JURISDICTIONAL WETLAND DETERMINATION

The Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) proposed the purchase of the Corbin/Tucker Tract for preservation.  The Corbin/Tucker Tract was one contiguous parcel, approximately 2,250± acres in size, located in Calhoun County, Florida, north of the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (Sec. 4, 5, 8, 9, 17 and 18; Township 2S; Range 8W).  FDEP contracted GYC, Inc. to perform survey of the property, and DRMP, Inc. was hired to perform a Natural Resources Assessment of the parcel. 

The Natural Resources Assessment included the delineation of the approximate wetland jurisdictional lines for the State of Florida (Statewide Methodology Chapter 62-340) utilizing aerial photo-interpretation, aerial survey of the parcel via airplane, and ground-truthing of the interpreted wetland lines.  A general wildlife survey was conducted, utilizing Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) accepted methodology, to determine floral and faunal species utilizing the parcel, and occurrences of Threatened and Endangered species were documented and reported.

 

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DRMP is responsible for environmental assessment of wetland impacts and will prepare the Wetland Evaluation Report (WER) and Endangered Species Biological Assessment (ESBA) for the PD&E Study being conducted for the proposed CR 951 Extension, which involves a potential new alignment location east of Interstate 75 in northeast Collier County and southwest Lee County, Florida.  The limits of the proposed extension are from the existing intersection of CR 951 and Immokalee Road in Collier County to a point along Alico Road in Lee County, a distance of approximately 15 miles and a project corridor 75 square miles in size.  The study is anticipated to involve the evaluation of a four-lane arterial roadway with controlled and/or limited access.

 

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Rida Limited Partnership contracted DRMP to conduct wetland delineation, permitting, and mitigation associated with the ChampionsGate Golf Course development located in Osceola and Polk Counties.  Extensive coordination was conducted with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, South Florida Water Management District, Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Army Corps of Engineers.  DRMP was responsible for the preparation, certification and approval of numerous permits associated with the golf course development that encompasses over 1,200 acres in total project area.  DRMP prepared wetland mitigation plans that entailed wetland restoration, enhancement and replanting of both on-site and off site mitigation areas.

 

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DRMP conducted and prepared a Natural Resources Inventory document on behalf of the Longino Ranch, Inc. to the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) in support of a proposed conservation easement for a 6-Section portion of the ranch ownership.  The purpose of the environmental/natural resources inventory study was to characterize the significant ecological features of the six Sections of the Longino Ranch in order to establish a Conservation Easement over the property with the SWFWMD.  The subject site includes nearly 4,000 acres of uplands and wetlands.  The report documents the habitat types present, the wildlife resources, and the known or potential occurrences of animals and plant species, which are listed as endangered, threatened, species of special concern or commercially exploited at either the state or federal level.

 

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