2005 Lovers Key State Park Approved Plan.Pdf
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LOVERS KEY STATE PARK UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN APPROVED STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks DECEMBER 9, 2005 Department of Environmental Protection Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building Jeb Bush 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, MS 140 Colleen Castille Governor Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000 Secretary Phone: (850) 245-2784 Fax: (850) 245-2786 March 21, 2006 Ms. BryAnne White Office of Park Planning Division of Recreation and Parks 3900 Commonwealth Blvd.; M.S. 525 Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Re: Lovers Key State Park Lease #3340 Dear Ms. White: On December 9, 2005, the Acquisition and Restoration Council recommended approval of the Lovers Key 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 Lovers Key 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 December 9, 2015. 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” Printed on recycled paper. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... 1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF PLAN...................................................................................... 1 MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW....................................................................... 4 Management Authority And Responsibility........................................................................... 4 Park Goals And Objectives..................................................................................................... 5 Management Coordination..................................................................................................... 7 Public Participation................................................................................................................. 8 Other Designations................................................................................................................. 8 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................... 9 RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT........................................................... 9 Natural Resources................................................................................................................... 9 Cultural Resources................................................................................................................ 14 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ..................................................................... 15 Special Management Considerations.................................................................................... 15 Management Needs And Problems ...................................................................................... 17 Management Objectives....................................................................................................... 17 Management Measures For Natural Resources .................................................................... 17 Management Measures For Cultural Resources................................................................... 19 Research Needs..................................................................................................................... 20 Resource Management Schedule.......................................................................................... 21 Land Management Review................................................................................................... 21 i LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................. 23 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS................................................................................................ 23 Existing and Planned Uses Of Adjacent Lands .................................................................... 24 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands............................................................................................ 24 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ..................................................................................................... 25 Recreation Resource Elements ............................................................................................. 25 Assessment Of Use............................................................................................................... 26 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN.................................................................................... 29 Potential Uses And Proposed Facilities................................................................................ 29 Facilities Development.........................................................................................................33 Existing Use And Optimum Carrying Capacity ................................................................... 34 Optimum Boundary.............................................................................................................. 34 TABLE TABLE 1 - Existing Use And Optimum Carrying Capacity.................................................. 35 LIST OF ADDENDA ADDENDUM 1 Acquisition History and Advisory Group Report ......................................................A 1 - 1 ADDENDUM 2 References Cited ...........................................................................................................A 2 - 1 ADDENDUM 3 Soil Descriptions.........................................................................................................A 3 - 1 ii ADDENDUM 4 Plant And Animal List................................................................................................A 4 - 1 ADDENDUM 5 Designated Species List..............................................................................................A 5 - 1 ADDENDUM 6 Priority Schedule and Cost Estimates.........................................................................A 6 - 1 ADDENDUM 7 Additional Information FNAI Descriptions DHR Cultural Management Statement ....................................................................A 7 - 1 MAPS Vicinity Map ............................................................................................................................. 2 Reference Map .......................................................................................................................... 3 Soils Map ................................................................................................................................ 11 Natural Communities Map...................................................................................................... 13 Base Map ................................................................................................................................ 27 Conceptual Land Use Plan...................................................................................................... 30 Optimum Boundary Map ........................................................................................................ 36 iii INTRODUCTION Lovers Key Stat Park is located in Lee County, within the city limits of Bonita Springs, just north of Bonita Beach, Florida. Access to the park is from State Road 865 (Estero Boulevard.). The Vicinity Map and Reference Map provide a geographic context for the park, delineate major roads, developed areas and significant land and water resources either within or nearby the park. Lovers Key State Park currently contains approximately 1,464 acres. Acquisition began on May 25, 1983 under the Save Our Coast (SOC) Program. During this time, the adjacent Carl Johnson Park, located on the southern part of Lovers Key and managed by Lee County, was providing similar recreational services. In 1996, as a cost-saving measure to avoid replication of services, Lee County signed a letter of agreement with the Division of Recreation and Parks to merge Carl Johnson Park with Lovers Key State Park. The agreement called for the two units to be managed by the Division of Recreation and Parks as a unit of the state park system. 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 (see Addendum 1). The park features mangrove fringed canals and tidal lagoons, and consists of four barrier islands -- Lovers Key, Inner Key, Long Key and Black Island -- all approximately two miles offshore from the mainland in the Gulf of Mexico. Collectively the islands form a barrier between the Gulf of Mexico and Estero Bay. Lovers Key is the principal island having beach frontage on the Gulf of Mexico. PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE PLAN This plan serves as the basic statement of policy