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Florida Caverns State Park

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Florida Caverns State Park Florida Caverns State Park Advisory Group Draft Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks February 3, 2017 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 ............................................................................................ 19 Minerals ....................................................................................... 19 Hydrology .................................................................................... 20 Natural Communities (FNAI) ........................................................... 24 Imperiled Species ......................................................................... 35 Exotic and Nuisance Species ........................................................... 44 Special Natural Features ................................................................ 46 Cultural Resources ............................................................................ 46 Condition Assessment .................................................................... 47 Level of Significance ...................................................................... 47 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Sites ..................................... 48 Historic Structures ........................................................................ 49 Collections ................................................................................... 51 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ................................................. 55 Management Goals, Objectives, and Actions ......................................... 55 Natural Resource Management ........................................................... 55 Hydrological Management .............................................................. 55 Natural Communities Management .................................................. 57 Imperiled Species Management ...................................................... 60 Exotic Species Management ........................................................... 62 Cultural Resource Management .......................................................... 63 Special Management Considerations .................................................... 66 Timber Management Analysis ......................................................... 66 Arthropod Control Plan ................................................................... 66 i Resource Management Schedule ......................................................... 67 Land Management Review ................................................................. 67 LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 69 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS .................................................................... 69 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 71 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 72 Florida Greenways and Trails System .................................................. 72 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ........................................................................ 73 Recreation Resource Elements ............................................................ 73 Land Area .................................................................................... 73 Water Area ................................................................................... 73 Shoreline ..................................................................................... 74 Natural Scenery ............................................................................ 74 Significant Habitat ......................................................................... 74 Natural Features ........................................................................... 74 Archaeological and Historic Features ................................................ 75 Assessment of Use ............................................................................ 75 Past Uses ..................................................................................... 75 Future Land Use and Zoning ........................................................... 75 Current Recreation Use and Visitor Programs .................................... 76 Protected Zones ............................................................................ 79 Existing Facilities .............................................................................. 79 Recreation Facilities ....................................................................... 79 Support Facilities .......................................................................... 80 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN ........................................................... 81 Potential Uses .................................................................................. 81 Public Access and Recreational Opportunities .................................... 81 Proposed Facilities ............................................................................ 85 Capital Facilities and Infrastructure ................................................. 85 Facilities Development ....................................................................... 87 Recreational Carrying Capacity ........................................................... 88 Optimum Boundary ........................................................................... 89 IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT MANAGEMENT PROGRESS .................................................................. 93 Acquisition ....................................................................................... 93 Park Administration and Operations .................................................... 93 Resource Management ...................................................................... 94 Natural Resources ......................................................................... 94 Cultural Resources ........................................................................ 94 Recreation and Visitor Services ........................................................... 95 Park Facilities ................................................................................... 95 ii MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................ 96 TABLES TABLE 1 – Florida Caverns State Park Management Zones ........................ 12 TABLE 2 – Imperiled Species Inventory .................................................. 37 TABLE 3 – Inventory of FLEPPC Category I and II Exotic Plant Species ....... 45 TABLE 4 – Cultural Sites Listed in the Florida Master Site File ................... 52 TABLE 5 – Prescribed Fire Management .................................................. 58 TABLE 6 – Existing Use and Recreational Carrying Capacity ...................... 89 TABLE 7 – Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates.......................... 97 MAPS Vicinity Map ...........................................................................................3 Reference Map .......................................................................................5 Management Zones Map........................................................................ 13 Topographic Map .................................................................................. 15 Soils Map ............................................................................................ 21 Natural Communities Map ...................................................................... 27 Base Map ............................................................................................ 77 Conceptual Land Use Plan ..................................................................... 83 Optimum Boundary Map ........................................................................ 91 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
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