The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) have issued a five-year wetland planting and monitoring permit to Orange County Utilities for the installation of 4.9 miles of potable water main that resulted in cumulative wetlands impacts. The project was constructed in three phases: Cypress Lakes, Easter Regional Transmission System Improvements Contract 5 B-North and Easter Regional Transmission System Improvements Contract 5 B-South. DRMP prepared a wetland mitigation planting and monitoring plan within the floodplains of the Econlockhatchee River to compensate for wetland impacts incurred as a result of these projects.

The mitigation for wetland impacts associated with this project was provided through the replanting and monitoring of an excavated roadbed that historically crossed the Econlockhatchee River. DRMP replanted the area with various wetland plant species to attain a natural effect indicative of the surrounding area. Baseline monitoring of the vegetated area was conducted and reported to the SJRWMD. The baseline monitoring report has been followed with vegetative monitoring on an annual basis and will continue for five years or until the success criteria has been met. Data submitted to the District quantitatively describes the percent survival and diversity of planted species, recorded growth and percent coverage of herbaceous species, surface water elevation referenced to N.G.V.D. for the wetland area, photographic monitoring of vegetation growth and wildlife utilization.

Successful establishment of the wetland restoration areas will have occurred when at least 80 percent of the planted species have survived and are showing signs of normal annual growth for two consecutive years, based upon standard growth parameters such as height and density.