SITE DESCRIPTION

Mitigation Banks that are located so as to provide an ecological and hydrological connection to other Conservation lands are important in that they provide and connect wildlife corridors. The 5,199 acre TM-Econ Mitigation Bank provides a critical connection between the Orange County Split Oak Conservation Area and the Hal Scott Preserve in Eastern Orange County.

This Bank embraces the headwaters of the Econlockhatchee River headwaters and is home to threatened and endangered species including the gopher tortoise and red-cockaded woodpecker nesting and foraging areas.

The TM-Econ Mitigation Bank is also an intergal part of the larger environmental corridor that extends from Lake Tohopeliga in Osceola County in the south to the St. Johns River headwaters of Lake Jessup and Lake Monroe to the north.

GOALS OF THE RESTORATION ACTIVITY

The two most important goals of the restoration effort, removal of the man-made impacts and the restoration of natural hydroperids were achieved by removing the historic impacts to an eight square mile area and by restoring past agricultural and industrial impacts. In addition, removal of access roads and the addition of miles of new drainage structures and ditch blocks have restored the natural hydroperiod to this unique site.  All construction and restoration has now been completed to Phases 1, 2 & 3 and Conservation Easements have been now placed over the entire 5,199 acre Bank Site.