Wenger 72944 Dokumentacja Pobierz pdf (Strona 281)

Section 7 Environmental Effects of the Selected Plan

EAA Storage Reservoirs Revised Draft PIR and EIS February 2006

7-15

effect on Johnson’s seagrass. The USACE determines this project “may affect,

but is not likely to adversely affect” Johnson’s seagrass.

7.9.14 State-listed Species

Eleven state-listed bird species are documented from the EAA and five are

known to occur within Compartment A. These are the little blue heron, roseate

spoonbill, tricolored heron, white ibis and burrowing owl. It is likely that the

eight additional state-listed wading birds occasionally use Compartment A,

including the area of the preferred alternative. No nesting colonies of wading

birds occur in Compartment A; however, foraging habitat will be temporarily

affected by reservoir construction. Compartment A does not occur in the vicinity

of off-site wading bird nesting colonies where there would be important foraging

areas during the crucial nesting season. Although there will be temporary

effects to wetland foraging areas used by state-listed wading birds, these mobile

species will take advantage of other similar areas within the EAA. Once

construction is completed, a littoral zone and other wetlands in the seepage

buffer outside the reservoir will replace some foraging habitat.

Compartment A likely contains burrows of the Florida burrowing owl, based on

sightings of owls by an interagency field team. This owl is a state species of

special concern. These birds use dry prairies, pastures, and agricultural areas to

construct their underground burrows for nesting and cover. They exhibit some

nest site fidelity; however, they will not use burrows if environmental conditions

are not favorable. They require open land and dry soils. If construction occurs

in the vicinity of owl burrows, a take permit will be required from the State of

Florida to destroy the burrow. If required, burrow destruction should be

undertaken prior to the nesting season, to ensure minimal disruption to the

reproductive effort of the owls. Typically, burrowing owls will construct new

burrows away from areas under active disturbance. Thus, construction should

be staged so that lands around the “taken” burrows are unattractive for burrow

reconstruction.

The gopher tortoise, a state species of special concern, was not documented

within the project site. The heavy agricultural use of most of the area and lack

of deep, well-drained sands reduces the likelihood of use by tortoises.

7.10 ESSENTIAL FISH HABITAT

Excess stormwater that is discharged from Lake Okeechobee to the Atlantic

Ocean through the St. Lucie River is very damaging to the St. Lucie and

Southern Indian River Lagoon Estuaries. Likewise, excess stormwater

discharged to the Gulf of Mexico through the Caloosahatchee River is damaging

to the Caloosahatchee Estuary. The proposed EAA Storage Reservoir will

reduce the volume of freshwater releases to the estuaries thereby reducing the

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