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17 <br /> wetlands would be restored . Because no fill would be produced by excavation for <br /> wetlands , grove ditches would not be filled . Native vegetation would be planted on <br /> ' about 135 acres of uplands to restore maritime hammock and palm hammock habitats . <br /> The 7-acre old field habitat would be selectively cleared as needed to keep it open and <br /> free of exotic plants . <br /> The hammock communities would be dominated by live oaks and cabbage palms with <br /> a diverse understory of tropical and temperate plants . Key wildlife species that would <br /> tbenefit include Neotropical migratory birds , woodrats , eastern indigo snakes , land <br /> crabs , and bobcats . The old field habitat would potentially benefit southeastern beach <br /> mice , ground doves , gopher tortoises , and migrants such as bobolinks and loggerhead <br /> shrikes . <br /> However, with no wetland habitat being restored or enhanced , none of the benefits <br /> ' expected under alternative 2 from freshwater or brackish-water habitats would be <br /> realized . Because the water table would not be raised to a more historic , natural level , <br /> the restored hammocks would be more xeric than with a higher water table . The drier <br /> soils could affect the ultimate plant community composition compared to a more mesic <br /> to hydric community that would exist with a higher water table . <br /> ' The partial restoration to hammock communities would increase educational and <br /> recreational opportunities compared to leaving the area in citrus groves . However , <br /> ' public wildlife viewing and educational opportunities would be less than that expected <br /> under alternative 2 with increased wetland habitats . <br /> ' The partial restoration of the proposed area to hammock communities would provide <br /> some of the benefits of a complete restoration as proposed under alternative 2 . It <br /> would : 1 ) increase the protection of the historic rookery on Pelican Island by providing a <br /> buffer of native habitats on lands surrounding the island ; (2 ) restore natural <br /> communities for the benefit of wildlife ; (3 ) contribute to providing a natural community <br /> link between Pelican Island NWR and Archie Carr NWR ; and (4) enhance educational <br /> ' and recreational opportunities . The partial restoration would not : ( 1 ) restore the water <br /> table to higher, natural conditions ; or (2) restore the flow and function of tidal wetlands . <br /> However, although a limited restoration (alternative 3 ) would provide some of the same <br /> benefits as a complete restoration (alternative 2 ) , it would not meet those goals to the <br /> same extent , function , or quality . <br /> 5 . 0 LIST OF PREPARERS <br /> ' Mark Graham U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service <br /> Paul Tritaik Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge <br /> 1339 20" Street <br /> Vero Beach , FL 32960- 3559 <br />