Project Description

The Wetland Mitigation project replaces wetland acreage and wetland functions lost during construction activities for the Master Water Plan projects. Wetland impacts are mitigated by constructing man-made wetlands, restoring degraded wetlands or enhancing existing wetlands. For the Master Water Plan, mitigation will come from Tampa Bay Water’s Model Dairy wetland mitigation site for permanent wetland impacts within the Hillsborough River basin, and at a proposed mitigation site at the Alafia River State Recreation Area for permanent wetland impacts within the Alafia River basin. Because of the acreage of wetland impacts for the Tampa Bay Regional Reservoir project, a separate wetland mitigation plan is proposed.

There is an approximate 5,000-acre area (see below) surrounding the reservoir footprint that has extensive mitigation potential. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) is in the process of purchasing this area because of its environmental value and for the reservoir project.  The proposed mitigation plan for the reservoir project consists of approximately 500 acres of wetlands that will be created, restored or enhanced in the vicinity of the reservoir. This mitigation acreage will compensate for the approximately 170 to 190 acres of wetlands that will be impacted by the reservoir. 

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Key aspects of the proposed reservoir mitigation plan include:

• Creating additional floodplain habitat along Doe Branch Restoring water levels in existing wetlands by plugging drainage ditches Creating open water and wetland habitat by removing dirt piles left in wetlands by previous excavation Creating freshwater marshes out of pastures Establishing wildlife corridors by planting upland forests and dry prairie as buffers
• Restoring previously cleared bottomland hardwood forest along Cabbage and Stallion Hammocks

HISTORY

Site Selection

Fourteen potential mitigation sites were evaluated in 1999 and 2000. Site selection reports identified the Model Dairy Wetland Mitigation project as an appropriate mitigation site for Master Water Plan projects within the Hillsborough River basin. The Alafia River State Recreation Area and properties surrounding the proposed reservoir site were identified as the preferred mitigation sites within the Alafia River basin. Mitigation information is included in the permit application for each of the Master Water Plan projects. The amount of mitigation required to replace wetland impacts is known as a “mitigation ratio.” This number is determined by regulatory agencies during the permitting process.<

Proposed mitigation site at the
Alafia River State Recreation Area

Project Schedule

Mitigation design began in 2000 and is scheduled for completion by fall 2001. Construction of the Alafia River State Recreation Area Site 1 mitigation will commence in spring 2001 and is scheduled for completion in October 2001. Reservoir mitigation construction is scheduled to occur during the winter of 2001/2002 until completion in summer 2003.

Funding

Tampa Bay Water is funding the entire Master Water Plan Mitigation project at a cost of $11,084,773. For the Reservoir project, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is purchasing the land adjacent to the reservoir that will be used for mitigation enhancement.