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Be advised that although Figure 7 shows MUs 10-15 as being currently occupied by scrub -jays, these areas are rarely used due to the poor quality of the scrub habitat, i` Each of the scrub -jay territories potentially affected by concurrent (or within a short time interval) burning the subject Unit 17 MUs include suitable habitat areas located outside of tho subject MUs. These "off-site" habitat areas are sufficient to support the affected scrub -jay groups while targeted burned habitat areas are regenerating. It should be noted that the subject "off-site" areas are located within the Sebastian Highlands Unit 17 ITP impact area. It is expected that habitat loss within the Unit 17 ITP impact area will occur incrementally, over a period of years, and not immediately. This situation emphasizes the importance of and validates the reasoning for immediately initiating restoration actions within the Unit 17 MUs, 10.15. Although not specifically addressed in Table 8, all marsh habitats embedded within the designated MUs shall be allowed to burn as part of the MU if appropriate hydrologic conditions exist within the wetland(s) to prevent the occurrence of muck fires. Freshwater depression marsh wetlands require frequent fire to limit invasion by �woody shrub species, to maintain the integrity of the herbaceous community, and to reduce peat accumulation (Kushlan 1990). Therefore, the prescribed fire will serve to reduce shrub recruitment and to enhance the ecological integrity of this native matrix habitat type, The DOF will be responsible for determining the safety, from an ecological and urban interface standpoint, of burning the marsh communities. The primary objective of the restoration burning activities is to reestablish the structural attributes of the historical scrub landscape for purposes of optimizing habitat conditions for use by Florida scrub -jays and associated species of conservation concern. To achieve this objective, hot restoration burns will be applied to; 1.) consume small standing pines and slash left on the ground by mechanical treatments; 2.) initiate the creation of openings in the scrub by allowing small Biles of slash to burn hot to promote exposure of patchy areas of mineral soils; and 3.) reduce height of standing shrub. - For purposes of this NCP Management Program, and as set forth in Table 8, Fire Intensity, the objectives of a "hot" restoration burn, which under this plan will be applied to management units that have been mechanically treated as described �- above, are defined as; a,) 100% consumption the lighter fuels (grasses, litter, twigs, and small stems ( < 1 " diameter) - 1 and 10 hour timelag fuels); 89