Eastern_Indigo_Snake_Poster_20240509_v4.pdf
PDF 274 KB Posted
- Attached to
- Lake Geneva Restoration Project
- Solicitation number
- 25/26-013
- Issued by
- Clay County, Harold CDP, Florida
About this file
This is an environmental protection poster and instructional document issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in coordination with state environmental agencies regarding the Eastern Indigo Snake, a federally-threatened species relevant to the Lake Geneva Restoration Project in Clay County, Florida. The poster provides critical guidance for contractors and site personnel working on land-disturbing activities, including the mandatory reporting and halting of work protocols should live or dead Eastern Indigo Snakes be encountered. The Lake Geneva Restoration Project is seeking qualified contractors to remove trees measuring four inches or greater in diameter from approximately 342 acres of exposed lakebed. A mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for December 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Keystone Heights City Hall, with inquiries due by December 9, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. Bids are due December 18, 2025, at 4:30 p.m., with bid opening on December 19, 2025, and an estimated Board recommendation date of January 13, 2026. The contract term is twenty-four months from execution, with potential extensions for two additional twelve-month periods.
The contract requires a five percent bid bond and 100 percent Performance and Payment Bond if the contract value exceeds $200,000, with liquidated damages of $100 per day assessed for delays past the final completion date. Contractors must maintain Commercial General Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate. The project is funded in part by a $250,000 Florida Department of Environmental Protection Grant Agreement with no county match requirement. Work is limited to Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., through four designated access points. The bid structure includes a Base Bid for tree removal and debris consolidation across all five restoration areas, with two alternate bids for volunteer group handling of non-merchantable materials and controlled on-site burning operations. Contractors must comply strictly with environmental regulations protecting Eastern Indigo Snakes, Florida Sandhill Cranes, and Gopher Tortoises.
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Text version
ATTENTION
Federally-Threatened Eastern Indigo Snakes may be present on this site!
Killing, harming, or harassing eastern indigo snakes is strictly prohibited and punishable under
State and Federal Law.
If you see a LIVE eastern indigo snake on the site:
• Stop land disturbing activities and allow the snake time to move away from the site without interference. Do NOT attempt to touch or handle the snake.
• Take photographs of the snake, if possible, for identification and documentation purposes.
• Immediately notify supervisor/agent, and a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Ecological
Services Field Office, with the location information and condition of the snake.
• If the snake is located near clearing or construction activities that will cause harm to the snake, the activities must pause until a representative of the USFWS returns the call (within one day) with further guidance.
If you see a DEAD eastern indigo snake on the site:
• Stop land disturbing activities and immediately notify supervisor/applicant, and a USFWS Ecological Services Field Office, with the location information and condition of the snake.
• Take photographs of the snake, if possible, for identification and documentation purposes.
• Thoroughly soak the dead snake in water and then freeze the specimen. The appropriate wildlife agency will retrieve the dead snake.
DESCRIPTION. The eastern indigo snake is one of the largest non-venomous snakes in North America, reaching up to 8 ft long. Named for the glossy, blue-black scales above and slate blue below, they often have orange to reddish color (cream color in some cases) in the throat area. They are not typically aggressive.
SIMILAR SPECIES. The black racer resembles the eastern indigo snake. However, black racers have a white or cream chin, and thinner bodies.
LIFE HISTORY. Eastern indigo snakes live in a variety of terrestrial habitat types. Although they prefer uplands, they also use wetlands and agricultural areas. They will shelter inside gopher tortoise burrows, other animal burrows, stumps, roots, and debris piles. Females may lay from 4 to 12 white eggs as early as April through June, with young hatching in late July through October.
PROTECTED STATUS. The eastern indigo snake is protected by the USFWS, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
Any attempt to kill, harm, harass, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, trap, capture, collect, or engage eastern indigo snakes is prohibited by the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Penalties include a maximum fine of $25,000 for civil violations and up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment for criminal offenses. Only authorized individuals with a permit (or an Incidental Take Statement associated with a USFWS Biological Opinion) may handle an eastern indigo snake.
Please contact your nearest USFWS Ecological Services Field Office if a live or dead eastern indigo snake is encountered:
Florida Office: (352) 448-9151 Georgia Office: (706) 613-9493
Gopher tortoise and burrow. Credit: James Hunt
Eastern indigo snake. Credit: Dirk Stevenson
Credit: Dirk Stevenson
File details come from the government source that posted it. Updated .