CASE STUDY #8
Wetland restoration: Little Pine Island, Lee County, Florida, USA
By the early 1990’s, forty years of drainage canal impacts resulting from extensive mosquito ditching of this 4670 acre island, had resulted in the complete loss of freshwater habitats and exten- sive infestations of exotic plant species. Recognizing the ecologi- cal significance of this island which is now strategically located within the 40,000 acre Charlotte Harbor State Park, the State of Florida acquired the island in 1974 as its development was being planned, however the state had no plans to attempt any restora- tion activities due to the anticipated cost. In the early 1990’s the new concept of mitigation banking appealed to both the State of Florida and a private developer, Mariner Properties Develop- ment, Inc. In 1997 restoration activities began, undertaken as a public private partnership that was formed between Mariner and the State as the Little Pine Island Wetland Mitigation Bank. One of the first of its kind in the US the bank has privately financed over 12 million USD in habitat restoration and its perpetual main- tenance, ultimately from the sale of bank credits. Without this in- novative financial arrangement it would not have been possible to undertake the carefully planned and phased restoration designed and monitored by Kevin L. Erwin Consulting Ecologist, Inc. Ap- proximately 60 tons of biomass per acre was removed over nearly 2000 acres, consisting mostly of melaleuca (Melaleuca quinque- nervia), Australian pine (Casuarina equisetifolia), and Brazilian
pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius). These exotic trees dominated the island after drainage impacts occurred often forming a dense canopy and completely displacing the native plants and wildlife. As the exotic vegetation was removed in each phase, a deliberate process of backfilling the drainage canals commenced to restore the interior freshwater system and the natural tidal flows along shore. Recovery of the restored fresh and saltwater marshes, mangroves and slash pine wetland habitats has been remarkable. Following exotic removal and the restoration of natural hydro- patterns, seeds of native wetland vegetation that for decades had been dormant in the soil have sprouted to produce well-balanced native ecosystems replete with wildlife (11, 109, 17, 7, 13 and 95 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and aquat- ic macro-invertebrates, respectively.
Little Pine Island Mitigation Bank is an excellent example of a highly successful, cost effective, risk free wetland restoration project consisting of regionally significant ecosystem restoration that will be perpetually maintained at absolutely no cost to the public. (Biodiversity Conservation, Financial Benefits of Innova- tive Ecosystem Restoration)
Source: Kevin L. Erwin Consulting Lnc.
January 2005
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October 2009
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