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I: i I 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION/IMPACTS 2,1, Sebastian NCP Boundaries (HCP Plan Area) The Sebastian Highlands subdivision is located in the northernmost part of Indian River County, Florida, within the incorporated limits of the City of Sebastian. Figure 1 provides a Vicinity Map showing the location of the City of Sebastian and the expansive Sebastian Highlands subdivision. Sebastian Highlands is an active 14,000± lot residential subdivision platted in the 1950's by General Development Corporation (GDC), currently known as Atlantic Gulf Communities (AGC). The City of Sebastian experienced one of the highest rates of growth, 237%-337%, in the State of Florida between 1980 and 1990 (Fernald et al. 1992). A rapid rate of growth continues in this municipality, The Sebastian HCP ITP impact area (ITP impact area) is defined by all platted residential lots located within the Sebastian Highlands subdivision. The ITP impact area is inclusive of the 317 one-quarter acre Sebastian Highlands lots (79.3±acres) currently recorded at the City of Sebastian's building department as designated by the FWS as potentially occupied by Florida scrub -jays. The ITP impact area and the Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas, as described below, define the project boundaries of the Sebastian HCP (HCP Plan Area). In accordance with the regulatory criteria set forth under section 10(a)(2)(A), a qualitative analysis of the potential adverse impacts of the proposed taking on the North Indian River/South Brevard County Florida scrub -jay rnetapopulation, of which the Sebastian Florida scrub -jay subpopulations are a part is presented herein. Steps to be taken by the Applicant to minimize and mitigate such impacts are also covered under this HCP. The combined 418± acre Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas are comprised of 324± acres of Florida scrub -jay potential habitat types (oak scrub, scrubby flatwoods, and mesic matrix habitat types), both occupied and unoccupied by scrub -jays, and the 94± acre mesic flatwood Sebastian Airport dispersal corridor. The Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas are located on the following publicly -owned lands: 1.) the 406± acre North Sebastian Scrub Conservation Area, 2J the 126,6± acre Sebastian Airport properties, 3.) the 10± acre Sebastian Highlands Scrub Conservation Area (34 Lots in Unit 17), 4.) the 11.9± acre Pelican Island Elementary School scrub (located in Unit 17), and 5.) the 1111- acre Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area. As discussed in Section 4.1.3 below, the 418± acre Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas does not include the 34.6 -± acre portion of the Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area that was previously used by Indian River County as compensatory mitigation for the take of one (1) Florida scrub -jay territory incidental to the construction of the County Road 512 improvements project (FWS Log No. 4-1-96-432). Figure 2 provides an overlay, on an 1994 high resolution orthophoto quad (DOQ), of the location of the 317 FWS designated potential scrub -jay habitat lots to be