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<br />REU81N OD. ASKEW
<br />GOVERNOR
<br />STATE OF FLORIDA
<br />DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION
<br />2600 BLAIR STONE ROAD
<br />TWIN TOWERS OFFICE BUILDING
<br />TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32301
<br />March 31, 1978
<br />JOSEPH W.IANDERS.JR,
<br />SECRETARY
<br />Indian River County Board of County
<br />Commissioners = "A" �+
<br />County Courthouse `s�`oG���
<br />Vero Beach, Florida 32960 °�� d
<br />Dear Commissioners:
<br />File No. 31-37-4127, Indian River -
<br />Department of Transportation, Bridges No. 11 & 12 -
<br />Our staff has performed a biological survey of the bridge sites referenced
<br />above. The following comments are offered for your consideration and review.
<br />The Department of Transportation proposes to replace Bridges No.
<br />11 & 12 at SR 60 across a segment of the St. Johns River Upper
<br />Basin. Bridge replacement includes: 1) lengthening Bridge No.
<br />11 from 60.58 feet to 97 feet; 2) lengthening Bridge No. 12 from
<br />61.44 feet to 97 feet; 3) dredging the channel beneath each bridge
<br />to a 16 foot elevation; 4) widening the road and shoulders by
<br />relocating existing parallel roadside ditches; and 5) constructing
<br />a detour road on the north side of SR 60. The detour roads for
<br />Bridges No. 11 and 12 are to be 2000feet long by 70 feet wide
<br />(13,000 cubic yards) and 1,600 feet long by 70 feet wide (14,490
<br />cubic yards), respectively. Detour roads will be removed after
<br />completion of the new bridges.
<br />This section of the St. Johns River consists of vast marshes and
<br />swamps, some of which have been impounded for agricultural purposes.
<br />The segment of SR 60 that crosses the 7 miles of remaining wetlands
<br />is a two-lane road with 8 bridges (each averages 60 feet in length).
<br />Parallel roadside borrow ditches run the entire length of SR 60
<br />across these wetlands. The northern ditch is bordered to the north
<br />by a berm of approximately the same elevation as the existing roadway.
<br />Bridges No. 11 & 12, approximately 2,000 feet apart, are located in
<br />the middle of the SR 60 crossing of the St. Johns River wetland. Banks
<br />of the roadside ditches are vegetated by willow, wax myrtle, palm,
<br />maple, and elderberry. Water hyacinth, sedges (Cyperus sp.), saw -
<br />grass, cattail, spadderdock, and pennywort are found in the water.
<br />Amphipods, grass shrimp, golden top minnow, gobies, least killifish
<br />and various centrarchid fish were collected from the ditches.
<br />Louisiana heron, little blue heron, green heron, king rail, Carolina
<br />wren, catbird, brown thrasher, yellow-rumped warbler, yellow throat,
<br />marsh rabbit and river otter were observed along the ditches.
<br />Relatively undisturbed marsh/swamp occurs north and south of SR 60.
<br />These natural areas are vegetated primarily by willow and sawgrass.
<br />Dikes and berms are vegetated by various ruderal species as well as
<br />wax myrtle, maple, elderberry and willow.
<br />The replacement of these bridges is part of an overall plan that -
<br />includes widening all of SR 60 that crosses the St. Johns River
<br />wetland. These two bridge replacements with their detour roads are
<br />.not expected to have a long term significant adverse impact on the
<br />aquatic biological resources. However, it is recommended that the
<br />berm on the north side of the north ditch be removed. Past
<br />recommendations of Fish and Wildlife Service representatives.were
<br />for approval of this permit subject to a stipulation• requiring that
<br />the detour road be removed to, or slightly lower than, the natural
<br />marsh elevation. Accordingly, the Department of Environmental
<br />Regulation recommends approval of this project as proposed conditioned
<br />by restoring natural elevations to the north of the project area and
<br />revegetating all disturbed areas with native plant species.
<br />Pursuant to subsection 253.124(3), Florida Statutes, the preceding comments
<br />are to be read into the minutes of a Commission meeting at which approval
<br />or disapproval of this project is to be determined. Please notify this
<br />agency of the Commission's decision by letter which includes a copy of the
<br />minutes.of that meeting.
<br />WDM/nb
<br />Sincerely,
<br />BOOK. 34 PAGE D3
<br />v W. Ross McWilliams, Jr.
<br />Section Administrator
<br />Standard Permitting Section
<br />
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