CERP Picayune Strand - Pre-Restoration Wildlife Surveys in the Southern Golden Gate Estates (2001-2004)

The purpose of this study was to generate baseline wildlife data that could be used to assess future effects of hydrologic restoration efforts in Southern Golden Gate Estates (SGGE), which is a part of Picayune Strand State Forest (PSSF). Surveyed wildlife taxa included fish, aquatic and terrestrial macroinvertebrates, birds, amphibians and small mammals, as well as incidental observations. The primary objective was to analyze wildlife relative to five primary biotopes in the study area: cypress strands, pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, freshwater wetlands, and transitional wetlands. Thirty-six sampling sites were established in SGGE and four sites were selected in the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge (TTINWR). Surveys were performed to determine the vegetation and hydrologic characteristics of each site in SGGE. Designated codes for each habitat are as follows: C = cypress strand; F = freshwater marshes; H = hydric hammock; P = pine flatwoods; T = transitional (brackish) wetlands; and R = road. The 40 primary sites were sampled at varying frequencies depending on the targeted group of biota and seasonal environmental conditions. Sampling was conducted quarterly during 2001 and biannually from 2002-2004, focusing on the extremes of each year's wet and dry season. In addition to the 40 primary sampling sites, 19 sites (A1-A19) were also selected during June -August 2004 for documenting the presence of frog and toad species (anurans). A copy of the final report and SOW for this study can be found in DOCUMENTUM SOUTH at the following location: Cabinets/CERP Project/Picayune Strand Restoration/11 Project Implementation Monitoring/11.02 Inland Monitoring/Aquatic Fauna and Terrestrial Invertebrates/CSWFL_2001_2004