Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Unit Management Plan

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Unit Management Plan TOPSAIL HILL PRESERVE STATE PARK UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN APPROVED STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks OCTOBER 12, 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF PLAN .........................................................................................1 MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW...........................................................................5 Management Authority and Responsibility................................................................................5 Park Goals and Objectives..........................................................................................................6 Management Coordination .........................................................................................................9 Public Participation..................................................................................................................10 Other Designations ...................................................................................................................10 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................11 RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT ............................................................11 Natural Resources.....................................................................................................................11 Cultural Resources....................................................................................................................25 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.........................................................................27 Special Management Considerations .......................................................................................27 Management Needs and Problems ...........................................................................................29 Management Objectives ...........................................................................................................29 Management Measures For Natural Resources........................................................................30 Management Measures For Cultural Resources.......................................................................34 Research Needs ........................................................................................................................35 Resource Management Schedule..............................................................................................37 Land Management Review.......................................................................................................37 i LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................39 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS ...................................................................................................39 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ...............................................................................................39 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ...............................................................................................40 PROPERTY ANALYSIS .........................................................................................................40 Recreation Resource Elements.................................................................................................41 Assessment of Use....................................................................................................................42 Existing Facilities .....................................................................................................................44 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN........................................................................................44 Potential Uses and Proposed Facilities.....................................................................................46 Facilities Development.............................................................................................................51 Existing Use and Optimum Carrying Capacity........................................................................51 Optimum Boundary..................................................................................................................52 TABLE TABLE 1 - Existing Use and Optimum Carrying Capacity.......................................................52 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 Timber Management Analysis ...................................................................................... A 6 - 1 ADDENDUM 7 Priority Schedule and Cost Estimates............................................................................ A 7 - 1 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FNAI Descriptions of Natural Communities..............................................................................1 DHR Cultural Management Procedures.....................................................................................9 MAPS Vicinity Map .................................................................................................................................2 Reference Map..............................................................................................................................3 Topographic Map........................................................................................................................12 Soils Map ....................................................................................................................................14 Natural Communities Map..........................................................................................................16 Base Map ....................................................................................................................................43 Conceptual Land Use Plan..........................................................................................................45 Optimum Boundary Map ............................................................................................................53 iii INTRODUCTION Topsail Hill Preserve State Park is located in Walton County (see Vicinity Map). Access to the park is from County Road 30-A off U.S. Highway 98, just east of Sandestin, Florida. (see Reference Map). Topsail Hill may be found in Township 2S, Range 20W, Sections 29, 30, 31, 32, and Township 2S, Range 21W, Sections 25 and 36. Currently the park contains 1,643.48 acres. U.S. Highway 98 forms the northern boundary of the property and the Gulf of Mexico is along the southern boundary. The vicinity map also reflects significant land and water resources existing near the park. Topsail is named for its high, picturesque dunes, which rise like white sails against the blue-green Gulf waters. The preserve provides three miles of white quartz-sand beaches. The endangered Choctawhatchee beach mouse, first described on this property, is still found in the primary and secondary dune systems. The dune system stretches landward extensively providing a remnant example of Florida panhandle coastal ecosystems. The undeveloped coastal dune lakes, with their intermittent dynamic connection to the Gulf of Mexico, are especially important to migrating birds, and represent one of the most threatened rare natural community types in Florida. A mosaic of wetlands interspersed throughout the pine flatwoods add to the outstanding species richness of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Typical of the dynamic and storm-impacted coastal landscape of the Florida Panhandle coast, natural communities in this preserve support diverse biota including shorebirds, beach mice, sea turtles, migratory birds and numerous rare plants. A nearby significant Native American site on the north side of U.S. Highway 98 at Four Mile Point Topsail Hill shares the heritage of nearby prehistoric Native American cultural resources. More specifically a significant Native American site is located just on the north side of U.S. Highway 98 at Four Mile Point off Mack Bayou Road. At Topsail Hill 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 original portion of the park was acquired in 1992 using CARL and P2000 funds (see Addendum 1). PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE PLAN This plan serves as the basic statement of policy and direction for the management of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park as a unit of Florida's state park system. It identifies the objectives, criteria and standards that guide each aspect of park administration, and sets forth the specific measures
Recommended publications
  • SLACKTIDE's Sea Trials: Breaking in Our T26x7 Part
    SLACKTIDE's Sea Trials: Breaking in our T26x7 Dave Zeiger © 2010 www.TriloBoats.com Part 1 of 4 Introduction Anke and I have just completed our first season's cruising SLACKTIDE in SE Alaskan waters. She's a 26' x 7' x 1', engine-free, junk ketch-rigged sailing barge of my design (plans and more pics at our website). She's not one of those curvacious barge-babes, either, but a four-square and unrepentant box barge. Years ago I read that it was once common to convert smallish box barges, originally built to service bridges, into sailing cruisers. My memory paraphrases the passage thus: These little yachts, generally gaff-rigged and sporting leeboards, were surprisingly beloved by their owners. They could be found tucked away in backwaters one would think only accessible to more able vessels.1 1 I think I read this in a book on small boat conversions, but have lost the source. If you know it, please drop me a line at [email protected]. --Thanks! I skimmed that passage in passing, along with its appealing pen and ink sketch of one, anchored in obvious contentment. Interesting, but I'd never seen such a barge – they seem to belong to times past. Yet the memory lay dormant for two decades before pushing through the mud of my id. Being by nature a penny pinching breed of sloth, I was finally led by circuitous routes back to the box barge. Plywood replaces the planks of yore, but like their inspirators, TriloBoats are, as boats go, extremely cheap and easy to build.
    [Show full text]
  • The Quarterly Journal of the Florida Native Plant Society
    Volume 28: Number 1 > Winter/Spring 2011 PalmettoThe Quarterly Journal of the Florida Native Plant Society Protecting Endangered Plants in Panhandle Parks ● Native or Not? Carica papaya ● Water Science & Plants Protecting Endangered Plant Species Sweetwater slope: Bill and Pam Anderson To date, a total of 117 listed taxa have been recorded in 26 panhandle parks, making these parks a key resource for the protection of endangered plant species. 4 ● The Palmetto Volume 28:1 ● Winter/Spring 2011 in Panhandle State Parks by Gil Nelson and Tova Spector The Florida Panhandle is well known for its natural endowments, chief among which are its botanical and ecological diversity. Approximately 242 sensitive plant taxa occur in the 21 counties west of the Suwannee River. These include 15 taxa listed as endangered or threatened by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), 212 listed as endangered or threatened by the State of Florida, 191 tracked by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory, 52 candidates for federal listing, and 7 categorized by the state as commercially exploited. Since the conservation of threatened and endangered plant species depends largely on effective management of protected populations, the occurrence of such plants on publicly or privately owned conservation lands, coupled with institutional knowledge of their location and extent is essential. District 1 of the Florida Sarracenia rosea (purple pitcherplant) at Ponce de Leon Springs State Park: Park Service manages 33 state parks encompassing approximately Tova Spector, Florida Department of Environmental Protection 53,877 acres in the 18 counties from Jefferson County and the southwestern portion of Taylor County westward.
    [Show full text]
  • Download ROYAL W INT 13 MIZZEN M. RIGGING
    Euromodel Royal William 13.Yards.September 2021 TRANSLATION LINKS 1. type into your browser ... english+italian+glossary+nautical terms 2. utilise the translation dictionary ‘Nautical Terms & Expressions’ from Euromodel website An interpretive review of the Euromodel Kit Royal William 1st. Rate English Vessel Originally launched in 1670 as the 100-gun HMS Prince Re-built and launched in 1692 as the HMS Royal William Finally re-built again and ... Launched 1719 Scale 1:72 Checked the Essential Resource Information File ? 13.YARD CONSTRUCTION September 2021 This paper is based on the supplied drawings, external references, kit material – and an amount of extra material. It serves to illustrate how this ship might be built.The leve l of complexity chosen is up to the individual This resource information was based on the original text supplied by Euromodel and then expanded in detail as the actual ship was constructed by MSW member piratepete007. [Additional & exceptional support was gratefully received from another MSW member marktiedens. My sincere thanks to him and other MSW members.] 1 Euromodel Royal William 13.Yards.September 2021 Neither the author or Euromodel have any commercial interest in this information and it is published on the Euromodel web site in good faith for other persons who may wish to build this ship. Euromodel does not accept any responsibility for the contents that follow. This is not an instructional manual but is a collaboration amongst a number of MSW members whose interpretations were based on the drawings and the supplied kit. • Additional material used was dictated by personal choices. • Greater simplification would be achieved by using the material as it is supplied.
    [Show full text]
  • Topsail Gaff Cutter Rigged Bolger Nymph
    Topsail Gaff Cutter Rigged Bolger Nymph Rick Campbell July 2010 This charming little boat needs some explanation, as she is not the novelty craft she first appears. The rig and hull were carefully selected to fill a unique niche. Some background will help you understand my choices--and why this is an interesting craft to study but not likely one you will want to duplicate. Feel free to skip directly to the “Restoration” and “Sail Rig” sections. I am a designer, but usually not of small craft, and I have spent my life in and around boats and the arts. Sailing is clearly an art form (there are more paintings of sailboats than symphony orchestras), and I think amateur designs can be more creative and interesting than the usual professional craft commisioned by a wealthy amateur yachtsman. Phil Bolger’s old Small Boat Journal Cartoons are delightful examples of some amateur’s hare-brained concept sparking the imagination of a gifted boat designer. I also believe that widespread use of the scientific method by amateurs is the key to human-driven evolution. The Scientific Method: 1. You have an idea that differs from common knowledge and practice 2. You figure out a way to test that idea 3. Your experiment reveals merit and flaws in the concept 4. You use what you’ve learned to modify the original idea/design Reading and habitual use of the scientific method are keys to furthering your own education. Reading takes you on previously traveled paths, and the scientific method takes you further. Along the way you discover stuff you didn’t even know you didn’t know.
    [Show full text]
  • FLORIDA STATE PARKS FEE SCHEDULE (Fees Are Per Day Unless Otherwise Noted) 1. Statewide Fees Admission Range $1.00**
    FLORIDA STATE PARKS FEE SCHEDULE (Fees are per day unless otherwise noted) 1. Statewide Fees Admission Range $1.00** - $10.00** (Does not include buses or admission to Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park or Weeki Wachee Springs State Park) Single-Occupant Vehicle or Motorcycle Admission $4.00 - $6.00** (Includes motorcycles with one or more riders and vehicles with one occupant) Per Vehicle Admission $5.00 - $10.00** (Allows admission for 2 to 8 people per vehicle; over 8 people requires additional per person fees) Pedestrians, Bicyclists, Per Passenger Exceeding 8 Per Vehicle; Per $2.00 - $5.00** Passenger In Vehicles With Holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass Admission Economically Disadvantaged Admission One-half of base (Must be Florida resident admission fee** and currently participating in Food Stamp Program) Bus Tour Admission $2.00** per person (Does not include Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, or $60.00 Skyway Fishing Pier State Park, or Weeki Wachee Springs State Park) whichever is less Honor Park Admission Per Vehicle $2.00 - $10.00** Pedestrians and Bicyclists $2.00 - $5.00** Sunset Admission $4.00 - $10.00** (Per vehicle, one hour before closing) Florida National Guard Admission One-half of base (Active members, spouses, and minor children; validation required) admission fee** Children, under 6 years of age Free (All parks) Annual Entrance Pass Fee Range $20.00 - $500.00 Individual Annual Entrance Pass $60.00 (Retired U. S. military, honorably discharged veterans, active-duty $45.00 U. S. military and reservists; validation required) Family Annual Entrance Pass $120.00 (maximum of 8 people in a group; only allows up to 2 people at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park and Weeki Wachee Springs State Park) (Retired U.
    [Show full text]
  • Florida State Parks Data by 2021 House District
    30, Florida State Parks FY 2019-20 Data by 2021 House Districts This compilation was produced by the Florida State Parks Foundation . FloridaStateParksFoundation.org Statewide Totals • 175 Florida State Parks and Trails (164 Parks / 11 Trails) comprising nearly 800,000 Acres • $2.2 billion direct impact to Florida’s economy • $150 million in sales tax revenue • 31,810 jobs supported • 25 million visitors served # of Economic Jobs Park House Districts Parks Impact Supported Visitors 1 Salzman, Michelle 0 2 Andrade, Robert Alexander “Alex” 3 31,073,188 436 349,462 Big Lagoon State Park 10,336,536 145 110,254 Perdido Key State Park 17,191,206 241 198,276 Tarklin Bayou Preserve State Park 3,545,446 50 40,932 3 Williamson, Jayer 3 26,651,285 416 362,492 Blackwater Heritage State Trail 18,971,114 266 218,287 Blackwater River State Park 7,101,563 99 78,680 Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park 578,608 51 65,525 4 Maney, Thomas Patterson “Patt” 2 41,626,278 583 469,477 Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park 7,558,966 106 83,636 Henderson Beach State Park 34,067,312 477 385,841 5 Drake, Brad 9 64,140,859 897 696,022 Camp Helen State Park 3,133,710 44 32,773 Deer Lake State Park 1,738,073 24 19,557 Eden Gardens State Park 3,235,182 45 36,128 Falling Waters State Park 5,510,029 77 58,866 Florida Caverns State Park 4,090,576 57 39,405 Grayton Beach State Park 17,072,108 239 186,686 Ponce de Leon Springs State Park 6,911,495 97 78,277 Three Rivers State Park 2,916,005 41 30,637 Topsail Hill Preserve State Park 19,533,681 273 213,693 6 Trumbull, Jay 2 45,103,015 632 504,860 Camp Helen State Park 3,133,710 44 32,773 St.
    [Show full text]
  • Topsail Times
    CLEARWATER’S What does a captain do all winter? Topsail Times Getting the boat Informing the Next Generation ready for the April 2012 of Environmental Leaders Volume 1, Issue 1 sailing season Species Profile Learn about the Hudson River WHAT HAPPENS TO A CAPTAIN IN THE OFF-SEASON? (AFTER ‘A DREAM DEFERRED’, BY LANGSTON HUGHES) using HRECOS ____________________ ’ The Topsail Times is designed and Does he dry up, like a fish on the deck? Or try to sail away— edited by Catherine Stankowski, and written by Clearwater’s and then wreck? Does he stink like a dirty keel? Education Staff Or does he become sour—like a lemon peel? Maybe he grows weary like a tied load. Or does he explode? Well, actually, none of these! In the winter months when the boat is not sailing, the crew and I try to get as much maintenance work done on the sloop as possible. Sanding, scraping, painting, varnishing, sewing, fixing, oiling, overhauling, gluing, carving, shaping, renewing, updating, uploading, downrigging, uprigging, puttering, tinkering, banging, drilling, hammering, sawing, cutting, and smoothing are just some of the verbs that describe the work we have been doing. The winter season is very busy for us! In the winter months, we are able to take on larger woodworking projects than we can during our sailing season. It would be tough to find a good time in the middle of the sailing season to tear out a hull plank and make a hole in the side of the boat! But in the winter, when we have a shed built over the whole vessel, there’s both time and space to do the work.
    [Show full text]
  • Setting, Dousing and Furling Sails the Perception of Risk Is Very Important, Even Essential, to Organization the Sense of Adventure and the Success of Our Program
    Setting, Dousing and Furling Sails The perception of risk is very important, even essential, to Organization the sense of adventure and the success of our program. The When at sea the organization for setting and assurance of safety is essential dousing sails will be determined by the Captain to the survival of our program and the First Mate. With a large and well- and organization. The trained crew, the crew may be able to be broken balancing of these seemingly into two groups, one for the foremast and one conflicting needs is one of the for the mainmast. With small crews, it will most difficult and demanding become necessary for everyone to know and tasks you will have in working work all of the lines anywhere on the ship. In with this program. any event, particularly if watches are being set, it becomes imperative that everyone have a good understanding of all lines and maneuvers the ship may be asked to perform. Safety Sailing the brigantines safely is our primary goal and the Los Angeles Maritime Institute has an enviable safety record. We should stress, however, that these ships are NOT rides at Disneyland. These are large and powerful sailing vessels and you can be injured, or even killed, if proper procedures are not followed in a safe, orderly, and controlled fashion. As a crewmember you have as much responsibility for the safe running of these vessels as any member of the crew, including the ship’s officers. 1. When laying aloft, crewmembers should always climb and descend on the weather side of the shrouds and the bowsprit.
    [Show full text]
  • Sultana's Sails
    Sultana’s Sails Each Sail Performs a Different Function When Sultana is Underway MAIN FORE TOPSAIL TOPSAIL STAY SAIL M A JIB I N M F MAIN A O S R T E M SAIL FORE A ST SAIL ultana is powered by six sails. The main sail is the vessel’s largest sail and is S attached to the main mast. The fore sail is the schooner’s second largest sail and is attached to the fore mast. These two sails provide the majority of the power when Sultana is underway. Near the bow, or front of the ship, are two smaller sails known as the stay sail and the jib. These sails provide Sultana with additional speed and give the captain greater control of the bow when the ship is turning into the wind. At the top of Sultana’s sailing rig are the main topsail and the fore topsail. These sails are most effective when the wind is directly behind the ship. They are also very useful in light wind conditions. In colonial times, Sultana’s commander used as many as fifteen sails! Adding more sails was important for increasing the ship’s speed, particularly when the schooner was chasing down colonial ships to enforce the tea taxes. Today Sultana’s maximum speed using all six of her sails is about twelve miles an hour. Rendering of Sultana by Darby Hewes Sultana’s Sails NAME: ____________________________________________ DATE: ____________ DIRECTIONS: Use information from the diagram on the previous page to label each of Sultana’s six sails. At the bottom of the page, briefly describe the function of each sail.
    [Show full text]
  • A Maritime Resource Survey for Washington’S Saltwater Shores
    A MAritiMe resource survey For Washington’s Saltwater Shores Washington Department of archaeology & historic preservation This Maritime Resource Survey has been financed in part with Federal funds from the National Park Service, Department of the Interior administered by the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) and the State of Washington. However, the contents and opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Department of the Interior, DAHP, the State of Washington nor does the mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Department of the Interior or DAHP. This program received Federal funds from the National Park Service. Regulations of the U.S. Department of Interior strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination in departmental Federally Assisted Programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, or handicap. Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity, or facility operated by a recipient of Federal assistance should write to: Director, Equal Opportunity Program, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240. publishing Data this report commissioned by the Washington state Department of archaeology and historic preservation through funding from a preserve america grant and prepared by artifacts consulting, inc. DAHP grant no. FY11-PA-MARITIME-02 CFDa no. 15-904 cover image Data image courtesy of Washington state archives Washington state Department of archaeology and historic preservation suite 106 1063 south capitol Way olympia, Wa 98501 published June 27, 2011 A MAritiMe resource survey For Washington’s Saltwater Shores 3 contributors the authors of this report wish to extend our deep gratitude to the many indi- viduals, institutions and groups that made this report possible.
    [Show full text]
  • Full Page Photo
    Grayton Beach State Park APPROVED Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks June 2013 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 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...............................................................................................8 Public Participation..........................................................................................................9 Other Designations...........................................................................................................9 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................11 RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT.....................................................15 Natural Resources..........................................................................................................15
    [Show full text]
  • House Districts (This Compilation Was Produced by the Florida State Parks Foundation, January 2019)
    Florida State Parks FY 2017-18 Data by 2019 House Districts (This compilation was produced by the Florida State Parks Foundation, January 2019) . State Wide Totals • 175 Florida State Parks and Trails (164 Parks / 11 Trails) comprising nearly 800,000 Acres • $2.4 billion direct economic impact • $158 million in sales tax revenue • 33,587 jobs supported • Over 28 million visitors served # of Economic Jobs Park House Districts Parks Impact Supported Visitors 1 Hill, Walter Bryan “Mike” 0 2 Andre, Robert Alexander “Alex” 3 28,135,146 393 338,807 Big Lagoon State Park 12,155,746 170 141,517 Perdido Key State Park 12,739,427 178 157,126 Tarklin Bayou Preserve State Park 3,239,973 45 40,164 3 Williamson, Jayer 3 22,545,992 315 275,195 Blackwater Heritage State Trail 15,301,348 214 188,630 Blackwater River State Park 6,361,036 89 75,848 Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park 883,608 12 10,717 4 Ponder, Mel 2 46,877,022 657 564,936 Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park 7,896,093 111 88,633 Henderson Beach State Park 38,980,929 546 476,303 5 Drake, Brad 9 75,811,647 1062 881,589 Camp Helen State Park 2,778,378 39 31,704 Deer Lake State Park 1,654,544 23 19,939 Eden Gardens State Park 3,298,681 46 39,601 Falling Waters State Park 5,761,074 81 67,225 Florida Caverns State Park 12,217,659 171 135,677 Grayton Beach State Park 20,250,255 284 236,181 Ponce de Leon Springs State Park 4,745,495 66 57,194 Three Rivers State Park 3,465,975 49 39,482 Topsail Hill Preserve State Park 21,639,586 303 254,586 6 Trumbull, Jay 2 76,186,412 1,067 926,162 Camp Helen State Park 2,778,378 39 31,704 St.
    [Show full text]