Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park Unit Management Plan
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CHARLOTTE HARBOR PRESERVE STATE PARK UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN APPROVED PLAN STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks June 15, 2007 Charlie Crist Florida Department of Governor Environmental Protection Jeff Kottkamp Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building Lt. Governor 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000 Michael W. Sole Secretary June 18, 2007 Ms. BryAnne White Office of Park Planning Division of Recreation and Parks 3900 Commonwealth Blvd.; M.S. 525 Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Re: Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park Lease # 4085 and # 4143 Dear Ms. White: On June 15, 2007, the Acquisition and Restoration Council recommended approval of the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park management plan. Therefore, the Office of Environmental Services, acting as agent for the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, approved the management plan for the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park. Pursuant to Sections 253.034 and 259.032, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 18-2, Florida Administrative Code this plan’s ten-year update will be due on June 15, 2017. Approval of this land management plan does not waive the authority or jurisdiction of any governmental entity that may have an interest in this project. Implementation of any upland activities proposed by this management plan may require a permit or other authorization from federal and state agencies having regulatory jurisdiction over those particular activities. Pursuant to the conditions of your lease, please forward copies of all permits to this office upon issuance. Sincerely, Paula L. Allen Office of Environmental Services Division of State Lands Department of Environmental Protection “More Protection, Less Process” www.dep.state.fl.us TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF PLAN .......................................................................................9 MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW......................................................................10 Management Authority and Responsibility ......................................................................10 Park Goals and Objectives....................................................................................................11 Management Coordination..................................................................................................18 Public Participation ...............................................................................................................19 Other Designations................................................................................................................20 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................21 RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT.........................................................21 Natural Resources.................................................................................................................21 Cultural Resources................................................................................................................44 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ......................................................................46 Special Management Considerations .................................................................................46 Management Needs and Problems.....................................................................................48 Management Objectives.......................................................................................................49 Management Measures For Natural Resources ................................................................50 Management Measures For Cultural Resources ...............................................................54 Research Needs......................................................................................................................57 Resource Management Schedule.........................................................................................59 Land Management Review ..................................................................................................59 i LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................61 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS..................................................................................................61 Regional Population..............................................................................................................61 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands...........................................................................................62 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands...........................................................................................62 PROPERTY ANALYSIS.........................................................................................................63 Recreation Resource Elements.............................................................................................63 Assessment of Use.................................................................................................................65 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN .....................................................................................71 Site Planning and Design Process .......................................................................................71 Potential Uses and Proposed Facilities...............................................................................72 Facilities Development..........................................................................................................81 Existing Use and Optimum Carrying Capacity ................................................................82 Optimum Boundary..............................................................................................................82 TABLE TABLE 1 - Existing Use and Optimum Carrying Capacity...............................................83 LIST OF ADDENDA ADDENDUM 1 Acquisition History and Advisory Group Documentation ................................. A 1 - 1 ADDENDUM 2 References Cited ......................................................................................................... A 2 - 1 ii ADDENDUM 3 Soil Descriptions ......................................................................................................... A 3 - 1 ADDENDUM 4 Plant and Animal List ................................................................................................ A 4 - 1 ADDENDUM 5 Designated Species List ............................................................................................. A 5 - 1 ADDENDUM 6 Florida Master Site File Cultural Site List ............................................................... A 6 - 1 ADDENDUM 7 Timber Assessment .................................................................................................... A 7 - 1 ADDENDUM 8 Priority Schedule and Cost Estimates...................................................................... A 8 - 1 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FNAI Descriptions of Natural Communities ......................................................................1 DHR Cultural Management Procedures..............................................................................9 MAPS Vicinity Map ...............................................................................................................................2 Reference Maps ....................................................................................................................3—8 Soils Maps .........................................................................................................................26—28 Natural Communities Maps...........................................................................................31—33 Base Maps..........................................................................................................................66—67 Conceptual Land Use Plans............................................................................................73—77 Optimum Boundary Maps..............................................................................................84—85 iii iv INTRODUCTION Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park is located in Lee and Charlotte Counties. The preserve includes many discontinuous parcels that stretch around Charlotte Harbor, portions of which are included within the incorporated boundaries of Punta Gorda and Cape Coral (see Vicinity Map and Reference Maps). There is no central point of entry for the public, with access provided at a collection of trailheads and gates throughout the boundary of the preserve. Administrative offices are co-located with the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves, at 12301 Burnt Store Road (State Road 765) in Punta Gorda. The preserve consists of 42,598.06 acres, including over 70 miles of shoreline and numerous natural islands. The vast majority of the property is comprised of wetland communities and open water. At Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park, public outdoor recreation and conservation is the designated single use of the property. There are no legislative or executive directives that constrain the use of this property. The preserve is made up of lands obtained through four acquisition projects in addition to donations,