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Natural Resource Value of Edison Farms/ Agripartners Through Research and Science

Natural Resource Value of Edison Farms/ Agripartners Through Research and Science. Presented by: Jessica Stubbs, Natural Resources Specialist. Introduction to Edison Farms. Almost 4,000 acres Within Estero Bay watershed East of I-75 between Bonita Beach Road and Corkscrew Road

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Natural Resource Value of Edison Farms/ Agripartners Through Research and Science

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  1. Natural Resource Value of Edison Farms/AgripartnersThrough Research and Science Presented by: Jessica Stubbs, Natural Resources Specialist

  2. Introduction to Edison Farms • Almost 4,000 acres • Within Estero Bay watershed • East of I-75 between Bonita Beach Road and Corkscrew Road • Contiguous with CREW to the east

  3. Introduction to Edison Farms • Over 3,500 acres of wetlands • Approximately 425 acres of undisturbed, native uplands • FPL easement and some disturbed land in the southeast corner

  4. Introduction to Edison Farms • Majority of wetlands consist of cypress • Contains Hydric Pine Flatwoods – underrepresented natural community • Uplands are mostly dry prairie and pine flatwoods

  5. Scientific Support for Public Acquisition of Edison Farms • Landscape-Level Natural Resource Value • Florida Forever Ranking • Lee County Master Mitigation Plan • Critical Lands and Waters Identification Project (CLIP) • Southwest Florida Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) • Water Quality • Estero Bay Impaired Waters List • Estero Bay TMDLs and BMAPs • Southwest Florida Feasibility Study (SWFFS) • Lee County Density Reduction/Groundwater Resource (DR/GR) Study • Hydrology / Water Supply • Lee County DR/GR Study • Dover Kohl Study • SWFFS

  6. Scientific Support for Public Acquisition of Edison Farms • Wood Stork Protection • South Florida Multi Species Recovery Plan for Wood Storks • Wood Stork Recovery Plan • Wood Stork 5 Year Review • Prospects for Southeast Lee County Report • Large Mammal Protection • How Much is Enough? Landscape-scale Conservation for the Florida Panther • Florida Panther Recovery Plan • Closing the Gaps in Florida’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation System • Wildlife Habitat and Corridor Protection • Southwest Florida EIS • Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge Proposal • Coastal Conservation Corridor Plan • Integrated Wildlife Habitat Ranking System

  7. Landscape-Level Natural Resource Value • Florida Forever Ranking • Board of Trustees approved priority list March 2010 - “Group A” • ARC recommended priority list June 2010 - #3 in “Partnerships and Regional Incentives Projects”

  8. Landscape-Level Natural Resource Value • Lee County Master Mitigation Plan • Acquisition of Edison Farms is Project #1 listed in Appendix B • Identifies Biodiversity and Hydrogeology as key benefits • Lee County Future Land Use (FLU) Map identifies Edison Farms as an “Environmentally Critical Area”

  9. Landscape-Level Natural Resource Value • Critical Lands and Waters Identification Project (CLIP) • Strategic Habitat Conservation Area • Biodiversity Hotspots • Rare Species Habitat Conservation Priorities • Under-protected Natural Communities • Ecological Greenways • Wetlands

  10. Landscape-Level Natural Resource Value • Southwest Florida Environmental Impact Statement • 5 ensembles for future development and preserve areas • All ensembles show Edison Farms as “preserve”

  11. Water Quality • Estero Bay Impaired Waters List • Most prevalent impairment is DO with TN and/or TP being the causative pollutant • Also have Fecal Coliform impairments

  12. Water Quality • Estero Bay TMDLs and BMAPs • Future TMDLs – credit to load reductions? • Imperial River BMAP credit? • SWFFS identifies DO as vital to protecting downstream resources

  13. Water Quality • Lee County DR/GR • Restoring flowways • Wetlands naturally filter nutrient pollution

  14. Hydrology / Water Supply • Lee County DR/GR • DR/GR area = high aquifer recharge • 2 well field protection areas • Groundwater connections

  15. Hydrology / Water Supply • SWFFS • Focus on water storage • Corkscrew watershed received the highest score for surface water hydrology

  16. Wood Stork Protection • South Florida Multi Species Recovery Plan • Wood Stork Recovery Plan • Wood Stork 5 Year Review • Prospects for Southeast Lee County Report

  17. Large Mammal Protection • Kautz et al Study • Florida Panther Recovery Plan • Edison Farms is 100% Primary Panther habitat

  18. Large Mammal Habitat • Closing the Gaps in Florida’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation System • SHCA for “umbrella species”

  19. Wildlife Habitat and Corridor Protection • SWF EIS • Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge Proposal • Coastal Conservation Corridor Plan • Integrated Wildlife Habitat Ranking System

  20. Public Acquisition of Edison Farms is Vital • Vast amounts of literature highlight natural resource value • Many reports recommend public acquisition of the property • Numerous partnerships for acquisition exist • Request CLASAC to forward this nomination as a high priority acquisition project

  21. Questions? • Jessica Stubbs Jennifer Hecker • jessicas@conservancy.orgjenniferh@conservancy.org • (239) 403-4231 (239) 325-2661

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