Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

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Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Advisory Group Draft Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks August 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................1 PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PARK ....................................... 1 Park Significance ................................................................................1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE PLAN..................................................... 2 MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW ................................................... 8 Management Authority and Responsibility .............................................. 8 Park Management Goals ...................................................................... 9 Management Coordination ................................................................... 9 Public Participation ..............................................................................9 Other Designations ........................................................................... 10 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 11 RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT..................................... 12 Natural Resources ............................................................................. 12 Topography .................................................................................. 12 Geology ....................................................................................... 17 Soils ............................................................................................ 18 Minerals ....................................................................................... 21 Hydrology .................................................................................... 21 Natural Communities (FNAI) ........................................................... 22 Imperiled Species ......................................................................... 45 Exotic and Nuisance Species ........................................................... 55 Special Natural Features ................................................................ 58 Cultural Resources ............................................................................ 59 Condition Assessment .................................................................... 59 Level of Significance ...................................................................... 59 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Sites ..................................... 60 Historic Structures ........................................................................ 65 Collections ................................................................................... 66 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ................................................. 69 Management Goals, Objectives and Actions .......................................... 69 Natural Resource Management ........................................................... 69 Hydrological Management .............................................................. 69 Natural Communities Management .................................................. 72 Imperiled Species Management ...................................................... 77 Exotic Species Management ........................................................... 81 Cultural Resource Management .......................................................... 83 Special Management Considerations .................................................... 85 Timber Management Analysis ......................................................... 85 Coastal/Beach Management ........................................................... 85 i Arthropod Control Plan ................................................................... 86 Sea Level Rise .............................................................................. 87 Resource Management Schedule ......................................................... 87 Land Management Review ................................................................. 87 LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 89 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS .................................................................... 89 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 92 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 92 Florida Greenways and Trails System (FGTS) ....................................... 95 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ........................................................................ 96 Recreation Resource Elements ............................................................ 96 Land Area .................................................................................... 96 Water Area ................................................................................... 97 Shoreline ..................................................................................... 97 Natural Scenery ............................................................................ 97 Significant Habitat ......................................................................... 97 Natural Features ........................................................................... 98 Archaeological and Historic Features ................................................ 98 Assessment of Use ............................................................................ 98 Past Uses ..................................................................................... 98 Future Land Use and Zoning ........................................................... 98 Current Recreation Use and Visitor Programs .................................... 99 Protected Zones .......................................................................... 102 Existing Facilities ............................................................................ 102 Recreation Facilities ..................................................................... 103 Support Facilities ........................................................................ 103 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN ......................................................... 103 Potential Uses ................................................................................ 104 Public Access and Recreational Opportunities .................................. 104 Proposed Facilities .......................................................................... 109 Capital Facilities and Infrastructure ............................................... 109 Facilities Development ..................................................................... 112 Existing Use and Optimum Carrying Capacity ..................................... 112 Optimum Boundary ......................................................................... 113 IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT MANAGEMENT PROGRESS ................................................................ 117 Park Administration and Operations .................................................. 117 Resource Management .................................................................... 117 Natural Resources ....................................................................... 117 Cultural Resources ...................................................................... 118 Recreation and Visitor Services ......................................................... 118 ii Park Facilities ................................................................................. 119 MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION .......................................... 119 TABLES TABLE 1 – Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Management Zones ................. 12 TABLE 2 – Water Quality Parameters for Campbell Lake ........................... 42 TABLE 3 – Water Quality Parameters for Morris Lake ............................... 42 TABLE 4 – Water Quality Parameters for Stalworth Lake .......................... 43 TABLE 5 – Imperiled Species Inventory .................................................. 51 TABLE 6 – Inventory of FLEPPC Category I and II Exotic Plant Species ....... 58 TABLE 7 – Cultural Sites Listed in the Florida Master Site File ................... 67 TABLE 8 – Prescribed Fire Management .................................................. 72 TABLE 9 – Walton, Bay, and Okaloosa County Population Projections ......... 90 TABLE 10 – Resource-Based Recreational Opportunities within 15 miles of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park .............................................................. 90 TABLE 11 – Zoning and Future Land Use Designations for Adjacent Parcels 93 TABLE 12 – Visitors to South Walton County........................................... 95 TABLE 13 – Regional Park Annual Attendance ....................................... 101 TABLE 14 – Economic Impact of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park ............. 102 TABLE 15 – Existing Use and Recreational Carrying Capacity .................. 113 TABLE 16 – Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates ...................... 121 MAPS Vicinity Map ...........................................................................................3 Reference Map .......................................................................................5 Management Zones Map........................................................................ 13 Topographic Map .................................................................................
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