Forest Stewardship

Forest Stewardship Management Plan

X Tract X County, Florida

2018 年 4 月 3 日

Florida Division of Forestry Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission University of Florida – Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences 1 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction...... 4

Location Map...... 5

Stand Map...... 6

Soils Map...... 7

Summary of Recommendations...... 8

Timber Stands - Descriptions and Recommendations...... 11

Stand 1. Planted Slash Pine (~2000) and Permanent Wildlife Opening....11

Stand 2. Camp and Pond...... 13

Stand 3. Bay Swamp...... 14

Time Table for Recommendations...... 14

General Management Recommendations for Wildlife...... 15

Appendix...... 18

Appendix A: Threatened and Endangered Species in C County……..19

Appendix B: BMP Rule and Notice of Intent………………………………22

Appendix C: Sample Timber Contract…………………………………...... 25

Appendix D: Potential Plant Species for Food Plots…………………….....31

Appendix E: Guidelines for Creating and Managing Wildlife Openings in Pine Plantations…………………………………33

Appendix F: Wetland Plants………………………………………………... 37

Appendix G: Pond Management……………………………………………48

Appendix H: Nest Box Construction and Placement…………………….. 57

Appendix I: Common Native Plants and Wildlife Uses…………………...72 Stewardship

The purpose of the Forest Stewardship Program since its inception in 1991 has been to assist private forest landowners in the management of their forest and related resources, to keep these lands in a productive and healthy condition, and to increase their economic and environmental benefits. The State of Florida recognizes that participation in the program is voluntary and will not jeopardize private property rights. Furthermore, the state understands that the long term viability of natural resources depends on the knowledge, stewardship ethic, and cooperation of private landowners who actively foster Florida’s natural landscape.

INTRODUCTION

Location and Description

The Xproperty, owned by X, is X+/- acres and is located in Section X of Township X south, Range X east, in X County, Florida. The tract is easily accessed from X Road via County Road X. This property is located within a complex of properties of roughly X acres in size known as the X. See figures 1, 2, and 3 for copies of the property map, stand map, and soils map.

The property is delineated into two ecological communities:

Community Acreage Percentage of Total Acreage North Florida Flatwoods 22 71% Bay Swamp 9 29% Total 31 100%

Management Objectives

Mr. X’s primary objective is to enhance and create wildlife habitat for native fauna, particularly deer, turkey, fish, and rare, threatened, or endangered species. Wildlife habitat will be established or maintained for hunting and other recreational activities. There are 22 acres of slash pine that will be managed to ensure healthy and productive timber, however managing for wildlife remains the primary objective. Property owners within the X area have established harvest regulations with the goal of improving quality of harvested bucks.

The management recommendations herein are a function of the goals discussed while on the initial reconnaissance tour of the property and are in no way legally binding. It is merely a guide for a landowner to use when trying to achieve certain land management objectives.

5 6 Figure 1.

7 8 Figure 2.

9 10 Figure 3.

11 SUMMARY OF MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Wildlife

Active management for wildlife will be accomplished through prescribed burning and rotational mowing within the planted pines to limit encroachment of hardwood species and promote native herbaceous vegetation. Silvicultural practices that may also improve wildlife habitat include: thinning within the pine plantation, longer rotations of the pines geared toward growing chip-n- saw and saw timber, and firebreak construction, which will also serve as travel corridors and transitional areas. Maintenance of permanent wildlife openings and an established pond will also improve wildlife habitat. By combining all of these activities, a more diverse habitat is created which will benefit wildlife as well as the landowner.

No threatened or endangered species (T & E) were noted during the initial land reconnaissance. Species that were observed or noted by the landowner include: white-tailed deer, wild hog, raccoon, coyote, wild turkey, various songbirds, gray squirrel, pygmy rattlesnake, coral snake, and alligator. A list of T&E species that may be present in X County is included in Appendix A in the appendix section at the end of the document. All recommendations within this plan are conducive to T&E species management.

Timber

Historically, the following tree species could be found in the bay swamp wetlands on the x property: cypress, bay, and red maple with a variety of understory plant species, including gallberry, saw palmetto, muscadine grape, ferns, star rush, dogfennel, bull rush, beautyberry, broom sedge, St. John’s wort, persimmon, fetterbush, maidencane, water lily, and bluestems. Most of the flatwoods have been planted in slash pine. The understory vegetation is primarily saw palmetto, gallberry, broomsedge and various other forbs. There are approximately 22 acres of pre-merchantable slash pine timber on the property.

Note: Timber management practices will greatly influence the quality of wildlife habitat available on the property. Wildlife and timber management can co-exist to produce a viable economic return, as well as provide quality wildlife habitat. Preferred tree spacing, in monoculture pine plantations, compatible with both timber and wildlife is 6’ x 12’ spacing (605 trees/acre). Wider tree spacing allows sunlight to reach the forest floor longer in the rotation. Longer rotations on pine plantations, aimed at producing chip-and-saw and saw timber (i.e., 30 years or greater) allow for multiple thinnings that open the canopy and allow sunlight to reach the ground and promote herbaceous vegetation growth. Prescribed burning and rotational mowing (where applicable) are other tools that compliment both timber and wildlife and should be conducted in 2-3 year rotations.

Fire Lines

12 One major management tool to be used in all stands is to create and maintain firebreaks around the stands and the property perimeter, where possible, within the Division of Forestry’s Best Management Practice (BMP) guidelines. During years of drought and impending wildfires, firebreak creation and maintenance should be one of the top priorities of the landowner. After firebreaks are plowed, Mr. X should use a disc to smooth the areas for better access lanes and to help facilitate growth of native herbaceous vegetation. The Division of Forestry has a recovery plow that will help level the firebreaks and facilitate future management with a small farm tractor and leveling harrow.

Firebreaks can serve many purposes if properly maintained, they will: 1) provide protection to the timber, 2) provide access to the property from the perimeter, 3) help control prescribed fires, and 4) provide transitional zones that are very important to wildlife species. The edges of firebreaks can provide excellent nesting and foraging habitat and will also provide travel corridors for wildlife. Fire lines should be at least 15 to 20 feet wide and follow the natural contour of the land to the fullest extent possible.

Maintenance of fire lines will consist of disking during winter months to promote wildlife- friendly herbaceous vegetation and maintain access throughout the property. This will promote the growth of native weeds and legumes such as partridge pea, beggar weed, and common ragweed.

Recreation

The primary recreational activity on the property is white-tailed deer hunting. It will also be enjoyed as a retreat for fishing, camping, and other recreational activities. The existing roads and establishment of fire lines provide a system of trails for walking on the property. A camp area has been established to accommodate overnight visits.

Aesthetics

The different community types within the property provide diversity within the tract while improving available wildlife habitat and the overall aesthetic value. The bay swamp has a number of large pond cypress and other attractive hardwoods. Red maples provide color in late winter and early spring while sweet bays bloom throughout the summer. Currently the slash pine plantation is a work in progress but does have a variety of wildflowers such as meadow beauty, St. Johnswort and various asters. Further diversification will occur as herbaceous vegetation is encouraged in openings and within the pine plantation through soil disturbance and prescribed fire.

Soil and Water

No major water problems were witnessed during the initial reconnaissance. A pond was dug under permit in 2006 within the camp opening.

Two major soil types are found on the property and are described below (Figure 2).

13 The Division of Forestry’s Best Management Practice (BMP) program provides guidance to protect wetlands and water quality when conducting silvicultural activities in and around wetlands. Filing a notice of intent to implement BMP’s and documenting those activities entitles the landowner to a presumption of compliance with state water quality regulations. The BMP Manual is available online: http://www.fldof.com/forest_management/bmp/index.html. A copy of the BMP rule and notice of intent are included in Appendix B.

Any further soil and water conservation questions should be addressed to X of the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Bronson at X or through the X County Extension Agent at X.

Soil Type and Characteristics – X Tract, X County, Florida

Historic Soil Type Vegetative Slope Drainage Site Index * Community Shrub bog-Bay Very poorly Slash pine - 65 Wekiva Fine Sand 0-2 % Swamp drained Loblolly pine - 65

Eau Gallie- North Florida 0-2 % Poorly drained Slash pine - 80 Holopaw Complex Flatwoods

* Site index is the average height of the dominant and co-dominant trees within an even-aged planted stand of the selected species at age 50 years. Site index is a good “tool” to use when considering what species of pine to plant. Other considerations such as wildlife habitat, aesthetics and management objectives should also be considered when determining species to plant.

STAND MAP SUMMARY

Stand Description Acres % of Total Acreage

1 Planted Slash Pine (Planted ~ 2000) 21 71% 1a Permanent Wildlife Opening 1

2 Camp and Pond 1 3%

3 Bay Swamp 8 26%

TOTAL 31 100%

14 STAND SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS

Stand 1 –Planted Slash Pine Flatwoods (Planted ~2000)

Stand 1 consists of 22 acres of planted slash pine that was planted around 2000. Vegetation within the plantation consists of slash pine, gallberry, blackberry, blueberry, greenbriar, saw palmetto, Lyonia, wax myrtle, and assorted native grasses.

To reduce herbaceous/woody competition for the pines and improve wildlife habitat, the landowner should establish a prescribed burning regime within the planted pines. Firelines should be established around the stand and maintained annually by disking. Initially this stand should be burned with a cool backing fire during the dormant season with low ambient temperatures. After a few burns a growing season fire can be used to maximize control of brush and hardwood encroachment. This effort will also reduce woody fuels, increasing availability and palatability associated with new growth for wildlife species such as white-tailed deer. Due to the small size, this stand should be burned as one unit on a 2-4 year rotation. More frequent fires are best for ground nesting birds while fire every 4 years is sufficient for white-tailed deer.

If the landowner burns less frequently than every 2-4 years, he should establish a once-a-year mowing regime (September through February) between burns to reduce herbaceous/woody competition for the pines and to improve wildlife habitat. This effort will also reduce vegetation height, increasing availability and palatability of new vegetative growth for wildlife species such as white-tailed deer. Initially, the stand should be fully mowed, thereafter 1/3 (or 1/5 if time and economics are limiting factors) of the plantation should be mowed each winter. This can be most easily accomplished by mowing every third row or mowing “blocks” of rows (for example: mow 3 rows, skip 6 rows); as long as 1/3 of the area is mowed. By leaving “rough areas,” the landowner is creating ideal nesting and cover habitat for most ground nesting birds, such as bobwhite quail and wild turkey, while still reducing vegetative competition with the pines. Rotational mowing also helps improve production of soft mast or fruits in many shrub species such as blackberry and American beautyberry. As these shrubs form dense thickets the fruit production declines. Periodic mowing will stimulate new growth and a temporary increase in fruit production which generally peaks three years after mowing.

Timber stands need to be evaluated often to determine if thinning is necessary and to detect insects and disease. If signs of insects or disease are present, call the County Forester’s office at X for an evaluation. Often, there is very little a landowner can do to offset damages, but sometimes early detection can help save timber.

At around year 15 (~ 2015), this stand should be evaluated for thinning. This may occur sooner if the crowns of the trees begin to touch, thus limiting the amount of sunlight on the forest floor. When thinning occurs, generally every 3rd or 5th row is removed, with select thinning of trees that may not be in the thinned rows but are of poor quality and will not develop into a higher quality product. If left, these trees will compete for resources with higher-value trees, therefore, they

15 should be removed. One risk associated with thinning is the possibility of a pine beetle outbreak. When a stand is thinned, machinery may hit trees and damage them. These trees become attractive to native pests and may be an invitation to an infestation. Careful consideration should be taken when thinning to ensure that damaged trees are removed along with the others before the timber crew moves off-site. A clause can be added to your timber contract which states the timber crew must remove damaged trees. A sample timber contract is included in Appendix C.

**Thinning 22 acres will likely not yield much (if any) profit; however, it is necessary for forest health and greater profits in the future in the form of a larger-sized timber class. Thinning may be coordinated with neighboring timber owners to increase total acreage, this will make it easier to find a crew willing to do the work as it requires a lot of time and energy to move equipment to a site and some timber buyers may exercise a minimum acreage requirement.**

Stand 1a – Permanent Wildlife Opening

Between the planted pines and bay swamp, there is a ~1 acre permanent wildlife opening with a planted foodplot consisting of winter wheat, oats, rye, rape, and peas, as well as a deer feeder located in the center of the plot.

Ideally, at least 5% (or 10% if stands have a high basal area and closed canopy) of a landowner’s property should be maintained in permanent openings as they provide travel corridors and foraging habitat for wildlife. Firebreaks, when properly managed by rotational mowing or disking, will provide additional resources not found in other stands.

Mr. X may continue to keep his food plot planted with agricultural crops to provide food for deer and other wildlife species. A list of potential plant species can be found in Appendix D. It is important to buy seed that is certified weed-free.

Openings increase diversity in the landscape, serve as a source of supplemental nutrition, and provide an attractant to increase harvest or improve viewing opportunities. It is critical to realize that food plots cannot substitute for poor quality habitat in an unmanaged forest. Openings supplement well-managed forest habitat and should never be considered the primary resource for wildlife.

Mr. X may also consider only winter disking some areas to encourage native vegetation instead of planting supplemental forages. By disking during winter months, growth of native legumes such as partridge pea is encouraged, as well as ragweed and other native plants preferred by quail, dove, white-tailed deer, turkeys and songbirds. Another consideration is to allow the areas planted to remain fallow every few years to reduce soil erosion from farming practices and to return nutrients to the soil. Fallow fields provide excellent cover and nesting areas for birds such as quail, turkey and many songbirds. See Appendix E for more information about wildlife openings.

A deer feeder is located in the center of Mr. X’s food plot. Currently the landowner is dispensing corn for deer. If economically feasible, protein in the form of soybeans or

16 commercial deer feed may be mixed with corn in late winter and early spring to provide essential nutrients for pregnant does and bucks that are establishing antlers.

Feral hogs have been competing with deer for supplemental food on Mr. X’s property. To prevent hogs from gaining access, the landowner may construct a fence around the feeder or, if economically feasible, around the entire perimeter of the food plot. Deer can jump over the fence to gain access but hogs will be excluded. The fence should be at least 3 feet above ground and, if possible, should be buried approximately 1 foot below the soil to prevent hogs from pushing through the fence between fence posts.

Stand 2 – Camp and pond

Stand 2 consists of a grassy clearing located inside the pine plantation. A 0.1-acre pond was dug within the clearing in 2006. This pond is irregularly-shaped and is approximately 12 feet at the deepest point. Mr. X stocked the pond with 200 catfish, 200 bream, and 500 minnows in November, 2007. An alligator has been seen frequenting the pond. Willow, dog fennel, maidencane, and fern have become established along the edge of the pond.

If left alone, native vegetation will likely colonize the banks of the pond and provide shade for fish and prevent erosion. If desired, bulrush and pickerel weed may be planted along the bank but these species may become thick over time and can reduce visibility and access to the pond. In this case, the landowner may hand-pull vegetation or apply herbicide to prevent plants from becoming too aggressive. If desired for aesthetic purposes, the landowner may plant 1 or 2 pond cypress near the pond. More information on wildlife enhancement and wetland plants may be found in Appendix F.

Mr. X may stock his pond with largemouth bass in spring, 2008, at which point the previously- released fish will be large enough to avoid being eaten by the bass. Bass should be stocked at the rate of 100 fish/acre. To avoid crowding and stunting resident fish, approximately 10 pounds of bream per acre should be removed from the pond each year.

Structures such as rocks, boulders, or logs may be added to the pond to provide cover for resident fish. These structures may be concentrated in one general location, thereby preventing entanglement of fishing lines if anglers fish away from the structures. If desired, Mr. X may provide supplemental food but this should not be necessary once aquatic vegetation becomes established, assuming appropriate stocking rates.

It is a good idea to keep a log book that documents things such as stocking rates and dates, and harvest data such as date caught, species, and size. This will provide a written record of the “health” and productivity of the pond and fish. More information on fish and pond management may be found in Appendix G. Further questions may be directed to aquaculturist X at the XCounty extension office at X.

17 Stand 3 – Bay swamp

Stand 3 contains 8 acres of natural wetlands. In addition to being excellent ground water filters, wetland areas provide cover, food sources, and nesting sites for a variety of wildlife species. Areas that seasonally hold water are also important breeding grounds for amphibians.

The overstory vegetation is predominately bays, laurel oaks, red maples, and cypress. Mid- and understory vegetation around the margin includes a natural regeneration of the overstory along with greenbrier, gallberry, blackberry, star rush, and other native grasses. In wetter areas toward the center, button-bush, duck-potato, lizard-tail and smartweeds are found.

The management recommended for this stand is to leave ‘as is’. When burning in the adjacent pine stands fire may be allowed to run into the edges of the bay. This creates a wide transition zone where fire burns in an irregular pattern and varying intensity. This also helps prevent a shrub thicket from developing around the perimeter. Care must be taken to avoid allowing fire to burn into the bay during periods of drought or extremely dry conditions due to the risk of a muck fire. Burning should only occur if there is standing water within the bay. If there is a risk of muck fire the bay should be protected by fire lines in the adjacent uplands. If desired, the landowner may erect a nesting box for wood ducks. Nesting box tip: Preferably all nesting structures should be placed on metal poles or have predator guards installed to deter predators from climbing. Entrance holes should be east-facing when possible to keep from overheating the box in summer. Specifications for building and placement of nest boxes are contained in Appendix H.

5 Year Timetable for Implementing Management Recommendations X Tract, X County, Florida

Year Season Stand Management Practice 2008 All 1 Monitor for insects and diseases ASAP All Establish firelines around stands ASAP 1a Construct fence around food plot March-April 2 Stock pond with bass April-June Openings Plant millet, peas, grain sorghum, aeschynomene Oct.-Nov. Openings Plant small grains and clover or disk for native cover Dec.-Jan. 3 Install wood duck boxes Year-round 2 Remove 1 lb of bream from pond

2009 Jan.-Feb. 1 Prescribe burn April-June Openings Plant millet, peas, grain sorghum Oct.-Nov. Openings Plant small grains and clover or disk for native cover Dec.-Jan. 3 Maintain wood duck boxes Winter All Maintain firelines by disking Year-round 2 Remove 1 lb of bream from pond

18 2010 April-June Openings Plant millet, peas, grain sorghum Oct.-Nov. Openings Plant small grains and clover or disk for native cover Dec.-Jan. 3 Maintain wood duck boxes Winter All Maintain firelines by disking Year-round 2 Remove 1 lb of bream from pond

2011 Oct.-Nov. Openings Plant small grains and clover or disk for native cover Dec.-Jan. 3 Maintain wood duck boxes Winter All Maintain firelines by disking Year-round 2 Remove 1 lb of bream from pond

2012 Jan.-Feb. 1 Prescribe burn Oct.-Nov. Openings Plant small grains and clover or disk for native cover Dec.-Jan. 3 Maintain wood duck boxes Winter All Maintain firelines by disking Year-round 2 Remove 1 lb of bream from pond

2013 Oct.-Nov. Openings Plant small grains and clover or disk for native cover Dec.-Jan. 3 Maintain wood duck boxes Winter All Maintain firelines by disking Year-round 2 Remove 1 lb of bream from pond Anytime Contact DOF county forester or FWC biologist for Forest Stewardship Plan Update

GENERAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WILDLIFE

Transition Zones/Wildlife Openings

Transition areas between the wetland area and planted area are optimal locations for permanent wildlife openings, either in native vegetation or supplemental plantings. Where 2 or more different vegetative communities converge, called the transition zone, a mixture of vegetative types from all communities is present, thereby increasing the overall diversity of the location. One of the keys to providing “good” habitat for a variety of wildlife species is diversification of the vegetative composition.

Planting non-native food crops for wildlife is an option, although if an overall habitat management scheme is adopted on the property, the landowner should not have to provide food for wildlife. At this point, food plots only serve as a “congregating” area for hunting. From the initial land reconnaissance, many native food sources were observed (blueberries, greenbrier, mast-producing oaks, blackberry) and as openings are placed and managed throughout the tract, more herbaceous vegetation would become available as browse. A list of common native plants and their wildlife uses is listed in Appendix I.

The following guidelines should be followed when establishing permanent openings/food plots for wildlife:

19  It is recommended that approximately 5-10% of the total property be in various types of permanent openings. This can include firebreaks, roads, food plots, natural open areas (such as those in the pines created by the high mortality rates), and transition zones.

 To minimize over-browsing, plot size should be a minimum of one acre. A few larger food plots are preferable to many smaller plots.

 A soils test should always be conducted before planting to determine the appropriate fertilizer and liming rates. This is a “garden” for wildlife, plant it just like a garden for best germination and production.

 Shape can vary, but linear openings are more visually appealing and will attract more use than round or square openings (30’ x 1452’ = ~ 1 acre). Deer are more likely to use a linear opening because of its proximity to cover. Within a large square opening, deer would have to venture farther from cover to feed, thus increasing their use of the opening during low light hours and nighttime and decreasing hunting and viewing opportunities.

 Plot location will vary; however, it is recommended that openings be several hundred yards away from the property boundary, adjacent to good escape cover, and about ¼ mile apart from each other to distribute hunting opportunities and pressure. Old logging decks and natural open areas within the stand would be optimum locations.

 Firebreaks could provide an excellent area for supplemental plantings, if full sunlight is available to encourage vegetation growth (~ 6 hours). One side of a woods road (or firebreak) can be widened (to ~ 30'), with part of it planted in food crops or left in native vegetation to concentrate wildlife for hunting and viewing.

 Mortality areas in the pines can be used as permanent openings. The landowner should mow these areas to knock back the woody vegetation, increase visibility and increase herbaceous vegetation growth. If possible, the landowner should connect these areas to existing openings (such as firebreaks or roads) to increase the size.

Reminder: A habitat management scheme that provides natural food, cover and water for wildlife (in essence, provides a healthy ecosystem) does not need to be supplemented unless the goal is congregating wildlife for hunting or observation in the food plots.

Brush Piles

A simple habitat improvement for wildlife is the creation of brush piles. Brush piles can have a multitude of functions including providing shelter from weather, hiding places from predators, and food sources derived from insects found within the structure. Mr. X has retained a brush pile near his camp, this is a good location as it is adjacent to a permanent opening and field edge where natural cover may be lacking. Wildlife species such as bobwhite quail, rabbits, songbirds,

20 reptiles and amphibians will use brush piles. If desired, further brush piles may be established or retained in areas such as a logging deck. For initial establishment, the following directions should be followed. Materials needed for the piles can come from yard trash or tree trimming activities. The most common materials are logs (usually 6 – 10” in diameter), small limbs, and rocks. Dimensions of brush piles can vary. Recommended height is between 6 - 10’ and 6 – 12’ in diameter. Start by placing 4 –5 logs on the ground, parallel and approximately 6” apart. Allowing room between each log provides tunnels and air spaces for wildlife. Place another layer of logs perpendicular to the 1st layer. Then place smaller branches onto the base, criss- crossing some to provide stability. The brush pile should take on an igloo or tepee shape when finished. Rocks can be substituted for the base logs. Depending on the size of the piles and the lack of natural cover available, 2 – 8 piles per acre should be sufficient. Keep brush piles away from residences or barns to avoid attracting unwanted wildlife species to yards and gardens. Brush piles are an easy way to improve existing cover component while keeping limbs/tree trimming debris out of landfills, allowing natural materials to decay back into the ground and provide a home/shelter for many wildlife species.

Whenever possible, snags (standing dead trees) should be left standing on the property. Snags are used by cavity nesting and roosting wildlife species, including woodpeckers, chickadees, bats, flycatchers, and owls. Snags should be removed if they have decayed to the point of posing a hazard to structures.

21 List of Appendices

Appendix A: Threatened and Endangered Species found in X County

Appendix B: BMP Rule and Notice of Intent

Appendix C: Sample Timber Contract

Appendix D: Potential Plant Species for Wildlife Openings

Appendix E: Guidelines for Creating and Managing Wildlife Openings in Pine Plantations

Appendix F: Wetland Plants

Appendix G: Pond Management

Appendix H: Nest Box Construction and Placement

Appendix I: Common Native Plants and Wildlife Uses