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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-039�. C4 . 6 1/. & 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2006 - 039 A RESOLUTION OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, ADOPTING A CONCEPTUAL PLAN FOR THE ST. SEBASTIAN RIVER GREENWAY WHEREAS, the St. Sebastian River is a major tributary and component of the Indian River Lagoon, an Estuary of National Significance, and is also within the Indian River — Malabar to Vero Beach State Aquatic Preserve; and WHEREAS, the St. Sebastian River is a ecological system with substantial biodiversity containing freshwater and estuarine species, including rare tropical marine fish such as the opossum pipefish, river goby, slashcheek goby and bigmouth sleeper, and is important habitat of the federally endangered Florida manatee; and WHEREAS, Indian River County, in accordance with Policy 6.4 of the Recreation and Open Space Element of its Comprehensive Plan, has designated the St. Sebastian River as a greenway and waterway trail system; and WHEREAS, a number of local organizations, including the Friends of St. Sebastian River, Indian River County Historical Society, Indian River Land Trust, Marine Resources Council, Pelican Island Audubon Society, and the Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce have endorsed a proposed St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan to serve as a guide to the County and other agencies to preserve and enhance wildlife habitat, water quality, cultural heritage features, and to provide recreational open space and promote ecotourism; and WHEREAS, the County finds that the proposed St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan serves the County's objectives to enhance, preserve and utilize the St. Sebastian River greenway, in the public interest; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County, Florida that: 1. The above recitals are ratified in their entirety. 2. The St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan (Exhibit A attached hereto) is hereby adopted by Indian River County as a conceptual plan and guide for purposes of conservation land acquisition and management planning as it relates to the St. Sebastian River greenway. THIS RESOLUTION was moved for adoption by Commissioner _Wheeler , seconded by Commissioner • Lowther , and upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: Chairman Arthur R. Neuberger Aye Vice Chairman Gary C. Wheeler Aye Commissioner Sandra L. Bowden Ay Commissioner Wesley S. Davis Aye Commissioner Thomas S. Lowther Aye The Chairman declared the resolution duly passed and adopted this 14th day of March 2006. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDI�kN RIVERVNTY, FLORIDA B Arthur R. Neub Attested By: STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF INDIAN RIVER RESOLUTION. NO. 2006 - 039 • • 'Deputy Clerk:. ��J:K� ;BART'ON CLERK.CIRCUI? COURT The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this 14th day of March 2006, by ARTHUR R. NEUBERGER, as Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County, Florida, and by Pct-�Q•...eL P\c-w-4Deputy Clerk for JEFFREY K. BARTON, Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County, Florida, who are personally known to me. APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FO a G. ollin G inty Attorney NOTARY PUBLIC yr Printed Nana: Kimberly. Massung Commission No.: DD216503 Commission Expiration: July 17, X2007 oY'P.', Kimberly E. Massung ;,; �� ';,,: MY COMMISSION # DD216503 EXPIRES 1,-51 July 15, 2007 BONDED THRU TROY FAIN INSURANCE, INC. RESOLUTION 2006-039 EXHIBIT A St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan Indian River County Florida Friends of St. Sebastian River Indian River County Historical Society Indian River Land Trust Marine Resources Council Pelican Island Audubon Society Sebastian River Area Chamber of Commerce March 2006. r:y:yr Public / Protected Land Undeveloped Greenway Parcels 0 0.25 0.5 0.75 1 Miles St. Sebastian River Greenway - Concept Map St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan INTRODUCTION A greenway is a linear corridor of open space established along either a natural or man made corridor, such as a river, an abandoned railroad or canal right-of-way, and managed to conserve its intrinsic resources. Greenways link natural areas, parks, cultural and historic sites with each other and, in many cases, with populated areas. Greenways protect environmentally sensitive lands and wildlife corridors. Connectivity is the key element of a greenway. By connecting different locations or habitats, the sum value of the whole is greater than that of the isolated sites. The purpose of this St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan is to: 1) Provide an overview of the St. Sebastian Greenway area; 2) Summarize the general benefits associated with greenways; 3) Identify the unique greenway opportunities along the St. Sebastian River; and 4) Provide details of existing Greenway conditions (see Appendices) OVERVIEW Located in northern Indian River County, the St. Sebastian River is a small coastal river comprised of three branches or "prongs": the North Prong, the South Prong, and what was the West Prong, and is now the C-54 Canal. The South Prong lies fully in Indian River County, the North Prong is in Brevard County, while the C-54 Canal forms the boundary between the two counties, but lies within Brevard County. The St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan encompasses only the South Prong of the St. Sebastian River. The Greenway extends from south of C.R. 510 (85th Street) northward over 5 miles to the mouth of the St. Sebastian River at the Indian River Lagoon (see attached Greenway Concept Map). The headwaters of the South Prong lie to the south of C.R. 510 near 82"d Street, and it flows north through the City of Sebastian and the Roseland neighborhood, flowing into the Indian River Lagoon across from the Sebastian Inlet. Historically, this coastal stream drained the extensive wetlands (over 12,000 acres) that lay between the Atlantic Coastal Ridge and the Ten Mile Ridge, to the north of S.R. 60. Most of these wetlands have been altered or eliminated by development over the past fifty years. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service classifies the river as a freshwater system, which becomes an estuarine sub -tidal system as it approaches the Indian River Lagoon. Approximately 500 acres of freshwater wetlands are present along the South Prong of the St. Sebastian River. These wetlands, containing forests of live oak, water oak, sabal cabbage palm and centuries-old cypress trees, are an integral part of the river, and provide many benefits as discussed below. St. Sebastian River Greenway Flan 2 GENERAL BENEFITS OF GREENWAYS According to documented research, there are several benefits of greenways. Greenways: • preserve the original character of an area and enhance its historical and cultural features; • protect habitats and wildlife corridors, providing scenic corridors for wildlife and birding observation (Forman 1995, and Foreman 2004, see Appendix A); • preserve local water quality and reduce flooding by providing a buffer area between developed areas, water bodies and floodplains (Tourbier 1994, see Appendix A); • provide ecotourism destinations with nature -based recreational opportunities close to growing urban population; and • increase adjacent and nearby real estate values. ST. SEBASTIAN RIVER GREENWAY: A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY Indian River County has provided an invaluable opportunity for the Treasure Coast region by establishing the unique St. Sebastian River Greenway. The St. Sebastian River Greenway is a unique opportunity to enhance our quality of life by providing recreational and open space amenities close to rapidly growing urban population centers in the City of Sebastian and nearby Indian River County. Natural Resources The St. Sebastian River has remarkable biodiversity for a small stream (see Appendix B). In addition, threatened and endangered plant and animal species are protected and managed along the St. Sebastian River, especially in the St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park. The Greenway corridor is recognized by the State as a Strategic Habitat Conservation Area (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission), and is listed by the federal government in its National Wetland Inventory (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) because of its valuable natural resources. The establishment of the St. Sebastian River Greenway will enable the County and its partners to better protect and manage the tremendous biodiversity found along the South Prong of the St. Sebastian River. As a result, the Greenway will provide critical habitat for wildlife, and a corridor for wildlife migration. Recreation and Local Economy This continuous Greenway will provide access to miles of river shoreline, county parks and environmental lands, and over 10,000 acres of State Park land. Both the Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Byway and the Trans - Florida Rails to Trails project cross the St. Sebastian River. The .Greenway Plan offers opportunities to create coordinated links with existing and planned public transportation routes in a manner that is consistent with the Indian River County 2020 Comprehensive Plan, Transportation Element. The St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan is also consistent with the Goals, Objectives, and Policies of the Indian River County MPO 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP). Specifically, Policy 2.06.2 and Policy 2.07.2 seek to adapt existing corridors for bicycle and pedestrian facilities, respectively. The St. Sebastian River has become an important destination for recreation and tourism, and as such, it is an important source of revenue for our local economy. Tour boats and St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan 3 eco -tour professionals guide visitors along the river year round. Bird and wildlife viewing opportunities will be comparable to the best sites in the region. These same recreational and open space amenities and the associated natural lands will likely enhance property values, as well. Natural Hydrology and Water Quality Creation of the Greenway will provide an opportunity to preserve the natural flow way of the St. Sebastian River. The Greenway will also contribute to the overall integrity of the entire drainage area of the River. This will allow the exchange of water and organisms between the freshwater wetlands associated with the river and the Lagoon, and preserve water quality. Drainage through the present wetlands into the Lagoon will be of higher quality, and runoff impacts associated with development would be avoided. Historical and Cultural Resources The Greenway area includes historic roads, like the General Hernandez Trail - Capron Trail, as well as historic railroad corridors (Trans - Florida Railroad), logging and citrus trails, and farms and residences from the early 20th century. The historic Fellsmere-Brookside Cemetery is also within the Greenway. Prehistoric archaeological sites in the Greenway area may exist and this potential will need to be assessed further by the Division of Historical Resources. Several historic sites listed on the Florida Master Site File are found along the Greenway corridor. Coastal and Vegetation Management The Greenway will provide the opportunity to manage growth in the coastal area and protect and enhance its natural resources. It could help create a buffer between development and sensitive wetlands, and thus reduce potential degradation to natural resources, water quality, and productivity. By avoiding development in a floodplain, this plan would also help preserve the flood control benefits of the river's wetlands, as well as protect the water quality of the Lagoon by providing filtration for stormwater runoff. In addition, the greenway would preserve the natural shoreline and wetlands which filter sediment and nutrients that would otherwise impact seagrass beds in the Indian River Lagoon. Lastly, the creation of the St. Sebastian River Greenway would facilitate the removal of invasive plant species, especially Brazilian Pepper, in accordance with the County's goals of enhancing wetlands and natural vegetation. SUMMARY The creation of the St. Sebastian River Greenway offers opportunities to enhance our natural and cultural heritage, while providing high quality recreational facilities and further strengthening our local economy. This St. Sebastian Greenway Plan does not create or impose any additional regulations or authority. This Greenway Plan is consistent with the Goals, Objectives, and Policies of the Indian River County 2020 Comprehensive Plan. Furthermore, this Greenway Plan allows the County and its partners to work with willing landowners along this unique ecological corridor to collectively forge a vision for protecting this stretch of "Old Florida" for generations to come. St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan 4 APPENDICES St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan 5 Appendix A. References Foreman, Dave. 2004. Rewilding North America: A Vision for Conservation in the 21st Century. Washington, D.C.: Island Press. Forman, Richard T.T. 1995. Land Mosaics: The Ecology of Landscapes and Regions. Cambridge, U. K. Cambridge University Press. National Parks Service. 1995. Economic Impacts of Protecting Rivers, Trails and Greenway Corridors. U.S. Department of the Interior. Tourbier, Toby. 1994. Open Space through Stormwater Management: Helping to Structure Growth on the Urban Fringe. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. January/February: 14 - 21 Appendix B. Current Land Ownership Patterns The present landscape along the South Prong contains a mix of public and private lands, both developed and undeveloped (see Greenway Concept Map). Public lands include two county parks (Donald MacDonald and Dale Wimbrow Parks), a county -owned canoe launch area, and the much larger St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park. The Sebastian River Water Control District and the St. Johns River Water Management District also have land -holdings along the South Prong. There is virtually no public access or public open space along the river south of the C.R. 512 bridge. Previously most of these parcels were in agricultural land uses, but now are being rapidly urbanized. Appendix C. Biodiversity The St. Sebastian River provides a continuum of communities from nearby uplands through riverine wetlands and open water, and thus supports a diversity of species that depend on its rich mosaic of habitats. Wildlife species along the St. Sebastian River include the endangered Red -Cockaded Woodpecker, West Indian manatee, Wood Stork, Peregrine Falcon, and threatened Florida Scrub Jay, eastern indigo snake and Southern Bald Eagle. Common wildlife sightings also include Wild Turkey, Quail, Mottled Duck, deer, river otters, alligators, Sandhill Crane, gopher tortoise, and a variety of wading birds. Manatees frequent the St. Sebastian River, and can be found in substantial numbers year round. A report by the federal Marine Mammal Commission (1988) identified the St. Sebastian River as an important manatee habitat for feeding, resting, cavorting, and freshwater access purposes. Manatees have been reported calving in the river, as well. Over 27 rare and endangered species of plants are found near the St. Sebastian River. St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan 6 Some of the endangered species include hand fern, giant air plant, celestial lily, Curtiss' milkweed, rosemary and calopogon. Threatened species include hooded pitcher plants, orchids, ferns, sundew and Catesby's lily. Over 100 species of fish can be found in the St. Sebastian River. These include marine species like mullet, spot, lady fish, tarpon, and five species of snook, which can be found as far upstream as the C.R. 512 bridge. Four species of tropical marine fish occurring in the St. Sebastian River are considered rare in Florida waters (the so-called "tropical peripheral species"). These are the opossum pipefish, river goby, slashcheek goby, and the bigmouth sleeper. Of these fishes, the opossum pipefish, Microphis brachyurus lineatus, is listed as a "candidate" or "species of concern" by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA). This assemblage of tropical peripheral species only occurs in three rivers in North America: the St. Sebastian, St. Lucie, and the Loxahatchee. Fish survival in the St. Sebastian River during sensitive life history stages is directly associated with various types of common, yet important, wetland vegetation (cypress, mangroves, cordgrass), submerged aquatic vegetation (seagrass and algae), and emergent herbaceous vegetation (smartweeds and panic grasses). These plant -fish associations are critical for the survival of these very localized populations of tropical fish species found in the St. Sebastian River. St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan 7