The proximity of existing preserves on the adjacent

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The proximity of existing preserves on the adjacent

A new eco-friendly community is emerging in Naples that will reflect, respect and protect the lands that surround it. Every aspect of The Isles of Collier Preserve by Minto Communities is being meticulously planned by the developer to create a sustainable community that is in harmony with nature and a model for others to follow.

“We want The Isles of Collier Preserve to be a world-class community known for its dedication to environmental stewardship,” notes Minto Communities Florida Vice President William Bullock.

More than half of The Isles of Collier Preserve — 1,300 plus acres of on-site wetland and upland habitats — will be dedicated to natural habitat and nature preserve. These preservation areas will be connected by a network of recreational trails, bike paths and waterways.

Minto is working closely with neighbors Naples Botanical Garden and Rookery Bay Reserve as well as a team of consultants who are leading experts in the fields of water quality, Florida’s uplands, marshes and native species to assure that this property is protected and preserved for future generations.

According to Bullock, “Minto is fully committed to being good stewards of this stunning and important land, its waters and wildlife. We are honored to be part of the enduring legacy of this historic and spectacularly beautiful property.”

Earlier in 2013, Minto acquired The Isles of Collier Preserve — formerly known as Sabal Bay — from Collier Enterprises. In 1986, the site was approved for a Development of Regional Impact (DRI) that authorized 4,000 residential units, a golf course, village center, school site and fire station. The DRI originally included impacts to approximately 600 acres of wetlands and the majority of the on-site uplands.

Since then, the plan has been substantially modified to reduce impacts on wetlands and other areas. Residential density was cut in half and the golf course was eliminated. The redesigned site plan is based on an ecologically sustainable approach, and will preserve both higher quality freshwater and saltwater wetland habitats and higher quality scrub uplands that provide habitat for important species including gopher tortoises and bald eagle nesting sites that are protected in compliance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines.

The proximity of existing preserves on the adjacent properties of Rookery Bay Reserve and the Naples Botanical Garden was taken into account to complement the protection of habitat and listed species.

Preservation areas are being restored by the use of prescribed fires and removal of exotic vegetation. According to Minto’s ecological consulting firm Passarella & Associates Vice President Andy Woodruff, “Prescribed burning offers numerous benefits, including reducing hazardous fuel loads, improving wildlife habitat, facilitating seed germination, managing nonnative exotic vegetation, cycling nutrients and public safety. A buildup of dead and overcrowded vegetation can contribute to catastrophic wildfires. Prescribed fires such as those currently being done at The Isles of Collier Preserve clear out these fuels, resulting in fewer fires that are less intense and easier to control — especially important to residential areas.”

Andy Woodruff has been involved as an environmental consultant on The Isles of Collier Preserve property since the 1990s. He is certified by the Florida Division of Forestry as a prescribed-burn manager, by the Society of Wetland Scientists as a Professional Wetland Scientist, and by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a wetland delineator.

He notes that fire creates a varied landscape that provides habitat for plants and animals. Areas opened by fire allow sun-loving plants a chance to colonize new territory. These plants offer wildlife a wider variety of food sources, attracting more animal species to the area. Several plant species require a fire to pass through before seeding, and many of these plants are considered “threatened” or “endangered” in Florida.

Some Florida wildlife depends on fire for its very existence, including gopher tortoise, a native Floridian whose life is shaped by fire. The gopher tortoise is listed as threatened in Florida. It feeds on low-growing plants that require abundant sunlight to survive. Without fire, these plants are shaded out by taller plants, drastically reducing the amount of food available to the tortoise.

We are doing a significant amount of restoration work on site,” notes Bullock. “Minto is eradicating invasive species in all preserve areas by removing exotics and restoring the preserve areas. This improves habitat for wildlife and puts the area back to where it needs to be for a functional ecosystem. When this restoration work is completed, Minto will deed 780 acres of this land to Rookery Bay. We also have reviewed what is being done at the Naples Botanical Garden, and have consulted with their experts regarding the best selections for our residential area landscaping plan.”

According to Minto Land Development Superintendent Ralph Haskins, Minto continuously monitors the water quality at The Isles of Collier Preserve. “We are very diligent in making sure that we always are in compliance with guidelines. Being adjacent to Rookery Bay, we are extremely sensitive to maintaining water quality.”

“When we excavate our lakes, we pump water from the lakes and monitor carefully to make sure there is not a high level of chlorides that might impact the water quality, and to make sure we don’t have a problem with saltwater intrusion. An on-site consultant also performs tests to provide a second opinion to ensure that our testing results are accurate.”

To improve nutrient removal and water quality enhancement, the surface water management system has been designed to incorporate a series of flow-Thru marshes and created wetlands that water will flow through before finally leaving the site.

According to Barraco and Associates Engineer Tim Gavin, P.E., engineer of record for The Isles of Collier Preserve, “Essentially, we are going through three steps to protect the water quality: achieving good water quality in the lake areas; then channeling the stormwater through an additional filter marsh; and, finally, out falling into an on-site created wetland before discharging off site. There may be other developments in this geographical area taking this enhanced approach but I am not aware of them. This is definitely above and beyond what is required.”

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Created on Dec 31st 1969 18:00. Viewed 0 times.

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