Shuler (NWFWMD ILF Program Mitigation Project Site) · PDF fileShuler (NWFWMD ILF Program Mitigation Project Site) Contents: Summary of Twelve Components of the Compensatory Mitigation

Shuler

(NWFWMD ILF Program Mitigation Project Site)

Contents:

Summary of Twelve Components of the Compensatory Mitigation Plan

UMAM Credit Assessment

Mitigation Service Area

Summary of Twelve Components of the Compensatory Mitigation Plan

Northwest Florida Water Management District

In-Lieu Fee Program

Shuler Mitigation Area

(Summary of 12 Elements Required by § 332.4(c) of the 2008 EPA/USACE Final Compensatory

Mitigation Rule for All In-Lieu Fee Program Project Plans; See Attached Shuler Property

Mitigation Documents for Additional Explanation and Detail)

22 September 2014

1—Objectives

Perpetual preservation and management of 485 acres of high-quality, palustrine forested

wetlands (FLUCCS 615 – Bottomland) in the eastern portion of the Shuler conservation

easement property adjacent to the Ochlockonee River.

2—Site Selection Criteria

This site was selected as part of an ongoing effort to acquire, preserve, and restore wetlands and

water resources within the Ochlockonee River watershed. The Northwest Florida Water

Management District (NWFWMD) acquired a conservation easement (less-than fee acquisition)

on the 1,573.66-acre (±) Shuler Property in July, 2008. This easement protects the entire

1,573.66 acres from development, although only 485 acres of high-quality, palustrine forested

wetlands adjacent to the Ochlockonee River will initially be included in the In-Lieu Fee

Program. The eastern portion of the property is characterized by high-quality, forested wetlands

and associated upland buffers, whereas the western portion has been degraded from past

silvicultural practices. Although the conservation easement allows for NWFWMD restoration of

degraded wetlands in the western portion of the property, there are no near-term plans to do so.

3—Site Protection Instrument

This site is protected by a conservation easement recorded with Liberty County, Florida on

7/28/08.

4—Baseline Information

Maps (attached)

Location of Shuler Property

2013 DOQ of Shuler Property Conservation Easement

2013 DOQ of Shuler ILF Area

Soils of Shuler ILF Area

LiDAR of Shuler ILF Area

USGS Quad Map of Shuler ILF Area

1952 B&W Aerial of Shuler ILF Area

1937 B&W Aerial of Shuerl ILF Area

Conservation Easement (attached)

The Shuler conservation easement site consists of 1,573.66± acres. Approximately 800-

900 acres are wetlands. Wetlands in the western portion of the Shuler property are highly

disturbed. Those in the eastern portion adjacent to the Ochlockonee River are generally of high

quality. The 485 acres initially included in the In-Lieu Fee Program consist entirely of high-

quality, bottomland hardwood forest (FLUCCS 615).

5—Determination of Credits

Mitigation credits were determined by the Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM).

The UMAM determination of 33.95 credits for the preservation of 485 acres of bottomland

hardwood forest (FLUCCS 615) was approved by USACE. Release of mitigation credits was

determined by the USACE in consultation with a mitigation review team.

6—Detailed Work Plan

The Shuler conservation easement property (including the 485-acre area included in the

NWFWMD ILF Program) will be maintained in a natural state in perpetuity.

7—Maintenance Plan

The site will be preserved and managed in a natural state according to the terms of the

conservation easement and associated federal and state permits.

8—Performance Standards

No observable decline in natural community health

Nuisance vegetation ≤5% cover per acre.

Exotic vegetation ≤1% cover per acre.

9—Monitoring

Monitoring protocols necessary to ensure effective preservation and management will be

conducted annually in perpetuity, or the duration of the NWFWMD ILF Program. Annual

reports will be generated and posted at www.NWFWMDwetlands.com (or any successor

website). Specific monitoring for this site will include annual panoramic photos at established

points, and may include periodic pedestrian surveys by a qualified biologist.

10—Long-term Management

The site will be preserved and managed in a natural state according to the terms of the

conservation easement.

11—Adaptive Management Plan

All ecological restoration projects are site specific and multiple endpoints are possible owing to

the stochastic nature of ecological processes. Additionally, human activities offsite and beyond

the control of the NWFWMD may also influence the course of restoration. If changes in the

implementation of this mitigation plan become necessary, the NWFWMD will first obtain

approvals from the USACE. The NWFWMD will demonstrate good-faith efforts to comply with

restoration requirements and will not invoke an alleged need for adaptive management as a

pretext for non-compelling reasons.

http://www.nwfwmdwetlands.com/

12—Financial Assurances

The NWFWMD is a governmental entity created by the Florida Water Resources Act of 1972

with the mission of protecting water resources protection and ecosystem integrity. Funds are

specifically earmarked to implement and maintain mitigation.

As of July, 2014, the NWFWMD had greater than $15,000,000 available in a dedicated

mitigation fund. This fund was established to receive payment from sales of mitigation credits

and to ensure adequate funding for the implementation and long-term management of mitigation

sites, in accordance with 62-342.850 FAC.

Other Information

Any additional information requested by the USACE to determine the appropriateness,

feasibility, and practicability of this compensatory mitigation project will be provided.

Location of Shuler Property

0 5 10Miles XOchlockonee River Watershed

Shuler Property

£¤90

§̈¦10

Liberty Co.

Midway

Gadsden Co.

Quincy

Æ·20

£¤27

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o c k

o n e

e

R i v e r

Talla.

Lak

e Talquin

Wakulla Co.

Leon Co.

Æ·12

Havana

Och

lockonee

Rive

r

Æ·20

Æ·267

Æ·267

Æ·65

Æ·12

Shuler Conservation Easement - 2013 DOQ

0 0.25 0.5 Miles[

Ochlockonee River

Æ·67

485-Acre High-quality, Palustrine ForestedWetland Area Included in ILF Program

PotentialFuture

RestorationArea

(West)C O N S E R V A T I O N E A S E M E N T

Shuler ILF Area - 2013Ochlockonee River

Shuler Conservation Easement Boundary

ILF Area

2013 DOQ0 0.1 0.2 Miles[

Shuler ILF Area - SoilsOchlockonee River


ILF Area

NRCS Soil Survey0 0.1 0.2 Miles[

Elloree, Bibb, and Meggett soils, 0 to 3 percent slopes, frequently floodedGarcon, Ochlockonee, and Ousley soils, occasionally floodedRutlege, Bibb, and Surrency soils, frequently floodedOther Soils

Shuler ILF Area - LiDAROchlockonee River


ILF Area

0 0.1 0.2 Miles[High

Low

Shuler ILF Area - USGS Quad MapOchlockonee River


ILF Area

0 0.1 0.2 Miles[



ILF Area

1952 B&W Aerials

0 0.1 0.2 Miles[



ILF Area

1937 B&W Aerials

0 0.1 0.2 Miles[

UMAM Credit Assessment

Cur or

W/Out With Raw Time PF Adjusted UMAM

Polygon Acres L1 L2 W1 W1 C1 C2 Score Score Delta Lag Factor Risk Delta Credits

Polygon A 485.00 9 10 10 10 9 10 0.93 1.00 0.07 1 1 1 0.07 33.95

(Total Credits) 33.95

L1 = Location and Landscape Support (Without Mitigation Project)

L2 = Location and Landscape Support (With Mitigation Project)

W1 = Water Environment (Without Mitigation Project)

W2 = Water Environment (With Mitigation Project)

C1 = Vegetation Community Structure (Without Mitigation Project)

C2 = Vegetation Community Structure (With Mitigation Project)

Shuler Bottomland Preservation - UMAM Credit Assessment

25 April 2012 (US Army Corps of Engineers)

Form 62-345.900(1), F.A.C. [ effective date ]

Additional relevant factors

---

Assessment conducted by Assessment date(s)

US Army Corps of Engineers (Andy Kizlauskas) 4/25/2012

---

SR 65; Ochlockonee River; Tates Hell State Forest. Not unique.

Functions Mitigation for previous permit/other historic use

Flood abatement; water quality; detritus export; floral and faunal habitat. None

Anticipated Wildlife Utilization Based on Literature Review (List of

species that are representative of the assessment area and reasonably

expected to be found )

Anticipated Utilization by Listed Species (List species, their legal

classification (E, T, SSC), type of use, and intensity of use of the

assessment area)

--- ---

Observed Evidence of Wildlife Utilization (List species directly observed, or other signs such as tracks, droppings, casings, nests, etc.)

Geographic relationship to and hydrologic connection with wetlands, other surface water, uplands

Wetlands adjacent and contiguous to Ochlockonee River. Buffered by Ochlockonee River to east and silvicultural areas to west.

Assessment area description

Bottomland hardwood forest adjacent to Ochlockonee River.

Significant nearby features Uniqueness (considering the relative rarity in relation to the

regional landscape.)

Basin/Watershed Name/Number Affected Waterbody (Class) Special Classification (i.e.OFW, AP, other local/state/federal designation of importance)

Ochlockonee III ---

FLUCCS code Further classification (optional) Impact or Mitigation Site? Assessment Area Size

615 (Approximate) --- Mitigation 485 Acres

Shuler - Bottomland Preservation Not Applicable Polygon A

PART I – Qualitative Description(See Section 62-345.400, F.A.C.)

Site/Project Name Application Number Assessment Area Name or Number

w/out pres

w/out pres

w/out pres

w/out mit

Functional Gain w/Mitigation (Adjusted Delta * Acres) = 33.95Raw Delta = [w/mit - w/out mit] Adjusted Delta [(Raw Delta * PF) / (T

* R)] = 0.070.07

Score = sum of above scores/30 (if

uplands, divide by 20) Preservation Adjustment Factor

(PF) = 1UMAM Functional Assessment

w/mit Time Lag Factor = 10.93 1.00

Risk Factor = 1 Polygon Acreage = 485.00

.500(6)(c)Community structure

Without Preservation - Plausible impacts include logging of bottomland hardwood forest, lack of proactive

management if exotic vegetation were to invade, lack of BMPs in adjacent silvicultural buffers, and construction

of several hunt cabins or river houses on bluff along Ochlockonee River. With Preservation - Elimination of

threats to existing high-quality, bottomland forested wetlands.

Vegetation and/or Benthic

Community

w/pres

9 10

.500(6)(a) Location and

Landscape Support Without Preservation - Plausible impacts include logging of bottomland hardwood forest, lack of proactive

management if exotic vegetation were to invade, lack of BMPs in adjacent silvicultural buffers, and possible

construction of several hunt cabins or river houses on bluff along Ochlockonee River. With Preservation -

Elimination of threats to existing high-quality, bottomland forested wetlands.

w/pres

9 10

.500(6)(b)Water Environment

(N/A for Uplands)

Without Preservation - No substantive change. With Preservation - No substantive change.

w/pres

10 10

Scoring Guidance Optimal (10) Moderate(7) Minimal (4) Not Present (0)The scoring of each

indicator is based on what

would be suitable for the

type of wetland or surface

water assessed

Condition is optimal and

fully supports

wetland/surface water

functions

Condition is less than

optimal, but sufficient to

maintain most

wetland/surface

waterfunctions

Minimal level of support of

wetland/surface water

functions

Condition is insufficient to

provide wetland/surface

water functions

Impact or Mitigation Assessment conducted by: Assessment date:

Mitigation US Army Corps 4/25/2012

Shuler - Bottomland Preservation Not Applicable Polygon A

PART II – Quantification of Assessment Area (impact or mitigation)(See Sections 62-345.500 and .600, F.A.C.)

Site/Project Name Application Number Assessment Area Name or Number

Shuler Bottomland Preservation UMAM Assessment Area

Ochlockonee River

Shuler Property Boundary

UMAM BottomlandAssessment Polygon

(485 Acres)

2010 DOQ0 0.1 0.2 Miles[

Mitigation Service Area

The Shuler Mitigation Service Area (MSA) covers approximately 1,300 mi2, and is defined as

that portion of the 8-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 03120003 (i.e., the Lower Ochlockonee

River watershed) occurring in Florida. Total area for HUC 03120003 is approximately 1,560

mi2; ~83% of the watershed occurs in Florida, with the remainder in Georgia.

Shuler Mitigation Service Area

0 5 10 Miles 1

Tallahassee

GEORGIA

§̈¦10

Shuler MSA

HUC 03120003(Ochlockonee River)Shuler

MitigationArea

OchlockoneeRiver

Total Potential Credits = 33.95

Task

No.

%

Credit

Release

Number

of

Credits

100% 33.95

100% 33.95

Performance-based Milestone

CREDITS RELEASED AS OF JUNE 12, 2013

Totals:

Schedule of Credit Release

Shuler Tract Mitigation Area