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Alternatives Based on that definition, the County can choose to participate as a cost -share partner on the western Lier tract in a number of ways, depending on what portions of the Lier tract the County deems to qualify for inclusion in the PINWR Buffer LAAC site boundary. Following are some alternatives: I. Linut the LAAC site boundary to wetlands only (-1.34 acres). 2. Include, along with the wetlands, an upland edge buffer -with reasonable potential for restoration.' 3. Include, along with the wetlands, the —3.98 acre archaeological site (which is adjacent to the wetland and could serve the additional function of a restorable upland buffer). If the County limits the LAAC site boundary to the wetlands only, and bases its cost -share participation on the value of the wetlands, the County's contribution would be minuscule relative to the overall cost of the property such that it would not be worth the effort. Assuming a per wetland acre value of 52,550 (the tax assessed value of estuarine wetlands). the County's cost -share would be 53,417. Under the second alternative, the County could deem some amount of grove upland as "restorable" and include it in the LAAC project (along with the wetland acreage) as an upland edge buffer. The wetland edge on the tract is 1.375 feet in length. Assuming a 30 foot wide upland edge buffer (which is the width of the Jungle Trail protected area), and basing the upland value on the per acre purchase price (573,000), the County's cost -share could be calculated as 572,767 ($73,000 x 0.95 = S69350 + S3.417 for the wetlands), rounded to $75.000. Under the third alternative, which would be to include the entire —3.98 acre archaeological site within the LAAC site boundary (along with the wetlands), the value could be calculated as 5293.957 (3.98 x S7 1.000 + $3,417 for the wetlands). If the County chooses to participate, the County can satisfy its bond expenditure requirement of having an interest to the propem' by obtaining a conservation easement (similar to the "Kenneciv Tract Buffer" LAAO site cost -share approach). The easement would apply to the portion of the Lier tract determined to be within the LAAC site boundary. The easement can be structured to allow the FWS to restore the upland to a natural area. If the archaeological site (or a portion thereof) is included within the area and subject to the conservation easement, it is possible to restore the archaeological site to a native upland without disturbing the tntegnty of the archaeological resource via the application of a layer of fill prior to planting. The conservation easement could be structured to address that issue. 1:70C•T• 1 • Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners approve the attached agreement to participate as a cost -share partner under the second alternative described herein. by expending §75.000 of county land acquisition bond funds to acquire a conservation easement over —1.34 acres of wetlands and a 30 foot wide upland edge buffer on the western Lier tract. Moreover. staff recommends that the Board authorize the Board Chairman to execute the agreement, and authorize staff to coordinate with TCF and the FWS to close Countv acquisition of the conservation easement. ATTAC'HMFtiT4 I . Map of the subject property.2.'23/01 letter from Refuge Manager Paul Tntaik. 2. Proposed Agreement. ?. Florida Master Site File of "The Pregnant Turtle Site" (� IR 831). APRIL 10, 2001 -67- NIJ