Myakka River State Park Unit Management Plan
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Notable Imperiled Species (55 total imperiled species) Dry Prairie 14,732 Plants (17 total imperiled plant species) Depression Hydric Pine Lily State-Listed Threatened Marsh Hammock Many-flowered grass pink orchid State-Listed Threatened 6,788 6,323 Mesic Giant airplant State-Listed Endangered Flatwoods 3,766 Cardinal airplant State-Listed Endangered Floodplain Floodplain Animals (38 total imperiled animal species) Lakes Marsh 1,218 1,181 Florida burrowing owl State-Listed Threatened Basin Swamp Crested caracara Federally-Listed Threatened 994 Florida sandhill crane State-Listed Threatened Mesic Baygall Hammock Florida scrub-jay Federally-Listed Threatened 293 673 Scrubby American alligator Federally-Listed Threatened Flatwoods Gopher tortoise State-Listed Threatened 182 Florida manatee Federally-Listed Threatened • Volunteers contributed over 225,000 hours of service. • 3,400 acres treated for exotic plants species. • The Friends of Myakka, Inc., has provided the park with • 8,950 exotic animals were removed from the park, funding for education, research, publications and a including 8,600 feral hogs. new website; specialized equipment for park • Nine blocked or failing culverts were repaired or operations/resource management, including computer replaced along the park drive. equipment, firefighting equipment, mowers and other • Mechanical treatment/fire prep conducted on 4,880 needed equipment; and funding for canopy walkway acres for Florida dry prairie habitat improvement. repairs. • Connected administration office, south restroom, shop • Prescribed fire management conducted on 82,000 building, and two residences at the shop to main acres. wastewater system and abandoned septic systems. INTRODUCTION Introduction .................................................................................. 1 Acquisition History ................................................................ 1 Purpose and Significance of the Park ................................................ 1 Myakka Wild and Scenic River ................................................ 2 Purpose and Scope of the Plan ........................................................ 7 Resource Management Component ......................................... 7 Land Use Component ............................................................ 8 Secondary Uses Consideration................................................ 8 Contract Services ................................................................. 9 Management Program Overview ...................................................... 9 Management Authority and Responsibility ................................ 9 General Park Management Goals ............................................ 9 Management Coordination ..................................................... 10 Public Participation ............................................................... 10 Other Designations ............................................................... 10 PAST ACOMPLISHMENTS AND FUTURE OBJECTIVES Past Accomplishments .................................................................... 11 Park Administration and Operations ........................................ 11 Resource Management .......................................................... 11 Recreation and Visitor Services .............................................. 12 Park Facilities ....................................................................... 12 Future Objectives .......................................................................... 13 Administration and Support ................................................... 13 Hydrological Management ...................................................... 14 Natural Communities Management ......................................... 15 Imperiled Species Management .............................................. 17 Exotic Species Management ................................................... 18 Cultural Resources Management ............................................. 19 Recreation Management ........................................................ 20 Summary of Ten-Year Cost Estimates ..................................... 21 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT Natural Resources .......................................................................... 23 Topography ......................................................................... 23 Geology ............................................................................... 23 Soils ................................................................................... 24 Hydrology ............................................................................ 24 Hydrological Management ...................................................... 35 Natural Communities ............................................................ 36 Natural Communities Management ......................................... 55 Imperiled Species ................................................................. 60 Imperiled Species Management .............................................. 65 Exotic Species ...................................................................... 67 Exotic Species Management ................................................... 70 Cultural Resources ......................................................................... 75 Condition Assessment ........................................................... 75 Level of Significance ............................................................. 75 Prehistoric and Archaeological Resources ................................. 75 Historic Structures ................................................................ 79 Collections ........................................................................... 83 Cultural Resources Management ............................................. 84 Special Management Conditions ...................................................... 89 Timber Management Analysis ................................................. 89 Land Management Objectives ................................................. 89 Dark Skies ........................................................................... 89 Arthropod Control Plan .......................................................... 90 Wilderness Preserve .............................................................. 90 Land Management Review ..................................................... 90 LAND USE COMPONENT Demographics ............................................................................... 91 North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton Metropolitan Area .................... 91 Regional Population Growth ................................................... 92 Land Use and Zoning ..................................................................... 92 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ............................................... 93 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ............................................... 93 Future Land Use Designation of the Park ................................. 94 Regional Conservation, Recreation, Trails ......................................... 95 Florida Greenways and Trails System ...................................... 95 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan ................... 95 Past and Current Uses of the Park .................................................... 99 Past Uses ............................................................................ 99 Other Uses .......................................................................... 99 Current Uses ........................................................................ 99 Recreation Facilities .............................................................. 100 Support Facilities .................................................................. 100 Attendance Analysis ....................................................................... 107 Recreational Carrying Capacity ............................................... 108 Myakka Wild and Scenic River Designation ........................................ 110 The Act, the Rule, and the Plan .............................................. 110 Historical Siting of Facilities ................................................... 113 Regulations on Future Land Use ............................................. 113 Conceptual Land Use Plan ............................................................... 113 Vision for Future Land Use and Recreation ............................... 114 Visitor Experience Zones ....................................................... 114 Issues Identification .............................................................. 117 Recreation Management ........................................................ 118 Optimum Boundary ........................................................................ 121 TABLES TABLE 1—Management Zones ......................................................... 37 TABLE 2—Natural Communities and Altered Landcovers ..................... 38 TABLE 3—Prescribed Fire Management ............................................. 58 TABLE 4—Imperiled Species ............................................................ 63 TABLE 5—Exotic Plant Species ......................................................... 71 TABLE 6—Cultural Sites in the Florida Master Site File ........................ 86 TABLE 7—Metropolitan Area Current Population ................................. 91 TABLE 8—Regional Recreational Opportunities ................................... 96 TABLE 9—Annual Attendance .........................................................