ALLEN DAVID BROUSSARD CATFISH CREEK PRESERVE STATE PARK UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN APPROVED STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks APRIL 16, 2004 Department of Environmental Protection Jeb Bush Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Building Colleen M. Castille Governor 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, MS 140 Secretary Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000 August 13, 2003 Ms. BryAnne White Division of Recreation and Parks Office of Park Planning, M.S. 525 3900 Commonwealth Blvd. Tallahassee, Florida 32399 Re: Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park #3962 Ms. White: On April 16, 2004, the Acquisition and Restoration Council recommended approval of the subject management plan. The Office of Environmental Services, acting as agent for the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, approved the management plan for the Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park on August 13, 2004. Pursuant to Section 253.034, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 18-2, Florida Administrative Code this plan’s ten- year update will be due no later than August 13, 2014. Approval of this land management plan does not waive the authority or jurisdiction of any governmental entity that may have an interest in this project. Sincerely, Paula L. Allen Paula L. Allen Office of Environmental Services Division of State Lands Department of Environmental Protection “More Protection, Less Process” Printed on recycled paper. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF PLAN 1 MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW 3 Management Authority And Responsibility 3 Park Goals And Objectives 4 Management Coordination 7 Public Participation 7 Other Designations 7 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT INTRODUCTION 9 RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT 9 Natural Resources 9 Cultural Resources 18 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM 19 Special Management Considerations 19 Management Needs And Problems 20 Management Objectives 20 Management Measures For Natural Resources 21 Management Measures For Cultural Resources 26 Research Needs 27 Resource Management Schedule 28 Land Management Review 28 i LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION 29 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS 29 Existing Use Of Adjacent Lands 29 Planned Use Of Adjacent Lands 30 PROPERTY ANALYSIS 30 Recreation Resource Elements 30 Assessment Of Use 31 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN 34 Potential Uses And Proposed Facilities 34 Facilities Development 38 Existing Use And Optimum Carrying Capacity 39 Optimum Boundary 39 TABLE TABLE 1 - Existing Use And Optimum Carrying Capacity 39 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 MAPS Vicinity Map 2 Soils Map 11 Natural Communities Map 13 Burn Zone Map 23 Base Map 32 Conceptual Land Use Plan 35 Optimum Boundary Map 41 iii INTRODUCTION The Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park is located in Polk County about six miles northeast of Lake Wales (see Vicinity Map). Access to the park is from Firetower Road that is located south of Lake Hatchineha Road (State Road 542), east of State Road 27A. The Vicinity Map also reflects significant land and water resources existing near the park. The Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park is relatively long preserve extending from west to east where it adjoins with the northeastern portion of Lake Kissimmee State Park. Currently, the preserve contains 8,249.11 acres. In order for ease of discussion in this plan, the preserve has been divided into three main areas. Most of the earliest acquired property is referred to either as the western or central portion. The Rolling Meadows tract is the recently acquired portion in the eastern half of the preserve that adjoins with Lake Kissimmee State Park. The Moneytree parcel is the southernmost portion south of Catfish Creek with a fairly narrow connection to the rest of the preserve. At the Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park, public outdoor recreation and conservation is the designated single use of the property (see Addendum 1). There are no legislative or executive directives that constrain the use of this property. PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE PLAN This plan serves as the basic statement of policy and direction for the management of the Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek 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 that will be implemented to meet management objectives. The plan is intended to meet the requirements of Sections 253.034 and 259.032, Florida Statutes, Chapter 18-2, Florida Administrative Code, and intended to be consistent with the State Lands Management Plan. With approval, this management plan will replace the May 29, 1997 approved plan. All development and resource alteration encompassed in this plan is subject to the granting of appropriate permits; easements, licenses, and other required legal instruments. Approval of the management plan does not constitute an exemption from complying with the appropriate local, state, or federal agencies. This plan is also intended to meet the requirements for beach and shore preservation, as defined in Chapter 161, Florida Statutes, and Chapters 62B-33, 62B-36 and 62R- 49, Florida Administrative Code. The plan consists of two interrelated components. Each component corresponds to a particular aspect of the administration of the park. The resource management component provides a detailed inventory and assessment of the natural and cultural resources of the park. Resource management problems and needs are identified, and specific management objectives are established for each resource type. This component provides guidance on the application of such measures as prescribed burning, exotic species removal, and restoration of natural conditions. The land use component is the recreational resource allocation plan for the unit. Based on considerations such as access, population, and adjacent land uses, an optimum allocation of the physical space of the park is made, locating use areas and proposing types of facilities and volume of use to be provided. In the development of this plan, the potential of the park to accommodate secondary management purposes (“multiple uses”) was analyzed. These secondary purposes were considered within the context of the Division’s statutory responsibilities and an analysis of theresource needs and values of the park. This analysis considered the park natural and cultural 1 vke ohopeklig pper2vkes fsin2tershed G@IU ÊÚ G@WP rines2gity vke2wrion vke2les2idge yseol2gounty xtionl2ildlife2efuge plorid2urnpike olk2gounty gypress vke hisney2 ilderness reserve vke2rthineh uissimmee2ghin vke2rthineh2od yf2vkes piretower2od IU 34 uissimmee2iver G@PUe vke ellen2hvid2froussrd2gtfish iere greek2reserve2tte2rk d vke 2 vke2 G@PU k uissimmee fok2ower w p2 vke uissimmee m qrdens g oslie tte2rk iger vke xorth2 vke les 34TH lkEinEtheEter2 greek vegend phy2vol2ods phy2tte2outes sntersttes iger2greek umiGvke reserve lkEinEtheEter2 phy2 2outes vke rt eohykpk ellen2hvid2froussrd2gtfish greek2reserve2tte2rk grooked2vke rivte2vnds heveloped grooked2vke ndeveloped ririe uli2vnds vke2les pederl2wnged2eres idge2tte2porest tte2wnged2eres vol2wnged2eres rivte2wnged2eres equti2reserve ouresX2plorid2xturl2eres2snventoryD2PHHQ 222222222222222plorid2vnd2 seD2gover2nd2porms 222222222222222glssifition2ystemD2IWWSD2IWWW282PHHH vke x ellen2hvid2froussrd IHIPQRSwiles iinity gtfish2greek2reserve2tte2rk plorid2heprtment2yf2invironmentl2rotetion hivision2yf2eretion2end2rks wp yffie2yf2rk2lnning resources, management needs, aesthetic values, visitation, and visitor experiences. For this park, it was determined that timber management and cattle grazing could be accommodated in a manner that would be compatible and not interfere with the primary purpose of resource-based outdoor recreation and conservation. These compatible secondary management purposes are addressed in the Resource Management Component of the plan. Uses such as water resource development projects, water supply projects, stormwater management projects, linear facilities and sustainable agriculture and forestry (other than those forest management activities specifically identified in this plan) are not consistent with this plan or the management purposes of the park and should be discouraged. The potential for generating revenue to enhance management was also analyzed. Visitor fees and charges are the principal source of revenue generated by the park. It was determined that timber management and cattle grazing would be appropriate at this park as additional sources of revenue for land management since they are compatible with the park’s primary purpose of resource- based outdoor recreation and conservation. The use of private land managers to facilitate restoration and management of this unit was also analyzed. Decisions regarding this type of management (such as outsourcing, contracting with the private sector, use of volunteers, etc.) will be made on a case-by-case basis as necessity dictates. MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW Management Authority and Responsibility In accordance with Chapter 258, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 62D-2, Florida Administrative Code, the Division of Recreation and