Country Road Outdoors Feature Stories
Wetlands: Another Kind of Bank for the ‘Green’
April 22, 2009 | By Tanya Hastler
Looking for the “Perfect Place” to settle down, out in the middle of nowhere? A place filled with wildlife, to hunt in peace and quiet, to hear the twitter of birds instead of blaring horns, the call of the wild instead of the rumble of traffic? How about 11,000 acres of Florida land with over 5,000 acres of swamp? Interested? It wasn’t too long ago when 5,000 acres of swamp was so cheap swindlers could readily purchase said property then sell it off by the acre to unsuspecting Northerners at a hefty profit. That was before we realized the importance of these boggy, soggy, swampy areas. Little did we know how prized this land would become in just a few short years. We no longer look at the swamp as negative value to property, but look for ways to enhance and enlarge the habitat as a rich monetary and environmental investment for the future. We now cherish it...reclaim it…mitigate it…bank it!
The 1960s started a land revolution in the United States like none other. This was the era when Congress funded the first study on air pollution related to car exhaust. Consequently, someone realized we needed to address our contaminated water – hence the first Clean Water Act. We were looking for long term disposal of the nuclear waste we were accruing. In 1961, this fact prompted the following words from President John. F. Kennedy to the United Nations: "Every inhabitant of this planet must contemplate the day when this planet may no longer be habitable ....” In 1962 Rachael Carson woke up the rest of the world with her offering, “Silent Spring.” In her book, Carson eloquently exposed the effects of DDT on avian life. In this first controversial, then widely accepted book, Carson connected the loose ends of the web linking mollusks to sea-birds and then to fish swimming in the ocean’s most inaccessible reaches. DDT was widely distributed not only in the United States, but world wide as the “miracle” pesticide that leached into the soils of the ground, draining to our smallest rivers and eventually washing out to the deepest seas. As this indiscriminate pesticide accumulated, it began affecting the very existence of earth’s fragile ecosystem and destruction of entire species began at an unprecedented pace.
Chemical manufacturing companies scoffed at Carson’s writings, but Carson was meticulous in her writing, ensuring it passed the scrutiny of experts. It took eight more years for our country to realize the need to collectively protect our environment – and, looking to the future, our very existence. On December 2, 1970, the Environmental Protection Agency was born. Subsequently, a multitude of sub-organizations were instituted to address acid rain, air pollution, lead, oil and chemical spills, ozone depletion and other serious environmental concerns. In this discussion, we will look further at the swamps of Florida – reclaiming a natural heritage.
Wetlands are lands in which saturation with water is the dominant factor, which in turn determines the nature of the soil deposits, the types of plant life which inhabit the area and eventually the animal life thriving in the area. Obviously, due to geographical location, wetlands vary in the types of soil and vegetation, and whether they tend to readily dry up or remain saturated year-round. Wetlands usually include swamps, marshes, bogs and other areas of similar conditions.
Swamps (or wetlands) are not unique to Florida. There are coastal wetlands along the Atlantic, Pacific, Alaskan and Gulf coasts of the United States. In these areas, the inland fresh water mixes with the ocean water creating varying mixtures of salinity, which leads to a hostile environment for most plant life, and the most vegetation you will find are mangrove swamps and salt-loving shrubs and trees. This sounds so hostile, yet even these areas teem with life in their role as protective nurseries for generations of fishes and other ocean life.
Inland wetlands are most common in the floodplains along rivers and streams and include marshes and wet meadows dominated by herbaceous (leafy) plants, swamps dominated by shrubs and wooded swamps dominated by trees. These inland wetlands are found across the United States from the tundra of Alaska to the Everglades of Florida. Some are fens and bogs in the North Central states and Alaska, and others are wet meadows or wet prairies in the Midwest, yet others are located in the arid and semiarid West prairie of Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas, the Great Plains bottomland and, finally, the swamps of the South and Southeastern states.
It is not difficult to imagine the affect mankind has had on these precious resources through several hundred years of industry and urban sprawling affecting nearly every resource our country offers. Development has found more and more ways to fill in the lowlands, re-direct rivers and devour natural habitats to provide an abundance of homes, businesses and industry. America, as well as many other nations have treated these wilderness areas as disposable commodities in the wake of fulfilling the voracious appetite of consumers for “bigger, better and newer.”
Understanding the function of wetlands allows us to realize impact of what is lost when we turn land into parking lots, dumps, developments or even just agricultural fields. Wetlands are some of the most productive natural habitats in the world. They can store water, filter streams, transform nutrients, provide a growth medium for a variety of plants and animals, and provide a wealth of recreational resources such as fishing, bird watching, hiking and hunting.
The provision of food, water and protection for fish, shellfish, birds and breeding animals is a big part of the wetland contribution to an area. As streams and waterways meander through wetlands, the overall flow velocity is reduced, allowing the surrounding ground to recharge or discharge trapping sediment and allowing natural pollution control. Pollutants are often negated by the biochemical processes in the slow, wet environment provided by wetlands. All this is well and good, but the importance of these factors is often dependent on the viewer. The hunter is excited as he finds this pristine territory filled with an abundance of wildlife. On the other hand, a farmer who owns the land wants it cleared for higher cultivation and yield. The rancher wants it filled to keep his prized cattle from becoming mired and lost in the muck and vegetation. Wetlands are either the benefactors or the victims of this ongoing balancing act.
New development (or expansion of existing development) often creates the need to cut through sensitive wetland areas. As a result of this development and the realization of the importance of this natural resource, local and federal governments have strict regulations directing how wetlands are managed as this intrusion occurs. A favored method is the process of Mitigation Banking. Owners of large land parcels, usually located a distance from urban areas, can have their land evaluated for the purpose of trading off wetlands for wetlands being eradicated through development. Often this is ranch or farmland.
Environmentalists assess the land first, looking for unique features essential for a healthy wetland community. These include existing wetland conditions of wet areas complete with natural plant life, animal life which may include identification of threatened or endangered species, general locale of other streams and waters feeding the wetland. Evaluations of such lands address the quality of the water, the soil, the existing land use, the animal life, the plants involved and how these are impacted by adjacent land areas. The potential mitigation banking site is evaluated historically – how long has it been a wetland? How well has it functioned as a collection basin for the water drainage to the area? What makes a wetland green and valuable? Size, age, plants, animals and how all these interact are evaluated for determining environmental balance. The larger the wetland, the more effective it is in filtering and maintaining the surrounding ecology. Larger wetlands often connect with other large wetlands along a water course – streams, rivers or lakes, enlarging the habitat of wetland specific species and allowing for better propagation of life. As we fill in our wetlands for the purpose of development, the ranges of life become more and more fragmented frequently leading to the loss of some species forever.
Large wetlands that have been shown to include the properties of a healthy and sustainable community can become what are known as “mitigation banks.” This type of conservation banking leads to creation, restoration, enhancement and preservation of aquatic resources for the purpose of mitigation compensation. Once communities and developers determine that there will be necessary wetland impact (wetland loss), environmental evaluations and permitting are necessary. First, it must be determined how much of the wetland must be removed; second, what is the quality of the animal and plant communities being affected; third, water quality and lastly, how well has this part of the wetland functioned historically. Obviously, the higher the quality of the wetland in these terms, the less we want to see impacts to the ecosystem.
Once the area to be impacted is identified and appraised, mitigation can then be addressed. No longer can development just wipe out a wetland and pretend it never existed! If this were the case, developers would have a field day filling in wet areas and continue to pack and stack the new areas with residential, commercial and/or industrial facilities. This adds more and more concrete covered ground with no place to drain the rain and regulate natural waters. Instead, the developer must meet local and federal regulations to determine the value of wetland areas. Credits are assigned to wetlands, with one credit equal to the ecological value gained by the successful creation of one acre of wetland. A credit is a standard unit of measure representing the increase in ecological value resulting from restoration, enhancement, preservation or creation activities. In other words, the better the wetland – its maintenance, function and quality - the higher the credit value. This value measure is employed when necessary construction impacts one wetland and equal credits in a wetland bank can be purchased for compensation. Indeed, this means some valuable wetlands are destroyed and this is still a controversial issue with the public. Some camps maintain that no wetlands should be destroyed; however, developers and governing organizations in communities see the necessity to impact at least some wetlands while meeting the demands of a growing population.
One such mitigation banking site located southeast of the Orlando, Florida area is the TM Ranch property. These 11,000+ acres with minimal development and owned by the same family for generations, has become a prime example of wise land management. Historically, the TM Ranch has never been cultivated and no indications of cultural activity can be found through land survey research. Through the 1940s, aerial photographs indicate logging activities, but the property has primarily been used for cattle ranching and hunting.
However, during the late 1980s, part of this land was leased to Martin Marietta (a government contractor) to conduct laser and electronics testing. Permitting was granted to Martin Marietta to clear nearly 1,250 acres of land which comprised a Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) habitat. So what, it’s just one bird. How little we realize the impact of the loss of a species! The “RCW,” as it is referred to in literature, has been on the endangered species list since 1970, and has a vital role in the wet areas of the southeast for maintaining the health and future of its habitat. Animals, such as the RCW, often find a niche in a habitat that may not extend to vast areas often covered by larger forests and plains. Living as colonies or clans, these birds favor old growth (60-70+ years) of short and long leaf pine forests. The affected trees produce large amounts of resin around the woodpecker-created cavities with the “sappy wells” covering the bark areas, as wounds bleed resin onto the tree trunk creating “candle trees.” Smaller birds and animals find nest sites in the cavities of the trees once inhabited by the RCW, even other woodpecker species. This little seven inch bird can create cavities large enough to house owls and raccoons and provide homes for reptiles, amphibians and insects. It is a notable impact when we simply clear out a “few acres” for human activities. The RCW colonies have been perilously fragmented over the years as we disrupt their habitat. This fragmentation has impacted those other listed species so dependent on this small avian organism.
There are definitely a variety of alternative development opportunities for lands such as the TM Ranch. Being in close proximity to Orlando International Airport, this property is prime real estate for residential and commercial growth, major highway corridors, golf course and recreational facilities, etc. The upland area of the property could still be considered for such uses, but the concern is the 5,000+ acres of wetland-rich territory which cannot support such development. How does the owner maximize the use and investment in this proverbial Florida swamp land?
As noted earlier, the only impact on the property of late dealt with a governmental testing facility. This activity resulted in field roads and culverts cut and installed for field access. Several structures were erected for equipment storage. Various target-type vehicles were seen on the property during the years Martin Marietta engaged the area for testing, including armored trucks and helicopters.
As the Cold War era declined, Martin Marietta chose to cease operations on the TM Ranch property. All but the building structures were removed during the site deactivation and release in 2001. For owner Steven Holland the government contract was a lucrative utilization of this “seemingly useless” piece of swamp. Steve said he “…realized quickly that the loss of this income left a large void.” What on earth could he do with all this swamp, now?
Jim Clark, from Clark Consulting, an Orlando, FL firm that provides developmental consultation, environmental and financial feasibility studies, and now manages and markets the TM Bank and other projects, was engaged to assess the TM Ranch Property. Jim quickly realized the value of the TM Ranch property, if managed properly. Martin Marietta had not left a very big footprint while it used the area - the land was nearly pristine. It had value, big value as a mitigation bank. The parcel was large enough and within the reach and flow of the St. John’s River which passes on its way north to Jacksonville and to the Atlantic Ocean. A major tributary, the Econlockhatchee River, ran directly through the swamp on Holland’s land. This made the swamp a potential mitigation bank full of valuable credits. Not only does the area have an effect on the effluence of the northern water flow, the property abuts the Osceola wetland areas feeding into the southern flow of the State. A swamp-buggy (pictured left) is the only way to negotiate the terrain the wetland area (TM-Econ) of TM-Ranch.
Martin Marietta left roads cutting across what is now considered highly prized wetland. Jim Clark called in E Sciences, Inc., an engineering and environmental firm to perform an evaluation of the acreage and present a plan to hurdle the physical, environmental and governmental obstacles, and clear the land for unconstrained water flow and mitigation use. If structures were removed in most areas to encourage free water flow, and culverts employed under the remaining roadways, mitigation credits would substantially increase in value. Holland said, “That was all I needed to hear.” He immediately set to work with his family and ranch hands running bulldozers and heavy equipment to clear out the old roads. A few access roads had to be retained and culverts (photo left) were added in strategic locations to encourage free flow of the River. Debris had to be removed. Cattle needed to be confined to the upland areas for grazing. After a year of very hard work and relentless permitting applications, the property finally met the stringent requirements and qualified as a mitigation bank. Holland could now mitigate and sell off credits. The TM-Econ land can never be used for development, agriculture or other uses in the future. Changes can only be made by the governing Environmental Protection Agency as they may see fit at a later time.
The red cockaded woodpecker has gained a new respect in the TM-Econ wetland habitat. Suitable colonies of the RCW add value to the wetland credits in the areas they colonize. TM-Econ also included the interest of the avian community by providing bird rookeries within this wetland area. Even the ancient of dwellers in the Florida swamps – the alligator – also makes its home in TM-Econ. Indigenous wildflowers and plants abound in the rich, moist areas. This plant life filters the water as it slowly flows through the abundant environment and the liquid seeps through the chemically rich soil, many pollutants are bound or removed, which slowly cleans the water. There is no torrent of water in this wetland. The land is so flat that the flow is barely noticeable, but it is flowing and filtering and refreshing this precious asset.
The TM-Econ mitigation bank is on the cusp of two distinctly different, yet vitally important, water flow paths. Surrounding an area within the flow of the Econlockhatchee River and within the St. Johns River Basin, this area is managed by the St. Johns Water Management District (SJWMD). Headwaters for the St. Johns River are encompassed within the 29,000 acres of wetland surrounding Blue Cypress Lake just west of Vero Beach, Florida. Flowing through marshy, swampy areas and lakes as it meanders northward, the St. Johns River eventually empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Jacksonville, Florida. This waterway remains a natural flow-way allowing for its inherent function to filter and clean the water and provide a sanctuary for native animal and plant species.
This is not so true of the Kissimmee River area. The Kissimmee Watershed area forms the headwaters for the Kissimmee-Okeechobee-Everglades System. This Watershed flows in a southerly direction just to the west of the TM-Econ mitigation area. The South Florida Water Management District has responsibility for the maintenance and jurisdiction of this area. Prior to the 1960s, the 103-mile Kissimmee River meandered over a 1 – 2 mile floodplain, which, as we have discovered, is the rich and abundant wetland provision. In the 60s, Florida decided it needed flood control as development encroached on the river area. As a result, the river was channelized into a straight, deep, oxygen-depleted canal. The wetlands disappeared, the native plants were depleted and fish could no longer be sustained in such poor quality water. And something had to be done. An example of one problem facing the re-engineering of Florida’s rivers is the water hyacinth, a choking exotic, non-native (invasive) plant found in Florida’s rivers, including the tributaries of the Kissimmee River. This plant thrives in the bright sunlit areas and is considered one of the worst weeds in the world, according to the University of Florida. It covers as much as 125,000 acres of Florida’s waters. Its growth rate is among the highest ever known. As can be seen in the photo, the water hyacinth blocks boat traffic and inhibits swimming and fishing. Up to 200 tons of hyacinths can cover one acre of water resulting in the depletion of oxygen, fish, native submersed plants and reduces the natural diversity of life. Florida’s current effort is to keep the hyacinth under “maintenance control” – keeping them at low levels by continual, vigilant efforts. Something had to be done. In 2001, a tremendous undertaking was started – filling in portions of the canal and restoring flow to miles of the historic river channel (see photo).
“As the headwaters of America’s Everglades, the Kissimmee watershed is a critical component of South Florida’s interconnected ecosystem,” said former Florida Governor Jeb Bush. The restoration initiative has become a part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. This plan begins with the Kissimmee River and follows the water flow through the largest lake in Florida, Lake Okeechobee, and finally to the largest wetland in the United States, the Everglades.
When you think of the Everglades, you usually picture cypress-filled swamps, lush with plants and fat alligators warming their cold bodies on water-drenched, sun-laden logs. Birds are lazily drying their wings or slowly wading through the shallow waters fishing for food. Turtles seek out sunny banks to warm cold shells or precariously poke their heads from the clear water to take a gulp of air, only to pop them quickly back into the water. However, somewhere between the Kissimmee River and this serene, remote, almost prehistoric wilderness, the Everglades are lost. As I drove along the Kissimmee-Okeechobee-Everglades corridor searching for a scene such as this, something else was in its place! No cypress trees, no expanses of water, no wild birds wading and sunning. Only miles and miles of sugar cane fields!
Once called the “River of Grass,” water flowed freely from the Kissimmee River, through Lake Okeechobee, through the pristine Everglades and into Florida Bay. However, as early as the 1800s, primitive canals were dug and people began to drain South Florida in deference to development. Over 1,700 miles of canals and levees vastly changed the landscape and interrupted the cleansing flow through the Everglades.
On top of these changes came the sugar industry. Huge swaths of the Everglades are being poisoned by pollution-laden waters pouring out of the vast sugar cane fields. Nearly half a million acres of sugar cane is growing in the Everglades Agricultural Area south of Lake Okeechobee. To accommodate this area for the farmers, the Army Corps of Engineers drained 700,000 acres (nearly 1,000 square miles) of Everglade land that no longer flows as the River of Grass. Today, this extraordinary ecosystem – unlike any other in the world – is rapidly fading away. The area once teaming with life – panthers, alligators and birds in flocks so vast they would blacken the skies. The Florida panther is nearly gone. Birds have fewer and fewer places to rest and feed. Fish suffocate in polluted waters, and, above all, the fresh water supply for South Florida is within this water system.
An initiative is currently under way by the State of Florida to restore this magnificent River of Grass. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) is the world’s largest ecosystem restoration effort. It addresses water supply, flood protection and water management. The CERP effort encompasses 16 counties and over 18,000 square miles. Florida Governor Charlie Christ announced in July of 2008, that a momentous deal was struck between the state and U.S. Sugar Corporation. The $1.75 billion purchase for 300 square miles of company land is the most ambitious effort ever to heal the Everglades. Why has this not been addressed before now? The hydrological needs of the area have long been overpowered by the politics and money of big business. U.S. Sugar produces 600,000 tons of sugar and more than 20 million boxes of oranges per year! Selling its holdings is a stunning move on the part of U.S. Sugar. Water paths can now be reworked and historic natural flows once again opened between the Kissimmee River, Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades to Florida Bay. Unwanted exotic species of plants are being removed and replaced with indigenous flora. Animals will once more find refuge in an ecologically stable environment. This area is so delicate that birds live or die within the smallest fluctuations in the water of the Everglades. As development and the encroachment of people move toward the waters of the Everglades, perhaps this initiative will preserve and forever save the quality of life in South Florida – plants, animals and the people who live there.
A lot of time, much more money and a monumental amount of effort must still be poured into the CERP and other organizations involved before Florida truly sees the Everglades restored to a pre-development state. However, the new flow of water through historic paths will provide a cleaner, more ecologically balanced and renewed recreational wilderness.
