An impact or mitigation assessment area must be described
with sufficient detail to provide a frame of reference for the type of
community being evaluated and to identify the functions that will be evaluated.
When an assessment area is an upland proposed as mitigation, functions must be
related to the benefits provided by that upland to fish and wildlife of
associated wetlands or other surface waters. Information for each assessment
area must be sufficient to identify the functions beneficial to fish and
wildlife and their habitat that are characteristic of the assessment area's
native community type, based on currently available information, such as aerial
photographs, topographic maps, geographic information system data and maps,
site visits, scientific articles, journals, other professional reports, field
verification when needed, and reasonable scientific judgment. For artificial
systems, such as borrow pits, ditches and canals, and for altered systems,
refer to the native community type it most closely resembles. The information
provided by the applicant for each assessment area must address the following,
as applicable:
(1) Special water
classifications, such as whether the area is in an Outstanding Florida Water,
an Aquatic Preserve, a Class II water approved, restricted, conditionally
approved, conditionally restricted for shellfish harvesting, or an Area of
Critical State Concern;
(2)
Significant nearby features that might affect the values of the functions
provided by the assessment area, such as areas with regionally significant
ecological resources or habitats (national or state parks, forests, or
reserves; Outstanding National Resource Waters and associated watershed;
Outstanding Florida Waters and associated watershed; other conservation areas),
major industry, or commercial airport;
(3) Assessment area size;
(4) Geographic relationship and hydrologic
connection between the assessment area and any contiguous wetland or other
surface waters, or uplands, as applicable;
(5) Classification of the assessment area's
native community type, considering past alterations that affect the
classification. Classification shall be based on Florida Land Use, Cover and
Form Classification System (1999) (FLUCC) codes, which is incorporated by
reference herein. In addition, the applicant may further classify the
assessment area using the 26 Communities of Florida, Soils Conservation Service
(February 1981), which is incorporated by reference herein; A Hydrogeomorphic
Classification for Wetlands, Wetland Research Program Technical Report
WRP-DE-4, Mark M. Brinson (August 1993), which is incorporated by reference
herein; or other sources that, based on reasonable scientific judgment,
describe the natural communities in Florida;
(6) Uniqueness when considering the relative
rarity of the wetland or other surface water and floral and faunal components,
including listed species, on the assessment area in relation to the surrounding
regional landscape;
(7) Functions
performed by the assessment area's native community type. Functions to be
considered are: providing cover, substrate, and refuge; breeding, nesting,
denning, and nursery areas; corridors for wildlife movement; food chain
support; and natural water storage, natural flow attenuation, and water quality
improvement, which enhances fish, wildlife, and listed species
utilization;
(8) Anticipated
wildlife utilization and type of use (feeding, breeding, nesting, resting, or
denning), and applicable listing classifications (threatened, endangered, or
species of special concern as defined by Rules
68A-27.003,
68A-27.004 and
68A-27.005, F.A.C.). The list
developed for the assessment area need not include all species which use the
area, but must include all listed species in addition to those species that are
characteristic of the native community type, considering the size and
geographic location of the assessment area. Generally, wildlife surveys will
not be required. The need for a wildlife survey will be determined by the
likelihood that the site is used by listed species, considering site
characteristics and the range and habitat needs of such species, and whether
the proposed system will impact that use;
(9) Whether any portion of the assessment
area has been previously used as mitigation for a prior issued permit; and,
(10) Any additional information
that is needed to accurately characterize the ecological values of the
assessment area and functions provided.
