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HARDWOOD WETLANDS FIRST QUARTER MONITORING REPORT Date. To PrOject Forwarded: Remarks: By. Copy. f ({JfJO C :..---' 2_ _~ ().OJ~ -w-_p~_...J /J DEUTSCII IRELi\ND PROPEH.TIE~ REPLY TO FORT LAUOEROALE OfFICE {~ /t__-.. r '- Transmittal MAY 9, 1989 MR CARMEN ANNUNZIATO, CITY PLANNER CITY OF BOYNTON BEACH QUANTUM CORPORATE PARK FIRST QUARTER MONITORING REPORT FOR THE NON-JURISDICTIONAL HARDWOOD WETLANDS MICHAEL J TOLL Development Manager RECEIVED MAfU_ PLANNiNG DEPT. THE 110 TOWER, 21 Sf FLOOR. 110 SOUTHEAST SIXTH STREET, FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA 33301-3415 BROWARD (305) 763-8888 . FAX (305) 763-8996 PALM BEACH (407) 734-3555. DADE (305) 945-8110 THE BUILDING, 1125 NORTHEAST 125 STREET NORTH MIAMI, FLORIDA 33161 (305) 891 -6806 . FAX (305) 895-8241 FIRST QUARTER MONITORING REPORT FOR JTHE QUANTUM PARK NON-JURISDICTIONAL HARDWOOD WETLANDS 13 April 1989 by Donald Richardson, Ph.D. Ecological Consultants 7301 Surnmerbridge Drive Tampa, Florida 33614 Introduction As specified in the Department of Environmental Regulation Permit #501268889 under Specific Conditions Numbers 5 and 6, all exotic vegetation will be removed from the nonjurisdictional I wetlands and replanted with hardwood swamp species. specific item Number 6 requires the locations, numbers and species of plants that will be removed and a list of those to be installed. The following report details a plan to remove the existing punk trees (Melaleuca quinquenervia) from both wetlands and the recovery of the impacted areas. The southern wetland (2.2 acres) was dominated by two dense stands (0.11 acres) of punk trees in the northwest corner and western edge (Figure 1). A smaller group of trees were also found within a 20 foot band along the southeast and eastern edges of the wetland. As per the requ i rements establ i shed wi thi n the Development Order, most of the fringing Melaleuca trees (ca. 361) were removed from the wetland by the general contractor. Each tree was removed from the berm with a front end loader and a chain. This would preclude the need for heavy equipment in the wetland since the peat layers exceed 4 feet in many areas. The dense stands required special consideration since they extend out into the wetland beyond the limits of the heavy equipment. A berm was constructed out into the wetland several meters in order to reach the southern extent of the Melaleuca head. All berm materials were removed to existing grade to allow germination from existing seed sources. Under the present water 3 conditions, most of the naturally occurring herbaceous species should germinate from the existing muck layers in the impacted areas. Isolated trees within the wetland (ca. 80 saplings) will be treated with the herbicide, Arsenal. This herbicide was requested for use at Quantum Park by the Florida Department of Agr iculture. Arsenal has been used effectively for control of Melaleuca and Brazilian pepper within Florida. Prior to the treatment of isolated Melaleuca trees, the water table within the wetland will be slightly lowered to within a few inches of the muck layer or applied during spring drought conditions. All treatments will be administered so that no herbicide reaches the water table. Application to Melaleuca will be done using the frill/girdle technique as indicated in the Supplemental Labeling report (EPA SLN No. FL-870011) for Arsenal. Since most of the trees are less than 6 inches in circumference, approximately 50% of the bark will be removed and a cut made into at least two growth rings. Undiluted Arsenal will be brushed into each cut. Re-application may be required for those trees that are not killed during the first treatment. The above pro tocol for exot ic removal would require the installation of some hardwood tree species. Approximately 48 wetland trees were installed in the disturbed areas. A mixture of pond apple (Annona glabra), bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) , wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera), dahoon holly (Ilex cassine) and red bay (persea palustris) were planted in the scarified areas. All 4 trees (3 gallon nursery grown stock) were installed on 10 foot centers. Herbaceous species were allowed to germinate from seeds stored in the muck layers. After the area had been cleared of / Melaleuca, any exposed soil was lowered to grade elevations in order to prevent Brazilian pepper colonization. The 3.8 acre wetland to the north and adjacent to the City Park was dominated by 0.20 acres of dense Melaleuca (Figure 2). Most of the existing Melaleuca trees (ca. 300-500 trees including saplings) occurred in the southwest corner of the site and average 3-8 inches dbh, becoming smaller to the east. The remaining trees were located in a small stand in the northeast corner of the site. The natural vegetation of this wetland is dominated by several herbaceous species and scattered wax myrtles. As stated above, no herbaceous planting would be initiated unless natural recruitment does not occur. Approximately 89 trees were installed in the former Melaleuca areas. A mixture of the same species as mentioned above were planted on 10 foot centers or in small clumps to simulate natural swamp development. A maintenance program was initiated to curtail possible exotic recruits or to further retreat those trees that might not have been killed during the initial treatment with herbicide. Since this herbicide will be applied during low water and by hand, death the other woody spec ies wi 11 be he 1 d to a m in i mal level. Maintenance will occur every 60 days in order to treat new seedlings or to retreat saplings that were not killed during 5 the first application. All monitoring reports will be submitted to the developers of the property for submittal to the required agencies. I Monitoring will occur semi-annually for the first and second year and at least one event will occur in the wet and dry portions of the year. A sampling program of line-transects and quadrats were established for each wetland. A 50 meter line transect was installed in each wetland from the shore of the wetland out into the undisturbed portions. All plant material breaking the plane of the transect was recorded in order to detrmine percent cover by species. In addition, 6 one meter square quadrats were established along one side of each transect. Percent cover by species will be recorded in order to monitor changes in the wetland. A plan view showing the location of the transects and quadrats is included (Figures land 2). Fixed photographic stations were established along each transects with photographs of each quadrat. Stations were also established at random intervals along the edge of each wetland. Monitoring reports will also include percent mortality of treated exotics, percent cover by natural wetland species, and survival data on planted trees. RESULTS To date, recovery of the scarified areas of former Melaleuca has been excellent for both wetland systems. Natural recruitment has been somewhat better in the southern wetland with nearly 100% coverage of disturbed areas. 6 Transect data for the southern wetland indicates that a total 93% of the transect line was covered with wetland plant ma t e ria 1 (F i g u r e 3). In the formerly disturbed areas, spikerush / (Eleocharis baldwinia), dogfennel (Eupatorium sp.), arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia), marsh fleabane (Pluchea rosea), red root (Lachnanthes caroliniana), Rhynchospora microcarpa, and Cyperus haspan formed most of the biomass (Table 1). A total of 29 species were recorded along the transect for both the disturbed and undisturbed portions of the marsh. In the undisturbed portions of the transect, chain fern (woodwardia virginica), swamp fern (Blechnum serrulatum), royal fern (Osmunda regal is), and buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) were the dominant species. Percent cover estimates from one meter square quadrats (Figures 4-6) indicate similar results as observed along the transect (Table 2). Spike rush was the dominant ground cover species, followed by Cyperus haspan, Eupatorium sp., red root, and hemp vine (Mikania scandens). The ecotone or transition from the disturbed area to the undisturbed marsh is sharp and well defined. Most of the disturbed area species are early successional, pioneer species that require full sunlight in contrast to the more shade adapted shrubs and ferns of the undisturbed marsh. Species richness is much reduced in the undisturbed areas because of the lower light levels imposed by the much taller vegetation. Recovery in the scarified portions of the northern wetland 7 (3.2 acre) have been somewha t s lower than the one to the so u th (Figure 7). Species richness is similar with 28 species reco rderd along the transect, however, percen t cover es t ima tes I for the quadrats are somewhat lower (Figures 8-10). Seed bank replenishment in the scarified areas may have been severely reduced since the area was dominated with mature Melaleuca for many years. The lack of understory vegetation, low light levels, and the possible release of secondary inhibitory chemicals from mature trees may have reduced the viability of soil born seeds prior to Melaleuca establishment. At any rate, about 70-80% of the scarified area has been recolonized by native wetland herbs. Transect data supports the observed differences in cover estimates. About 84% of the 50 meter transect was occupied by plant material and much more soil was exposed throughout the wet land tha n in the so ut her n syst ern. Species richness was similar, however, species composition was different (Table 3). The northern wetland was covered with about 3-12 inches of stand i ng wa ter. This has allowed the establishment of more obligate wetland species such as arrowhead (Sagittaria lancifolia), pickerelweed (pontederia cordata), and duck potato ( Sag i t tar i a 1 a t i f 0 1 i a), e s pe cia 11 y i nth e de e pe r are a s 0 f the site. Approximately 97% of the installed trees within the scarified areas of the wetlands have survived. A few of the bays have not responded from the initial shock of transplanting. Bald cypress has just started to produce leaves for this season, while 8 most of the hardwoods were in full leaf several weeks prior. Of the original Melaleuca within the southern wetland, only 30-40% of the trees have died following Arsenal application. / Each tree was girdled and full strength Arseanal was applied to the cambial layers. After approx imately 4 weeks, a second application was initiated on the trees that had not died. Since the second application, approximately 300-400 seedlings have germinated. About 30% of these were removed from the scarified area, and the remaining were treated 15 April 1989. If this third application does not produce the expected results, a d iff ere nth e r b i c ide s h 0 u 1 d be uti 1 i zed 0 rap r 0 f e s s ion a 1 fir m will be contacted for removal of exotic vegetation. Treatment in the northern wetland has been better, about 40% of the treated trees have died, however, very few seedlings have resprouted. This may be directly attributed to the removal of more substrate which contained Melaleuca seeds or sprouts whereas in the southern wetland the deep muck layers prevented the removal of soil borne seeds and sprouts. Most of the exposed muck layers in the southern wetland have resprouted with small saplings. As indicated in the original monitoring scheme for these wetland systems, photographic documentation along the edges of each wetland was established. For the north wetland, photo plot #1 (Figure 11, upper) was taken from the west bank looking east across the transect line. photo plot 12 (Figure 11, lower) is looking north into the deeper water area where cattails have 9 established. photo plot #3 was taken looking north approximately 20 meters to the west of photo plot #2 on the south bank (Figure 12, upper) Considerably more standing water occurs in this I portion of the formerly cleared area. A shallow pool about 2 feet deep can be seen in the upper left corner of Figure 12, upper. photo plot #4 (Figure 12, lower) was taken from the southeastern bank looking to the east across the scarified area. A few cattails have become established on the exposed muck near photo plot #4. Virtually no Melaleuca seedlings were visible in the northern photo plots, except the large stand off the property to the north of the wetland. In contrast, the southern wetland is far more accessible and most of the photo plots were taken looking at the mature vegetation. photo plot #1 was taken from the northwest corner along the bike path looking east (Figure 13, upper). A small stand of sawgrass and buttonbush occur in this portion of the marsh. Melaleuca sapling can be seen in the upper left and right of Figure 13, upper. Most of these were treated at the time of this report. photo plot #2 is looking northeast from the southwest bank into a former Melaleuca stand that was removed (F igure 13, lower). Several young Melaleuca trees, pri~rose willow (Ludwigia peruviana), and several species of herbs have colonized this area. Photo plot #3 is also looking north from the south bank into an area that had scattered Melaleuca (Figure 14, upper). Most of the trees along the southern edge of the south wetland were removed by a chain attached to the bucket of a 10 front-end loader. Very little disturbance of the muck was noticed except for a few deeper holes that have been colonized with arrowhead and other aquatics. Photo plot #4 (Figure 14, / lower) is 100 ki ng northwest into a fo rmer Melal euca stand. A few Melaleuca saplings have resprouted from old tree roots left behind after the trees were pulled from the swamp. Most of the area has been colonized by swamp fern, chain fern and some primrose willow. photo plot #5 (Figure 15, upper) was taken from the north bank looking southwest into the scarified area of the transect. Several Melaleuca sapling can be seen in the lower left portion of the photo and most of these were treated at the time of this report. SUMMARY Recovery of the scarified areas within both nonjurisdictional wetlands has been excellent. Percent cover estimates show that the northern wetland has progressed at a somwhat slower pace of recovery than the smaller southern wetland. Approximately 97% of the installed trees have survived and new growth was observed .on most trees. Melaleuca germination from seed or resprouts poses a slight problem in the southern wet land. Thi s is directly attr ibuted to the lack of root and muck excavation in this system, whereas the northern wetland was scarified of all Melaleuca roots at the time of removal. 11 Table 1 Percent cover estimates along a 50 meter transect in the southern (2.2 acre) wetland. SCIENTIFIC NAME Eleocharis baldwinii Woodwardia virginica Eupatorium sp. Sagittaria lancifolia Pluchea rosea Blechnum serrulatum Lachnanthes caroliniana Osmunda regalis Cephalanthus occidentalis Rhynchospora microcephala Cyperus haspan Scoparia dulcis Hydrocotyle umbel lata panicum hemitomom Mikania scandens persea borbonia (planted) Ludwigia repens Lygodium japonicum Sarcosternrna clausum Cyperus strigosus Rhynchospora microcarpa Diodia virginiana Ludwigia octovalvis Ammannia coccinea Polygonum punctatum Iris hexagona Peltandra virginica Boehmeria cylindrica Xyris jupicai Total Species. 29 % COVER 4t.0 11.4 8.4 7.8 7.4 6.4 6.4 4.6 4.0 3.0 2.6 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.4 o 2 0.2 o 2 Percent Cover. 119.2* Total % Cover: 92.4 * indicates species overlap along transect. Total percent cover indicates what percentage of the transect was bare so il . Table 2. Percent cover by species for the 6 quadrats in the southern wetland. Species Eleocharis baldwinii Woodwardia virginica Eupatorium sp. Sagittaria lancifolia Pluchea rosea Blechnum serrulatum Lachnanthes caroliniana pontederia cordata Osmunda regalis Cephalanthus occidentalis Rhynchospora microcephala Cyperus haspan Scoparia dulcis Hydrocotyle umbel lata Mikania scandens Ludwigia repens Lygodium japonicum Salix caroliniana Cyperus strigosus Rhynchospora microcarpa Diodia virginiana Ludwigia octovalvis Arnmannia coccinea Total % Cover Percent Cover by Species I Plot # 123 4 5 6 51 56 100 100 27 28 12 8 44 8 4 2 10 12 4 5 6 16 23 12 6 5 8 4 26 7 24 18 21 3 12 10 8 2 2 21 12 10 9 5 12 25 8 6 16 6 3 2 5 4 9 2 12 39 10 40 36 31 26 21 99 100 100 100 100 100 13 Table 3. Percent cover estimates along a 50 meter transect in the northern (3.2 acre) wetland. SCIENTIFIC NAME % COVER Eleocharis baldwinii pontederia cordata Sagittaria lancifolia Ludwigia peruviana Acrostichum danaeifolium Woodwardia virginica Sagittaria latifloia Mikania scandens Fuirena breviseta Habenaria repens Osmunda regalis Lygodium japonicum Centella asiatica Hydrocotyle umbellata Blechnum serrulatum Salix caroliniana Mitreola petiolatus Ludwigia microcarpa Pluchea rosea Sarcosternma clausum Eupatorium sp. Bacopa caroliniana Diodia virginiana Echinochloa crusgalli Cyperus haspan Arnmannia coccinea Lachnanthes caroliniana Polygonum punctatum 31.8 19.0 12 2 11 2 7.8 7.6 4.6 3.8 3.4 3.2 2.8 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.2 2.0 2.0 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.4 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.6 0.2 0.2 Total Species: 28 Percent Cover: 132.2* Total % Cover: 88.9 * indicates species overlap. Total percent cover Table 4. Percent cover by species for the 6 quadrats in the northern wetland. 14 Percent Cover by Species I Plot # 1 2 3 4 5 6 species Eleocharis baldwinii Woodwardia virginica Eupatorium sp. Habenaria repens Centella asiatica Sagittaria lancifolia Pluchea rosea Blechnum serrulatum Lachnanthes caroliniana Ludwigia microcarpa Proserpinaca pectinata Echinochloa crusgalli Mitreola petiolatus Fuirena breviseta Saururus cernuus Hydrocotyle umbel lata Mikania scandens Ludwigia peruviana Lygodium japonicum Acrostichum danaeifolium Total % Cover 22 26 16 4 4 14 2 2 2 8 6 11 2 3 2 2 2 2 10 3 1 3 14 94 100 95 18 1 8 12 1 3 4 3 2 61 6 96 8 6 1 24 6 7 6 2 9 63 14 9 97 100 15 Figure 1. Location map of southern (2.2 acre wetland) showing location of transect, quadrats, and photo plots. ".1. Ct' ----L..C\,'t .000< . ; 0/1 IUIlOsj H1MO~ ~ ..<) ...o~O ?..".>- ~~ .0 ~ -a c 1-0 ~ ::s- Ol ~ 0 0- M- -S '<(1- 0 01 1..0 M- /-c:/. -S III ~ 01 "'0 01 ~~ ::s- --' ...... 0 7- n ::l 1..0 V'l M- 0 01 ...... M- ::l ...... ro 0 ::l --i III -S 01 ::l III ro n M- c~..,~ar<<,~ avp,- ... 00 !'. c-! I -1'1 Pl I'~' , ~I UI co ~ :v I~ In rT1<J ... --1--1 ,.. r- '" t>0 ~ VI :;:z 0 . n 00 ~ ): Ul'TI .... 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Location maP of location of transect, '" " ,-LV/Dl1 C:' tlO'J.':\~( OIlO 1131 rG 1.'1 ~ (""1-(\' <4 )9t I 1 {. , "f'" cl./l .. . -0 ;g -:;s" 0 01 ~ 0- 0 ~ 1.0 01 ~ ~ 01 VI -c -:;s" 01 ~. ~ n 0 ~ I./'l c.O ~ r- 01 ~ ~. ~. ~ 0 ro ~ ~ VI ~ 01 ~ VI ro ('I ~ ---. ~' _ I " ., ...) $ "l\}{\ ~ ~t~,1 l.~ ~~ ~ I; / ;; . \. l.t . i. ~ l _ 1 t _llING CI\IIAL C 4 '" ,~ '" o :f.,n ~ -;. t. \ . ~ \ Ul N I) '-. ";.1>' J 1 s-) ':..0 ~'J) ;. " 'f .~ .. r .. Z o >ft )J' 9 ,to. -:~~I'~ .. c,Ool. ""...:'1' :~. :. ~ . , .: F ~ ~ : , 1- , c....zc os ~:.:r~~- . c o :. ., - ~t !.!.- ~ h :. ~ ; c-- .-.- .------.-------.. % ~ . <:: f'.. -...... . . . ' u'> ~~ ~ ~ '~ . . .::-; nU Y.. ~. ~ .. ., ~ .. J . ' ~~ ~ ~ ~ " ~. .. .00 C' , ~G>~''''''z. .> , . - ~ f. -:..... ~-- ~!.!.!. '" -~-~~~~~~ .__..._,." r --~~~~~~ \ i .. . ,.. ~ ~~cac~~~~cocC~1 c ----- 17 Figure 3. Transect line in southern wetland looking from quadrat #1 south to the undisturbed portion of the wetland. Figure 4 18 Quadrat #1 (upper) and quadrat #2 (lower) along transect in southern wetland. Figure 5 19 Quadrat #3 (upper) and quadrat #4 (lower) along transect in southern wetland. ~- .. ~ - .... ------- 20 6. "gut:e 'E'l dt:at ua and q land. et:) ~et. t upP net:n \5 sout. dt:at in Qua eCt. ans t.t: t:) tlo'./Je \6 along .. '# "A I -------- ------ 21 Figure 7. Transect line in northern wetland looking north from quadrat #1 to the undisturbed portion of the marsh 22 Figure 8. Quadrat #1 (upper) and quadrat #2 (lower) along transect in northern wetland. 23 Figure 9. Quadrat #3 (upper) and quadrat #4 (lower) along transect in northern wetland. 24 Figure 10. Quadrat #5 (upper) and quadrat #6 {lower} along transect in northern wetland. 25 Figure 11. Photo plot #1 (upper) and photo plot #2 (lower) in northern wetland. . . J 26 Figure 12 photo plot #3 (upper) and photo plot #4 (lower) in northern wetland . . ~ 27 Figure 13. Photo plot #1 (upper) and photo plot #2 (lower) in southern wetland. 28 Figure 14. Photo plot #3 (upper) and photo plot #4 (lower) in northern wetland. . 29 Figure 15 photo plat *5 in southern wetland.