The listed species surveys included species specific surveys for the crested caracara, red-cockaded woodpecker, Big Cypress fox squirrel, and burrowing owl. The Big Cypress Stewardship District is located within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service primary zone for the Florida panther. Surveys for panther prey species, including the white-tailed deer and feral hog, were also conducted. Following the wetland delineation and flagging in the field, our ecologists accompanied South Florida Water Management District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff on site visits to review and verify the wetland lines. A formal wetland determination was obtained from the South Florida Water Management District, and an Approved Wetland Jurisdictional Determination was obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Big Cypress Stewardship District.
We provided environmental services for the preparation and submittal of applications for federal and state approval for the agricultural operations within the Big Cypress Stewardship District. Services performed included preparation of the environmental portions of South Florida Water Management District Environmental Resource Permit modification applications and responses to District staff’s requests for additional information; preparation of the applications for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 permits and responses to Corps staff; and preparation of Biological Assessments for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
