The St. Johns River Water Management District (“District”) desires to restore or enhance the historic communities that would have been present onsite at Coastal Oaks Mitigation Area (“COMA”). The mitigation plan consists of three main components: creation, restoration, and enhancement of 19.24 acres (16.59-acres permitted) of wetland forested mixed communities, creation of 13.15 acres (10.5-acres permitted-AA1), restoration of 5.19-acres-AA2, and enhancement of 0.90-acres-AA3 and restoration of 16.11-acres of upland communities. Wetland creation consisted of removing undesirable plant species, removal of artificial berms within existing wetland areas, removal of push piles adjacent to existing wetlands, modifying the existing grade to support a wetland community, replanting with appropriate wetland species, and controlling invasive and exotic species. Wetland restoration consisted of stripping the existing vegetation that was dominated by invasive and exotic species along with ±8 inches of soil to remove the invasive and exotic species seed bank, replanting with appropriate wetland species, and controlling invasive and exotic species. The wetland enhancement will be achieved by control of invasive and exotic species. All wetlands will benefit from removal of invasive and exotic species in the adjacent uplands and management for natural communities in the uplands. We are currently managing for invasive species and continuing our planting efforts in both the wetlands and uplands.
The primary objective is to procure a contractor to provide and install the most trees at the specified percentages and size, deliver to the site and plant in the appropriate designation based on the plants listed in Attachment B - Cost Schedule. The trees will be planted within 35.35 acres at COMA. Specifically, it includes planting of 19.24 acres of wetlands and 16.11 acres of uplands. At this time, we are not allowing plant species substitutions. If you are having trouble finding a species you will need to contact the Procurement Specialist prior to the bid due date, so an addendum can be provided for all vendors.