Specifications

Section 2 Existing Conditions/Affected Environment
EAA Storage Reservoirs Revised Draft PIR and EIS February 2006
2-20
and the FWC Wading Bird Rookery data. For additional information on fish and
wildlife resources in EAA, see the FWCA Report in Annex A, including wildlife
observations documented for Compartment A as part of field surveys of
wetlands.
General wildlife use of the area can be derived from information about the
present vegetation communities. The following sub-sections briefly discuss
typical wildlife use based on FWC land cover data of habitat types.
2.10.3.1 Aquatic
The distinction between wetland and aquatic habitat is sometimes not apparent;
however, aquatic habitat typically represents deeper, permanent water bodies
with little or no emergent vegetation. Similarly, aquatic fauna often move
between deeper water areas and wetlands depending upon habitat
requirements. Fish are the most common vertebrate found in aquatic habitats.
Typical species include largemouth bass, bowfin, Florida gar, and sunfish.
Mammals that are typically in aquatic habitat include the West Indian manatee
and river otter. Manatees are found in canals that interconnect with coastal
water bodies, whereas river otter may be found in all aquatic habitats as they
are capable of traversing some distance over land to reach water bodies where
they feed. Birds using aquatic habitats include ducks, wading birds (great blue
heron, great egret), aquatic birds (terns, cormorant, anhinga), and osprey. The
most conspicuous reptile observed in open water areas is the American alligator.
2.10.3.2 Wetlands
Herbaceous wetlands (sawgrass marsh, freshwater marsh, wet prairie) provide
habitat for a variety of birds due to the diversity of vegetation in adjacent
habitats. Examples of some of the many types of birds include: songbirds
(common yellowthroat, red-winged blackbird, boat-tailed grackle); marsh and
wading birds (least bittern, king rail, sora, green-backed heron, great blue heron,
great egret, limpkin); ducks and aquatic birds (American coot, common moorhen,
anhinga); and, birds of prey (osprey, red-shouldered hawk, Everglades kite).
Mammals that utilize these habitats include river otter, marsh rabbit, and
raccoon. Fish typical of these areas include mosquitofish, Florida gar, and
bluefin killifish. Reptiles and amphibians common to herbaceous wetlands
include: American alligator, water moccasin, water snake, Florida cooter,
southern leopard frog, and green tree frog.
Forested and shrub swamp fauna are home to a variety of mammals such as
white-tailed deer, marsh rabbit, Florida panther, cotton mouse, raccoon, fox
squirrel, and Florida black bear. These woody swamps are habitat for birds such
as barred owl, pileated woodpecker, red-bellied woodpecker, white-eyed vireo,
yellow-rumped warbler, and red-shouldered hawk. Reptiles and amphibians