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JUN 2 3 1987 ALTERNATIVES & ANALYSIS Bou 68 qac 640 The Planning Department analyzed the property and addressed the issues of concern to the Board. A copy of that report is attached to this memo. The report identifies sand pine scrub habitat characteristics, describes the subject property, and assesses the need to preserve this property. In addition, the report identifies uses which are compatible with preservation of the habitat and lists various funding alternatives. RECOMMENDATION The staff recommends that the Board accept the attached report. The staff also recommends that the Board adopt a policy to preserve existing sand pine scrub habitat. Further, the staff recommends that the Board authorize purchase of the Mooney property and consider it for use as a utility site and/or as a passive recreational facility.. SCRUB HABITATS A number of distinct communities exist within Indian River County. Besides the sand pine scrub habitat, these communities include estuarine and freshwater wetlands, pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, and others. Each of these systems combine to form the total ecosystem in the County, and the loss or substantial decline of any of these habitat areas can affect the overall system. Historically, scrub communities have developed along the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, and Ten Mile Ridge. Because of the elevation of the land and drainage characteristics that enabled the ridge to be consistently dry, and its proximity to the river, the Atlantic Coastal Ridge was the area where early development concentrated. Travel corridors developed along the coastal ridge to serve the population and because the relatively high elevation and drainage made for good reliable roadways and rail routes. Within %the last few decades, the scrub habitat has been dramati- cally reduced due to commercial and residential development along the U.S. #1 corridor. Recently, intensified urban development dramatically increased the need for sand for septic tank and general land filling activities, and the resultant sand mining and urban development destroyed much sand pine habitat. Although the loss of scrub habitat has not been quantified for Indian River County, a 1984 study revealed that the 41,000 acres of historical scrub habitat in Palm Beach County had been reduced to only 1,100 acres, a 97% loss. A review of aerial photographs of Indian River county shows evidence of a substantial decline of scrub habitat in this County. In response to the rapid loss of this type of upland habitat, Ray Fernald of the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission is completing a region -wide study of the loss of scrub habitat. Mr. _ Fernald recently made a brief presentation to the County Commis- sion, and many of the technical details of scrub habitat contained in this report come from discussions between environmental plan- ning staff and Mr. Fernald. In his report, Mr. Fernald surveyed the County and determined that only seven areas of viable sand pine habitat still exist along the Atlantic Coastal Ridge in Indian River County. The following summary identifies and briefly describes the several areas which are shown on the map attached to this report. 1. The Sebastian River corridor is the largest area identified (200-300 acres). Although the tract is not dominated by sand 46