Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Plan

Transcription

1 Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Plan April 25, 2014 Prepared by Denis W. Frazel, Ph.D. Frazel, Inc. Under contract to the St. Johns River Water Management District for the Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Team Updated June 24, 2016 by Cheryl Mannel, Northeast Florida Aquatic Preserves

2 On the Cover A view of the pristine fringing saltmarsh along a tributary to the Guana River, Stokes Landing Conservation Area, St. Johns County, Florida. Photograph by St. Johns River Water Management District 1

3 Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Plan Prepared for: The St. Johns River Water Management District Prepared by: Denis W. Frazel, Ph.D. Frazel, Inc. 233 Estrada Avenue St. Augustine, FL For more information about this document or to obtain additional copies, contact: St. Johns River Water Management District P.O. Box 1429 Palatka, FL (386) (800) Internet: Citation: Frazel. D Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Plan. St. Johns River Water Management District. Palatka, FL. (Draft) 89pp. April

4 Preface This Plan is intended to provide direction in the implementation of estuarine habitat restoration in northeast Florida and will be made available to all potential users, including scientists, environmental managers, local planners, elected officials, and environmental educators. The Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Plan was prepared by Frazel, Inc., for the Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Team under Contract #27327 from the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), and was funded in part, through a grant agreement from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Coastal Management Program by a grant provided by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA12NOS , administered through the Florida Coastal Management Program. Links to Web sites were accurate at the time of publication. The views, statements, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed herein are those of the author and NERT team, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the St. Johns River Water Management District, the State of Florida, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or any of its sub-agencies. 3

5 Table of Contents Preface... 3 Table of Contents... 4 Acknowledgements... 6 List of Acronyms... 7 Executive Summary... 8 Introduction...13 Description of the Northeast Florida Planning Area...14 Northern Zone (Nassau, Duval Counties) Central Zone (St. Johns, Flagler, north Volusia Counties) Southern Zone (south Volusia, Brevard Counties) Public Restoration Partners and Regulatory Entities...25 Public Restoration Partners (listed from north to south) Regulatory Entities (listed alphabetically) Stakeholders...27 Estuarine Habitat Descriptions...29 Saltmarsh Oyster Reef (also Bivalve Reef) Mangroves and Vegetated Margins Seagrass Baseline Environmental Conditions...32 Northern Zone Central Zone Southern Zone Habitat Threats...39 Coastal Development Inadequate Stormwater Management Incompatible Recreational Activities Management of Nature (Impoundments) Nutrients (All sources including septic tanks) Filled Estuarine Habitats Degradation of Water Quality (Loss of Seagrass and Oysters) Sea Level Rise Shoreline Erosion

6 Completed and Ongoing Restoration Efforts...42 Northern Zone Central Zone Southern Zone Restoration Goals, Objectives and Strategies for Northeast Florida...45 Saltmarsh Habitat Oyster Reef Habitat Mangrove Habitat and Vegetated Margins Seagrass Habitat Review and Comment...60 Plan Adoption...60 Implementation...60 Plan Update/Adaptive Management...60 Summary...61 Literature Cited*...62 Figures and Tables...67 Appendix A. Restoration Partners, and Management Plans...68 Appendix B. Stakeholders...73 Appendix C. Estuarine Habitat Restoration Project List...74 Appendix D. Estuarine Habitat Restoration Proposed Project Summaries

7 Acknowledgements The Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Plan is a collaborative effort created through the interagency input and direction from key members of the Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Team (NERT). Denis W. Frazel, Ph.D. (Frazel, Inc.) prepared the plan and the document was edited by Paul Haydt, SJRWMD Northern Coastal Basin SWIM Program Manager. Joseph Amoah (SJRWMD) provided Geographic Information Systems support and prepared all maps. Members of the NERT participating in Plan development, listed alphabetically include; Nicole Adimey USFWS Tampa Bay Coastal Program Jeff Beal FWC Anne Birch NGO-The Nature Conservancy Daphne Boothe NOAA Restoration Center Ron Brockmeyer SJRWMD Larry Fooks FDEP State Lands District 3 George Getsinger NOAA NMFS Paul Haydt SJRWMD Cliff Maxwell FDEP State Lands District 2 Troy Rice IRLNEP Mike Shirley, Ph.D. FDEP CAMA - GTMNERR Kent Smith FWC Paul Zajicek FDACS 6

8 List of Acronyms BZ CAMA CCMP EVMCD FRC & D FDACS FDEP FWC GTMNERR Guide ICW IRLNEP LiDAR MCD MDC MLAP MLMEC MINWR NASA NACo NERT NFLT NMFS NOAA Plan SJRWMD TNC URL USACE USEPA USFWS VCEM VCMC Brevard Zoo Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (FDEP) Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan East Volusia Mosquito Control District The Floridan Resource, Conservation, and Development Council Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Florida Department of Environmental Protection Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve Estuarine Habitat Restoration Planning Guide for Florida Intracoastal Waterway Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program Light Detection and Ranging Mosquito Control Districts Marine Discovery Center Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve Mosquito Lagoon Marine Enhancement Center Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Association of Counties Northeast Florida Restoration Team North Florida Land Trust National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Plan St. Johns River Water Management District The Nature Conservancy Uniform Resource Locator United States Army Corps of Engineers United States Environmental Protection Agency United States Fish and Wildlife Service Volusia County Environmental Management Volusia County Mosquito Control 7

9 Executive Summary The northeastern coastal area of Florida, extending from Georgia, south to the Sebastian Inlet in southern Brevard County, contains some of the country s most pristine estuarine habitats. Unfortunately, it also contains large areas of degraded estuarine habitats. These formerly productive areas of saltmarsh, oyster reef, seagrass and mangroves have been altered due to historical dredge and fill operations, road building, and the creation of impoundments and ditches for mosquito control. In 2010, a group of environmental managers representing state and federal environmental agencies initiated a collaboration to regionally coordinate estuarine habitat restoration efforts. The group is now known as the Northeast Florida Restoration Team (NERT) with a mission to develop and promote activities that restore estuarine habitats in northeast Florida. The vision of the NERT is enhanced oyster, saltmarsh, mangrove and seagrass communities in northeast Florida through the sustainable restoration of impaired estuarine habitats. In 2011, SJRWMD, in collaboration with the NERT, developed a two-part grant project to start the process of regionally coordinating estuarine habitat restoration. Part One of the grant was the development of the Estuarine Habitat Restoration Planning Guide for Florida (Guide) (Frazel 2012), a statewide planning and guidance document focused on coordinated estuarine habitat restoration. The Guide provides a basic planning and guidance template for estuarine habitat restoration that can be used throughout Florida. Part Two of the grant is a functional test of the Guide, represented by this document, a Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Plan (Plan). This Plan was developed following a visionbased planning approach in which the stated mission, vision, and goals established by the NERT were used to develop applicable objectives and strategies. The geographic area covered by the Plan extends from the border with Georgia on Florida s northeast coast, south to Sebastian Inlet. The area encompasses the estuarine public lands of Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, and Brevard counties. For the purposes of the Plan, the planning area is divided into northern (Nassau, Duval), central (St. Johns, Flagler, and north Volusia) and southern zones (south Volusia, Brevard). The northern zone begins with the St. Marys River and inlet, located in southeastern Georgia and northeastern Florida, forming the easternmost border between the two states. The northern zone ends at the Duval/St. Johns County line. The central zone extends south from the Duval/St Johns County line through St. Johns and Flagler counties, ending at Ponce Inlet in Volusia County. The southern zone begins south of Ponce Inlet and extends through Brevard County, ending at Sebastian Inlet in Indian River County. The Plan is a collaborative effort with multiple partners and regulatory entities. These restoration partners include appropriate state and/or federal agencies that manage estuarine lands, public land holders, and those that have regulatory jurisdiction over habitat restoration. Each of these partners has completed a stakeholder participation process to engage their respective stakeholders and the public. All interested parties were provided the opportunity to discuss issues and ultimately develop plans specific to each public land area of interest. Many city and county governments within the planning area also have permitting authority, or land management responsibilities for local public lands under their jurisdiction, and ongoing 8

10 coordination with these entities is an integral part of this Plan. In addition, many nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that have an interest in, or are undertaking estuarine habitat restoration activities in the planning area and have been included in the review process for this Plan. The key estuarine habitats that are the focus of the Plan include saltmarsh, oyster reef, mangrove, and seagrass habitats. The distribution of these habitats differs geographically, with a latitudinal transition in habitats occurring from north to south. The baseline environmental conditions for each habitat, within each zone, were evaluated to provide an informed picture of the estuarine environment. All available historical and current datasets were identified and compiled to evaluate the current status of the habitat within each zone. Specifically, SJRMWD has gathered current aerial photos, historic aerial photos from the 1940s, surveys from the 1880s, bathymetry, property appraiser parcel maps and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) coverages for the entire planning area. Where possible the gathered data were used to describe any causes of rates of decline in habitats, and to evaluate opportunities to restore habitats in the system. The local conditions for each habitat were primarily derived from the natural resource descriptions and assessments from the management plans for those habitats within the given planning zone. The estuarine habitats in northern zone, dominated by saltmarsh and oyster reefs, primarily occur within either state or federal jurisdictional boundaries and are thus protected from coastal development. Because of this protection, the existing saltmarsh is in a generally healthy condition. However, SJRWMD overlay maps show 4,235 acres of ditched and filled former saltmarsh habitat that could potentially be restored, and the likelihood of restoration success is high, given that these are public lands not subject to outside development. There are also existing saltmarsh restoration techniques that have proven successful in the Plan area. Oyster reefs in the northern zone are found within tidal creeks that weave through the marshes adjacent to Big and Little Talbot Islands, and throughout the Nassau River - St. Johns River Marshes Aquatic Preserve area. The area was historically active in shellfish (oyster) harvesting, but harvesting has been indefinitely closed in both Duval (16 years) and Nassau (29 years) counties due to high coliform levels and general water quality degradation. The oyster reefs in this area are primarily vulnerable to impacts from degradation of water quality, with inadequate stormwater management as the main cause of water quality degradation. There is limited mapping of oyster reefs in the northern zone, therefore it is difficult to directly assess changes in oyster abundance in relation to water quality. More complete mapping of the oyster reefs in the northern zone coupled with collection of spat settlement and ambient physical condition data addressing water quality and sediment characteristics that support oysters, need to be completed before pursuing oyster reef restoration projects in this area. In the central zone, saltmarsh habitat is found throughout, occurring primarily within protected public management areas. The quality of these saltmarsh areas is generally good, though those areas directly bounded by the ICW are particularly vulnerable to erosion by boat wakes. Saltmarsh habitat is lost in these areas as sand and shell berms are created through erosion caused by wave action. SJRWMD overlay maps produced with data collected through March 31, 2012 (SJRWMD 2012) show 5,900 acres of ditched and filled former saltmarsh habitat that could potentially be restored. This is only a partial estimate, as nearly 12 miles of shoreline in St. Johns County, 5 miles of shoreline in Flagler County, and more than 8 miles of shoreline in Volusia County have been mapped. Mapping of these shoreline areas needs to be completed to provide a more complete inventory of potential restoration sites. As in the northern zone, the likelihood of saltmarsh restoration success is high, given that these are public lands not subject to 9

11 outside development. Here too, there are existing saltmarsh restoration techniques that have proven successful in the Plan area. Oyster reefs are found interspersed within the saltmarsh areas of the central zone. There are also commercial and recreationally harvestable oyster reefs located in multiple estuarine areas in St. Johns County. Oyster harvesting is not permitted elsewhere because of consistently high coliform counts. The oyster reefs in this zone are primarily vulnerable to impacts from degradation of water quality, with inadequate stormwater management as the main cause of water quality degradation. Stormwater runoff alters the salinity regime, and introduces sediment, nutrients, and bacteria into the system that can directly impact oysters. Those reefs directly adjacent to the ICW are subject to damage and siltation from persistent wave action by boat wakes. There are limited oyster reef restoration opportunities known presently in the central zone as mapping of reef areas has not been completed. Mapping of the oyster reefs in the central zone needs to be completed prior pursuing oyster reef restoration projects in this area. The northernmost range of mangrove habitat on the east coast of the United States (Zomlefer et al., 2006) occurs within the central zone, with short-term changes in climate the primary factor influencing mangrove distribution and composition. Red mangroves have been documented as far north as Palm Valley, in the northernmost section of the central zone. The red mangrove has slowly migrated north upon recovery from a series of freezes in the 1970 s and 80 s. The continued northward expansion of mangrove habitat represents a major landscape change as it supplants saltmarsh and oyster reef habitat. Mangroves become more prevalent moving south through the central zone, becoming the more dominant estuarine habitat species, supplanting Spartina south of the Daytona Beach area. The southern zone contains all four of the principal estuarine habitats addressed in the Plan, though the presence of saltmarsh is somewhat limited. Saltmarshes in the southern zone are found from Merritt Island north. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) has several thousands of acres within its boundaries. The saltmarshes in this area differ from those located further north because natural elevation restricts flooding to only the highest seasonal tides, limiting the vegetation to a few species capable of tolerating extended drought periods. Here again, the likelihood of restoration success is high, as previously described. SJRWMD overlay maps (SJRWMD 2012) show 4,200 acres of ditched and filled former saltmarsh habitat that could potentially be restored. Large populations of oysters are found within the Mosquito Lagoon region of the southern zone These populations support both a commercial and recreational fishery from the State Road 44 bridge in New Smyrna Beach to ICW marker 29 located west of Three Cabbage Island of the Mosquito Lagoon. Restoration efforts currently underway within the Mosquito Lagoon involve the placement of artificial mats with attached oyster shells, near existing oyster reefs and/or impacted areas that serve as recruitment sites for oysters. The oyster mats provide suitable recruitment habitat for settlement of oyster larvae. The goal of restoring oyster reefs within the Mosquito Lagoon is to reduce the loss of existing oyster reefs and increase species diversity by providing essential habitat for numerous other estuarine inhabitants that would normally utilize this resource. Mangroves are present throughout the southern zone. In the Mosquito Lagoon region, the red mangrove component has increased in abundance in an area historically dominated by more cold-tolerant black mangroves. Within Canaveral National Seashore red mangroves occur naturally but have also been planted to reduce shoreline erosion along Mosquito Lagoon. 10

12 Mangroves are the dominant plant community on the vegetated margins along the shorelines of the entire IRL. The community consists of red, black and white mangroves and buttonwoods. Seagrass is found as far north as the Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve in the southern zone, extending further south throughout the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Manatee grass (Syringodium filiforme), shoal grass (Halodule wrightii), Widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima) and Star grass (Halophila engelmannii) are species of seagrasses found in the southern zone. Turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) was historically present in some areas of the southern zone, but more recent monitoring indicates that there is little if any north of Sebastian River. Since the 1940s, seagrass beds have decreased by more than 70 percent; and elevations in levels of suspended solids associated with a brown algae bloom have caused additional losses of this habitat. Seagrass beds were also lost throughout the IRL through the development of of spoil islands, created from material dredged during construction of the ICW. Coastal construction, channel dredging, and boating impacts have also resulted in substantive losses of seagrass. In 2011, two massive blooms of phytoplankton (superbloom) caused a loss of seagrass throughout much of the IRL system, with the problems extending from the Titusville area of the lagoon to just north of Fort Pierce Inlet. This bloom and seagrass decline far exceeded any documented or remembered events in terms of size of the area affected, intensity and duration of blooms, and rate and magnitude of seagrass loss. In addition, in August 2012, a brown tide bloom began in the Mosquito Lagoon and moved into the northern IRL near Titusville. The bloom reappeared in Restoration of seagrass habitat is a priority as it is critical habitat for many fish and macro-faunal invertebrates. However, restoration requires good water quality and clarity, and protection from over-grazing (by sea turtles and manatees) for re-planting efforts to succeed. Several estuarine habitat threats are identified in the Plan and are used to focus restoration strategies. Acknowledging and understanding these threats and their applicability to specific restoration sites is necessary to ensure the success of planned restoration projects. Specific threats include coastal development, (shoreline hardening), inadequate stormwater management, incompatible recreational activities, nutrient loads (septic tanks), management of nature (including dragline ditches, and mosquito impoundments), filled estuarine habitats, degradation of water quality (loss of seagrass), sea level rise and shoreline erosion. Part of the intent of the Plan is to maximize restoration efforts and opportunities within the Northeast Florida Planning Area by capitalizing on knowledge gained from completed and ongoing restoration efforts. The Plan includes summaries of estuarine habitat restoration that have been completed since 2010, or are ongoing. These projects range from oyster shell recycling and living oyster reef restoration to the restoration of mosquito impoundments. Initial goals and objectives for the planning zones were established by habitat teams identified by NERT members. These goals and objectives were then reviewed by respective land managers to incorporate their site specific strategies and action steps within the stated goals and objectives. In some cases, goals, objectives and strategies were already established within existing plans. The objectives listed are specific measurable actions designed to achieve the goals and vision of the Plan. The strategies listed are more-detailed descriptions of the work proposed to achieve the goals and objectives. In some cases action steps or tasks are included that represent specific activities under each strategy that are needed to accomplish project completion. 11

13 The initial draft Plan was reviewed and approved by select members of the NERT. The Plan underwent additional reviews and was presented at workshops for comment. Written summaries of the workshops and all submitted comments are included in the Plan. Comments were reviewed by the NERT and changes were made to the Plan accordingly. The Final Plan was then submitted for broad agency review and adoption. Implementation of this Plan will both include and require the review and concurrence from stakeholders and agencies that have restoration interests or responsibilities in a given project area. The Plan calls for an annual update of the project list that will maintained by the chair of the NERT committee. The Plan also calls for a re-evaluation every 3 years to adjust Objectives, and Strategies given the success or failure of implementation. The re-evaluation also provides an opportunity to employ an adaptive management process to iteratively refine and improve the Plan. This Plan is the first collaborative effort to regionally address estuarine restoration in Northeast Florida using the common planning framework presented in the Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Planning Guide. It is through the collaborative efforts of the NERT that resource management partnerships have been developed that will facilitate meeting estuarine habitat restoration goals in Northeast Florida. 12

14 Introduction The northeastern coastal area of Florida, extending from Georgia, south to the Sebastian Inlet in southern Brevard County, contains some of the country s most pristine estuarine habitats. This area contains saltmarsh, oyster reefs, mangrove tidal wetlands, tidal flats, and estuarine lagoons abundant with seagrass. These estuarine ecological systems produce a rich abundance of marine life including numerous commercially and recreationally valuable species. Unfortunately, there are also many formerly productive estuarine habitats in this region that have been adversely impacted. These environmental alterations are primarily due to historical dredge and fill operations, road building, and the creation of impoundments and ditches for mosquito control. Many of these historically modified areas are now owned or regulated by local, state or federal entities, and restoring the estuarine ecological function of these areas is a common goal. In 2010, the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) began a collaboration with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Restoration Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Coastal Program, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), the FDEP Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA), and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) that became known as the Northeast Florida Restoration Team (NERT) to regionally coordinate estuarine habitat restoration efforts. The mission of the NERT is to develop and promote activities that restore estuarine habitats in northeast Florida. The vision of the NERT is enhanced oyster, saltmarsh, mangrove and seagrass communities in northeast Florida through the sustainable restoration of impaired estuarine habitats. In 2011, an interagency sub-committee of the NERT, including representatives from NOAA, USFWS, FWC, CAMA, FDEP, Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR), FDACS, SJRWMD, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) was charged with guiding the process to assemble and use existing resource data, and coastal restoration plans from northeast Florida to develop a comprehensive regional restoration plan. The goal is to develop a regional landscape-level estuarine/coastal habitat restoration plan for Northeast Florida (defined as the Northeast Florida Planning Area), and to use that plan, through a partnership coordination process, to direct future funding priorities for the restoration of estuarine habitats. The NERT agreed that the plan would be drafted based on the following guidelines: Resources addressed will be limited to saltmarsh, oyster (mollusk) reef, mangroves and vegetated margins, and seagrass habitats The focus of the effort will be on direct habitat restoration projects (regulatory-program determined mitigation and upland/watershed projects will not be considered in the planning document) Habitat-type teams will be formed to direct focal priority assessments The plan will address integrated habitat shoreline restoration projects (generally referred to as Living Shoreline projects). The expected products from this effort include: A guide to accomplish local and regional estuarine habitat restoration goals for public lands in northeast Florida 13

15 A state- and federally-endorsed estuarine habitat restoration plan that would support requests for state and federal grant/program funding, A regional monitoring and assessment strategy to review and refine estuarine habitat restoration techniques For the purposes of this Plan, the term estuarine habitat restoration is an umbrella definition that refers to strategies for re-establishing a self-sustaining estuarine habitat on degraded lands. These strategies, adapted from the Port Angeles Washington Shoreline Plan (Makers Architecture + urban design 2011) include creation (of a new resource), restoration (of a converted or substantially degraded resource), enhancement (of an existing degraded resource), or protection (of an existing high-quality or previously restored resource). A restoration definition consisting of multiple strategies was chosen because of the varying ecological nature of the disturbed estuarine habitats, and because the Plan covers such an extensive geographical area. Description of the Northeast Florida Planning Area The Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration planning area extends from the border with Georgia on Florida s northeast coast, south to Sebastian Inlet (Figure 1). The area is a combination of both the Northeast Florida sub-region and the northern half of the East-Central Florida sub-region as defined in Marine/Estuarine Site Assessment for Florida, A Framework for Site Prioritization Final Report for Florida s Wildlife Legacy Initiative (Geselbracht et al., 2005). The area encompasses the estuarine public lands of Nassau, Duval, St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia, and Brevard counties. For the purposes of this Plan, the planning area is divided into northern (Nassau, Duval), central (St. Johns, Flagler, and north Volusia) and southern zones (south Volusia, Brevard). Where possible general descriptions of the zones were obtained directly from FDEP CAMA, GTMNERR or SJRWMD web sites, or from individual public land management plans listed in Appendix A. 14

16 Figure 1. Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Planning Area 15

17 Northern Zone (Nassau, Duval Counties) The northern zone (Figure 2) begins with the St. Marys River and inlet, located in southeastern Georgia and northeastern Florida, forming the easternmost border between the two states. The northern zone ends at the Duval/St. Johns County line. The St. Mary s River begins deep within the Okefenokee Swamp and flows along a twisting 130-mile-long path into the Cumberland Sound and the Atlantic Ocean only 40 air-miles from its headwaters. The lower portion of the river, from the U.S. 17 bridge to Cumberland Sound, is tidally influenced, with reverse flows occurring twice daily, and represents the westernmost boundary for restoration activities in the Plan. The area extending east from the U.S. 17 bridge is a zone of estuarine influence dominated by saltmarsh and maritime hammock communities. Both oyster reef and saltmarsh are the key habitats found in the northern zone. Fort Clinch State Park Aquatic Preserve (also called Fort Clinch Aquatic Preserve), in northeastern Nassau County along Amelia Island, includes open waters around St. Marys Inlet, the Amelia River and a three mile extension into the Atlantic Ocean off Amelia Island. The western edge of the preserve borders extensive saltmarsh along Amelia Island and the preserve extends to the Florida-Georgia border. This preserve is about 7,600 acres. Amelia Island State Park consists of over 200 acres of wilderness along the southern tip of Amelia Island. The park includes beaches, saltmarsh and coastal maritime forest. The Nassau River, a small river with numerous tributaries, forms the boundary between Nassau and Duval Counties just north of Jacksonville. The Nassau River watershed covers much of Nassau County and a portion of Duval County to the south. It includes approximately 55 river miles and about 10 square miles of saltmarsh estuary. The Nassau River estuary is part of the chain of barrier islands along the Atlantic coast from the St. Johns River north to the Santee River in South Carolina. The vast saltmarsh estuary has numerous interconnecting tidal creeks, channels, and tree islands. The Nassau River - St. Johns River Marshes State Aquatic Preserve is located south of the St. Mary s River, in Nassau and Duval counties. This area consists of a vast saltmarsh estuary with numerous interconnecting tidal creeks, oyster reefs, rivers and channels with some small tree islands. The preserve is approximately 77,000 acres. The Preserve area encompasses Little Talbot Island Park, Fort George Island Cultural State Park and the Big Talbot Island State Park. The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve (TIMU), managed by the National Park Service encompasses most of the estuarine drainage area south of the Nassau River to the St. Johns River. The national preserve area encompasses much of the Nassau River - St. Johns River Marshes Aquatic Preserve area, excluding Little Talbot Island Park, Fort George Island Cultural State Park and the Big Talbot Island State Park. The Timucuan Preserve covers 46,000 acres containing saltmarsh, coastal dunes, and hardwood hammocks. The Preserve area includes both Fort Caroline and Kingsley Plantation. 16

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19 Central Zone (St. Johns, Flagler, north Volusia Counties) The central zone (Figure 3) begins at the Duval/St. Johns County line (Ponte Vedra) and extends south through St. Johns and Flagler counties, ending at Ponce Inlet in Volusia County. The central zone encompasses over 700 square miles of coastal lowlands interspersed with numerous creeks and small rivers draining east to form a series of shallow bays and lagoons. These are separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a barrier island system and further divided by St. Augustine, Matanzas, and Ponce de Leon inlets. The entire estuarine area of the central zone is bisected by the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), and the estuaries are defined by a series of tributaries that drain to the estuaries. These tributaries, moving from north to south, include the Guana, Tolomato, Matanzas, Halifax, and Tomoka Rivers. Oyster reef, saltmarsh, and mangrove habitat, are all found in the central zone. The major jurisdictional entities within the central zone include the SJRWMD s Northern Coastal Basins (NCB) program, and the GTMNERR. The NCB extends nearly 100 miles from lower Duval County, just south of the urban center of Jacksonville, Fla., south through the coastal watersheds of St. Johns, Flagler and Volusia counties to Ponce de Leon Inlet, near the city of New Smyrna Beach. The NCB extends throughout the length of the central zone area. The GTMNERR encompasses the central zone area within St. Johns and Flagler Counties. The 73,352 acre reserve includes the Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve, Guana River Wildlife Management Area, Stokes Landing Conservation Area, and Deep Creek State Forest. The GTMNERR is geographically separated into a northern and southern zone, separated by the City of St. Augustine. The northern zone (referred to locally as Guana) is associated with the Tolomato and Guana River estuaries, and the southern zone is associated with the Matanzas River. The Tolomato, Guana and Matanzas River estuaries form a system of "bar-bounded" estuaries that extend from northern St. Johns County to below Marineland in Flagler County, behind the barrier island system. The Guana River estuary runs parallel to that of the Tolomato River estuary on the seaward side, with the two lagoons joining together six miles north of the St. Augustine Inlet. Oceanic exchange occurs through the St. Augustine Inlet. The headwaters of the Guana River originate in the Diego Plains drainage basin in the city of Ponte Vedra Beach. The Diego Plains drainage basin encompasses approximately 7,800 acres extending from the Lake Ponte Vedra (Guana Lake) dam 17 miles north into Jacksonville Beach. The natural hydrology of the Guana River was significantly altered by the construction of the dam in Inland wells, water control structures, dikes, and drainage ditches have also altered the natural hydrology of the system. From the dam the Guana river flows south and converges with the Tolomato River, the Matanzas River, and Salt Run from the south before flowing into the Atlantic Ocean at the St. Augustine Inlet. Tidal effects are observed throughout this waterway, converging between the St. Johns River and St. Augustine inlet to a tidal minimum just north of Palm Valley Bridge. The Tolomato River basin has a drainage area encompassing 84 square miles. Dredging has straightened the course of the river at some points and established spoil islands which are now partially or entirely vegetated. Smith Creek, Deep Creek, Sweetwater Creek, Marshall Creek, Stokes Creek, and Casa Cola Creek all drain into the Tolomato River from the west. Capo Creek, Jones Creek, and Sombrero Creek flow west into the Tolomato River. Smith, Deep, and Sweetwater Creeks drain a large wetland area to the west known as Cabbage Swamp. 18

20 The 12, 000 acre Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve is the northernmost public area in the central zone. The Preserve has a rich association of habitats including saltmarshes, a large artificial freshwater-to-brackish water lagoon, open ocean and a complete cross-section of a relatively undisturbed barrier island. Guana River Wildlife Management Area (GRWMA) occurs within the boundaries of the Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve. The GRWMA is located between Lake Ponte Vedra and the ICW, and includes 2,100 acres of estuarine tidal marsh. Deep Creek State Forest extends along the west side of the ICW opposite the GRWMA. There is approximately 67 acres of the saltmarsh along the ICW boundary. The Stokes Landing Conservation Area is a 274 acre tract of coastal uplands and tidal saltmarsh bordering the ICW east of U.S. 1, north of the St. Augustine Regional Airport. The Matanzas River estuary stretches approximately 21 miles southward from the St. Augustine Inlet, with its southernmost section located about seven miles south of the Matanzas Inlet. The River supports an extensive tidal saltmarsh habitat, oyster reefs, and mangrove tidal wetlands. Small mangrove bayheads fringing the western edge of the River represent the northernmost extent of this species. Major freshwater drainage to the Matanzas River estuary comes from the San Sebastian River, Moultrie Creek, and Moses Creek, as well as inflow from overland urban runoff, and Pellicer Creek contributes with flows east to the Matanzas River lagoon. Both the St. Augustine Inlet in the north and the Matanzas Inlet, located 14 miles south, tidally influence the estuary. The Matanzas Inlet is a natural tidal inlet that, with the exception of the State Road A1A bridge over the inlet, has been unaltered and is not actively maintained for navigation. Anastasia State Park extends four miles south from St. Augustine inlet and includes more than 1,600 acres of tidal saltmarsh, and a maritime and upland hammock. Fort Matanzas National Monument, on the Matanzas Inlet at the southern end of Anastasia Island, includes the fort, and surrounding property on Rattlesnake Island, as well as additional lands on Anastasia Island. The 300 acre monument area includes an intact barrier island ecosystem consisting of dunes, coastal hammock forest, tidal creeks and saltmarsh estuary. The Moses Creek Conservation Area is part of a 16,000 acre continuous conservation corridor continuing south through the Matanzas State Forest into Faver-Dykes State Park, Pellicer Creek Conservation Area and Flagler County s Princess Place Preserve. The 2,000 Conservation Area is situated to the west of the ICW, north of SR 206 in southern St. Johns County, and protects Moses Creek one of the few remaining undeveloped tidal creeks in the region that drain to the Matanzas River. The 4,700 acre Matanzas State Forest, situated south of Moses Creek Conservation area protects some of the last remaining undisturbed saltmarsh within the GTMNERR. It is bounded on the west by US Highway 1 and on the east by the ICW. Faver-Dykes State Park abuts Matanzas State Forest on the north the ICW on the east, and Pellicer Creek on the south. The 6,000 acre park contains 13 distinct natural communities in addition to ruderal and developed areas. Pellicer Aquatic Preserve encompasses 500 acres on both banks of Pellicer Creek extending east from US 1 to the ICW. The preserve is within the southern zone of the GTMNERR. The banks of Pellicer Creek are mostly composed of saltmarsh with oyster reefs interspersed with saltmarsh on the eastern boundary. 19

21 Pellicer Creek Conservation Area extending to the south of Pellicer Creek consists primarily of mesic flatwoods, sandhill, and floodplain swamp. Saltmarsh habitat is found on 77 acres of the 3,000 acre conservation area where it abuts Pellicer Creek. The Halifax River drainage basin encompasses an area of nearly 208,000 acres, within 33 basins. Major drainage into the estuary comes from Bulow Creek, the Tomoka River, Spruce Creek, and their natural tributaries. Rose Bay, which is a large embayment partially isolated from the main part of the Halifax River by an abandoned causeway and the present U.S. 1 causeway, also contributes drainage to the Halifax River. The Halifax is a long, wide, shallow estuarine lagoon bounded on the west by the Florida mainland and on the east by a barrier island. The mixing of salt water from the Atlantic Ocean introduced through the Matanzas inlet to the north and the Ponce DeLeon Inlet to the south, with fresh water from the Tomoka River, Bulow Creek, and the upper Halifax River drainage basin creates the estuary. The ICW channel is part of the Halifax River. The Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve is an estuarine system comprised of six distinct areas which include portions of the Halifax River, Smith Creek, Bulow Creek, the Tomoka River, the Tomoka Basin and a 1,100 acre mosquito impoundment area. The preserve is located in southeastern Flagler County and northeastern Volusia County and includes approximately seven miles of the Halifax River. Smith Creek is a shallow, estuarine creek with numerous oyster beds. Portions of the natural channel of the creek were dredged to accommodate the ICW. The remaining natural channel is primarily saltmarsh, interspersed with small islands, both natural and created. Bulow Creek is a shallow meandering waterway bordered by marsh and floodplain hardwood trees. From its origin in vast wetlands to the north, the creek flows south for about 4 miles meandering to its confluence with the Halifax River. Large expanses of black needle rush (J. roemerianus) border the creek. The tidal marshes at Bulow Creek are largely comprised of high marsh vegetation, a mixed growth of salt grass and low succulent species, glasswort (S. virginica) and saltwort. There are also wet depressions with J. roemerianus and stands of saltmarsh cordgrass (S. alternifora) in the higher salinity marshes near the mouth of Bulow Creek. Some of the marsh tracts have been disturbed by physical alterations for mosquito control. The salt flats on the north side of Highbridge Road were ditched by draglines between 1958 and 1963 (aerial photo series) to drain potholes and shallow ponds, primary mosquito breeding habitat. The disturbed estuarine tidal marshes at Bulow Creek State Park are assessed to be in poor fair condition. The unaltered tidal marshes are assessed to be in good condition. The Tomoka River watershed drains an area of about 150 square miles, making it one of the largest sub-basins within the Florida East Coast Basin. Man-made drainage in the form of numerous canals has increased the boundary of the Tomoka watershed. The natural headwaters of the Tomoka River originate in low-lying areas south of Interstate 4 (I-4) and west of Interstate 95 (I-95). From its natural headwaters, the river flows generally north-northeast until its confluence with the Halifax River at the Tomoka Basin. Tomoka State Park is located on a peninsula of land between the Tomoka River and the Halifax River coastal lagoon. The northern end of the peninsula terminates at the confluence of the Tomoka River and the Halifax River. The shoreline margins of the park contain a mix of saltmarsh and eroded canal banks from historic dredge and fill activity. 20

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23 Southern Zone (south Volusia, Brevard Counties) The southern zone (Figure 4) begins south of Ponce Inlet in Volusia County and extends through Brevard County, ending at Sebastian Inlet in Indian River County. The estuarine area of the southern zone is dominated by the IRL system, the most biologically diverse estuary in North America and is under the IRLNEP, Three distinct bodies of water comprise the IRL system: the Mosquito Lagoon, the IRL, and the Banana River. The IRL itself continues down to Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach County, but is outside of the designed planning boundary. Within the IRL region a broad variety of natural community types, watershed and drainage features, connections to the Atlantic Ocean and intricate hydrodynamics have combined to create a complex landscape unique among Florida estuaries. The overlapping boundaries of two biotic provinces, the temperate Carolinian province and the subtropical Caribbean province, also occur within the region (Hall 1964). Biotic provinces are regions characterized by the presence of one or more ecological associations that differ at least quantitatively from those of adjoining provinces. Oyster reef, mangrove habitat, and seagrass habitats are all found in the southern zone, but seagrass is supplanted by saltmarsh and mangroves moving north into the central zone. The Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve (MLAP) crosses the central and southern zones in southern Volusia County, south of Ponce de Leon Inlet, south of New Smyrna Beach, and encompasses most of the northern 1/3 of the Mosquito Lagoon. The Mosquito Lagoon is part of the greater IRL system, a long, wide, shallow estuarine lagoon bounded on the west by the Florida mainland, and on the east by a chain of barrier islands. The Mosquito Lagoon is unique among the inland waters in that there are no direct oceanic links to the lagoon. The MLAP area contains numerous islands, consisting of hammock, mangrove, and high marsh vegetation, and features many small, intertidal oyster reefs. There are more than 1,240 acres of saltmarsh located within the boundaries the MLAP. Some areas within MLAP are also classified as Class II Shellfish Harvesting waterbodies (approved for shellfish propagation or harvesting). These areas consist of oyster reefs and clam beds that are economically important to the region. Portions of all three IRL water bodies are also included within the 140,000 acre boundaries of the Kennedy Space Center/Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR)/Canaveral National Seashore complex. The lower 2/3 of the Mosquito Lagoon falls within the boundaries of the Canaveral National Seashore. This area of the Mosquito Lagoon features a significant shift in vegetation-from salt marsh cord grass, which predominates in coastal areas north of the national seashore, to open water areas of seagrass and fringing mangrove species, which predominate to the south. Much of the Canaveral National Seashore overlaps with MINWR. The estuarine waters of the MINWR are large, shallow, and saline to brackish basins that do not have a direct connection to the ocean. Extensive submerged beds of sea grasses form the vegetative nursery and basis for an aquatic community of oysters, clams, shrimp, crabs, and hundreds of species of fish that thrive in the warm shallow waters. The refuge s seagrass beds, until recently, were some of the highest quality in the lagoon system, presumably from the undeveloped nature of the landscape surrounding the lagoon waters. The Banana River Aquatic Preserve is sandwiched between Merritt Island on the west and a beach barrier island on the east within Brevard County. It is a relatively shallow body of water with little oceanic water exchange. Most of the natural shoreline is fringed by mangroves, but much of the shoreline near and adjacent to the preserve is heavily developed. The Banana River is the most important spring habitat ( individuals/survey day) for the east coast population of manatees (USFWS 2001). Large numbers of manatees use the Banana River almost year-round. The Banana River supports the largest pelican rookery on the Atlantic Coast, and a population diamondback terrapin turtles. 22

24 The Indian River Lagoon State Buffer Preserve is located on the Atlantic coast barrier island in south Brevard County 10 miles north of the city of Sebastian and 12 miles south southeast of the city of Melbourne. The buffer preserve is situated between State Road A1A and the IRL, near the coastal communities of Floridana Beach and Sunnyland Beach. The Indian River Lagoon State Buffer Preserve currently functions as a buffer to the Indian River Malabar to Vero Beach Aquatic Preserve. 23

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26 Public Restoration Partners and Regulatory Entities The Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration planning area includes local, state and federal lands with overlapping jurisdictional boundaries and responsibilities. Identification of these entities is important for effective cooperation and collaboration. These restoration partners, described below, are those appropriate regional agencies that manage estuarine lands, are public land holders, or have regulatory jurisdiction over habitat restoration. Each of the public partners has completed a stakeholder participation process to engage their respective stakeholders and the public. All interested parties were provided the opportunity to discuss issues and ultimately develop plans specific to each public land area of interest. Appendix A includes a list of the restoration partners, the management unit under their respective jurisdictions, web links to individual management plans, and a summary of stakeholder participation opportunities. Listed below are the public restoration partners and the respective management units under their jurisdiction, and relevant regulatory entities. Public Restoration Partners (listed from north to south) Northeast Florida Aquatic Preserves Nassau River St. Johns River Marshes and Fort Clinch Aquatic Preserves are located in the northern zone along the Atlantic intracoastal waters of the St. Marys, St. Johns and Nassau Rivers. They are managed by Florida's Coastal Office within the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. GTMNERR The GTMNERR (under NOAA/FDEP auspices) is geographically divided into a northern and southern component, separated by the City of St. Augustine. The northern component (referred to locally as Guana) is associated with the Tolomato and Guana River estuaries and the southern zone is associated with the Matanzas River. The northern component consists of Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve, and Guana River Wildlife Management Area. The southern component of GTM Research Reserve consists of Pellicer Creek Aquatic Preserve. The GTMNERR also has jurisdiction over all other state sovereign submerged lands that are adjacent to the Matanzas River within its boundary. Public lands within the GTMNERR boundaries that are managed by other entities (see Appendix A) include the Stokes Landing Conservation Area, Fort Matanzas National Monument, Moses Creek Conservation Area, Pellicer Creek Conservation Area, Deep Creek State Forest, Matanzas State Forest, Princess Place Preserve, and the River to Sea Preserve at Marineland. Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve The Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve is located along the Tomoka River and portions of the Halifax River, in Flagler and Volusia counties. It consists of 8,000 acres of sovereign submerged lands. Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve The Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve (MLAP) is located in southern Volusia County, south of Ponce de Leon Inlet. MLAP is in the northernmost sub-basin of the IRL system and is a bar-built type of estuary. Banana River Aquatic Preserve 25

27 Banana River Aquatic Preserve is sandwiched between Merritt Island on the west and a beach barrier island on the east within Brevard County. It is part of the IRL system and extends from SR 528 (the Bennett Causeway) nearly down to the southern end of Merritt Island and includes Newfound Harbor and Sykes Creek. It contains approximately 30,000 acres. IRLNEP The IRLNEP, administered by SJRWMD [through United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) delegation], encompasses the waters of the Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River, and IRL. It is the most biologically diverse estuary in North America. Florida State Parks (listed north to south) with estuarine areas Fort Clinch Pumpkin Hill Creek Amelia Island, (Big Talbot Island, Little Talbot Island, George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier) Fort George Island Fort Mose Anastasia Faver-Dykes Washington Oaks Gamble Rogers North Peninsula Addison Blockhouse, Bulow Creek, and Tomoka State Park Indian River Lagoon Sebastian Inlet National Parks (listed north to south Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve Fort Caroline National Memorial Castillo De San Marcos National Monument Fort Matanzas National Monument Canaveral National Seashore SJRWMD Stokes Landing Conservation Area. Moses Creek Conservation Area. Pellicer Creek Conservation Area. Mosquito Control Districts (MCD) The Florida Mosquito Control Districts are legislatively established ad valorem taxing entities with responsibility for mosquito control within their respective counties. Listed below are mosquito control districts with management responsibilities within the planning area. Amelia Island MCD (Nassau County) Jacksonville Mosquito Control (Duval County) Anastasia MCD (St. Johns County) East Flagler County Mosquito Control Volusia County Mosquito Control Brevard County MCD Indian River MCD 26

28 Regulatory Entities (listed alphabetically) FDACS: Responsible for conserving and protecting the state's agricultural and natural resources by promoting environmentally safe agricultural practices and managing public lands. FDACS also regulates wetland and aquatic plant transplanting. FDEP: Serves as the state s primary environmental regulatory agency, with permitting authority over large waterfront residential developments, marinas, municipal and private wastewater treatment plants, and industrial wastewater discharges. FDEP manages the state s network of parks and aquatic preserves. FWC: Provides regulatory review of marinas, piers and other water-based development activities in consultation with appropriate state and federal agencies. The agency also administers all state laws and rules pertaining to boating and the management of fish and wildlife species including the issuance of licenses (Special Activity Licenses, commercial and recreational fisheries). NOAA: NOAA Fisheries' ocean stewardship responsibilities are directed by many federal laws including the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Endangered Species Act, and Marine Mammal Protection Act. NOAA consults on actions that affect essential fish habitat; issues permits to states, local governments, and private landowners for activities that might harm listed species; and works to protect, restore and promote stewardship of coastal and marine habitat to support the nation's fisheries. NOAA also issues special use permits for work and research within national refuges. SJRWMD: Responsible for permitting of projects related to both water quality and quantity. SJRWMD also oversees the NCB SWIM program. USACE: Responsible for permitting of projects specified in Section 404 requirements dredge and fill) USEPA: Issues special use permits for work and research within national refuges. USFWS: Conducts permit review of applicable water-related developments (dredge/fill activities) and federally funded and licensed projects. USFWS also issues special use permits for work and research within national refuges. Stakeholders Many city and county governments within the planning area also have permitting authority, or land management responsibilities for local public lands under their jurisdiction, and ongoing coordination with these entities is an integral part of this Plan. There are also many nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and educational institutions that have an interest in, or are undertaking estuarine habitat restoration activities in the planning area and have been included in the review process for this Plan. Listed alphabetically below are those entities with active estuarine research, protection, or restoration programs within the planning area. Note that this is not intended as an exhaustive list and may be revised as needed. Appendix B lists all local governments, agencies and stakeholders, not otherwise listed below, that were invited to participate in review of the Plan. 27

29 Bethune Cookman University Brandon Noel with the Department of Integrated Environmental Sciences ( is collaborating with the NERT on the development of estuarine restoration assessment techniques. Brevard County Brevard County operates an Environmentally Endangered Lands Program ( ) that acquires, protects and maintains environmentally endangered lands guided by scientific principles for conservation and the best available practices for resources, stewardship and ecosystem management. Brevard Zoo The Brevard Zoo ( has collaborated with the University of Central Florida since 2005 on oyster reef restoration in the IRL. The project has constructed more than 35,000 oyster restoration mats to restore 61 reefs in Mosquito Lagoon. Florida Institute of Technology Faculty in the Department of Marine and Environmental Systems ( and Biological Science ( have ongoing or completed projects within the IRL System. Marine Discovery Center The goal of the Marine Discovery Center (MDC) ( located in New Smyrna Beach, is to protect and restore the Florida Coastal and IRL Ecosystems through education, research and community stewardship. Marine Resources Council The Marine Resources Council (MRC) ( is a private nonprofit organization of paid scientific staff and volunteers dedicated to restoration of the IRL. The MRC has focused on major issues involving the IRL including: flow from land drainage and its negative impact on estuarine productivity; and the loss of seagrasses and mangroves. North Florida Land Trust The North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) ( is dedicated to permanently preserving natural areas and special places in North Florida. The NFLT continues to acquired properties and conservation easements containing estuarine habitat in Northeast Florida. The Nature Conservancy of Florida The Florida Chapter of TNC ( mission is to protect and save conservation areas in which Florida s native plant and animal species are threatened within forest, freshwater and marine habitats. In Northeast Florida TNC is involved in both oyster reef and seagrass restoration. University of Central Florida The Biology Department ( has a variety of programs focusing on intertidal oyster reefs and seagrasses, with particular emphasis on the IRL. University of Florida The University of Florida s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) ( the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure and Environment 28

30 ( and other departments have various programs involving estuarine restoration. University of North Florida Faculty within the Biology Department ( are pursuing several research projects in the Northeast Florida Planning Area, including studies of nutrient flux and plant stress in intertidal wetlands exposed to increasing salinity, and stress responses in submerged aquatic vegetation from transplanting experiments. Volusia County Environmental Management Since 2006, Volusia County Environmental Management (VCEM) has partnered with the Marine Discovery Center for mangrove and oyster restoration. VCEM has also partnered with private property owners to develop innovative planting methods for mangrove propagules. Estuarine Habitat Descriptions The focus of the Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Plan is on the restoration of saltmarsh, oyster reef, mangrove (and vegetated margins), and seagrass habitats, as listed in the Plan guidelines. The estuarine habitats in the Northeast Florida Planning Area exhibit some latitudinal transition from north to south. There is a saltmarsh/mangrove dominance transition area in the central zone that varies in response to freeze events. For example, an extreme freeze event in 1989 killed large areas of mangroves that had grown as far north as St Johns County. The die-off shifted the northern boundary of mangroves to Flagler County. Mangroves have since re-established as far north as Duval County (discussed below). Oysters are found in all the planning areas but are almost exclusively intertidal in the northern and central zones with subtidal and intertidal reefs found in the south. True seagrasses form major beds only in the southern zone, beginning in the Mosquito Lagoon, though limited areas of seagrass exist in the central zone. Listed below are the basic estuarine descriptions, excerpted where possible directly from the Florida State Wildlife Action Plan (FWC 2011). The habitat descriptions are intended to be succinct yet comprehensive portrayals of the habitat type. Table 1 depicts the geographic distribution of the major estuarine habitats. Table 1. Geographic distribution of major estuarine habitats in the Northeast Florida Planning Area. Geographic Zone Saltmarsh Oyster Reef Mangrove Seagrass Northern Zone Yes Yes; Intertidal No No Central Zone Yes Yes; Intertidal Yes Limited Southern Zone Yes Yes; Intertidal and subtidal Yes Yes Saltmarsh Saltmarsh is vegetated almost completely by herbaceous plants, primarily grasses, sedges, and rushes. This community type occurs within the intertidal zone of coastal areas and may be infrequently (high marsh) to frequently (low marsh) inundated by salt or brackish water. Saltmarsh develops where wave energies are low and where mangroves are absent. Mangroves may extirpate shade-intolerant marsh species. The size of a saltmarsh depends on the extent of the intertidal zone in which it occurs. Saltmarshes of larger sizes are usually dissected by 29

31 numerous tidal creeks. Areas that have low topographic relief and relatively high tidal ranges are likely to have larger saltmarsh extents. Plant species within the saltmarsh are often distributed unevenly, especially in transitional areas. Species distributions are affected by biotic and abiotic variables such as elevation, substrate type, degree of slope, wave energy, competing species, and salinity. Smooth cordgrass typically occupies the lower elevations and is usually adjacent to tidal creeks and pools. Needlerush dominates the slightly less frequently inundated zone. Vegetation at the higher elevations forms transitional areas to uplands and may contain species such as marsh-hay, glassworts, saltwort, saltgrass, sea ox-eye daises, marsh-elder, and saltbush as well as many other species. The saltmarsh habitat is among the most productive communities in the world. Primary production is greatly affected by soil salinity and tidal frequency. Oyster Reef (also Bivalve Reef) This habitat is comprised of dense, expansive concentrations of sessile mollusks that attach to hard substrates and each other. Bivalve Reefs occur in both intertidal and subtidal zones to depths of 40 feet (12 m). However, in Northeast Florida, this habitat is dominated by oysters (Crassostrea virginica) that are primarily intertidal, and are restricted to estuarine environments where salinity concentrations range from 15 to 30 parts per thousand. Events or processes that alter freshwater deliveries to estuaries are detrimental to this habitat. The Bivalve Reef habitat is a diverse ecological community that provides nursery grounds, refugia, and foraging areas to a wide variety of wildlife species. The intertidal oyster C. virginica and the reefs they form are essential to estuaries for multiple ecosystem services, including water filtration, food, protection of shorelines from erosion, and structural refugia for many invertebrate and fish species. Oysters and oyster reef habitat have declined dramatically along the east coast of the US over the past century due to habitat degradation, overharvesting, reduced water quality, and disease. In Florida, additional anthropogenic impacts have been documented in shallow-water locations with intense recreational boating activity (Grizzle et al., 2002; Wall et al., 2005; Walters et al., 2007). Oyster reefs and their restoration have been a major focus of NOAA Restoration Center efforts. Mangroves and Vegetated Margins Mangroves form dense, brackish-water habitats along low-energy shorelines and in protected, tidally influenced bays of southern Florida, while tending to form vegetated margins in central and north central Florida. This community type is composed of cold intolerant tree species and, with some limited exceptions, is distributed south of Duval County within the Northeast Florida Planning Area. These mangrove communities are usually composed of red, black, and white mangroves, and buttonwoods. Depending on shoreline slopes, amounts of disturbance, and tidal inundation, mangroves might progress in zones of single species from seaward (red mangrove) to landward (white mangrove/buttonwood) dominated forests. Buttonwoods usually occur in areas above the reach of high tide. Often vines, such as rubber vines and morning-glory, clamber over mangroves, especially at swamp edges. There are five mangrove community types (Seaman W, Jr. (ed) (1985), and Gilmore and Snedaker 1993) in Florida, of which four are found in the Northeast Florida Planning Area. These include mangrove fringe forests, overwash mangrove islands, riverine mangrove forests, and basin mangrove forests. Dwarf mangrove forests, not found in Northeast Florida are found almost exclusively in the Florida Keys. It is important to identify the particular mangrove 30

32 community type to be restored as the type classification is based on gross differences in topography, surficial hydrology, and the related salinity regime (Lugo and Snedaker 1974). Mangrove communities are nursery grounds for fish, crustaceans and shellfish, providing both shelter and sources of food. Mangroves provide important roosting, nesting and rookery areas for coastal birds, including wood storks, brown pelicans, and egrets. The prop roots of red mangroves trap sediments and aid in shoreline stabilization. Mangrove fringes also serve as storm buffers by reducing wind and wave action in shallow shoreline areas. Vegetated margins as a habitat type are linked with mangroves as mangrove re-planting is a prime restoration tool in those zones where mangroves proliferate. Mangroves, marsh grasses and oyster reefs are all natural habitat elements that can be used to stabilize and protect shorelines within the resource management concept of Living Shorelines. NOAA defines the term Living Shoreline as a more natural bank stabilization technique that uses plants, sand, and limited use of rock and other materials to provide shoreline protection and maintain valuable habitat. All Living Shorelines are said to have one fundamental element in common: a reliance on natural methods for shoreline erosion control that do not sever existing connections between riparian, intertidal, estuarine and aquatic areas essential for water quality, ecosystem services and habitat values (Pilkey et al., 2012). The upstream boundary of these vegetated margin restoration sites would be areas with a predominance (>50% cover) of typical halophytic plant species found in regional coastal wetlands. Seagrass Seagrasses are marine flowering plants adapted to grow and reproduce in the underwater environment. Florida estuaries and nearshore coastal waters contain the nation s largest seagrass resources (more than two-million acres), as well as its two most extensive, contiguous seagrass beds (i.e., Florida Bay and the Big Bend region). Factors that affect the establishment and growth of seagrass include light availability, water temperature, salinity, sediment composition, nutrient levels, wave energy, and tidal range. Seagrass most often occurs in areas of low to moderate current velocities where the water is clear; thereby allowing sunlight to penetrate to the leaf blades. Seagrass communities are highly productive, faunally rich, and ecologically important systems. Hundreds to thousands of species of flora and fauna may inhabit seagrass habitats utilizing food, substrate, and shelter provided by the plants. Seagrasses also stabilize sediments and help maintain water clarity. Seagrass productivity is also influenced by the amount of grazing. When grazers such as manatees and turtles are plentiful the tops of seagrass are eaten, reducing necrotic tissue on the plants and promoting sun penetration to the substrate. Without as much grazing the seagrass beds have more necrosis and are more easily uprooted from storms. The resulting degradation alters nutrient composition There are seven species of seagrass (detailed below) found in Florida waters ( ), and all seven have been documented in the Northeast Florida Planning Area. The range expansion of Halophila decipiens and the federally-threatened Halophila johnsonii north of Sebastian Inlet occurred in the mid- 2000s (Virnstein and Hall, 2009). Recent large-scale losses of seagrasses in the southern zone might have resulted in the loss of certain species from the planning area. 31

33 Turtle grass T. testudinum) the largest of the Florida seagrasses, has deeper root structures than any of the other seagrasses. It has large ribbon-like leaves that are 4-12 mm wide and mm long. This seagrass is temperature limited and only occurs sparsely just north of Sebastian Inlet within the Northeast Florida Planning Area. Shoal grass (H. wrightii) is an early colonizer of vegetated areas and usually grows in water too shallow for other species except widgeon grass. It is most common in inlets along the east coast and is found throughout the Northeast Florida Planning Area. Manatee grass (S. filiforme) is easily recognizable because its leaves are cylindrical instead of ribbon-like and flat like many other seagrass species. The thin leaves are up to half a meter long. The northern limit of manatee-grass is the Indian River, near Cape Canaveral. Manatee grass is usually found in mixed seagrass beds or small, dense monospecific patches. Widgeon grass (R. maritima) grows in both fresh and salt water and is widely distributed throughout Florida's estuaries in less saline areas, particularly in inlets along the Florida east coast. Stargrass (H. engelmannii), Paddle grass (H. decipiens), and Johnson s seagrass (H. johnsonii) are smaller, more fragile seagrasses. Stargrass has been found in the northern part of the IRL, near Haulover Canal, where it grows under the cover of a mixed bed of S. filiforme and H. wrightii. Paddle grass has only been reported in the southern half of the IRL where it is locally abundant and dense in deep water (Virnstein 1995). Johnson's seagrass grows only in the IRL south to Biscayne Bay and is listed as a threatened species. Baseline Environmental Conditions The baseline environmental conditions for each habitat, within each zone, provide an informed picture of the environment. All available historical and current datasets were identified and compiled to evaluate the current status of the habitat within each zone. Specifically, SJRMWD has gathered current aerial photos, historic aerial photos from the 1940s, surveys from the 1880s, bathymetry, property appraiser parcel maps and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) coverages for the entire planning area. Where possible the gathered data was used to describe any causes of rates of decline in habitats, and to evaluate opportunities to restore habitats in the system. The local conditions for each habitat were primarily derived from the natural resource descriptions and assessments from the management plans for those habitats within the given planning zone. Northern Zone Data Sets SJRWMD (SJRWMD 2012) has prepared 21 overlay maps of disturbed marsh areas in Nassau County, and 25 overlay maps of disturbed marsh (saltmarsh) areas in Duval County. These disturbed marsh areas include ditched marsh, filled marsh, and impounded marsh, and were subjectively delineated through visual interpretation of each aerial image. There are limited overlay maps of oyster habitat, as well as disturbed estuarine and shoreline areas for the northern zone. TNC ground-mapped 617 oyster reefs in the Sisters, Pumpkin Hill, 32

34 and Clapboard Creeks area in under a grant from the USFWS (TNC 2009). TNC also identified 507 oyster reefs in the tributaries on Clapboard Creek and Sisters Creek/ICW through interpretation of aerial photographs. Information on habitat status is included for Amelia Island State Park, Nassau River - St. Johns River Marshes Aquatic Preserves and Fort Clinch State Park Aquatic Preserve, and TIMU. The data on habitat status was extracted where possible from the existing management plans for each public land. The following descriptions of habitat status are presented from north to south. Saltmarsh Habitat Status Within Amelia Island State Park tidal waters flow in the ditches at the southern end of and salt marsh cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora), black needlerush (Juncus roemerianus), and other plants typical of estuarine tidal marshes can be found far inland within these ditches. The dominant saltmarsh species within the regularly flooded, or low marsh in the Nassau River - St. Johns River Marshes Aquatic Preserves area is S. alterniflora, while J. roemerianus is predominant in the high marsh. Other common species include Spartina patens, Distichlis spicata, Spartina cynosuroides, and Salicornia virginica. This is the same species composition found in the broader TIMU area. The majority of the saltmarsh areas in the northern zone occur within either state or federal jurisdictional boundaries and are thus protected from coastal development, which is the primary threat to saltmarsh habitat. Because of this protection, the existing saltmarsh is in a generally healthy condition. Expansion of this habitat through the restoration of disturbed marsh areas should enhance the ecological value of the area. The likelihood of restoration success is high, given the existing regulatory protections. SJRWMD overlay maps show 4,235 acres of ditched and filled former saltmarsh habitat that could potentially be restored. There is also a 5 acre impoundment on one of the western tributaries to the St. Marys River in which hydrologic flow could be re-established. There are other relevant threats to saltmarsh habitat in this zone, as categorized in the State Wildlife Action Plan (FWC 2011). These include climate variability, sea level rise, inadequate stormwater management, and channel modifications. Any site-specific restoration objectives need to include an assessment of these threats. Oyster Reef Habitat Status Oyster reefs are found within tidal creeks that weave through the marshes adjacent to Big and Little Talbot Islands, but the reefs are too scattered or diffuse and have not been mapped. Oyster bars are common in the low-energy, sedimentary environment characteristic of the continuous strands of saltmarsh occurring behind the barriers islands. The oyster reefs at Talbot are situated within Class II waters, which is the Clean Water Act classification of surface waters for the designated use of shellfish harvesting. However, harvesting is locally prohibited due to water quality concerns. The Nassau River - St. Johns River Marshes Aquatic Preserves and TIMU house extensive oyster reef communities in the northern zone and the largest beds are generally co-located in the saltmarsh area. The area was historically active in shellfish (oyster) harvesting, but harvesting has been indefinitely closed in both Duval (16 years) and Nassau (29 years) counties due to high coliform levels and general water quality degradation. TNC mapping showed that there is a 33

35 high abundance of (oyster) reefs in northeast Florida which likely contribute to the structure and functionality of the estuarine ecosystem (Beville 2009). The report also noted that oyster recruitment appears sufficient to maintain their viability, though the majority of live oysters in their study area were small, with less than 5% in the fishery size. The oyster reefs in this area are primarily vulnerable to impacts from degradation of water quality, with inadequate stormwater management as the main cause of water quality degradation. Stormwater runoff alters the salinity regime, and introduces sediment, nutrients, and bacteria into the system that can directly impact oysters. However, with the limited mapping of oyster reefs in the northern zone, it is difficult to directly assess changes in oyster abundance in relation to water quality. Without adequate maps it is difficult to identify areas of oyster reef, or former oyster reefs that would be viable restoration candidates. More complete mapping of the oyster reefs in the northern zone needs to be completed before pursuing oyster reef restoration projects in this area. Central Zone Data Sets SJRWMD (SJRWMD 2012) has prepared 20 overlay maps of disturbed marsh areas in St. Johns County, 10 overlay maps in Flagler County, and 22 overlay maps in northern Volusia County. These disturbed marsh areas include ditched marsh, filled marsh, and impounded marsh, and were subjectively delineated through visual interpretation of each aerial image. SJRWMD has prepared 3 overlay maps of mangrove habitat covering St. Augustine to Flagler Beach, as well as a set of wetland vegetation maps for the NCB. The cities of South Daytona (Frazel 2009a) and Port Orange (Frazel 2009b) have both completed shoreline habitat restoration and management plans that include surveys of the shoreline edge, vegetation, benthic communities, land use and ownership type (public or private), erosion severity, and freshwater influences (canals, outfalls, etc) along transects taken every 100 feet (30m). Information on habitat status is included, where available, for the GTMNERR, Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve, Guana River Wildlife Management Area (GRWMA), Stokes Landing Conservation Area, Anastasia State Park, Fort Matanzas National Monument, Moses Creek Conservation Area, Matanzas State Forest, Princess Place Preserve, Faver Dykes State Park, The River to Sea Preserve at Marineland, Pellicer Aquatic Preserve and Conservation Corridor, North Peninsula State Park, and Tomoka State Park and Aquatic Preserve. The data on habitat status was extracted where possible from the existing management plans for the public land or from the NCB SWIM Plan. Descriptions of habitat status are presented from north to south. Saltmarsh Habitat Status Saltmarsh habitat is found throughout the central zone, occurring primarily within the protected public management areas listed above. Oyster reefs are interspersed within these marsh areas. Those saltmarsh areas directly bounded by the ICW within the central zone are particularly vulnerable to erosion by boat wakes. Saltmarsh habitat is lost in these areas as sand and shell berms are created by wave action. The saltmarsh areas along the Guana River, south of the Gauna dam, are in a relatively undisturbed condition and subjectively appear to be healthy. Saltmarsh is interspersed with development throughout St. Augustine then becomes more expansive south of SR 312. Saltmarsh 34

36 extends upstream in Moultrie Creek as it meanders west of US 1 in south St. Augustine. Extensive boat traffic in this area causes erosion of the saltmarsh margins lining the ICW. Further south, the Moses Creek Conservation Area surrounds one of the last undisturbed tidal saltmarsh creek systems along the east coast of Florida. Additionally, the property has a diverse system of upland and wetland communities. The saltmarsh areas at Moses Creek are in pristine condition. The estuarine and tidal marsh areas of Moses Creek have been listed as important habitats for birds during the North Atlantic migrant stopover making it a popular ecotourism destination for bird watching enthusiasts (Pranty 2002). Faver Dykes State Park contains expansive salt marsh areas along both Pellicer Creek and the Matanzas River. The tidal marshes are generally in an undisturbed condition, though there are minor disturbances due to boat wakes along Pellicer Creek. The dominant plant species are smooth cordgrass (S. alterniflora) and black rush (J. roemarianus). Associated with the upper fringes of the inter-tidal portions of this community are extensive salt flats (high marsh). Typical plant species are saltwort (B. maritima) and glasswort (Salicornia spp.). Princess Place Preserve, managed by Flagler County, is an important and critical ecological asset protecting the southern saltwater marshes of the Matanzas River and estuary, and the eastern waters of Pellicer Creek. The Preserve is bisected by Styles Creek which flows north into Pellicer Creek. Styles Creek is a meandering tributary that is fringed by tidal saltmarsh at the confluence with Pellicer Creek becoming fresher as it extends south into more upland areas. The wetlands of the lower Tomoka River and Bulow Creek floodplains are characterized as brackish marshes, where saline tidewaters mix with freshwater runoff. The tidal marsh is comprised of patches of salt tolerant grasses predominantly sand cordgrass (Spartina bakeri), needlerush (J. roemerianus), and salt grass (Distichlis spicata) with succulent halophytes including perennial glasswort (Salicornia perennis), annual glasswort (Salicornia bigelovii), and saltwort (B. maritima). The estuarine tidal marshes at Bulow Creek State Park have been disturbed. The salt flats on the north side of Highbridge Road were ditched by draglines between 1958 and 1963 (aerial photo series) to drain potholes and shallow ponds, primary mosquito breeding habitat. At Tomoka State Park, the management of saltmarsh mosquitoes has had a significant impact on the ecology and scenic quality of the tidal marshes. Mosquito control was first implemented during the Depression era (1930s) by Works Progress Administration (WPA) crews, which handditched 1,500 miles of salt marshes (FCCMC 1998) in Florida, including the Tomoka marshes. In the 1950s, draglines were used to excavate series of parallel cuts, grid ditches in the floodplain of the lower Tomoka River to interrupt the life cycle of saltmarsh mosquitoes by altering their breeding sites. Deep channels were excavated by suction dredges in the marshes on the eastern side of Tomoka Point and Strickland Creek was dredged along the western side of the peninsula. In 1993, the East Volusia Mosquito Control District (EVMCD) first used rotary ditching at Tomoka State Park to open breaches in a low berm impounding a 22-acre tract of tidal marsh between Strickland Creek and the Tomoka River. The 22-acre marsh, like most of the tidal wetlands along the lower Tomoka River, has been disturbed by hand ditching and draglines. In December 2000, Tomoka State Park initiated the Dragline Ditch Project using an amphibious excavator contracted by SJRWMD to backfill ditches with dredge spoil that was deposited on the marsh surface. 35

37 The likelihood of restoration success is high, given the existing regulatory protections. SJRWMD overlay maps show 5,900 acres of ditched and filled former saltmarsh habitat that could potentially be restored. This is only a partial estimate though, as nearly 12 miles of shoreline in St. Johns County, 5 miles of shoreline in Flagler County, and more than 8 miles of shoreline in Volusia County have been mapped. Mapping of these shoreline areas needs to be completed to provide a more complete inventory of potential restoration sites. Oyster Reef Habitat Status Commercial and recreationally harvestable oyster reefs are located in multiple estuarine areas in St. Johns County, though there are no permitted harvesting areas in either Flagler or Volusia County, north of New Smyrna Beach. In north St. Johns County, shellfish harvesting is conditionally approved along the ICW between Stokes Creek and the Guana River, between Casa Cola Creek and Ximanies Creek north of St. Augustine, and within the central part Salt Run adjacent to Anastasia State Park. In south St. Augustine harvesting is permitted from south of SR 206 to Marineland, opposite Pellicer Creek. Additional oyster reefs are found on the west side of the ICW north of the SR 206 bridge to the SR 312 bridge in St. Johns county; however, consistently high coliform counts in these areas have resulted in closures for public harvest. The oyster reefs in this area are primarily vulnerable to impacts from degradation of water quality, with inadequate stormwater management as the main cause of water quality degradation. Stormwater runoff alters the salinity regime, and introduces sediment, nutrients, and bacteria into the system that can directly impact oysters. Those reefs directly adjacent to the ICW are subject to damage and siltation from persistent wave action by boat wakes. There has only been limited mapping of oyster reefs in the central zone, therefore it is difficult to directly assess changes in oyster abundance. In 2006 an initial mapping effort, with limited scope, was undertaken by UCF. Mapping of the oyster reefs in the central zone needs to be completed prior pursuing oyster reef restoration projects in this area. Mangroves and Vegetated Margins Habitat Status The northernmost range of mangrove habitat on the east coast of the United States (Zomlefer et al., 2006) occurs within the boundaries of the GTMNERR, with climate change the primary factor influencing mangrove species composition and distribution. Zomlefer et al. (2006) documented red mangroves at Fort Matanzas National Monument, but since that publication GTMNERR staff have identified red mangroves as far north as Palm Valley. The red mangrove has slowly migrated north upon recovery from a series of freezes in the 1970 s and 80 s. The continued northward expansion of mangrove habitat represents a major landscape change as it supplants saltmarsh and oyster reef habitat. Mangroves are more prevalent moving south through the central zone, becoming the more dominant estuarine habitat species, supplanting Spartina south of the Daytona Beach area. Southern Zone Data Sets SJRWMD has gathered current aerial photos, historic aerial photos from the 1940s, surveys from the 1880s, bathymetry, property appraiser parcel maps and LiDAR coverages. They have 36

38 prepared 14 overlay maps of oyster habitat between New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill, 8 maps of mangrove habitat, and 8 maps of seagrass habitat. The University of Central Florida completed mapping of oyster habitat in the Mosquito Lagoon in These maps are being used to direct oyster restoration primarily in the MLAP. Saltmarsh Habitat Status Canaveral National Seashore has two types of wetlands salt marshes and mangroves. Wetlands of the Mosquito Lagoon basin cover about 42% of the terrestrial area of the national seashore (Kroening 2008). The national seashore is a transition zone where the marshes and mangrove swamps overlap. The transition zone lies between Sebastian Inlet (near the Indian River/ Brevard County line) and extends north to New Smyrna Beach. The salt marshes are both low- and hightide marshes and support numerous ecological communities. Saltmarshes in the southern zone are found from Merritt Island north, where periodic winter freezes limit the spread of mangroves. The saltmarsh in this zone differ from that further north due to the natural elevation that restricts flooding to only the highest seasonal tides, where vegetation is limited to a few species capable of tolerating extended drought periods. Salicornia spp., Batis spp., and Spartina spp., are particularly dominant in the high marsh areas of the IRL system. The likelihood of restoration success is high, given the existing regulatory protections. SJRWMD overlay maps show 4,200 acres of ditched and filled former saltmarsh habitat that could potentially be restored. The greatest restoration opportunities are with the hydrologic reconnection of the nearly 32,000 acres of impounded saltmarsh habitat shown on SJRWMD overlay maps. Oyster Reef Habitat Status In Volusia County, the Mosquito Lagoon has historically supported large populations of oysters and clams, as is evidenced by countless large Native American shell middens (shellfish mounds) and later profitable commercial fisheries in both clams and oysters. There are currently approved shellfish (oysters and clams) harvesting areas in Volusia County open in all waters south of the State Road 44 bridge in New Smyrna Beach to ICW marker 29 located west of Three Cabbage Island of the Mosquito Lagoon. A study of historical aerial photographs taken between 1943 and 2000 found an increasing number of dead margins (mounds of disarticulated shells) rising up sharply from the seaward sides of intertidal Eastern oyster reefs in major boating channels (e.g., Government Cut, Shipyard Channel) in Mosquito Lagoon (Wall et al., 2005). Some oyster reefs along the ICW migrated away from the channel as much as 50 meters and consisted primarily of piles of sundried shells (Grizzle et al., 2002). Restoration efforts currently underway within the Mosquito Lagoon (inside CNS boundaries) involve the placement of artificial mats with attached oyster shells, near existing oyster reefs and/or impacted areas, that serve as recruitment sites for oysters. The oyster mats provide suitable recruitment habitat for settlement of oyster larvae. The goal of restoring oyster reefs within the Mosquito Lagoon is to reduce the loss of existing oyster reefs and increase species diversity by providing essential habitat for numerous other estuarine inhabitants that would normally utilize this resource. 37

39 Mangroves and Vegetated Margins Habitat Status In the Mosquito Lagoon, impoundments and dragline ditches were historically constructed as a nonchemical method of mosquito control. These impoundments and dragline ditches inhibited mosquito reproduction by continuously flooding mosquito breeding areas, preventing mosquitoes from laying their eggs. Most impoundments along Mosquito Lagoon were constructed between 1962 and 1970 (Rey and Kain 1993, NPS 2001c). Although many of these impoundments have been reconnected to Mosquito Lagoon and are populated by mangroves, there are still several that are slated for restoration. In addition, some of the remaining impoundments are being used as wildlife aquatic management areas, with seasonally controlled water levels. At present, red mangroves in the northern portion of the Mosquito Lagoon have experienced an increase in abundance in an area historically dominated by more cold-tolerant black mangroves. Adding to the complications associated with setting future restoration targets is uncertainty of the importance of climate change on patterns of species composition within MLAP. Within Canaveral National Seashore red mangroves occur naturally but have also been planted to reduce shoreline erosion along Mosquito Lagoon. Mangroves are perhaps the most dominant plant community along the shorelines of the entire IRL. The community consists of red, black and white mangroves and buttonwoods. These are all native plant species and help to stabilize shorelines in addition to providing habitat for estuarine species. Living shoreline projects in the planning area (e.g., Turtle Mound, City of Port Orange) have utilized native grasses (Spartina spp.), mangroves, and oyster (mats, bags) as stabilizing materials which also provide habitat and water quality benefits. Seagrass Habitat Status Seagrass is found within 51 acres of MLAP. The species found in the Mosquito Lagoon include S. filiforme, H. wrightii and R. maritima). In Mosquito Lagoon, the elevated levels of suspended solids may be impacting submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) by restricting the amount of light that is reaching the seagrass. Seagrasses are particularly susceptible to scarring from boat propellers, anchors and trawls in the Mosquito Lagoon. While seagrasses will recolonize areas when water quality is good and disturbances are removed, revegetation of scarred areas may require many years. Actual seagrass restoration of boat-scarred areas has met with limited success. Propeller scar studies conducted by Grablow (2008) used artificially created scarring in the Mosquito Lagoon to assess the recovery time of four types of seagrass scars based on different restoration efforts. The studies showed that after a year of monitoring, none of the areas receiving restoration treatment proved as successful as natural recovery in untreated scarring. Grablow s recommendations were to concentrate effort on preventing seagrass destruction rather than expending resources on restoration (Grablow 2008). T. testudinum, S. filiforme, and H. wrightii are the three most dominant species of seagrasses in the IRL. However, turtle grass only occurs sparsely just north of the Sebastian River and is therefore not a dominant species in Northeast Florida Planning Area. Since the 1940s, seagrass beds have decreased by more than 70 percent in some portions of the lagoon system. Other changes in productive habitat have included the isolation of saltmarsh and mangrove communities and the filling of productive shallow areas for development (SJRWMD 2007). 38

40 Seagrass beds were also lost throughout the IRL with the introduction of spoil islands, created from material dredged during construction of the ICW (FDNR 1990). The MINWR includes approximately 76,500 acres of estuarine habitat. The open estuary waters include areas of the Banana River, Banana Creek, Mosquito Lagoon, and the IRL. In 1991, the IRL became a part of the National Estuary Program. Collectively, all open water and wetlands of the refuge are part of the IRL system. The State of Florida designated the waters of the refuge as Outstanding Florida Waters. The IRL system is designated as Essential Fish Habitat (Magnuson-Stevens Act) and a candidate site under consideration for designation as a Marine Protected Area. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway traverses the refuge through the IRL and Mosquito Lagoon. Four species of seagrass are found in the refuge: H. wrightii, S. filiforme, R. maritime, and H. engelmannii. Water quality and clarity are critical components in the distribution patterns of the seagrass beds in the refuge. Protection of primary seagrass habitat has an important, logical connection to the density of many fish and macro-faunal invertebrates using the refuge s estuarine waters. This primary fish habitat has an estimated fisheries economic impact of about $12,000 per acre per year (Virnstein and Morris 1996). Based on this estimate, the 28,000 acres of seagrass within the refuge s boundaries (based on 1999 mapping) would contribute over $300 million per year in fisheries resources. The seagrass communities are presently being mapped and monitored by SJRWMD and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The refuge harbors over half of the wetland acreage and more than 40 percent of the seagrass coverage in the entire lagoon system. Any refuge effort to protect and restore seagrass habitat would be consistent with local, state, regional, and national goals. Though much progress and improvements had been made with seagrass habitat, an algal superbloom appeared in the Banana River Lagoon in spring Two massive blooms of phytoplankton (superbloom) caused a loss of seagrass throughout much of the IRL system, with the problems extending from the Titusville area of the lagoon to just north of Fort Pierce Inlet. This bloom and seagrass decline far exceeded any documented or remembered events in terms of size of the area affected, intensity and duration of blooms, and rate and magnitude of seagrass loss. It ultimately spread into the northern IRL and farther north into the Mosquito Lagoon. Concurrently, a lesser bloom extended from just north of Melbourne south to the Vero Beach- Fort Pierce area. Approximately 47,000 acres of seagrasses were lost, a reduction of about 60 percent of the lagoon s total seagrass coverage. In addition, in August 2012, a brown tide bloom including brown tide (Aureoumbra lagunensis), and dinoflagellates (Pyrodinium bahamense) began in the Mosquito Lagoon and moved into the northern IRL near Titusville. The bloom reappeared in 2013 and continued to be observed through October. However, by January 2014, SJRMWD scientists only observed algal blooms in Big Flounder Creek and Turnbull Creek, two tributaries in the north IRL. The remainder of the north lagoon was clear, with visibility to a depth of two meters. Water clarity was reported as excellent in the central lagoon (Cocoa through Grant). Habitat Threats Sources of estuarine (and other) habitat stress were developed in the Florida State Wildlife Action Plan (FWC 2011) that provides a set of threats applicable to estuarine habitat. Acknowledging and understanding these threats and their applicability to specific restoration 39

41 sites is necessary to ensure the success of planned restoration projects. Specific threats relevant to the estuarine habitats in this Plan are listed below. Coastal Development Coastal development leads to ecological stresses to estuarine habitats, with effects including altered water quality, fragmentation of habitats, habitat disturbance, and altered species composition. Continued expansion of coastal development will increase the total acreage of impacted area as well as the overall impact to coastal habitats. Shoreline Hardening Shoreline hardening leads to intertidal estuarine habitat destruction and altered species composition. Shoreline hardening typically takes place concurrently with coastal development. Inadequate Stormwater Management Inadequate stormwater management allows the introduction of untreated stormwater into the estuaries. High levels of nutrients and harmful chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and petroleum hydrocarbons degrade marine water quality. It is a widespread problem that occurs almost anywhere there is any type of development. Incompatible Recreational Activities Incompatible recreational activities in or near estuarine habitats are often associated with, but not exclusive to, the use of boats and other watercraft. Boat traffic is a major issue throughout the planning area. Boat wakes erode shorelines and boat propellers moving through shallow water can dig into the bottom, directly damaging seagrass beds, and stirring up bottom sediments. The re-suspension of bottom sediments then indirectly impacts seagrasses by cutting off light to seagrasses and releasing nutrients and contaminants that are trapped in the sediments. Management of Nature (Impoundments) Impoundments are a significant source of stress to mangrove and saltmarsh habitat. Those structures completely cut off from adjacent coastal waters, are especially problematic and serve as a source of habitat disturbance and fragmentation. They alter the hydrology, water quality, shoreline and bottom structure, and species composition. Dragline Ditches In the 1950s and 1960s, large excavators called draglines were used to cut through the marsh. The draglines were typically mounted to small barges, which moved by pulling themselves along through ditches as they were created, and material that was excavated from the wetlands piled on either side of the created ditch. These dragline ditches are extensive networks of deep, wide ditches and spoil piles cut through historical coastal wetland habitat, severely reducing the acreage of wetlands remaining. The purpose of the ditches was to interrupt the life cycle of saltmarsh mosquitoes by altering their breeding sites. Saltmarsh mosquitoes lay their eggs on moist soils. These eggs hatch in huge numbers when the marsh is flooded by tides or rain. Dragline ditching converts large acreages to ditch and spoil piles while altering the hydrology of the remaining wetland and providing access for mosquito-eating fish. The most extensive ditching occurred in Mosquito Lagoon (nearly 1,200 acres), though some ditching is present throughout the IRL and portions of the central zone. While 40

42 dragline ditching effectively reduced the mosquito population in coastal wetland areas, an unintended result was a severely altered wetland ecosystem. Widespread decreases in wetland habitats were seen with dragline ditching, with the amount of wetland habitat lost varying with the intensity of ditching. In the most extensively ditched areas, up to 80 percent of historical wetland was replaced with ditch and spoil pile. On average, half of an impacted area was ditch and spoil. This reduced ecological productivity, which in turn reduced the fish and wildlife an area could support. The valuable protection from storms that wetlands provide was also diminished. Mosquito Impoundments Mosquito impoundments were designed to manage mosquito production by isolating wetlands and flooding them with the use of wells or pumps. They were constructed with heavy machinery that was used to dig a borrow ditch. This sediment was piled on the outer edge of the marsh to create a dike, which isolated the interior wetland from the rest of the estuary. Impoundments devastated estuarine habitat and destroyed vegetation. Negative impacts of the impoundments include: Widespread changes throughout plant and animal communities in approximately 75 percent of wetland habitat of the lagoon. Invasion of nonnative plants along the dike surface, primarily Brazilian pepper trees. Decreased connectivity between the wetlands and the lagoon, which hindered the movement of fish and invertebrates that normally use the wetlands for breeding, feeding and refuge from predators. Nutrients (All sources including septic tanks) Nutrient loads from urban sources are implicated as the source of many secondary stresses (e.g., altered species composition, altered community structure, etc.) in estuarine environments. This source includes nutrient loading to ground and surface waters from residential fertilizer applications and wastewater treatment, especially septic systems. Nutrient loading to surface and ground waters from urban sources typically originates as non-point source pollution, and is carried to aquifers and surface water bodies in stormwater runoff or as groundwater recharge from developed areas. Nutrient loadings and low flushing rates in the northern IRL likely contributed to the recent algae blooms but the mechanisms of bloom formation are under investigation. Filled Estuarine Habitats Many former estuarine habitats have been filled with sand and mud from dredging activities either as a convenient disposal solution or specifically for dry land creation. Filling can eliminate habitat altogether, or change substrate levels such that tidal flow is either impeded or nonexistent. Filling leads to an overall loss of estuarine habitat. It is estimated that there are more than 50,000 acres of filled estuarine habitats throughout the planning area, based on SJRWMD analyses of digital orthophotographic (i.e.,) imagery. Degradation of Water Quality (Loss of Seagrass and Oysters) Seagrass and oyster decline is related not only to physical destruction, but also to chemical and physical changes in the water caused by pollutants and runoff. In particular, sediments and other materials that decrease water clarity can adversely affect seagrass production by reducing the amount sunlight that reaches them, thus decreasing growth rates. During the recent algae blooms, it is believed that seagrass loss was primarily the result of light extinction from high 41

43 phytoplankton numbers. Abrupt changes salinity caused by runoff, can kill broad areas of oyster reef eliminating the water quality benefits provided by their filtering ability. Sea Level Rise Estuarine habitats may be significantly reduced or lost if projected sea level rise alters ecological conditions sufficiently. For example, rising sea levels could increase shoreline erosion or lead to the inundation of estuarine habitats. In areas where coastal development does not allow for migration of this habitat into higher elevations, it will be lost. Mangroves are especially threatened by the sea level rise and storm surges that are expected because of climate change. Declines in coastal water quality, habitat quality, and biodiversity are the most likely effects of these changes. Salt marshes may have better resilience to sea level rise, especially if new sedimentation rates are roughly equal to the rate of sea level rise. However, localized impacts on salt marshes could occur, depending on the rate and type of changes. Shoreline Erosion Shoreline erosion is a natural process in most coastal environments, and estuarine shorelines are no exception. It becomes a habitat threat when the natural process is accelerated because of other activities such as increased boat wakes, sea level rise, or coastal development. Completed and Ongoing Restoration Efforts Listed below are estuarine habitat restoration projects, that have been initiated, ongoing, or completed since Projects are listed from north to south. Northern Zone GTMNERR Community Oyster Shell Recycling and Living Reef Restoration Project The project, which was initiated in 2012, entails three distinct zones: 1) Establishing an oyster shell recycling program for St. Johns County, Florida; 2) Hands-on community education and outreach with the St. Johns County Technical High School; and 3) Placement of oyster shell to construct a living shoreline at the GTMNERR, as well as planting Spartina grass within the boundaries of the new reef to further protect the shoreline and provide nursery habitat for marine species. Evaluation of the success of each of the project zones will be included in the project. Estuarine habitat restoration goals and outcomes of the project are to: Restore shellfish habitat to sustain and improve ecological benefits and ecosystem services Improve habitat hydrology and riparian areas of estuarine and inshore habitats to benefit threatened and endangered marine species or species of concern associated with the watershed Restore 0.76 acres of Spartina habitat and acres of oyster habitat adjacent to 1.8 acres of eroding saltmarsh and 1.16 acres of eroding benthic habitat for a total of restoration/protection of 3.79 acres along 1075 linear feet (358m) of coastline Demonstrate the effectiveness of utilizing living shorelines to prevent area shoreline erosion as demonstrated by measurement of erosion at the project site and at a control site on the Guana Peninsula This project was funded by the NOAA Restoration Center in partnership with the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership. 42

44 Central Zone North Peninsula Park Dredge Spoil Removal SJRWMD and its partners are restoring 65 acres of dredge spoil-filled historic saltmarsh. This project will increase tidal connection of approximately 65 additional acres of saltmarsh, which were isolated by spoil deposition. The project is funded through a NOAA American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant, as well funding through a partnership of the NOAA Restoration Center and Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership. Port Orange Living Shoreline Demonstration Project This effort was the first pilot project implemented as part of the larger Port Orange Shoreline Management Plan. This project implemented a combination of living shoreline restoration techniques in a highly urbanized system to demonstrate the different shoreline stabilization techniques available for use in lieu of more traditional hardened shorelines. With the permission of 16 homeowners the project was able to restore 0.5 acres of shoreline habitat composed of upland, saltmarsh, and oyster reef habitat. With the help of the project partners and 279 volunteers invasive species were removed, upland habitats were stabilized, Spartina was planted, and a variety of oyster restoration techniques were deployed. Lessons learned from this project will be incorporated into future restoration efforts associated with the Port Orange Shoreline Management Plan. This project was funded by the NOAA Restoration Center in partnership with the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership. Chicken Island Demonstration Project This is a Volusia County Environmental Management (VCEM) Project, which was funded by a grant from SJRWMD s IRL License Plate Tag Program, as well funding through a partnership of the NOAA Restoration Center and The Nature Conservancy. The goal of the initiative was to conduct a demonstration project using several types of restoration techniques to: inhibit shoreline erosion through red mangrove plantings, and increase oyster reefs by providing substrate for oyster spat to adhere and develop into fully grown oysters. Using several techniques will help scientists evaluate which method may be effective under varying circumstances. Southern Zone Dragline Ditch Restoration in the Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve (Volusia County Mosquito Control In the 1950's and 60's much of the Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve was dragline ditched for the purpose of mosquito control. The spoil from this ditching was deposited upon the adjacent saltmarsh, eliminating saltmarsh habitat from both the ditch and spoil area. This 78 acre project removed the non-saltmarsh vegetation from the spoil and placing it in the ditch then grading the spoil material to historic saltmarsh elevation. The intended outcome is the reestablishment of as much saltmarsh habitat as possible. Volusia County-Mosquito Lagoon Wetland Restoration Project This is a project to restore; to as natural a state as possible, dragline ditched wetlands in the Mosquito Lagoon region that were altered by people in the 1960s for mosquito control. The ditching damaged the native wetlands, resulting in less productive ecological communities in about a 1,200-acre area. The Volusia wetland restoration project will restore approximately 550 acres. Phase II of the project is currently funded and roughly 250 acres will be restored using 43

45 existing funds. Through mid-2013, approximately 510 acres of impacted wetlands have been restored in Mosquito Lagoon, returning approximately 200 acres to wetland elevation. The current restoration effort is a collaborative effort with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, SJRWMD, Volusia County Mosquito Control and the public land owner/managers of impacted wetlands in Volusia County. These partners include Canaveral National Seashore, Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve, and several state parks. The majority of the funding comes from the National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grants Program. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge T-18-A Mosquito Control Impoundment The USFWS project leveled nearly two miles of dike, created 43 acres of wetlands and reconnected 223 acres of wetlands to the IRL on the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in northern Brevard County. The project was completed with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding provided by NOAA. IRL Oyster Reef Restoration Project Beginning in 2005, TNC and University of Central Florida Associate Professor Dr. Linda Walters and her students initiated restoration of oyster reefs in the Mosquito Lagoon to restore reefs damaged from boat wakes by applying a science-based methodology that involves and educates the community and explores solutions to address the cause of the problem (Birch et al., 2012). This project, located within the boundaries of the Canaveral National Seashore, is funded through a National Partnership grant between the NOAA Restoration Center and TNC. Additional funding has also been provided through the NOAA Restoration Center s partnerships with the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership and the Association of National Estuary Programs. Fifty reefs have been restored since restoration began in 2007, with restoration efforts continuing through 2012 The Brevard Zoo is now a major partner and has now taken over coordinating volunteers to construct oyster mats. The oyster mats constructed from mesh and oyster shells are placed in the IRL to provide a natural substrate for oyster larvae to settle. Results show that the oyster mat restoration technique as IRL Mangrove Restoration Brevard Zoo has initiated a project to help restore local mangrove habitats in partnership with the DEP s IRL Shoreline Restoration Program. Mangrove seeds are collected locally; planted by Zoo guests and other Brevard residents including local schools; and cared for until the seedlings are ready to be planted along the IRL. IRL Spoil Island Working Group ( The oversight of spoil island management for the IRL is coordinated through the Workgroup which is chaired by FDEP (as land manager), FIND (entity responsible for maintenance of the ICWW), and FWC (as agency responsible for boating and fish and wildlife resources). The Workgroup administers the guidance of the 1989 IRL Spoil Island Management Plan and its designations for island use type. Restoration activities of the Workgroup and its partners (agencies, non-profits) include removal of exotic species, planting of natives, hydrologic improvements, shoreline stabilization, and removal of spoil. IRL Shoreline Restoration Project A Living Shoreline project which began with the Environmental Learning Center in Wabasso is now administered by FDEP CAMA through the IRL Aquatic Preserves office. Historically, 44

46 mangroves were planted using the PVC planter technique and the recent focus utilizes native grasses (Spartina spp.), seedling/sapling mangroves, and oyster (mats, bags) as stabilizing materials which also provide habitat and water quality benefits. The program monitors 52 completed sites within the IRL and plans to create others in conjunction with Brevard Zoo Adopt-a-Mangrove and other regional programs. Eroding sites on (primarily) public lands are chosen for projects. Marine Resources Council Shoreline Habitat Restoration ( ) Since 1992, the Marine Resources Council of East Florida (MRC) has worked with volunteers, schools and organizations to remove Brazilian pepper from over 30 miles along the IRL shoreline. Site captains are trained to identify and properly remove Brazilian pepper trees and supervise volunteers. Schools are also in charge of collection of mangroves seeds, mangrove nurseries, and planting of mangrove saplings in cleared areas. Pine Island Conservation Area Restoration Project This project restored 67 acres of high saltmarsh habitat and improved its hydrologic connection with the IRL. Before project implementation, the site was covered with dredge spoil from historic dredging of the IRL. The Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program first eradicated exotic invasive species from the site, then removed more than 50,000 cubic yards of material to achieve historic wetland elevations, and finally saltmarsh vegetation was planted across the site to jump start natural recruitment of species. This project renews hydrologic connections to the estuary, allowing access by fish and other marine species, and provides nutrient exchange with the estuary. This project was funded through the NOAA Restoration Center in partnership with the FishAmerica Foundation and the National Association of Counties. Restoration Goals, Objectives and Strategies for Northeast Florida Initial goals and objectives for relevant planning zones were established by habitat teams set by the NERT. In some cases, goals, objectives and strategies were already established within existing plans. These existing plan elements were inserted under the appropriate estuarine habitat and geographic zone and adapted to conform to the standard presentation format for this section. These goals and objectives were then reviewed by respective land managers to provide them an opportunity to incorporate additional site specific strategies and action steps within the listed goals and objectives. The habitat teams were instructed to establish goals statements that identify the reasons for the plan, as well as the desired outcomes. Statements were recommended to be broad-based, and long-term, and achieve the vision of the Plan. The objectives listed are intended to achieve the goals and vision of either this Plan or the particular plan from which objectives were obtained. Multiple resources were reviewed in developing habitat goals and objectives, including Palmer et al. (2005), Gordon et al. (2005), FWC (2003) and NOAA (2010). Where possible, goals and objectives were developed following what are termed SMART criteria developed by Doran (1981), listed below. Specific target a specific area for improvement Measurable quantify or at least suggest an indicator of progress Assignable specify who will do it Realistic state what results can realistically be achieved, given available resources 45

47 Time-related specify when the result(s) can be achieved. The strategies listed are more-detailed descriptions of the work proposed to achieve the goals and objectives. In some cases, action steps or tasks are listed that represent specific activities under each strategy suggested to reach project delivery. Where practicable, strategies will include measures of success, or performance standards to evaluate plan and project implementation. Restoration goals, objectives and strategies are described in the following tables for each public land within the relevant estuarine habitat, and presented from north to south. 46

48 Saltmarsh Habitat Areas of northeast Florida where saltmarsh has historically existed are now devoid of this habitat due primarily to increased wave energy and other human influences. Saltmarsh will naturally re-establish in many of these areas with adequate protection from wave energy. Saltmarsh restoration strategies should address and correct for adverse human impacts Table 2. Saltmarsh Habitat Restoration Goals Objectives and Strategies Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) North Zone Fort Clinch State Park Amelia Island, Big Talbot Island, Little Talbot Island, George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier Fort George Island Cultural State Park General Restore natural saltmarsh communities in the park Restore natural drainage patterns on Big and Little Talbot Islands. Restore natural estuarine habitat communities Re-establish tidal connections, hydrology and saltmarsh habitats Develop and implement a saltmarsh habitat restoration plan Develop and implement plans for restoration of natural hydrology Develop and implement estuary restoration plans Central Zone Enhance degraded habitats or restore lost estuarine habitats Evaluate the impacts of mosquito control ditches on the hydrology and ecology of natural communities in the park. Estuarine restoration opportunities will be determined upon evaluation results. NERT will partner to facilitate restoration of priority projects. Evaluate impacts of ditching and road blocks on surface water and groundwater systems. Complete the already initiated, design study that will determine the feasibility of restoring natural drainage patterns on Big and Little Talbot Islands. Restore at least 5 acres of natural drainage, if restoration is recommended in the completed conceptual design study Pursue mitigation funds or other sources to accomplish restoration of the saltmarsh at Point Isabel. Prepare and refine maps of shoreline and estuarine areas that identify existing or degraded estuarine areas. Work with public estuary resource managers to 47

49 Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) endorse and prioritize saltmarsh restoration projects within their jurisdictions. Identify and secure funding to re-grade impacted areas to encourage natural reestablishment of saltmarsh vegetation. North Peninsula State Park (NPSP) Mosquito Lagoon MLAP Canaveral National Seashore Spoil filled saltmarsh restoration Re-establish tidal saltmarsh habitats Conserve and restore natural community (in this case saltmarsh) function, productivity and species diversity in MLAP The natural and beneficial values of wetlands (in this case saltmarsh) are preserved and enhanced. Complete implementation of NPSP Habitat Restoration Strategy Restore dragline ditch dredge spoil to historical saltmarsh habitats South Zone Develop and implement conservation and restoration projects for key natural communities and species based on the best available scientific data and information. The National Park Service implements a no net loss of wetlands policy and strives to achieve a longer-term goal of net gain of wetlands across the national park system through the restoration of previously Secure and refine permits, state Land Use agreements and DHR approvals as needed Identify and secure funding to restore impacted areas and encourage natural re-establishment of saltmarsh vegetation. Complete North Peninsula State Park saltmarsh restoration initiative. Revise and update contract with Volusia County Mosquito Control to complete dragline ditched marsh restoration Identify and secure funding as needed to complete remaining dragline ditch restoration work. Re-establish identified degraded saltmarsh areas. If natural wetland functions have been degraded or lost because of human action, work to restore wetlands to predisturbance conditions, to the extent practicable. 48

50 Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) degraded wetlands. Oyster Reef Habitat Oyster reef restoration has primarily been undertaken in limited areas in the Mosquito Lagoon and the IRL. Recent demonstration projects have just been initiated in the GTMNERR. Many more larger-scale projects are in discussion or in early planning stages. All such projects should refer to the recently completed Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) Oyster Habitat Restoration Plan (Boswell 2012) for specific guidance on oyster restoration planning. The CHNEP plan provides a technically sound, consensus-based approach for identifying oyster habitat restoration goals, methods and partnerships for the estuaries within the CHNEP that can be readily adapted for use within the Northeast Florida Planning Area. The plan also includes a Restoration Suitability Model (RSM) that was developed to guide future restoration decisions, and provides guidance on permitting, success criteria, monitoring, funding opportunities, and incorporating community stewardship opportunities into restoration projects. Table 3. Oyster Reef Habitat Restoration Goals, Objectives and Strategies Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) North Zone General GTMNERR Restore shellfish habitat to sustain and improve ecological benefits and ecosystem services Restore shellfish habitat to sustain and improve ecological benefits and ecosystem services Use existing data to evaluate both existing and historical shellfish areas to identify viable locations for possible restoration Central Zone Improve habitat hydrology and riparian areas of estuarine and inshore habitats to benefit threatened and endangered marine species or species of concern associated with the watershed Restore at least 5 acres of degraded shellfish areas within 3 years of identification of potential restoration sites. Restore 0.76 acres of Spartina habitat and acres of oyster habitat adjacent to 1.8 acres of eroding saltmarsh and 1.16 acres of eroding benthic habitat for a total of restoration/protection of 3.79 acres along 1075 linear feet (358m) of coastline Demonstrate the effectiveness of utilizing living shorelines to prevent area shoreline erosion as demonstrated by measurement of erosion at the project site and at a control site 49

51 General MLAP Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) on the Guana Peninsula South Zone The natural and beneficial functions of oyster reefs are preserved and enhanced Conserve and restore natural community (in this case oyster reef) function, productivity and species diversity in MLAP (1) Reduce the loss of existing oyster reef (2) Increase species diversity in the Mosquito Lagoon by providing essential habitat (oyster reef) for numerous other estuarine inhabitants that would normally utilize this resource Develop and implement conservation and restoration projects for key natural communities and species based on the best available scientific data and information. (1) Coordinate with local organizations to install oyster mats (2) Strategies to provide essential oyster reef habitat will be developed as funding and resources become available. Conservation and restoration projects will be developed as funding and resources become available Mangrove Habitat and Vegetated Margins Proven techniques for mangrove propagation and culture have facilitated successful habitat restoration in both the IRL and elsewhere in Florida. Lewis (2005) has documented the importance of assessing the existing hydrology of natural extant mangrove ecosystems, and applying this knowledge to first protect existing mangroves, and second to achieve successful and cost-effective ecological restoration, if needed. An emerging critical component in mangrove restoration moving forward will be the impacts of climate variability and potential sea level change, and projecting those changes on the future stability of restoration projects. Table 4. Mangrove Habitat and Vegetated Margins Restoration Goals, Objectives and Strategies Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) Stabilized and Provide shoreline stability and Assess the environmental status of the coastal State Parks protected natural and restored estuarine control erosion estuarine shorelines for each state park in the Northeast Florida Planning Area. Individual 50

52 Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) shorelines of the thirteen state parks within the Northeast Florida Planning Area. Establish sustainable vegetative communities Washington Oaks State Park Gamble Rogers State Park Addison Blockhouse, Bulow Creek, Tomoka State Park Restore and maintain natural communities Develop a restoration plan for the ditches and dredge-spoil sites within the park Protect, restore, and maintain natural communities Protect, maintain, and restore the natural hydrology and water Provide structure based habitat in the intertidal and submerged tidal zones Central Zone Restore portions of the Matanzas River shoreline adjacent to the seawall Restore disturbed marsh areas within the park Continue ongoing efforts to remove old mosquito control project dikes and berms and to fill the adjacent ditches in order to restore the preexisting tidal marshes and creeks. Continue to implement measures to stabilize rapidly eroding shoreline areas assessments should take six months to one year complete, and cost between $10K and $25K per assessment. Assessments may be completed by either park staff or outside contractor. Likely funding sources would be FDEP, NOAA, or NPS. Restore at least 10% of identified impacted estuarine shorelines using proven restoration techniques within two years of assessment completion. Costs will range from $5K to $10K per acre to complete. Actual costs will vary based on type of estuarine habitat to be restored. Likely funding sources would be FDEP, NOAA, or NPS. Strategies to restore the Matanzas River shoreline will be developed as funding and resources become available. Strategies to complete the restoration of disturbed marsh areas will be developed as funding and resources become available. Restore at 5 acres of habitat per year until project is complete. Encourage the SJRWMD to study and evaluate measures to maintain wetlands and minimize the impact of Frenchman s Ditch and Korona 51

53 Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) quality Canal on groundwater levels in the park Restore, enhance and Develop and implement Present and secure endorsement of Daytona maintain stable, healthy and Shoreline Habitat Plans Beach, Holly Hill and Ormond Beach Habitat Management Plans. Implement pilot projects. sustainable urban Adopt Port Orange Implementation Plan and shoreline habitats refine permit process to facilitate effort. Halifax River Complete FWC Saltmarsh plant nursery facility. Work with Marine Discovery Center to make the Oyster Recycling program a self sustaining Mosquito Lagoon and Brevard County MLAP Canaveral National Seashore Restore, enhance and maintain stable, healthy and sustainable urban shoreline habitats Conserve and restore natural community function, productivity and species diversity (of mangroves) in MLAP The natural and beneficial values of wetlands (in this case mangroves) are Develop and implement Shoreline Habitat Plans South Zone Develop and implement conservation and restoration projects for key natural communities and species based on the best available scientific data and information. The National Park Service implements a no net loss of wetlands policy and strives to achieve a longer-term goal of enterprise. Develop, present and secure endorsement for New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, Oak Hill and Titusville Shoreline Habitat Management Plans. Implement pilot projects. Develop a saltmarsh plant harvesting source to support a Living Shoreline implementation program Work with Brevard Zoo to develop a self sustaining Oyster Recycling program to supply oyster products for a shoreline program Support present conservation and restoration programs and projects within MLAP. (Performance Measures: Acres of dragline ditches excavated for mosquito control and impounded marshes restored by Volusia County Mosquito Control and SJRWMD). If natural wetland functions have been degraded or lost because of human action, work to restore wetlands to predisturbance conditions, to the extent practicable 52

54 Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) preserved and enhanced net gain of wetlands across the national park system through the restoration of previously Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge IRLNEP Wildlife and Habitat Diversity: Protect, manage, and enhance the natural diversity of fish, wildlife, and habitats and the important landscapes of the refuge s coastal barrier island system to ensure that refuge fish and wildlife populations remain naturally self sustaining. To attain and maintain a functioning, healthy ecosystem which degraded wetlands (1) Within seven years of plan approval, re-evaluate management of all impounded wetlands to ensure that best management practices are being used among impoundment habitats (2)Within the 15-year life of the plan, restore approximately 200 acres across six dredge impacted wetlands in Mosquito Lagoon to mimic natural-like hydrologic function and evaluate and identify an additional 100 acres of degraded ditched estuarine wetlands on other parts of the refuge that require restoration Preserve, protect, restore, and enhance the wetland resources of the IRL (1) Consider restoring impoundments to more natural-like wetlands and systems that are not actively managed for wildlife, while also ensuring that they do not become mosquito production issues. (1) Consider using open marsh water management for controlling mosquitoes in impoundments and restored wetlands that may pose mosquito production issues that are in proximity (20 miles) to urban communities (1) Where full restoration is not an option, identify impoundments that could be managed with an open connection to the estuary to promote a more natural-like hydrological exchange. (1) Continue to work with the SJRWMD to identify appropriate restoration sites and alternative methods to increase hydrological exchange between marshes and the lagoon system. (2) Continue to work with the SJRWMD to identify appropriate restoration sites and alternative methods to increase hydrological exchange between marshes and the lagoon system. Continue projects to restore shorelines. (Refer to IRL CCMP for timelines and updates) 53

55 Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) supports endangered and threatened species, fisheries, commerce and recreation IRL State Buffer Preserve Seagrass Habitat Complete reconnection of the impounded tidal swamp/marsh communities Re-establish areas of tidal swamp or tidal marsh communities on Mullet Creek Islands Protect native riparian habitats from development and to restore and enhance degraded wetlands to improve their function and benefit to the lagoon Restore physical, chemical, and biological conditions to levels more characteristic of tidal swamp/marsh communities Create tidal creeks, swales, and low areas connected to the lagoon and vegetated by a mosaic of tidal swamp and tidal marsh communities Restoration of hydrologically altered saltwater marsh to provide protection for the IRL, increase estuarine habitat, improve water quality, provide excellent habitat for waterfowl and wading birds, and improve recreational opportunities for the public Park management to coordinate with IRLNEP to develop timelines, funding and priority restoration sites Park management to coordinate with IRLNEP to develop timelines, funding and priority restoration sites Strategies to restore altered saltmarsh areas will be developed as funding and resources become available The recent major losses of seagrass habitat, as previously described, highlight the need for more refinement in seagrass restoration techniques. SJRWMD launched an Indian River Lagoon Protection Initiative in spring 2013 to protect and restore the water quality and ecological habitat of the IRL. The initial focus of the Initiative is an algal bloom investigation; a four-year program in which SJRWMD and outside experts will increase the scientific understanding of the lagoon system through monitoring, data collection, field and lab analysis, and model development. The algal bloom investigation will work in parallel to and augment other Initiative programs within the lagoon, 54

56 and will provide the understanding to develop projects that maximize the opportunities for lagoon recovery and sustained health. Transplanting is now one pilot restoration technique being used with an SJRWMD contractor as lead. Table 5. Seagrass Habitat Restoration Goals, Objectives and Strategies Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) Central Zone Seagrasses are only sparsely located and very poorly mapped within the central zone. With such limited knowledge of the habitat in this area specific restoration plans have not yet been developed. Therefore, goals and objectives for seagrass restoration in the central zone are not currently proposed. Southern Zone MLAP Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Develop a seagrass prop scar restoration plan to repair damaged submerged aquatic vegetation to protect this economically vital resource Wildlife and Habitat Diversity: Protect, manage, and enhance the natural diversity of fish, wildlife, and habitats and the important landscapes of the refuge s coastal barrier island system to ensure that refuge fish and wildlife populations remain naturally self sustaining Restore seagrasses in areas damaged by boat traffic Work with the partners to maintain the current level of approximately 27,000 acres of seagrass beds on the refuge Strategies to restore seagrasses will be developed as funding and resources become available Within two years of plan approval, work with the partners and use existing plans (e.g., Walters et al., 2001 and SJRWMD SWIM Plan) to develop and integrate a comprehensive environmental monitoring program for the Indian River Lagoon system within the refuge to ensure environmental health and biological integrity of estuarine fish and wildlife resources, populations, and habitats. Work with the partners to monitor water quality, especially related to petroleum. Work with partners to address water quality, especially off site non-point source pollution sites. Evaluate ways to stabilize dike slopes to 55

57 Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) minimize associated runoff and erosion to limit turbidity in the estuarine waters to benefit seagrass beds. Monitor and prevent degradation of seagrass beds below existing estimated coverage by managing or denying uses that would further degrade the aquatic communities. Use an adaptive management approach to incorporating ongoing research and monitoring results into management options and decisions impacting seagrass beds. Consider additional research needs, including impacts of large quantities of drift macroalgae, their relationship to nutrients, suspended solid concentrations, and nitrogen, with site specific characteristics (e.g., high total phosphorous and nitrogen concentrations in Turnbull Creek). IRLNEP CCMP 1996 and 2008 Update To attain and maintain a functioning, healthy ecosystem which supports endangered and threatened species, fisheries, commerce and recreation (1) To protect and restore seagrass integrity and functionality in the Indian River Lagoon by reducing anthropogenic impacts and attaining and maintaining water quality capable of supporting a healthy, productive and sustainable submerged aquatic vegetation community meeting the seagrass coverage and depth targets developed by the water management districts for the (1) The IRLCCMP includes a dedicated seagrass protection, restoration and management action plan. Steward et al. (2005) outlines the seagrass targets for the IRL.A listed measure of progress is the number of acres of healthy seagrass meeting coverage and depth targets relative to historic conditions (2) Coordinate diversity activities within the Indian River Lagoon (3) Continue projects to restore shorelines 56

58 Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) Indian River Lagoon. (2) Develop and implement a coordinated research and management strategy to preserve, protect and restore biodiversity in the Indian River Lagoon Indian River Lagoon State Park Protect and restore shorelines to reduce and prevent erosion (3) Preserve, protect, restore, and enhance the wetland resources of the IRL (1) Assess buffer preserve shorelines to identify major erosion areas Implement erosion control measures such as temporary barriers and replanting shorelines Protect shorelines during restoration activities by limiting equipment access and use of temporary barriers (1) Strategies to protect shorelines within the park will be developed as funding and resources become available. (2) Strategies to implement erosion control measures will be developed as funding and resources become available. (2) Through restoration, establish a densely vegetated shoreline capable of limiting erosion Restore the hydrology (1) Eliminate drainage and (1) Strategies to restore historic sheet flow 57

59 Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) of the Inlet Grove parcel to the greatest extent possible without negatively impacting off-site development or onsite resources dewatering of the site to restore historic sheet flow patterns and raise the groundwater level (2) Eliminate ditches separating upland areas from the marsh/swamp communities to re-establish ecological gradients and ecotones patterns will be developed as funding and resources become available. (2) Strategies to restore ecological gradients and ecotones will be developed as funding and resources become available. (3) Strategies to restore the topography and flow to the tidal creek will be developed as funding and resources become available Continue hydrological restoration of the impounded tidal swamp and tidal marsh communities Complete reconnection of the impounded tidal swamp/marsh communities (3) Restore the topography and flow to the tidal creek in the southwest corner of the parcel Determine the effects of cross ditching in the impoundments, and evaluate the feasibility and need for restoration Eliminate cross ditching in the impoundments where possible to reconnect sections of marsh or swamp, increase water exchange, and restore natural communities Increase salinity levels in the impoundments to eliminate or control populations of exotic plant species Restore physical, chemical, and biological conditions to Continue to monitor the effects of rotational impoundment management and evaluate the need for additional reconnection efforts Place impoundment under rotational impoundment management 58

60 Location Goal(s) Objective(s) Strategy(ies) levels more characteristic of tidal swamp/marsh communities Promote access by estuarine organisms to foraging and nursery habitat Sebastian Inlet State Park Re-establish areas of tidal swamp or tidal marsh communities on Mullet Creek Islands Restore, monitor and protect the hydrology of the park to the greatest extent practicable Control populations of saltmarsh mosquitoes while minimizing use of pesticides Increase habitat diversity on the islands, and increase nursery and foraging habitat available for estuarine organisms Determine the feasibility of restoring the original hydroperiod to the tidal swamps by working with local mosquito control districts Create tidal creeks, swales, and low areas connected to the lagoon and vegetated by a mosaic of tidal swamp and tidal marsh communities Strategies to restore the natural hydrology of the park will be developed as funding and resources become available 59

61 Review and Comment Multiple iterations of the draft Plan were reviewed and approved by the NERT. Two iterations of the completed draft Plan were then reviewed and approved by the full NERT. The draft Plan was then made available for review and comment by stakeholders and the public. The NERT held public workshops to provide an opportunity for input from stakeholders. The workshops provided an opportunity for outside resource managers, researchers and restoration professionals to identify dataset gaps, local needs and other issues not previously addressed in the Plan. Written summaries of the workshops and all submitted comments are included in Addendum 1. Comments were reviewed by the NERT and changes were made to the Plan accordingly. The Final Plan was submitted for broad agency review and adoption, as described below. Plan Adoption The NERT received official recognition of the final plan through adoption or endorsement by municipal, county, regional, state and federal agencies. Copies of adoption and approval letters are included in Addendum 2. Implementation Implementation of this Plan will both include and require the participation of and input from a variety of stakeholders and agencies that have restoration responsibilities in the planning area. The successful implementation of the Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Plan will require staff resources and dedicated funding both from multiple sources. Appendix C lists the estuarine habitat restoration projects ready to be implemented upon funding allocation. Appendix D provides project summaries for all estuarine habitat restoration projects listed in Appendix C. These projects will provide environmental data and information which will vary based on the project type. All projects will include a monitoring component in which measurable objectives are coupled with quantitative sampling, where appropriate. Monitoring protocols and parameters to be monitored need to be habitat-specific, and the response of both floral and faunal indicators need to be considered when evaluating restoration success. The four core categories of scientific monitoring parameters that are applicable for almost all tidal hydrology restoration projects include hydrology, vegetation, soil, and nekton (NOAA 2008), and should be included as part of project plans. Information on all projects funded through this Plan will be listed in a Project Inventory maintained by the NERT project leader. Plan Update/Adaptive Management The updating of the Plan is to be accomplished following two approaches. The first is an iterative approach in which projects that are completed, and in which new projects are proposed are amended or appended to the Plan on an annual basis. The second approach calls for a reevaluation of the full Plan every 3 years to adjust Objectives and Strategies given the success or failure of Plan and/or project implementation. This longer term review is an opportunity to employ an adaptive management process to iteratively refine and improve the Plan. The ecological sustainability of estuarine habitats is not a static condition and over time the 60

62 implementation team and project managers need to be flexible in addressing changes to the estuarine system within the planning area. Summary Estuarine habitats and tidal shorelines are among Florida s greatest natural resources and are one of the main reasons that 78% of Florida s residents live in the coastal zone. Many of these estuarine areas in Northeast Florida area have been degraded or are under threat of destruction. Budgetary constraints at both the regional and national level have necessitated that environmental managers develop and implement more coordinated restoration programs to maximize the so-called bang for the buck of available funds. This Plan is a first effort to regionally coordinate estuarine restoration in Northeast Florida using the common planning framework presented in the Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Planning Guide. It is through the collaborative efforts of the NERT that resource management partnerships have been developed that will facilitate meeting estuarine habitat restoration goals in Northeast Florida. 61

63 Literature Cited* Beville, Shelley Watershed Scale Evaluation of Oyster Reefs in Northeast Florida. The Nature Conservancy, 9953 Heckscher Drive, Jacksonville, Florida USFWS Coastal Program Grant: Cooperative Agreement No J pp. Birch, A., S, Garvis, J. Palmer, L. Walters, and P. Sacks Restoring Oyster Reefs in the Mosquito Lagoon. Abstract. Indian River Lagoon Symposium 2012, Johnson Education Center, HBOI-FAU, Fort Pierce, Florida, February 9, (accessed at 6/14/2012) Boswell, Jaime G., Ott, Judy A. and A. Birch. (2012) Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program Oyster Habitat Restoration Plan. Charlotte Harbor National Estuary ProgramTechnical Report Final Draft: 10/3/2012. (accessed at 12/20/2013) Cahoon Jr, D. R., & Cowan Jr, J. H Environmental impacts and regulatory policy implications of spray disposal of dredged material in Louisiana wetlands. Coastal Management 16(4): Brockmeyer, R.E., Jr., J.R. Rey, R.W. Virnstein, R.G. Gilmore, and L. Earnest Rehabilitation of impounded estuarine wetlands by hydrologic reconnection to the Indian River Lagoon, Florida. Wetlands Ecology and Management 4(2): Doran, G. T There s a S.M.A.R.T. way to write management s goals and objectives, Management Review, Vol. 70, Issue 11, p35-36, 2p. Florida Coordinating Council on Mosquito Control Florida Mosquito Control: The state of the mission as defined by mosquito controllers, regulators, and environmental managers. University of Florida; Vero Beach, FL, USA (accessed at 4/10/2012) Florida Department of Environmental Protection Restoration Procedures Manual for Public Lands in Florida (accessed at 4/10/2012) Florida Department of Natural Resources (FDNR) Indian River Lagoon Spoil Island Management Plan. Brown-Peterson, N.J., R.W. Eames and G. Burzycki, editors. Florida Department of Natural Resources, Tallahassee. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Conserving Florida s Seagrass Resources:Developing A Coordinated Statewide Management Program. (accessed at 6/14/2012) FWC Florida Seagrass Manager s Toolkit. (accessed at 6/15/2012) 62

64 FWC Florida s Wildlife Legacy Initiative. Florida s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Tallahassee, Florida, USA. (accessed at 3/20/2012) FWC Florida s State Wildlife Action Plan. A Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Draft. Tallahassee, Florida, USA. (accessed at 10/20/2012) Ford, M. A., Cahoon, D. R., & Lynch, J. C Restoring marsh elevation in a rapidly subsiding salt marsh by thin-layer deposition of dredged material. Ecol. Eng. 12(3): Frazel, D Site Profile of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve. GTMNERR. Ponte Vedra, FL. 134pp. Frazel, D. 2009a. City of South Daytona Shoreline Habitat Restoration and Management Plan. City of South Daytona, FL. 66 pp. Frazel, D. 2009b. City of Port Orange Shoreline Habitat Restoration and Management Plan. City of Port Orange, FL. 52 pp. Frazel, D Estuarine Habitat Restoration Planning Guide for Florida. St. Johns River Water Management District. Palatka, FL. 66pp. Geselbracht, L., R. Torres, G. Cumming, D. Dorfman and M. Beck Marine/Estuarine Site Assessment for Florida, A Framework for Site Prioritization Final Report for Florida s Wildlife Legacy Initiative. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. (accessed at 3/19/2012) Gilmore, R.G., Cooke, D.W, and Donohoe, C.J A comparison of the fish populations and habitat in open and closed salt marsh impoundments in east-central FL. NE Gulf Sci. 5: Gilmore, Jr., R.G. and S.C. Snedaker Chapter 5: Mangrove Forests. In: Martin, W.H., Boyce, S.G. and A.C. Echternacht, eds. Biodiversity of the Southeastern United States: Lowland Terrestrial Communities. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Publishers. New York, NY. 502 pp. Grablow, K.R. (2008). Recovery and restoration of the seagrass Halodule wrightii after boat propeller scar damage in a pole-troll zone in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Master thesis, University of Central Florida, Masters Abstracts International. Gordon, D., D. Shaw, L. Geselbracht, E. Contreras and R. Torres Problem and conservation action identification - terrestrial, freshwater and marine - using The Nature Conservancy's planning process. Final report. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Contract No and The Nature Conservancy. Gainesville, Florida, USA. Grizzle, R. E., Adams, J. R., & Walters, L. J. (2002). Historical changes in intertidal oyster (Crassostrea virginica) reefs in a Florida lagoon potentially related to boating activities. Journal of Shellfish Research, 21(2),

65 Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve Management Plan (accessed at 3/29/2012) Hall, C.A Shallow-water marine climates and molluscan provinces. Ecology 45(2) Haydt, P. J., and D. Frazel Northern Coastal Basin Surface Water Improvement and Management Plan. (pp. 99). St. Johns River Water Management District. Palatka, FL. (accessed at 3/24/2012) IPCC, 2007: Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Lugo, A. E., and S. C. Snedaker The ecology of mangroves. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Sys. 5: Lewis, R. R Ecological engineering for successful management and restoration of mangrove forests. Ecological Engineering 24: Madley, K.A., B. Sargent, and F.J. Sargent Development of a System for Classification of Habitats in Estuarine and Marine Environments (SCHEME) for Florida. Unpublished report to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf of Mexico Program (Grant Assistance Agreement MX ). Florida Marine Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg. 43pp. (accessed at 3/31/2012) Makers architecture + urban design. June Shoreline Restoration Plan for the City of Port Angeles Shoreline: Strait of Juan de Fuca. Prepared for the City of Port Angeles Community and Economic Development Department, Port Angeles, WA. (accessed at 5/12/2012 NOAA A National Strategy to Restore Coastal and Estuarine Habitat. NOAA.(accessed at 4/15/2012) NOAA Returning the Tide, A Tidal Hydrology Restoration Guidance Manual for the Southeastern U.S. NOAA, Silver Spring, MD. (accessed at 5/30/2012). NOAA Restoration Center Restoring Tidal Hydrology: Breaking Down Barriers: workshop proceedings. NOAA Coastal Services Center, Charleston, SC. NOAA/CSC/RPT Palmer, S.R., M.M. Davis, R.K. Smith, and P.L. Freeman Aquatic Resource Conservation in the Southeastern United States: A pilot study in local and regional-scale conservation action planning. The Nature Conservancy. (accessed at 3/29/2012. Parkinson, R.W., DeLaune, R.R., Hutcherson, C.T., & Stewart, J Tuning surface water management and wetland restoration programs with historic sediment accumulation rates: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, East-Central Florida, USA. Journal of Coastal Research 22(5):

66 Pilkey, O., R. Young, N. Longo, and A. Coburn Rethinking Living Shorelines, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University. (accessed at 6/3/2012) Pranty, Bill The Important Bird Areas of Florida Florida Audubon Society Accessed at 10/18/2012. Rey, J.R., D.B. Carlson, and R.E. Brockmeyer, Jr Coastal wetland management in Florida: environmental concerns and human health. Wetlands Eco. and Manag. 20(3) SJRWMD Indian River Lagoon, An Introduction to a National Treasure. St. Johns River Water Management District, Palatka, FL. 40pp. (accessed at 6/14/2012) SJRWMD Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Project: Catalog of Existing Databases and Resource Products. St. Johns River Water Management District, Palatka, FL.250pp. (draft) Stevens, P.W., C.L. Montague, and K.J. Sulak. 2006a. Fate of fish production in a seasonally flooded saltmarsh. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 327: Stevens P.W., C.L. Montague, and K.J. Sulak. 2006b. Patterns of fish use and piscivore abundance within a reconnected saltmarsh impoundment in the northern Indian River Lagoon, Florida. Wetlands Ecology and Management 14: Steward, J., R. Brockmeyer, P. Gostel, P. Sime, and J. Van Arman Indian River Lagoon surface water improvement and management (SWIM) plan, March 2002 update. Palatka & Miami, FL. St. Johns River Water Management District, & South Florida Water Management District. Steward, J.R., L. J. Morris, and E. F. Lowe Setting seagrass depth, coverage, and ligh targets for the Indian River Lagoon system, Florida. Estuaries 28: The Nature Conservancy Watershed Scale Evaluation of Oyster Reefs in Northeast Florida. Final Report to the USFWS Coastal Program. Cooperative Agreement #401817J pp. USFWS Florida manatee recovery plan, (Trichechus manatus latirostris), third revision. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Atlanta, Georgia. 144 pp. + appendices. Virnstein, R. W Seagrass landscape diversity in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida: The importance of geographic scale and pattern. Bull. Mar. Sci. 57(1): Virnstein, R. W. and L. J. Morris Seagrass Preservation and Restoration: A Diagnostic plan for the Indian River Lagoon. Tech. Memo. 14, SJRWMD. Palatka, FL. 43 pp. Virnstein, R.W., and L. M. Hall Northern range extension of the seagrasses Halophila johnsonii and Halophila decipiens along the east coast of Florida, USA. Aquat Bot 90:

67 Wall, L., M., Walters, J. L., Grizzle, R. E., & Sacks, P. E. (2005). Recreational boating activity and its impact on the recruitment and survival of the oyster Crassostrea virginica on intertidal reefs in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida. Journal of Shellfish Research, 24(4), Walters, L. Sacks, P., and L. Coen Impact of hurricanes and boat wakes on intertidal oyster reefs in the Indian River Lagoon: reef profiles and disease prevalence. Special Indian River Lagoon Edition of Florida Scientist 70(4): Wilber, Pace Case studies of the thin layer disposal of dredge material Gull Rock, North Carolina. Environmental Effects of Dredging: USACE Waterways Experimental Station, Vol. D Zomlefer, W. B., Judd, W. S. and Giannasi, D. E Northernmost limit of Rhizophora mangle (Red Mangrove; Rhizophoraceae) in St. Johns County, Florida. Castanea 71(3): *The internet location (uniform resource locator, URL) is listed for all documents accessed via the internet. The URL was current at the date listed in which document was accessed. 66

68 Figures and Tables Figure 1. Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Planning Area Figure 2. Northern Zone of the Estuarine Habitat Restoration Planning Area Figure 3. Central Zone of the Estuarine Habitat Restoration Planning Area Figure 4. Southern Zone of the Estuarine Habitat Restoration Planning Area Table. 1. Geographic Distribution of Major Estuarine Habitats Table. 2. Saltmarsh Habitat Restoration Goals Objectives and Strategies Table. 3. Oyster Reef Habitat Restoration Goals, Objectives and Strategies Table. 4. Mangrove Habitat and Vegetated Margins Habitat Restoration Goals, Objectives and Strategies Table. 5. Seagrass Habitat Restoration Goals, Objectives and Strategies

69 Appendix A. Restoration Partners, and Management Plans Appendix A lists the public lands management units, managing entity (s), management plans and date of completion, and the stakeholder venues to which each plan was presented. Stakeholder venues include public participation, advisory panel review, and governmental entity review. Management units are listed form north to south. Hyperlinks to plans available on the internet are included. Hyperlinks were all active at the time of publication. This is a dynamic list that may be revised as needed. Management Unit The Amelia Island State Park Plan Nassau River - St. Johns River Marshes Aquatic Preserves and Fort Clinch State Park Aquatic Preserve Fort Clinch State Park Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve Management Entity FPS FPS NPS FPS Plan Type and Date Management Plan 2008 (also covers Big Talbot Island State Park, Little Talbot Island State Park and the George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier Management Plan 1986, Not actively managed Stakeholder Venue Public Participation Advisory Panel Governmental Entity Review Review Public workshop 28 member panel Local and regional elected officials on advisory group, and independent review None described Management Plan, 2004 One public workshop Management advisory group Management Plan, 1996, Includes Nassau River - St. Johns River Marshes Aquatic Preserve area, Fort Caroline and Kingsley Plantation. Watershed Condition,

70 Management Unit GTMNERR Northern Coastal Basin Guana River Marsh Aquatic Preserve Guana River Wildlife Management Area (GRWMA The Stokes Landing Conservation Area Castillo De San Marcos National Monument Anastasia State Park Fort Matanzas National Monument Management Entity CAMA, GTMNERR SJRWMD FWC, CAMA, GTMNERR FWC SJRWMD NPS FPS NPS Plan Type and Date GTMNERR Management Plan, 2009 SWIM Plan, 2003 Included in GTMNERR Management Plan, 2009 Management Plan, Management Plan, 2009 Management Plan,2007 Public Participation Two public workshops Three public workshops Two public workshops Public hearing Thirty-sixty days open public review and comment of draft plan. Semi-annual review opportunities at regional recreational public meetings Alternatives newsletter, multiple public workshops, sixty day review and comment period Stakeholder Venue Advisory Panel Review 21 member management advisory group 21 member management advisory group 13 member management advisory group Review by statutory management review team (5-10 members, state and regional agency staff) 11 member NPS planning team Governmental Entity Review Local elected officials on the management advisory group Local elected officials on the management advisory group Local officials on the management advisory group Draft plan review by SJRWMD Governing Board. Meeting open to public for comment Federal, state and local consultation Management Plan, 2004 Public workshop 18 member panel Local elected officials on advisory group Fort Matanzas National Alternatives 11 member NPS Federal, state and local Monument Draft General newsletter, multiple planning team consultation Management public workshops, Plan/Environmental sixty day review and Impact Statement, 2012 comment period 69

71 Management Unit The Moses Creek Conservation Area Princess Place Preserve. Matanzas State Forest The River to Sea Preserve at Marineland. Faver Dykes State Park Pellicer Aquatic Preserve Management Entity Plan Type and Date SJRWMD Management Plan, 2009 Flagler County None DOF Management Plan, 2007 Flagler County None FPS Management Plan, 2005 FWC, CAMA, GTMNERR Included in GTMNERR Management Plan, 2009 Public Participation Sixty day open public review and comment of draft plan. Semi-annual review opportunities at regional recreational public meetings Public meeting, also Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) public hearing and meeting serve as an additional forum for public input and review. Two public workshops Two public workshops Stakeholder Venue Advisory Panel Review Review by statutory management review team (5-10 members, state and regional agency staff) Two advisory group (nine members) public hearings DEP Advisory group review (5 members) 21 member management advisory group Governmental Entity Review Draft plan review by SJRWMD Governing Board. Meeting open to public for comment Local elected officials on advisory group Local elected officials on the management advisory group 70

72 Management Unit Pellicer Creek Corridor Conservation Area Graham Swamp Conservation Area North Peninsula State Park Tomoka State Park Tomoka Marsh Aquatic Preserve Management Entity Plan Type and Date SJRWMD Management Plan, 2011 SJRWMD Management Plan, 2010 FPS Management Plan, 2006 FPS Management Plan, 2003, also includes Addison Blockhouse Historic State Park, Bulow Creek State Park, Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park FDEP Management Plan, 1992 Public Participation Thirty-sixty days open public review and comment of draft plan. Semi-annual review opportunities at regional recreational public meetings Thirty-sixty days open public review and comment of draft plan. Semi-annual review opportunities at regional recreational public meetings One public workshop Two public workshops Stakeholder Venue Advisory Panel Review Review by statutory management review team (5-10 members, state and regional agency staff) Review by statutory management review team (5-10 members, state and regional agency staff) 20 member advisory group 26 member advisory group Governmental Entity Review Draft plan review by SJRWMD Governing Board. Meeting open to public for comment Draft plan review by SJRWMD Governing Board. Meeting open to public for comment Local elected officials on the advisory group Local elected officials on the advisory group 71

73 Management Unit Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve Canaveral National Seashore Merritt Island NationalWildlife Refuge Banana River Aquatic Preserve IRLNEP Brevard County IRL State Buffer Preserve Indian River Malabar to Vero Beach Aquatic Preserve Management Entity Plan Type and Date FDEP Management Plan, 2009 NPS USFWS USEPA, SJRWMD local sponsor Brevard County FDEP CAMA, IRLNEP Management Plan, 2011 (draft) Conservation Plan (2006, draft) Management Plan, 1985 CCMP, 2008 IRL SWIM Update, 2002 Maritime Management Master Plan, 2000 Management Plan, Management Plan, 1986 Public Participation Two public workshops, also Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) public hearing and meeting as an additional forum for input and review. Three public meetings, 30 day additional written 72 Stakeholder Venue Advisory Panel Review 12 member management advisory group comment period Eight public meetings Ten member planning team Two public workshops, open public comment and review period Five public meetings Three meetings of IRL advisory, technical and citizen s committees, open to the public Governmental Entity Review Local elected officials on the management advisory group Local elected officials on the management advisory group. Final document approved by USEPA and Office of the Governor

74 Appendix B. Stakeholders Agencies and Stakeholders Federal Kennedy Space Center NOAA Fisheries/ NOAA Restoration Center Naval Station Mayport Patrick Air Force Base/Cape Canaveral AFS State Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Florida Inland Navigation District Regional East Central Florida Regional Planning Council Northeast Florida Regional Planning Council Local Governments Nassau County Fernandina Beach Duval County Jacksonville Atlantic Beach St. Johns County Ponte Vedra Beach Ponte Vedra St. Augustine Flagler County Palm Coast Flagler Beach Volusia County Ormond Beach Daytona Beach Port Orange New Smyrna Beach Oak Hill Brevard County Titusville Merritt Island Cocoa Cape Canaveral Rockledge Cocoa Beach Nongovernmental Organizations Mosquito Control Districts Halifax and Indian River Task Force University of Florida Whitney Lab Sierra Club U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Forestry Service U.S. Geologic Survey National Park Service SeaGrant Program Department of Health Florida Inland Navigation District Peninsular Florida Landscape Conservation Cooperative Neptune Beach Jacksonville Beach Marineland St. Augustine Beach Daytona Beach Shores Beverly Beach Holly Hill South Daytona Ponce Inlet Edgewater Satellite Beach Melbourne Melbourne beach Indialantic Palm Bay Eau Gallie Palm Coast Community Service Corporation Florida Institute of Technology Florida Audubon Society 73

75 Appendix C. Estuarine Habitat Restoration Project List Zone, Habitat and Project Title Project Lead Cost Estimate Timeframe Northern Zone Oyster Reef SJRWMD Protecting Estuarine Habitat and Species in Northeast Florida through Planning, Research, and Community SJRWMD $190,000 2 years Engagement Saltmarsh Sawpit Island Project NFLT Central Zone Oyster Reef None Saltmarsh North Peninsula State Park Restoration Phase 6 SJRWMD/FDEP 750,000 2 years Volusia County Dragline Ditch Spoil Restoration SJRWMD/FWC 130,000 3 years New Smyrna Beach Spartina Nursery FWC/SJRWMD 170,000 4 years Mangrove Estuarine Shoreline Assessment of Northeast Florida SJRWMD, FDEP, FPS, NERT 325, years State Parks Southern Zone Oyster Reef Oyster/ Shoreline Implementation Brevard Zoo $160,000 3 years Volusia/ Brevard Oyster and Shoreline Program Marine Discovery Center $60,000 3 years Seagrass Brevard County Culvert Installation (Sykes Creek) SJRWMD $55,000 1 year IRL Seagrass Restoration Initiative SJRWMD $50,000 3 years Mangrove Merritt Island Subsided Saltmarsh Restoration SJRWMD $65,000 3 years IRL Preserve State Park Impoundment Dike Removal FDEP $54,000 3 years 74

76 Appendix D. Estuarine Habitat Restoration Project Summaries 75

77 Batten Island North Shore Restoration Proposed Site: Northern shoreline of Batten Island, Fort George Island Cultural State Park Lat/Long: N, W Applicant(s): Florida Park Service Targeted Funding Source: FDOT Environmental Remediation Funds Funding request: $600,000 Project Scope: Batten Island is a spoil island, artificially created when dredge deposits from the St. John s River and adjacent waterways were put there to help create a land bridge to Fort George Island and Heckscher Drive. The Park Service and FDOT are planning a scrape down of the northern edge of this island to increase and restore salt marsh and its buffering function. Invasive hardwoods, pines and cedars will be removed and the edge graded to allow marsh vegetation to recolonize the northern bank. Timeline: 1 year Interagency involvement: FDOT, NERT Benefits: Removing encroaching hardwoods and restoring salt marsh will expand marsh in the area and help replenish tidal flow. 76

78 Brazilian Pepper Removal in Estuarine Habitats of Spruce Creek Park Proposed Site: Spruce Creek Park, Port Orange, Volusia County, FL Lat/Long: N; W Applicant(s): Volusia County Environmental Management Targeted Funding Source: TBD Funding request: TBD Project Scope: Brazilian pepper (Shinus terebinthifolius) is an exotic invasive plant that is on the Florida Noxious Weed List, the Florida Prohibited Aquatic Plants List, and is listed as a Category I invasive plant on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council s (FLEPPC) 2015 List of Invasive Plant Species. This plant has proliferated in the Spruce Creek Park estuarine areas, as well as in the uplands. The removal of the plant is an important objective for the management of the property. Timeline: Three years Interagency involvement: Embry Riddle University, Volusia County Schools Benefits: The removal of Brazilian pepper at this estuarine park will benefit the vegetative communities native to the area. The removal effort will also afford university students the opportunity to study allelopathic properties of the plant and its effects on biodiversity, as well as other related study topics. The exotic invasive nature of the plant also provides an excellent learning opportunity for K-12 students to assist with the removal effort and at the same time learn about invasive species. The intrusion of exotic invasive plant species into estuarine habitats remains a critical issue in restoring and maintaining functional estuaries in Florida. 77

79 Canaveral Port Authority Shoreline Restoration of the Cove Scallop Retention Pond Proposed Site: The Shoreline of State Road 528 in Cape Canaveral, FL Lat/Long: N, W Applicant(s): Marine Resources Council Targeted Funding Source: Canaveral Port Authority (CPA) Funding request: $15,000 Project Scope: Reduce the impact of erosion on the shorelines of the CPA by engaging citizen scientists, restoration volunteers, and students in restoration of mangrove fringe habitat. The MRC team recruited volunteer s to plant 1000 native mangroves and grasses on 500 feet of shoreline of a retention pond that feeds into the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Red mangroves of various sizes will create coastal fish wildlife habitat, stabilize the shoreline, and sequester nutrients and carbon as well as reduce erosion along the shoreline Timeline: June 2014; Duration: 1 year Interagency involvement: Canaveral Port Authority allowed for access to the site. Benefits: By engaging residents, citizen scientists, restoration volunteers, and students in restoration of mangrove fringe habitats that have been displaced by urban development and residential homes, the community now has a better understanding of how important this ecosystem is giving the project a greater potential for long term success. Strengthening the shoreline with mangroves and native vegetation reduces the rate of erosion and the restoration of the shoreline creates habitat for juvenile fish by creating mangrove fringe ecosystems in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Volunteers planted mangroves and spartina grasses. Red mangroves of various sizes provide habitat, stabilize the shoreline, and sequester nutrients and carbon as well as reduce erosion along the shoreline. The successful restoration of this site has increased the probability that future projects with similar scopes will be approved. 78

80 Canaveral Port Authority Shoreline Restoration Phases I and II Proposed Site: The Shoreline of State Road 528 in Cape Canaveral FL Lat/Long: N, W Applicant(s): Marine Resources Council Targeted Funding Source: Canaveral Port Authority (CPA) Funding request: $30,000 Project Scope: Reduce the impact of erosion on the shorelines of the CPA by engaging citizen scientists, restoration volunteers, and students in restoration of mangrove fringe habitat. The MRC team recruited volunteer s to plant native mangroves and grasses on 500 feet of shoreline in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Volunteers will plant mangroves and spartina grasses. Red mangroves of various sizes will create coastal fish wildlife habitat, stabilize the shoreline, and sequester nutrients and carbon as well as reduce erosion along the shoreline Timeline: June 2014; Duration: 2 years Interagency involvement: Canaveral Port Authority allowed for access to the site. Benefits: By engaging residents, citizen scientists, restoration volunteers, and students in restoration of mangrove fringe habitats that have been displaced by urban development and residential homes, the community now has a better understanding of how important this ecosystem is giving the project a greater potential for long term success. Strengthening the shoreline with mangroves and native vegetation reduces the rate of erosion and the restoration of the shoreline creates habitat for juvenile fish by creating mangrove fringe ecosystems in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Volunteers planted mangroves and spartina grasses. Red mangroves of various sizes provide habitat, stabilize the shoreline, and sequester nutrients and carbon as well as reduce erosion along the shoreline. The successful restoration of this site has increased the probability that future projects with similar scopes will be approved. 79

81 Estuarine Shoreline Assessment of Northeast Florida State Parks Proposed Site: Fort Clinch, Pumpkin Hill Creek, Amelia Island, Big Talbot Island, Little Talbot Island, George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier, Fort George Island, Fort Mose, Anastasia, Faver-Dykes, Washington Oaks, Gamble Rogers, North Peninsula, Addison Blockhouse/Bulow Creek/Tomoka State Park, Indian River Lagoon, Sebastian Inlet Lat/Long: n/a Applicant(s): SJRWMD Targeted Funding Source: Florida Legislature, FDEP, FPS, NOAA Funding request: $325,000 Project Scope: The purpose of the project is to assess the environmental status of the coastal estuarine shorelines for each state park in the Northeast Florida Planning Area. Individual assessments should take six months to one year to complete, and cost between $10K and $25K per assessment. Assessments may be completed by either park staff or outside contractor. Timeline: 2-4 years Interagency involvement: SJRWMD, FDEP, FPS, NERT Benefits: The information obtained from the assessments will enable park managers to identify estuarine habitat restoration opportunities. Completed projects will provide shoreline stability and control erosion, allow for the establishment of sustainable vegetative communities, and/or provide structure based habitat in the intertidal and submerged tidal zones. The long term outcome of the assessment will be stabilized and protected natural and restored estuarine shorelines within the thirteen state parks in the Northeast Florida Planning Area, through the completion of identified restoration projects. 80

82 Fernandina Beach Oyster Bed Restoration Proposed Site: Amelia River (1) South of the Egan's Creek Entrance for approximately 500 meters. (2) South of the Fernandina Beach Marina for approximate 100 meters. Both of these areas are identified by the attached photos. (1) 23 July photo (2) 31 Jul photo). Both photos and the survey were done at approximate low tide. I have also attached the transect data for location south of Egan's Creek to the West Rock Mill property. The data for the area south of the Marina is available from Erica at SJRWMD. Lat/Long: N/A Applicant(s): City of Fernandina Beach Targeted Funding Source: Anticipate Grant funding. Anticipate a 1 to 1 match Funding request: N/A Project Scope: Oyster Bed Restoration. Specific methods to be reviewed and established. Availability of oyster shells and quarantine facility are confirmed Timeline: To be determined based on grant availability. Interagency involvement: Partnership with Nassau County, SJRWMD, FWC, FDEP, and NERT Benefits: Help stabilize the shoreline and improve water quality 81

83 Habitat Restoration of Crane Creek River Proposed Site: Spoil islands of the Crane Creek River in Melbourne FL Lat/Long: N, W Applicant(s): Marine Resources Council / City of Melbourne Targeted Funding Source: FIND Small-Scale Spoil Island Restoration & Enhancement Program Funding request: $7,500 Project Scope: The MRC Habitat Restoration Team will work with the city of Melbourne to remove the invasive species of Brazilian pepper from the island and restore the island by planting the shoreline with three species of mangroves and two species of grasses. This project will act as the first phase in the restoration of the Crane Creek River a tributary of the Indian River Lagoon system. The MRC team will hold workshops to educate and recruit residents, citizen scientists, restoration volunteers, and students to plant native mangroves and grasses on the shorelines of a residents homes that feeds into the IRL. Timeline: June 2016; Duration: 1 year Interagency involvement: City of Melbourne will work with the MRC as a partner to allow access to the islands and provide equipment if possible. Benefits: By engaging residents, citizen scientists, restoration volunteers, and students in restoration of mangrove fringe habitats that have been displaced by urban development and residential homes, the community will have a better understanding of how important this ecosystem is giving the project a greater potential for long term success. Removal of the invasive Brazilian pepper from the spoil islands in Crane Creek will reduce the seed source of Brazilian pepper in the area. Restoration of the island after the invasive has been cleared will create habitat for juvenile fish by planting and restoring mangrove fringe ecosystems in the IRL. Volunteers will plant mangroves and spartina grasses. Red mangroves of various sizes will immediately provide habitat, stabilize the shoreline, and sequester nutrients and carbon as well as reduce erosion along the shoreline. 82

84 Habitat Restoration of Highway U.S. 1 in the City of Melbourne Proposed Site: Shoreline of Highway U.S. 1 in Melbourne FL Lat/Long: N, W Applicant(s): Marine Resources Council / City of Melbourne Targeted Funding Source: Grant Source unknown Funding request: $15,000 Project Scope: The MRC Habitat Restoration Team will work with the City of Melbourne to remove the invasive species of Brazilian pepper from 500 feet of the shoreline of Highway U.S. 1 and restore the shoreline by planting three species of mangroves and two species of grasses. This project will act as the first phase in the restoration of the Highway U.S. 1 shoreline of the Indian River Lagoon system. The MRC team will hold workshops to educate and recruit residents, citizen scientists, restoration volunteers, and students to plant native mangroves and grasses on the shorelines of a residents homes that feeds into the IRL. Timeline: June 2016; Duration: 1 year Interagency involvement: City of Melbourne will work with the MRC as a partner to allow access to the lands and provide equipment if possible. Benefits: By engaging residents, citizen scientists, restoration volunteers, and students in restoration of mangrove fringe habitats that have been displaced by urban development and residential homes, the community will have a better understanding of how important this ecosystem is giving the project a greater potential for long term success. Removal of the invasive Brazilian pepper from the Highway U.S. 1 shoreline will reduce the seed source of Brazilian pepper in the area. Restoration of the shoreline after the invasive has been cleared will create habitat for juvenile fish by planting and restoring mangrove fringe ecosystems in the IRL. Volunteers will plant mangroves and spartina grasses. Red mangroves of various sizes will immediately provide habitat, stabilize the shoreline, and sequester nutrients and carbon as well as reduce erosion along the shoreline. 83

85 Habitat Restoration of the Three Sisters Islands Proposed Site: Three Sisters Islands in the Pelican Island Wildlife Refuge Lat/Long: N, W Applicant(s): Marine Resources Council Targeted Funding Source: ACFHP Funding request: $49,960 Project Scope: This project engages citizen scientists, restoration volunteers, and students in restoration of mangrove fringe wetlands in the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, our country s oldest wildlife refuge. Creating and educational outreach for local residents and schools. The MRC team will recruit volunteers and remove invasive Brazilian pepper and plant native mangroves and grasses on Three Sisters southern island in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). This project will create coastal fish habitat by removing invasive species and planting natives on the shoreline. Timeline: June 2016; Duration: 1 year Interagency involvement: Pelican Island Wildlife refuge and the FWC will allow access to the islands and provide support and public awareness of the project Benefits: By engaging residents, citizen scientists, restoration volunteers, and students in restoration of mangrove fringe habitats that have been displaced by urban development and residential homes, the community will have a better understanding of how important this ecosystem is giving the project a greater potential for long term success. Removal of the invasive Brazilian pepper from the Three Sisters Spoil Islands will reduce the seed source of Brazilian pepper in the area. Restoration of the island after the invasive has been cleared will create habitat for juvenile fish by planting and restoring mangrove fringe ecosystems in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Volunteers will plant mangroves and spartina grasses. Red mangroves of various sizes will immediately provide habitat, stabilize the shoreline, and sequester nutrients and carbon as well as reduce erosion along the shoreline. The successful restoration of these Islands will create a metric for restoring spoil islands in the IRL, increasing the probability that future projects with similar scopes will be approved. 84

86 Indian River Lagoon Seagrass Restoration Initiative Proposed Site: Selected areas throughout the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) Lat/Long: n/a Applicant(s): SJRWMD/USFWS) Targeted Funding Source: NOAA Funding request: $50,000 Project Scope: In order to address the algae superbloom and major seagrass habitat die-off events of 2011, a multiagency interdisciplinary 3-year SJRWMD-funded research effort (building on and expanding the scope of the 2011 superbloom study) is being undertaken to further understand the causes and impacts of destructive phytoplankton blooms. The role and feasibility of transplanting in seagrass habitat recovery will be examined in years 1 & 2. This work will be carried out by SJRWMD staff and contractors Dr. M. Dennis Hanisak of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution at Florida Atlantic University and Dr. Robert Virnstein of Seagrass Ecosystems Analysts. With successful preliminary transplant trails and continued inadequate recovery, a year-3 project to expand transplanting efforts will be undertaken. Project managers will follow the progress of this work closely to evaluate the possibility of providing expanded funding earlier than planned. Transplant (FDACS) and environmental resource (FDEP and ACOE) permits are currently being sought. FWC s IRL Fisheries Independent Monitoring Program (FIM) has documented substantial declines in abundance and diversity of fish in the bloomimpacted areas. Collaboration with FIM will continue and will be utilized to evaluate the status of the fishery in relation to seagrass. This collaboration has been and will be used to track wetland-associated fish species as well. Timeline: 3 years Interagency involvement: SJRWMD, USFWS, NERT, Florida Atlantic University, Bethune-Cookman University Benefits: The restoration of seagrass areas is both economically and ecologically important to the IRL. Seagrass communities are highly productive and support a diverse species assemblage. Seagrasses provide a food source, habitat, and essential nursery areas to a variety of commercial and recreational fishery species in the IRL. 85

87 Spoil Island Habitat Enhancement and Restoration Project Proposed Site: Northern Duval County/Big Talbot Island. 18 spoil islands along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Project Area A: the northern tip of Big Talbot Island and southern half of Sawpit Island, and Project Area B: south of Project Area A, between Big Talbot Island and Black Hammock Island. Lat/Long: 30º N, 81º W Applicant(s): North Florida Land Trust Targeted Funding Source: USFWS National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Funding request: ~$500,000 Project Scope: This spoil island project is one component of a larger, regional plan developed by NERT members to increase the conservation and habitat benefit of spoil islands along the ICW from the St. Marys River to the St. Johns River. NFLT s plan seeks to increase suitable habitat available to bird species which are threatened or endangered, both federally and in the state of Florida. Target species include American oystercatchers, black skimmers, and least terns, among others. NFLT has engaged with an engineering firm to develop a Spoil Island Management Plan, outlining the best uses for each island, as well as cost-effective solutions for enhancement and restoration. Implementation of the project will involve the use of several enhancement and restoration techniques including vegetation removal, soil tilling, predator control, bird recruitment techniques, movement of spoil material for elevation increase, restoration to saltmarsh, and maritime hammock enhancement. Timeline: 3 years Interagency involvement: Northeast Florida Estuarine Habitat Restoration Team (NERT) Spoil Island Subcommittee serves as advisory panel for NFLT s proposed enhancement and restoration plan and assisted with development of spoil island designation criteria and review of NFLT s Spoil Island Management Plan. Partners: USFWS, FWC, FDEP, SJRWMD, NPS, Florida Audubon and NFLT. Benefits: Serves as a catalyst for additional projects in ICW area between St. Johns and St. Marys Rivers. Creates additional nesting, resting and foraging habitat for shorebirds which are losing habitat in nearby areas to sea level rise, erosion, and anthropogenic causes. This project also seeks to enact ecologically-beneficial enhancement and restoration projects in the most cost-effective manner possible, to provide options for lowbudget projects. 86

88 Point Isabelle Salt Marsh Restoration Proposed Site: Point Isabelle, Fort George Island Cultural State Park Lat/Long: N / W Applicant(s): Florida Park Service Targeted Funding Source: Mitigation Sources Funding request: estimated $100,000 Project Scope: Park and District 2 staffs will pursue the restoration of salt marsh located at Point Isabel. The first step should be removal of the existing bulkhead, installed in the 1960s. Spoil deposits from dredging in the 1960s and spoil from mosquito control ditching in the 1970s should be re-deposited in the dredged areas. The former spoil sites should then be re-planted with salt marsh vegetation. Funding for this project will be sought from mitigation sources. Because of the culturally sensitive nature of Fort George Island, preliminary comment on the project should be obtained from the Division of Historic Resources before placing the project on any mitigation rosters. Until the area is restored, park personnel should continue to monitor the shoreline erosion at Point Isabel as the concrete bulkhead gradually undermines. Timeline: One Year Interagency involvement: Florida Forest Service, NERT, NPS Benefits: Removal of the bulkhead will restore the tidal flow to the salt marsh and bridge vegetation communities. 87

89 Restoration of the Coastal Ecosystems of the Indian River Lagoon Proposed Site: Shorelines of residents in Brevard County Lat/Long: N, W Applicant(s): Marine Resources Council Targeted Funding Source: Grants unknown Funding request: $ 50,000 per year Project Scope: Reduce the impact of excess nutrients, herbicides and pesticides that negatively affect the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) by engaging residents, citizen scientists, restoration volunteers, and students in restoration of mangrove fringe habitats that have been displaced by urban development and residential homes. The MRC team will hold workshops to educate and recruit community volunteers to plant native mangroves and grasses on the shorelines of resident s homes that border and drain into the IRL. Red, black and white mangroves of various sizes and spartina grasses will create coastal fish wildlife habitat, stabilizing the shoreline, and sequestering nutrients and carbon as well as reduce erosion along the shorelines of the IRL. Timeline: June 2016; Duration: 5 year Interagency involvement: Working with the counties and cities that border the watershed of the IRL will be essential. Benefits: By engaging residents, citizen scientists, restoration volunteers, and students in restoration of mangrove fringe habitats that have been displaced by urban development and residential homes, the community will have a better understanding of how important this ecosystem is giving the project a greater potential for long term success. Strengthening the shoreline with mangroves and native vegetation reduces the rate of erosion and the restoration of the shoreline creates habitat for juvenile fish species in the form of mangrove fringe ecosystems in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Residents who attend workshops become volunteers and citizen scientists who will plant the mangroves and spartina grasses will create coastal fish wildlife habitat, stabilizing the shoreline, and sequestering nutrients and carbon as well as reduce erosion along the shorelines of the IRL. The successful restoration of residential shorelines will reduce the negative impacts of urbanization that affect the lagoon. 88

90 Restoration of the Critical Fish and Wildlife Habitat of the Sebastian River Headwaters of the Indian River Lagoon Proposed Site: Sebastian river headwaters of the Indian River Lagoon. Lat/Long: N, W Applicant(s): Marine Resources Council Targeted Funding Source: Grants unknown Funding request: $ 50,000 per year Project Scope: Restore the critical fish and wildlife habitat of the Sebastian river headwaters. This habitat has been impacted by urbanization and is in danger of being filled in with sediment runoff and polluted by excess nutrients and pesticides and herbicides that run off from newly developed residential communities. The project scope for restoration includes education of local residents, removal of invasive species, removal or relocation of muck or excess sediments and the planting of native plants along the shorelines focusing on mangroves and spartina grasses. The MRC team will hold workshops to educate and recruit community volunteers to plant native mangroves and grasses on the shorelines of a residents homes that feeds into the IRL. Red, black and white mangroves of various sizes and spartina grasses will create coastal fish wildlife habitat, stabilize the shoreline, and sequester nutrients and carbon as well as reduce erosion along the shoreline of the IRL. Timeline: June 2016; Duration: 5 year Interagency involvement: Working with the counties and cities that border the watershed of the IRL will be essential. Benefits: By engaging residents, citizen scientists, restoration volunteers, and students in restoration of mangrove fringe habitats that have been displaced by urban development and residential homes, the community will have a better understanding of how important this ecosystem is giving the project a greater potential for long term success. Strengthening the shoreline with mangroves and native vegetation reduces the rate of erosion and the restoration of the shoreline creates habitat for juvenile fish species in the form of mangrove fringe ecosystems in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). Residents who attend workshops become volunteers and citizen scientists who will plant the mangroves and spartina grasses that provide habitat, stabilize the shoreline, and sequester nutrients and carbon as well as reduce erosion along the shoreline. The successful restoration of the Sebastian river headwaters and shorelines will reduce the negative impacts of urbanization that affect the lagoon. 89

91 Restoration of Shoreline in Styles Creek at Princess Place Preserve in Flagler County Proposed Site: Styles Creek in Princess Place Preserve Lat/Long: , Applicant(s): Flagler County Land Management Targeted Funding Source: USFWS-National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program Funding request: $150, federal request contributed toward project total of $200,000; state match provided by Flagler County to include cash and in-kind salary. Project Scope: Flagler County is pursuing restoration of enhanced erosion areas along the meanders of Styles Creek from Pellicer Creek to the Island House at Princess Place Preserve. Streamflow has been altered since the hardening of shoreline occurred as a result of bridge abutments. Since the bridge installation in 2012, erosion has increased along the associated creek meanders resulting in shoaling and loss of Spartina alterniflora. Additionally, two public use areas are threatened with increased shoreline loss including one road and an often utilized fishing area. The overall objective of this project is to restore the natural creek meander, enhance shoreline stability, and attenuate streamflow velocity in Styles Creek through use of living shorelines or other shoreline stabilization methods. This work would protect and enhance public use areas and enhance shoreline ecology along Styles Creek by decreasing erosion and sedimentation and by reducing potential for the spread of invasive species such as Brazilian pepper and Chinese tallow as a result of shoreline disturbance. Timeline: Start: TBD Duration: TBD Interagency involvement: Staff will work with SJRWMD, GTM-NERR and grantor program partners to develop and review the proposal. Flagler County will seek to partner with SJRWMD or FWC as necessary to obtain funding for NCWCGP. If funded, Flagler County will perform some work in-house and contract work as necessary. Match funding will be provided by project specific cash and in-kind services funding from Flagler County. Benefits: This project provides ecological restoration to a project area that is co-owned by Flagler County and SJRWMD. Project prepares Flagler County for future estuarine restoration projects by consulting with SJRWMD and other agencies with established expertise and proven track records in estuarine restoration. Flagler County will also leverage programmatic and administrative funds to acquire future federal grant dollars as necessary to complete the restoration project. 90

92 Volusia County Dragline Ditch Spoil Restoration Project Proposed Site: Southern Flagler County/Volusia County Lat/Long: n/a Applicant(s): SJRWMD/FWC Targeted Funding Source: NOAA Funding request: $130,000 Project Scope: Much of the coastal wetland in the IRL and NCB that was spared from filling and impounding was, unfortunately, still impacted in another way. Some of these wetlands were crisscrossed with hundreds of miles of mosquito control ditches. The first of these were small hand-dug and dynamite ditches that cut the marsh into parallel strips during the 1920s and 30s. However, the most damaging of these ditching efforts used large excavation equipment called draglines to ditch several thousands of acres of wetlands in the IRL and NCB. Work on restoring these impacts was begun in the late 1990s with pilot projects and has progressed to full operations with USFWS s National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grants Program (NCWCGP) funding through the FWC. With VCMC as the local partner, Phase 1 was completed restoring over 283 acres of dragline-impacted wetland. Phase 2 was completed in In year three, plans have been made to continue this work by restoring 50 acres of remaining dragline-impacted wetland with NOAA. Timeline: 3 years Interagency involvement: SJRWMD, FWC, Flagler County, Volusia County, NERT Benefits: The restoration will provide essential fish habitat and nursery areas for estuarine species. 91