ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION – Environmental Protection Office

ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION

The Environmental Restoration Program focuses on the protection and restoration, of Tribal wetland resources across all Seminole Tribal lands with an emphasis on regulatory compliance. Through the development of the Environmental Restoration Program, we are developing and applying scientific methods to assess wetland health, as well as guide sustainable land use and ensure regulatory compliance at the Tribal, state (where applicable) and federal regulations. The program plays a critical role in supporting long-term wetland resilience and cultural preservation.

Mission

Develop, analyze, and interpret wetland resource data to assess any potential or current impacts to Tribal wetland resources.
Implement or develop strategies to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts to Tribal wetland resources across all Tribal Lands.
Support Tribal efforts in preserving, enhancing, and restoring wetland and upland habitats through monitoring and management strategies.

Program Tasks

Develop and implement the Wetland Protection Plan (WPP) within ERD.
Conduct functional habitat assessments of current and newly acquired Tribal wetland areas and calculate mitigation values in accordance with federal and state regulatory frameworks.
Produce reports that illustrate the conditions of wetland areas for interdepartmental use as well as for state and federal regulatory processes.
Implement and carryout wetland mitigation programs, including the monitoring the enhancement and restoration of the Wetland Enhancement Areas (WEAs).
Manage established wetland and wildlife mitigation ledgers.
Develop work plans and goals for our wetland restoration efforts.
Participate in public and professional meetings, conferences, and outreach events to support Tribal environmental education as well as other EPO initiatives.

Key Projects

Develop a draft WPP
Implement a monitoring plan that includes wet-season and dry-season monitoring events for all mitigation areas and natural areas of Tribal importance.
Monitor and conduct up-to-date assessments of Tribal mitigation and wetland areas and compare to historical data to see ecological trends and overall land management needs.
Develop standard operating procedures to utilize remote sensing to review vegetative community shifts in mitigation areas.
Gather baseline vegetative community data in the Kissimmee Billie Slough of the Native Area in Big Cypress in preparation for anticipated hydrologic changes from Western Everglades Restoration Project.

CONTActs