MITIGATION DESIGN & RESTORATION

In support of a stormwater retrofit design project, DRMP’s biologists provided a detailed wetland planting plan to enhance and promote the natural ecosystem associated with water bodies and to double as mitigation for all environmental impacts to the project.  The project involved a stormwater retrofit project that was recommended in the Lake Gertrude Drainage Basin Study.  This retrofit project specifically involved expansion and re-shaping of the existing Lake John, which is a series of three lobes that at times function as a lake but much of the time reacts independently as smaller depressions. The project increased the size and depth of these lobes to increase flood protection as well as improve water quality for a 364-acre basin that ultimately discharges into Lake Gertrude.  The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) and the City of Mount Dora tasked DRMP with completing this design retrofit, development of the planting plan, permitting, and construction activities.

 

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This wetlands mitigation project was proposed to satisfy wetland impacts necessary for the World Gateway project along International Drive. This project involved restoration of approximately 110 acres of historic wetland that was ditched and drained for conversion to cattle pasture. Hydrology was restored to the site by blocking and regarding the existing ditch network throughout the site. Portions of the site were allowed to re-vegetate naturally, while other areas were planted with wetland dependent tree species based on developed planting plan. DRMP secured the Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) through South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD).

 

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The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) have issued a five year wetland planting and monitoring permit to Orange County Utilities for the installation of 4.9 miles of potable water main that resulted in cumulative wetlands impacts.  The project was constructed in three phases: Cypress Lakes, Easter Regional Transmission System Improvements Contract 5 B-North and Easter Regional Transmission System Improvements Contract 5 B-South.  DRMP obtained the permits for the construction of the utilities and designed a wetland mitigation planting, construction, and monitoring plan within the floodplains of the Econlockhatchee River to compensate for wetland impacts incurred as a result of these projects.

 

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DRMP provided design for a new 13-acre wetland area for St Jones River Water Management District (SJRWMD) to support stormwater runoff from Jones Avenue located in northeast Orange County near Zellwood, Florida. Approximately 1,200-acres drains toward the roadway and crosses southward through three existing culverts.  The SJRWMD had acquired agricultural land adjacent to Jones Avenue as part of the Lake Apopka restoration effort.  This stormwater management park was designed as an integrated pond/wetland park area located on the southwest corner of Jones Avenue and Jewel Foilage Road.  This pond provided retrofit treatment of stormwater from the watershed north of Jones Avenue and discharges into the created wetland area.

 

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