Blackwater River State Park
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Blackwater River State Park APPROVED Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks February 19, 2016 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 ................................................... 7 Management Authority and Responsibility .............................................. 7 Park Management Goals ...................................................................... 8 Management Coordination ................................................................... 9 Public Participation ..............................................................................9 Other Designations .............................................................................9 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 11 RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT..................................... 12 Natural Resources ............................................................................. 12 Topography .................................................................................. 12 Geology ....................................................................................... 12 Soils ............................................................................................ 12 Minerals ....................................................................................... 17 Hydrology .................................................................................... 17 Natural Communities (FNAI) ........................................................... 18 Imperiled Species ......................................................................... 28 Exotic and Nuisance Species ........................................................... 35 Special Natural Features ................................................................ 37 Cultural Resources ............................................................................ 37 Condition Assessment .................................................................... 38 Level of Significance ...................................................................... 38 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Sites ..................................... 38 Historic Structures ........................................................................ 39 Collections ................................................................................... 40 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ................................................. 41 Management Goals, Objectives and Actions .......................................... 41 Natural Resource Management ........................................................... 42 Hydrological Management .............................................................. 42 Natural Communities Management .................................................. 43 Imperiled Species Management ...................................................... 47 Exotic Species Management ........................................................... 50 Special Management Considerations .................................................... 51 Timber Management Analysis ......................................................... 51 Arthropod Control Plan ................................................................... 52 Additional Considerations ............................................................... 52 Cultural Resource Management .......................................................... 52 i Resource Management Schedule ......................................................... 55 Land Management Review ................................................................. 55 LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 57 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS .................................................................... 57 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 58 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 58 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ........................................................................ 59 Recreational Resource Elements ......................................................... 59 Land Area .................................................................................... 59 Water Area ................................................................................... 60 Shoreline ..................................................................................... 60 Natural Scenery ............................................................................ 60 Significant Habitat ......................................................................... 60 Natural Features .......................................................................... 60 Archaeological and Historic Features ................................................ 61 Assessment of Use ............................................................................ 61 Past Uses ..................................................................................... 61 Future Land Use and Zoning ........................................................... 61 Current Recreation Use and Visitor Programs .................................... 61 Protected Zones ............................................................................ 62 Existing Facilities .............................................................................. 62 Recreation Facilities ....................................................................... 62 Support Facilities .......................................................................... 65 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN ........................................................... 66 Potential Uses .................................................................................. 66 Public Access and Recreational Opportunities .................................... 66 Proposed Facilities ............................................................................ 69 Capital Facilities and Infrastructure ................................................. 69 Facilities Development ....................................................................... 71 Recreational Carrying Capacity ........................................................... 72 Optimum Boundary ........................................................................... 73 IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT MANAGEMENT PROGRESS .................................................................. 75 Park Administration and Operations .................................................... 75 Resource Management ...................................................................... 75 Natural Resources ..................................................................... 75 Cultural Resources ..................................................................... 76 Recreation and Visitor Services ....................................................... 76 Park Facilities ............................................................................... 76 MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................ 76 ii TABLES TABLE 1 – Blackwater River State Park Management Zones ...................... 12 TABLE 2 – Imperiled Species Inventory .................................................. 30 TABLE 3 – Inventory of FLEPPC Category I and II Exotic Plant Species ....... 36 TABLE 4 – Cultural Sites Listed in the Florida Master Site File ................... 40 TABLE 5 – Prescribed Fire Management .................................................. 44 TABLE 6 – Recreational Carrying Capacity .............................................. 73 TABLE 7 – Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates.......................... 79 MAPS Vicinity Map ...........................................................................................3 Reference Map .......................................................................................5 Management Zones Map........................................................................ 13 Soils Map ............................................................................................ 15 Natural Communities Map ...................................................................... 19 Base Map ............................................................................................ 63 Conceptual Land Use Plan ...................................................................... 67 LIST OF ADDENDA ADDENDUM 1 Acquisition History ....................................................................... A 1 - 1 ADDENDUM 2 Advisory Group Members and Report ............................................. A 2 - 1 ADDENDUM 3 References Cited ......................................................................... A 3 - 1 ADDENDUM 4 Soil Descriptions ......................................................................... A 4 - 1 ADDENDUM 5 Plant and Animal List ................................................................... A 5 - 1 ADDENDUM 6 Imperiled Species Ranking Definitions ........................................... A 6 -