THREATENED & ENDANGERED SPECIES

DRMP conducted species specific surveys for the crested caracara (Caracara cheriway) and gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) and coordinated with the USFWS for panther habitat impact evaluation during design of two miles of SR 80 widening from west of Clark Street to east of Birchwood Parkway.

 

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DRMP staff biologists conducted species-specific surveys for the Florida scrub jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) throughout the entire 26-mile roadway alignment during the spring, summer, and fall seasons of 2007 - 2009.  Through the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, biologists created over 600 scrub jay call stations throughout the entire project corridor.  Biologists used Trimble Geographic Positioning System (GPS) receivers to locate each call station in the field while conducting surveys.   Additional species-specific surveys for the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) were conducted throughout the entire project corridor, resulting in the documentation of over 2,000 potentially occupied burrows.  All burrow locations were assessed for activity status and mapped using GPS/GIS.  DRMP also provided consultation for the location and design of a wildlife underpass to mitigate habitat fragmentation, wetland delineations, and permitting for the entire 26-miles.  

 

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DRMP’s Environmental staff  were responsible for preparing a SWFWMD and USACOE Environmental Resource  Permit for the widening and extension of SR 540A.  To compensate for the  1.18 acres of wetland impacts resulting from this project, Polk County placed  a 16.14 acre wetland parcel into a Conservation Easement.  This forested  wetland system lies within the Poley Creek floodplain in the Alafia basin.   Biologists coordinated with USFWS and FFWCC and performed  species-specific biological surveys for the gopher tortoise (Gopherus  polyphemus) and Bald eagle to assure this project would not have a harmful  effect on these protected species.  A Bald eagle Monitoring Plan was  developed and the plan was implemented during the 2004-2006 breeding seasons.   

 

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DRMP conducted a variety of natural resource survey, planning, and permitting services for this project for the construction of a new alignment beginning from the existing intersection of Rhode Island Avenue and Veteran’s Memorial Parkway on the west to Normandy Boulevard east of I-4, a length of 1.2-miles.  DRMP consulted with United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) personnel to develop plans to minimize and/or avoid impacts to listed species.  Species-specific surveys for Florida scrub jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens), red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), and gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) were conducted within suitable habitat that encompassed approximately 80-acres.  DRMP developed a Geographic Information System (GIS) based resource maps for vegetation types, scrub jay habitat, listed plant species locations, exotic species locations, roads, and site boundary. 

 

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