WGI conducted an environmental due diligence assessment of the natural, cultural and historical resources for a planned Broward County radio communication and transmissions tower replacement project located within McTyre Park. The ORCAT tower replacement consisted of upgrading a guywire anchor-supported tower to a free-standing structure, demolishing an equipment shelter in disrepair, and constructing a new equipment shelter to accommodate the new tower.

WGI provided supporting environmental documentation and recommendations to Broward County for preparing a Conservation Management Plan in accordance with Florida Rule. This included assessing land uses, wetlands, protected species, trees, contamination, and other natural and physical resources. Because the communication complex was over 50 years old, WGI also assessed the historical significance of the project site. WGI environmental scientists performed field investigations and found the site was utilized habitat by a state-threatened listed owl species, the Florida burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia floridana). Since protected owls were observed on-site, WGI scientists collected data using a submeter accuracy Global Positioning System (GPS) and mapped owl burrows using ArcMap GIS. WGI provided the County with recommendations based on the current Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) guidance on avoidance and minimization measures for reference during the project planning and design phases to ensure compliance with the FWC species-specific permitting criteria.

Project Highlights:

• “This report is extremely thorough and exactly what we are looking for.” – Report’s end user