Lake Wales Forest Mitigation and Net Ecosytem Benefit Site

The Lake Wales Forest Mitigation and Net Ecosystem Benefit Site (LWF) is a 398.5 acre wetland and upland restoration site located in southern Polk County (Sections 10 and 11, Township 32 South, Range 28 East).  This represents a portion of the required mitigation resulting from unavoidable impacts associated with the installation of a 325 mile long natural gas pipeline by Gulfstream Natural Gas System.

Historically, this site supported a mixed hardwood/bay forested wetland basin surrounded by upland pine and scrub habitats.  Agricultural activities had severely impacted this area over the past 60 years through activities such as wetland draining and clearing for cattle/citrus production, however, the most significant change occurred approximately 40 years ago.  During this time, a large canal system was installed throughout the wetlands on-site which breached an isolating sandhill ridge.  This activity ultimately drained the site into the Lake Arbuckle system and the property was subsequently cleared and converted to improved pasture for use by cattle.

KLECE devised multiple restoration methodologies and subsequently received agency approval.  Site hydrology was restored by strategically placing a series of water control structures to retain storm-water on-site.  Once appropriate hydrology had been achieved, native habitats were restored through plantings/seeding of native vegetation and the control of exotic vegetation.  In total, approximately 143 acres of wetland forests, 34 acres of marsh, and more than 220 acres of uplands (including approximately 67 acres of scrub habitat) have been restored or enhanced on this mitigation site since this projects inception.

KLECE has been the primary consultant on the project and conducts project management/maintenance activities including the construction over-site, land management and hydrological/vegetative monitoring.  The initial phase of exotic control was completed in 2001.  Hydrological restoration and the direct seeding/planting of uplands and wetlands was conducted during 2002-2004.  The LWF site is currently in its seventh year of monitoring with release anticipated during 2010/2011.

Photographic History:

Agricultural fields & wetland area prior to restoration (2001)
Agricultural fields & wetland area prior to restoration (2001)
Agricultural field & wetland area prior to restoration (2001)
Agricultural field & wetland area prior to restoration (2001)
Agricultural field prior to restoration with cirtrus grove on adjacent property in the background (2001)
Agricultural field prior to restoration with cirtrus grove on adjacent property in the background (2001)

Restoration progress (2003)
Restoration progress (2003)
Restored wet prairie (2003)
Restored wet prairie (2003)
Rhexia meadow (2003)
Rhexia meadow (2003)

Restoration progress (2003)
Restoration progress (2003)
Upland restoration progress (2003)
Upland restoration progress (2003)
Restoration progress (2004)
Restoration progress (2004)

Maidencane and buttonbush dominated restored marsh (2004)
Maidencane and buttonbush dominated restored marsh (2004)
Wading birds in restored wetland (2004)
Wading birds in restored wetland (2004)
Upland restoration progress (2007)
Upland restoration progress (2007)

Upland with transplanted cutthroat grass (2008)
Upland with transplanted cutthroat grass (2008)
Upland restoration progress (2008)
Upland restoration progress (2008)
Restoration progress upland in foreground & mixed forested hardwood wetland in the background (2008
Restoration progress upland in foreground & mixed forested hardwood wetland in the background (2008

Sandhill Cranes (2009)
Sandhill Cranes (2009)
Sandhill crane nest in wetland restoration area (2004)
Sandhill crane nest in wetland restoration area (2004)
Wood storks roosting (2002)
Wood storks roosting (2002)

Young Gopher Tortoise (2001)
Young Gopher Tortoise (2001)
Florida Scrub Lizard (2004)
Florida Scrub Lizard (2004)
Grey Tree Frog (2009)
Grey Tree Frog (2009)

Six Lined Race Runner (2005)
Six Lined Race Runner (2005)
Hognose Snake (2001)
Hognose Snake (2001)
Yellow Rat Snake (2009)
Yellow Rat Snake (2009)




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Posted Monday, April 6th, 2009 at 3:52 pm and filed under Ecosystem Restoration, Projects, Wetlands, Wildlife. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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