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AUG 6 1986 BOOK 65 A rr PRESENTATION RE SPOIL ISLAND RESTORATION OF COASTAL HAMMOCKS Brian Barnett of the Florida Fresh Water Game and Fish Commission brought the Board the following proposal: ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIVE HAMMOCK VEGETATION ON SPOIL SITES DOMINATED BY AUSTRALIAN PINE Proposal The Office of Environmental Services of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) proposes to plant native trees and shrubs characteristic of subtropical coastal hammocks on several county -owned sites containing dredge spoil and currently vegetated with Australian pines. The GFC would provide transportation to the suppliers, and all labor associated with planting and monitoring. Indian River County would purchase the seedlings using funds generated by tree ordinance violation fines. Background and Purpose The coastal hammocks of Indian River County provide excellent wildlife habitat, however, they are also highly desirable as "people habitat" and are being lost to residential development. Conversely, the near monoculturel growth of Australian pine found on many dredge spoil sites provides relatively poor wildlife habitat. A GFC study plot to determine the feasibility of planting hammock vegetation on spoil sites dominated by Australian pines has been highly successful. Since many of these spoil sites are on public lands and can be protected from development, a unique opportunity exists for upland habitat enhancement. A principal factor in the lack of ecological succession on spoil sites dominated by Australian pine is the lack of an adjacent seed source. Where hammock and spoil are juxtaposed, hammock vegetation readily invades the Australian pine community. By planting areas of hammock vegetation within a spoil site, a proximal seed source is established, greatly accelerating the long-term succession from Australian pines to a coastal hammock community. Planting Sites Three sites on county property have been selected. Seedlings would be planted from 2 -inch square lines at a density of approximately 1,700 trees per acre (5 -foot centers). The sites are as follows: Round Island - 2 sites, 1 acre and 1/3 acre - 2,260 trees Little Round Island (east of R.I.) - 1 acre - 1,700 trees Wabasso Island - 2 sites, total nearly 3/4 acre - 1,240 trees Planting on the Wabasso Island sites would be coordinated with the site plan for the Pelican Island Audubon Society's nature center. Species Thirty-five species of trees and shrubs would be planted, with a total of 5,200 seedlings on the three sites. The species are as follows: sweet acacia coral bean blolly torchwood inkwood cat's claw marlberry white stopper wild coffee gumbo limbo Spanish stopper live oak tough buckthorn firebush white indigoberry American beautyberry black ironwood cabbage palm Jamaica caper mastic soapberry limber caper twinberry saw palmetto sugarberry myrsine paradise tree fiddlewood lancewood necklace pod pigeon plum red bay yellow elder _ sea grape Jamaica dogwood 68