Reclamation and Mitigation of the Upper Peace River Watershed at Tenoroc Fish Management Area

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Reclamation and Mitigation of the Upper Peace
River Watershed atTenoroc Fish Management Area
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Significance of Planning Area

• Northern-most reach of the Integrated Habitat
  Network (IHN)
• Upper-most reach of the Peace River system

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Central Florida Phosphate Mining DistrictConcept
Plan
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Map of Upper Saddle Creek Watershed
Bay
Harbor
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Properties Involved
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Project History and Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU)

• Background
• 1995 MOU
• Funding
• Project Team

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Background

• Saddle Creek watershed was recommended for
  restoration in the 1980 Zellars-Williams report
• Several Tenoroc Old Lands program areas were
  reclaimed during the 1980s
• In 1994, the FDEP, FDOT and the FFWCC recognized
  two funding sources
• alternative wetland mitigation
• the Nonmandatory Land Reclamation (NLR) Trust
  Fund
• Mitigation required for the Polk Parkway resulted
  in the 1995 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

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1995 MOU

• Signatories included
• USACOE FDEP
• FFWCC SWFWMD
• FDOT

• Outlined agency responsibilities regarding
  alternative mitigation
• for Polk Parkway impacts
• Created a Selection Committee consisting of
  representatives from the USACOE, SWFWMD and FDEP
• Created an Advisory Committee - the Upper Peace
  River Ecosystem Planning Committee (UPREPC)

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Project Funding

• NLR Trust Fund 4,593,896
• FDOT 3,605,420
• FFWCC 50,000
• Total 8,249,316

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Project Team
FDEP
ACOE
SWFWMD
FFWCC
FDOT
BCI TEAM
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Goals

• 1. NLR funds to be used only within the
  footprint of approved program areas
• 2. FDOT funds for impacts within the Peace
  River basin will be used for core watershed
  mitigation
• 3. Flow restoration must be planned to prevent
  increases in downstream flooding
• 4. Design elements will be planned to restore
  the ecological connection between the Peace River
  and the Green Swamp

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Goals

• 5. Wetland mitigation will be incorporated into
  a landscape that includes adjacent habitats
• 6. The project area will be managed for
  long-term ecological viability and environmental
  protection
• 7. Agency regulatory processes incorporated
  into the MOU, and all activities to be
  coordinated with UPREPC
• 8. Showcase agency cooperation in the use of
  public funds for regional watershed restoration

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Goals

• 9. Project partners should include the Williams
  Company, Bridgewater and the City of Auburndale
• 10. Restoration and mitigation activities should
  include an educational component
• 11. Reclamation activities should demonstrate
  successful restoration of wetlands on clay
  settling areas

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Specific Objectives

• 1. Create 85 acres of forested wetland and 37
  acres of herbaceous wetland within the Saddle
  Creek watershed
• 2. Restore appropriate quantity and quality of
  flow to Saddle Creek and the Peace River
• 3. Protect and enhance existing desirable
  vegetation communities
• 4. Enhance opportunities for outdoor
  recreational activities

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Recreation at Tenoroc FMA
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Pre-Mining Landscape
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Pre-Mining Landscape
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Existing Mine Features
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Design Goal
Restore Wetland Functions
Supply Detention Treatment
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Williams Co. Clay Ponds
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Issue Drainage Features
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Post-Reclamation Consolidation?
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Issue Sand Tailings
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Seep Drains?
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Tenoroc Clay Ponds
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Issue Reclaimed Area 1
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Existing (One Drain)
Proposed (Two Drains)
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Issue Reclaimed Area 3
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Existing (Isolated Wetlands)
Proposed (Connected Wetlands)
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Issue Unreclaimed Area 4
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Original Plan (Undirected Flow)
Proposed Plan (Directed Flow)
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Conceptual Drainage Alternatives
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Alternative 1
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Alternative 2
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Alternative 3
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Alternative 4
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The Plan
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Planning Detail
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Proposed Wetlands on Clay
235 Acres
224 Acres
459 Acres Total
(122 Mitigation Acres Required)
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Current Status
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General Project Schedule
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End of Presentation
Wetland Placement and Configuration is a Basin
Design Issue