HARDWOOD WETLANDS FIRST QUARTER MONITORING REPORT
Date.
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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.
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location of transect, quadrats, and photo plots.
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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.
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20
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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
.
.
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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.