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FLORIDA GAME AND FRESH WATER FISH COMMISSION THOMAS L. HIRES, SR. WILLIAM G. BOSTICK, JR. C. TOM RAINEY, D.V.M. J.H. BAROCO MRS. GILBERT W. HUMPHREY Chairman, Lake Wales Vice -Chairman, Winter Haven Miami Pensacola Miccosukee FpOff 'mob '"`'•�• q�`^A ROBERT M. BRANTLY, Executive Director a r L ° = F.G. BANKS, Assistant Executive Director u R i -; D , • February 1986 Iss�°� Dear Commissioner Wodtke, As discussed in our telephone conversation several weeks ago, I request that I be permitted to address the Indian River County Commission at their regular meeting on 12 February 1986 to present a slide program describing our research activities on spoil islands in the Indian River, and to explain our intent regarding future projects. The following paragraphs briefly describe our program of spoil island habitat restoration. In September, 1983, the Vero Beach Office of the Florida Game and Fresh Water -Fish Commission initiated a spoil island habitat restoration project by planting 300 seedlings on a spoil island in Indian River County (see attached abstract). The remarkable success of this pilot project has encouraged us to propose a large-scale demonstration project involving one or more islands, 20 to 50 different species, and thousands of seedlings. Planting locations, techniques, and whether to use volunteer labor are just a few of the experimental variables to be considered in the development of a detailed research proposal. Our presentation is intended to inform the County Commission of our past efforts, explain the purpose of such habitat creation or restoration projects, and express our desire to work with the County in pursuing this research. To our knowledge, Indian River is the only county along Florida's east coast to have commissioned a significant study of its respective spoil islands which was expressly oriented toward management of these uplands for their natural values. We intend to further pursue that objective, and upon completion of a demonstration project proposal, will submit that proposal for consideration and endorsement by the County Commission. Sincerely, Rand T. Fernald Biological Scientist III Mr. Fernald reviewed slides showing their plantings and the results in great detail, including charts showing the rate of success of the various species planted; he noted that the species which are natural to the county survived at a high rate but the exotics did not last. A summary of his complete presentation is set out in the following abstract. 17 BOOK 63 maL585