2004-105 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

7 and 1 north -south drainage ditch in the citrus groves . Where needed to re-establish a more naturally draining topography , mounds and furrows which run north -south in the citrus groves would be leveled . Along the southern boundary of the restoration area , bordering the Indian River Lagoon , the tidal marsh area would be restored and enhanced through excavation . Excavated soils would be used to fill ditches . Restored salt-water habitats would be sea grass , mud flat , tidal marsh , and mangrove swamp communities . Some tidal connections between brackish -water ditches and the Lagoon would be improved or re-established . Native plants would be planted in the restoration area , appropriate for the targeted community type and hydric properties of the soils . Anticipated community types include : maritime hammocks , palm hammocks , forested lake communities , herbaceous lake communities , ephemeral pond communities , mangrove swamps , and tidal marsh . A partial list of anticipated species to be planted include : live oak , wax myrtle , cabbage palm , Florida red bay , yaupon holly , red maple , willow, saw palmetto , Florida privet , sand cordgrass , soft rush , bulrush , pickerel weed , lance- leaf arrowhead , fragrant waterlily , buttonbush , St. John ' s wort, coastal spikerush , red mangrove , black mangrove , smooth cordgrass , and black needlerush . In addition to the main restoration site described thus far, a 7 -acre site bounded by highway AM and the northern -most segment of Jungle Trail is to be improved and maintained as an old field community type for the benefit of the southeastern beach mouse ( Figure 6 ) . Upon completion of the restoration project , zones of proposed restored habitat types would be as follows : 7 acres of old field , 16 acres of tidal habitat , and 135 acres of freshwater wetland and upland communities ( including maritime hammock and palm hammock ; Figure 6 ) . Administration and Management . The proposed habitat restoration project work would be administered by a partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Indian River County. FWS would continue to manage the land as part of the Refuge . ' 2 . 3 Alternative 3 : Partial Restoration . Restore native habitats by removing exotic plants , including citrus groves , and converting to maritime hammocks and palm hammocks . No wetlands would be restored . Like under alternative 2 , citrus trees and exotic vegetation would be removed from the proposed 158-acre site located predominantly between Jungle Trail and the impoundments ( Figure 3 ) . However, unlike alternative 2 , no freshwater or marsh wetlands would be restored . Because no fill would be produced by excavation for wetlands , grove ditches would not be filled . Native vegetation would be planted to restore maritime hammock and palm hammock habitats . The old field habitat would be selectively cleared as needed to keep it open and free of exotic plants .