Rocky Brushy Creek Watershed Mgmt. Plan (2007) -- Part 2

CHAPTER 8buffer zones should be established around core areas, and corridors should connect these areas.”These core areas and buffer zones would then be connected by wildlife corridors, in accordancewith the Wildlands Project. The goal is to allow animals to travel from one core habitat to anotherthrough wildlife corridors without anthropogenic obstruction or interference. The remaining areaswill be utilized for human habitats conforming to the principles of sustainable development assupported by Executive Order 94-54 that created the Governor’s Commission for a SustainableFlorida and Section 163.3244 F.S. (Sustainable Community Demonstration Project). Establishmentof wildlife corridors is consistent with the Hillsborough Comprehensive Plan (CARE Policy 14.2)and the Hillsborough County Land Development Code.Wildlife Corridors in the Rocky/Brushy Creek WatershedAs discussed in the previous section, significant habitat fragmentation has occurred throughout thewatershed. Nevertheless, wildlife refuge and corridors remain at several locations: on public lands(Lake Park, the Bower Tract, and Rocky Creek Preserve; along reaches of Rocky Creek betweenthe Channel A cutoff and Sheldon Road (except the Waters Avenue crossing); along the reach ofBrushy Creek between Ehrlich Road and Gunn Highway; and the wetlands northeast of LakeCarlton (Turkey Ford Lake) and Avignon Avenue. There are opportunities to improve and expandthese few remaining corridors and refuges by modifying channel crossings at major roadways to bemore wildlife friendly.The identification and protection of remaining wildlife corridors is essential to restoring naturalareas in this watershed. The Rocky/Brushy Creek watershed has areas of development wherewildlife corridors and greenways have been identified through the Hillsborough ComprehensivePlan, Land Development Code, and Hillsborough Greenways Task Force as supported by theHillsborough County Natural Resources Regulation. Approximately 35% (13,581 acres) of thewatershed remains undeveloped, although even the undeveloped uplands and wetlands havebeen disturbed and encroached upon, diminishing their ecological value.Conservation DevelopmentConservation development is a concept proposed for urban watersheds that focuses on residentialdevelopment designs that utilize conservation strategies such as inter-connected networks ofpermanent open space. The method allows residential developments that maximize open spaceconservation without reducing overall building density. The same method could be applied tocommercial and industrial developments. The Conservation Development concept is consistentwith Hillsborough County Natural Resources Regulation, serving as an avenue to identify areasthat may serve as wildlife corridors and/or areas that should be protected and preserved as corehabitats or environmentally sensitive lands. Basically, development with wildlife preservationconsidered within the overall site plan will allow for innovative and creative land use and design fornew urban communities. Additionally, the FWC is committed to working with land use planners,developers, and homeowners to assist them with development designs that offer homes for bothhumans and wildlife. Clustering, designing corridor trails away from critical wildlife areas, anddesigning wildlife crossings all contribute to increased wildlife habitat. Throughout Florida, severalinnovative and creative wildlife crossings have been constructed. For example, the FDOT has8-23Rocky/Brushy Creek Watershed Management Plan