PAYNES PRAIRIE NORTH RIM PARTNERSHIP INVASIVE EXOTIC PLANT CONTROL PROJECT

WORKING GROUP: Withlacoochee Region Upland Invasive Exotic Plant Working Group

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Sandra Vardaman/Susie Geoffrey Parks/Jessica Senior Planner Hetrick Schulte University of Florida Alachua County City of Gainesville Facilities, Planning and Environmental Protection Nature Operations Division Construction Department Station 66, P. O. Box 490 Office (352) 392-0427 201 SE 2nd Ave, Suite 201 Gainesville, Florida 32602 Fax (352) 392-6378 Gainesville, FL 32601 Phone (352) 334-2227 Email [email protected] Office (352)264-6835 Cell (352) 316-4992 Fax (352)264-6852 Fax (352) 334-2234 Email Email [email protected] [email protected] Erik Lewis PROJECT GOALS: The primary goal of this collaborative project is to control populations of coral ardisia (Ardisia crenata) and other invasive plants found within several natural areas bordering the north rim of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park—Bivens Arm Nature Park Hudson Addition, owned by the City of Gainesville; Bivens Rim Forest, owned by the University of Florida; and Sweetwater Preserve and Bishop & Henderson Addition, owned by Alachua County (see Project Location Map). Coral ardisia is listed as a Category I species by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council and currently dominates large portions of the project sites. Although ardisia is the primary focus of control on these properties, additional invasive species occur within each project site, including air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera), cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera), Japanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum), and others, which will also be treated.

The secondary goal of this project is to prevent the further spread of invasive species into diverse, healthy areas in the project sites, and into new sites within the Paynes Prairie system. The project sites, together with Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park and Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area, encompass over 50,000 acres of conservation land. The project sites, along with other conservation lands that have already been treated, serve as an important buffer between urban Gainesville and Paynes Prairie. Control of invasive species in these preserves therefore plays an important role in the overall health of the system.

3 PROJECT LOCATION: The Hudson Addition of Bivens Arm Nature Park is located in the City Gainesville. The park is accessible from S. Main Street and from SW 13th Street (US 441). Bivens Rim Forest is located on the southern edge of the University of Florida main campus. Access to Bivens Rim is from SR 226/Alt - 24A/SW 16th Avenue, via the grass parking area at the UF Veterinary School. Sweetwater Preserve and the Bishop & Henderson Addition are located on Williston Road near SW 16th Avenue.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Hudson Addition site, owned by the City of Gainesville, is 24 acres of predominantly upland mixed forest, dominated by ash, live oak, pignut hickory, and sweetgum, with a few areas of floodplain forest, in which swamp tupelo and bluestem palm are common, and two depressional wetlands. Numerous invasive plants occur on the property. Infestations of Ardisia crenata are the most severe, occurring in virtually all of the upland mixed forest and floodplain forest areas; glossy privet and camphor tree also occur in these communities. Both of the wetlands are free of ardisia, but small Chinese tallow trees are becoming well established. These and other invasive species will be treated as they are encountered.

Bivens Rim Forest, owned by the University of Florida, is a 128-acre conservation area along the northern and western rim of Bivens Arm Lake, containing floodplain marsh, bottomland forest, and mesic mixed-hardwood forest communities. While Ardisia crenata, is widespread throughout the conservation area, and is the primary focus of this project, the University intends to also tackle the numerous other exotic species found on site.

Sweetwater Preserve is located on Williston Road at SW 16th Avenue. Bishop & Henderson is a short distance southwest of Sweetwater Preserve also on Williston Road. Sweetwater Preserve was acquired by Alachua County Forever with assistance from the Florida Communities Trust and is managed by the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department. The Bishop & Henderson was acquired by Alachua County Forever, and is managed by the State Park as part of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. Both properties are adjacent to Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park; Sweetwater is also adjacent to Boulware Springs City Park and the Gainesville- Hawthorne State Trail. Bishop & Henderson is across State Road 121/331 from the City of Gainesville’s Bivens Arm Nature Park.

Sweetwater Preserve is approximately 113 acres composed of upland mixed forest, baygall wetlands, seepage slope forest, xeric hammock, and degraded sandhill communities. Sweetwater Branch, a locally important creek, flows through the property, discharging into Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. The Bishop & Henderson parcel is approximately 25 acres, and consists of prairie hammock, dome swamp, floodplain forest, and degraded sandhill. Numerous exotics are established on both properties. Removal of exotic plants from the properties is integral to the restoration of many of the natural communities within the preserves, and to the health of the adjacent conservation lands.

Control of target species on Sweetwater began with a BIPM-funded project in 2007. Ardisia, air potato, camphor tree, Japanese honeysuckle, and Japanese climbing fern were initially treated on approximately 67.5 acres. The current project entails follow-up treatment to the initial control area in Sweetwater, and initial treatment of the remaining area within Sweetwater Preserve (approximately 58.2 acres), and initial treatment of approximately 23 acres within the Bishop & Henderson parcel.

Ardisia crenata occurs in varying densities throughout the forested portions of both properties. Much of the infestation is beneath a diverse canopy of native hardwoods. Large areas of ardisia were initially treated within Sweetwater in 2007 and 2008. Follow up treatments are necessary to control resprouts and seedling growth. Initial treatments are needed for the remaining untreated areas within Sweetwater, and for the entire Bishop & Henderson parcel.

Mature Cinnamomum camphora (camphor tree) occurs in the canopy layer on both properties. Beneath and near the mature trees are very dense concentrations of camphor of all age and size classes. Individual young camphor trees are also scattered sporadically throughout the properties.

Air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera, D. alata) is established along Sweetwater Branch, forming a dense band along the creek corridor, extending up to 100 feet in each direction from the creek banks. A dense infestation of air potato also occurs within Sweetwater along the preserve’s boundary with Evergreen Cemetery, and along the boundary with the residential area to the north. In addition, two individual patches of air potato occur within Bishop & Henderson. Much of the air potato within Sweetwater was treated in 2007, however follow up treatment for the treated areas, and initial treatment for untreated areas is anticipated.

Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) occurs within Bishop & Henderson in a narrow band along the edge of the forest and the powerline right-of-way. Individual chinaberry seedlings also occur sporadically throughout both properties.

Mexican petunia (Ruellia tweediana) occurs within Sweetwater Branch on the Sweetwater Preserve property, primarily ranging from 0 to 20% cover, or medium density.

Additional exotic plant species are scattered throughout both properties, as individual plants or small clusters. These plants include Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), Japanese climbing fern (Lygodium japonicum), heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica), and glossy privet (Ligustrum lucidum), and flamegold (Koelreuteria elegans). These species will be treated as they are encountered within the treatment areas specified on the project maps.

PROJECT TIME FRAME All treatment of air potato should occur in late summer. Treatment of other target plants may occur between April and October.

FUNDING INFORMATION

Total Project Cost: $31,647 Total BIPM Grant: $26,740 Cash Match: Funding through Alachua County = $3,000 In Kind Match: $1,907

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