Farmton Mitigation Bank
Farmton Mitigation Bank provides state and federal forested and herbaceous credits within the Halifax River Basin (Basin 17) and the St. Johns River (Canaveral Marshes to Wekiva) (Basin 18), which is within the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Mitigation Bank credits are available to offset unavoidable wetland impacts that are located within the Halifax River and St. Johns River with UMAM credits (State) and WRAP credits (Federal).
The Farmton Mitigation Bank is a 23,922-acre mitigation bank that is located in Volusia County, Florida. It is the largest mitigation bank in the country.
The bank was permitted by both the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) and can be utilized as mitigation for impacts within the service area.
Restoration activities include hydrological enhancement to restore the nature hydrology.
The North site covers 16,289 acres and includes Crane Swamp and a portion of the headwaters of Spruce Creek. The South site covers 4052 acres at Buck Lake. The West site covers 3,581 acres that include Cow Creek and Deep Creek. Habitats present on the three sites include cypress swamp, freshwater marsh, scrub/shrub wetlands, mixed forested wetlands, cypress/pine swamp, wetland coniferous forest, wetland hardwood forest, and uplands primarily comprised of pine flatwoods and slash pine plantation, and to a lesser degree, temperate upland hardwood hammock.
The following ecological enhancement activities have been proposed or implemented at this mitigation bank:
1. Hydrologic enhancement through the installation of culverts under field roads, installation of weirs, and alterations to several bridges.
2. Elimination of an open hunting plan and implementation of a wildlife management/hunting plan.
3. Implementation of a native-community-promoting forest and timber management plan.
4. Recording of a Conservation Easement to eliminate cattle grazing from the property and prevent future activities not consistent with the preservation of natural communities.
