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<p>Hillsborough County’s E.L.A.P.P Program What is E.L.A.P.P ? Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program History of E.L.A.P.P. - Voter-approved program initiated in 1987; extended in 1990 and 2008 - Through January 2011, Hillsborough County has acquired 60,506 acres through the program - 55,706 acres are managed by County staff through the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department - Remaining 4,800 acres are managed by State and Local agencies History of E.L.A.P.P. • Between Dec. 1987 and Jan. 2011, $247 million spent to acquire 60,506 acres • Of this, $171 million has come from the ELAP Program, while $86 million has come from partnering agencies • Florida Communities Trust, Southwest Florida Water Management District • Land management plans are drafted for each acquired ELAPP site and presented to an ELAPP management committee and the general public for review and comment Ecosystems on ELAPP Lands Pine Flatwoods Pine Flatwoods (late 1800’s) Pine Lily Lopsided Indiangrass Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Ecosystems on ELAPP Lands Depression Marsh Depression Marshes in Lithia, FL (1938) Pickerel Weed Gopher Frog Great Egret Ecosystems on ELAPP Lands Sandhill Historic Sandhill (c 1900) Indigo Snake Wire Grass Turkey Oak Red-headed Woodpecker Ecosystems on ELAPP Lands Xeric Scrub Florida Mouse Florida Scrub-Jay Florida Golden Aster Gopher Tortoise Ecosystems on ELAPP Lands Floodplain Forest Bald Cypress Florida Maple Butterfly Orchid Barred Owl Ecosystems on ELAPP Lands Saltern/Coastal Grasses (Spartina), Rush (Juncus), and Cabbage Palm Osprey Saltwort Fiddler Crabs Threatened & Endangered Animals Scrub Jay Gopher Tortoise Burrowing Owl Threatened and Endangered Plants Florida Golden Aster Pine Lily Management of E.L.A.P.P. Sites a) Habitat Restoration b) Prescribed Burning c) Exotic Plant Control d) Feral Animal Control e) Public Access & Recreation Southern Blue Flag Habitat Restoration Native Plant Nursery at the Cockroach Bay Field Office. After site preparation, plants raised in the nursery are transplanted onto the preserve sites. Large scale restorations are bid out to contract or managed by other agencies Restoring the Scrub Optimal scrub height is <3 meters. The vegetation height of this scrub is 10 meters Restoring the Scrub Dozer with Roller Chopper Hydro-axe Mechanical reduction of scrub vegetation is the quickest way to restore optimal height/density. This method also allows for safer prescribed burns. Overgrown scrub vegetation is difficult reduce with prescribed fire due to the high fuel loads and extreme conditions required (windy/dry). Restoring the Scrub Notice the treated portion left of the trail vs the untreated portion to the right. This photo was taken 1 month after treatment Restoring the Scrub Even with mechanical treatment, fire is necessary to restore habitat value to the scrub. Fire consumes cut vegetation and opens bare, sandy ground. These open sand patches are vital to wildlife and plants alike. These pictures show prescribed burns being conducted 6 months after mechanical treatment. Restoring the Scrub This photo was taken approximately 1.5 years after the prescribed burn. Notice the open sand patches. Prescribed Burning a) Is necessary for healthy native Florida ecosystems b) Protects neighboring properties from wildfires Was Smokey the Bear right?? “Only you can prevent forest fires” Heavy fuel load causes tall flame lengths. All fuels are consumed by the fire leaving behind bare mineral soil. Post Burn 6 Months after prescribed burn Exotic Plant Control - Exotic invasive plants out compete native plants for space, thus altering native ecosystems. - Exotic plants generally offer poor habitat and food sources for animals. Identification is easy due to the off center mid vein. Cogon Grass Common Herbicides & Additives used in Natural Areas Basal Spaying of Brazilian Pepper Feral Animal Control Why are these escaped/wild pigs such a problem ? Reasons why feral hogs are bad for native Florida lands: - They compete with native wildlife for food. - Hogs destroy sensitive lands with their feeding activities (rooting) - They help introduce non-native plants through: a) Droppings b) Disturbing to soil Tropical Soda Apple Hog Hunting & Trapping Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve Boundaries are south of the Little Manatee River to the Hillsborough – Manatee County line. Large scale restoration efforts are underway in partnership with the SWFWMD - SWIM Black-necked Stilts Black-crowned Night Heron Marsh Restoration Efforts at Cockroach Bay Before restoration efforts began, the uplands consisted of farm fields and shell pit quarries. Fields and quarries have been transformed into fresh and saltwater marshes. Mangrove Communities Black Mangrove Red Mangrove Seagrass Communities Thalassia testudinum - Grasses provide nursery areas for fish and other animals - Stabilize the bottom - Filter nutrients and suspended particles out of the water column Recreational Activities at Cockroach Bay - Fishing - Canoeing - Hiking - Birding Canoeing Coastal Preserves – Tampa Bay Mountain Biking Balm-Boyette Preserve </p>
