RESOLUTION B-11-045 AMENDING THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR MANATEE COUNTY, FLORIDA

FOR FISCAL YEAR 2010-2011

WHEREAS, Florida Statutes 129.06, authorizes the Board of County Commissioners to amend its budget for the current fiscal year as follows:

a) Appropriations for expenditures in any fund may be decreased and other appropriations in the same fund correspondingly increased, provided the total appropriations of the fund are not changed.

b) Appropriations from reserves may be made to increase the appropriation for any particular expense i1 the same fund, or to create an appropriation in the fund for any lawful purpose.

c) Unanticipated revenues, including increased receipts for enterprise or proprietary funds, may be appropriated for their intended purpose, and may be transferred between funds to properly account for the unanticipated revenue.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Manatee County, Florida that the 2010-2011 budget is hereby amended in accordance with FS 129.06 as described on the attached summary and specified in the budget adjustment batch files which are listed below:

Department: Fund:

Description:

Batch ID:

NATURAL RESOURCES TREE TRUST FUND

Transfers $209,079 from Reserves in the Tree Trust Fund and appropriates $46,121 of cash carryover in the Tree Trust Fund for the purchase and installation of 726,000 Longleaf Pine trees at Duette Preserve.

BAJS318B Reference: BU11000325

ADOPTED IN OPEN SESSION WITH A QUORUM PRESENT AND VOTING THIS 2)\%: :::JG,a. ' 2011.

DAY OF

SUBJECT

DATE REQUESTED

BRIEFINGS? Who?

MANATEE COUNTY GOVERNMENT AGENDA MEMORANDUM

Use Tree Trust Funds for Duette TYPE AGENDA ITEM Preserve

June 21,2011 DATE SUBMITTED/REVISED

N/A CONSEQUENCES IF DEFERRED

53

Regular

June 14, 2011

N/A

DEPARTMENT/DIVISION Natural Resources AUTHORIZED BY

~~e Hu~ck~rector ~ TITLE C4A-- __... ... -~ _t,.e...

CONTACT PERSON Charlie Hunsicker x4601

PRESENTER/TITLE Charlie Hunsicker, Director, TELEPHONE/EXTENSION TELEPHONE/EXTENSION x4601

~

ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL ~.?. ACTION DESIRED

INDICATE WHETHER 1) REPORT; 2) DISCUSSION; 3) FORM OF MOTION; OR 4) OTHER ACTION REQUIRED

Authorization for the Natural Resources Department to acquire monies from the Tree Trust Fund in the amount of $255,200 to purchase and install 726,000 Longleaf Pine trees at Duette Preserve and adoption of Budget Resolution B-11-045 amending the Annual Budget for Manatee County, Florida for Fiscal year 2010-2011.

ENABLING/REGULATING AUTHORITY Federal/State law(s), administrative ruling(s), Manatee County Comp Plan/Land Development Code, ordinances, resolutions, policy

Land Development Code 714.4 Urban Forestry Master Plan.

BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION

• The Natural Resources Department is requesting funding from the Tree Trust Fund to purchase and install 726,000 Longleaf Pine trees at Duette Preserve. The trees will be planted within 1 ,000 acres of former Bahia Grass pasture.

• On June 6, 2011, staff presented the attached report to ELMAC outlining the restoration benefits of a restoration project for planted Longleaf Pine over 1 000 acres of Bahia grass pasture, with approximately 1 ,200 acres of Bahia Grass pasture remaining after this initial effort. This report and recommendation needs to be "codified" as an addendum to the Duette Preserve Management Plan requiring further action by ELMAC. However, the presentation by staff received favorable support from ELMAC for the planted Longleaf Pine proposal, recognizing also that the standard for ground cover restoration, as an alternative, includes multiple combinations of disking and herbicide application efforts followed by direct seeding of native seed material. Additional herbicide applications are generally required for emergent non-native plants. Total costs for this standard method range from $2,500 to $5,000 per acre. While the standard method is viable and has been implemented in other native ground cover restoration projects in the State, staff cannot support this other viable method at this time because of the high up-front costs ($2,500,000 - $5,000,000).

• Additionally, Budget Resolution B-11-045 is being requested at today's meeting which will allow the funds to b~laced in the Natural Resources Tree Trust Fund. \N OPEN s~\0

APPROVED n 1 '/

COUNTY ATTORNEY REVIEW ,j,;Jh i.J ...

. .-..-" r'.CININi\SS\O~Efl$ Check appropriate box aoARD~J>.~ECoU~· fWtu"''"

t.

D REVIEWED Written Comments: D Attached D Available from Attorney (Attorney's initials: )

~ NOT REVIEWED (No apparent legal issues.)

D NOT REVIEWED (Utilizes exact form or procedure previously approved by CAO.)

D OTHER

Agenda Memorandum Fonn last revised: October 18, 2005

AGENDA MEMORANDUM (continued) Page2

ATTACHMENTS: (List in order as attached) INSTRUCTIONS TO BOARD RECORDS:

Budget Resolution B-11-045 Please return a copy of the approved agenda to: Jayne Souders, Natural

Tree Trust Application Request Form R~urces ~\~ent (x:T3). ' ~}

ELMAC presentation report ,{Yh,_ lo .":>\ \ I ~ r-

COST: $255,200 SOURCE (ACCT # & NAME): 141-0990003 Tree Trust Fund

COMMENTS: N/A AMT./FREQ. OF RECURRING COSTS: N/A (ATIACH FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT)

TREE TRUST APPLICATION REQUEST FORM

Date of Request: 06/06/2011 Requested by:

Max Dersch

Phone Extention:

941-737-1743

Fiscal Year monies to be used: FY 2012

Description:

Fiscal Year approved in CIP

Master Location Name

Project Summary Name

Job Name

Duette Preserve Pine Flatwoods Restoration

Fund Number/Name for Job:

Project Start Date: 11/1/2011

Expected Start & Completion Dates Start: 11/1/2011

Commission Districts (x #'s) 1X 2

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT (Include written description of project scope).

If different phases are anticipated, please provide relevant information.

Number:

End: 03/01/2012

3 4 5

Project will install native pine trees within 1 ,000 acres of former bahia grass pasture at Duette Preserve.

All

Installation may be phased on 4 x 250 acre areas, 8 x 125 acre areas, or any combination of 1 ,000 acres, based on site conditions

and field decisions, to expand restorative improvements on as much bahia pasture as possible.

This tree installation is the keystone of a whole ecosystem restoration effort which includes removal of bahia grass, ground cover

restoration and return of longleaf pine trees to approximate natural densities -- ie restoration under this plan is not possible

without the volume and density of trees per acre as requested.

~ Size

Longleaf Pine Trees Tubeling

Installation @ $11 0/acre

TOTAL REQUESTED

Alternative Funding Sources Description:

if partially funded:

Grant:

Natural Resources: Operations approval

Fiscal approval

Account set-up by Finance

1st

2nd

Description:

Applying Department Notified ----------

Quantitv

726,000

1,000

Date

Date

Date

Date

Unit Cost

$0.20

$110.00

Total from 2nd page (if needed)

------------------------

ALL

ALL

Total Cost

$145,200.00

$110,000.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$0.00

$255,200.00

Number:

Number:

PARTIAL

PARTIAL

Draft Proposal June 6, 2011

Longleaf Pine Silviculture and Restoration of Bahia Pasture at Duette Preserve

--Manatee County Natural Resources Department, Resource Management Division

In 1986 the first portion of several land acquisitions which became known as Duette Preserve

was acquired by the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners for the purpose of water quality

protection and conservation. The 21,000 acre property is a large part of the Lake Manatee watershed,

serving the county's drinking water supply.

The approved Management Plan of 1996 provides goals and recommendations for management

of the property, which includes plans for restoring former disturbed agricultural areas. Of these

disturbed areas there are approximately 2,200 acres of former pasture which is dominated by bahia

grass. The management plan addresses the challenge of restoring the former pasture land, and -in a

time when few land managers had experience with the enormous expense of direct conversion of bahia

to native ground cover (some estimates have been as high as $5,000/acre; see Budget Example 1 below)

--offers a restoration approach (p. 61) of using a planted density of 1,000 longleaf pines per acre to

shade out the understory and facilitate native understory composition. Today, more than ever, this

approach has strong merit --especially considering the costs associated with restoration of bahia pasture

versus the implementation of a closed longleaf pine canopy to be thinned in subsequent years. This

approach of dense pine plantings attempts to achieve three goals: 1) Removal of bahia grass, 2)

Replacement of longleaf Pines at natural* densities, 3) Return the natural longleaf pine understory

composition.

The current project proposes to install longleaf pine tubelings at a density of 726 per acre at no

greater than 6 by 10 foot spacing on 1,000 acres of bahia pasture in order to shade out and preclude

bahia (Objective 1) and ultimately facilitate groundcover restoration. The tree installation could be

completed in a twelve month period. Within six to eight years, the longleaf pines may be utilized for

revenue generating pine straw harvest. Preparation for the mechanical installation of the longleaf pines

provides two options. Option one is to conduct site prep as traditionally done for mechanical planting,

which involves single or double passes of disks to open the ground and remove cover. Option two would

be to utilize available local sod growers to harvest the bahia for commercial use, effectively providing

the open ground required to install the trees while generation revenue for the county. The winter timing

of tree installations and the coordination of local sod farmers will be critical in determining how viable

an option this will be. Some maintenance of re-growth of bahia by herbicide application may be

required until the pine canopy grows thick enough to shade it out. To ensure water quality protection is

not diminished, neither fertilizers nor irrigation will be used in this project. Furthermore, all contractors

involved will apply Best Management Practices for their respective field, which includes providing

adequate buffers and erosion control measures between activity and wetlands.

After approximately ten to twelve annual harvests of pine straw, the silviculture plan may shift

to timber harvest, depending on tree growth size and timber market values. This tree thinning starts the

;1-.

long process of returning to a more natural density of longleaf pines (Objective 2). Approximately four

"third row" thinnings (ie"'33% of trees removed) will be done at intervals of 8 to 10 years. This would

bring the tree density from 726 (less 10% initial mortality) per acre to roughly 129 per acre, after which

hand- selected thinnings could be done to meet the natural density and composition of a longleaf pine

flatwoods community. During the SO year thinning process, longleaf seedling recruitment will be

selectively encouraged in thinned areas to create an uneven-aged structure.

It is important to note that as soon as the first thinning begins, the plan calls for direct seeding

of newly open ground from the native groundcover seed sources available within Duette Preserve

matched by soil types. This groundcover restoration (Objective 3) will be concurrent with silviculture

activities until the target tree density is obtained, resulting in a long-term, but total restoration of a

longleaf pine flatwoods community.

There are numerous possibilities for the implementation of the project. Site elevations and

conditions will have to be taken into account to produce optimal structure and composition for longleaf

pine communities. Given that this proposal is only for 1,000 acres of a roughly 2,200 acre area of

disturbance, there is the potential of a patchwork of installation areas versus one contiguous planting.

This would give the added benefit of continuing with sod removal and ground cover restoration in tracts

adjacent to longleaf plantings, thereby allowing native seed source to buffer the plantings, provide a

more localized seed bank and allow wind-born seeds to migrate and pre-seed planted areas. Likewise,

the restored ground cover patches could be seeded with longleaf pines to ensure an uneven age

structure to the whole of the project.

As the proposed project is unprecedented as a restoration method, it warrants significant

monitoring and ideally should yield an academic publication of the results as the various phases

develop. At the very least several photo data collection points should be established. Soil maps of the

area give clear evidence that the former pasture is on soil types that support pine flatwoods

communities, but natural communities are not homogenous. Evidence of the variations in species

composition and structure is indicated in the wide margins of tree densities as reported in the

management plan. If the historic longleaf pine densities on Duette Preserve range from just a few per

acre to over 100* trees per acre, further ground-truthing of existing stump holes remaining from 201h

century logging efforts as well as a closer examination of historic records will be necessary. In addition,

near-pristine areas within Duette Preserve could offer baseline data of target species composition and

structure of both ground cover and over story and will need to be determined prior to the start of the

first thinning (around 20 years).

*While the 1996 management plans offers natural longleaf pine density estimates of Duette Preserve at

just a few trees per acre up to 60 per acre, recent ground-truthed evidence by Natural Resources staff

has shown that densities in some locations were over 100 per acre. These numbers are to be refined as

the project progresses -one of the luxuries of a long-term restoration plan is the ability to be adaptive as

conditions or information changes over time.

The following table demonstrates the potential costs and revenue from each aspect of this proposal:

Tree Tl£~e Size Quantitv Unit Cost Total Cost Grand Total Cost

Longleaf Pine Tube ling 726,000 $0.20 $145,200.00

Installation(@ 1,000 a. $110.00 $110,000.00

$110.00/acre)

S255120o.oo

Sod Cutting [Pre~ O~tion guantitl£ Unit Price Potential Revenue (Single

yield)

Up to 108 pallets/ Acre@ 108,000 $7.00/ S7561ooo.oo

$7.00 ea. pallets pallet

Straw Harvest Revenue Quantitv Unit Price Potential Revenue

$100/acre/year at year 8- 1,000 a. $100.00 $100,000.00/ year for

10 for 10 years ~10 years= ~110001000.00

Potential Timber Revenue Quantitv Timber Market Price Potential Revenue Note:

(2-3 tons growth/acre/yr) (acres/3 Tons (price/ton) Market prices range from

per current $5.00 I ton low to

harvest) $25.00/ton.

Harvest 1-Year 20 333 acres 13,320 ~s5-$25.oo $66,000.00-- $333,000.00

(2tons/year=40tons/acre)

Harvest 2 -Year 30 222 acres 13,320 "'$5-$25.00 $66,000.00- $333,000.00

(2tons/year=60tons/acre)

Harvest 3-Year 40 148 acres 11,840 "'$5-$25.00 $59,200.00--$296,000.00

(2tons/year=80tons/acre)

Harvest 4- Year 50 99 acres 9,900 "'$5-$25.00 $49,500.00--$247,500.00

(2tons/year=100tons/acre)

Timber $2401700.00 (Reflects

Grand Total today's price, could be as

much as $1,209,500.00)

_)_

Examples of Budgets of similar restoration projects:

Example 1 (Table 3) SWFWMD Conner Preserve Restoration Plan at 304 total acres:

http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/files/database/site file sets/1697/4-

ConnerPreserve RestorationPian.pdf

Table 3. Projected Project Costs.

Management Unit Cost per Unit #of Units Total Cost Activity Prescribed fire on Acre S~5 1,216 $18,240 Restoration Areas Plateau herbicide Acre S105 2,432 $255,360 aoolicatnons Roundup/Aqua Acre 595 1,216 $115,520 Star herbicide applncatcons DiskinQ Acre $~00 608 $60 800 Seeding {Harvest, Acre s·n ,4oo 304 $425,600 transport, & broadcasting) Groundcover Acre S7,000 49 $343,000 olants Longleaf trees Acre S333 304 $101 232 Mechanical tree Acre S75 304 $22,800 insta~~ation Mowing Acre S25 200 $5,000 (Maintenance) Mowcng (Seed Acre S25 600 $15,000 donor site preparation) Exotic plant Year S5,000 15 $75,000 treatments Monitorin_g_ Event S4,620 30 $138,600 Soil pH testing Sample S5 12 $60 Seed viability Sample S20 20 $400 testing Hydroax Acre sn5 250 $31,250 (Enhancement) Hydroax (Seed Acre sn5 100 $12,500 donor site oreparation) Prescribed Fire Acre S15 5,435 $81,525 (Enhancement) TOTAL $1 701 887

Note: The full restoration cost of this budget if applied to the 1,000 acres proposed at Duette Preserve

would equal over $5.4 M.

Example 2: Cost Report Excerpt, Restoring Native Ground Cover. Stephanie Nagid, FWC Restoration

Ecologist, 2007.

http://www. fipr .state. fl. us/2008Restoration/Nagid. pdf

Costs - 2006-2007 FY 1200

c 1000 0

s t 800

p 600

e r

400 A c r 200

e

0

/ / v v ,---------

v 7

1---v c-*

v~ -----· ---t::::::; -----· -

Planning and Site Preparation

Collection and Planting

~-----

D In-house

D Contracted

~

-------- / Malnteoonce

and Monitoring

I *This column does not include initial costs of equipment purchases.

Note: Costs (at -$2,500 per acre) reported here are for the ground cover restoration only, not

including tree planting. Projecting this cost to the 1,000 acres proposed at Duette Preserve would cost

a sum of $2.5 M for just the ground cover.

-- 4?45

fiE CORDED P~GE Uo. --"-f;~.;LJ~

MlNifTE 8001\ NO.

DUETTE PARK PROPERTY

LAND USE PLAN

JANUARY 1996

ACCEPTED IN OP£1\1 SESSION _J/.:.J.JJ..~.--­lt.JAAO Of COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, MANATEE COUNTY

--........ -L..~

Excerpt from Duette Land Use Plan. 1996, Chapter IX Land Management, Subchapter C. Ecosystems,

Section 1. Recommendations for Upland Communities, Subsection d. Recommendations for Disturbed

Sites, Page 61:

noxious non-n~tive species, especially cogon qrass. Some of the fields are dominated. by bahia grass. The Florida Division of Forestry has planted pines. on some of the sites.

Before plantinq IDore pines, restoration plans for th~s~ sitQ& should be davalopGd. ~ho land manaqcra of this property have the opportunity to become pioneers in restoration of Florida natural comuunities. These sites offer an excellent opportunity to develop creative methods to accomplish control of non-native species and habitat restoration simultaneously,

An example. of one possible approach would be to plant longleaf pines at a hign per acre c!ensity (1000+ trees/acre) to create a dense, c1osed canopy. Within 20 to 25 yearsf shading and suffocation fro~ pine litter should siqnifieantly reduce most understory vegetation. A partial thinning could then be conducted to allow enough sunlight to begin plantings of representative understory species. A sufficient density cf pines would be left standing to provide adequate litter fall to begin prescribed burning once the plantings are established. Subsequent thinnings would be conducted to bring the overstory cover to a level representative of the natural community.

The example given is intended to offer the general concept of first choosing a restoration goal for a site, and then tailoring silvicultural and horticultural techniques to achieve that qoal. Restoration plans should consider on-site sources of seed and veqetative $tock for all species in order not to jeopardize the genetic integrity of the area. Soils and early aerial photography could be used to determine the original plant community that occurred on each restoration site.

The improved pastures which still possess significant components of the original natural community (wiregrass, palmetto) should reeeive individualhed restoration planninq. Theee areas can perhaps be restored over a shorter time perio~.

The invasive weed, ccqon qrass, needs immediate specific control action. This species, ranked as one of the ten worst inv~sive plants in the world, is capable of very rapid expansion and thrives even in shade. Eradication of tbis very tenacious weed will require a lone; term. commitment that should

61

Item 53 (supplement)

Duette Preserve Longleaf Pine Restoration Implementation Plan

After much consideration, including comments from ELMAC members as well as public stakeholders, the longleaf pine planting implementation will take a patchwork, or mosaic-like form, rather than occupy a singular block of 1,000 acres within the bahia pasture. While a singular 1,000 acre block may have been easier to manage in that all activities take place in one area, it would limit the restorative scope of the project to only that 1,000 acres. The actual size, shape and elevations of the former pasture areas limit the organization of planting areas. Furthermore, within the roughly 2,200 acres of former pasture, much of the area has grown in with weedy species making preparation costly and ruling out the potential for sod removal in many cases.

The mosaic plan would broaden the reach of the restoration by expanding the potential restoration footprint. This would be accomplished by parceling out smaller planting areas. For example, confining the pine plantings to the areas of greatest bahia density within the 2,200 acres of bahia pasture would provide the following restoration benefits:

1) Targeting the densest bahia coverage ensures the objective of bahia removal is better achieved.

2) Bahia pasture adjacent to a given restoration planting area will undergo groundcover restoration efforts concurrent with the adjacent pine planting. Bahia can be removed by local sod farmers for revenue and the existing groundcover seed sources within Duette Preserve will be utilized to direct-seed the open ground. This effort may require either a purchase of harvesting equipment or contract with a harvester, which could be funded by sale of sod.

3) As the pines develop in the planted areas, cones and excess seedlings that develop can be moved to the adjacent pasture areas to create an uneven age structure. This uneven age structure is a desired restoration goal, mimicking the various growth stages found naturally.

4) As the native ground cover becomes established next to the planted areas, the pine planting area can be pre-seeded by wind-born native seeds.

5) After the fifty-plus year project concludes, the adjacent former bahia pasture patches will take the desired structure and composition of a natural longleaf pine community as will the areas that received the initial 726 per acre pine trees.

Please see attached maps to illustrate the mosaic plan:

H1911 Density Bahia Pasture 'To Be Pbnled wlltl Pine (1,000Acres)

~ Remaining Former Pastac

MANA1rJEJE~§AID.A§01fA lFJI§lBI ANID GAMJE A§§OCTIA1rJION9 ITNCo IPo Oo Jffi([J)X ~]_~4}9 lffiirta:t~e!Illtt([J)IIll 9 JFll([J)Irll~~ 2§4}l({J)~~~]_~4}

June 20, 2011

To Whom It May Concern:

Merrie Lynn Parker, Secretary-Treasurer of the Manatee-Sarasota Fish and Game Association is authorized by its Board of Directors to speak on their behalf to the Board of County Commissioners on June 21, 2011. She wiU SiJeak in regard to Agenda Item 53 - Natural Resources: Tree Trust Funds.

Sincerely,

~"~ Adam M. Garrott, M.D. President

§.C. 0 .JR. IE. §'flEW AJ!ID§ <CO N§IEJRVJIN G 0 1UIR JRIE§O 1UIR<CIE§ AN1J)) IENVJIJR((J) NMIEN'TI'

'"Jtftu' IJ')l-f'

~~ ~ '--~ ~(~{lc

Draft TWO Proposed Presentation to BOCC June 21, 2011

The third objective of the Duette land Use Plan is to restore, enhance and maintain the historic

natural ecosystems, behind protection of the watershed and cultural resources. I speaking

today, on behalf of the Manatee Sarasota Fish and Game Association, a group that has, from

the inception of Duette Preserve supported restoration and recreation at Duette Preserve.

The natural flatwoods of Duette Preserve consists of an understory of hundreds of diverse

species as ground cover and a sparse open canopy of longleaf pines as overstory. For the area

of Florida in which Duette Preserve resides the average long leaf pines per acre was 20. Duette

Preserve where restoration, enhancement and maintenance have occurred provides a unique

look at old Florida in its natural state.

The Natural Resource Department's proposal is requesting Tree Trust Funds to achieve the third

objective on 1000 acres of bahaia pasture in 50 years- beyond the life span of many of us.

I offer to you an alternative two part plan, one that can be achieved in the next few years and

benefit the third objective directly and in a short time frame with the $255,200 of Tree Trust

Funds being requested.

Our plan requests the Tree Trust Funds be used to install understory rather than overstory thus

supporting best restoration practices.

1. let the 1000 acres of bahai pasture undergo natural succession to wax myrtle which will

shade out the bahai far more efficiently and quickly than densely planted pine. This will

make it easier to restore that acreage when funds are available.

2. Instead, sell trees from 100 acres of the slash pine tree farm Forestry planted some 25

years ago and devote attention to restoring that area by using Tree Trust Funds plus

money from the timber sale to install the natural shrubby understory, then plant

longleaf pines in a year or two at an appropriate density using best practices for

restoration.

The intent of the Tree Trust Fund is to replace trees that have been taken in development and

not replaced. It is part of the Tree Protection Code 714 written to sustain the canopy of trees in

our county for all the natural life supporting benefits that trees provide. If a cut tree were

replaced, the code calls for the owner to keep the tree in perpetuity, free from death and

disease. If the developer does not replace the tree they can put money into the Tree Trust

Fund. And that fund, the one from which funds are requested today, provides for landscaping

for low income housing, public parks (Duette Preserve qualifies as that) and other

beautification projects. One must assume the intent of a TRUST fund (with emphasis on the

1

word TRUST) would still be to keep the trees and plants in perpetuity. The Natural Resource

Department's proposal is asking for Tree Trust Fund money to purclhase trees that will result in

up to 80% be harvested as a timber crop over the next 50 years. Our proposal asks for Tree

Trust Funds to plant the natural shrubby plants as understory -landscaping if you will that will

remain in perpetuity. This is in keeping with the intent of the Tree Trust Fund.

Division of Forestry planted a tree farm of slash pines on Duette Preserve close to 25 years ago.

We propose that NRD cut and sell those pines, and use that money ~combined with the

$255,200 of Tree Trust Funds to create natural shrubby understory or groundcover on more

than 100 acres of those lands. Slash pine is not native to the pine flatwoods of Duette while

longleaf pine is the overstory component of the natural flatwoods of Duette. The tree farm

that Forestry planted is where the cogan grass first began to take hold on both sides of road 3

at Duette Preserve and rangers have been fighting with herbicides this evasion for fifteen years

costing $1000's. This money would be saved by cutting and installing a natural understory that

would not allow for cogan grass to enter. Cogan grass does not take hold where a natural

understory exists. This also furthers meeting the objective of natural restoration. The Land Use

Plan states that an area in transition should receive the priority in restoration. In our proposal,

MSF&G pledges to purchase the long leaf pine trees to plant at a more natural density once the understory is installed in these former slash pine plantations.

Second, until funds are available to use best restoration practices, the 1000 acres of bahai

pasture land can be allowed to undergo natural succession, with wa>e myrtles moving in. This

was occurring naturally before the Sheriffs cows moved onto the pasture. Wa>e myrtle or

southern bayberry is a native species found naturally in pine flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods and

dry prairie. Within a far shorter time than 50 years, the wax myrtle as a shrub with a dense

canopy and aggressive growth, will shade out most of the bahia in a few years. When economy

permits, the wa>e myrtle can be chopped and burned, and the ground readied for installing a

natural understory in preparation for restoration to a natural flatwood using best practice.

Best practice restoration of natural longleaf pine flatwoods costs from $2500-5000/acre if the

work is contracted out. If the work is done by our ranger staff, there could be a substantial

savings to this cost with native seed gathered on the property.

We question the success of this experimental 50 year tree farm proposal by the Natural

Resource Department as a restoration effort based upon the following:

• Densely planted pines on bahai pasture near the check station were planted eight years

ago and the casual passerby can see no reduction in the bahia grasses growing

underneath. No shading out has occurred yet.

2

' •

• One will suspect that when the ground on the 1000 acres to be planted with the NRD's

proposal is scraped to prepare for planting the tuberlings or the grass removed as a sod

crop, that the little tuberlings will be vying for survival by all manner of exotic species

that rush into disturbed soil, e.g. cogan grass and tropical soda apple.

• And then one wonders about the logic of the proposal.... planting trees to eventually

shade out bahai but also proposing to remove that same bahia before planting the

trees. They will have to remove the existing grass to plant the tuberlings at the

proposed density. Seems a little contradictory.

• We also note that the budget page of expenses and income does not reflect the NRD's

plans for installing understory or ground cover as the thinning takes place.

• Pine trees planted to the density proposed by NRD MUST be thinned to grow healthy

trees. Priorities shift, personnel change, economy goes up and down. If the thinning

does not go off as planned the trees will be stressed and the crop of trees will be

unhealthy.

• Even though a description of the NRD's proposed plan was written into the Duette land

Use Plan as an example of an experimental ploy some 20 years ago, it is not BEST

PRACTICE for flatwoods restoration. I have found no documentation that any other

agency or organization that does flatwood restoration has ever tried it, nor do they

advocate this methodology.

• The Natural Resource Department's plan sounds more like tree farming than

restoration.

In summary, the Tree Trust Money would be far better utilized for landscaping - to purchase the

means to plant natural understory shrubs and plants on a smaller tract of land already in

transition. You could decide to devote Tree Trust Funds over the years to continue the

installation of the understory shrubs to facilitate the restoration of longleaf pine flatwoods.

This alternative proposal I'm providing takes advantage of the Tree Trust Fund in a way that

better fulfills the intention of this fund. The proposal brought to you today by NRD asks for

money for trees to be harvested as a crop to achieve restoration in 50 years. Our alternative

proposal asks for money for understory shrubs and plans that will remain in perpetuity and

fulfill the objective of restoration in a far shorter period of time.

3

IF YOU WISH TO ADDRESS THE BOARD DURING A PUBLIC HEARING ON TODAY'S AGENDA, PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM.

THANK YOU.

Individuals wishing to speak on any Public Hearing matter must indicate so by filling out this form and returning it to the Clerk prior to the beginning of the Public Hearing.

PLEASE PRINT

Name

Jv\ Qlf~t ~ h ep'(?~v¢ Address

Representing

1. Are you in favor: opposed:

2A. Speaking as an individual?

OR

28. If you are speaking as representative of a group: **

Name of Group:

** You are required to provide the Clerk with written evidence of your authority to speak on behalf of the organization or group you represent for land use public hearings.

3. Do you have a visual presentation or other evidence to be submitted to the Board?

Yes 0 No

4. Do you wish to be notified of any subsequent dispute resolution proceedings?

Yes 0 No

* Designation in favor or opposed is required solely for determination of the order of appearance. The number of people for or against a matter is not considered by the Board with regard to whether to approve or deny the matter.

CITIZENS' COMMENTS ~53

Do your comm n r.et;er to an item on today's agenda? 0 NO Item#: J C~SENT:tZN"o 0 YES

s

The Board of County Cornmiss · ers welcomes your comments. Your presentation will be limited to two (2) minutes. appropriate, the matter(s) you present will be placed on a future commission agenda.

It is requested that you complete this form an tum it to the receptionist prior to the beginning of the Citizens' Comments portion

Brief escription of problem or concern: ' .-,.......

ree

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June 20, 2011

To Whom It May Concern:

Merrie Lynn Parker, Secretary-Treasurer of the Manatee-Sarasota Fish and Game Association is authorized by its Board of Directors to speak on their behalf to the Board of County Commissioners on June 21, 2011. She win spee:sk in reyard to Agenda Item 53 - Natural Resources: Tree Trust Funds.

Sincerely,

~-.~~ Adam M. Garrott, M.D. President

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