HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit 1Citizens for a Better South Thridz
Community Stewardship at Virginia 7(py
SCOPE OF WORK PLAN
Project Need
The coastal hammock between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay on the City of Miami's
Virginia Key is environmentally sensitive land. One of the greatest problems .that ecologists are
confronted with in South Florida is the loss of native habitat through the presence of exotic and
invasive species of plants. Severely impacted by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the site became
susceptible to invasive exotic plants and was "characterized by clumps of seagrape or Brazilian
pepper, interspersed with areas of weedy and beach vegetation intermixed... Occasionally large
mastic, strangler fig and Spanish stopper trees occur scattered throughout this area, as do a few
clumps of saw palmetto. Many of the areas between the tree clumps and individuals are dense,
nearly impenetrable thickets covered by lather leaf, and a series of other vines" (Phase I:
Biological Inventory of Coastal Hammock Site on Virginia Key, Florida, 1995). Restoration
began in 1996 with the removal of invasive exotic plant species; they have been reduced from
70% dominance of the hammock area to the current 5%. Nevertheless, much remains to be done
and continued maintenance and stewardship is vital.
The dune and beach
community possesses
several threatened and
endangered land species
and is an essential sea turtle
nesting beach. In addition
to the ecologically
significant dune system, a
mangrove area lines a tidal
creek that runs parallel to
the beach between the
hammock and the beach
area. The dune system and
mangroves help protect the
hammock form the
detrimental effects of
storms. When the
restoration began, only one
specimen of the
Endangered Biscayne
ay Ate,
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Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum coriaceum) was known to exist in the hammock. Today, there are
more than 67 specimens protected and conserved, including Beach Inkberry (Scaevola plumieri),
Beach Peanut (Okenia hypogaea) and Beach Star (Cyperus pedunculatus).
Project Location
Project's Geographic Area and Location .4'Iap &idea Kv?
The Virginia Key Coastal Hammock lies just east
of mainland Miami, Florida and west of Key
Biscayne. A barrier island of approximately 1,000
upland acres within the City of Miami, Virginia
Key is the last uninhabited area in a major. ,.,^_,,
metropolitan area. Included on the island are two
oceanfront public beaches, a Miami -Dade County
,bayfront beach, the Bill Sadowski Critical
Wildlife Area, several conservation areas, a
closed landfill, a Miami -Dade County sewage
treatment plant, two National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) facilities,
the Miami Seaquarium, the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine
VirginVirginie stay
Key Biscayne
and Atmospheric
Science (RSMAS) School of Oceanography, a marine stadium, several restaurants, two marinas.
There is sufficient parking and the site is
accessible by public transportation.
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The selected site consists of a 400 meter long by
200 meter deep stretch that contains significant
environmental value, including dunes, some
elements of mangrove vegetation in transitional
areas, and coastal hammock elements.
For further infonrnation on Virginia Key's four
significant areas (mangrove, dune, beach, and
upland coastal hammock), please visit the
following website developed by the City with
support from grants and technical assistance from Fairchild Tropical Garden:
http://www.ci.miami.fl.us/Parks/pages/park listings/virginia.asp and click on .the Virginia Key
Costal Hammock Interpretive Trail link. This website includes a virtual tour of the Key's
habitats, photos and descriptive statements of plant communities, and a curriculum guide for the
proj ect.
Value to Community & Unique/Distinctive Features
Virginia Key is an important coastal natural area with four different habitats, which include the
natural beach area, dune area, wetland area, and upland hammock. One hundred and six native
species grow here, including three endangered and four threatened species. The area provides
vital resources for migrating birds that travel the Atlantic coast flyway. Some examples of these
migrants are Pine Siskin, Tennessee Warbler, Swainson's Thrush, and the Indigo Bunting. An
abundance of butterflies are major pollinators and are highly visible. The Northern Cardinal and
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the Osprey are sighted as well. In the adjacent Biscayne Bay, bottlenose dolphins, Florida
manatees and Loggerhead sea turtles make their home. Virginia Key facilitates major research
projects performed by Fairchild Tropical Garden research staff.
Virginia Key is home to several rare plant species. A new population of Beach Peanut was
discovered here, with a pink pigment on the stems and leaf venation never before seen. Beach
Star was discovered as well. Before the initial exotic removal, only one known plant of the state
endangered Biscayne prickly -ash was documented. Shortly after removal began, more than 67
individual plants were found.
Project Description
Description of Proposed Project
The City of Miami Department of Parks and Recreation will partner with Citizens for a Better
South Florida (CFABSF) to provide the Native Miami community stewardship program at
Virginia Key. CFABSF will mobilize youth and young adult volunteers from local public
schools, parks and universities, including:
• Citrus Grove Elementary School
• Morningside Elementary School
• Robert Morgan Senior High School
• Reeves Park
• Virrick Park
• Florida International University
• Miami Dade College
Prior to the project inception, the project area will be cleared of exotic plant species by parks
staff from the City of Miami, under the direction of the Parks Naturalist, who will serve as
Project Manager. Groups of 10 or more students will travel to Virginia Key once a month for 5-
hour-long volunteer days, on a rotating basis for each participating site. In addition, service -
learning volunteers from Miami Dade College will participate in mini -service days on Thursdays
throughout the year. Special days, such as Earth Day in April, will be honored with special
projects.
Community volunteers will be involved in:
• Exotic plant species oversight, to curb the return of invasive plants
• Environmental education — helping design ecologically sound plans for the type of native
vegetation that would fit best in the area
• Native reforestation
• Environmental education — helping define didactic opportunities in the area, such as
signage, informational brochures, and nature guides
• Environmental coastal clean-ups
The Native Miami project will complement CFABSF Biscayne Baykeepers Initiative, which
creates a strong grassroots constituency, targeting underserved multicultural communities, for the
preservation of the ecological health of the Biscayne Bay watershed through experiential
education and stewardship activities. Virginia Key will serve as the main laboratory for the
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Baykeepers, with an interactive website that features Virginia Key restoration activities. In
addition to the hands-on learning students will experience at Virginia Key, they will receive
environmental education as part of their after school program through the Biscayne Baykeepers
Initiative.
Completion of Project Within One Year
This project will run yearlong with removal of the invasive exotics completed prior to the project
inception. Once CFABSF has recruited all the volunteers, they can begin monthly visits to
Virginia Key for native plantings, maintenance and clean-ups. For further details, please refer to
the attached Task and Timeline Chart.
Key Personnel Information
The City of Miami Parks Naturalist, Juan Fernandez, is a passionate biologist. Since 1996, he has
been working at the Virginia Key Coastal Hammock, conserving endangered and threatened
plant species, developing the City's plant nursery from less than 100 specimens to over 4,000
adult plants, and developing the interpretive nature trail at the site. He is a graduate of the
Institute of Systemic Ecology at the National Academy of Sciences in Cuba, with degrees in
Biology and Education.
The project team. involves Citizens for a Better South Florida (CFABSF), a local non-profit
grassroots organization whose mission is to improve our quality of life through instilling
environmental awareness within South Florida's diverse multi-lingual communities. Since 1988,
CFABSF has designed experiential, multilingual education and outreach programs for students,
teachers and community organizations, including activities such as community festivals,
environmental field trips, curriculum development and trainings, tree plantings, workshops, in -
class visits, and habitat restoration. CFABSF specializes in educating the public about the vital
resources that exist in our natural world, emphasizing local solutions to local problems or needs.
The City of Miami Parks and Recreation Department will provide the natural areas, staff,
program notices, and equipment, and CFABSF will provide the volunteer outreach and
coordination. All partners will be involved in educational aspects of the project.
Edith McClintock, Executive Director: Ensure the timely delivery of programs, issue
reimbursement requests, manage the administrative components of the grant and manage the
budget.
Alex Montalvo, Education Manager: Develop and implement education program components
and schedule events, attend partner meetings, order materials, and train naturalists and
volunteers.
Deliverables and Timeframe for Completion
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Deliverable
Volunteer Outreach
Product/
Deliverable
Attend festivals and
school functions to
recruit volunteers
Anticipated Outcome
Completed volunteer
recruitment
Timeline
January/
February 2006
Hold volunteer meetings
and orientation
Completed volunteer
meetings
Introduction to Native Miami
project
February 2006
Baseline measures
Completed pre-
surveys from all
volunteers
Assessment of existing
knowledge of coastal
resources
Ongoing from
February 2006
to August 2006
12 Community
Stewardship Activities
Events
Native reforestation,
monitoring of plant
growth and education
Increased community
stewardship and increased
sense of the value of coastal
resources
Ongoing from
February 2006
to August 2006
2 Earth Day Events
Completed Earth Day
Events, including
coastal clean-up
Environmental stewardship
activities through citizen
involvement
April 2006
Post -measures
Completed Post-
survey from all
volunteers
Increased knowledge of the
value of coastal resources and
interest in stewardship
Ongoing from
February 2006
to August 2006
The measurable objectives will be the quantifiable, immediate preservation results in the subject
natural areas and the long-term benefits of creating stewardships through education and the
activities of reforestation, coastal clean-ups, and exotic removal, which will increase successful
preservation in the future. Pre- and post -surveys will be administered to participating volunteers,
with questions about preservation of South Florida's natural areas, the effects of exotics in a
natural habitat, why and when reforestation should be performed, why pollution control is
needed and what interdependency exists among native flora and fauna. Recruitment of
volunteers for clean up, monitoring the reforestation project, and managing the exotic growth
will be advanced and encouraged throughout the duration of the program.
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Native !1 iami
Community Stewardship at Virginia Key
FEES & EXPENSES
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Education Coordinator's salary/Frin_ge Benefits
Bus rental ($150 x 12 events)
Mileage
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$11,880
$1,800
$300
Educational/promotional materials and webpage
Plant materials
$2,500
$5,400
Payment Schedule (Deliverable on receipt of Invoice and Progress Report):
January 31, 2005:
April 30, 2005:
August 31, 2005:
Total:
$7,293.33
$7,293.33
$7,293.34
$21,880.00
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