Email sent to members of the Faculty Senate, 14 Apr 2004

[Note: Live links have been added to this email so that those reading it on the web can view supporting documents and images.]

SW 24th Avenue : How the roadway would impact NATL

Dear Senator,

Tomorrow, the Faculty Senate will vote on an action item prompted by the Final Report of the SW 24th Avenue Focus Group. The Report lists seven impacts, based primarily on the testimony of faculty who use the area.

The seven impacts are quoted after the word REPORT:


REPORT: “Presence of the road will preclude certain management techniques including prescribed burns that maintain upland pine habitat and enable the best use of the land for teaching and research.”

The upland pine ecosystem depends on fire for its perpetuation. When NATL was established the lack of fire for more than 50 years had so degraded the ecosystem that the pines were no longer reproducing. It has taken nine years of volunteer labor and six prescribed burns to restore the ecosystem to where the seeds of the longleaf pines can once more germinate and the seedlings survive. If prescribed burning is ruled out, NATL will lose its most treasured upland ecosystem. (http://natl.ifas.ufl.edu/pinegall.html and http://natl.ifas.ufl.edu/natlecos.htm#uplandpine)


REPORT: “A road will bring noise pollution, air pollution, light trespass, stormwater runoff and related pollutants, exotic seed sources and other undesirable
edge effects into the NATL beyond the road right-of-way.”

The effects of roads on natural ecosystems go far beyond the land that is lost to the right-of-way. For example, studies that require identifying birds by their songs are impaired and fungi that are sensitive to traffic-generated particulates are killed.


REPORT: “The NATL cannot be duplicated or reproduced on campus with the same habitat diversity, established data history and convenient accessibility.”

Of NATL’s three upland ecosystems only the hammock ecosystem is available elsewhere on campus

For an example of established data history see http://natl.ifas.ufl.edu/gridphotos.htm

The convenience of NATL is best illustrated by comparison with off-campus sites that are the only alternatives to most of what is available in NATL. Visits by classes to off-campus sites require arranging and paying for transportation and take more time than is available in laboratory periods of usual durations.


REPORT: “Development of a road on the NATL’s southern border will reduce area that is available for research and teaching.”

The land that would be donated amounts to about 3 acres, and the proposed route of the extension will isolate 1.6 acres that contains the sink and sinkhole pond. Thus the 22 acres that is presently in NATL’s academic-only area will be reduced by about 21% (4.6/22). (http://natl.ifas.ufl.edu/24mapwP2.jpg)

This will significantly increase conflicts among the projects of the many courses and students that use this part of NATL.


REPORT: “Wildlife and vegetation native to this area will have a smaller and fragmented habitat area, and reduced access to water.”

Forty-eight acres of continuous wild lands will be reduced to fragments of 28, 14, and 3 acres (with only 3 acres destroyed by the proposed extension of SW 24th Avenue). The biggest piece, which is within the main body of NATL, will be isolated from the two fragments that have permanent or near-permanent water. Animals in NATL that are accustomed to seeking water in the cutoff areas are likely to become roadkill (e.g., dragonflies, frogs, salamanders, some mammals).


REPORT: “The flora and fauna currently present at the NATL will be diminished, altered and impaired by the intrusion of this proposed road.”

The biggest hit would obviously be the upland pine ecosystem but nearly as bad is the fact that the road goes through the richest, most pristine part of NATL’s hammock ecosystem.


REPORT: “Other impacts will be identified and addressed through an Environmental Impact Statement that will be required as part of the Planning, Design and Environmental (PD&E) study prior to road construction.”

This need not occur if the University chooses to keep in tact its premier facility for teaching students and the public about ecology and biodiversity.


Sincerely,
T. J. Walker (Tom)
Chair, Natural Area Advisory Committee