Wekiva River Basin State Parks
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Wekiva River Basin State Parks Advisory Group Draft Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks March 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................. 1 PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PARK .................................................. 1 Park Significance ........................................................................................... 2 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE PLAN ............................................................... 7 MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW ............................................................. 9 Management Authority and Responsibility ........................................................ 9 Park Management Goals ................................................................................. 9 Management Coordination ............................................................................ 10 Public Participation ...................................................................................... 10 Other Designations ...................................................................................... 10 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT INTRODUCTION............................................................................................ 13 RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT ............................................... 19 Natural Resources ....................................................................................... 19 Topography ............................................................................................ 19 Geology ................................................................................................. 20 Soils ...................................................................................................... 20 Minerals ................................................................................................. 27 Hydrology .............................................................................................. 27 Natural Communities (FNAI) ..................................................................... 42 Imperiled Species .................................................................................... 85 Exotic and Nuisance Species ................................................................... 100 Special Natural Features ........................................................................ 112 Cultural Resources .................................................................................... 113 Condition Assessment ............................................................................ 113 Level of Significance .............................................................................. 113 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Sites ............................................. 114 Historic Structures ................................................................................. 116 Collections............................................................................................ 118 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM .......................................................... 131 Management Goals, Objectives and Actions .................................................. 131 Natural Resource Management .................................................................... 131 Hydrological Management ...................................................................... 131 Natural Communities Management .......................................................... 135 Imperiled Species Management ............................................................... 146 Exotic Species Management .................................................................... 149 Cultural Resource Management ................................................................... 151 Special Management Considerations ............................................................ 154 Timber Management Analysis ................................................................. 154 Arthropod Control Plan ........................................................................... 156 Resource Management Schedule ............................................................. 156 Land Management Review .......................................................................... 156 i LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... 157 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS ............................................................................. 157 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ................................................................... 158 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ................................................................... 160 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ................................................................................. 163 Recreational Resource Elements .................................................................. 163 Land Area ............................................................................................ 163 Water Area ........................................................................................... 164 Natural Scenery .................................................................................... 165 Significant Habitat ................................................................................. 165 Natural Features ................................................................................... 166 Archaeological and Historic Features ........................................................ 167 Assessment of Use .................................................................................... 168 Past Uses ............................................................................................. 168 Future Land Use and Zoning ................................................................... 169 Current Recreation Use and Visitor Programs ............................................ 169 Other Uses ........................................................................................... 171 Protected Zones .................................................................................... 171 Existing Facilities ....................................................................................... 172 Wekiwa Springs State Park Recreation Facilities ........................................ 172 Wekiwa Springs State Park Support Facilities ............................................ 172 Rock Springs Run State Reserve Recreation Facilities ................................. 173 Rock Springs Run State Reserve Support Facilities .................................... 173 Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park Recreation Facilities ...................... 174 Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park Support Facilities ......................... 174 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN .................................................................... 181 Potential Uses ........................................................................................... 181 Public Access and Recreational Opportunities ............................................ 181 Proposed Facilities ..................................................................................... 185 Capital Facilities and Infrastructure ......................................................... 185 Facilities Development ............................................................................... 197 Recreational Carrying Capacity ................................................................... 198 Optimum Boundary ................................................................................... 200 IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT MANAGEMENT PROGRESS .......................................................................... 209 Park Administration and Operations ............................................................. 209 Resource Management ............................................................................... 210 Natural Resources ................................................................................. 210 Cultural Resources ................................................................................ 210 Recreation and Visitor Services ................................................................... 210 Park Facilities ........................................................................................... 211 MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ..................................................... 212 ii TABLES TABLE 1a – Wekiwa Springs State Park Management Zones ................................ 14 TABLE 1b – Rock Springs Run State Reserve Management Zones......................... 16 TABLE 1c – Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park Management Zones .............. 18 TABLE 2 – Imperiled Species Inventory ............................................................. 95 TABLE 3 – Inventory of FLEPPC Category I and II Exotic Plant Species ................ 103 TABLE 4 – Cultural Sites Listed in the Florida Master Site File ............................ 120 TABLE 5 – Prescribed Fire Management .......................................................... 136 TABLE 6 – Recreational Carrying Capacity ....................................................... 199 TABLE 7 – Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates .................................. 215 MAPS Vicinity Map ...................................................................................................... 3 Reference