CN-550000-C9D38-00040000.pdf

FDOT District One Districtwide Environmental Permit Design Support

FPID 198231-1-32-09

Task Work Order #8

Sarasota/Lemon Bay Mitigation Alternatives Analysis

Project Description

The following scope of services is to provide consulting services to the DEPARTMENT (under Contract C9D38, dated 11/26/13) to research potential mitigation solutions for wetland impacts expected to result from planned infrastructure improvements to Interstate 75 in Sarasota County. Improvements planned include Interstate 75 interchange projects at State Road 72, Bee Ridge Road, and Fruitville Road/County Road 780. As there are no mitigation banks available in the Sarasota Bay/Lemon Bay SWFWMD watershed, the DEPARTMENT has been using credits from Sarasota County’s Fox Creek Regional Offsite Mitigation Area (Fox Creek ROMA), however, there are not enough available credits to serve all three of the planned improvement projects. Information provided by the DEPARTMENT indicates there is a projected shortfall of 1.24 herbaceous mitigation units and 1.67 forested mitigation units. This scope will research and evaluate wetland mitigation alternatives to meet state and federal permit criteria and allow the planned transportation improvements in Sarasota County described above to proceed.

Task 1 – Wetland Mitigation Alternatives Analysis

The CONSULTANT will research and document the feasibility of the following potential mitigation solutions:

1. Partner with Sarasota County on a new mitigation project

2. Partner with Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for wetland enhancement opportunities (e.g., exotic removal) on public lands managed by the state for conservation

3. Enhancement of wetlands within DEPARTMENT controlled ROW within the I-75 corridor (at Bee Ridge Road)

4. DEPARTMENT acquisition of additional ROW and construction of mitigation (e.g., wetland creation)

For each potential alternative, CONSULTANT will define and describe the solution, develop a conceptual Uniform Mitigation Assessment Method (UMAM) analysis that addresses the shortfall described above, calculate the required acreage for each type of mitigation based upon the UMAM analysis, and develop a conceptual cost based on per-acre average costs on recent projects. Options will explore generating excess credits for future FDOT needs with a target cost approximating no more than $200,000 per credit (similar to Fox Creek).

Task 2 – Meetings and Report

CONSULTANT will discuss the project requirements with DEPARTMENT staff via telephone to review the proposed alternatives and limitations. CONSULTANT will research available information, including contacts with Sarasota County and FDEP, then prepare a draft summary report describing the results of the analysis in Task 1. Finally, CONSULTANT will meet with DEPARTMENT staff to review the results of the analysis, revise the report based upon DEPARTMENT input, and prepare a final report.

Task 3 – Project Management

The CONSULTANT will conduct project management activities in support of these tasks.

Cost The total cost of this task authorization is $26,702.00 as depicted in Attachment A.