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Comprehensive Plan Conservation Element <br />o Gopher Tortoise Protection <br />In 2007, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Gopher Tortoise Management <br />Plan was revised. At that time, the gopher tortoise was upgraded from a species of special concern <br />to a threatened species. As a result of the revised plan, gopher tortoises may no longer be entombed <br />or buried on development sites. Now, gopher tortoises located in the path of proposed development <br />are required to be relocated onsite or transported for relocation offsite under the guidance of the <br />FWC. <br />Ecological Communities <br />Indian River County is enriched with a diversity of upland and wetland ecological communities, <br />varying in composition as the county extends from the Atlantic Ocean and the IRL westward to the <br />St. Johns Marsh and Blue Cypress Lake. A Soil Conservation Service (SCS) publication entitled "26 <br />Ecological Communities of Florida" identifies at least 13 different ecological communities within the <br />county, in addition to the IRL and the nearshore Atlantic Ocean. According to the SCS publication, <br />6 of the communities appear in significant concentrations, with approximately 7 other community <br />categories appearing at sporadic intervals or in localized areas of the county. The ecological <br />community concept utilized by the SCS is based on awareness that different soil types commonly <br />support specific vegetative and wildlife species. <br />Community Development Department Indian River County 38 <br />