The Longleaf Alliance Inc

The Longleaf Alliance, Partnered With the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Virginia Tech, and the Orianne Society, and Supported by Eglin Air Force Base, Northwest Florida Water Management District, and U.s. Fish and Wildlife Service Are Submitting This Proposal to Provide Funding to Support the Recovery of the Reticulated Flatwoods Salamander (ambystoma Bishopi RFS) on Escribano Point Wildlife Management Area (EPWMA) in Santa Rosa County, FL. Escribano Point Is a State Protected Wma Managed by FWC and Is Heavily Partner-supported, Making It an Ideal Site for RFS Recovery and Protection. the RFS Population on Epwma Is Listed in the Recovery Plan as One of the Three Remaining Metapopulations. Epwma Has a High Density of Potential Breeding Wetlands That, If Properly Restored, Could Exponentially Increase the Available Breeding Habitat and Connectivity for the Species. Its Sizeable Population and Habitat Potential Make Epwma an Ideal Area to Explore Research and Recovery Opportunities to Apply Across the RFS Range. This Project Will Aim to Accelerate RFS Population Recovery at Epwma Through the Following Actions: 1. Restoring and Increasing Available Breeding Habitat by 25 Above Current Levels by Using Hand Clearing, Herbicide Application, and Heavy Mechanical Equipment to Clear Heavily Degraded Known and Potential Breeding Wetlands, 2. Continuing the Head Starting Program to Help Assist Populations in Poor Breeding Years and to Potentially Repatriate or Translocate RFS to New Sites, 3. Population Monitoring of RFS Occupancy Across Epwma to Track Yearly Breeding Efforts, 4. Improving Recovery Advocacy and Outreach to Improve Public Awareness and Partnership Collaboration, and 5. Addressing Important Research Gaps, Including Hydrological Monitoring, Pre and Post Restoration Vegetation Monitoring, and Genetic Sampling and Using This Information to Inform Restoration and Recovery Goals. These Goals and Objectives Specifically Address the Three Key Recovery Objectives Listed in the RFS Recovery Implementation Strategy. Therefore, the Implementation of These Activities at Epwma Will Help Improve Recovery of RFS Habitat, and in Turn Support the Recovery Plan Objectives and Further Recovery Progress Towards the Down Listing Delisting Criteria for RFS.