1999-287 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas is 13 to 14 scrub -jay families in optimal habitat conditions. As discussed above, an additional 5 families persist on the Sebastian Golf Course and on the Sebastian Elementary School properties located outside of the boundaries of the Sebastian HCP Pian Area, These families may function to provide a source for recolonization of restored habitat within the northernmost compensation areas. it should be noted that a 3 acre scrub patch used by one scrub -jay family and located at the western terminus of Runway 45- f "` 225 (southern runway) is targeted for scrub -jay habitat restoration and j; management by the Sebastian Airport in accordance with the 1996 Florida Scrub Jay ManarJentent Flan, Sebastian Airport Site, Sebastian, Indian Lover County, FL (Carroll and Associates 1996), The status of management actions within this area is riot known. The proposed Sebastian MCP operating conservation program will serve to augment public efforts at securing a sustainable Florida scrub -jays metapopulation within northern Indian River and southern Brevard counties by increasing the population persistence probability of the study population through permanent conservation management measures. The long-term management of habitat conditions optimal for Florida scrub -jays will also benefit the numerous native species that persist under the scrub -Jay's "umbrella", such as the Eastern indigo snake and gopher tortoise. The conservation actions proposed under the Sebastian HCP will serve to address a portion of tire Florida scrub -jay conservation and recovery tasks outlined ill tfte FWS Multi -Species Recovery Plan for South Florida (FWS 1999), These actions include protection and management of crucial tracts of Florida scrub -jay habitat. Implementation of Alternative 2 will also serve to further a ntnttber of Indian River County and City of Sebastian Comprehensive Plan policies and objectives. These include; 1.) conservation of native upland communities to sustain viable populations of native plant and animal species and preservation of re preset it ative habitat types, 2.) protection of critical habitat supporting endangered or threatened plants and animals occurring in Indian River County, 3.) provision of open space land accessible to the public for resource-based passive recreation, and 4.) environmental education facilities in the urban service area, and the protection of lands designated as primary surficial aquifer recharge areas flndian River County 2020 Corn prehensive Plan 1998). Alternative 2, as proposed, provides affirmative conservation benefits to the Florida scrub -jay while accommodating an otherwise lawful land use activity. Alternative 2 adequately satisfies the purpose and needs for which the Sebastian HCP is being prepared.