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BOOK 62 PnE 51
<br />Similarly, Brazilian pepper is limited to the perimeter berm of the
<br />11 -acre marsh ("B", Figure 1) immediately southwest of the
<br />aforementioned wetland. This area, as described in the ADA, is
<br />dominated by shallow freshwater marshes and flats, with low spoil ridges
<br />traversing the site. These ridges are dominated by sea daisy and
<br />groundsel bush. Through dike breaches and the main north -south canal
<br />connected to the aforementioned tidal creek, this area is also tidally
<br />connected. It is dominated by freshwater drainage and rainfall,
<br />however, has much greater detrital and litter accumulation than the
<br />adjacent marsh, and is tidally inundated only during extreme tidal
<br />events. Marsh rabbits, raccoons, freshwater turtles, tree frogs,
<br />leopard frogs, forage fishes, wading birds, red -winged blackbirds, and
<br />grackles constitute the dominant fauna of this area. Alligators and
<br />river otters have also been observed in these freshwater marshes and
<br />ponds.
<br />The remaining wetlands are adequately described in the ADA. The
<br />largest system is a 40 -acre salt marsh ("C", Figure 1) complex of sea
<br />daisy, saltwort, glasswort, saltgrass, sea lavender, salt jointgrass,
<br />leatherfern, and mangroves. Shallow ditches are numerous in this
<br />wetland which is essentially impounded except for a flap -gated culvert
<br />connecting this system to a tidal marsh farther east ("D", Figure 1).
<br />The flap -gate is on the tidal end of the culvert, so tidal penetration
<br />occurs only via the imperfectly fitting flap -gate, or when the gate is
<br />intentionally opened. Groundsel bush and Brazilian pepper occur on
<br />elevated mounds and ridges in this marsh.
<br />Two distinct 5 -acre marshes occur on the site. There is a tidal
<br />high salt marsh ("D", Figure 1) with a perimeter ditch and cross ditches
<br />supporting red, black, and white mangroves east of the southern end of
<br />marsh. It has a 30 -foot -wide direct connection to the Indian River.
<br />The development tract also includes 5 acres of an impounded marsh ("E",
<br />Figure 1) at the southeast corner of the site. The 5 acres within this
<br />project consist of a saltgrass marsh with mangroves bordering the
<br />ditches at the marsh perimeter. This wetland is part of a triangular
<br />16 -acre Brazilian pepper -marsh -mangrove system extending east to the
<br />Indian River shoreline berm, and is the only completely impounded
<br />wetland on the site.
<br />Southwest of wetland "C" is a highly disturbed 20 -acre tract with
<br />high ground dominated by Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, groundsel
<br />bush, and other upland and transitional species ("F", Figure 1). The
<br />wetlands and ditches in this area support cattails, smartweed, bacopa,
<br />pluchea, and other opportunistic wetland species.
<br />The applicant proposes to construct approximately 38 acres of
<br />freshwater lakes and marshes to serve as project amenities, sources of
<br />fill, stormwater retention basins, and irrigation sources. These lakes
<br />and channels would occur on the western two thirds of the property, and
<br />would be divided into 3 drainage basins which are briefly described in
<br />the ADA. Generally, the basins would be connected in series via
<br />overflow structures, with the final freshwater system outfalling into
<br />the proposed estuarine channels. Few design details for the freshwater
<br />system are presented in the ADA, but this system could potentially
<br />provide significant fish and wildlife habitat. This appears to be one
<br />of the developer's intentions, but we would need much greater design and
<br />management details to assure this potential would be realized.
<br />Provision of diverse slopes, habitats, and depths in the freshwater
<br />system is essential to development of productive fish and wildlife
<br />habitat. Transitional and upland buffers around created wetlands,
<br />proper contouring and diverse species establishment in the created
<br />wetlands, water level fluctuation and management, minimal shoreline
<br />maintenance, control of exotic or egressive native plant species, and
<br />water quality control are critical to long-term maintenance of
<br />productive freshwater systems. The ADA contains an appropriate
<br />framework for such a system, but does not include sufficient details to
<br />ensure success. We would gladly work with the applicant to ensure
<br />development of a high-quality, productive freshwater system.
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