From Farmland to Fishery: Creating Fish and Wildlife Habitat At a New Florida Reservoir

Fellsmere Water Management Area (FWMA) is a 10,000-acre parcel of land owned by the St. Johns River Water Management District (District) in Indian River County, Florida.   As part of the restoration of the Upper St. Johns River ecosystem, the District is converting FWMA from agricultural lands into a water storage area.  Agricultural practices (cattle, sod, citrus, and water cress) have created large blocks of flat topography and monotypic vegetation within FWMA.   The construction of FWMA provides the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Commission) the ability to create and sustain a high quality sport-fishery and an important eco-tourism resource.   Due to the homogenous nature of FWMA habitat, the Commission and the District began enhancement activities in March 2012 which will increase the diversity of structure and cover types available to largemouth bass and other fish and wildlife species once the reservoir is flooded (2014).  Underwater shelves, holes, and ridges were constructed and over 13,000 trees were planted in a 500-acre tract that was previously a monotypic cattle pasture.  We will discuss the potential benefits of pre-flood enhancement and its possible contribution to fish and wildlife abundance, recreational usage, and economic benefits.