ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Tarmac America’s commitment to the environment is reflected in its preservation and conservation efforts planned for Levy County. As part of its plans to open the King Road Mine, Tarmac will purchase and restore an area adjacent to the mine site that will offset any impact of the proposed limestone mine.

The overall goal for the 4,500-acre conservation site, which comprises the Tarmac Conservation Area (TCA), is to enhance, restore, and protect native wetlands and uplands, eventually restoring the site to its original condition.

The conservation area is part of the historic Gulf Hammock, once the largest area of hydric hammock in Florida. The hammock once covered nearly 100,000 acres, stretching from the Withlacoochee River north to State Road 24, inland from the coastal salt marshes, to west of US 19. It was known for its flora and faunal diversity.

However, since the early 1800s, the hammock has been disturbed repeatedly beginning with selective harvesting of specific tree species (such as eastern red cedar for pencils), and more recently, the extensive conversion to planted pine plantations (silviculture). Currently more than 1,600 acres of the TCA is covered with planted pines, which replaced most of the native hardwoods and other naturally occurring vegetation on the site. While an economic asset to the area, the site lost much of its original natural character.

The mitigation plan for the TCA includes actions that will improve and protect the ecological status of the area, and place the entire area under a conservation easement, which will ensure these natural habitats remain forever. The end result will be a natural and gradual return to native hammock.

Proposed mitigation activities include:

• Thinning of planted pines to densities that would occur naturally
• Planting of appropriate native species if natural recurrence is not occurring
• Prevention of further timbering impacts through establishment of a conservation easement
• Protection of wildlife through habitat enhancement and preservation of wildlife corridors
• Nuisance species removed

Click here to read the complete Mitigation Plan [3.7MB]

The 4,500-acre mitigation parcel is on the Florida Forever Priority List.... more


Click here to download a printable version