Wood Stork Colony at Cross Creek, FL

Client: Multiple

Location: Hillsborough County, FL

Summary: While assisting clients for 9 major Development of Regional Impact (DRIs) along the I-75/Bruce B. Downs corridor in New Tampa, Cardno ENTRIX, Inc. determined that a regionally significant colony of about 100 pairs of the endangered wood stork (Mycteria americana) nested near the Hillsborough River and foraged in natural wetlands in the New Tampa area. Since loss of foraging habitat was responsible for the endangered status of this species, maintaining and improving habitat in the 18 square miles of proposed development in New Tampa was critical to these birds. Cardno ENTRIX initiated a series of award winning measures to assist recovery of this magnificent wading bird in the basin.

On Hunters Green in the late 1980s, Cardno ENTRIX designed and planted over 80 acres of created wetlands and lake edges that were hydrologically connected to natural wetlands by "fish ladders." For this outstanding work, we won the Secretary?s Award from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Hillsborough County Planning Commission?s Award of Excellence. Cardno ENTRIX improved and refined our wetland design concepts for our other New Tampa clients, and have created or restored over 300 acres of wetlands in the New Tampa area that provide foraging and nesting opportunities. In 2003, we were blessed with the first colony of wood storks ever to nest in a wetland created specifically for them. This particular colony had 26 pairs of wood storks as well as nesting anhingas, great egrets and cattle egrets. Nearly 1,000 additional birds including yellow-crowned night herons, great blue herons, little blue herons, and white ibises joined them to roost at night.