Sarasota National Project, FL

Client: Tuscano, LLC

Location: Sarasota County, FL

Summary: Cardno ENTRIX, Inc. provided environmental consulting services needed to plan, pursuant to the Sarasota County Development of Critical Concern (DOCC) process, and construct the Sarasota National residential golf course community. Cardno ENTRIX has been involved with the Sarasota National project since its inception which has allowed Cardno ENTRIX to design and maximize preservation of higher quality habitats including large slough systems, the on-site portion of Forked Creek, and associated upland buffers up to 200-feet. The Sarasota National property totals 2,354? acres supporting large tracks of native uplands and wetlands and active ranch lands for sod production and cattle grazing pastures.

Through the DOCC process the project preserved over 900 acres of native uplands and wetlands supporting a multitude of wildlife species including gopher tortoises, a state Species of Special Concern, and Sandhill Crane nesting areas. Cardno ENTRIX was instrumental in designing wetland enhancement and restoration areas including rehydrating wetlands through the filling of ditches, and recontouring and replanting wetland marshes and wet prairies. Cardno ENTRIX also designed and permitted the restoration of 34 acres of Forked Creek that was historically channelized. In addition, the project will be removing nuisance and exotic plant species including punk trees, Brazilian pepper and torpedo grass in over 190 acres of preserved lands. The project has also been designed to maintain and improve the movement of wildlife through the project and beyond Sarasota National into native lands surrounding the property. Several wildlife crossing structures have been designed to accommodate targeted wildlife species. In addition, wildlife crossing signage has been incorporated to warn automobile drivers of Sandhill Crane crossing areas to allow this species to cross between nesting and foraging areas. The design of wildlife corridors was incorporated to connect smaller wetland marsh systems to larger regional slough systems and Forked Creek.