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CONSENT AGENDA INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA] AGENDA ITEM Assistant County Administrator / Department of General Services Date: November 15, 2016 To: The Honorable Board of County Commissioners Thru: Jason E. Brown, County Administrator From: Michael C. Zito, Assistant County Administrator Subject: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Gopher Tortoise Habitat Management Funding Assistance Description and Conditions: On September 2, 2016, staff applied for Habitat Management Assistance Funding (HMAF) from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC.) North Sebastian Conservation Area (NSCA) ranked among the top statewide applications received and was chosen to receive $14,000 to conduct prescribed burning, roller -chopping and exotics treatment, and to install silt fencing to create a holding area for the purposes of receiving Gopher Tortoises from development sites that have Incidental Take Permits. As part of the funding assistance that provides for silt fence installation, the County agrees to become a Gopher Tortoise Incidental Take Permit (ITP) Recipient Site and to manage the conservation area for gopher tortoises in the foreseeable future. This management is consistent with and furthers the conservation goals of managing the site under the Sebastian Area -Wide Florida Scrub jay Habitat Conservation Plan (approved March 2000) as well as the management goals and objectives of the County's Approved Management Plan (approved June 2001). It further aids in meeting the management plan objectives agreed upon by the by Florida Communities Trust (a cost -share partner for the purchase of the NSCA). The funding assistance provided does not require any monetary match. Analysis: In the late 1990s, Indian River County purchased several parcels that now make up the NSCA (407 acres) with cost share funding from the Florida Communities Trust (FCT). The conservation area was purchased to preserve and manage native vegetation for rare species. Additionally, the conservation area serves as a key component in the Sebastian Area -Wide Florida Scrub jay Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) which allows for the Incidental Take of Florida Scrub jays within the Sebastian Highlands. Management objectives of the conservation area in both the Management Plan and the HCP are compatible with the management for Gopher Tortoises as they share the same habitat and have similar habitat requirements (i.e. low open canopy and well drained soils). From 1991-2007 developers statewide were, able to mitigate for gopher tortoises on-site by receiving an ITP. This permit authorized the ,"take" of gopher tortoise burrows, gopher tortoises FAAssistant County Administrator\AGENDA ITEMS\2016\BCC 11 NOVEMBER 2016\BCCMemo - FWC Gopher Tortoise Funding.doc 93