Fernando Ascanio Florida Department of Transportation – District IV

Construction Environmental Coordinator

Pre-con Contractor Requirements Requirements for the contractors during pre-con

meetings: Submit Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan

(SWPPP) Submit NPDES Notice of Intent (NOI) Submit Stormwater Inspector’s Certificate Contact the permitting agencies Complete and sign FDOT Form 650-040-05/07

3

Permitting Agencies Federal U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)

State Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD) Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) Aim to decrease impacts to environmental resources,

water quality and habitat from construction activities.

4

Federal Agencies Permit Types

USACOE Wetland Resource

Permit Nationwide Permit Individual Permit General Permit

USCG Bridge Permit

5

FDEP NPDES permit

State Agencies Permit Types

WMD Environmental Resource Permit

(ERP) Exemptions No Notice General Permit Notice General Permit Standard General Permit Individual Permit

Water Use (irrigation, dewatering)

No Notice General Permit Noticed General Permit Individual Permit

Right of Way (ROW)

Noticed General Permits Standard Permits

6 To Protect Water Quality

Erosion Control Requirements in the permit conditions:

7

USACOE permit – Special Condition #3:

SFWMD permit – General Condition #3:

Implementing Erosion Control Plan is essential to protect natural resources.

8

Maintenance of Erosion Control devices is currently the main issue.

Water Quality - Turbidity Water of the State

NTU is a Nephelometric Turbidity Unit. A measure of water clarity.

The turbidity of discharge water must ≤ 29 NTUs above the background levels of the receiving waters.

The turbidity of discharge water must ≤ the NTU’s of the receiving waters . → 0 NTU above the background level

Outstanding Florida Waters (OFWs)

9

Clearing and Grubbing Many projects begin with “Standard” or “Selective” Clearing and

Grubbing. The key to successful Clearing and Grubbing begins with education. Carefully read the Project Plans and conduct a Site Inspection to become familiar with the area

planned for Clearing and Grubbing.

10

Clearing and Grubbing

Remove vegetation with equipment by any method

Remove vegetation by hand, without heavy equipment

11

• Standard Clearing and Grubbing

• Selective Clearing and Grubbing

The Purpose of Permitting is to Protect Natural Resources.

12

Permits

Natural Resources

Coastal Habitat Although Florida's coasts are best known for their beaches, there are many other important habitats along the coasts and immediately offshore.

13

Coastal Habitat

Seagrass season: Apr.1 - Aug.31

Manatee season:

Nov.15 - Mar.31

Seagrass season: Apr.1 - Aug.31

14

Turtle season: March - November

What Is Wetland?

Wetlands are considered the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems. Plant life found in wetlands includes mangrove, pond apple, water lilies, cattails, sedges, tamarack, black spruce, cypress, gum, and many others. Animal life includes many different amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

A wetland is an area of land whose soil is saturated with moisture either permanently or seasonally.

15

Seagrass

Seagrasses are flowering plants, which grow in marine, fully-saline environments.

Seagrasses are flowering plants, which grow in marine, fully-saline environments.

16

Why seagrass is important?

1. The base of food webs

4. Helps clean water

2. Nursery habitats and hunting grounds

3. Reduce wave energy 17

Florida’s seagrasses Turtle Grass Thalassia testudinum

Manatee Grass Syringodium filiforme

Shoal Grass Halodule wrightii

Paddle Grass Halophila decipiens

Johnson’s Grass Halophila johnsonii

Star Grass Halophila engelmanni

Widgeon Grass Ruppia maritima

18

Mangrove Protect shorelines from

erosion Serve as valuable nursery

areas for fish and invertebrates

Support threatened and endangered species

Utilized in many parts of the world as a renewable resource

More information: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/Fish/southflorida/mangrove/importance.html 19

Red, White, and Black Mangrove Leaves (left to right; topsides)

Red, White, and Black Mangrove Leaves (left to right; undersides)

www.seabean.com 20

Mangrove

Bald Eagles

21

Crested Caracara Florida Burrowing Owl Protected Species

Bald Eagles

Eastern Indigo Snake Gopher Tortoise West Indian Manatee

Birds Common Name (Scientific Name)

Cease all work if an active nest is found within ? ft.

Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) 660 Crested Caracara (Caracara cheriway audubonii) 1500

Florida Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia floridana) 1000 Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) 1000 Florida Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) 1000 Everglade Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus) 1000 Woodstork (Mycteria americana) 1000 Florida Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis pratenis) 400

22

• Stop work if live birds are found in the work area. Work may resume after the bird or birds are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

• Report live sightings of Bald Eagles immediately to the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

Bald Eagles Haliaeetus leucocephalus

23

Standard Conditions: Stop work if live Bald Eagles are found

in the work area. Work may resume after the bird or birds are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of Bald Eagles immediately to the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

If a Bald Eagles is found nesting within 660 feet of the project limits, cease all work in the area until FDOT has coordinated with USFWS.

courtesy USFWS Nesting Season: October 1 to May 15

24

Standard Conditions: Stop work if live Audubon’s Crested

Caracara are found in the work area. Work may resume after the bird or birds are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of Audubon’s Crested Caracara immediately to the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

If an Audubon’s Crested Caracara is found nesting within 1500 feet of the project limits, cease all work in the area until FDOT has coordinated with USFWS.

25

Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway audubonii

Sound credit: Greg Clark, 1999.

Nesting Season: December to April

Crested Caracara Caracara cheriway audubonii

26

Florida Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia floridana

Standard Conditions: Stop work if live Florida Burrowing

Owls are found in the work area. Work may resume after the bird or birds are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of Florida Burrowing Owls immediately to the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

If a Florida Burrowing Owls is found nesting within 1000 feet of the project limits, cease all work in the area until FDOT has coordinated with USFWS.

Alarmed, Defensive Call

Typical Male

Courtship Calls

Sounds Credit: Nunes D’Acosta 27

Nesting Season: October to May

28

In order to continue working in this area, some animal protection is required. • Establish a 25 feet perimeter, using silt or orange fence, from the borrow to protect these individuals from construction activity. • Please inform Construction Environmental Coordinator’s office when protection is installed to provide signs for animal protection. • No one is allowed to trespass this protected area by any reason.

Florida Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia floridana

29

Florida Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia floridana

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Migratory Bird Nest Removal Permit

Florida Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia floridana)

31

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Picoides borealis

Standard Conditions: Stop work if live Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers

are found in the work area. Work may resume after the bird or birds are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers immediately to the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

If a Red-Cockaded Woodpecker is found nesting within 1000 feet of the project limits, cease all work in the area until FDOT has coordinated with USFWS.

Sounds courtesy USFWS

Call

Tapping

Nesting Season: April to July

Florida Scrub Jay Aphelocoma coerulescens

Standard Conditions: Stop work if Florida Scrub Jays are

found in the work area. Work may resume after the bird or birds are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of Florida Scrub Jays immediately to the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

If a Florida Scrub Jays is found nesting within 1000 feet of the project limits, cease all work in the area until FDOT has coordinated with USFWS.

Sound credit 'Sounds of Florida's Birds', Copyright 1998, by J. W. Hardy, Curator meritus in Ornithology and Bioacoustics at the Florida Museum of Natural History

32 Nesting Season: March to June

Curious and friendly, scrub jays generally live in oak-covered, dry and sandy areas of Florida called “scrub” habitat. Each jay gathers and buries thousands of acorns annually to eat throughout the year

Threatened- A cousin of the scrub jays common in the western United States and Mexico, the Florida scrub jay is found only in the Sunshine State. These birds are about a foot long from head to tail and mostly blue, like blue jays. They have a light gray forehead and white throat.

Courtesy SFWMD

33

34

Standard Conditions: Stop work if live Everglade Snail Kites are

found in the work area. Work may resume after the bird or birds are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of Everglade Snail Kite immediately to the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

If a Everglade Snail Kite is found nesting within 1000 ft of the project limits, cease all work in the area until FDOT has coordinated with USFWS.

Everglade Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus

Sound courtesy of Macaulay Library © Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Nesting Season: December to August

Woodstork Mycteria americana

Standard Conditions: Stop work if live Woodstorks are

found in the work area. Work may resume after the bird or birds are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of Woodstorks immediately to the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

If a Woodstork is found nesting within 1000 ft of the project limits, cease all work in the area until FDOT has coordinated with USFWS.

Wood Stork Chicks

Sounds courtesy USFWS 35

Nesting Season: October to March

Standard Conditions: Stop work if a live Florida sandhill crane

(Grus canadensis pratenis) is found in the work area. Work may resume after the bird(s) are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of Florida Sandhill Cranes immediately to the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

If an active nest is found within 400 feet of the project limit, cease all work in the area until FDOT has coordinated within the FWC. Immediately notify the District Construction Environmental Coordinator and the Engineer.

Florida Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis pratenis

36 Sound credit 'Sounds of Florida's Birds', Copyright 1998, by J. W. Hardy, Curator meritus in Ornithology and Bioacoustics at the Florida Museum of Natural History

Nesting Season: January to April

37

Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis

38

Osprey Pandion haliaetus

The incubation and nesting period extends into the summer months. The osprey is listed as a Species of Special Concern only in Monroe County. Permits are required throughout the state to remove a nest for these wonderful raptors, however, a replacement structure must be erected to mitigate the removal of the nest

Nesting Season: December to February

39

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Migratory Bird Nest Removal Permit

osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

Limpkin Aramus guarauna

The limpkin is a large unique marsh bird with a dark brown body with white streaks on it's neck, back, wings and breast.

The limpkin was once very common in Florida, but due to the decline of its primary food source, the Florida Apple Snail, it is now listed as a species of special concern.

Credit 'Sounds of Florida's Birds', Copyright 1998, by J. W. Hardy, Curator meritus in Ornithology and Bioacoustics at the Florida Museum of Natural History 40

Piping Plover Charadrius melodus

The Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) is a small sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests and feeds along coastal sand and gravel beaches in North America. The Piping Plover is globally threatened and endangered.

41 Coutesy Mdf

42

Least Tern Sterna antillarum

Least terns are the smallest member of the gull and tern family. They are approximately 9" in length. Unlike gulls, terns will dive into the water for small fish. The body of least terns is predominately gray and white, with black streaking on the head.

American White Ibis Eudocimus albus

American White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) is a wading bird of the deep South, the striking White Ibis is frequently seen on lawns looking for large insects as well as probing for prey along the shoreline. American White Ibis is Florida’s Endangered Bird. 43 Photographer: Unknown

44

Black Skimmer Rynchops niger

45

American Kestrel Falco sparverius

Male

Female

Standard Conditions: Stop work if live Gopher Tortoises are found

in the work area. Work may resume after the Gopher Tortoises are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of Gopher Tortoises immediately to the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

If a Gopher Tortoise or burrow is found within an area of construction then the area must have staked silt fence partially encircling the burrow.

46

Gopher Tortoise Gopherus polyphemus

25ft Burrow opening

Nesting Season: March to December

Their burrows provide a home and refuge for the tortoise and more than 350 species of wild animals and insects that share the same habitat.

Gopher Tortoises − A Keystone Species

47

48

Eastern Indigo Snake Drymarchon corais couperi

49

Standard Conditions: Stop work if live Eastern Indigo Snakes

are found in the work area. Work may resume after the snake or snakes are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of Eastern Indigo Snakes to the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

If a dead Eastern Indigo Snake is found on the project site, freeze the dead snake as soon as possible and immediately notify the District Environmental Administrator and Construction Project Manager.

Northern Black Racer Coluber constrictor constrictor

Length = approx. 33 inches

50

2 Snakes Look Like Eastern Indigo Snake

What we do if we see Manatee during construction?

All in-water operations must be shutdown if a manatee(s) comes within 50 ft of the operation.

Activities will not resume until the manatee(s) has moved beyond the 50-ft radius, or until 30 minutes elapses if the manatee(s) has not reappeared within 50ft of the operation

All vehicles shall operate at “no wake/idle” speeds at all times while in the construction area and while in water where the draft of the vessel provides less than a four foot clearance from the bottom.

Post identification posters for easy recognition of listed species.

51

Manatee

Scared Manatee

Sound courtesy U.S. Geological Survey, Sirenia Project

Manatee Signs: http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/managed/manatee/signs

West Indian Manatee

52

53

54

Fishing Rod for Manatees?

Green Sea Turtle Hawksbill Sea Turtle

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Leatherback Sea Turtle

Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

Sea Turtles

55 Nesting Season for Sea Turtles : March to November

Nesting Season: Jun - Sep

Nesting Season: Mar - Jul

Nesting Season: May - Aug

Nesting Season: Apr - Nov

Nesting Season: Apr - Jun

Sea Turtles

56

57

58

Shortnose Sturgeon Acipenser brevirostrum

Gulf Sturgeon A. oxyrinchus desotoi

Sturgeons • If a Shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser

brevirostrum) or a Gulf sturgeon (A. oxyrinchus desotoi) is seen within 300 feet of active construction/dredging operation or vessel movement, implement all appropriate precautions to ensure protection of the sturgeon.

• Post signs on site warning of the presence of sturgeon, of their endangered status, and precautions needed.

• Take care in lowering equipment or material below the water surface and into the stream bed to ensure no harm occurs to any sturgeon which may have entered the construction area undetected.

• Following completion of the project, prepare a report summarizing any involvement with sturgeon for NMFS and/or USFWS.

59

Florida Panther Puma concolor coryi

Standard Conditions: Stop work if a live Florida panther is found in

the work area. Work may resume after the panther is allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of Florida panther immediately to the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

If a dead panther is observed within the project site or if any collision with and/or injury to a panther occurs they shall be reported within two hours to the FWC through their wildlife alert line (888-404-3922). Immediately notify the District Environmental Administrator and Construction Project Manager.

60

Florida Panther Puma concolor coryi

Photo copyright Mark Lotz. Florida Wildlife Commission

In 2006, 11 Florida panthers killed by vehicle.

In 2007, 15 Florida panthers killed by vehicle.

In 2008, 10 Florida panthers killed by vehicle.

In 2009, 17 Florida panthers killed by vehicle.

A single wild population in south Florida of 80-100 adult panthers is all that remains of a species that once ranged throughout most of the southeastern United States. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Florida Panther Puma concolor coryi

61

Florida Black Bear Ursus americanus floridanus

Standard Conditions: Stop work if a live Florida black bear (Ursus

americanus floridanus) is found in the work area. Work may resume after the bear(s) are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of Florida black bear to the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

If a dead black bear is observed within the project site or if any collision with and/or injury to a black bear occurs they shall be reported within two hours to the FWC through their wildlife alert line (888-404-3922). Immediately notify the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

62

Bear Growling 1

Bear Growling 2

Bear Cubs Growling Sounds courtesy USFWS

63

“20 lb bear cub ran into the side of a CW Roberts pickup truck on the Mid-Bay job and was knocked out…stone cold. Jackson Guard is monitoring him and will release if he recovers. Appears to have a concussion.”

(Garrett, Michael , September 09, 2011)

64

Sherman’s Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger shermani

Big Cypress Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger avicennia

Fox Squirrel

Breeding Season: Oct - Feb

Breeding Season: Apr - Aug

Standard Conditions: Stop work if a live Sherman’s Fox Squirrel

(Sciurus niger shermani) or a Big Cypress Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger avicennia) is found in the work area. Work may resume after the fox squirrel(s) are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of fox squirrels to the District Environmental Administrator and the Engineer.

No trees are to be removed that contain active next(s) being utilized by fox squirrels. If any nests are found and deemed to be active, a buffer of 125 feet will be established around the nest tree(s) and no clearing shall occur within the buffer until the nest becomes inactive.

65

Sand Skink Neoseps reynoldsi

Blue Tailed Mole Skink Eumeces egregius lividus

Skink

Standard Conditions: Stop work if a live sand skink (Neoseps

reynoldsi) or a live blue tailed mole skink (Eumeces egregius lividus) is found within the work area or adjacent to the work area. Work may resume after the skink(s) are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of skinks immediately to the District Environmental Administrator or Construction Environmental Coordinator and the Engineer.

66

American Crocodile Crocodylus actus

Nesting Season: April to May

Standard Conditions: Stop work if a live American crocodile

(Crocodylus actus) is found within the work area or adjacent to the work area. Work may resume after the crocodile(s) are allowed to leave the area of their own volition.

Report live sightings of American Crocodiles immediately to the District Environmental Administrator or Construction Environmental Coordinator and the Engineer.

67

American Alligator (native)

American Crocodile (native)

Caiman Crocodile (exotic)

courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Difference Between Crocodiles and Alligators

68

Difference Between Crocodiles and Alligators

Crocodile Alligator

Grayish green color Black in color

Fourth tooth on lower jaw exposed when mouth is closed

Only upper teeth exposed when mouth is

closed

Narrow tapered snout Broad rounded snout

Young are light with dark stripes

Young are dark with yellow stripes

courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

69

12’ Alligator found in the storm sewer during pipe desilting operations in Okeechobee on SR 70

Bats of Florida

70

In Florida, most bat pups are born from late April through June after a gestation period of 45-90 days, depending on the species.

Mexican free-tailed bat

71

Mexican free-tailed bat Tadarida brasiliensis

Sounds courtesy USFWS

Bats (vocalizing)

The Key Deer

72

73

The Key Deer

Native Vs. Exotic Species

74

Florida Native Plants

Cypress, Bald Taxodium distichum

Oak, Live Quercus virginiana

Pond apple Annona glabra

75

Definition of Florida Native Plants: “A plant species that is presumed to have been present in Florida before European contact." (Florida statute 5B-40.00)

Seagrape Coccoloba uvifera

Florida Royal Palm Roystonea regia

Florida Native Plants

Gumbo Limbo Bursera simaruba

76

Shell-Mound Pricklypear; Erect Pricklypear Opuntia stricta

Florida Native Plants

77

Native Snakes

Brown water snake

Banded water snake

Florida green water snake

Eastern Indigo snake

Cottonmouth

Diamondback Rattlesnake

78

Exotic Species Invasions of exotic species cost Floridians over $500

million each year.

And the economic costs are small potatoes compared to the ecological ones.

79

Florida Exotic Plants Brazilian Pepper Schinus terebinthifolius

Melaleuca, Paper bark Melaleuca quinquenervia

Autralian Pine Casuarina equisetifolia

Guava Psidium guajava

Air-Potato Dioscorea bulbifera

Japanese climbing fern Lygodium japonicum

Don’t plant a pest! Give them an inch and they’ll take an acre…

80

Brazilian pepper Schinus terebinthifolius

Florida Exotic Plants

81

Melaleuca, Paper bark Melaleuca quinquenervia

Florida Exotic Plants

82

Australian pine Casuarina equisetifolia

Florida Exotic Plants

83

Guava Psidium guajava

Florida Exotic Plants

84

Air-Potato Dioscorea bulbifera

Air Potato completely smothering another plant

heart-shaped leaves

Florida Exotic Plants

85

Japanese climbing fern Lygodium japonicum

Florida Exotic Plants

86

Tropical soda apple Solanum viarum

Florida Exotic Plants

87

Green Iguanas Iguana iguana

Nile monitor Varanus niloticus

Florida Exotic Animals

88

Green Iguanas Nile Monitor

Threaten vegetation in coastal areas and private gardens Nile monitors eat almost anything, including

native burrowing owls and gopher tortoises, and can pose a threat to small pets.

Both the green iguana and the Nile monitor grow into powerful, 6-7ft

Sharp teeth, wicked tails and bad attitudes

Excellent swimmers

Florida Exotic Animals

89

Florida Exotic Animals

Iguanas

90

Monkeys in Hollywood and Dania Beach

Times are tough, even for the troops of long-tailed African monkeys who have lived in the mangroves of Dania Beach for the past 50 years.

Monkeys hang out and are fed behind the Motel 6 in Dania Beach. Here, one of the monkeys looks at spectators as he eats a banana while perched on the fence. (Joe Rimkus Jr./Miami Herald) 1/15/2011

Taken on one of our projects on 7/12/2011

91

Number of Pythons Removed Yearly from Everglades National Park

Female Pythons Bearing Eggs are Now Routinely Captured in Everglades National Park

Pythons Burmese, African rock and

reticulated pythons can grow 20 feet or longer, weigh more than 200 pounds and live 25 years.

A 3 year-old, “small” python will eat 2 rabbits a month.

More than 600 burmese pythons have been removed from Everglades National Park so far.

92

Burmese Pythons Nonnative, Nonvenomous Dark Blotches along the back and sides (like a giraffe)

Florida Exotic Animals

Island Apple Snail The island apple snail, with mega-

appetites, can strip large areas of aquatic vegetation in Florida’s waterways.

Island apple snails (left) grow much larger than the native species (right), Everglades National Park A cluster of bright pink island

apple snail eggs differs greatly from the white eggs of our native species

Native Exotic

Exotic

Native

Native vs. Exotic Snail

93

Giant African Land Snail

The Giant African land snail is one of the most damaging snails in the world because they consume at least 500 different types of plants. They can also cause health issues to handlers and workers (snail can carry a parasitic nematode that can lead to meningitis in humans).

www.nps.gov/ever/naturescience/floridainvaders.htm

More Information

Florida Invaders

www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/sw_swppp_guide.pdf SWPPP Guide

94

Fernando Ascanio Department of Transportation

District IV – Construction (954) 777-4665

fernando.ascanio@dot.myflorida.com