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Green Swamp-Withlachoochee River Headwaters Green Swamp-Withlachoochee River Headwaters Partnerships

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Green Swamp-Withlachoochee River Headwaters Green Swamp-Withlachoochee River Headwaters Partnerships Green Swamp-Withlachoochee River Headwaters Green Swamp-Withlachoochee River Headwaters Partnerships Lake, Pasco, and Polk Counties Purpose for State Acquisition in improved and semi-improved pasture and smaller The primary purposes for acquisition of the Green acreages in ruderal and pine plantation). Swamp-Withlacoochee River Headwaters Florida For- ever (FF) project are protection of the water supply of Geographically, the project is located between SR 50 central Florida, particularly recharge for the Floridan on the north and US 98 on the south. It is close to Aquifer and several rivers; preservation of a large area Lakeland and Clermont. Its northwestern boundary for wildlife; and provision of areas for public recreation. is contiguous with the Withlacoochee State Forest and the Southwest Florida Water Management District Managers (SWFWMD)-managed Green Swamp land. To the The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Com- east and the south are the other three Green Swamp mission (FWCC) will be the primary manager for the FF projects. The western two-thirds of the project is majority of the project yet to be acquired. The Florida characterized by low, rolling limestone plains. The Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of land surface of the remaining third is comprised of Recreation and Parks (FDEP/DRP) will be the primary sandhills and karst solution features with the Green manager for the portion of the project that is within the Swamp region in the southeast being lower and closer optimum boundary of Colt Creek State Park. (See Ac- to the water table. It is also a moderate distance to the quisition Planning section for managers of land already Disney World complex. acquired within the boundary.) Hydrographically, the majority of the project is within General Description the Withlacoochee River watershed. A small portion This project of 103,457 (GIS) acres is composed of along the southern boundary is within the Hillsborough 13 distinct natural communities and 4 other landcover River watershed to the southwest. The Withlacoochee types. The natural communities include pine flatwoods, River bisects the middle of the project along the Lake- scrub, and sandhill, which are underrepresented in state Polk County line; the river westward forms a significant conservation holdings. About 61% of the project area portion of the western boundary. Elevations range from is in natural condition, while 39% is disturbed (most knolls greater than 140 feet above mean sea level (MSL) to less than 100 feet above MSL, but the majority of the project is below 115 feet MSL. Six rare plants and 17 rare animals are documented as occurring within the project boundary, mostly as- sociated with existing conservation lands in the south- western part of the project. (See FNAI Elements.) Placed on List 2012 Project Area (GIS Acres) 103,457 Acres Acquired (GIS) 51,342 at a Cost of $84,773,630* Acres Remaining (GIS) 52,115 w/Estimated (Tax Assessed) Value of $148,773,904** *Includes acreage acquired/funds expended by SWFWMD/ SJRWMD. **Based on project Just Value, 2010 236 Green Swamp-Withlachoochee River Headwaters From an urban planning perspective, the project has a and Green Swamp Conservation Easements. moderate potential for being developed, subdivided, or losing significant natural attributes or open spaces. Coordination Development potential is higher on the south end, in The GSLA worked with the SWFWMD in acquiring the vicinity of Lakeland and Polk City. The project is lands within the boundary. In 1999, the GSLA’s re- within an Area of Critical State Concern. sponsibilities passed to the FDEP. Public Use Management Policy Statement The FWCC will consider programs providing multiple The Green Swamp-Withlacoochee River Headwaters fish/wildlife-based public recreational uses if land Florida Forever project will be managed to accomplish within the project area is acquired. These potential the following: conserve and protect lands within areas public outdoor fish/wildlife-based recreational uses will of critical state concern; conserve and protect significant enhance the public’s understanding of the region while habitat for native species or endangered or threatened providing recreational enjoyment. Essential roads will species; provide areas, including recreational trails, be maintained to provide all-weather public access and for natural resource-based recreation; and conserve, management operations; and unnecessary roads, fire protect, manage, or restore important ecosystems, lanes, and hydrological disturbances will be abandoned landscapes, and forests in a manner that enhances or or restored as practical. Infrastructure development will protects significant surface water, coastal, recreational, be appropriate to allow public access and to provide timber, fish and wildlife resources which local or state facilities, security, and management of the property. regulatory programs cannot adequately protect. Archaeological and historic sites would be managed in coordination with the Florida Department of State, Management Prospectus Division of Historical Resources (DHR). Qualifications for state designation The project has the size and wildlife resources to qualify as a wildlife Acquisition Planning management area (WMA). Its mosaic of land uses At the June 10, 2011 meeting, the Acquisition and would help protect the Floridan Aquifer and the head- Restoration Council (ARC) approved the reevaluation waters of several rivers that start in this region. It would and redesign of the 233,598-acre Green Swamp Florida preserve a large area for wildlife and provide areas for Forever project added to the list in 1992, removing from public recreation in a fast-growing region between the boundary about 14,448 acres of land that was either Tampa and Orlando. developed or otherwise unmanageable, then dividing Manager The FWCC will manage most of the project the remaining acreage into four projects. At the Octo- lands remaining to be acquired (about 54,250 acres). ber 14, 2011 meeting, the ARC approved the resource The FDEP/DRP will manage a 488-acre parcel that is evaluations and eight management prospectuses for the within the Colt Creek State Park optimum boundary. four Green Swamp projects. This project is the west- The Florida Forest Service (FFS) will manage a 11,963- ernmost of the four projects. It covers 103,448 acres in acre parcel within the Withlacoochee State Forest opti- northern Polk County and southern Lake County and a mum boundary. (Note: See site management plans for very small piece of Pasco County. About 45% percent lands already acquired.) Polk County has indicated its of the lands (51,050 acres) within its boundary have willingness to be involved in acquisition and manage- been acquired for conservation. ment when possible. Conditions affecting intensity of management For Included within the boundary are all or part of the the FWCC-managed lands, environmentally sensitive following managed conservation areas acquired in fee- areas, such as erosion-prone sites, important habitats, simple, with the managing agency: Colt Creek State and outstanding natural areas and wetlands, if acquired, Park--FDEP/DRP; General James A. Van Fleet State would be identified, appropriately managed, and pro- Trail--FDEP/DRP/Office of Greenways and Trails tected. (OGT); Green Swamp--SWFWMD; The Pasture--Lake County; Gator Creek Reserve--Polk County. All or part The Green Swamp-Withlacoochee River Headwaters of the lands within the boundary acquired using alterna- project includes natural areas requiring application of tives to fee-simple include SWFWMD’s Green Swamp resource management methods, such as prescribed fire, Conservation Easements and DEP’s Green Swamp where appropriate. Other areas may require ecological Land Authority (GSLA) Land Protection Agreements restoration of ground cover, control of invasive species, 237 Green Swamp-Withlachoochee River Headwaters 238 Green Swamp-Withlachoochee River Headwaters and reforestation. Such resource management actions ing public outdoor recreational enjoyment. Essential may be necessary to accomplish restoration objectives roads will be maintained to provide all weather public to attain a specific-desired, future condition. This is access and management operations. Unnecessary especially important for conservation of habitats and roads, fire lanes, and hydrological disturbances will populations of imperiled or rare species. Due to the be abandoned or restored as practical. Infrastructure importance of landscape ecology, land use changes in development will be appropriate to allow public access the vicinity of a managed area may affect attainment of and to provide facilities, security, and management of resource conservation goals for the area and the over- the property. Archaeological and historic sites would be all effectiveness of necessary resource manage ment managed in coordination with the Florida Department projects. Continued biotic monitoring is necessary for of State, DHR. The DRP will develop short-term man- the accomplishment of natural resource management agement goals of security, protection of resources, and goals. Also, development of facilities is to be kept to resource inventory for its parcels. The FFS proposes the minimum level necessary to assure protection of to manage parcels within the optimum boundary of the the resources and compatible recreational experiences. Withlacoochee State Forest as a state forest. Burn goals To the extent possible, any such development would be of the
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