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The above biological criteria were considered by the FWS in developing the scrub-jay core habitat reserve design for the City of Sebastian (TOland 1996). This reserve design essentially directed the acquisition and designation of the Sebastian HCP Scrub-Jay Habitat Compensation Areas. Suitable scrub-jay habitat is not restricted to scrub Oak patches (Breininger et al. 1991, 1995, 1996b, 1998a; Ouncun et al. 1995). Scrub-jays defend and use mesic habitat types, such as open pine flatwoods and saw paimetto scrub, located near oak scrub patches (Breininger et al. 1995, '1998x), Alteration and fragmentation of the matrix habitat by developmentlagricultural activities disrupts fire patterns, alters prey and predator composition, and removes habitat that may become; optimal after fires (Fitzpatrick et al. 1991; Breininger et al. 1995; Breininger and Oddy 1998). Therefore, management of optimal scrub-jay habitat conditions must consider the matrix habitat in which the focal scrub patches are embedded (Breininger and Oddy 1998). Management of the matrix habitat serves to benefit associated scrub species, such as the gopher tortoise, Eastern indigo snake, and wetland dependent species, including the threatened Florida gopher frog (references in Breininger and Oddy 1998; Schmalzer et al, 1999). Management of the depression marshes provides breeding sites for amphibians which form a significant portion of the food chain; insuring an important food source to Florida scrub-jays (Breininger and Oddy 1998; Schmalzer el al. 1999). Where natural fire processes have been restricted by anthropogenic barriers or activities, the scrub oaks often reach a size that is essentially fire-resistant (Guerin 1988,1993; Schmalzer et at 1994). Restoration of tali, unburned scrub to optimal Florida scrub-jay habitat conditions usually can not be achieved by fire alone, as the tree-sized scrub oaks are able to survive: fire and resprout from trunks above ground (Schmalzer et at 1994). The objective to restore a low, open habitat structure would not be accomplished as the overgrown scrub would regenerate as a forest structure (Schmalzer et al, 1994). Therefore, mechanical cutting of the tail fire-resistant scrub oaks, followed by a prescribed fire, has been found to be the only reasonable method of restoring severely degraded scrub communities (Schmalzer et ai. 1994). This method has been used at both Oscar Scharer State Recreation Area (Smyth 1991) and Kennedy Space Center (KSC) (Schmalzer et at 1994, 1999) for the purposes Of restoring suitable scrub-jay habitat conditions, Scrub-jcIys exhibit a dramatic preference for recently burned or mechanically disturbed scrub, defending and foraging in these patches unless the land management treatments affect all or most of the defended territory (Fitzpatrick et al. 1994a), Studies at KSC found that scrub- jays actively use restored area for foraging, caching acorns, and croon nesting within 18 months post-fire (Breininger el al. 19961)), Although mechanical treatments are suCCessful in reducing vegetation height and creating openings in the scrub, they should be applied carefully to reduce the potential for soil disturbances and a discontinuity of fuels (Breininger and Schmalzer 74 0