Shell Creek Mitigation Bank
Location
Charlotte County, FL
Resource
Wetland
Solution
Mitigation Bank
Status
Approved
Amber Mitchell
Credit Sales Representative
SHELL CREEK MITIGATION BANK (SCMB) is a large and ecologically valuable site in the Peace River watershed. The 569.80 acres is situated in the right location as it contains a large cypress wetland system that is the headwaters of Shell Creek, a Class 1 Waterbody. Shell Creek flows towards the southwest coastline of Charlotte County, converges with the Lower Peace River, and contributes to freshwater discharges into the Gasparilla Sound-Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve. SCMB is located 2,700 feet north of the Babcock Ranch Preserve, a 67,618 acre preserve in southeast Charlotte County. The Preserve is managed through a unique public-private partnership which will help sustain the Preserve as a working ranch, and timbering and eco-tourism operation.
Establishment of Shell Creek Mitigation Bank will protect this site from current and future wetland impacts. It will also benefit the rich downstream aquatic resources within Shell Creek, a Class I waterbody, Babcock/Webb Wildlife Management Area, Peace River, and Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve. The overall goal of the SCMB is to restore and permanently protect the hydrology and wildlife habitat of 569.80 acres of wetland habitats and adjacent upland buffer habitats, while increasing the wetland function of Shell Creek, Peace River, and Charlotte Harbor in the Peace River watershed. SCMB aims to restore native forested wetlands through the cessation of all silvicultural and commercial hunting activities, stabilize natural hydroperiods, remove invasive exotic and nuisance species, and return natural community structure within the Peace River watershed.
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CREDITS
Wetland
– Palustrine Forested (Corps)
– Freshwater Forested (SWFWMD)
Habitat
– Wood Stork
SERVICE AREA
Peace River (03100101) subbasin
Our Partners
Greensource Environmental has collaborated with EIP since the beginning of our work in Florida. At Horse Creek, Old Florida, and Upper Coastal Mitigation Banks, Greensource conducted a thorough evaluation of historical land use, and pre-restoration conditions. The team delivered insights that translated into an effective restoration plan — one that only comes with a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of ecological and hydrologic function. As our “Ecological Sherlock Holmes,” the firm helps us find clues on the ground that let us maximize ecological uplift in our restoration designs.