CN-370000-PL513-T406.pdf

TOTAL TASK ASSIGNMENT VALUE:

Org Code EO Object Code Fund Category Year Grant # Module/OCA Project # Amount

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

PROTECTION

Date

CONTRACTOR

Contract Manager

Contractual Authority

Date

Contract Manager

APPROVED:

TASK ASSIGNMENT NOTIFICATION FORM

DEP CONTRACT NO. PL513

FEE SCHEDULE FIXED PRICE TOTAL TASK ASSIGNMENT VALUE

Task Assignment Number: _______________________________________ Date: _____________________

Contractor: ___________________________________________________________________________________

Contractor Contract Manager: __________________ __ Phone Number:

DEP Contract Manager: ______________________________________ Phone Number: __________________

Task Description (Use additional sheets if necessary): _________________________________________________

Final Deliverables and Due Dates: _________________________________________ ______________________

Performance Measures: ______________ ________________________________________________

Financial Consequences: _______ _______________________________________________________________

Term of Task Assignment: _ _____________________________________________________________________

TASK ASSIGNMENT TYPE AND NOT TO EXCEED AMOUNTS:

Date

Date

Date

Date

406 10/10/2025

Florida State University

Frank Price 850-224-8207

Sine Murray/Task Manager Gary Walker 850-245-2773

FNAI Invasive Plant Management Plans and Surveys

See attached Details for 406

See attached Details for 406

See attached Details for 406

October 10, 2025 through June 30, 2026

$ 243,025.00

37500500000 AU 13900 000286 100718 00 N/A U1130 N/A $ 243,025.00

Digitally signed by Frank Price Date: 2025.10.14 15:47:55 -04'00'

Digitally signed by Sine A Murray Date: 2025.10.14 14:00:05 -04'00'

Gregg Walker Digitally signed by Gregg Walker Date: 2025.10.14 14:13:27

____________________________________-05'00'

Task Manager

Budget Representative

Contractual Authority

Kathy Pennington for Stacey Patterson, VPR

Digitally signed by Kathy Pennington for Stacey Patterson, VPR

Date: 2025.10.16 16:29:30 -04'00'

DEP PL513-Task Assignment 406 Scope of Work

Florida Natural Areas Inventory

Summary

This Scope of Work describes five tasks to be completed by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) for the Florida Park Service Bureau of Natural and Cultural Resources (BNCR) during FY 26 to support land management activities in Florida State Parks.

These tasks contribute towards the development of a broader strategy that aims to use the BNCR/FNAI collaboration to pilot a comprehensive and long-term approach to park decision support and achievement of land management goals.

Quarterly in-person meetings between FNAI and BNCR will be held to support discussions about progress towards these tasks and continued thinking about how they contribute to the broader strategy.

These will occur Sept 2025 (completed), Nov 2025, Feb 2026, May 2026

Details for PL513 - Task Assignment #406

Task 1. Support planning for priority parks

Task 1.1: Support implementation of invasive species management plans for Florida State Parks

In FY 25 FNAI developed draft invasive species management plans for five State Parks (Maclay Gardens, Paynes Prairie, Kissimmee Prairie, Wekiwa Springs and Oleta River) to assist in identifying feasible strategies for long term continuity of management and achievement of goals.

This Task will build on the invasive species management plans developed in FY25 by working closely with BNCR, district biologists and park staff to identify strategies for integrating the guidance from the plans with existing park management activities (including fire and hydrologic restoration) and taking the first steps for implementation. The activities for this Task will include:

o At least two meetings per park with BNCR, district biologists and park staff to discuss planning intent and strategy and park context o Examination of ongoing park management activities and tailoring of prioritization suggestions to integrate with ongoing activities o Baseline treatment planning or RPM surveys for high priority MZs in up to 3 MZs or 1000 acres (whichever is less) per park (to also inform NRTS updates) o Identification of resource needs and strategies o Identification of opportunities to integrate invasive species management with other management activities

The results of these activities will be used to refine the draft invasive species management plans and populate the draft five-year plan for action included in those plans. Final recommendations will be delivered to each park in the form of a presentation and discussion accompanying delivery of the refined plans.

Task 1.2: Plan for and Conduct Random Point Meander (RPM) invasive plant surveys in selected parks

The intent of this sampling effort is to develop an estimate of the percentage of land acreage within a park management zone (MZ) covered by all invasive plant species. The method is designed to robustly estimate plant cover within parks managements zones. Prior work has determined that a majority of MZs in Florida State Parks have minimal invasive cover.

This Task will use the RPM approach to re-sample previously surveyed MZs (after management, storms, etc) to explore how to use this method to assess change over time. Because the sampling methodology has only previously been used to answer state or district wide questions, FNAI will prepare for the re-sampling by performing analyses using previously collected data to determine an appropriate sample design.

Task 1.2a Sampling design

FNAI will perform simulations based on collected data to determine a sampling strategy that is appropriate for re-sampling previously assessed sites and to estimate expected range of inference.

Task 1.2b Site selection

FNAI will iterate with DRP/BNCR staff to plan an appropriate invasive sampling strategy for the year.

o Sampling objectives include:

o Resample a subset of previously surveyed MZs to estimate change over time

- This subset will focus on MZs that � Are above a specified threshold % cover � Have had management applied since the prior survey or are facing invasion pressures that would lead to an expected change in % cover on the site o Perform baseline surveys for areas where significant treatment is expected in the near future.

o The final set of sites will be determined in collaboration with BNCR, but a potential set of survey sites could be the 19 MZs (totaling 6,603 acres) that have been treated since the prior RPM survey and have a measured percent cover of 1% or more

Task 1.2c Invasive plant sampling

Sampling will be conducted using only Random Point Meander approach developed by FNAI in 2021 (requests for surveys using other methods may require a change order). These surveys will be conducted using a fee schedule approach based on the total acreage of the management zone to be sampled.

FNAI�s cost per acre can accommodate surveys in a range of conditions but if a majority of surveys fall within areas that are extremely difficult to traverse (dense vegetation, standing water, deep mud), additional funding or a truncation of the planned survey may be necessary. FNAI will discuss any such complication with BNCR before proceeding.

o FNAI�s rate for FY26 Randomized Meandering Transect invasive plant surveys with 1 random point per 7.5 acres will be: $5.10/acre of Management Zone to be sampled with a minimum cost of $2,806.69 (550ac equivalent) per park and total cost not to exceed $75,000. Parks within a 30 min drive time can be grouped to reach the minimum project size. This estimate allows coverage of approximately 10% of the acreage of each management zone. Increasing coverage will increase the effort and resulting cost per acre

Surveys will be conducted using RPM (FNAI 2022) as follows:

Points will be randomly generated within the MZ to be surveyed, with the number of points based on the acreage of the zone (one point per 7.5ac). If the MZ is smaller than 15 acres, a minimum of two points will be generated. All random points will be separated by 100m or less. Once points for the MZ are generated, a route visiting each of the points will be established. This route will be created based on the preferences of the surveyor; the path will be either the route that connects each point to its nearest neighbor, or a loop for convenience so that the survey begins and ends relatively close to an access point. Surveys will be conducted by walking a straight line from one point to the next until all points in the zone are visited. If habitat conditions are not traversable in certain areas, the path can deviate to allow for efficient surveying. If specific points are inaccessible due to high water or other conditions, surveyors will assess the area as close to the point as possible and then continue to the next point.

While walking between points, surveyors will collect data on invasive plants seen within 10m on either side of the survey path. Data collection will begin at the first point selected and end at the final point to ensure that data are not biased towards areas that are convenient to access. Data will be collected using Trimble GPS dataloggers with the ArcGIS Field Maps application and will include the data fields specified to be collected in Appendix A.

The length of the total survey path (based on the surveyor�s GPS track) multiplied by the width of the survey transect (20m) will yield the total area sampled, which varies from survey to survey but generally will encompass about 10% of the total MZ acreage. Sampled infested acres will be divided by total area sampled to estimate total percent cover of invasive plants in each MZ.

� FNAI will analyze all Random Point Meander data collected by our staff to provide cover estimates for each park sampled and to compare these estimates with estimates from prior RPM sampling.

� FNAI will provide a year-end report that includes cover estimates and change in cover estimates with suitable measures of uncertainty and associated figures. All R code and Excel workbooks used will be cleaned, annotated, and provided to DRP for future use.

� Additionally, data will be provided in a format suitable for upload to the DEP NRTS database.

Task 2. Fill data gaps to support implementation of management action

Task 2.1: Verification of Florida State Park rare species database records

To inform resource conservation and management, DRP maintains the BIOS database which stores lists of rare species known to occur in each Florida State Park. To improve the accuracy of this database, FNAI will cross-check the records against existing information in the Florida Natural Heritage Database (FNAI Biotics) as well as species range maps and provide a report indicating any records for which we suggest further verification. We will also suggest species for addition based on our records. Where appropriate, this information will also be incorporated into comprehensive resource management plans under Task 1.1.

Task 2.2: Maclay Gardens State Park rare plant survey

To guide invasive plant treatment and other management actions, FNAI will map occurrences of rare plant species found in the ravines at Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park. This will involve surveying upland hardwood forest habitat on site that has the greatest potential to support rare plant species and establishing monitoring plots for species confirmed on site. The survey will focus on FNAI tracked rare plant species, but all federal or state listed species will be included in the field surveys. Prior to the field surveys, potential rare plant species as well as previously documented rare plant species on the park will be identified, and surveys will be organized for each target species based on the appropriate habitat type and time of year for surveys. Three field surveys will be conducted during the contract period (Fall, Spring, and early Summer) to coincide with peak flowering time or other diagnostic characters for proper field identification of select target rare plant species. Following surveys, a subset of taxa observed during the surveys will be selected as candidates for further monitoring based on their rarity, threats, or specific management requirements. These species will be agreed upon with the park management and a monitoring protocol and schedule will be developed for these selected species and provided to the park. The goal is to propose monitoring plots enable repeatable quantitative measurements of species abundance that follow a defined species appropriate protocol that can be implemented going forward by DRP staff or FNAI. All GPS data will be converted into an ArcPro feature class for delivery to DEP, and a final report will include a description of field surveys, a list of target species as well as species documented during the surveys, species-specific monitoring protocols, and management recommendations tailored to each species. The results will also be used to inform invasive species management plan implementation support activities associated with Task 1.

- Notes: Green adder's-mouth orchid (Malaxis unifolia) and bay star-vine (Schisandra glabra) were both previously documented in upland hardwood forest at Maclay Gardens SP. Green adder's-mouth orchid right by Thomasville Rd and bay star-vine just north of Lake Overstreet trail by a little creek

Task 2.3: Upper Shoal River State Park baseline inventory

Task 2.3a Baseline plant survey

To guide initial management plan development, FNAI will survey for and map occurrences of rare plant species found on the newly acquired Upper Shoal River State Park through searching natural communities on site that have the greatest potential to support listed plant species. The survey will focus on FNAI tracked rare plant species, but all federal or state listed species will be included in the field surveys. Prior to the field surveys, potential rare plant species as well as previously documented rare plant species on the park will be identified, and surveys will be organized for each target species based on the appropriate habitat type and time of year for surveys. Three field surveys will be conducted during the contract period (Fall, Spring, and early Summer) to coincide with peak flowering time or other diagnostic characters for proper field identification of select target rare plant species.

Following surveys, a subset of taxa observed during the surveys will be selected as candidates for further monitoring based on their rarity, threats, or specific management requirements. These species will be agreed upon with the park management and a monitoring protocol and schedule will be developed for these selected species and provided to the park. The goal is to propose monitoring plots enable repeatable quantitative measurements of species abundance that follow a defined species appropriate protocol that can be implemented going forward by DRP staff or FNAI. All GPS data will be converted into an ArcPro feature class for delivery to DEP, and a final report will include a description of field surveys, a list of target species as well as species documented during the surveys, species-specific monitoring protocols, and management recommendations tailored to each species.

Task 2.3b Baseline reptile and amphibian survey

Four FNAI biologists will conduct intensive reptile and amphibian surveys on Upper Shoal River State Park during a week in the spring of 2026 carefully selected for maximum species activity and likelihood of detection. A target species list will be developed based on species range data and surveys will be conducted to maximize documentation of species presence. Survey methods will include dip netting, aquatic hoop and funnel trapping, pedestrian surveys, vehicular surveys, tortoise burrow scoping, and aural call surveys. Following surveys, all GPS data will be converted into an ArcPro feature class for delivery to DEP, and a final report will include a description of field surveys, a list of target species as well as species documented during the surveys, species-specific monitoring protocols, and management recommendations tailored to all rare (state/fed listed or petitioned and FNAI tracked) species.

Budget and Schedule:

The Contractor shall submit all invoices by June 15, 2026 to DEP Contract Manager, Sine Murray and Jill Buckley.

A brief interim progress report reporting progress on each task and a partial invoice will be submitted on Jan 31, 2026. The final invoice will be submitted by June 30, 2026.

Task Deliverables Due Date Invoice Date Total Payment

1.1

Detailed five-year implementation guidance and recommendations

1. Updated invasive species management plans for five parks

2. Delivery of presentation to each park summarizing recommended approaches

June 1, 2026 Jan 31,2026 June 15,2026 $100,000

1.2a

RPM resampling (post-treatment) methodology development

1. A final report detailing simulation results to identify a sampling methodology and analysis strategy for using RPM data for repeat surveys to determine individual MZ trends over time

Jan 15, 2026 Jan 31,2026 $5,000

1.2b,c

RPM invasive plant surveys

1. A final report summarizing survey results including cover change estimates and suitable summary analyses.

2. A geodatabase of collected invasive data and survey information

3. Data summaries by MZ for upload into NRTS

June 10, 2025 June 15, 2026

$5.10/acre of Management Zone to be sampled with a minimum cost of $2,806.69 (550ac equivalent) per park

Not to exceed$75,000

2.1

Verification of rare species records

1. A report listing any records for which FNAI would suggest further verification and suggestions of species for addition

2. Park-species occurrence information for missing species in a DEP specified format suitable for upload to BIOS

June 10, 2026 June 15, 2026 $7,750

2.2

Maclay Gardens SP rare plant survey

1. All plant occurrence data as an ArcGIS Pro feature class

2. A final report including a brief description of field surveys, a list of target species as well as species found during surveys, a short ecological description for each species found, and management recommendations tailored to each species

June 10, 2026 June 15, 2026 $13,275

2.3a

Upper Shoal River SP baseline inventory

Plants

1. All plant occurrence data as an ArcGIS Pro feature class

2. A final report including a brief description of field surveys, a list of target species as well as species found during surveys, a short ecological description for each species found, and management recommendations tailored to each species

June 10, 2026 June 15, 2026 $23,000

2.3b

Upper Shoal River SP baseline inventory

Amphibians and Reptiles

1. All occurrence data as an ArcGIS Pro feature class

2. A final report including a brief description of field surveys, a list of target species as well as species found during surveys, notes on management for all rare species found, and other notable findings.

June 10, 2026 June 15, 2026 $19,000

TOTAL: $243,025

Invoices should be sent to the DEP CONTRACT MANAGER, Sine Murray, Sine.Murray@FloridaDEP.gov and to Jill Buckley, Jill.Buckley@FloridaDEP.gov .

All invoices shall include the corresponding reporting period. (For Example: Reporting Period: July 1, 2024 � September 30, 2024)

Appendix A. Data fields specified to be collected for Task 2.2

ATTRIBUTE VALUE

Comments Comments provide an optional field for additional information about the invasive plant population.

SurveyDate Date of data collection.

Surveyor Name of person collecting data

TotalCover A visual estimate of area infested with invasive species (all species, if more than one).

Percent cover classes:

0% (infestation inactive or dormant)

0-1%

1-5%

6-25%

26-50%

51-75%

76-95%

96-100%

TotalPatchSize Estimated gross area (acres) of infestation with cues to help with visual estimation.

Size values:

0.00025 ac; sq meter

0.0005 ac; lg desk

0.001 ac; 2 lg desk

0.01 ac; 2 car garage

0.1 ac; bball ct

0.25 ac; 4 tennis ct

0.5 ac; half fball field

1.0 ac; fball field

2 ac, etc up to 10

Other (in Comments)

Species Scientific name of invasive species (domain limited to FISC listed species).

Same for all five species columns (Species 1 to Species 5)

Patch Size Estimated gross area (acres) of infestation for Species 1.

Size values same as TotalPatchSize.

Same for all five species patch sizes (Patch Size 1 to Patch Size 5)

Cover Class Visual estimate of area infested with Species 1.

Size values same as TotalCover.

Same for all five species cover classes (Cover Class 1 to Cover Class 5)

Distribution Pattern of plant distribution within the gross acreage.

Distribution values:

No invasive plants present: no live plants observed.

Single plant or clump: one individual plant or one small clump of a single species.

Scattered plants or clumps: multiple individual plants or small clumps of a single species scattered within the gross area infested.

Scattered dense patches: dense patches of a single species scattered within the gross area infested.

Dominant cover: multiple plants or clumps of a single species that occupy a majority of the gross area infested.

Dense monoculture: generally a dense stand of a single dominant species that not only occupies more than a majority of the gross area infested, but also covers/excludes other plants.

Linearly scattered: plants or clumps of a single species generally scattered along a linear feature, such as a road, trail, property line, ditch, ridge, slough, etc. within the gross area infested.

Same for all five species distributions (Distribution 1 to Distribution 5)

Appendix B. Template Detail of Activities for Invoice

Activity Cost per activity Quantity

Total Cost

Detailed five-year implementation guidance and recommendations

$20,000/ per park

RPM resampling (post-treatment) methodology development

$5,000

RPM invasive plant surveys $5.10/acre of Management Zone to be sampled with a minimum cost of $2,806.69 (550ac equivalent) per park Not to exceed$75,000

Verification of rare species records $7,750

Maclay Gardens SP rare plant survey $13,275

Upper Shoal River SP baseline inventory

Plants inventory

$23,000

Amphibians and Reptiles inventory

$19,000

Invoice Total