The hydrology of wetlands adjacent to roads can be impacted by alteration of natural sheetflow. Wetland restoration includes, but is not limited to, the removal of roads or structures that were constructed through or over wetlands, installing culverts and low water crossings. The Florida Power and Light Collier Belle Meade Transmission Line patrol road is an elevated roadway that runs about 18 km northwest to southeast through Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (RBNERR). This roadway was constructed in the mid 1960s and bisects a number of freshwater marshes, hydric pine flatwoods, and mangrove wetlands. Although several small culverts were installed at the time of construction, many have since eroded and collapsed. This elevated roadway inhibits sheetflow affecting the hydroperiod of downstream wetlands and ponds water flooding adjacent pine flatwoods. To restore the hydrology of the area, a number of low water crossings are being installed as part of mitigation projects for residential and commercial development within the RBNERR watershed. These low water crossings allow water to naturally sheetflow through the area while maintaining vehicle access. The objective of these mitigation projects is to offset impacts to wetlands in developed areas by restoring the hydrology of comparable habitats in conservation lands. In the past five years, four low water crossings were installed, and five more will be constructed in 2008. For further information, contact Tad Bartareau at RBNERR(Tad.Bartareau@dep.state.fl.us).
