OKR220415.01-Cross_Bayou_Little_League-EAR-20230818_FS.pdf

Prepared by: GAI Consultants, Inc.

Orlando Office

618 East South Street, Suite 700 Orlando, Florida 32801

Prepared for: Pinellas County Public Works 400 S Ft Harrison Ave

6th floor Annex Bldg Clearwater, Florida 33756

Ecological Assessment Report

Cross Bayou Athletic Association in Section 23, Township 30 South, Range 15 East

Pinellas County, Florida

GAI Project Number: R220415.01

August 2023

Cross Bayou Athletic Association in Section 23, Township 30 South, Range 15 East

Pinellas County, Florida

GAI Project Number: R220415.01

August 2023

Prepared for:

Pinellas County Public Works

400 S Ft Harrison Ave 6th Floor Annex Bldg

Clearwater, Florida 33756

Prepared by:

GAI Consultants, Inc.

Orlando Office 618 East South Street, Suite 700

Orlando, Florida 32801

Report Authors:

Don J. Silverberg, M.S., PWS Environmental Manager, Environmental Services

George T. Reese, CE Vice President

PID 004556B - Cross Bayou Athletic Association in Section 23, Township 30 South, Range 15 East

Page i

R220415.01 / August 2023

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction

2.0 Methodology

3.0 Existing Site Conditions

3.1 Location

3.2 Topography and Drainage

3.3 Soils

3.4 Land Use and Vegetation

3.4.1 Uplands

3.4.2 Wetlands and Surface Waters

4.0 Threatened and Endangered Species

5.0 Wetland Jurisdiction and Permitting

6.0 Summary

Figures

Appendices

Appendix A – Information Sources Appendix B – Wildlife Agency Correspondence

© 2023 GAI Consultants

1.0 Introduction

Pursuant to the request of Pinellas County Public Works, GAI Consultants, Inc. (GAI) conducted an ecological assessment of the Cross Bayou Athletic Association project site (Project) located in Pinellas County, Florida. The property was investigated during a field inspection as well as through a review of published data containing information about the parcel’s topography, soils, vegetation, and wildlife. The scope of this investigation was limited to biological elements such as plant community characterization, wetland delineation, and federal or state listed plant and animal species. No subsurface soil, water quality, archaeological, or hazardous materials investigations were conducted by GAI.

This report documents the findings of our investigation and is provided to accompany the applications for a Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) and a US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Section 404 Federal Dredge and Fill permit. Specifically, the contents of this report address the ecological issues identified within the District’s Applicant’s Handbook, Volume 1, and Section C of the District’s ERP application package. This report also serves to address permitting issues imposed by the Corps under the Section 404 b(1) Guidelines of the Clean Water Act of 1977 (as amended).

2.0 Methodology

The project site was investigated through review of published information (Appendix A). Further, GAI staff conducted a review of the state’s database of species occurrence records and the bald eagle nest location database (Appendix B). Finally, a field inspection was conducted on April 18, 2023 by ecologists familiar with the natural communities of Florida to determine the vegetative communities present within the project site, the extent of wetland jurisdiction, and to determine the presence of, or potential for use by, listed plant or animal species. Additionally, the landward extent of wetlands and other surface waters within the project site were delineated in accordance with the 2010 Final Atlantic & Gulf Coast Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (1987) and the Unified Wetland Delineation Methodology for the State of Florida dated July 1, 1994. The flagged wetland limits have been located by a Professional Land Surveyor licensed in the state of Florida and serve as a basis for the discussions herein and for the design plans prepared for the Project.

The field investigations also allowed the ecologists to confirm or amend the information collected from database searches and the review of published information. Vegetative community types and general observations were recorded via field data sheets and photographs taken of the Project site. A list of plant species encountered was recorded for the project site. This list reflects representative species observed within the project site and is not necessarily a complete floristic inventory. The project site was reviewed for the presence of listed animals through actual observation, signs of scat, prints, or other indications of their presence or utilization of the corridor. Statements regarding listed species are based on limited field observations and existing data records, and do not exclude the possibility that listed species may occasionally forage on-site or may move into the project site at a later date, or that protected plants may be discovered on-site when blooming structures are apparent.

3.0 Existing Site Conditions

3.1 Location

The Cross Bayou Athletic Association project site covers approximately 19.82 acres and is located in Section 23, Township 30 South, Range 15 East in Pinellas County, Florida (Figure 1). The site lies within a developed area and is bordered by 102nd Avenue North to the north, by 98th Street North to the east, by a Pinellas County borrow operation to the south, and by undeveloped lands and Lake Seminole to the west. The coordinates for the approximate center of the project site are 27.863510° North Latitude, 82.775935° West Longitude.

3.2 Topography and Drainage

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographic map (Seminole, FL Quadrangle, Figure 2) indicates that the site’s topography is relatively level, with elevations of approximately 10± feet National Geodetic Vertical Datum (NGVD). Site drainage appears to occur through soil percolation and via a series of shallow swales and roadside ditches that convey runoff to the undeveloped lands to the west of the Project. The site is located in the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Upper Coastal Drainage Hydrologic Basin.

3.3 Soils

Soil mapping often provides an indication of the historic and/or current conditions of a site, the potential for presence of sensitive plant communities (e.g., wetlands, scrub, etc.), and/or the potential for presence of listed plants and animal species that are typically limited to specific plant communities. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in the Soils Survey of Pinellas County, Florida (1972), identified a three soil types within the parcel limits. The soil types are listed below in Table 1 and are depicted on Figure 3.

Table 1.

Classification of On-Site Soils

Soil Map Unit1 Drainage Class Significant Hydric

Inclusions2 Hydrologic

Group

Anclote fine sand, depressional (3) Very poorly drained Yes A/D

Immokalee soils & urban land (13) Poorly drained No A/D

Myakka soils & urban land (17) Poorly drained No A/D

1. Soil Survey of Pinellas County, NRCS (1972)

2. Hydric Soils of Florida Handbook, Florida Association of Environmental Soil Scientists

The Anclote fine sand is characterized as a very poorly drained soil typical of depressions on marine terraces. Anclote fine sand is considered to be hydric (typical of wetlands) by the Florida Association of Environmental Soil Scientists. The Immokalee soils and the Myakka soils are both characterized as poorly drained soils typical of flatwoods on marine terraces. The current status of these soils may be quite different from the NRCS description due to the effects of the construction of the adjacent recreational facility, the adjacent borrow operation, and the adjacent roadways, and land alteration on adjacent parcels.

3.4 Land Use and Vegetation

The land use and vegetative communities occurring on the Project site were identified using aerial photography and classified using the Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System (FLUCCS), 1999 (Figure 4). Aerial photography indicates that the parcel’s predominant land cover is a Recreational (FLUCCS 180). The land cover is characterized as the existing ballfields, parking areas, driveways, and associated infrastructure. As noted previously, there are undeveloped lands to the west consisting of both upland and wetland vegetative communities. There is a single upland plant community mapped on the Project site, and one wetland vegetative community.

3.4.1 Uplands

The upland vegetative community within the Project limits is characterized as Pine Flatwoods (FLUCCS 411). Dominant canopy species include live oak (Quercus virginiana), long-leaf pine (Pinus palustris), and slash pine (P. elliottii). Understory and shrub species include Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), saw palmetto (Serenoa repens), beauty berry (Callicarpa americana), and cabbage palm (Sabal palmetto). The herbaceous and ground cover components of this community include bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), caesar weed (Urena lobata), greenbrier (Smilax auriculata), and muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia).

3.4.2 Wetlands and Surface Waters

The wetland within the Project limits is mapped as Herbaceous Marsh (FLUCCS 641), although the field investigation would indicate that the wetland is more appropriately characterized as a Mixed Wetland Hardwoods (FLUCCS 617) community. Dominant canopy tree species include red maple (Acer rubrum), laurel oak (Quercus laurifolia), red bay (Persea borbonia), swamp bay (P. palustris), and carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides). The understory consists of saplings of the canopy species as well as dahoon holly (Ilex cassine), elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum), and Peruvian primrose willow (Ludwigia peruviana). The herbaceous component of this community includes Virginia chain fern (Woodwardia virginica), swamp fern (Blechnum serrulatum), cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum), royal fern (Osmunda regalis), lizard’s tail (Saururus cernuus), and umbrella pennywort (Hydrocotyle umbellata).

4.0 Threatened and Endangered Species

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) list wildlife species that are considered “endangered” or “threatened.” The FWC uses an additional category, “species of special concern” (SSC), for several animals that may ultimately be listed as endangered or threatened. This classification provides the SSC-listed animal with a level of protection that varies from species to species. The USFWS and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) also compile lists of protected plant species. The USFWS classifies protected plants as either endangered or threatened, while the FDACS’s plant list is categorized into endangered, threatened, and “commercially exploited” species.

Prior to the field inspection, various web sites were accessed to collect information concerning the possible presence of state and/or federally listed threatened or endangered species within the study area. These sites included:

the USFWS’s website for federally listed species found within Pinellas County.

the FWC’s website to identify state listed species known to occur within Pinellas County.

the FWC’s website for bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nest locations.

the Audubon Society’s Audubon Florida Eaglewatch Nest Application; and, the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) database and Biodiversity Matrix for known occurrences of listed species or critical habitat.

In addition, GIS data layers containing species occurrence records were obtained from the FWC and the FNAI and were used in our analysis of whether protected species may occur within the vicinity of the Project site. Our field inspection consisted of a series of meandering pedestrian transects throughout the Project site to evaluate existing land use and ascertain the likelihood that it may support protected species through the observation of individuals, tracks, burrows, scat, or other indications of listed plants or animals.

Based on in-house data searches, numerous protected animals and plants are known to occur in Pinellas County. From review of the habitat requirements of these plants and animals as well as the subsequent field inspection, it was determined that there is concern for the potential presence of the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), little blue heron (Egretta caerulea), eastern black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis ssp. jamaicensis), red knot (Calidris canutus rufa), wood stork (Mycteria americana), gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus), and eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi).

Habitat requirements and the probability of occurrence for these species are provided below.

Bald Eagle - GAI conducted a bald eagle nest search following the procedures of the FWC’s Eagle Nest Locator Database (2018) and Audubon Florida’s EagleWatch Nest App (2023). The bald eagle has been removed from the FWC’s list of threatened and endangered species and is no longer listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. However, it should be noted that protection of the bald eagle will continue under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and by the revised management plans issued by the FWC and the Service. The FWC database and the Audubon’s app search revealed that the project site does not occur within or near the 660-foot designated protection zone of any eagle nests. The closest nest (designated PI013) is located approximately 0.24 mile (1,255 feet) to the southeast of the project site (Appendix B). Unless a new nest is identified within 660 feet of the site, no coordination with the FWC is necessary.

Little Blue Heron - Little blue herons inhabit fresh, salt, and brackish water environments in Florida including swamps, estuaries, ponds, lakes, and rivers. In peninsular Florida they are relatively common and widespread but are somewhat rare in the Panhandle. The little blue heron nests in colonies, often with other species of long-legged wading birds. The nests consist of sticks that are placed in trees and shrubs on islands, thickets near water, or emergent vegetation over water. The little blue heron relies on freshwater forage sites to raise young until they become more salt tolerant.

While the project area is bordered by the tidal marshes that may provide foraging habitat for little blue heron, there will be no impact upon the marsh from the proposed improvements. Further, there are no documented active waterbird colonies in the vicinity of the project area. Given the preponderance of suitable foraging habitat surrounding the project area, no adverse effect is anticipated for this species.

Eastern Black Rail - The eastern black rail is a wetland dependent bird requiring dense overhead cover and soils that are moist to saturated (occasionally dry) and interspersed with or adjacent to very shallow water (typically ≤ 3 cm) to support its resource needs. Eastern black rails occur across an elevational gradient that lies between lower and wetter portions of the marsh and their contiguous uplands. Eastern black rails also require adjacent higher elevation areas (i.e., the wetland-upland transition zone) with dense cover to survive high water events due to the propensity of juvenile and adult black rails to walk and run rather than fly and chicks’ inability to fly. The subspecies requires dense vegetative cover that allows movement underneath the canopy, and because birds are found in a variety of salt, brackish, and freshwater wetland habitats that can be tidally or non-tidally influenced, plant structure is considered more important than plant species composition in predicting habitat suitability. In terms of nest success, nests must be well hidden in a dense clump of vegetation over moist soil or shallow water to provide shelter from the elements and protection from predators. Flooding is a frequent cause of nest failure for eastern black rails; therefore, water levels must be lower than nests during egg-laying and incubation for nests to be successful. In addition, shallow pools that are 1- 3 cm deep may be the most optimal for foraging and for chick-rearing. As the project does not propose impacts to the habitats described above, the Project is not likely to adversely affect the eastern black rail.

Red Knot - Red knots are a robin-sized member of the sandpiper family of shorebirds, and have a thick, sturdy bill and short, stocky legs. Breeding adults are rusty orange from below with a mottled pattern of buff, rufous, black, and brown above. Nonbreeding adults and juveniles are dark gray above and light gray or tan below with faint barring on the sides and chest. The rufa subspecies breeds in the Canadian Arctic and winters along the coasts of Florida and Texas. Red knots are molluscivores, meaning they eat hard-shelled mollusks (mussels, clams) whole. Their large gizzards crush the hard shells, allowing them to eat and digest the shelled prey. Aside from mollusks, they also eat soft invertebrates such as shrimp and crab-like organisms, marine worms, insects, and horseshoe crab eggs. As marine shorelines are not part of the Project site, it is unlikely that the proposed improvements will have any effect on this species.

Wood Stork - The wood stork is listed as an endangered species by the USFWS and the FWC. The flowways and ditches within and adjacent to the Project offer areas of open shallow water with emergent vegetation and could serve as foraging habitat. The Project falls within the 18.6-mile core foraging area (CFA) of one documented wood stork colony. The wood stork colony is designated Alligator Lake and is located in Safety Harbor, approximately 9.5 miles northeast of the northern limit of the Project site. However, because the quantity of potential foraging habitat is not likely to be diminished, the Project is not likely to adversely affect wood stork foraging habitat.

Gopher Tortoise - The gopher tortoise is listed as threatened by the FWC. The gopher tortoise requires well-drained and loose sandy soils for burrowing, and low-growing herbs and grasses for food. These habitat conditions are best provided in the sandhill (longleaf pine-xeric oak) community, although tortoises are known to use many other habitats, including sand pine scrub, xeric oak hammocks, dry prairies, pine flatwoods, and ruderal sites, including pastures. No potentially occupied gopher tortoise burrows were observed on the parcel during the field inspection conducted on April 18, 2023. It is likely that the groundwater table is too near the surface to provide suitable burrowing conditions for this species. Unless potentially occupied burrows are observed on the Project site, no further consultation with the FWC is required for this species. A management plan would be required for this species if development were to be proposed within twenty-five feet of any gopher tortoise burrow entrance.

Eastern Indigo Snake - Gopher tortoise burrows harbor and protect a number of commensal species, including the eastern indigo snake, which is listed by both the USFWS and the FWC as threatened.

The eastern indigo snake prefers drier habitats but may be found in a variety of habitats from xeric sandhills, to cabbage palm hammocks, to hydric hardwood hammocks. Indigo snakes often forage adjacent to wetlands, particularly seasonal wetlands. This species was not observed during the field investigation. Due to the indigo snake not being observed on the Project site, a specific management plan for this project is not required for this species; however, eastern indigo snakes should be allowed to pass through the work area unmolested if they are observed during site clearing activities. An identification poster is available from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) website or from the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and can be posted at the site during project construction to aid in eastern indigo snake identification.

Listed Plants - The majority of the listed plants documented to occur in Pinellas County are either associated with wetlands or scrub habitat. No scrub habitat occurs on the project site, but there are areas of wetland along the western boundary of the parcel. No plants listed by the FDACS or the USFWS as threatened or endangered were observed during the field investigation, nor are any expected given the nature of the site. Two plants listed by the FDACS as “commercially exploited” – royal fern and cinnamon fern - were observed as occurring in the wetlands on the west side of the Project. These conclusions are based on field observations and existing data records. It should be noted that the incidental destruction of state-listed rare or commercially exploited plants, as may be caused by clearing associated with construction or agriculture, are neither regulated nor prohibited by the FDACS. No further coordination with the FDACS or the USFWS is currently required as it relates to listed plants.

5.0 Wetland Jurisdiction and Permitting

Federal, state, and local regulatory agencies have potential jurisdiction over dredging, filling, or otherwise altering wetlands or portions thereof as part of the proposed work. These agencies include the USACE, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and Pinellas County. The project site lies within the Upper Coastal Drainage Hydrologic Basin and wetlands border the western edge of the existing recreational area, particularly in the northern portion of the Project site. Field delineation of the landward extent of the wetland areas was conducted on April 18, 2023, and these flagged points were subsequently located by a Professional Surveyor licensed in the state of Florida. The survey has incorporated into the design plans. Consultation and permitting with the District will be required for project development and any required stormwater management plans.

6.0 Summary

This preliminary ecological assessment was conducted to document the presence of wetlands and/or potential usage of the parcel, or potential presence within the parcel, by protected species and the potential constraints and management obligations posed by their presence. The site contains an existing recreational facility, as well as a mixture of upland and wetland habitats. A field review with representatives of the District will likely occur once applications for site development activities are submitted. No listed animal species were observed during the site inspection conducted on April 18, 2023. Although specific management plans are not required due to the species not being observed on the subject parcel, eastern indigo snakes should be allowed to pass through the work area unmolested if they are observed during site clearing activities, and an information and identification poster can be posted at the project site during construction. No threatened or endangered plants were observed within the parcel, and none are expected due to the nature of the site. Two plants listed by the FDACS as “commercially exploited” – royal fern and cinnamon fern - were observed as occurring in the wetlands on the west side of the Project. Further, the state of Florida does not prohibit the loss of these plant species associated with clearing activities associated with agriculture or site development. No coordination with the Service or the FDACS is currently necessary regarding listed plant species.

Preliminary Ecological Assessment Report

FIGURES

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Miles 1 inch = 3 milesScale: [ Project Vicinity

Drawn by: JGS Date: 2023.04.12

R220415.01-F1.MXD

Cross Bayou Athletic Association Project

Project Site

Not to Scale

Project Vicinity

Sec 23, Township 30 S, Range 15 E Pinellas County, Florida

§̈¦275

§̈¦275

£¤92£¤19

£¤19

£¤19

£¤92

UV60

§̈¦275

UV688

Legend

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000Feet 1 : 24,000Scale: [

Seminole, FL Quad

USGS 7.5" series Topographic Map

Project Site

Sec 23, Township 30 S, Range 15 E Pinellas County, Florida

Drawn by: JGS Date: 2023.04.12

R220415.01-F2.MXD

Cross Bayou Athletic Association Project

0 100 200 300 400 500Feet 1 : 2,400Scale: [ NRCS Soils Map

Drawn by: JGS Date: 2023.04.12

R220415.01-F3.MXD

Legend Project Site

NRCS Soils

Project Site

Sec 23, Township 30 S, Range 15 E Pinellas County, Florida th

St ree t, N or th

102nd Avenue

Notes:

Soil delineation and classification from USDA NRCS Soil Survey of Pinellas County, FL.

Soil Classification 3131799

Anclote fine sand, depressionalImmokalee soils & urban landMyakka soils & urban landOpen Water

0 100 200 300 400 500Feet 1 : 2,400Scale: [ Existing Land CoverMap

Drawn by: JGS Date: 2023.04.12

R220415.01-F4.MXD

Legend Project Site

Existing Land Cover

Project Site

Sec 23, Township 30 S, Range 15 E Pinellas County, Florida th

St ree t, N or th

102nd Avenue

Notes:

Existing land cover delineation and classification from SWFWMD, 2017.

Existing Land Coverl Classification 130170180411641810

Residential, High-densityInstitutionalRecreationalPine FlatwoodsFreshwater MarshTransportation

APPENDIX A

Information Sources

Information sources used for the Cross Bayou Athletic Association project included:

Aerial photography provided in Geographic Information System (GIS) format by ESRI and Microsoft Bing Maps.

Florida Association of Professional Soil Classifiers. Hydric Soils of Florida Handbook, 1 ed.

1990.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry. 2010.

"Notes of Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Plants."

Florida Department of Transportation, January 1999, Florida Land Use, Cover and Forms Classification System.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species. Updated June 2021.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Wildlife Technology Services, January 2018. Eagle Nest Locator.

Audubon Society. Audubon Florida Eaglewatch Nest Application. 2023

Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Species and Communities database.

Soil Survey of Pinellas County. 1972. Natural Resources Conservation Service.

United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Pinellas County Federally Listed Species. Last Updated February 2018.

United States Geological Survey Topographic Survey Map: Seminole, Florida; provided in GIS format by the SWFWMD.

APPENDIX B

Wildlife Agency Correspondence

IPaC resource list

This report is an automatically generated list of species and other resources such as critical habitat (collectively referred to as trust resources) under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) jurisdiction that are known or expected to be on or near the project area referenced below. The list may also include trust resources that occur outside of the project area, but that could potentially be directly or indirectly affected by activities in the project area. However, determining the likelihood and extent of effects a project may have on trust resources typically requires gathering additional site-specific (e.g., vegetation/species surveys) and project-specific (e.g., magnitude and timing of proposed activities) information.

Below is a summary of the project information you provided and contact information for the USFWS office(s) with jurisdiction in the defined project area. Please read the introduction to each section that follows (Endangered Species, Migratory Birds, USFWS

Facilities, and NWI Wetlands) for additional information applicable to the trust resources addressed in that section.

Location Pinellas County, Florida

Local office

Florida Ecological Services Field Office

(772) 562-3909

(772) 562-4288 fw4flesregs@fws.gov

1339 20th Street

Vero Beach, FL 32960-3559 https://www.fws.gov/office/florida-ecological-services

U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceIPaC mailto:fw4flesregs@fws.gov https://www.fws.gov/office/florida-ecological-services https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/

Endangered species This resource list is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an analysis of project level impacts.

The primary information used to generate this list is the known or expected range of each species. Additional areas of influence

(AOI) for species are also considered. An AOI includes areas outside of the species range if the species could be indirectly affected by activities in that area (e.g., placing a dam upstream of a fish population even if that fish does not occur at the dam site, may indirectly impact the species by reducing or eliminating water flow downstream). Because species can move, and site conditions can change, the species on this list are not guaranteed to be found on or near the project area. To fully determine any potential effects to species, additional site-specific and project-specific information is often required.

Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act requires Federal agencies to "request of the Secretary information whether any species which is listed or proposed to be listed may be present in the area of such proposed action" for any project that is conducted, permitted, funded, or licensed by any Federal agency. A letter from the local office and a species list which fulfills this requirement can only be obtained by requesting an official species list from either the Regulatory Review section in IPaC

(see directions below) or from the local field office directly.

For project evaluations that require USFWS concurrence/review, please return to the IPaC website and request an official species list by doing the following:

1. Draw the project location and click CONTINUE.

2. Click DEFINE PROJECT.

3. Log in (if directed to do so).

4. Provide a name and description for your project.

5. Click REQUEST SPECIES LIST.

Listed species and their critical habitats are managed by the Ecological Services Program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

(USFWS) and the fisheries division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Fisheries ).

Species and critical habitats under the sole responsibility of NOAA Fisheries are not shown on this list. Please contact NOAA

Fisheries for species under their jurisdiction.

1. Species listed under the Endangered Species Act are threatened or endangered; IPaC also shows species that are candidates, or proposed, for listing. See the listing status page for more information. IPaC only shows species that are regulated by USFWS (see FAQ).

2. NOAA Fisheries, also known as the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), is an office of the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration within the Department of Commerce.

The following species are potentially affected by activities in this location:

Birds

NAME STATUS

Eastern Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis ssp. jamaicensis

Wherever found

No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/10477

Threatened

Red Knot Calidris canutus rufa

Wherever found

There is proposed critical habitat for this species.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1864

Threatened

Whooping Crane Grus americana

No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/758

EXPN

https://www.fws.gov/ecological-services/ https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/consultations/endangered-species-act-consultations https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species-directory/threatened-endangered https://www.fws.gov/law/endangered-species-act https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/status/list https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/ https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/10477 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1864 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/758 https://ipac.ecosphere.fws.gov/status/list#EXPN

Reptiles

Insects

Flowering Plants

Wood Stork Mycteria americana

No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/8477

Threatened

NAME STATUS

American Crocodile Crocodylus acutus

There is final critical habitat for this species. Your location does not overlap the critical habitat.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6604

Threatened

Eastern Indigo Snake Drymarchon couperi

Wherever found

No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/646

Threatened

Green Sea Turtle Chelonia mydas

There is final critical habitat for this species. Your location does not overlap the critical habitat.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6199

Threatened

Hawksbill Sea Turtle Eretmochelys imbricata

Wherever found

There is final critical habitat for this species. Your location does not overlap the critical habitat.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/3656

Endangered

Leatherback Sea Turtle Dermochelys coriacea Wherever found

There is final critical habitat for this species. Your location does not overlap the critical habitat.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1493

Endangered

Loggerhead Sea Turtle Caretta caretta

There is final critical habitat for this species. Your location does not overlap the critical habitat.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1110

Threatened

NAME STATUS

Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus Wherever found

No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/9743

Candidate

NAME STATUS

Florida Golden Aster Chrysopsis floridana

No critical habitat has been designated for this species.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/5352

Endangered https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/8477 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6604 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/646 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/6199 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/3656 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1493 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/1110 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/9743 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/5352

Critical habitats

Potential effects to critical habitat(s) in this location must be analyzed along with the endangered species themselves.

There are no critical habitats at this location.

You are still required to determine if your project(s) may have effects on all above listed species.

Bald & Golden Eagles

There are bald and/or golden eagles in your project area.

For guidance on when to schedule activities or implement avoidance and minimization measures to reduce impacts to migratory birds on your list,click on the PROBABILITY OF PRESENCE SUMMARY at the top of your list to see when these birds are most likely to be present and breeding in your project area.

BREEDING SEASON

Probability of Presence Summary

The graphs below provide our best understanding of when birds of concern are most likely to be present in your project area.

This information can be used to tailor and schedule your project activities to avoid or minimize impacts to birds. Please make sure you read and understand the FAQ "Proper Interpretation and Use of Your Migratory Bird Report" before using or attempting to interpret this report.

Probability of Presence ( )

Each green bar represents the bird's relative probability of presence in the 10km grid cell(s) your project overlaps during a particular week of the year. (A year is represented as 12 4-week months.) A taller bar indicates a higher probability of species presence. The survey effort (see below) can be used to establish a level of confidence in the presence score. One can have higher confidence in the presence score if the corresponding survey effort is also high.

How is the probability of presence score calculated? The calculation is done in three steps:

1. The probability of presence for each week is calculated as the number of survey events in the week where the species was detected divided by the total number of survey events for that week. For example, if in week 12 there were 20 survey events and the Spotted Towhee was found in 5 of them, the probability of presence of the Spotted Towhee in week 12 is 0.25.

2. To properly present the pattern of presence across the year, the relative probability of presence is calculated. This is the probability of presence divided by the maximum probability of presence across all weeks. For example, imagine the probability of presence in week 20 for the Spotted Towhee is 0.05, and that the probability of presence at week 12 (0.25) is

Bald and golden eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Any person or organization who plans or conducts activities that may result in impacts to bald or golden eagles, or their habitats, should follow appropriate regulations and consider implementing appropriate conservation measures, as described below.

Additional information can be found using the following links:

Eagle Managment https://www.fws.gov/program/eagle-management

Measures for avoiding and minimizing impacts to birds https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/avoiding-and-minimizing-incidental-take-migratory-birds

Nationwide conservation measures for birds https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/nationwide-standard-conservation-measures.pdf

NAME

Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus

This is not a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) in this area, but warrants attention because of the Eagle Act or for potential susceptibilities in offshore areas from certain types of development or activities.

Breeds Sep 1 to Jul 31 https://www.fws.gov/law/bald-and-golden-eagle-protection-act https://www.fws.gov/law/migratory-bird-treaty-act-1918 https://www.fws.gov/program/eagle-management https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/avoiding-and-minimizing-incidental-take-migratory-birds https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/nationwide-standard-conservation-measures.pdf no data survey effort breeding season probability of presence the maximum of any week of the year. The relative probability of presence on week 12 is 0.25/0.25 = 1; at week 20 it is

0.05/0.25 = 0.2.

3. The relative probability of presence calculated in the previous step undergoes a statistical conversion so that all possible values fall between 0 and 10, inclusive. This is the probability of presence score.

To see a bar's probability of presence score, simply hover your mouse cursor over the bar.

Breeding Season ( )

Yellow bars denote a very liberal estimate of the time-frame inside which the bird breeds across its entire range. If there are no yellow bars shown for a bird, it does not breed in your project area.

Survey Effort ( )

Vertical black lines superimposed on probability of presence bars indicate the number of surveys performed for that species in the 10km grid cell(s) your project area overlaps. The number of surveys is expressed as a range, for example, 33 to 64 surveys.

To see a bar's survey effort range, simply hover your mouse cursor over the bar.

No Data ( )

A week is marked as having no data if there were no survey events for that week.

Survey Timeframe

Surveys from only the last 10 years are used in order to ensure delivery of currently relevant information. The exception to this is areas off the Atlantic coast, where bird returns are based on all years of available data, since data in these areas is currently much more sparse.

SPECIES JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Bald Eagle

Non-BCC Vulnerable

What does IPaC use to generate the potential presence of bald and golden eagles in my specified location?

The potential for eagle presence is derived from data provided by the Avian Knowledge Network (AKN). The AKN data is based on a growing collection of survey, banding, and citizen science datasets and is queried and filtered to return a list of those birds reported as occurring in the

10km grid cell(s) which your project intersects, and that have been identified as warranting special attention because they are a BCC species in that area, an eagle (Eagle Act requirements may apply). To see a list of all birds potentially present in your project area, please visit the Rapid Avian

Information Locator (RAIL) Tool.

What does IPaC use to generate the probability of presence graphs of bald and golden eagles in my specified location?

The Migratory Bird Resource List is comprised of USFWS Birds of Conservation Concern (BCC) and other species that may warrant special attention in your project location.

The migratory bird list generated for your project is derived from data provided by the Avian Knowledge Network (AKN). The AKN data is based on a growing collection of survey, banding, and citizen science datasets and is queried and filtered to return a list of those birds reported as occurring in the 10km grid cell(s) which your project intersects, and that have been identified as warranting special attention because they are a BCC species in that area, an eagle (Eagle Act requirements may apply), or a species that has a particular vulnerability to offshore activities or development.

Again, the Migratory Bird Resource list includes only a subset of birds that may occur in your project area. It is not representative of all birds that may occur in your project area. To get a list of all birds potentially present in your project area, please visit the Rapid Avian Information Locator

(RAIL) Tool.

What if I have eagles on my list?

If your project has the potential to disturb or kill eagles, you may need to obtain a permit to avoid violating the Eagle Act should such impacts occur. Please contact your local Fish and Wildlife Service Field Office if you have questions.

Migratory birds Certain birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act .

Any person or organization who plans or conducts activities that may result in impacts to migratory birds, eagles, and their habitats should follow appropriate regulations and consider implementing appropriate conservation measures, as described below.

1 2 http://www.avianknowledge.net/ https://data.pointblue.org/api/v3/annual-summaries-about-data-types.html https://www.fws.gov/program/eagle-management https://data.pointblue.org/apps/rail/ https://www.fws.gov/program/migratory-birds/species http://www.avianknowledge.net/ https://data.pointblue.org/api/v3/annual-summaries-about-data-types.html https://www.fws.gov/program/eagle-management https://data.pointblue.org/apps/rail/ https://www.fws.gov/program/eagle-management

The birds listed below are birds of particular concern either because they occur on the USFWS Birds of Conservation

Concern (BCC) list or warrant special attention in your project location. To learn more about the levels of concern for birds on your list and how this list is generated, see the FAQ below. This is not a list of every bird you may find in this location, nor a guarantee that every bird on this list will be found in your project area. To see exact locations of where birders and the general public have sighted birds in and around your project area, visit the E-bird data mapping tool (Tip: enter your location, desired date range and a species on your list). For projects that occur off the Atlantic Coast, additional maps and models detailing the relative occurrence and abundance of bird species on your list are available. Links to additional information about Atlantic Coast birds, and other important information about your migratory bird list, including how to properly interpret and use your migratory bird report, can be found below.

For guidance on when to schedule activities or implement avoidance and minimization measures to reduce impacts to migratory birds on your list, click on the PROBABILITY OF PRESENCE SUMMARY at the top of your list to see when these birds are most likely to be present and breeding in your project area.

BREEDING SEASON

1. The Migratory Birds Treaty Act of 1918.

2. The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940.

Additional information can be found using the following links:

Birds of Conservation Concern https://www.fws.gov/program/migratory-birds/species

Measures for avoiding and minimizing impacts to birds https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/avoiding-and-minimizing-incidental-take-migratory-birds

Nationwide conservation measures for birds https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/nationwide-standard-conservation-measures.pdf

NAME

American Kestrel Falco sparverius paulus

This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) only in particular Bird Conservation Regions

(BCRs) in the continental USA https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/9587

Breeds Apr 1 to Aug 31

American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus

This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/8935

Breeds Apr 15 to Aug 31

Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus

This is not a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) in this area, but warrants attention because of the Eagle Act or for potential susceptibilities in offshore areas from certain types of development or activities.

Breeds Sep 1 to Jul 31

Black Skimmer Rynchops niger

This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/5234

Breeds May 20 to Sep 15

Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica

This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.

Breeds Mar 15 to Aug 25

Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias occidentalis

This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) only in particular Bird Conservation Regions

(BCRs) in the continental USA

Breeds Jan 1 to Dec 31

Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes

This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/9679

Breeds elsewhere https://www.fws.gov/program/migratory-birds/species http://ebird.org/ebird/map/ https://www.fws.gov/birds/policies-and-regulations/laws-legislations/migratory-bird-treaty-act.php https://www.fws.gov/birds/policies-and-regulations/laws-legislations/bald-and-golden-eagle-protection-act.php https://www.fws.gov/program/migratory-birds/species https://www.fws.gov/library/collections/avoiding-and-minimizing-incidental-take-migratory-birds https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/nationwide-standard-conservation-measures.pdf https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/9587 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/8935 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/5234 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/9679

Probability of Presence Summary

The graphs below provide our best understanding of when birds of concern are most likely to be present in your project area.

This information can be used to tailor and schedule your project activities to avoid or minimize impacts to birds. Please make sure you read and understand the FAQ "Proper Interpretation and Use of Your Migratory Bird Report" before using or attempting to interpret this report.

Probability of Presence ( )

Each green bar represents the bird's relative probability of presence in the 10km grid cell(s) your project overlaps during a particular week of the year. (A year is represented as 12 4-week months.) A taller bar indicates a higher probability of species presence. The survey effort (see below) can be used to establish a level of confidence in the presence score. One can have higher confidence in the presence score if the corresponding survey effort is also high.

How is the probability of presence score calculated? The calculation is done in three steps:

1. The probability of presence for each week is calculated as the number of survey events in the week where the species was detected divided by the total number of survey events for that week. For example, if in week 12 there were 20 survey events and the Spotted Towhee was found in 5 of them, the probability of presence of the Spotted Towhee in week 12 is 0.25.

2. To properly present the pattern of presence across the year, the relative probability of presence is calculated. This is the probability of presence divided by the maximum probability of presence across all weeks. For example, imagine the

Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens

This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) only in particular Bird Conservation Regions

(BCRs) in the continental USA

Breeds Oct 1 to Apr 30

Painted Bunting Passerina ciris This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) only in particular Bird Conservation Regions

(BCRs) in the continental USA

Breeds Apr 25 to Aug 15

Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor

This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.

Breeds May 1 to Jul 31

Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus

This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.

Breeds May 10 to Sep 10

Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens

This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/7617

Breeds Mar 1 to Sep 15

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres morinella

This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) only in particular Bird Conservation Regions

(BCRs) in the continental USA

Breeds elsewhere

Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus

This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/9480

Breeds elsewhere

Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus

This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/8938

Breeds Mar 10 to Jun 30

Willet Tringa semipalmata

This is a Bird of Conservation Concern (BCC) throughout its range in the continental USA and Alaska.

Breeds Apr 20 to Aug 5 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/7617 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/9480 https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp/species/8938 no data survey effort breeding season probability of presence probability of presence in week 20 for the Spotted Towhee is 0.05, and that the probability of presence at week 12 (0.25) is the maximum of any week of the year. The relative probability of presence on week 12 is 0.25/0.25 = 1; at week 20 it is

0.05/0.25 = 0.2.

3. The relative probability of presence calculated in the previous step undergoes a statistical conversion so that all possible values fall between 0 and 10, inclusive. This is the probability of presence score.

To see a bar's probability of presence score, simply hover your mouse cursor over the bar.

Breeding Season ( )

Yellow bars denote a very liberal estimate of the time-frame inside which the bird breeds across its entire range. If there are no yellow bars shown for a bird, it does not breed in your project area.

Survey Effort ( )

Vertical black lines superimposed on probability of presence bars indicate the number of surveys performed for that species in…