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Ecology Division - Highlighted Project Experience

Anclote Key Lighthouse Restoration - Pinellas County, FL

Project Type: Wetland Mitigation

This project is located on Anclote Key, an uninhabited 180-acre barrier island off the central Gulf coast of Florida within the Anclote Key State Preserve, Pinellas County, Florida.

The project consists of the restoration of the historic lighthouse, associated compound, and the Caretaker’s Residence. Due to the isolated nature of the project site, impacts to wetlands and tidal areas were key issues to successfully completing the project. ESI provided an environmental assessment of the project area prior to design in order to identify existing natural resources, then delineated such features and worked with the Architect and Contractor to plan construction access to limit impacts to environmentally sensitive areas. Through the design process ESI minimized access impacts, and obtained regulatory approvals from the South Florida Water Management District and the US Army Corps of Engineers. As part of the mitigation for the project, ESI was responsible for designing and installing estuarine plantings to restore the mangrove fringe and high salt marsh impacted by previous activities on the island. The mangrove plantings are complemented by a boardwalk crossing of a tidal area, providing habitat and forage for both fish and wildlife, as well as a scenic area for pedestrians. Plantings include approximately 500 mangrove trees and 600 herbaceous salt marsh species, mimicking the natural vegetation selection found on the island. The restored wetlands include a nesting pair of Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), a state listed species of special concern.

ESI worked on a project team that included Kenneth Smith Architects Inc. as lead designer, and International Chimney Corporation as contractor. In June 2004, Kenneth Smith Architects, Inc. received an Outstanding Achievement in Restoration award form the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation for its work on the Anclote Key Lighthouse Restoration project. The project was completed the Winter of 2003, and provides a complete restoration of a historic lighthouse compound, offering natural buffer of tidal mangrove and high salt marsh wetlands. The area is a State of Florida Park and is utilized by boaters on a regular basis.

   
   


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