Big Coppitt Key Study

ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

Protect Tidal and Freshwater Wetland Areas and Other Sensitive Habitats Delineate wetlands and identify potential endangered species habitats to avoid any impacts. Develop a mitigation plan if necessary using sensitive roadway alignment analysis to balance public safety benefit against these habitats’ healthy existence.

Avoid Impacts to Threatened and Endangered Species and their Habitat, Particularly Lower Keys Marsh Rabbit Delineate potential endangered species habitats to avoid impacts to these areas. Work in coordination with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to minimize the likelihood of a formal Section 7 consultation.

Address Drainage Impacts to Wetland Areas, Water Quality Impacts, Floodplain Encroachment Emphasize the drainage concept that produces the best water quality treatment as permitted in the project area while minimizing encroachment into wetlands. Avoid any stormwater runoff from infiltrating the sensitive wetland areas. Early coordination with SFWMD will be necessary to determine the best method to deal with this important issue, since avoidance and minimization of impacts is pivotal to the project implementation.

Protection of Outstanding Florida Waters (OFW) The waters around the project area are OFW and part of the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary. This designation requires additional treatment for stormwater runoff. The treatment of runoff and the avoidance of wetland impacts will be coordinated with the permitting agencies to develop a plan viable for these issues.

Determine any Potential Contaminated Sites Field review and research of existing records will be performed to determine any potential contaminated sites.

Permitting Coordination Establish early coordination with permitting agencies and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Coordination with appropriate permitting agencies is essential from the inception of the study to ensure a successful implementation of the project in the design phase.