hammocks
(FNAI 1990) and mesic
temperate hammocks (USFWS
1999). This plant community at
Pepper Ranch Preserve is
characterized by live oaks
(Quercus virginiana) and laurel
oaks (Quercus laurifolia) (both
hardwood species), south Florida
slash pine (Pinus elliottii var.
densa), cabbage palms (Sabal
palmetto), and some cypress
(Taxodium spp.) and strangler
figs (Ficus aurea), that together
generally form a closed canopy. The midcanopy includes myrsine (Myrsine guainensis),
dahoon holly (Ilex cassine) and wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera). The plant species found in
the understory are mainly native species including blue maindencane (Amphicarpum
muhlenbergianum), foxtail grass (Setaria sp.), carpet grasses (Axonopus spp.), slender
goldenrod (Euthamia caroliniana), musky mint (Hyptis alata), chocolate weed (Melochia
corchorifolia), swamp fern (Blechnum serrulatum), capeweed (Phyla nodiflora), wild
coffee (Psychotria nervosa) and varying densities of the invasive exotic torpedo grass
(Panicum repens). Originally in the disturbed portions of this community, Brazilian
pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) comprised up to 24% of the midcanopy otherwise it is
present at less than 5% coverage. In the herbaceous layer of the disturbed areas of this
community there were significant levels (26-50% coverage) of caesarweed (Urena
lobata) and some (1-5% coverage) dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium). These areas
have been treated several times since acquisition, however a significant seed source
exists. Ongoing maintenance is being conducted on an annual or bi-annual basis.
The closed canopy and abundant hardwood mast provided by this plant community
attract wildlife species seeking food, cover, roosting, and nesting sites. Additionally,
these areas are ideal stopover areas for migratory passerines. Since these communities
occur on relatively well-drained sites, they are also attractive for human habitation and
recreational uses. These anthropogenic uses have increased the number of invasive plant
and animal species in these areas and have resulted in degraded hardwood forests
throughout the state (USFWS 1999).
Upland Mixed Forest Community within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
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Depression Marsh Community within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
2.3.2 Wetlands: Depression Marsh
Depression marsh, also known as freshwater marsh, isolated wetland, or ephemeral pond,
comprises approximately 14.09% of the Pepper Ranch. Even though these wetlands are
present throughout the preserve, they are more prevalent in the central portion of the
preserve and eastward to the property boundary.
Freshwater marshes are often scattered among upland, pine flatwoods communities as is
the case at Pepper Ranch Preserve. Only 12% of this plant community at Pepper Ranch
Preserve appears to be
hydrologically undisturbed.
This determination was
made solely by observing
the plant composition in
the disturbed marshes,
which consisted of varying
levels of upland and
transitional species,
nuisance and invasive
exotic species, as well as
by noting the relatively low
water levels or lack thereof
in comparison to the
seemingly undisturbed
marshes. Further
hydrologic investigations
would be necessary to
determine if hydrology was
the actual cause of the
noted disturbance.
Native plant species found within this plant community included maidencane (Panicum
hemitomon), Southeastern sunflower (Helianthus agrestis), blue maidencane, American
cupscale (Sacciolepis striata), pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), alligator flag (Thalia
geniculata), swamp fern , sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense), narrowfruit horned beaksedge
(Rhyncospera inundata), southern beaksedge (Rhyncospora microcarpa), pale
meadowbeauty (Rhexia mariana), bulltongue arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia), musky
mint, Virginia buttonweed (Diodea virginiana), common buttonbush (Cephalanthus
occidentalis), lemon bacopa (Bacopa caroliniana), spikerushes (Eleocharis spp.),
American white waterlily (Nymphaea odorata), broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon
virginicus), sand cordgrass (Spartina bakeri), redtop panicum (Panicum rigidulum), and
corkwood (Stillingia aquatica). The nuisance and invasive exotic plant species observed
in this community include torpedo grass, dog fennel, caesarweed , Southern crabgrass
(Digitaria ciliaris), tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum), alligator weed (Alternanthera
philoxeroides), Brazilian pepper, melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia), Peruvian
primrosewillow (Ludwigia peruviana), and valamuerto (Senna pendula var. glabrata).
In Florida, these marshes are influenced by their subtropical location, fluctuating water
levels, frequency and intensity of fire, organic matter accumulation and hard water
(Kushlan 1990). These factors, combined with the dominant species found within a
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marsh, dictate the category within which the marsh is placed. Six major categories of
freshwater marshes are recognized in Florida. The marshes in the Pepper Ranch Preserve
are generally within the “flag marsh” category. These marshes usually have a moderate
(flooded 6 to 9 months) hydroperiod, a moderate (about once every ten years) fire
frequency and moderate to high (usually less than one meter deep to over a meter deep)
accumulation of organic material (Kushlan 1990).
2.3.3 Wetlands: Slough
Sloughs are generally abundant throughout Florida and at Pepper Ranch Preserve this
community comprises 10.25% of the preserve. It is located almost entirely in the western
portion of the preserve, and most of this community extends onto the adjacent CREW
land.
According to the FNAI Guide to the
Natural Communities of Florida
(1990), sloughs are characterized as
broad shallow channels, inundated
with flowing water except during
extreme droughts. They are the
deepest drainageways within strand
swamps and swale systems. The
vegetation structure of sloughs is
variable but at Pepper Ranch Preserve
it is characterized, in general, by
Carolina willow (Salix caroliniana),
which is dominate, Carolina (pop) ash
(Fraxinus caroliniana). Sawgrass,
bog hemp (Boehmeria cylindrica) and
climbing hempweed (Mikania
scandens) were some of the
herbaceous species observed in the
understory.
The canopies formed in these sloughs,
especially in south Florida, are ideal
moist, warm habitats for rare and
endangered tropical epiphytes. Many
Caribbean species that occur in this
community are virtually never
encountered in other Florida habitats. Pond apple branches are often heavily loaded with
epiphytic orchids, bromeliads, and ferns. Typical animals include ribbon snake,
cottonmouth, opossum, gray squirrel, black bear, raccoon, mink, otter, Florida panther,
and white-tailed deer (FNAI 1990).
Sloughs often occur over the lowest part of linear depressions in the underlying limestone
Slough Community within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 32
bedrock. The peat soils found in sloughs can be destroyed by catastrophic fires that often
occur during droughts. The typical hydroperiod in this community is at least 250 days per
year. Sloughs are often found in association with cypress swamps and may also occur in
floodplain swamps and basin swamps (FNAI 1990).
Sloughs are extremely vulnerable to hydrologic disturbance and must have a reliable,
quality water source to persist. The lack of invasive plant species observed in this
community at Pepper Ranch Preserve is indicative of a high-quality system.
2.3.4 Wetlands: Bottomland Forest
This community at the Pepper Ranch Preserve appears in association with Lake Trafford
along the southern perimeter of the preserve, and with the large slough occurring on the
western portion of the preserve. This natural community covers 9.87% of the preserve.
Bottomland forest is characterized as a
low-lying, closed-canopy forest of tall,
straight trees with either a dense
shrubby understory and little ground
cover, or an open understory and ground
cover of ferns, herbs, and grasses (FNAI
1990). At Pepper Ranch Preserve the
latter is most often observed, with red
maple (Acer rubrum) as the dominate
canopy tree, some buttonbush in the
midcanopy and sawgrass, alligator flag,
swamp fern, and cinnamon fern
(Osmunda cinnamomea) in the
understory.
The canopy of these forests is dense and
closed, except during winter in areas
where deciduous trees predominate, as
in Pepper Ranch Preserve. The air
movement and light penetration are thus
generally low, making the humidity high
and relatively constant. Because of
these characteristics, bottomland forests
rarely burn. This is also a very stable
community that requires a hundred years
or more to mature. Nearly all
bottomland forests in Florida have been logged, which often leaves long-lasting scars
from soil disturbance (FNAI 1990).
Bottomland Forest Community
within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 33
2.3.5 Uplands: Mesic Flatwoods
The pine flatwoods community comprises approximately 8.97% of the Pepper Ranch
Preserve. This plant community is located predominately in the central and eastern
portions of the preserve. Pine flatwoods are one of the most wide-ranging terrestrial
plant communities in Florida and consequently one of the most influenced by
anthropogenic activities (Abrahamson & Hartnett 1990). Fire strongly influences the
community structure and composition of this community. The term pine flatwoods is a
general categorization of areas that are dominated by various species of pine (Pinus spp.)
trees. Pine flatwoods may be found in mesic flatlands where the landscape is made up of
flat, moderately well drained sandy substrates with a mixture of organic material, often
with an underlying hard pan layer. An open canopy forest of widely spaced pine trees
with little or no understory but a dense ground cover of herbs and shrubs characterize
natural, mesic flatwoods that have been burned regularly (FNAI 1990).
The U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) NRCS
classification system refers to
these areas as South Florida
flatwoods. South Florida
flatwoods are typically savannas,
a type of plant community
intermediate between forest and
grassland. Mesic pine
flatwoods are also called mesic
flatwoods, pine savanna,
cabbage palm savanna, and pine
barrens. The flatwoods at
Pepper Ranch are characterized
by a south Florida slash pine
dominate canopy with some live
oaks, wax myrtle and saw
palmetto (Serenoa repens) in the
subcanopy, and a myriad of herbs and forbs forming the ground cover, such as: swamp
fern, grape vine (Vitis rotundifolia), American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), tall
elephant’s foot (Elephantopus elatus), greenbrier (Smilax sp.), caesarweed, and tick-
trefoil (Desmodium sp.).
Mesic flatwoods provide essential forested habitat for a variety of wildlife species
including Neotropical migratory birds, wide-ranging large carnivores, mid-sized
carnivores, ground-nesting vertebrates, tree-cavity dependent species, tree-nesting species
and non-aquatic plant life. “At the current rate of habitat conversion, the mesic pine
flatwoods, once the most abundant upland habitat in South Florida, is in danger of
becoming one of the rarest habitats in South Florida” (USFWS 1999c).
Mesic Flatwoods Community within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Steven W. Woodmansee
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 34
2.3.6 Other Natural Communities
All other natural communities (strand swamp, dry prairie, wet flatwoods, prairie
hammock, and wet prairie) at the Pepper Ranch Preserve collectively cover less than 9%
of the preserve.
Strand swamp is most commonly known as cypress
swamp and it is strictly found in the western portion of
Pepper Ranch Preserve in association with the slough
natural community. The typical vegetation found in this
community at Pepper Ranch Preserve includes: cypress
(Taxodium ascendens) in the canopy, Carolina (pop) ash
in the midcanopy, and the understory is mainly open
water with some alligator flag, pickerelweed, and
sawgrass.
The dry prairie community at Pepper Ranch Preserve is
located in the extreme southwest and eastern portions of
the preserve. Portions of this community exhibit no
canopy, but where a canopy is present it is at less than
10% coverage and is made up of south Florida slash pine
and cabbage palms. The midcanopy appears to have
been cleared at one time and now consists
mainly of saw palmetto and wax myrtle.
The understory is dominated by
bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum), and other
grasses and herbs present including: blue
maidencane, torpedo grass, knotroot
foxtail (Setaria parviflora), big
carpetgrass (Axonopus furcatus),
chocolate weed, tall elephant’s foot, tick-
trefoil, musky mint, netted pawpaw
(Asimina reticulata), slender goldenrod,
wire grass (Aristida stricta), and a variety
of sedges. The disturbed portions of this
community located in the eastern part of
the preserve exhibit less native plant
diversity, which has been replaced by
cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), smutgrass (Sporobolus indicus), Peruvian primrose
willow, Caesar’s weed, and Brazilian pepper. The disturbance to the portions of this
community located in the southwestern part of the preserve appears to be due to a cleared
canopy. The invasive plants in these areas have been treated several times since
acquisition, however a significant seed source exists. Ongoing maintenance is being
conducted on an annual or bi-annual basis.
Strand Swamp Community within
Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Dry Prairie Community within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 35
The wet flatwoods of Pepper Ranch Preserve are
exclusively found in the western portion of the preserve
and they exhibit cypress, south Florida slash pine and
cabbage palms in the canopy, little to no midcanopy
and an understory similar to the adjacent strand swamp
community.
The prairie hammocks at Pepper Ranch Preserve are an
upland community comprised of predominately live
oaks and cabbage palms in the canopy and a
midcanopy and understory similar to the upland mixed
forest as described above.
There are only four small areas of wet
prairie at Pepper Ranch Preserve
located in the southwestern portion of
the preserve and they exhibit the
following plant species: blue maidencane, sand
cordgrass, corkwood, broomsedge bluestem, haspan
flatsedge (Cyperus haspan), spadeleaf (Centella
asiatica), cypress witchgrass (Dichanthelium
ensifolium var. unciphyllum), southern
umbrellasedge (Fuirena scirpoidea), maidencane,
narrowfruit horned beaksedge, narrowleaf blue-
eyed grass (Sisyrinchium angustifolium). Portions
of this community also hadve the invasive exotic
torpedo grass, up to 50% coverage, and the
remaining portions are free of invasive exotic
vegetation. These invasive plant areas have been
treated several times since acquisition, however a
significant seed source exists. Ongoing
maintenance is being conducted on an annual or bi-
annual basis.
Wet Flatwoods Community within
Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Steven W. Woodmansee
Prairie Hammock Community
within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Wet Prairie Community
within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 36
2.3.7 Altered Communities
The most common community at Pepper Ranch Preserve is the improved pastures, which
is an altered community; they comprise 26.57% of the preserve. The majority of the
pastures exhibit upland grass and forbs species dominated by bahiagrass with a mixture
of the following species: limpograss (Hemarthria altissima), ragweed (Ambrosia
artemisiifolia), dogfennel, smutgrass,
bushy bluestem (Andropogon
glomeratus var. hirsutior), tick-trefoil,
capeweed, creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis
corniculata), rabbitbells (Crotalaria
rotundifolia), flatsedges, torpedo grass,
purple thistle (Cirsium horridulum),
knotroot foxtail, big carpetgrass,
woodland false buttonweed
(Spermacoce assurgens), and crabgrass.
Most of the pastures at Pepper Ranch
Preserve wereare rimmed with large
Brazilian pepper trees associated with
ditch/berm and fence lines. These
infestations have been removed and
treated. In the far western portion of the
preserve there is a hydric pasture that exhibits more wetland species than the other
pastures and the underlying soils are hydric soils. There is a midcanopy in the hydric
pasture of pop ash, Brazilian pepper, and Carolina willow. The herbaceous layer consists
of southeastern sunflower, torpedo grass, bushy bluestem, spadeleaf, Virginia
buttonweed, blue mistflower (Conoclinium coelestinum), musky mint, and southern
beaksedge.
Three oil fields are located adjacent to the hydric pasture at Pepper Ranch Preserve, two
of which are currently in operation. An elevated, graded shell road traverses the preserve
and provides access to the oil fields in the western portion of the preserve. There are also
numerous primitive roads and trails that provide access to the pastures and to the lodge;
the latter is located in the southeastern portion of the preserve. Ditches are typically
associated with the roads, trails, oil fields and pastures of the preserve. A few borrow
ponds are scattered throughout the preserve, usually located within pastures to provide
water for the cattle. These borrow ponds typically have spoil piles. , some of which are
covered with Brazilian pepper.
There are only a few areas where exotics have formed a monoculture. The largest of
these areas is located at the southern end of a large depression marsh in the north portion
of the preserve where there is a hydric Brazilian pepper monoculture (4.26 acres). In the
southeastern portion of the preserve there were two small pockets of mature suckering
Australian pines (Casuarina glauca) totaling 1.15 acres. These areas have been treated
several times since acquisition, however a significant seed source exists. Ongoing
maintenance is being conducted on an annual or bi-annual basis.
Improved Pastures within Pepper Ranch Preserve
Photo taken by Johnson Engineering, Inc.
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2.4 Native Plant and Animal Species
The Pepper Ranch Preserve is composed of several upland and wetland natural
communities as well as altered communities such as the dominant feature, the improved
pastures. This section discusses the flora and fauna observed within these communities
and the next section (2.5) discusses all listed species in greater detail.
2.4.1 Plant Species
To date, 416 plant species have been recorded at the preserve (Appendix 4). A
comprehensive plant survey was conducted in September 2009 by botanist Steven W.
Woodmansee of Pro Native Consulting. An additional survey of Pepper Ranch Preserve
was conducted in May of 2010 to capture species in bloom that might have been missed
during the fall survey. Of these 416 species, 334 (80%) are native to Florida and 82 are
non-native (20%). Of the 82 non-native species, 32 are listed on Florida Exotic Pest Plant
Council’s (FLEPPC) 2017 List of Invasive Plant Species (24- Category I and 8 -Category
II). An updated plant survey will be conducted in 2024-2025.
2.4.2 Animal Species
When this original plan was written, there were limited surveys conducted specifically
for the occurrence of animal species (in contrast to plants) and the lack of on-site staffing,
little was recorded for actual occurrences of animals at the Pepper Ranch Preserve.
Occurrences of fauna at the preserve arewere based on direct visual and aural
observations made by staff biologists, wildlife cameras, and volunteers, Johnson
Engineering ecologists, and Pro Native Consulting biologist during site visits or evidence
or from of activity such as spoor, scat, or burrows found, and from the site information
available in documents such as the site’s initial criteria screening report, the property’s
interim management plan and anecdotal information from persons with knowledge of the
site. Since acquisition, numerous wildlife cameras have been deployed throughout the
preserve and several wildlife frog and bird surveys have been conducted to provide give
us a more complete list. Appendix 5 Table 5 provides a comprehensive list of animals,
both native and non-native, recorded on the Pepper Ranch Preserve to date. A total of
108 bird species, 17 mammals, 16 reptiles, 11 amphibians, 21 butterflies and moths, and
20 dragonfly/damselfly species have been recorded through 2024.thus far.
Master Wildlife Species Inventory moved from Table 5 to Appendix 5.
The Florida Breeding Bird Atlas (FWC 2003) lists 49 avian species that have been
recorded as confirmed, probable, or possible breeding in the vicinity of the site (Table
56). The Breeding Bird Atlas documents breeding distributions of all bird species in
Florida between 1986 and 1991. Due to the size and diversity of natural communities
found at Pepper Ranch Preserve, it is likely several of these species may breed at the
preserve.
Pepper Ranch Preserve is adjacent to the 5,000-acre Corkscrew Marsh, a freshwater
wetland system home to the most historically productive wood stork nesting colony in the
nation. The wetland components of Pepper Ranch Preserve provide vital foraging habitat
for nesting woodstorks and successfully fledged chicks who utilize the preserve
throughout the nesting season and beyond. In addition to contributing to wood stork
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nesting success in the area, Pepper Ranch Preserve is a priority nesting area for migratory
swallow-tailed kites who utilize the property from February-August. In cooperation with
FWC CREW WEA biologists, Conservation Collier staff conduct nest search and nest
monitoring surveys of swallow-tailed kites on the preserve from February-June each year.
FWC CREW biologists monitored 3 nests on the ranch during the 2016 nesting season, 6
nests in 2017, and 15 nests in 2018 in cooperation with Conservation Collier staff.
Pepper Ranch Preserve wetland habitats provide nesting habitat forto the Florida sandhill
cranes, a species designated as state-threatened by FWC. In the spring of 2018, 5 nesting
pairs were noted utilizing the property’s freshwater marsh habitats to nest and feed their
young.
Other wildlife species that have not yet been recorded undoubtedly occur at the Pepper
Ranch Preserve. Pepper Ranch is a keystone portion of the Corkscrew Regional
Ecosystem Watershed and provides vital connectivity and dispersal corridors for wildlife
traveling between CREW, Corkscrew, Camp Keis, Panther Refuge, and Big Cypress.
Table 56: Breeding Bird Species Recorded in the Corkscrew and Immokalee
Quadrangles Encompassing the Pepper Ranch Preserve
Common Name Scientific Name Common Name Scientific Name
Green Heron Butorides virescens Red-cockaded Woodpecker Picoides borealis
Yellow-crowned
Night-Heron
Nyctanassa violacea Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
Wood Duck Aix sponsa Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
Mottled Duck Anas fulvigula Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus
Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
King Rail Rallus elegans Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Purple Martin Progne subis
Limpkin Aramus guarauna Northern Rough-winged
Swallow
Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Tufted Titmouse Baeolophis bicolor
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
Common Ground-Dove Columbina passerina Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptilia caerulea
*Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum
Barn Owl Tyto alba Northern Parula Parula americana
Eastern Screech-Owl Megascops asio Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus
Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor
Barred Owl Strix varia Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Chuck-will's-widow Caprimulgus carolinensis Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
Red-headed
Woodpecker
Melanerpes
erythrocephalus
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Red-bellied
Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
* = non-native species Boat-tailed Grackle Quiscalus major
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2.5 Listed Species
Official lists of rare and endangered species are produced at the federal level by the
USFWS and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and at the State level by the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida Department
of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). FNAI produces a list of rare and
endangered species and maintains a database of occurrences of these species in Florida.
The Institute for Regional Conservation (IRC) also ranks native plant species by
conservation status in the 10-county area of South Florida. The following subsections
(2.5.1 and 2.5.2) discuss the listed, rare and protected plant and animal species found
within the Pepper Ranch Preserve in detail. 2.5.1 Listed Plant Species
The Florida State Statute titled “Preservation of Native Flora of Florida” (Statute
581.185) provides the following definitions:
• Endangered plants mean species of plants native to the state that are in imminent
danger of extinction within the state, the survival of which is unlikely if the causes of
a decline in the number of plants continue, and includes all species determined to be
endangered or threatened pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended, Pub. L. No. 93-205 (87 Stat. 884).
• Threatened plants mean species native to the state that are in rapid decline in the
number of plants within the state, but which have not so decreased in such number as
to cause them to be endangered.
• Commercially exploited plants mean species native to the state, which are subject to
being removed in significant numbers from native habitats in the state and sold or
transported for sale.
There are sixteen fourteen (164) plant species at Pepper Ranch Preserve that are
considered listed species are listed by the FDACS, three (3) as endangered, nineeight (98)
as threatened, and 43 as commercially exploited (Table 67). One species, Tillandsia x
smalliana is listed in Table 67 because it is a hybrid between two endangered species but
is not itself listed by the FDACS. A brief description of the species listed in Table 7 and
their status is included in the following paragraphs.
Two (2) additional plant species found at Pepper Ranch Preserve are designated as
critically imperiled in South Florida (SF1) by the Institute for Regional Conservation
(IRC). IRC is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection, restoration, and
long-term management of biodiversity on a regional basis, and to the prevention of
regional extinctions of rare plants, animals, and natural communities. This designation
refers to the extreme rarity (five or fewer occurrences, or fewer than 1,000 individuals) of
a species, or its extreme vulnerability to extinction due to some natural or human factor.
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E: Endangered, T: Threatened, CE: Commercially Exploited
SF1: Critically imperiled in South Florida (as designated by IRC)
SixFive (65) of the fifteenfourteen listed plant species found on the Pepper Ranch
Preserve are classified as bromeliads. Bromeliads are members of the pineapple family
(Bromeliaceae). While some of these species may be found growing terrestrially, most
native bromeliads found in Florida are found growing attached to tree trunks and
branches and may therefore be referred to as epiphytes (a plant that lives upon other
plants; from Greek “epi” = upon “phyte” = plant). The leaves and/or roots of these
airplants (depending on the species) absorb the water and nutrients they need from the air
and from the rain that falls through the canopy of the tree on which they are found. Since
epiphytes use their roots only to anchor themselves to another plant, they are considered
non-parasitic.
Even though the 65 listed bromeliad species found on the Pepper Ranch Preserve are
fairly common in the state, they are listed due to illegal collecting and the destruction of
the habitats in which they are found. Additionally, infestation by the introduced Mexican
bromeliad weevil (Metamasius callizona) has been implicated in the decline of many
airplant populations around the state. Currently, there are no control measures in place for
the Mexican bromeliad weevil however, close research and monitoring is taking place.
Cardinal Airplant (Tillandsia fasciculata), is also known as common wild pine and
stiff-leaved wild pine. T. fasciculata is listed as an endangered plant by the State of
Florida and has been recorded in 24 counties throughout Florida (Wunderlin & Hansen
2008). This epiphyte was frequently found in South Florida before the introduction of the
Mexican bromeliad weevil. Today, it may be found in hammocks, cypress swamps and
pinelands.
Table 67: Listed Plant Species Detected at the Pepper Ranch Preserve
Common Name Scientific Name Status
Cardinal airplant Tillandsia fasciculata var. densispica E
Giant airplant Tillandsia utriculata E
Meadow jointvetch Aeschynomene pratensis E
Catesby’s Lily Lilium catesbaei T
Everglades palm Acoelorraphe wrightii T
Reflexed wild-pine Tillandsia balbisiana T
Leatherleaf airplant Tillandsia variabilis T
Long strap fern Campyloneurum phyllitidis T
Needleroot airplant orchid Harrisella porrecta T
Northern needleleaf Tillandsia balbisiana T
Simpson’s stopper Myrcianthes fragrans T
Twisted airplant Tillandsia flexuosa T
Florida butterfly orchid Encyclia tampensis CE
Royal fern Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis CE
Cinnamon fern Osmunda cinnamomea CE
Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) CE
Oak mistletoe Phoradendron leucarpum SF1
Quillwort arrowhead Sagittaria isoetiformis SF1
Reddish wild pine (native hybrid) Tillandsia x smalliana
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Giant airplant (Tillandsia utriculata) also known as the giant wild pine, is the largest
epiphyte and is relatively common in hammocks and swamps in South Florida. It can
reach 12-30 inches in height and its flower spike may be more than six feet in height. It
is also listed by the State of Florida as endangered.
Meadow jointvetch (Aeschynomene pratensis), is endemic to Florida, meaning it occurs
nowhere else in the world. It is a State endangered species that has been recorded in only
four (4) southern Florida counties (Wunderlin and Hansen 2008).
Reddish wild pine (Tillandsia x smalliana), is a hybrid orchid derived from the crossing
of two State endangered native orchids T. balbisiana and T. fasciculata var. densispica; it
is not itself listed by FDACS. This species has been recorded in only seven (7) southern
Florida counties (Wunderlin and Hansen 2008).
Catesby’s Lily (Lilium catesbaei) is an herb endemic to the U.S. southeastern coastal
plain and is listed as a threatened species in the State of Florida. It is found nearly
throughout Florida and has been recorded in 50 counties (Wunderlin and Hansen 2008).
In Collier County, it has only been recorded at Wet Woods Preserve, Railhead Scrub
Preserve, Big Cypress National Preserve, Collier Seminole State Park, Florida Panther
National Wildlife Refuge, Picayune Strand State Forest, and Pepper Ranch Preserve.
Johnson Engineering found it on the preserve on October 8, 2009 in the mesic flatwoods
located in the southeastern portion of the preserve.
Everglades palm (Acoelorraphe wrightii) is a State threatened species that has been
recorded in only three (3) southern Florida counties (Wunderlin and Hansen 2008). This
salt-tolerant palm is at the northern limit of its range in southern Florida. It was once
common here but many plants were taken for the nursery trade (Bush and Morton 1969).
Leatherleaf airplant (Tillandsia variabilis) is a State threatened species that has been
recorded in ten (10) southern Florida counties (Wunderlin and Hansen 2008). Like other
airplants described in this plan, leatherleaf airplant is typically found in hammocks and
cypress swamps.
Long strap fern (Campyloneurum phyllitidis) is a State threatened species that is
epiphytic in hammocks and swamps and can sometimes grow on rocks or on walls in
limestone sinkholes where it is reduced in size (eflora – flora of NA).
Needleroot airplant orchid (Harrisella porrecta) is widespread in the central and
southern counties of Florida and is considered a threatened species. This airplant’s
flowering period is between August and November. Other common names are the jingle
bell orchid or the leafless orchid (Brown 2002).
Northern needleleaf (Tillandsia balbisiana) also known as reflexed wild pine, is an
epiphytic, “tank” bromeliad and is listed as a threatened plant by the State of Florida.
Wunderlin and Hansen reported this species in 22 counties throughout Florida as of 2008
(Wunderlin and Hansen 2008). Reflexed wild pine is an occasional species in South
Florida and is usually found in scrub, pinelands, strand swamps, hammocks, mangrove
swamps and on shell ridges/mounds.
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Simpson’s stopper (Myrcianthes fragran) is a State threatened species found in
hammocks. The red flaking bark of this tree can confuse its identification with the
invasive exotic guava (Psidium guajava).
Twisted airplant (Tillandsia flexuosa), a State threatened species, is less common in
Florida than the other Tillandsia species listed in this plan, but still frequent, especially in
coastal ecosystems. It has been recorded in ten (10) southern Florida counties
(Wunderlin and Hansen 2008).
Florida butterfly orchid (Encyclia tampensis) is locally abundant in central and
southern counties of Florida; it is commercially exploited. They grow on a wide variety
of trees including live oak, red maple, bald cypress (Taxodium distichum), pop ash and
pond apple. They normally flower in June or July but may also flower at other times of
the year (Brown 2002).
Royal fern (Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis) is not in danger of being extirpated in
Florida because of habitat loss, habitat fragmentation or attack by an exotic, invasive
pest, but because of commercial exploitation. According to Nelson (2000), the fibers
from the stem of royal fern have been used as a growing medium to grow orchids as well
as to make ropes and nets. Additionally, this species is believed to have medicinal
benefits; other parts of the plant may have been used to treat wounds and broken bones,
relieve sprains and to help alleviate coughs and diarrhea. In Florida, this species is found
in hydric areas such as wet flatwoods, cypress swamps, floodplains, stream banks and
bogs.
Cinnamon fern (Osmunda cinnamomea) is widespread in swamps, wet woods and wet
meadows throughout North and South America (Cobb et al. 2005). Its status as
Commercially Exploited as listed by the FDACS makes it illegal to collect it in the wild
but it is commercially available for native landscaping.
Oak mistletoe (Phoradendron leucarpum)
Oak mistletoe is a parasitic evergreen subshrub and despite its name it can be found
growing on other broadleaf trees such as red maple (Acre rubrum). This plant is not listed
by the State of Florida but has been recognized by IRC as a critically imperiled species for South
Florida. This is a temperate species at the southern end of its range, and it is possible it has
always been uncommon in South Florida (Gann et al. 2002).
Quillwort arrowhead (Sagittaria isoetiformis)
This plant is not listed by the State of Florida but has been recognized by IRC as a critically
imperiled species for South Florida. As with oak mistletoe, this is also a temperate species at the
southern end of its range, and it is possible it has always been uncommon in South Florida (Gann
et al. 2002).
Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
This plant was added as commercially exploited in 2018 by FDACS due to the illegal harvesting
of the palmetto berries that it produces. Harvesting the berries now requires a permit from the
State of Florida. Berry harvesting is not allowed on the Pepper Ranch Preserve. It is a slow
growing palm that is well adapted to fire. It grows in wet to dry flatwoods and hammocks
throughout Florida. The berries are known to treat urinary health issues and prostate cancer.
They provide food for bears and other wildlife species.
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2.5.2 Listed Animal Species
The Preserve Master Wildlife Species Inventory is located in Appendix 5. ItTable 5 in
section 2.4.2 indicates which of the wildlife species documented for Pepper Ranch
Preserve are protected by the USFWS (2009) and FWC (2009). Listed wildlife species
that have been observed at Pepper Ranch Preserve to date include: American Alligator,
Audubon’s Crested Caracara, Big Cypress Fox Squirrel, Everglades Snail Kite, Florida
Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, White Ibis, , Florida Panther, Gopher Tortoise, Roseate
Spoonbill, Sandhill Crane, Southern Bald Eagle, Tricolored Heron, and Wood Stork. The
following is a brief description of the conservation status for those species occurring at
the preserve that are currently listed as threatened or endangered by the State or federal
government.
American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)
The American alligator is listed as threatened by FWC and USFWS for its similarity in
appearance with the endangered American crocodile. Alligators are seen throughout the
preserve on a regular basis and they are quite numerous in Lake Trafford that borders the
Preserve to the south.
Audubon’s Crested Caracara (Polyborus plancus audubonii)
This State and federally threatened species nests predominately in cabbage palms where
it will lay 2-3 eggs in late winter. Agricultural development for improved pastures and
citrus groves, as well as indiscriminant killing has contributed to the caracara’s decline in
Florida. It was officially listed on the federal list of threatened species in August 1987
(Kale and Maehr 1990).
Big Cypress Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger avicennia)
Also known as the mangrove fox squirrel, the FWC lists Big Cypress Fox Squirrel as
threatened in Florida. This species was first observed at Pepper Ranch Preserve by
Wilson Miller in 2005 during a listed species survey however, none have been observed
by staff since acquisition in 2009. While the species is widespread in eastern and central
North America, the subspecies is endemic to southwestern Florida – specifically in the
Immokalee Rise, Big Cypress Swamp, and Devil'’s Garden area in Collier County. Some
areas of this range have become vacated, while many other suitable areas are being
altered or becoming isolated through development. The subspecies uses most types of
forest occurring in its range. However, dense interiors of mixed cypress-hardwood
strands seem to be avoided by Big Cypress fox squirrels due to dense populations of gray
squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) occupying these areas. Big Cypress fox squirrels have
been reported in cypress swamp, pine flatwoods, tropical hammock, hardwood hammock,
mangrove swamp, and suburban habitats including golf courses and residential areas in
native vegetation. Big Cypress fox squirrel densities appear to be quite low, and on this
basis the subspecies can be considered inherently rare (Humphrey & Jodice 1992).
Everglades Snail Kite
Everglades Snail Kites are listed as endangered species by FWC and USFWS. These
birds are raptors that feed in freshwater marshes mainly on apple snails. Over the past
century, as much of their habitat was drained and water stopped flowing through
parts of the Everglades, the snail kite population plummeted. It was one of the first
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birds put on the endangered species list in the 1960’s. Efforts to restore the
Everglades have helped it recover, bringing back native vegetation and restoring the
flow of water back into the marshes. These birds are often seen on the preserve.
Florida Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis pratensis)
Sandhill cranes occur in pastures, open prairies and freshwater wetlands in peninsular
Florida from the Everglades to the Okefenokee Swamp. They build large nests in thick
patches of vegetation in freshwater wetlands where they will typically lay two eggs.
Nesting lasts from January through June (Kale and Maehr 1990). They are listed as a
threatened species in the State of Florida.
Florida Panther (Puma concolor coryi)
This large cat is a year-round resident of undeveloped lands in South Florida including
the Pepper Ranch Preserve. It is listed as endangered by both FWC and USFWS.
Panthers prefer hardwood hammocks and pine forests with numerous saw palmettos for
resting, raising kittens, and stalking prey. Panthers are losing their habitat in South
Florida and males require a large range. Increased development and traffic are another
reason why this species is listed as endangered. Telemetry data from FWC demonstrates
Florida panther frequently use the adjacent CREW lands and have used the Pepper Ranch
Preserve on a few occasions (current Florida panther telemetry data obtained from FWC
staff by Johnson Engineering, Inc. on 09/28/09). In their third revision to the Florida
Panther Recovery Plan the USFWS (2008) states that there are three priority zones
identified as important for panther habitat conservation: (1) Primary Zone – lands
essential to the long-term viability and persistence of the panther in the wild; (2)
Secondary Zone -– lands contiguous with the Primary Zone, currently used by few
panthers, but which could accommodate expansion of the panther population south of the
Caloosahatchee River; and (3) Dispersal Zone -– the area which may facilitate future
panther expansion north of the Caloosahatchee River. The Pepper Ranch Preserve is
entirely within the Primary Zone for the Florida panther. Wildlife cameras have been
installed throughout the preserve and have taken hundreds of photos of panther on the
preserve since 2010. In 2016 and 2018, pPanther kitten photos have been were captured
on the cameras on several occasions over the past 14 years.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Panther Team has
detected a disease affecting panthers and bobcats in our region called Feline
leukomyelopathy (FLM). The cause and effect of FLM on Florida’s wild felid
populations remains unknown. Panthers with this disease have been detected on the
Pepper Ranch Preserve through footage captured on FWC and other wildlife cameras.
FWC continues to research and monitor the panther population with continued camera
monitoring and increasing the amount of radiocollared panthers on the preserve and in
the surrounding area.
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Panther kitten photo taken on boardwalk in
December 2016
Panther photo taken by wildlife
camera on the preserve in 2023
Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus)
This medium-sized, native land turtle is listed by the State as a threatened species.
Gopher tortoises are typically found in dry, upland habitats including scrub, xeric oak
hammock, sandhills and dry pine flatwoods. Burrows are created for protection from
weather, fire, and predators; they also provide refugia for more than 300 other species of
animals. Active burrows may exist in the pine flatwoods communities at Pepper Ranch
Preserve.
Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea)
This heron is listed as threatened by the State of Florida. They are a small wading bird
that that inhabit fresh, salt and brackish water environments in Florida. Threats to this
species include development, degradation of feeding habitat and exposure to pesticides
and toxins.
Roseate Spoonbill (Platale ajaja)
This species is listed as threatened in the state of Florida. Threats include the loss of
adequate food sources and habitat degradation. Other threats include habitat loss and
disturbance, pesticides, and illegal shootings. This species is seen on a frequent basis on
the preserve.
Panther photo taken by wildlife camera on the preserve
in January 2016
Panther with two kittens on the Pepper
Ranch Preserve June 2023
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Southern Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus leucocephalus)
On June 29, 2007, the bald eagle was officially delisted and removed from the federal
Endangered Species List in the lower 48 states. However, according to the USFWS
Division of Migratory Bird Management, this bird of prey will continue to be protected
by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Lacey Act and the Migratory Bird
Treaty Act.
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana)
This bird species was first sighted on the preserve by staff in 2008, and on regular
occasions since then, is listed as threatened by both FWC and USFWS. Also known as
the wood ibis or flint head, this species is one of the largest wading birds found in Florida
and the only stork in the United States. The wood stork is a tactile feeder and may be
found in fresh, brackish, and saltwater ecosystems. Because of its dependence on
naturally functioning hydrologic systems, the National Audubon Society refers to this
wading bird as the “barometer of the Everglades”. For this reason, the wood stork is an
excellent environmental indicator of wetland health (Mazziotti 2002).
2.6 Invasive, Non-native and Problem Species
In an ecological context, an invasive species is one that is aggressive in growth and
expansion of range and tends to dominate others; its establishment and dominance can
cause widespread harm to an ecological system by altering a plant community’s species
composition, susceptibility to fire and hydrology. Non-indigenous species (i.e., non-
native or exotic species) are those that have been introduced purposefully or accidentally
to an area outside their normal range. The characteristics of some of these species (high
rate of growth/reproduction, no natural predators, easily dispersed, able to out-compete
native species) make them invasive. Some indigenous species (a species whose natural
range included Florida at the time of European contact circa 1500 AD or a species that
has naturally expanded or changed its range to include Florida) may also become
invasive. Invasions by native and non-native species often follow an alteration to
ecosystem function, disruption of the food web, large-scale fragmentation of an
ecosystem and/or disturbance (e.g., clearing, fire, drought, etc.) of an area. While some
native species may become invasive, the establishment and dominance of non-native
species is of particular concern. The exotic plant and animal species documented within
the preserve and those that have a potential to occur within the preserve are discussed in
the following sections.
2.6.1 Invasive and Problem Plant Species
FISC (Florida Invasive Species Council formerly known as FLEPPC) maintains a list of
exotic plants that have been documented to (1) have adverse effects on Florida’s
biodiversity and plant communities, (2) cause habitat loss due to infestations and (3)
impact endangered species via habitat loss and alteration. To date, 82 non-indigenous or
non-native plant species have been detected within Pepper Ranch Preserve (Table 78),
accounting for 20% of the plant species recorded there. Of the 82 exotic species, 32 are
listed by FISC FLEPPC (23 Category I and nine Category II). FISCLEPPC defines
Category I plants as those that alter native plant communities by displacing native
species, change community structures or ecological functions, or hybridize with natives.
Category II plants have increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered
Florida plant communities to the extent shown by Category I species. These definitions
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do not rely on the economic severity or geographic range of the problem, but rather on
the documented ecological damage caused by these plants (FLEPPC 2009).
Table 7: Non-Indigenous and Invasive Plant Species at Pepper Ranch Preserve
Scientific Name Common Names FISC Category
Abrus precatorius ROSARY PEA; BLACKEYED SUSAN I
Ageratum conyzoides TROPICAL WHITEWEED
Albizia lebbeck WOMAN'S TONGUE I
Alternanthera philoxeroides ALLIGATORWEED II
Alysicarpus ovalifolius FALSE MONEYWORT; ALYCE
CLOVER
Alysicarpus vaginalis WHITE MONEYWORT
Amaranthus spinosus SPINY AMARANTH
Asclepias curassavica SCARLET MILKWEED
Blechum pyramidatum BROWNE'S BLECHUM II
Casuarina glauca GRAY SHEOAK; SUCKERING
AUSTRALIAN-PINE I
Citrus x aurantium SOUR ORANGE; GRAPEFRUIT;
SWEET ORANGE
Citrus x jambhiri ROUGH LEMON
Commelina diffusa COMMON DAYFLOWER
Crotalaria pallida var. obovate SMOOTH RATTLEBOX
Cuphea carthagenensis COLOMBIAN WAXWEED
Cynodon dactylon BERMUDAGRASS
Cyperus rotundus NUTGRASS
Desmodium triflorum THREEFLOWER TICK-TREFOIL
Eichhornia crassipes COMMON WATER-HYACINTH I
Eleusine indica INDIAN GOOSEGRASS
Emilia fosbergii FLORIDA TASSELFLOWER
Eragrostis atrovirens THALIA LOVEGRASS
Eragrostis ciliaris GOPHERTAIL LOVEGRASS
Eugenia uniflora SURINAM CHERRY I
Eulophia graminea (no common name)
Ficus macrocarpa INDIAN LAUREL I
Hedychium coronarium BUTTERFLY GINGER
Hemarthria altissima LIMPOGRASS II
Hydrilla verticillate WATERTHYME, HYDRILLA I
Hymenachne amplexicaulis TROMPETILLA, WEST INDIAN MARSH
GRASS I
Hyptis verticillate JOHN CHARLES
Imperata cylindrical COGONGRASS I
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Indigofera hirsute HAIRY INDIGO
Kigelia pinnata SAUSAGE TREE
Lantana camara LANTANA, SHRUBVERBENA I
Leucaena leucocephala WHITE LEADTREE II
Ludwigia peruviana PERUVIAN PRIMROSEWILLOW I
Lygodium microphyllum SMALL-LEAF CLIMBING FERN I
Macroptilium lathyroides WILD BUSHBEAN
Mangifera indica MANGO
Medicago lupulina BLACK MEDIC
Melaleuca quinquenervia PUNKTREE I
Melinis repens ROSE NATALGRASS I
Momordica charantia BALSAMPEAR II
Murdannia nudiflora NAKEDSTEM DEWFLOWER
Murdannia spirata var. parviflora ASIATIC DEWFLOWER
Nephrolepis multiflora ASIAN SWORD FERN I
Oldenlandia corymbosa FLATTOP MILLE GRAINES
Panicum maximum GUINEAGRASS II
Panicum repens TORPEDO GRASS I
Paspalum notatum BAHIAGRASS
Paspalum urvillei VASEYGRASS
Pennisetum polystachion WEST INDIAN PENNISETUM;
MISSIONGRASS II
Phoenix roebellini PYGMY DATE PALM
Pistia stratiotes WATER-LETTUCE I
Pouzolzia zeylanica POUZOLZ'S BUSH
Pseudelephantopus spicatus DOG'S-TONGUE
Pseudogynox chenopodioides MEXICAN FLAMEVINE
Psidium cattleianum STRAWBERRY GUAVA I
Psidium guajava GUAVA I
Pteris vittate CHINESE LADDER BRAKE II
Richardia grandiflora LARGEFLOWER MEXICAN CLOVER
Sacciolepis indica INDIAN CUPSCALE
Salvinia minima WATER SPANGLES
Schinus terebinthifolia BRAZILIAN PEPPER I
Senna alata CANDLESTICK PLANT
Senna obtusifolia COFFEEWEED; SICKLEPOD
Senna pendula var. glabrata VALAMUERTO I
Solanum diphyllum TWOLEAF NIGHTSHADE II
Solanum viarum TROPICAL SODA APPLE I
Spermacoce verticillata SHRUBBY FALSE BUTTONWEED
Sphagneticola trilobata CREEPING OXEYE, WEDELIA II
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Sporobolus indicus var. pyramidalis WEST INDIAN DROPSEED,
SMUTGRASS I
Syzygium cumini JAVA PLUM I
Thelypteris dentate DOWNY MAIDEN FERN; DOWNY
SHIELD FERN
As of the February 2009 upon acquisition of the Pepper Ranch Preserve by the
Conservation Collier program, the most problematic non-indigenous or exotic, invasive
plant species was torpedo grass, Brazilian pepper, and cogon grass. To date, exotic plant
treatments have taken place on the majority approximately 1,750 acres of the preserve,
the remainder of the preserve is open wetland and pasture. The control/removal of
invasive, exotic species is discussed in detail in section 4 of this document.
2.6.2 Invasive and Other Potential Problem Animal Species
Although Florida does not have an official exotic, invasive animal species list, at least
400 exotic fish and wildlife animal species have been reported in Florida, and
approximately 125 species are established.
Threewo non-indigenous, invasive animal species have been documented on the
preserve: the brown anole (Anolis sagrei), the feral pig (Sus scrofa), and the Cane toad
(Rhinella marina). has been heard calling near Lake Trafford (Rinella marina). One
potentially problematic species is the coyote (Canus latrans). Based on the natural
communities found within the preserve, proximity to residential areas and geographic
location, several more species (native and non-native) have the potential to impact Pepper
Ranch Preserve to varying degrees and may yet be observed on site during future visits
and wildlife surveys. Brief descriptions of documented, invasive, or potentially
problematic species are provided in the following paragraphs.
Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei): documented within the Pepper Ranch Preserve
Also known as the Cuban anole, the brown anole is native to Cuba, the Bahamas, and
neighboring islands (Schwartz & Henderson 1991). Like other anoles from the islands,
this species is a small, tropical, diurnal, arboreal, territorial, and insectivorous lizard
(Campbell 2001). The brown anole was first documented in the Florida Keys in the late
1800s (Lee 1985) and has since spread throughout Florida, into Georgia and into two
other southeastern states (Campbell 1996). It feeds on a wide variety of insects,
amphipods, and isopods. Brown anoles also prey on other small vertebrates including the
hatchlings of the native green anole (A. carolinensiis; Campbell 2000). Campbell (2000)
showed that, in the absence of the exotic brown anoles, native green anoles occupy
perches from ground to the canopy of vegetation. However, in the presence of the exotic
anole, native anoles move higher in trees, occupying only the trunk and crown of trees.
Dietary overlap is high between both species, but the overall effects of the brown anole
on the green anole are still undetermined.
Cane Toad (Rhinella marina): documented within the Pepper Ranch Preserve
The cane toad is an invasive exotic species in south Florida. It is tropical species native
to the Amazon basin in South America, and its range extends through Central America to
extreme southern Texas along the Rio Grande River. Beetles, bees, ants, winged
termites, crickets and bugs are a large part of the diet of the adult marine toad.
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Additionally, they consume arthropods, mollusks, small vertebrates, plant matter, pet
food, carrion, household scraps, marine snails, smaller toads and native frogs, small
snakes, and even small mammals. Marine toads are prolific breeders and females can lay
tens of thousands of eggs in a single breeding season. They prefer forested areas with
semi-permanent water nearby (Churchill 2003). The cane toad looks very similar to the
native, southern toad, but there are some distinct differences. The most obvious
difference is adult body size (length of body not counting the legs). Adult marine toads
can reach lengths of 6 -9 inches while the native southern toads only reach a length of 3.6
inches. Like other true toads, both possess poisonous, parotid glands. The parotid
glands of the cane toad are angled downward behind their head to their shoulders. The
southern toad has a kidney-shaped parotid gland behind each eye positioned close to the
spine. The southern toad also possesses cranial crests that start between the eyes and
often end in big knobs. While the parotid glands of all toads contain bufotoxins
(poisonous, milky fluids exuded as a defense mechanism), the chemicals released by the
exotic, cane toad are much more harmful to wildlife, pets and people (Brandt & Mazziotti
2005). Adjoining residents of the preserve should be encouraged to keep pet food and
water containers indoors or empty at night. Dogs are not allowed on the preserve unless
they are service dogs. Owners of service dogs should be warned that they could be
present.
3.0 Previous Conditions of the Preserve; Current Use of the Preserve
and Adjacent Land Uses
3.1 Previous Land Uses of the Preserve
The earliest aerial photographs obtained of the preserve were taken in 1940, 1953 and
1963 (Figures 8, 9, and 10). Digital images were downloaded from the U.S. Department
of Interior USGS historic aerial photo web page (USDI 2004) and the Florida Department
of State Aerial Photography of Florida web page (FDOS 2006) and georeferenced in
ArcGIS 9, ArcMap Version 9.3. Aerial photographs (1975 – 2009) from the Collier
County Property Appraiser web page were also reviewed.
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Figure 8: 1940 Aerial View of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Review of the historic aerial photographs revealed Lake Trafford Road and Pepper Road
(both inside and along the edge of the preserve) existed in 1940. In 1940, the majority of
the preserve was natural with the exception of one agricultural field in the southeast
portion of the preserve in Section 26, Township 46 South, Range 28 East (identified as
Folio Nos. 00052680009 and 00052640007 on the Collier County Property Appraiser
web site) and one agricultural field in the northernmost central extent of the preserve in
Section 22, Township 46 South, Range 28 East (identified as Folio No. 00052360002 on
the Collier County Property Appraiser web site). Two areas cleared for homesteads
appear on the 1940 aerial photograph in the southeastern extent of the preserve, one of
which is the area surrounding the current caretaker house located at the main preserve
entrance on the south side of Pepper Road. A trail from the homestead to Lake Trafford
is evident on the 1940 aerial photograph. The other homestead appears on the 1940 aerial
photograph east of the current caretaker house near Pepper Road along the northeast
boundary of Section 35.
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Figure 9: 1953 Aerial View of Pepper Ranch Preserve
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Figure 10: 1963 Aerial View of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Between 1940 and 1953, no further development was evident in the preserve. Between
1953 and 1963, the majority of the site agricultural fields and associated ditches were
created. Between 1963 and 1975, a crescent shaped agricultural field was added at the
central western extent of the site agricultural fields. Between 1975 and 1980, the east-
west portion of Trafford Oaks Road was constructed, dividing the marsh and forested
wetlands through which it was constructed.
Prior to 1995, the only additional development in the preserve included the construction
of three oil fields adjacent to the hydric improved pasture at the central western extent of
the preserve and the construction of two agricultural fields in the most eastern extent of
the preserve (in the northeast corner of Section 35). Two of the three oil fields are
currently active. In 2023, the third field was converted into a saltwater disposal site.
Brine from the two active wells is injected back into ground at this site. The two
agricultural fields have been fallow since approximately 2006 and are currently
overgrown with grasses and shrubs. (i.e. Brazilian pepper, wax myrtle, etc.).
3.2 Previous Land Uses of Adjoining Properties
Based on review of the 1940 aerial photograph, the lands that adjoin the preserve were
natural. In 1953, canals were excavated from Lake Trafford and agricultural fields were
constructed around them. Natural plant communities were converted to agricultural
fields on lands southeast of Lake Trafford and south of Lake Trafford Road east of the
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preserve. Adjoining lands west and southwest of the preserve, the majority of which are
now part of the major wetland slough on CREW lands, remained undeveloped.
By 1963, agricultural fields and residential properties (±2.5 or ±5.0 acre properties north
and south of Lake Trafford Road) were constructed to the east between the preserve and
the town of Immokalee. By 1975, a large agricultural field was constructed northeast of
the preserve. The wetland slough (currently on CREW lands) and natural communities
immediately north and south of the preserve remained undeveloped. Between 1980 and
1985 Trafford Oaks Road was extended from its western terminus to the south. Estate-
sized residential properties along the south extension of Trafford Oaks Road were
developed with homes and borrow ponds. These properties adjoin the southwestern
extent (Section 33) of the preserve. By 1985, agricultural development surrounding Lake
Trafford had increased, however, the major wetland slough to the west and northwest of
the Lake and the wetland slough south of the Lake remained undeveloped. Throughout
the 1990s and early 2000s, residential development continued along Lake Trafford Road
east of the preserve and agricultural uses remained on lands northeast of the preserve.
In 1990, SFWMD purchased the lands that encompass the major wetland slough located
west and northwest of the preserve. These lands are referred to as the Corkscrew
Regional Ecosystem Watershed or CREW. Through its adjacency to CREW project
lands, the preserve is connected to several thousands of acres of preserved land in
southeast Lee County and Northwest Collier County, including diverse systems located in
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Panther Island Mitigation Bank, other CREW lands, the
Southwest Florida Regional Airport 7,000-acre mitigation site and Conservation Collier’s
±367-acre Caracara Prairie Preserve.
3.3 Current Land Uses of the Preserve
Currently, there is a cattle lease with Hood Citrus Caretaking, Inc. Lake Trafford Ranch,
LLLP and a mineral rights lease with Newport Oil on the Pepper Ranch Preserve
(appendix 6). The current cattle lease started in September 2019May 2014 and
encompasses 1,6362,012.10 acres of the preserve. The lease is for a five-year period with
option to renew for two additional terms of one year. It brings in revenue for the program
each year. If the current cattle lease is not renewed, the County will publicize a request
for proposal (RFP) to the public to ensure that the current lease is replaced, in order to
ensure a fair process for bidding on cattle leases.
The oil drilling lease covers the two quarter sections in which the oil wells exist
(southwest quarter of Section 28 and northwest quarter of Section 33, both in Township
46 South, Range 28 East). The rights reserve all minerals below 250 feet. In addition,
staff will consider inviting beekeepers by publicizing a request for proposal (RFP) as a
permitted use on the Preserve.
Previously, Conservation Collier staff has held two public outreach events per year at
the preserve. The initial outreach event was held on May 9, 2009. The guided hikes
offered to the public during the initial outreach event were completely filled. The
second public outreach event was held November 21, 2009. Over 300 people attended
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the event and participated in the guided hikes and van tours of the preserve as well as
the historical presentation about Pepper Ranch. Since then staff has partnered with the
Immokalee One-by-one foundation to hold an Earth Day Festival in 2016 and 2017.
This event was a huge success and brought hundreds of people from the town of
Immokalee to the preserve. As evident from the public outreach events, there is strong
public interest in Pepper Ranch Preserve.
The preserve will be open to the public every Friday and non-hunt or holiday Saturdays
and Sundays from November through the end of June. When open, the public will also be
allowed to obtain a daily permit that will allow them to gain access to all areas of the
preserve that are open for public access.
Each year in late September early October, Southeastern sunflowers (Helianthus agrestis)
bloom in 100 acres of pasture on the west side of the preserve. The program has held
special sunflower viewing events since 2013 to allow the public to drive in to see the
flowers. It has been a very popular event drawing 1000’s of people.
Public use of the preserve must be consistent with the preserve management goals and is
discussed in section 4 of this document.
3.4 Current Land Uses of Adjoining Properties
The Pepper Ranch Preserve is bordered on its west and northwest boundaries by the
CREW project lands. These are lands purchased by the SFWMD under the Save our
Rivers program. Adjacent to the west are CREW project lands known as the CREW
Marsh; to the north are SFWMD lands, agricultural lands and orange groves; to the east
are SFWMD and residential lands (town of Immokalee); and to the south are Lake
Trafford, estate-sized residential properties (Trafford Oaks), and agricultural and
undeveloped lands owned by Baron Collier Investments, Ltd.
Directly south of CREW project lands and connected to them are private conservation
lands owned by the National Audubon Society (Corkscrew Swamp), more conservation
lands owned by the SFWMD (Bird Rookery Swamp) and various private mitigation
lands, all together encompassing 60,000 acres, of which over 42,000 acres is currently
held in conservation. The SFWMD makes certain capital improvements to its lands such
as fencing, access roads/trails, and may provide basic public facilities on lands.
Additionally, habitat management such as exotic plant species removal and prescribed
burning may be conducted. Florida Statutes (F.S. 373.59) also require the SFWMD to
develop appropriate public use.
The organization most frequently associated with CREW project lands is the CREW
Land and Water Trust, Inc. (CREW TR), a nonprofit environmental education
organization established in 1989 to coordinate the land acquisition, land management,
and public use in the 60,000-acre CREW project area. The CREW TR does not own the
land but operates in partnership with the SFWMD.
Approximately 180 acres of conservation land exists along the central eastern boundary
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of the Pepper Ranch Preserve. A 625-acre impoundment that serves as a dredge disposal
site for nutrient-laden muck from the bottom of Lake Trafford is located east of the
conservation land. The Lake Trafford hydraulic dredging restoration project is being
conducted by SFWMD in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection (FDEP) and through the cooperative efforts of various local organizations and
state and federal agencies. Phase I of the restoration project, completed in 2006, removed
over three million cubic yards of muck from the deeper portions of the lake. Phase II and
III removed several million additional cubic yards of muck from the lake. The project
was completed in in November 2010.
Eight sections of land owned by Turner Grove Citrus LTD Partnership located to the
northeast of the ranch, and extending into Lee County, currently have citrus groves on
them.
3.5 Cultural, Historical and Archeological Resource Protection
The Pepper Ranch Preserve is within an area of historical and archaeological probability.
Before conducting any development near Lake Trafford, County staff ordered a Phase I
Reconnaissance Cultural Resource Survey which was conducted in November 2010 by
the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy, Inc. The survey was conducted in the
area surrounding the lodge/visitor center. Prehistoric and historic archaeological sites
were found, and the lodge/visitor center building was deemed historical. Recovered
cultural materials included artifacts and faunal bone. Prehistoric remains included three
sand tempered pottery sherds. One test hole uncovered a prehistoric midden site that
included a component of historic refuse. Additional historical and archaeological sites
are most likely present on the property. Before conducting any additional development,
the County will obtain Archaeological Surveys within the area(s) to be developed. When
possible, the County will refrain from building in areas identified as potential
archaeological sites. If development is unavoidable in areas identified as potential
archaeological sites, the County will develop improvements under the guidance of an
archaeologist. In addition, the County will notify the Division of Historical Resources
immediately if further evidence is discovered to suggest any archaeological or historic
resources are present in areas that were not identified in the Phase I. If such resources are
identified on-site, a professional survey and assessment shall be instituted. The
archaeologist shall prepare a report outlining results of the assessments and issue
recommendations to County staff about management of any sites discovered, per
provisions of the Land Development Code Section 2.2.25. This report shall be sent to the
Division of Historical Resources. The County shall cooperate fully with direction from
the Division of Historical Resources on the protection and management of archaeological
and historical resources. The management of these resources will comply with the
provisions of Chapter 267, F.S., specifically Sections 267.061 2 (a) and (b).
The visitor center is now considered a historical structure in Collier County. This
designation was granted by the County’s Historical/Archeological Preservation Board.
Retaining this structure and the designation may provide benefits to Conservation Collier
in terms of obtaining future grant funds for restoration.
3.6 Major Accomplishments since Acquisition
Collier County purchased the Pepper Ranch Preserve in February of 2009. The table
below lists the accomplishments since acquisition of the property.
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Table 89: Major Accomplishments During Previous Years
Accomplishment Year(s)
Exotic vegetation treatment in North Stewardship Sending Area (SSA) (50 acres) 2009
Cattle Vat Cleanup 2009
Removal of Old Structures 2009
Creation of a New Trail by the Lodge 2009
Two Public Outreach Events 2009
First Youth Hog Hunt Held 2010
Public Hog and Small Game Hunts Began 2010
Initial Exotic vegetation treatment and maintenance began 2009
New Bathroom Facility and Campground were built 2013
New Security Gates Installed 2013
Lake Overlook Boardwalk completed 2015
USFWS Conservation Bank was established 2018
4.0 Future Use of the Pepper Ranch Preserve including Management
Issues, Goals and Objectives
This section describes the main management issues, goals and objectives for the Pepper
Ranch Preserve as well as the overall management framework. Central to the
management of the Preserve is the mission of the Conservation Collier Program, and the
goals and objectives set forth in this management plan.
4.1 Management Plan Framework
Each property purchased by Conservation Collier shall have its own management plan.
At the time the Pepper Ranch Preserve was purchased, the Conservation Collier
Ordinance required that an “Interim” Management Plan be developed within 60 days of
closing. Interim plans include basic items such as removal of invasive, exotic vegetation
and trash, establishing site security, developing management partnerships and planning
for public access. The interim plan for this site was officially approved in September
2009. The ordinance then requires a “Final” ten-year management plan be developed
within two years. Subsequently, the property management plan must then be reviewed
every five years. Final management plans, however, are considered living documents and
can be updated at any time. Review of all management plans start in the Lands
Evaluation and Management subcommittee and must be approved by both the CCLAAC
and the Collier County BCC.
4.1.1 Preserve Manager: Contact Information
The site manager for Pepper Ranch Preserve will be a designated Collier County
Environmental Specialist who may be contacted through electronic mail:
ConservationCollier@ColliercountyFL.govgov.net.
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4.2 Public Uses and Assessment of their Impacts
While visitor attendance increases every year, public uses will be consistent with the
primary goals of conservation, preservation, restoration and maintenance of the resource.
Details of public uses for the Pepper Ranch Preserve and an assessment of their potential
impacts are provided in the following sections.
4.2.1 Identification of Public Uses Consistent with Preservation, Enhancement,
Restoration, Conservation and Maintenance of the Resources
The Conservation Collier Ordinance 2002-63 constrains the use of this property to
“primary objectives of managing and preserving natural resource values and providing
appropriate natural resource-based recreational & educational opportunities.” Natural
resource-based recreation shall mean all forms of uses, which are consistent with the
goals of this program, and are compatible with the specific parcel (Ord. No. 02-63, as
amended§ 5, 12-3-02). Additionally, no dumping, use of unauthorized vehicles, or
removal or destruction of natural or historical/archaeological resources will be permitted
within the preserve. The goal is to allow limited, non-destructive public access to native
plant communities and animal species. Currently, the preserve rules are those identified
in Collier County Ordinance 76-48 (available from www.municode.com), as amended.
The following are consistent uses for this particular site: hiking, nature photography,
camping, mountain biking, horseback riding, bird watching, and hunting. Inconsistent
uses include off-road vehicle use (ORV), cell phone towers, shooting ranges, and the
recreational use of drones.
There is one lease and a number of easements existing on the Pepper Ranch Preserve, as
identified below (see Figure 11):
Lease:
A cattle lease held by Hood Citrus Caretaking, Inc. coversLake Trafford Ranch LLP for
Two Thousand Twelve point One (1,6362,012.1) acres of property, as described in
Appendix 6, for the sole purpose of cattle grazing and incidental activities that are
directly related to beef cattle production for a term of three (5) years, commencing on
September, 10, 2019May 27, 2014, with two 1 year renewal options, with payments,
terms and provisions as set forth in Cattle Lease, attached as an Exhibit to the Pepper
Ranch Purchase Agreement. This lease brings in revenue for the property management.
Staff also obtained a range management study from Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS) to further direct cattle lease operations at Pepper Ranch Preserve. The
current lease and every lease thereafter should abide by the best management practices
outlined in the current NRCS range management plan for the property.
Easements:
• Access Easement entered into on February 6, 2009, with Lake Trafford Ranch LLP
for a 30’ wide strip of land running along the main interior ranch road, following an
overall east to west directional track, and leading from the main ranch gate to the oil
wells situated along the western side of the ranch. Recorded in O.R. Book 4425 and
Page 3302, Public records of Collier County. The grantee is responsible for
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maintenance of this easement.
• Access Easement entered into February 2, 2009 by Lake Trafford Ranch LLP in favor
of Baron Collier Investments (BCI), Ltd., a Florida Limited partnership, over a 15’
wide strip of land running over the same main interior access road as the above
easement but before arriving at the oil wells, turning south to facilitate access to a
parcel adjoining the southern boundary of the Pepper Ranch Preserve. Access is
granted solely for purposes of ingress and egress to serve specific activities on the
BCI lands, which are cattle grazing, ranching, hunting and forestry. Recorded in O.R.
Book 4425, Page 3263, Public Records of Collier County. The grantee is responsible
for maintenance of this easement.
• Stewardship Easement Agreement recorded in OR Book 4089, Page 3837, Public
Records of Collier County.
• Drainage Easement for 40’ along SE corner of property in Section 35, recorded in
O.R. Book 49, Page 147, Public Records of Collier County.
• Access Easement in favor of Trafford Oaks for 60’ as for portion of Trafford Lakes
Road that traverses Pepper Ranch property, as recorded in O.R. Book 907, Page 1383,
Public Records of Collier County.
• A Conservation Bank was established through the USFWS on 1,516.84 acres of the
preserve in October 2018.Conservation Easement over portions of the property The
Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast was granted a perpetual conservation
easement over this area and was designated as the permanent steward of this
Conservation Easement. associated with panther and/or wetland mitigation will be
granted to the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD).
Conservation Collier staff will maintain an open line of communication with the oil well
operators to develop operational protocol where needed and to ensure this operation
continues in a safe and clean manner at the preserve. This level of coordination will also
be extended to the cattle lease holder on land management activities at the preserve.
An apiary lease may be considered in the future for the preserve. This will be advertised
for bid to the general public and will be approved by the BCC before implementation. A
minimal amount of hives will be allowed to be placed on the property away from public
use areas.
No other easements, concessions or leases exist on Pepper Ranch Preserve or are
proposed for the future, unless they further conservation objectives., such as a
conservation easement.
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Figure 11. Pepper Ranch Preserve Easement and Overlay Map
4.3 Current and Future Desired Conditions
This section includes a description of the current and proposed future conditions for the
site’s natural areas. Management techniques to achieve these conditions are outlined in
section 4.4.
After managers complete recommended management actions, Pepper Ranch Preserve
will consist of upland mixed forest, strand swamp, slough, prairie hammock, pine
flatwoods, dry prairie, freshwater marshes, bottomland forest, and wet prairie. These
communities will have a similar structure and composition to those that existed before
non-indigenous people settled the region and before the exclusion of fire. Through
restoration efforts the site will be vegetated with appropriate native flora that will provide
suitable cover for a variety of wildlife species.
4.4 Goals for the 10-year period 202410-203420
A set of goals and objectives for Pepper Ranch Preserve were developed in conjunction
with the drafting of this Management Plan. The goals and objectives in this plan are
tailored specifically for Pepper Ranch Preserve based on the purposes for which the lands
were acquired, the condition of the resources present, and the management issues for the
property. On-site managers should be familiar with this entire Management Plan. Goals
and objectives from the Interim Management Plan for the Pepper Ranch Preserve were
reviewed to determine whether they should be included in this plan. The goals and
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objectives presented here reflect programmatic goals and ideas of Conservation Collier
personnel in charge of managing and protecting the area. These goals shall not be
modified, but Sspecific application of management techniques may take into
consideration input by user groups and other stakeholders from outside the program,
accommodating user needs and desires where practicable and where overarching
management goals are not violated.
Management issues are discussed below in separate sections. Within each section,
approaches for dealing with these issues are described. The ability to implement the
specific goals and objectives identified in this plan is dependent upon the availability of
staffing and funding sources. The following goals have been identified for Pepper Ranch
Preserve:
Goal 1: Maintain high quality habitat with limited disturbance for the benefit of
native flora and fauna
Goal 2: Develop and implement a baseline monitoring reportmonitoring program
Goal 3: Remove or control populations of invasive, exotic or problematic flora and
fauna to restore and maintain natural habitats
Goal 4: Create aImplement a Prescribed Fire Plan
Goal 5: Restore native vegetation as needed
Goal 6: Develop and mMonitor public use
Goal 7: Facilitate uses of the site for educational purposes
Goal 8: Provide a plan for security and disaster preparedness
Goal 9: Provide preliminary Panther Habitat Unit (PHU) calculations and a draft
Monitoring Plan per USFWS requirements for an onsite Panther
Conservation Bank Implement and comply with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Services (USFWS) requirements for the established Panther Conservation
Bank. Provide County Panther Habitat Unit (PHUs) mitigation through an
onsite Panther Conservation Bank.
GOAL 1 MAINTAIN HIGH QUALITY HABITAT WITH LIMITED DISTURBANCE FOR
THE BENEFIT OF NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA
Action Item 1.1 Maintain the existing boundary fence and access gates on the
Pepper Ranch Preserve as needed.
Currently, a fence is present along most of the Pepper Ranch Preserve boundary with
the exception of the western boundary which this preserve shares with the adjacent
CREW lands, also there is no fence along the southeastern boundary along the Lake
Trafford shoreline. Under the existing cattle lease the lessee is responsible for the
installation and maintenance of all fences on the preserve necessary for retaining
cattle on the property. Firebreaks will be installed along fence lines that exist along
upland areas. This will also allow for better access for fence line patrolling and
maintenance.
Action Item 1.2 MaintainInstall signs encouraging people to stay on public
access trails situated on the preserve.
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Signs will be posted along public access trails to remind visitors to remain on the
trails for their safety and the protection of the natural resources of the preserve.
Action Item 1.3 Identify locations of rare and listed native plant species.
The location of these species has been identified using a global positioning system
(GPS) device and mapped to allow staff to monitor them. All future sightings of such
plants will be GPS-located and mapped accordingly. Public trails will be constructed
to avoid areas where rare and listed species exist. These locations will not be shared
with the public to protect these rare plants.
Action Item 1.4 Enforce regulations prohibiting trash or dumping in or near the
preserve.
Staff will monitor the preserve on a regular basis and if dumping occurs, enforcement
actions will be sought through the County Sheriff’s Department.
Action Item 1.5 Identify actual and potential locations of resident animal life and
take steps such as locating visitor amenities away from animal nesting sites.
An inventory of sensitive areas, such as location of listed plant species and animal
nesting sites, will be maintained based on existing knowledge and to be built upon
with all future protected species surveys that are conducted at the preserve. During
the development of public use facilities this inventory will be utilized to locate the
amenities away from known sensitive areas.
Action Item 1.6 Avoid non-target damage to native plants and animals,
especially rare species, during invasive, exotic plant treatments.
If the use of herbicides is appropriate during the treatment of invasive, exotic plant
species, decisions on the types of herbicides utilized will be made on the best
information available at the time of exotic removal. Staff has prohibited the use of
herbicides containing Imazapyr (e.g., Arsenal) due to reports that these herbicides
have potentially caused a great deal of non-target damage throughout the state.
Licensed County or State contractors will be monitored closely to ensure the proper
herbicide applications are being utilized while treating the site. In addition, close
attention will be taken to identify listed species (Table 7) that may be attached to
invasive trees being cut down or removed. Individuals of these species will be
relocated prior to removal. Special attention will be given to avoid damage to native
species in the vicinity of exotic removal activities.
Action Item 1.7 Note, research and provide input as to all site development
occurring adjacent to Pepper Ranch Preserve to determine that the proper site
development permits have been obtained and that the site development complies
with the permits.
Activities on adjacent and neighboring properties may have an impact on the
indigenous plant and animal life on the Pepper Ranch Preserve. As such, all existing
local, state, and federal regulations should be strictly followed and enforced during
any site development adjacent to the preserve. It shall be the responsibility of the
developer to establish erosion control measures and vegetation protection measures
(i.e., protective fencing or barriers). If any site developer working in areas adjacent to
the preserve does not take the necessary control measures, construction shall be
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Conservation Collier Program 63
immediately halted until control measures are put into place and mitigation and/or
remediation will be the sole responsibility of the developer.
GOAL 2: DEVELOP A BASELINE MONITORING PROGRAM
Action Item 2.1 Establish a long-term biological monitoring program and
conduct additional wildlife surveys.
Long-term management of the preserve should be based on biological data. Changes
following baseline conditions should be assessed as negative or positive, and
management strategies changed appropriately. This section discusses information
needs and long-term monitoring needs.
Pro Native Consulting has conducted a floristic inventory of the Pepper Ranch
Preserve; these findings will comprise the baseline floristic data on which future
actions will be based. The site should be inspected by Conservation Collier staff at
least twice a year and thoroughly inventoried at regular intervals (everyca. 5-10
years) to detect new invasions (by natives or exotics) and extirpations. Areas
undergoing extreme restoration should be assessed more frequently. While some
wildlife data has been collected, additional baseline data should be collected,
especially on invertebrates, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. The site
manager may contract this work out or enlist the assistance of local volunteers and
educators to coordinate student research projects. Wildlife surveys, like plant surveys,
should take place at regular intervals (ca. 5-10 years) to detect long-term trends.
White-tailed deer surveys have been conducted once a year at the preserve since 2011
and will continue annually to provide population trend data and to aid in the County’s
panther mitigation requirements as well as providing staff with the number of surplus
animals that will be allowed to be taken in the Quality Wildlife Management Hunt
Program. Spotlight surveys collect data including: number of deer observed, deer
sighting location, and gender ratios.
Turkey camera trap population estimate surveys were conducted at the ranch in 2010
and 2011 following consultation with members of the FWC turkey program. These
surveys were put on hold pending development of more reliable population
estimation methods for turkey. Formal hog surveys are not conducted at the ranch.
Additionally, game species presence and distribution is monitored at the
preserveranch throughout the year with the help of wildlife cameras. In addition to
surveys and camera trap monitoring, opportunistic observations of wildlife sign are
collected by staff, volunteers, visitors, and hunters to monitor game species presence.
Frog breeding call surveys started in May 2018 to determine which frog species are
present on the preserve. The data collected during these surveys will help to set the
foundation for our understanding of baseline species diversity and richness ahead of
any future hydrologic restoration efforts, monitor for species utilization of specific
breeding ponds, monitor for the presence of exotic/invasive predatory species like
Cuban treefrog and cane toad, and contribute important data to existing and ongoing
frog monitoring networks throughout Southwest Florida. The number of frog species
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Conservation Collier Program 64
is a good indicator of a healthy wetland habitat. To date, 11 different species of frogs
and toads have been recorded on the preserve (see Appendix 5). (Table 5).
Photo points wereill be established throughout the preserve when the panther
mitigation bank baseline survey requirements wereare set-up. The total number of
photo stations installed will be dependent on future restoration plans and staffing
levels. Locations of photo points wereill be recorded with a GPS unit and all
photographs taken at these locations will be taken at a standard height and angle of
view.. During photo documentations, one photo will be taken in each of the cardinal
directions (north, east, south and west) and a 360-degree panoramic photo will also be
taken. Photos will be taken with a vegetation profile board to aid in the determination
of what (if any) changes occur over time. These photos will help to monitor exotic
removal efforts and native plant recruitment, as well as the result of other land
management activities. If necessary, more photo points will be established to aid in
management decisions.
GOAL 3: REMOVE OR CONTROL POPULATIONS OF INVASIVE, EXOTIC OR
PROBLEMATIC FLORA AND FAUNA TO RESTORE AND MAINTAIN NATURAL
HABITATS
Action Item 3.1 Prioritize the removal of invasive, exotic and/or problematic
plant species.
Due to the size of Pepper Ranch Preserve, it was necessary it will be helpful to the
preserve manager to prioritize the exotic control efforts by area of the preserve. The
preserve has been divided up into 3 management phases 1-3 (Figure 12). The years on
the map indicate when each phase was treated. A management unit map has been
created (Appendix 5). In general, the management units will assist the preserve
manager in prioritizing and allocating resources available for the management of
Pepper Ranch Preserve.
Figure 12. Pepper Ranch Preserve Exotic Plant Treatment Phases
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Action Item 3.2 Acquire services of licensed and qualified contractor(s) for the
removal and treatment of invasive, exotic and/or problematic plant species.
Since acquisition in 2009, the preserve has received multiple annual treatments for FISC
(Florida Invasive Species Council) Category I & II species. Collier County maintains a
contract that requires acquiring bids from approved exotic plant contractors for each project.
If the project is state funded, state approved contractors are used to complete the project.
The approved contractors use the appropriate herbicide to treat each specific species. They
also use gps track logs to show the areas covered by their crew.
The following table (Table 10) describes recommended controls (Langeland &
Stocker 2001; Langeland 2008) of the Category I, invasive, exotic plant species
recorded to date on the Pepper Ranch Preserve. These recommended control methods
may be altered by site managers dependent on new information and products
available on the control of these species.
Table 910: Invasive, Exotic Plant Species Control Plan for the
Pepper Ranch Preserve FISCLEPPC Category I species1
Scientific Name Common Name Recommended Control(s)2
Abrus precatorius Rosary pea;
Treat base of vine with 10% Garlon 4. Site must
be revisited several times to pull seedlings.
Albizia lebbeck woman's tongue
Basal bark treatment with 10% Garlon 4. Cut
stump treatments are also effective with 50%
Garlon 3A or 10% Garlon 4. Small seedlings
can be hand-pulled.
Casuarina glauca
gray sheoak; suckering
australian-pine
Basal bark treatment with 10% Garlon 4 is very
effective, as is a cut-stump treatment with 50%
Garlon 3A or 10% Garlon 4. When basal bark
treatment is used on trees greater than 1’
diameter it may be necessary to slough off loose
bark in the application area to prevent the bark
from trapping the herbicide. Addition of 3%
Stalker will increase consistency on older trees.
Broadcut of 4-6 lb Velpar ULW may be used
when appropriate.
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Melaleuca
quinquenervia
Melaleuca, punktree, paper
bark
For seedlings and saplings: (1) hand pull, being
sure not to break plant off of root system and
remove or place in piles to help reduce the
chance that they will re-root or; (2) Treat with
foliar, low volume spot application of 5%
Rodeo. For mature trees: (1) Fell large trees with
chain saw leaving a level surface, or fell small
trees with machete and treat with triclopyr or
glyphosate products according to frill and girdle
directions on SLN. Use aquatic versions where
standing water is present. Monitor for
resprouting and retreat as necessary. (3) Mature
trees are very difficult to control with foliar
applications.
Eugenia uniflora Surinam cherry
For seedlings and small plants up to ½ inch
diameter, use a basal bark treatment with 10%
Garlon 4. This species takes a long time to die,
and may require a subsequent herbicide
application. For larger stems, use a cut-stump
treatment with either 50% Garlon 3A or 10%
Garlon 4. Seedlings should be hand pulled.
Ficus microcarpa Indian laurel
Basal bark application of 10% Garlon 4 is
effective.
Hymenachne
amplexicaulis trompetilla
Foliar treatment with 3-5% Rodeo.
Imerata cylindrical cogongrass
3-4 qt. Roundup Pro or 0.5 qt. Fusulade per acre.
For high volume, spot treatment use 3%-5%
Roundup Pro. Herbicides should be used in
combination with burning or tillage for optimum
control. See IFAS publication SS-AGR-52 for
additional information.
Ludwigia peruviana Peruvian primrosewillow
Treatments can be basal bark, foliar and/or cut
stump, depending on the size of the plant, with
Renovate 3 in aquatic conditions or Garlon 4 in
upland areas. Adjust percentage of chemical
based on application method.
Lygodium
microphyllum small-leaf climbing fern
Thoroughly spray foliage to wet with 1.25%
Garlon 4 (4 pt/acre), 0.6% Roundup Pro
(maximum 5 pt/acre), 1.0%-3.0% Rodeo
(maximum 7 pt/acre). Only Rodeo can be used if
plants are growing in aquatic site. Plants
growing high into trees, cut vines and treat
lower portions. Do not apply when plants are
under environmental stress.
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1 FLEPPC 2009: Category I plants are those that alter native plant communities by displacing
native species, change community structures or ecological functions, or hybridize with natives
(FLEPPC 2009)
2 All species except as cited otherwise
Table 910: Invasive, Exotic Plant Species Control Plan for the
Pepper Ranch Preserve FISCLEPPC Category I species1 (continued)
Scientific Name Common Name Recommended Control(s)2
Melinis repens rose natalgrass
Foliar application of 1-2% Roundup will
provide control. Roundup (glyphosate) is a
short-term solution, because regrowth from
seed is rapid.3
Nephrolepis brownii Asian sword fern
A foliar application of Roundup at 1.5%
provides control. Follow-up applications are
necessary.4
Panicum repens torpedo grass
Foliar application of 0.75%-1.5% Rodeo
and surfactant solution. Re-apply as
necessary when plants re-grow to within 4-6
inches in height; or foliar application of
0.5% spot treatment.
Pistia stratiotes water-lettuce
Foliar application with endothall, diquat , or
rodeo
Psidium cattleianum strawberry guava Basal bark application of 10% Garlon 4.
Psidium guajava Guava Basal bark application of 10% Garlon 4.
Schinus
terebinthifolia Brazilian pepper
Cut-stump treatment with 50% Garlon 3A, 10%
Garlon 4 or a basal bark application of 10%
Garlon 4. Foliar application of Garlon 4, Garlon
3A, Roundup Pro, Roundup Super Concentrate,
or Rodeo, according label directions may be
used where appropriate. Glyphosate products are
less effective when used alone in spring and
early summer. Use Rodeo where plants are
growing in aquatic sites.
Scleria lucustrus Wright’s nutrush
Must be treated before it seeds. Foliar
application of a 0.05% solution of herbicide
product that contains 2 lb a.i. diquat dibromide
(with surfactant) to small seedlings, which
should be present in June, Follow-up
application in mid-July, when plants are more
developed, will require solutions of 0.1% to
0.2%.
Senna pendula var.
glabrata valamuerto
Foliar application, spray to wet with 1-2%
Roundup Pro.5
Solanum diphyllum
Two-leafed
nightshade
Foliar application of 1% Garlon 4 or 3%
Roundup.
Solanum viarum tropical soda apple
Foliar application of 1% Garlon 4 or 3%
Roundup.
Syzygium cumini Java plum
Mature trees may take up to 9 months to
die. Cut-stump treatment with 50% Garlon
3A or 10% Garlon 4, or use a basal bark
treatment with 10% Garlon 4.
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3 (Stokes 2009)
4(Langeland 2008)
5(Langeland et al. 2003)
Action Item 3.3 Monitor invasive, exotic or problematic animal species.
To date, three (3) introduced animal species have been documented on the Pepper
Ranch Preserve, the brown anole, cane toad and the feral hog. Brown anoles and cane
toads are too numerous to control at this point. Attempts to control the Feral hog
population are discussed below in Action item 3.4.
Another potentially problematic species is the Coyote. Widespread control of coyotes
has been found to be ineffective and is not ecologically or economically defensible.
Individual coyotes may need to be removed from the preserve if they become a
problem to the current cattle operation; that decision will be made on a case by case
basis. The coyote can be legally hunted all year long. with guns, dogs, live traps, or
snares. A permit is required to use steel traps, to trap on another person’s property, or
to use a gun and light at night. Possessing or transporting a live coyote requires a
Class II captive wildlife permit and the use of poison is prohibited.
Action Item 3.4 Implement the Quality Wildlife Management Hunt Program to
assist in Feral Hog Management (See Regulations in Appendix 7)
It is doubtful that the total eradication of this species at Pepper Ranch Preserve can be
achieved, however, efforts will be made to reduce their population and limit the
damage they cause to natural areas, native plants and animals. In late 2009, the
Collier County BCC approved a contract with the USDA Wildlife Services for the
control of feral hogs at the preserve, which was part of the property Interim
Management Plan. As a result, fourteen hogs were trapped and euthanized in a short
time. On January 12, 2010, Item 10D, the BCC voted to cancel the USDA contract
due to public opposition and directed staff to develop a hunt program to attempt to
control the hogs and to consider trapping at a later date if they cannot be controlled
through normal hunting. As a result, the first Annual Youth Hunt was held at the
preserve in April 2010, with the assistance of FWC, and 4 hogs were harvested as a
result. The Pepper Ranch Quality Wildlife Management Hunt Program for this
preserve was then developed and began on September 11, 2010. In 2010-2011, a
total of two youth hunts and six public hunts were conducted. This program did
provide some control of the hog population at Pepper Ranch, however only 8 total
hogs were harvested during the first hunting season. Hunting alone may not properly
manage the hog population and thus a monitoring program cshould be developed to
assess the amount of hog damage to natural communities. Efforts will be made to
request assistance from nearby colleges to conduct such studies. Additional control
measures such as trapping may be necessary to protect the resource. Monitoring the
hog population will be particularly important in the event that a wetlands mitigation
bank is developed on Pepper Ranch Preserve; created/enhanced wetlands will be
required to meet certain success criteria within a set timeframe and hog foraging
behavior could severely impact creation/enhancement efforts. In areas where wetland
restoration is to occur in the future, hog fencing may need to be installed around the
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restoration areas or potentially the entire perimeter of the preserve. This fencing
would be paid for with mitigation funds. Hogs do however, provide a food source for
the Florida Panther.
GOAL 4: CREATE A IMPLEMENT PRESCRIBED FIRE MANAGEMENT PLAN
Fires were a naturally occurring event in native communities prior to mankind’s
intervention. The primary ecological functions of fire are to eliminate accumulated plant
material, return nutrients to the soil, and germinate fire-dependent species. In today’s
preserve areas prescribed burning is an essential tool in both land and wildlife
management and helps reduce potential damage and hazards from wildfires in the
wildland/urban interface areas. Proper prescribed burns promote the growth of green
shoots, roots, and rhizomes of grasses and sedges that are then available for foraging. In
wetlands, burning creates deep pools and edges for nesting and feeding of waterfowl and
controls undesirable vegetation.
Much of Collier County is comprised of natural communities in general, that are
dependent on fire to maintain species composition and diversity. The use of prescribed
fire as a management tool will be critical to the long-term health of the natural
communities and native species at the Pepper Ranch Preserve.
Action Items 4.1: Implement the Pepper RanchCreate a Prescribed Fire
Management Plan
Below is the prescribed fire management plan for Pepper Ranch Preserve. The
preserve land manager with assistance from the Florida Forest Service (FFS) and/or a
A Certified Prescribed Burn Manager will implement the prescribed fire management
plan according to the specific needs of Pepper Ranch Preserve. Staff may coordinate
this effort with other local qualified agencies for review and approval.
Objectives
The prescribed fire plan for the Pepper Ranch Preserve will be a program that mimics
the natural fire cycle for the various natural community types identified within the
preserve. Timing, based on weather conditions and ignition practices can be modified
to accomplish goals ranging from exotic vegetation control to wildlife habitat
enhancement and fuel reduction within burn units. This prescribed fire management
plan will be implemented at Pepper Ranch Preserve for ecological purposes. The
goals and objectives established for the preserve will be clearly laid out and
incorporated into each prescription. Generally, prescribed burns conducted at the
Pepper Ranch Preserve will involve a variety of firing techniques over a range of
weather conditions to create mosaic burn patterns that will benefit an array of wildlife
species.
Burn Units
The size of the Pepper Ranch Preserve, in conjunction with habitat fragmentation by
existing (oil fields, cattle grazing) and future uses (lodge, possible housing, camping
areas and public use trails) of the preserve create a complex mosaic of fire dependent
communities. This will be taken into consideration when subdividing the preserve
into burn units. The creation of burn units not only facilitates the application of
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prescribed fire, it will also help create a mixture of burned and unburned areas across
the preserve. Patches of unburned habitat in conjunction with newly burned areas
will increase habitat heterogeneity, ensuring a wide range of habitat compositions
year-round for use by a diversity of wildlife species. The size and boundaries of each
burn unit should be established based on the preserve boundaries and the location of
existing barriers such as fence lines, ditches, roads and other existing structures. The
division of burn units may change over time as the prescribed fire plan is
implemented and on-the-ground logistics become more obvious. Fire breaks will
consist of primitive roads, trails disked to bare mineral soil, wet lines or foam lines
and/or natural vegetation breaks. When the Pepper Ranch Preserve burn plan is
implemented, additional manmade barriers may be constructed as a result of the
development of public use facilities.
If new fire breaks are needed, efforts will be made to minimize disturbance to
existing native vegetation during their creation and maintenance, and no wetlands will
be adversely impacted as a result of fire break construction. In the event of a wildfire
FFS may require the creation ofe fire breaks within existing wetlands. If plow lines
are put in as a result of a wildfire, whether they are in a wetland or upland, efforts will
be made to mitigate by grading those areas to prior grade.
Burn Frequency and Burn Season
Historically the frequency of wildfire in Florida’s ecosystem varied from year to year.
However, fire frequency for natural communities as found within the Pepper Ranch
Preserve will generally follow these guidelines (FNAI 1990):
• wet prairies – annual (1-2 year cycle) or frequent (3-7 year cycle);
• dry prairie – frequent (1-4 year cycle);
• mesic pine flatwoods – frequent (2-4 year cycle);
• hydric pine flatwoods – frequent (3-7 year cycle);
• depression marshes – more frequent around the periphery (3-7 year cycle) and
becoming more occasional toward the center (8-25 year cycle);
• cypress/pine/cabbage palm – transitional community from moist upland to
hydric sites – occasional (8-25 year cycle);
• cypress strand/dome swamp – occasional around the periphery (8-25 year
cycle) and rare in the deepest peat towards the center of the strand/dome (26-
100 year cycle);
• slough – occasional (8-25 year cycle) or rare (26-100 year cycle);
• prairie hammock – occasional or rare; if oak and palm dominated on drier
sites tolerate occasional light ground fires, but more diverse hammocks rarely
burn;
• upland mixed forest – rare or no fire; densely closed canopy limits air
movement and light penetration, making high humidity relatively constant.
Burn units incorporating multiple natural communities under different fire cycles will
be burned based on the community requiring the shortest cycle. The other
communities within that burn unit that are on a longer fire cycle will likely not burn
as frequently since fuels will not have built up. The seasonality, weather factors, or
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ignition techniques of the prescribed burn will also be chosen to selectively burn the
community within the unit with the shortest fire cycle.
Fire maintenance of hydric hammocks will be accomplished primarily by burning the
adjacent flatwoods and marshes, reducing the fuel needed to ignite the hammock.
Maintenance of natural species composition and protection from excess fuel build-up
will be accomplished by allowing fire to enter the edges but not completely burn
through the hammocks. Fire will be introduced into the edges of hammocks under
moist conditions that will not result in a destructive fire through the hammock. Fire
frequency in this situation will be dictated by the frequency of fires in adjacent
communities.
Fire will be applied to freshwater marshes in conjunction with the burning of
surrounding pine flatwoods to maintain open herbaceous ponds and control woody
plants found primarily on the edge of these depressions. The centers of depression
marshes are much wetter than the surrounding flatwoods and may not burn at the
same time the flatwoods are ignited. In this case, a separate fire under guarded
conditions may be needed to carry the fire across the marsh. In cypress strands, fire is
beneficial for the control of hardwoods and reduction of ground fuels near their
outside edge. Conditions dry enough to burn soils in the center of strands, or muck
fires, would most likely be damaging to trees within them. The burning of cypress
strands will take place only when moist conditions allow for light surface fires in the
outer portion of the dome and avoid muck fires. Fire will be excluded from strands
under dryer conditions.
Qualitative observations will be made within each burn unit on an annual basis to
determine current fuel loads, habitat structure, and habitat quality. The burn schedule
will then be modified as needed based on these qualitative observations. Areas where
fire cannot be implemented will instead be mowed, roller chopped, or pruned to
mimic effects of fire. The burn manager will conduct post-burn inspections to ensure
the burn objectives are being met for each natural community. When possible,
vegetation monitoring activities will be conducted around burn events to help assess
the effectiveness of the prescribed burn regime.
Pile Burning
Burning of agricultural piles of vegetative debris may be conducted as needed. The
piles must be placed in an open area such as a pasture and the piles must be placed at
least 50 feet from a forested area or structure. A permit must be issued by the Florida
Forest Service. When burning restrictions are in place, the piles may only be burned
by a Certified Pile Burn Manager licensed by FFS. When no restrictions are in place,
the piles may be burned by trained staff, contractor or by the acting cattle manager
after a permit is issued. Persons conducting the burning must have a water source
large enough to extinguish the fire and a front-end loader or other similar type of
machine present before proceeding with burning.
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Burn Schedule
Generally, prescribed burns within the Pepper Ranch Preserve will be conducted
during the growing season (mid-March through early September) as well as during
the dry season (November to mid-May). Essentially burns will be scheduled when
conditions allow, and the timing selected to best suit the objectives for each burn unit,
as well as to provide protection to listed species.
Burn Manager Duties
Florida Statute 590.125 and Chapter 5I-2 of the Florida Administrative Code (FAC)
grant the FFS the authority to regulate prescribed burning in Florida. Prescribed
burning will be planned and carried out by a Certified Prescribed Burn Manager (as
licensed by the FFS) and experienced fire crews utilizing a Prescribed Burn Plan
form, referred to from here on as the prescription. The planning and application of
prescribed burning will comply with all applicable federal, state, and local
regulations.
Each prescription will include the following at a minimum:
• purpose for the burn;
• brief description of the natural community type(s) to be burned;
• a map depicting the location of the burn, firebreak locations, potential hazard
areas and escape routes for the fire crew;
• acceptable ranges of weather and soil moisture conditions;
• a pre-burn inspection of burn unit, firebreaks and any potential hazards
(including power transmission lines, active cattle grazing locations, and
existing manmade structures) within the burn unit;
• names and contact information for neighbors, lease holders, local fire district
and other pertinent stakeholders to be contacted prior to ignition;
• techniques used to ignite the controlled burn;
• personnel, equipment and safety requirements;
• personnel assignments and responsibilities; and
• post-burn evaluation.
All necessary permits and authorizations will be obtained by the Certified Prescribed
Burn Manager before implementation of the burn. As part of each prescription, the
burn manager will develop an emergency action plan that will include escape routes
for all personnel and actions to be taken in the event of unexpected weather changes
or fire behavior.
Weather and Fuel Considerations
When developing recommendations for a prescribed burn, the burn manager will
consider weather and fuel conditions including, but not limited to: wind, relative
humidity, temperature, rainfall and soil moisture, airmass stability and atmospheric
dispersion. It will be the responsibility of the Burn Manager to obtain current
weather forecasts from FFS, and other weather sources as necessary, prior to
executing the prescribed burn. Although preferred weather and fuel conditions may
vary based on specific burn objectives, Wade and Lundsford (1989) suggest the
following as preferred conditions for prescribed burns in southern forests:
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• 6 to 20 mph persistent surface winds;
• 30 to 55 percent relative humidity;
• temperatures above 80 degrees Fahrenheit are recommended when the
primary objective is to control undesirable species;
• damp soil moistures;
• slightly unstable or neutral airmass stability; and
• The Keech-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) of 0 to 600 dependent on burn
objectives.
Smoke Management
Smoke management is an essential component of the burn prescription. The burn
manager will evaluate the potential impacts of each prescribed burn to smoke-
sensitive areas located within a 20-mile radius from the location of the burn by
employing a Screening System, such as recommended in Wade and Lundsford
(1989). Based on definitions contained within the state regulations, smoke sensitive
areas are areas within which smoke could have an adverse impact for reasons of
visibility, health or human welfare (NRCS 2003). Monitoring of the prescribed burn
will continue until smoke no longer presents a potential hazard and there is no
potential for the fire to reignite and cause an uncontrolled fire.
Post-Burn Evaluation
The purpose of the post-burn evaluation is to ensure the objectives of the burn were
attained and gain information to be used in future burns (Wade and Lundsford 1989).
The post-burn evaluation will be conducted by the burn manager within one week
following the burn, as well as a second evaluation after the first post-fire growing
season. Quantitative vegetation monitoring, photo documentation and wildlife
monitoring can be implemented to further aid in determining if the objectives of each
burn were met.
Action Item 4.2 Develop Burn Units
Burn units have been will need to be delineated for Pepper Ranch Preserve, as
outlined in the prescribed fire management plan above prior to the implementation of
the plan See Figure 13.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 74
Figure 13. Pepper Ranch Preserve Burn Unit Map
Action Item 4.3 Install Perimeter Fire Lines
Fire lines will be installed utilizing best management practices to minimize impacts to
mature trees, natural communities and wildlife populations. Firebreaks will be disked
or mulched down to soil and will go around all mature pine trees; they will be a
maximum of 8-10 feet wide.
Action Item 4.3 Implement Memorandum of Understanding with the
Central/South Florida Prescribed Fire Working Group Wildland Restoration
International
On September 8, 2022, The Board of County Commissioners signed the
Central/South Florida Prescribed Fire Working Group MOU to add the Conservation
Collier Program to the list of approved agencies. This MOU allows other local
agencies to assist the program with prescribed burning on all Conservation Collier
Preserves. On June 12, 2018 a Memorandum of Understanding with the Board of
County Commissioners and Wildland Restoration International (WRI) was signed to
allow Conservation Collier to work with this non-for-profit organization to assist the
program with prescribed fire and other land management activities at no cost to the
County. WRI has received a state wildlife grant to assist Counties and others with prescribed
fire and other land management activities by providing personnel and equipment to conduct
prescribed burning operations on public land holdings in addition to personnel resources to
accomplish management tasks at no cost to the County.
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Conservation Collier Program 75
WRI will participate in at least 2 scheduled burns per year and additional land
management activities to include, but not limited to, debris removal, hardwood
treatment, invasive treatment, invasive surveying, and native understory
establishment. Prescribed burning operations conducted by WRI will also enhance
burning skills of participating team members, mitigate the threat of wildfires and help
promote public understanding and acceptance of this important natural resource
management tool.
WRI and Conservation Collier staff will develop a Prescribed Burning Operations
Plan that includes but is not limited to a prioritized list of burn units, burn
prescriptions for each unit, a proposed burning schedule and anticipated resource
needs. The plan will be flexible in order to meet changing weather conditions, work
priorities of the participating parties and unforeseen budgetary constraints.
Conservation Collier staff will assume all responsibilities for prescribed burns and
other land management activities conducted on property for which it has management
authority. – as it currently does. This includes, but is not limited to, preparing burn
prescriptions (including smoke screening plans), preparing the site for burning,
obtaining the burn authorization and managing the burn. Burn prescriptions and burn
unit maps will be provided to all participating personnel, local fire districts and the
Florida Forest Service Division of Forestry personnel. Safety and operational
briefings will be conducted prior to ignition. The County will have its own Certified
Burn Manager in charge of the burn. with WRI staff assisting and providing
equipment.
Since 2019, Conservation Collier staff has conducted 5 prescribed burns on the
preserve. The dates, specific burn units, and acres burned are listed in table 10 below.
Table 10. Prescribed Burn Table
Pepper Ranch Burn Unit Date Acres
Unit 6 1/25/19 67
Unit 7 4/3/19 84
Unit 6 &7 6/28/23 153
Unit 12 9/6/23 42
Unit 10 and 3 adjacent
pastures
1/25/24 106
GOAL 5: RESTORE NATIVE VEGETATION AS NEEDED
Action Item 5.1 Evaluate the feasibility of conducting a hydrological analysis of
the preserve to better determine restoration needs.
During the fieldwork conducted by Johnson Engineering, Inc. in the fall of 2009 it
was noted that many of the natural wetland communities at Pepper Ranch Preserve
are disturbed; as described in section 2.3. This disturbance appears to be hydrologic
in nature due to the lack of standing water observed in these wetland communities in
comparison to the undisturbed wetlands, and by the relatively high number of upland
and exotic/nuisance plant species observed in the disturbed wetlands. A hydrological
analysis of the preserve would provide a baseline for the development of a hydrologic
restoration plan for Pepper Ranch Preserve. The presence of invasive exotic
vegetation can be related to a hydrologic disturbance. Identifying hydrologic
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Conservation Collier Program 76
disturbances and proposing remedial measures (i.e. ditch removal or ditch blocks) at
the preserve would not only work towards the restoration of natural plant
communities but also possibly help limit exotic plant invasions in those areas. The
analysis could be taken a step further to incorporate water quality analysis especially
as it pertains to water flows into Lake Trafford.
A hydrologic analysis of the preserve would generally involve the placement of
surface and ground water level monitoring wells at strategic locations throughout the
preserve, mapping ditches and canals on the preserve, reviewing historic aerial
photography of the preserve and determining the historic sheet flow patterns on site.
This monitoring will be funded with mitigation funds.
Surface and ground water level monitoring wells installed for the purpose of this
hydrologic analysis could be left in place for long-term, on-going monitoring at
Pepper Ranch Preserve. The data collected would help monitor the health of wetland
systems on site over time, as well as provide a baseline of wetland function that could
help evaluate possible effects from proposed adjacent land use changes (i.e. if a mine
was ever proposed adjacent to the preserve).
Action Item 5.2 Maintain a revised GIS map and description of FNAI natural
communities and disturbed areas on the property.
Maintaining updated maps will help to guide restoration efforts.
Action Item 5.3 Plant native plant species in their appropriate habitats.
Periods following exotic removal and prescribed fire (or mechanical treatment) are
essential to the recruitment of native plants. If native plant recruitment is not
sufficient from the surrounding, intact seed source, efforts will be made to plant
indigenous flora in appropriate habitats. Natural area restoration of Pepper Ranch
Preserve should include only site-specific native plant material that has been
determined to be non-problematic at the site and whenever possible, site-specific seed
sources should be utilized. In addition, hardwoods that may invade the natural areas
(mesic pine flatwood area) should not be planted.
GOAL 6: MONITOR PUBLIC USE
Action Item 6.1 Develop and maintain access and required facilities for intended
public uses.
There are many opportunities for public use at the Pepper Ranch Preserve due to the
size of the preserve, its proximity to the community of Immokalee and the diversity
of natural communities present. In addition to general public uses at the preserve,
there are also revenue-generating uses as presented above, cattle lease and oil fields,
hunting, apiary lease, as well as mitigation uses that are already in place or are
planned for the preserve, such as a panther conservation bank. Wetland mitigation
was considered but was denied by the SFWMD and Army Corp. of Engineers. All of
the different uses considered and requested by the public may not be compatible with
one another and thus a compatibility matrix was devised to better illustrate when and
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Conservation Collier Program 77
where at Pepper Ranch Preserve the different uses can occur. This matrix is included
in this plan as Appendix 68.
Until additional staffing and funding are available, the The Pepper Ranch Preserve
will only be is open to the public on Friday, and non-hunt or holiday Saturdays and
Sundays from November through June of each year. Daily Use Permits will be
required by all visitors and will be issued before access can be granted. County staff
will be stationed in the visitor’s center to provide access and assistance to visitors. A
temporary gate code for the electric gate will be given to visitors to access the
northern access area when they check in with the Park Ranger. Visitors must also
check out before they leave for the day. This will ensure that all visitors are
accounted for at the end of each day sSecurity cameras are also facing each preserve
entrance to help monitor ingress and egress.
A new bathroom facility with showers was built in 2015 along with two new septic
systems and a water treatment system.
The Collier County Parks and Recreation Program has been administering and
staffing the visitor center, campgrounds and pole barn rentals since 2014. In 2023
Conservation Collier agreed to fund half of the park ranger position. This includes the
hunt check station attendant. Staff also developed a volunteer program for the
Preserve with several master naturalists who have been assisting with guided public
tours and other activities.
To avoid impacts to natural communities at Pepper Ranch, guidelines were developed
for the allowable uses on all proposed trails and other amenities. Guidelines include
instructions for users such as staying on trails to avoid altering the natural
communities, and to take only pictures and leave only footprints. The trail systems at
Pepper Ranch utilize existing trails and other impacted areas and were developed
along the natural edge of natural communities where their construction had
minimized disturbances, as well as avoided impacts to marshes and other wetland
systems. Most of the trails are not ADA accessible; however, all new trails will be
evaluated for vehicle class use for ADA access. All visitors can view a large
representative view of the preserve by taking the scenic drive through the preserve.
The implementation of the proposed public uses at Pepper Ranch Preserve remains
dependent on funding, safety issues, site security and the availability of staff. The
Current Public Use Map conceptual site plan (Figure 152) incorporates the following
proposed components:
The South Public Access Area will be situated on the south side of Pepper Road with a
parking area and trailhead that will lead to the lodge/visitor’s center.
• The visitor center – Conservation Collier staff has renovated the existing
lodge facility visitor center for use as a visitor center. The visitor centerlodge
could also be rented for special events. Policies wereill need to be created
though Parks and Recreationthe Ordinance, Policy and Rules subcommittee in
regard to special events and, lodge rentals. and ecotourism. Approved eco-
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Conservation Collier Program 78
tours need to be compatible with this management plan. Staff will research
historical grants for future funding opportunities as needed.
• The Kowachobee lodge hiking Ttrail – The Kowachobeelodge hiking trail is
accessible from the south public entrance. It is made up of three loops that
total approximately 0.9 miles, heading east from the trailhead/parking area,
meandering through oak hammock, mesic flatwoods and dry prairie
communities; there is a short segment of boardwalk crossing over a
depressional marsh. Benches and interpretive signage exist at strategic
locations along the trail.
• The boardwalk – The boardwalk (length = approximately 812’ or less) was
constructed at the south end of the south public access area trailhead/parking
area and leads to a covered lake overlook platform.
• The lake overlook platform –A covered lake overlook platform was
constructed at the terminus of the boardwalk and allows visitors to view Lake
Trafford from a raised elevation. This was built on the existing raised
shoreline and not directly over Lake Trafford. A local Boy Scout added a
large bench to the overlook as part of an Eagle Scout Project in 2017. E
• Camping areas- A small camping area with 10 campsites was developed in
the current eastern pasture area located between the entrance to the south
public access area and the visitor centerlodge. This is open to the public on
Friday and Saturday nights when the preserve is open. This campground is
accessible to tent campers with vehicles, but not RV’s. An RV may only be
allowed in this campground for use by a campground host or possibly under
other special circumstances. There is no water or electricity located at the
individual campsites. Camping is limited to hunters only during hunt
weekends.
• Officer’s Trailer home or Campground host- An RV pad with full hook-up
wasill be constructed and placed on a small improved area just south and west
of the gate to the south public access area. A cCampground hosts are would be
allowed to bring in an RV and live there during the months that the preserve is
open to the public in exchange for minor duties that would include looking
over the campground, grounds upkeep, and possibly trail maintenance work.
It would also be beneficial to have a County Sheriff’s Department officer or
FWCC officer reside there to keep watch over the property. The existing
cottage that used to serve this purpose will be demolished due to the major
cost of needed repairs and the high mold content.
Public Use
The amount of public use the preserve receives during open season is increasing
every year. Several different user groups utilize the preserve for different recreational
opportunities. The table and graph below (Figure 14) provides a snapshot of the
amount of visitor use since 2012.
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Figure 143. Pepper Ranch Preserve Visitor Use by Category 2014-202317
Figure 132. Total Pepper Ranch Preserve Visitation 2010 - 2017
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Figure 13. Pepper Ranch Preserve Visitor Use by Category 2014-2017
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The North Public Access Area is accessible from the north gate at the end of Pepper
Road and provides public access for a scenic drive, hiking trails, multi-use trails,
mountain bike trails and primitive camping areas. This northern area is accessible after
checking in at the visitor center. All trails that double as firebreaks will be maintained on
a regular basis, new trail creation and maintenance may be dependent on the demand for
use and available resources.
• The Scenic Drive- the public is allowed to drive through the Preserve along
the main access road after obtaining a free daily use permit and a temporary
access code from the visitor center. This allows the public to view the
majority of the preserve by vehicle and to view the wildlife and different
ecosystems present. The driving tour is approximately 6.4 miles round trip
and does not include the easement road that leads to the south property
boundary. Visitors are required to check out at the visitor center before they
depart. During wet conditions, the public will be asked to keep vehicles on the
main roads during their tour and to drive at slow speed for safety. During
normal dry conditions, they may park in the designated trailhead parking
areas.
• Hiking trails – Hiking trails provide a view of live oak hammocks, mesic
flatwoods, cypress sloughs, open prairie and depression marshes. Currently,
there are sixfive (6) different trail areas totaling approximately 15.214.5 miles
which are all open to hikers. Hikers and trail runners can use all trails
designated as multi-use, including horseback or mountain bike trails with
caution. Hikers must yield to bikers and horseback riders. Many trails already
exist as firebreaks. Benches and interpretive signage have been placed at
strategic locations along the trails.
• Seasonal access hiking trail – A 1.0-mile loop would allow visitors to walk
through some of the scenic wetland communities located in the western
portion of the preserve during the dry season. It is located west of the scenic
driving trail and will traverse through natural communities such as cypress
strand and a red maple dominated bottomland forest. This trail will be limited
to foot traffic to prevent damage to the sensitive wetland soils.
• Mulit-use Trails- (Hiking & Horseback riding) –Trails designated multi-use,
accessible to horses and hikers, total 1011.25 miles. This total includes the
main access road and easement road. An area in the south central portion of
the preserve will take riders though 3 miles of prairie, mesic flatwoods, oak
hammock and marshes. It will also lead to the crossroads of the oil well road
and the south easement road. Traveling south on this easement road will lead
to the southwestern most multi-use trails which are approximately 2.75 miles
in length. The third trail will lead from the main road near the cattle pens
north to the primitive camping area in the north central area which will total
2.2 miles round trip. The public will be required to park cars and horse trailers
at the visitor center and enter through the north entrance gate or at a
designated parking area at the trailheads. Equestrian use at Pepper Ranch
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Conservation Collier Program 82
Preserve may also require additional amenities such as watering and feeding
areas. A small hand pump well may be installed in areas near riding
trailheads. Riders are required to show documentation of a negative Coggin’s
test when they check in at the visitor’s center. Existing trails and firebreaks
will be used as horse-back riding trails and in general are approximately 8-10
feet wide. The majority of the multi-use will not be shared with mountain
bikers for safety reasons, however both user groups may have to pass each
other on occasion on the main access roads. Signs have been posted to use
caution when approaching horses. When horse riders are checked in at the
visitor centerlodge, hikers and bikers will be notified to use caution and to
stay on designated trails. All multi-use trails will be maintained by the
County and with help from volunteer groups.
• Mountain biking trails- There are three main areas where mountain biking
(off-road cycling) trails are existing or proposed to be created. They were
planned as Phase 1-3. The total length of the proposed trails iswas
approximately 13 miles in length, this includes the main access road,
easement road and a small portion of the multi-use trails. These trails have
been created in phases. The majority of the biking trails are very narrow in
width and are kept separate from the horseback-riding trails. However, hikers
and trail runners may share the mountain biking trails with caution. Two main
areas are located in the western portion of the Preserve. The main trailhead
first main area, Phase I, is located in the west center, south of the main road
that leads to the oil wells. There is a parking area with a kiosk and picnic
tables for public use. This was the first completed phase of the biking trails.
The twoese trails that start off the parking area are have been named Panther
Pass and Black Bear Berm. This area was formerly harvested of cabbage
palms, as a result there were several existing trails that were used to create
approximately 3.24.5 miles of winding single-track trail through the forested
area. The third trail is called Phase 2, which has been named Kite flight and it
is a 5.5 mile partial perimeter trail that runs along the edges of the pastures
and starts from the end of the Black Bear Berm Trail winding single-track
area in the west central portion of the preserve, and continues north along the
pasture edgess to the northern property boundary. It will eventually turns to
the east and will circles back down the multi-use trail past the cattle pens to
the main road. Visitors will It will then follow the main road back to the
parking area or visitor center. Approximately, one-third of this trail has been
created. USFWS is requiring that this trail continuation only be created along
the edges of the forest and that no new trails are cut into the woods. They are
requiring this as part of the future Florida Panther Conservation Easement
regulations.
• The third possible area or Phase 3, was planned to be created in the extreme
southwest area, west of the easement road. This would have been a 2-mile
winding single-track loop trail in the center of the existing Sunflower Trace
horseback riding trail. This potential trail has been denied by the USFWS due
to the future Panther Conservation Easement.
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Conservation Collier Program 83
Trails have been and will continue to be created according to the International
Mountain Biking Standards (IMBA) and Tthe majority of the trails arewill be
narrow single-track trails created and maintained by the use of hand tools such
as a weed cutter and loppers etc. A local non-profit off-road cycling group
called the Florida Mudcutters have been volunteering since 2012 and have
created and maintained these trail systems. Helmets must be worn by bikers
on these trails at all times. Trails are specifically marked. Special gates and
wooden bridges/crossovers were may be installed where the trail crosses
through cattle fences and over ditches. in the future to allow bikers to pass
through cattle gates and small bridges/crossovers may need to be built over
ditches in the cattle pastures. During rainy season, portions of the trails may
be closed due to wet conditions. Bikers may park at the main visitor center
and ride to the trails or may also park in designated parking areas near the
trailheads. The majority of the biking trails are maintained by the user group;
however, County staff will determine at what level to assist based on available
resources and will attempt to be present on work days to supervise new trail
creation.
Since these trails need to be maintained by hand, they are expensive to
maintain by contractors. If the cost of trail maintenance becomes too high or
if maintenance funds are reduced, the length of the kite flight trail can be
shortened.
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Figure 154: Current Public Use Map 2024
Action Item 6.2 Pepper Ranch Quality Wildlife Management Hunt Program
The Pepper Ranch Preserve Public and Youth Hunt program preserve has been open to
the public for hunting since has been providing public land hunting access opportunities
since September 2010. Two hunt programs are available for community participation, a
public hunt program open to Collier County residents awarded a quota permit through
application, and FWC administered Youth Hunts available to area youth aged 12-17.
Hunting is allowed forRegulated hunts permit harvest of migratory birds, limited to small
game, hogs, deer, and turkey during specified seasons by hunters awarded a quota permit
with specified bag limits. Deer hunting was introduced in the Fall of 2011. The Preserve
is closed on Saturday and Sunday during each specific hunt weekend.During hunt
weekends, the preserve is closed for regular public access and a hunter check station is
manned by Program staff. Currently, all public the hog hunts are limited to 410 hunters
per weekend, while deer and turkey hunts are limited to 4 hunters per weekend. All
hunters have designated hunting zones. The zone closest to the lake and the structures is
limited to archery only (See Appendix 7). Several successful FWC youth hunts have been
held each year for kids age 12-17 and at least two are planned to be held each year
depending on the continued interest and volunteers. The number of public hunts and
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Conservation Collier Program 85
youth hunts that will be allowed each year may change when other public uses of the
property increase and based on wildlife management determinations and public interest.
Action Item 6.3 Recreational Drone Use is Prohibited
The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), for recreational use by the general
public is prohibited within the preserve. Drones have been proven to cause stampedes
with horses and cattle, they can interfere with prescribed burning and wildfire
operations, and they also may infringe on the privacy and safety of preserve visitors.
Requests by search and rescue organizations, fire and law enforcement agencies, other
governmental and first-response agencies for a scheduled operation of non-recreational
UAV on the preserve must be directed through the Division’s Administrative Offices.
Approval may be given for the purposes of training or reconnaissance through the
Division Director.
For all other non-recreational requests related to media, land management or research, a
permit through Conservation Collier or it’s designated agency or representative may be
issued on a case by case basis. Each permit application will be signed by the Growth
Management Parks and Recreation Director and will be adequately evaluated as to the
appropriateness of the requested activities and whether the use of a UAV will result in
unacceptable impacts to the preserve and visitors. If a permit is issued, it will clearly
identify the designated area(s) where the UAV may be operated within the preserveark.
The permit will also contain the terms and conditions to ensure safe operation and will
mitigate any unacceptable impact to the resources and the public. Users will
specifically be advised not to fly them in the bald eagle nesting zone west of the main
campground during nesting season, or near cattle or horseback riding areas.
Coordination will need to be carried out if riders are on the property. County staff can
only enforce drone use when they take off and land on our property. Drones that are
flown over the preserve from other properties are under the jurisdiction of the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA). All permitted users should abide by the FAA
applicable laws and regulations.
GOAL 7: FACILITATE USES OF THE SITE FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
Actions Item 7.1 Develop interpretive signage to educate preserve visitors.
On completed trail systems, site-specific signage, including directional signage and
plant identification signage, has been installed. Additional signage to educate visitors
on plant identification and on general ecosystem information should also be created.
Additional smaller trail specific interpretive signs will be placed at the various
trailheads.
Action Item 7.2 Provide maps and brochures for the public
Brochures and trail maps for the preserve outlining the native plant communities,
wildlife present, and trail locations will be created by County staff and will be offered
to visitors during the check in process. Trail maps may also be available at the
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Conservation Collier Program 86
specific trailheads. The preserve manager or park ranger will inspect these boxes
monthly and will refill the brochures as necessary.
GOAL 8: PROVIDE A PLAN FOR SECURITY AND DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
Action Item 8.1 Discourage any unauthorized visitation to the preserve at night
and identify the hours of operation.
A security light and sign designating park hours as sunrise to sunset has been installed
at the entrances to the preserve. and adjacent landowners will be given an emergency
phone number if they detect human activity on the preserve after hours. If problems
arise, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and/or FWC currently patrol the area and
site on a routine basis. An automatic gate or temporary keypad combination at the
entrance allows nighttime access to the preserve to registered campers, law
enforcement, and staff only. Campers will be advised that the northern public use area
is only available for access from dawn to dusk.
Action Item 8.2 Enforce regulations prohibiting trash and landscape debris
dumping in or near the preserve.
Currently, illegal dumping is not occurring on or near the preserve. Monthly property
inspections will be conducted to monitor for such activity. Staff will work with the
Collier County Sheriff’s Office if problems start to arise.
Action Item 8.3 Survey trees along trails and the perimeter of the property for
damage.
Staff will routinely monitor the trees along the walking and hiking trails to determine
if diseased, weak, or damaged trees/limbs exist and if so remove them to reduce the
risk of visitor injury. Due to the length of the proposed trails at Pepper Ranch
Preserve this activity will likely require the assistance from volunteers and/or the
Department of Corrections work crews, as feasible.
Action Item 8.4 Visit the preserve within 48 hours after a major storm event to
assess damage.
Staff will take photos of damage and fill out appropriate Collier County Risk
Management Department or FEMA forms. If damage is extensive, the entire preserve
or the affected portions will be closed until public safety hazards are cleared.
Action Item 8.5 Promptly clear storm debris from preserve.
If necessary, a Collier County emergency debris removal contractor will be
contracted as soon as possible after the storm to schedule clean up. Removal of debris
and damaged or downed trees along the trail system may be needed. Downed trees
and limbs that do not appear to be a public safety hazard will be cleared at the
discretion of the Preserve Manager. As much of the hurricane debris as possible will
be chipped and retained onsite to be used as mulch for the trails. The preserve will be
closed temporarily until the potential hazards are eliminated.
Action Item 8.6 Public Safety Response
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Visitors will be given the phone number to the visitor’s center incase of emergency.
If a visitor is lost or injured, staff will notify the CCSO and EMS. Staff will attempt
to locate the visitor in distress by use of a 4x4 vehicle or UTV until additional help
arrives. An AED (automatic electronic defibrillator) is installed in the visitor center
to utilize until EMS arrives. A helicopter can land close to the visitor center and the
mountain bike trailhead parking area if needed.
GOAL 9: IMPLEMENT AND COMPLY WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE
SERVICE (USFWS) REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ESTABLISHED
PANTHER CONSERVATION BANK. PROVIDE COUNTY PANTHER
HABITAT UNIT (PHU) MITIGATION THROUGH AN ONSITE PANTHER
CONSERVATION BANK
A Panther Conservation Bank was created in 2018 through the USFWS on 1,516.84
acres on a portion of the Preserve (See Figure 16). will This created an inter-
departmental partnership for Collier County. The mitigation or PHU’s generated by
the Pepper Ranch Preserve Conservation Bank are being will be utilized for offsetting
the panther habitat impacts from Collier County transportation and other public works
projects while providing the funding necessary to manage the preserve.
The information provided below in Action Items 9.1 and 9.2 wereis necessary for the
creation of the Conservation Bank.
Action Item 9.1 Provide Panther Habitat Unit calculations for the area of Pepper
Ranch Preserve Conservation Bank.
Table 111 provides PHU calculations for the Pepper Ranch Preserve Conservation Bank,
which consists of lands that are outside of Stewardship Sending Area 7 (SSA 7). The
calculations are based on baseline conditions at the preserve using September 2012
USFWS habitat suitability scores.
Table 111: Panther Habitat Unit Calculations excluding SSA 7 – Pre-Restoration
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Conservation Collier Program 88
USFWS Habitat Type FLUCFCS
Code FLUCFCS Description Area
(acres)
USFWS
Assigned
PHU Value
PHU's
Pine forest 411 Pine flatwoods 149.89 9.5 1,423.95
Hardwood-Pine 434 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm 180.35 9.3 1,677.26
Cypress swamp 621 Cypress 0.72 9.2 6.64
630 Wetland forested mix 23.81 9 214.31
6151 Red maple swamp 76.47 9 688.26
6152 Pop ash swamp 2.69 9 24.21
6162 Pond apple depression 0.71 9 6.41
Shrub swamp/brush 631 Shrub wetland 4.38 5.5 24.07
Improved pasture 211 Improved pasture 549.67 5.2 2,858.28
641 Freshwater marsh 29.55 4.7 138.90
643 Wet prairie 2.10 4.7 9.85
743 Spoil 1.24 3 3.72
3109 Upland prairie, disturbed 3.73 3 11.19
3209 Upland shrub, disturbed 3.56 3 10.69
4119 Pine flatwoods, distrubed 40.80 3 122.39
4349 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm, disturbed 0.002 3 0.01
6189 Willow/shrub wetland, distrubed 5.44 3 16.31
6419 Freshwater marsh, disturbed 27.21 3 81.64
8146 Primitive trail 1.51 3 4.53
4119E1 Pine flatwoods, disturbed, exotics 5-24%3.39 3 10.18
4349E1 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm, disturbed, exotics 5-
24%68.73 3 206.19
6169E1 Pond apple, laurel oak, cabbage palm, disturbed,
exotics 5-24%0.83 3 2.49
6319E1 Shrub wetland, disturbed, exotics 5-24%4.72 3 14.17
6419E1 Freshwater marsh, disturbed, exotics 5-24%70.00 3 210.00
4119E2 Pine flatwoods, disturbed, exotics 25-49%1.24 3 3.71
4349E2 Oak, slash pine, cabbage palm, disturbed, exotics 25-
49%8.86 3 26.57
6319E2 Shrub wetland, disturbed, exotics 25-49%0.09 3 0.26
6419E2 Freshwater marsh, disturbed, exotics 25-49%26.19 3 78.57
6439E2 Wet prairie, disturbed, exotics 25-49%7.50 3 22.50
6419E3 Freshwater marsh, disturbed, exotics 50-74%3.46 3 10.37
743E4 Spoil, exotics 75-100%8.16 3 24.47
4119E4 Pine flatwoods, disturbed, exotics 75-100%3.69 3 11.06
Hardwood swamp
Marsh/Wet Prairie
Barren/Disturbed Lands
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USFWS Habitat Type FLUCFCS
Code FLUCFCS Description Area
(acres)
USFWS
Assigned
PHU Value
PHU's
422 Brazilian pepper, non-hydric 0.40 3 1.20
6192 Brazilian pepper, hydric 0.84 3 2.53
437 Australian pine 1.16 3 3.47
428E1 Cabbage palm, exotics 5-24%1.14 3 3.41
428E3 Cabbage palm, exotics 50-74%3.29 3 9.86
180 Campground 11.86 0 -
700 Cattle Dipping Vat Remediation Area 1.02 0 -
8145 Shell road, graded and drained 14.31 0 -
512 Ditches 24.92 0 -
512E4 Ditches, exotics 75-100%0.66 0 -
742 Borrow pond 0.78 0 -
Dry prairie with 14.5%
exotic plant coverage 310E1 Upland prairie, exotics 5-24%35.11 6.3 / 3 204.42
Dry prairie with 37%
exotic plant coverage 310E2 Upland prairie, exotics 25-49%4.01 6.3 / 3 20.36
Hardwood Forest with
14.5% exotic plant
coverage
427E1 Oaks, exotics 5-24%1.57 9 / 3 12.73
Hardwood Swamp with
14.5% exotic plant
coverage
630E1 Wetland forested mix, exotics 5-24%1.80 9 / 3 14.61
Shrub swamp/brush with
14.5% exotic plant
coverage
631E1 Shrub wetland, exotics 5-24%1.35 5.5 / 3 6.91
Marsh/Wet Prairie with
14.5% exotic plant
coverage
641E1 Freshwater marsh, exotics 5-24%83.40 4.7 / 3 371.43
Marsh/Wet Prairie with
37% exotic plant
coverage
641E2 Freshwater marsh, exotics 25-49%17.26 4.7 / 3 70.27
Marsh/Wet Prairie with
62% exotic plant
coverage
641E3 Freshwater marsh, exotics 50-74%1.27 4.7 / 3 4.62
TOTAL 1,516.84 8,669.0
Water
Exotic/Nuisance Plants
Urban
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To determine the amount of PHU’s available for mitigation, the above calculations
were performed based on site conditions pre-restoration. USFWS informed County
staff that credit will only be given for restoration outside of the scope of this
management plan. Control of invasive, exotic vegetation and prescribed fire will not
result in additional PHU credits. The Pepper Ranch Preserve Conservation Bank,
excluding SSA 7, generated will provide a total of 8,669.0 PHUs. Since 2019, 2,703
credits have been utilized to mitigate Collier County capital projects. A total of 5,965
PHU credits remain to mitigate future Collier County capital projects.
Action Item 9.2 Provide a Monitoring Plan per USFWS requirements for the
Pepper Ranch Preserve Conservation Bank.
With the Upon establishment of thea panther conservation bank, the USFWS requireds
a monitoring plan for the lands within the designated bank to ensure the bank continues
to meet its success criteria in perpetuity. Below is the monitoring plan for the Pepper
Ranch Preserve Conservation Bank.
Monitoring
Baseline monitoring wasill be completed by a consultant within 60 days of approval of
the Bank by the Service and a baseline monitoring report waswill be forwarded to
Service staff in Vero Beach within 45 days of the monitoring event. Time-zero
monitoring will be completed within 60 days of the completion of initial prescribed
fires. As with the baseline monitoring report, the time-zero monitoring report will be
forwarded to Service staff in Vero Beach within 45 days of the monitoring event.
Annual monitoring will begin 12 months following the time-zero monitoring event and
continue for a total of five years. Annual monitoring reports will be forwarded to
Service staff in Vero Beach prior to January 31 each year. If, at the end of five years of
monitoring, the Bank has reached success criteria, monitoring will be conducted once
every five years to ensure that success criteria are met in perpetuity. If success criteria
are not met, annual monitoring will continue until they are achieved. A summary of the
reporting schedule can be found in Table 1215.
Table 12 : Monitoring and Reporting Schedule for Panther Conservation Bank
Report Monitoring Implemented Delivery
Baseline Monitoring Within 60 Days of Approval 45 days
Time-Zero Monitoring Within 60 Days of Initial Restoration 45 days
Annual Monitoring Year 1 12 Months After Time-Zero
Monitoring
45 days
Annual Monitoring Year 2 1 Year from Previous Report January 31
Annual Monitoring Year 3 1 Year from Previous Report January 31
Annual Monitoring Year 4 1 Year from Previous Report January 31
Annual Monitoring Year 5 1 Year from Previous Report January 31
Five-Year Monitoring 5 Years from Previous Report January 31
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Conservation Collier Program 91
(Year 10)
Every 5 years thereafter 5 Years from Previous Report January 31
In addition to the information outlined below, the monitoring report will include a general
overview of the land management activities (i.e. prescribed burns, exotic vegetation
maintenance, pasture restoration activities, etc.) conducted since the previous monitoring
report and planned maintenance and management activities during the next period.
Vegetation Monitoring:
Permanent monitoring transects wereill be established during the baseline monitoring
event in 2019 and are located throughout the preservesite to include a thorough
representation of the various habitats onsite. Three vegetative strata wereill be sampled
along each transect and will be representative of habitat types throughout the
preservesite. These strata are: overstory [plants greater than four inches diameter breast
height (DBH)], understory (plants greater than four inches DBH and greater than three
feet in height), and ground cover (all non-woody plants and woody plants less than three
feet in height). The overstory and understory vegetation will be sampled in 10 m2 plots
and the ground cover vegetation will be sampled in 1m2 plots along each monitoring
transect. Panoramic photographs will be taken at the beginning of each transect to
provide physical documentation of the condition and appearance of the property as well
as any changes taking place. The panoramic photographs will be included in each
monitoring report. For the overstory and understory strata, the relative canopy closure
for each species will be recorded. Average shrub height will be recorded for all species
identified in the understory stratum. Percent coverage and average height for all saw
palmetto will be recorded for plots located within habitats with saw palmetto. The
percent cover of groundcover species and bare ground arewill be estimated for the
herbaceous study plots along each transect. Exotic and nuisance vegetation coverage
within the plots will be recorded. Survival rate evaluations will occur throughout the site
to include a thorough representation of the various habitats onsite. There arewill be a a
total of maximum of 17 transects with a total of 51 sample plots.
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Conservation Collier Program 92
Figure 16. Conservation Bank & Vegetation Monitoring Transect Map
Exotic and Nuisance Species Monitoring:
In addition to the permanent monitoring transects, existing disturbed areas, such as fence
lines, fire breaks, and primitive roads / trails, will be surveyed annually, using the FWC
protocol, by vehicle and meandering pedestrian transects to assess the site for the
presence and percent coverage of exotic vegetation species. Following the annual exotic
vegetation surveys, an exotic vegetation map will be prepared illustrating the locations of
exotic and nuisance vegetation in need of corrective action. The map will be provided to
athe County contractor annually to ensure timely and effective treatment.
Wildlife Utilization:
Spotlight transect surveys will be utilized to census white-tailed deer due to the large
acreage of open habitat within the Preserve, density of forested habitat, and the available
roads and trails. For each transect the spotlighting visibility will be estimated once per
season, before conducting the spotlight census. The spotlighting visibility will be
calculated as the acreage of habitat perpendicular to each transect which can be surveyed
for white-tailed deer. Visibility will be dependent on the density and height of vegetation
and also the terrain. Two hundred yards will be the maximum distance from which
visibility will be quantified and white-tailed deer will be censused. Visibility stations will
be placed every 0.10 miles along and at the beginning and end of each transect. At each
visibility station a one-million candle power spotlight will be used to illuminate the
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 93
habitat perpendicular to both sides of each transect. A Bushnell Laser Range Finder Sport
450 will be used to determine the distance, in yards, to the nearest obstruction which
would deter viewing a deer on either side of each transect. The laser range finder will
have an accuracy of +/- one yard. The spotlighting visibility per transect and cumulative
spotlighting visibility will be calculated as the acreage of visibility.
Spotlight transect surveys will begin one-half hour after sunset. The deer spotlight census
will follow the methodology described by Mitchell (1986). Six transects will be surveyed
in order during each census and each transect will be surveyed without interruption until
completed. All census data for each transect will be recorded on a separate data sheet.
The data recorded will include: transect number, official sunset, date, time survey began,
time survey ended, temperature, wind direction, average wind speed, percent cloud cover,
name of personnel, number of bucks, number of does, number of fawns, and number of
unknown deer.
.
A minimum of threefour personnel will be utilized for each of the spotlighting censuses:
one driver, one data recorder, and two spotlight observers. A four-wheel drive pickup
truck will be utilized for each census and the spotlight observers will be stationed in the
bed of the pickup. For each transect the vehicle will be driven at 5-10 mph and each
spotlight observer will scan the habitat on their side of the vehicle with a one-million
candle power spotlight. If a deer is observed the vehicle will briefly stop and the spotlight
observer will use binoculars to identify the age and sex of each deer observed.
For each group of deer the spotlight observers will classify each deer as either buck, doe,
fawn, or unidentified. A group will consist of one single deer by itself or more than one
deer grouped together; and the grouping of deer will be subjective - meaning the spotlight
observer will determine how deer in an area are grouped. Sex and age will be recorded
for each deer only if all the deer in that group can be sexed and aged. If one deer in the
group cannot be identified, then all the deer in the group will be classified as unidentified
in order to reduce bias when estimating the total number of bucks, does, and fawns on the
Preserve.
The annual wildlife monitoring reports will include the following information:
• Results of the annual spotlight survey.
• A brief description of work performed since the previous report (if applicable)
along with a discussion of any modifications to the survey methodology.
• A list of all wildlife species observed during the survey.
• Direct evidence (i.e., tracks, scat, visual sightings, and rub trees) of panther prey
species observed during each sampling period.
• Hunt harvest data (if applicable).
Regular and periodic observations of wildlife will be made during all monitoring events
and other site visits by qualified ecologists. This will consist of recording evidence and
signs of wildlife (i.e., direct sightings, vocalizations, burrows, nests, tracks, droppings,
etc.). The number of white tailed deer, feral hog, and panther observations at the site will
be recorded during each monitoring event and included in the annual reports.
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 94
4.5 Establish an Operational Plan for the Pepper Ranch Preserve
This section provides management recommendations for operation of the Pepper Ranch
Preserve. It discusses maintenance and budgeting needs, the possibilities for contracting
the restoration activities, coordination and other management issues.
4.5.1 Maintenance
Initially, the primary maintenance activities for the preserve includes invasive exotic
species control, and trail maintenance and site security. Particularly important are the
security measures to prevent trespassing and to maintain the signage and fencing (where
installed) in good condition. Signs that effectively convey the desired message provide
an opportunity for increasing environmental education and awareness. Significant
maintenance activities will be necessary for the upkeep of all public facilities including
but not limited to the trailheads/parking areas, visitor center, campgrounds, boardwalks,
restrooms and interpretive signage.
4.5.2 Estimated Annual Costs and Funding Sources
Preliminary budget estimates for Pepper Ranch Preserve include cost breakdowns
associated with resource restoration and management. The funding source identified for
the restoration and management activities is the Conservation Collier Program
Management Trust Fund. Grants will be sought to supplement existing management
funds particularly for the areas within SSA 7. Staff utilizes the Collier County Sheriff’s
Department weekend work programs and the Civil Citation program for certain labor
projects and may also separately involve the County Scout programs and volunteers for
trail maintenance and enhancement.
The budget in Table 13 represents the actual and unmet budgetary needs for managing
the lands and resources of the preserve over ten years. The table shows the actual costs of
land management activities over the past 5 years, construction costs since acquisition and
the estimated costs over the next 53 years. This budget was developed using data from
Conservation Collier and other cooperating entities and is based on actual costs for land
management activities, equipment purchases and maintenance, and for development of
fixed capital facilities. The budget considers available funding and is consistent with the
direction necessary to achieve the goals and objectives for Pepper Ranch Preserve.
In August of 2017, a thorough building assessment was conducted by engineers and
building inspectors on all the structures on the property. It was determined that several
structural issues need to be addressed to maintain the historical visitor center and pole
barns. Maintenance on these structures has been conducted by Facilities Management
over the years. has been budgeted for in the fical year 2017-18. However, after much
deliberation, staff has decided that Tthe cottage/caretaker’s home was will have to be
demolished in 2019. It has had major structural and mold issues since the programwe
purchased the preserveoperty, and the cost to continue to mitigate these ongoing
problems wasill be excessive. A concrete pad wasill be installed in 2020 at the north end
of the campground with a full hook-up to allow a campground host to reside there during
the months that the preserve is open. Plans exist to remove and replace the existing pole
barn and to add a hunt cleaning station. The program also plans to build a large
equipment storage shed. Estimated costs for planning and construction of this project are
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 95
estimated in fiscal years 2025 and 2026. The cost will not come out of the Pepper Ranch
Management Fund, it will be budgeted in the Conservation Collier Capital Project Fund.
Decisions will have to be made in the future on whether or not to also install a
manufactured home on the property for an enforcement officer to live in.
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Conservation Collier Program 96
Item 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 Total
BROCHURES $102 $600 $85 $85 $200 $200 $200 1,472$
BUILDING MAINTENANCE $30,100 $30,100
CONSTRUCTION/IMPROVEMENTS $6,578 $85,699 $3,445 $18,824 $115,752 $16,592 $1,365 $74,000 $322,255
CONSULTING/SURVEYS $60,653 $11,287 $7,350 $2,400 $17,800 $15,840 $115,330
COUNTY DEPT. SERVICES $12,229 $10,373 $1,979 $1,400 $797 $448 $500 $1,000 $1,000 $29,727
DEBRIS SERVICES $4,770 $9,070 $13,840
EMERGENCY SERVICES $1,267 $1,557 $600 $3,424
FIREBREAK MOWING TRAILS $8,200 $8,000 $5,000 $5,000 $26,200
EXOTIC MAINTENANCE $41,000 $255,627 $99,904 $67,800 $245,454 $182,128 $128,683 $137,034 $104,800 $105,000 $105,000 $1,472,430
FENCING $3,550.00 $3,550.00
FIELD SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT $1,613 $50.59 $882 $361 $5,334 $967 $333 $9,540
LABOR SERVICES $756 $2,431.50 $111,742 $3,600 $3,455 $1,500 $1,500.00 $1,000 $1,000 1,000 $1,000 $128,985
LANDSCAPING SERVICES $9,678 $8,180 $1,273 $10,100 $7,500.00 $5,485 $500 5,000 $500 $48,216
LEASE/LEGAL $616 $512.46 $500 $500 $500 $2,628
LICENSING & PERMITTING $91,040 $30,688 $1,844 $1,467 $50.00 100 100 100 $125,388
MONITORING $900 $900
MOWING (ALL)$1,678 $34,990 $8,890 $5,640.00 $51,198
JANITORIAL $428 $2,892 $44 1,000$ $1,000 $1,000 $6,364
OFFICE SUPPLIES $1,599 $372 $460 $841 $58 $238 $200 $200 $200 $4,168
PEST ABATEMENT $847 $625 $500 $500 $500 $2,972
PORT-A-POTTY $965 $1,390 $2,750 $2,415 $500 $645.03 $460 $460 $500 $500 $500 $11,085
SIGNS $417 $166 $464 $601 $362 $200 $200 $200 $2,610
TAXES $163 $166 $192 $160 $164 $170 $176 $180 $184 $190 $1,745
UTILITIES (ALL)$993 $1,400 $940 $2,010.00 $3,968 $5,236 $5,530 $6,163 $6,400 $6,400 $6,400 $45,441
VOLUNTEER RELATED $214.57 $27 $100 $100 $100 541.77$
GRAND TOTAL:233,969$ 403,411$ 258,478$ $109,240 $296,601 $323,071 179,774$ 177,508$ $124,680 $230,984 $122,390 2,460,108$
Table 13. Estimated Annual Land Management Budget
*Actual numbers are included from FY 2009-2020 through 2023-2024. Numbers are estimated FY 2024-2025 through 2029-2030.
*Labor Services: Fees associated with the Park Ranger Position and Check Station Attendants for Public Hunts
*Utilities: include electricity, water, garbage services, and phone & internet
Item 2019-2020
(FY20)
2020-2021
(FY21)
2021-2022
(FY22)
2022-2023
(FY23)
2023-2024
(FY24)
2024-2025
(FY25)
2025-2026
(FY 26)
2026-2027
(FY27)
2027-2028
(FY28)
2028-2029
(TY29)
2029-2030
(FY30)Total
CAPITAL
CONSTRUCTION/IMPROVEMENTS/EQUIP 10,136 100,000 200,000 $310,136
OTHER CONTRACTURAL SERVICES
FIREBREAK/TRAIL MAINTENANCE/REDUCTION 8,000 13,100 60,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 $431,100
EXOTIC MAINTENANCE 70,000 100,110 86,110 81,500 155,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 $1,092,720
FENCING 27,400 7,816 2,176 25,560 10,000 10,000 10,000 $92,952
LANDSCAPING SERVICES 14,000 14,000 15,200 10,800 12,000 14,000 14,000 14,000 14,000 14,000 14,000 $150,000
PASTURE MOWING 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 $22,500
CONSULTING/SURVEYS/MONITORING 19,600 5,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 $144,600
SIGNS 200 500 900 450 450 450 450 450 450 450 $4,750
PEST ABATEMENT 400 350 1,200 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 $7,550
DEBRIS SERVICES 8,400 $8,400
PORT-A-POTTY RENTAL 300 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 800 $6,700
VISITOR CENTER MAINTENANCE 10,000 10,000 $20,000
TOTAL OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 120,000 135,376 107,986 210,060 236,550 198,550 188,550 198,550 188,550 198,550 198,550 1,981,272
STAFF/VOLUNTEER RELATED
LABOR SERVICES 0 850 220 700 16,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 16,000 $113,770
VOLUNTEER RELATED 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 $1,100
TOTAL STAFF RELATED 100 950 320 800 16,100 16,100 16,100 16,100 16,100 16,100 16,100 114,870
OTHER OPERATIONAL EXPENSES
FIELD SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT 1,200 2,000 8,000 2,200 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 4,000 $41,400
UTILITIES (ALL)5,800 5,700 6,500 8,800 6,500 6,500 6,500 6,500 6,500 6,500 6,500 $72,300
LICENSING & PERMITTING 700 700 100 50 500 500 5,000 500 500 500 500 $9,550
COUNTY DEPT. SERVICES 1,000 1,200 1,000 1,300 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 $11,500
JANITORIAL 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 $11,000
OFFICE SUPPLIES/POSTAGE 500 100 100 25 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 $3,525
PRINTING/BROCHURES 0 0 0 0 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 $1,400
TOTAL OPERATIONAL EXPENSES 10,200 10,700 16,700 13,375 13,600 13,600 18,100 13,600 13,600 13,600 13,600 150,675
GRAND TOTAL:$130,300 $157,162 $125,006 $224,235 $266,250 $328,250 $422,750 $228,250 $218,250 $228,250 $228,250 $2,556,953
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 98
4.5.3 Potential for Contracting Restoration and Management Activities by Private
Vendors
A significant number of management operations and restoration activities on the Pepper
Ranch Preserve can be considered for outsourcing. Restoration and management
activities that can be considered for outsourcing to private entities are listed in Table 14.
Table 14: Potential Contracting for Restoration and Management Activities
Activity
Approved Conditional Rejected
Prescribed fire and/ or mechanical treatment application X
Minor fireline installation X
Fireline, fence and trail maintenance X
Fence installation X
Plant and wildlife inventory and monitoring X
Listed species mapping and needs assessment X
Restore/enhance encroachment and ruderal areas X
Reduce exotic species X
Literature development and printing X
Interpretive signs development and installation X
Trail installation X
Parking Area construction X
Law enforcement and patrol X
Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 99
5.0 LITERATURE CITED
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103-149 in R. L. Myers and J. J. Ewel editors. Ecosystems of Florida. University
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Brown, P.M. 2002. Wild Orchids of Florida. Gainesville: The University Press of Florida.
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Bush, C.S., and J.F. Morton. 1969. Native Trees and Plants for Florida Landscaping. Pages 8-9.
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Campbell K. M. 1990. Soil survey of Collier County area Florida. USDA, Natural
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Campbell, T. 2001. The brown anole. Institute for Biological Invaders: Invader of the
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Fairbank, P. and S. Hohner. 1995. Mapping recharge (infiltration and leakage) throughout
the South Florida Water Management District. Technical publication 95-20 (DRE
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information – coyote. Available from
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(FDNR) 1990. Guide to the Natural Communities of Florida. Florida Natural
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August2017).
Gann, G. D., K. A. Bradley, and S. W. Woodmansee. 2002. Rare Plants of South Florida:
Their History, Conservation, and Restoration. The Institute for Regional
Conservation. Miami, Florida.
Giuliano, W. M., and G. W. Tanner. 2005. Control and management of wild hogs in
Florida. Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Publication WEC 192.
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Humphrey, S.R. and P.G.R. Jodice. 1992. Big Cypress fox squirrel. Pp. 224-233. In
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Kale HW II and Maehr DS. 1990. Florida’s Birds: A Handbook and Reference. Sarasota:
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editors. Ecosystems of Florida. University of Central Florida Press; Orlando,
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Langeland, K. A., and R. K. Stocker. 2001. Control of non-native plants in natural areas
of Florida. University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service Document SP
242. 34pp. University of Florida, UF/IFAS Extension Digital Information Source
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Pepper Ranch Preserve Land Management Plan
Conservation Collier Program 104
Appendix 1
Pepper Ranch Preserve Legal Description
Appendix 2
Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification
System Designations
for Pepper Ranch Preserve – (2’x3’ map)
(Same as map on page 22 only larger)
Appendix 3
Florida Natural Areas Inventory Designations
for Pepper Ranch Preserve – (2’x3’ map)
(Same map as on Page 24 only larger)
Insert when final PDF is Created
Appendix 4
Floristic Inventory of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Insert with final PDF is Created
Appendix 5: Pepper Ranch Preserve Master Wildlife Species
Inventory
Updated February 2024
Faunal Species Observed at Pepper Ranch Preserve
Common Name Scientific Name Protection Status
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
America Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
American Robin Turdus migratorius
Anhinga Anhinga anhinga
Audubon’s Crested Caracara Polyborus plancus audubonii T (FWC, USFWS)
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Delisted (USFWS & FWC)
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Barred Owl Strix varia
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia
Black-bellied whistling ducks Dendrocygna autumnalis
Black-Crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Black Skimmer Rynchops niger
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptula caerulea
Blue-headed vireo Vireo solitarius
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
Boat-tailed Grackle Agelaius phoeniceus
Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum
Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Common Bobwhite Colinus virginianus
Cedar Waxwing Bobycilla cedrorum
Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula
Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina
Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum
Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna
Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto
European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus
Florida Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis pratensis T (FWC)
Forester’s Tern Sterna forsteri
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus
Great Egret Ardea alba
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Green Heron Butorides virescens
House Wren Troglodytes aeson
Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea
Killdeer Charadrius vociferus
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis
Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis
Limpkin Aramus guarauna
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea T(FWC)
Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus
Merlin Falco columbarius
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata
Northern Bobwhite Colinus virginianus
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
Northern Flicker Sphyrapicus varius
Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius
Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos
Northern Parula Parula americana
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Painted Bunting Passerina ciris
Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus
Prairie Warbler Setophaga discolor
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus
Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
Redhead Aythya americana
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
Roseate Spoonbill Ajaia ajaja T (FWC)
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus
Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylio calendulata
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
Sedge Wren Cistothorus stellaris
Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus
Snail Kite Tostrhamus sociabilis E (FWC and USFWS)
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor T (FWC)
Tufted Titmouse Belolphus bicolor
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
Western Kingbird Tryannus verticalis
White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus
White Ibis Eudocimus albus
White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo
Wilson’s snipe Gallinago delicata
Wood Stork Mycteria americana T(FWC), T (USFWS)
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea
Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
Yellow-throated Warber Setophaga dominica
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
Armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus
Big Cypress Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger avicennia T (FWC) –not observed by
staff
Bobcat Lynx rufus
Coyote Canis latrans
Eastern Cottontail Rabbit Sylvilagus floridanus
Feral Hog* Sus scrofa
Florida Black Bear Ursus americanus floridanus
Florida Panther Puma concolor coryi E (FWC); E (USFWS)
Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus T (FWC) T (USFWS)
Grey fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus
Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis
Marsh Rabbit Sylvilagus palustris
Opossum Didelphis virginiana
Raccoon Procyon lotor
River otter Lontra canadensis
Round-tailed Muskrat Neofiber alleni
White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus
American Alligator Alligator mississippiensis T (FWC) -T (USFWS)1 (S/A)
Black Racer Coluber constrictor priapus
Brown Anole* Anolis sagrei
Brown watersnake Nerodia taxispilota
Coral Snake Micrurus fulvius
Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus
Diamondback Rattlesnake Crotalus adamanteus
Florida Box Turtle Terrapene carolina bauri
Florida Softshell Apalone ferox
Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus T (FWC)
Green Anole Anolis carolinensis
Pigmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius
Red-bellied Turtle Pseudemys rubriventris
Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina
Three-striped Mud Turtle Kinosternon bauri
Yellow Rat Snake Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata
Cane Toad* Rhinella marina
Cuban Tree Frog* Osteopilus septentrionalis
Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad Gastrophryne carolinensis
Greenhouse Frog* Eleutherodactylus planirostris
Southern Toad Anaxyrus terrestris
Green Treefrog Hyla cinerea
Oak Toad Anaxyrus quercicus
Pig Frog Lithobates grylio
Southern Cricket Frog Acris gryllus
Southern Leopard Frog Lithobates sphenocephalus
Squirrel Treefrog Hyla squirella
White Peacock Anartia jatrophae
Gulf Fritillary Agraulis vanillae
Monarch Danaus plexippus
Queen Danaus gilippus
Viceroy Limenitis archippus
Zebra Longwing Heliconius charitonius
Phaon Crescent Phycoiodes phaon
Ceraunus Blue Hemiargus ceraunus
Barred Yellow Eurema daira
Cloudless Sulphur Phoebis sennae
Orange-barred Sulphur Phoebis philea
Long-tailed Skipper Urbanus proteus
Dorantes Longtail Urbanus dorantes
Three-spotted Skipper Cymaenes tripunctus
Fiery Skipper Hylephilia phyleus
Horace's Duskywing Erynnis horatius
Ocola Skipper Panoquina ocola
Red-waisted Florella Moth Synganmua florella
Beet Webworm Moth Spoladea recurvalis
Southern Milky Argyria Moth Argyria lacteella
Wine-tinted Oenobotys Moth Oenobotys vinotinctalis
Eastern Pondhawk Erythemis simplicicollis
Pin-tailed Pondhawk Erythemis plebeja
Blue Dasher Pachydiplax longipennis
Regal Darner Coryphaeschna ingens
Halloween Pennant Celithemis eponina
Four-spotted Pennant Brachymesia gravida
Band-winged Dragonlet Erythrodiplax umbrata
Little Blue Dragonlet Erythrodiplax minuscula
Needham's Skimmer Libellula needhami
Roseate Skimmer Orthemis ferruginea
Golden-winged Skimmer Libellula auripennis
Slaty Skimmer Libellula incesta
Hyacinth Glider Miathyria marcella
Spot-winged Glider Pantala hymenaea
Eastern Amberwing Perithemis tenera
Carolina Saddlebags Tramea carolina
Black Saddlebags Tramea lacerata
Two-striped Forceptail Aphylla williamsoni
Citrine Forktail Ischnura hastata
Rambur's Forktail Ischnura ramburii
List of Abbreviations:
FWC = Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission
USFWS = United States Fish and Wildlife Service
E = Endangered
T = Threatened
*- Invasive Exotic Species
Management Unit Map of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Appendix 6
Cattle Lease
Appendix 7
Pepper Ranch Preserve Quality Wildlife
Management Hunt Program
2017-2018 Brochure
Appendix 68
Pepper Ranch Preserve –
Land Use Compatibility Matrix
Pepper Ranch Preserve - Compatibility Matrix
hiking
mountain
biking
primitive
camping
horseback
riding hunting fishing
nature
photography
special
events
lodge
rental ecotourism campground archery
Panther
Conservatio
n Bank
wetlands
mitigation
water
storage SSA oil drilling
cattle
grazing
hiking
mountain biking
primitive camping
horseback riding
hunting
fishing
nature photography
special events logde rental
ecotourism
campground
archery
Panther Conservation Bank
Wetlands Mitigation
water storage
SSA
oil drilling
cattle grazing
Uses are compatible throughout the Preserve
Uses are compatible but on seperate portions of the Preserve
Uses are not compatible during certain times of the year
PUBLIC USES MITIGATION & LAND USE
OTHER REVENUE
GENERATING Conservation
Collier
Ordinance No.
2007-65
Conservation Collier Ordinance No. 2007-
65MITIGATION & LAND USEOTHER REVENUE GENERATINGPUBLIC USES
Appendix 79
Parcel Folio Map of Pepper Ranch Preserve
Appendix 810. Wildlife Camera Photographs