PROJECT FEATURES
Sebring Scrub Conservation Bank (SSCB) is a 77-acre parcel located east of Sebring and west of the Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area (LWRWEA) in Highlands County, Florida. The SSCB is also adjacent to the Lake Istokpoga Conservation Area (LICA); the connection of the SSCB to the LICA and the LWRWEA creates a continuous connection from the SSCB-site to state -owned properties with other lands under existing conservation easement. These conservation lands include thousands of acres of historic scrub and sandhill communities that are actively managed to sustain or restore endemic plants and animals. The SSCB management plan will restore the scrub and native seeding will be planted. These conservation measures will link viable scrub habitat to the LWRWEA and accentuate ongoing restoration activities on the Lake Wales Ridge.
Click here for the Sebring Scrub Conservation Bank Certification Letter.
RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT PLAN
The bank includes the creation of saltwater and freshwater wetlands on former agricultural lands. The bank will include enhancement of Andrew’s Creek, which drains to Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve and restoration of native upland habitat surrounding the wetlands. This wetlands creation and restoration provides significant ecological and water quality benefits to Cockroach Bay and the Tampa Bay Estuary.
The Sebring Scrub Conservation Bank provides off-site mitigation for public and private developers in the Lake Wales Ridge region for permitted activities that involve impacts to the state and federally listed sand skink and/or Florida scrub-jay. The Bank has identified, acquired, protected, restored, and provided long term management and funding for key parcels of scrub habitat occupied by sand skinks and scrub jays.
The mitigation is available for impacts within the approved Service Areas at a ratio of two credits required to offset one acre of impact.
The benefits of purchasing USFWS approved conservation include:
Reduced permitting delay
Guaranteed acceptance of mitigation by regulatory agencies
Fixed one-time cost
No future responsibility for long-term management