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Prosperity Harbor Environmental Assessment 1 1 1 ' ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROSPERITY HARBOR VILLAGE OF NORTH PALM BEACH 1 Prepared for: WCI Communities, Inc. 1 1 19 June 1996 1 1 CZR Incorporated 140 Intracoastal Pointe Drive Suite 301 Jupiter, Florida 33477 1 1 1 INTRODUCTION CZR Incorporated has conducted environmental evaluations on the Prosperity Harbor north and south parcels located in the Village of North Palm Beach, Florida. CZR biologists have completed a total t of approximately 145 man-hours of time on the site performing wildlife surveys, biological sampling, wetland delineations, submerged resource surveys, vegetative mapping, and water quality sampling. These biological surveys occurred between April 1995 and June 1996. VEGETATION INVENTORY Vegetation inventory maps showing the location and extent of vegetation upon the site are ' attached (Figures 1 and 2). Uplands are the dominant habitat type on the property and can be characterized as forested and non-forested disturbed uplands and oak hammocks. Wetlands on the site ' are mostly exotic infested tidal mangrove systems. Detailed descriptions of both upland and wetland habitats are provided below. Representative photographs of each vegetation type are also attached. Upland Habitats IThe majority of the site has been disturbed by the placement of spoil material from the historic dredging of the North Palm Beach and Intracoastal Waterways. There are two types of disturbed habitats Ion site, non-forested and forested. The non-forested areas are characterized by herbaceous vegetation and vines. Wild muscadine(Vitis rotundifolia) is dominant on the south parcel with scattered saw palmetto ' (Serenoa repens), Brazilian pepper(Schinus terebinthifolius), and cabbage palm (Saba)palmetto). Other ' common species within these non-forested areas are periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus), and prickly pear cactus(Opuntia humifusa). The non-forested area on the north ' parcel contains remnant spoil piles and low grasses and weeds less than one foot in height. ' 1 19 June 1996 wp60\jobs\1485\02\earpt.doe 1 1 The forested habitats are heavily infested with exotic vegetation. The dominant species on both parcels are Brazilian pepper and Australian pine (Casuarina spp.). Other species found in these habitats include jambolan plum (Syzygium jambes), cabbage palm, live oak (Quercus virginiana), myrtle oak ' (Quercus myrtifolia), saw palmetto, and wild muscadine. The oak hammock communities found on both parcels support both live oaks and laurel oaks (Quercus hemisphaerica), as well as scattered strangler figs (Ficus aurea), jambolan plums, Brazilian pepper, Australian pines, cabbage palms, and wild muscadine. 1 Wetland Habitats 1 ' The wetland on the north parcel is a tidal mangrove/Brazilian pepper community occurring along an excavated channel dug in historic freshwater wetlands that drains the low lying areas. The excavated ditch has allowed tidally born mangrove seeds to become established and grow. The excavated ditch has resulted in the conversion to a mangrove wetland system comprised of black(Avicennia germinans), white (Laguncularia racemosa) and a few scattered red (Rhizophora mangle) mangroves. The tidal wetland system is of extremely poor quality due to inadequate tidal connections and the resultant invasion of Brazilian pepper. The aeral coverage of Brazilian pepper is estimated at 90 percent with the remaining 10 percent comprised of mangrove species. Ground cover vegetation occurs only at the extreme west end of the system and is comprised of scattered sea oxeye daisy (Borrichia frutescens), cinnamon fern ' (Osmunda cinnamomea), and leather fern (Acrostichum danaeifolium). Wetlands in the northeastern portion of the south parcel are tidal mangrove and open water systems occurring along excavated mosquito-ditch channels. Red and white mangroves occur primarily at the base of the excavated ditches interspersed with approximately 75 to 80 percent Brazilian pepper ' coverage. The tidal mangrove system contains wetland habitats of very poor quality due to the exotic 2 19 June 1996 wp60\jobs\1485W2\earptdoc invasion. Other associated vegetation include cabbage palm, seagrape(Coccoloba uvifera), and coin vine (Dalbergia ecastaphyllum). 1 The tidal mangrove system on the south property boundary along the Prosperity Harbor water body contains numerous spoil piles, is somewhat channelized and connects with tidal waters at high tide by over-topping a raised bank at several locations. This system is also severely encroached by Brazilian pepper which further degrades the wetland functions. Fringe mangroves occur in a non-continuous strand along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the North Palm Beach Canal of the south parcel. ' Wildlife Wildlife usage of the property is limited due to the historic disturbance of native habitats resulting from spoil disposal and the extremely heavy invasion of exotic vegetation throughout the site. The attached table (Table 1) summarizes the protected wildlife species potentially occurring on the north and ' south parcels. Of the 18 potentially occurring listed species, only the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) has been identified as present and nesting on the site. A gopher tortoise burrow survey was conducted on 19 April 1996. A total of 24 burrows were observed on the south parcel mostly in the non-forested areas. Of those, 2 were abandoned, 9 were active and 13 were inactive. No burrows were observed on the north parcel. Based on the correction ' factor of 0.614 times the number of active and inactive burrows (22), the estimate of the number of gopher tortoises currently on the property is 14. Existing gopher tortoises may be relocated to appropriate habitat on site or to an off-site area under permit by the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission. 3 19 June 1996 wpfi0\jcbs\1485\02\earptdoc 1 1 ' Habitat Enhancement The upland and wetland habitats which will be preserved on site will be greatly enhanced by the I removal of exotic vegetation such as Brazilian pepper, Australian pine, and jambolan plum. The removal of these species and maintenance of the areas will allow the return of native vegetation and the associated ' wildlife which utilize such habitats. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I I I I I4 19 June 1996 wp604obs11 465NO2\ealpt.doc I I I I TABLE 1. PROTECTED WILDLIFE SPECIES POTENTIALLY OCCURRING AT PROSPERITY HARBOR DUE TO RANGE AND POTENTIAL HABITAT ISTATE FEDERAL COMMON NAME STATUS STATUS OCCURRENCE HABITAT ' West Indian manatee E E Possible, none Open water observed I Florida mouse SSC - Possible Gopher tortoise burrow commensal Shortnosed sturgeon E E Unlikely Estuarine water, peripheral, II no spawning Common snook SSC - Possible Open water I Gopher frog SSC - Possible Gopher tortoise burrow commensal I Gopher tortoise SSC - Present Uplands on well-drained soils Wood stork E E Unlikely Narrow tidal creeks ' Roseate spoonbill SSC - Unlikely Mangrove swamp Piping plover T T Unlikely Tidal flats ILittle blue heron SSC - Likely Wetlands Reddish egret SSC - Possible Tidal wetlands ISnowy egret SSC Possible Wetlands Tricolored heron SSC - Unlikely Wetlands IPeregrine falcon E T Unlikely Various habitats i American oyster catcher SSC Unlikely Tidal flats IBald eagle T E Unlikely Forested areas near coastal water bodies ' IBrown pelican SSC - Likely Mangrove swamp and open coastal waters ILeast tern T - Possible Unvegetated spoil, beaches Osprey SSC - Possible Open water, perches shoreline trees I . Notes: E = Endangered T = Threatened I SSC = Species of Special Concern = Not listed Iwp60Nobs\1485\03\wildlife.lbl E M. i j�i� ------ -,--PR0fzTRTY BOUNDAR-Yr J, A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . !!!!!! 4M . . . . . . . . . . . V.............. .............. , g5l . ........................... . ........................ BURNS ROAD .. . ......... ............... ............... .......... ....................... ....... •'•'.'.' ............. ................... ..................... ............... .. ................ .......... .......... ................... .......... q I ,..... : :. :.: ............ LL- i IL ..'........ ir Q.. ..... ; ........ iiii k,?,i , Y�2�'' Mil . I { I �y PROSPERITY HARBOR .... .... < ................. - • Q4 Q i i SOURCE: 1. PROPERTY BOUNDARY AND ROAD ROW s PROVIDED BY: LIDBERG LAND SURVEYING INC., JUPITER, FLORIDA DATED: 3/8/95 2. PALM BEACH COUNTY PROPERTY APP AISER, AERIAL NO. 67• -36, SECTION B, TOWNSHIP 42, RANGE 43, FLIGHT DATE: OCTOBER 1993• 0 200 400 SCALE IN FEET VEGETATION '`i'NVENTORY PROSPERITY kARBOR SCALE: AS SHOWN APPROVED Y: • DRAWN BY: BFG DATE: E/1.4/9-6 FILE: VEGINVI.DWG e. 140 INTRACOA9TAL POINTE DRIVE CP #1485.03 SUITE 301 f %tee JUPITER, FLORIDA 33477 -3064 IN4ARPORA TEL $$1/747 - ;4sa FIGURE 1 niwa�edrw canu►,.mr Fax x61/747- e76 PROPERTY BOUNDARY FORESTED UPLANDS UNFORESTED UPLANDS WETLANDS a" ; OAK HAMMOCK 0 200 400 SCALE IN FEET VEGETATION '`i'NVENTORY PROSPERITY kARBOR SCALE: AS SHOWN APPROVED Y: • DRAWN BY: BFG DATE: E/1.4/9-6 FILE: VEGINVI.DWG e. 140 INTRACOA9TAL POINTE DRIVE CP #1485.03 SUITE 301 f %tee JUPITER, FLORIDA 33477 -3064 IN4ARPORA TEL $$1/747 - ;4sa FIGURE 1 niwa�edrw canu►,.mr Fax x61/747- e76 CANAL DRIVE I .I t f p 2 $ I � I �< , uj w d. . I a O Z3 ZZ., _Ni I r 4 I I ��.a y ?3� y�,., F• Y�� k� ii•Y �t . I I J � ! I I i i LEGEND PROPERTY BOUNDARY \� a ... -� �.� t-�� ..� \�,� PAVEMENT .. ; , '. �. •:. �, `; � � �,,\ -�� FORESTED UPLANDS. .......... (y' tr, -.� '� .... .•ate.. .` �� ' ar k S / i L f .•....•.•.. •�, �\ •.! r "�s ......... - .... . ,. .............. < \ �. .:.: UNFORESTED UPLANDS 4 ... . •.•....... a ✓ v WETLANDS o- . 3og�J } OAK HAMMOCK •-�-- PROPERTY BOUNDARY'�i �- •� a T, �J J -: .. MONET _ ROAD -- - - --:.� — — — t SOURCE: 1. PROPER BOUNDARY & ROAD ROW's PROVIDED BY: LIDBERG LAND SURVEYING:! 1NC.; <' INC.,` '' - �:_)!,t� r ,„ 1: SCA JUPITER, FLORIDA DATED: 3/$./:95 ` O - -200 400 DAT 2. PALM BE/�'CH COUNTY PROPERTY`APP.R�LSER;:_ ERIAL N0. �6Z- 37,.\' Ir SECTION 8, TOWNSHIP .42, RANGE 43, FLIGHT DATE: OCTOBER 1993. %SCAL IN FEET _ TAL MSULTAM 9 fAX.561%747 -7576 -' - ••• Unforested uplands - north parcel Forested uplands - north parcel CP1485 \03 - Prosperity Harbor wp6Mjobs \1485\03 \eaphoto.sht Oak hammock - north parcel Wetlands - north parcel CP1485 \03 - Prosperity Harbor wp60 \jobs \1485 \03 \eaphoto.sht Unforested uplands - south parcel Forested uplands - south parcel CP1485 \03 - Prosperity Harbor wp60 \jobs \l485\03 \eaphoto.shl Oak hammock - south parcel CP1485 \03 - Prosperity Harbor wp60 \jobs \1485 \03 \eaphoto.sht Poor quality wetlands - south parcel Moderate quality wetlands - south parcel CP1485 \03 - Prosperity Harbor wp60\jobs\l 485\03\eaphoto. sht