Rick Scott FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera Environmental Protection Lt Governor Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building 3900 CommonwealthBoulevard Noah Valenstein Tallahassee,Aorida 32399-3000 Secretary October 19, 2018 Mr. Steven Cutshaw Division of Recreation and Parks Departmentof Environmental Protection 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard,MS 525 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000 RE: Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park- Lease No. 4166 DearMr. Cutshaw: On October 19, 2018, the Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) recommended approval of the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park management plan. Therefore, Division of State Lands, Office of Environmental Services, acting as agent for the Board of Trustees of the InternalImprovement Trust Fund, hereby approves the Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park managementplan. The next management planupdate is due October 19, 2028. Pursuantto s. 253.034(5)(a), F.S., each management plan is required to "describe both short-termand long-termmanagement goals, andinclude measurable objectives to achieve those goals. Short-termgoals shall be achievable within a 2-year planning period, and long-term goals shall be achievable within a 10-year planning period." Upon completion of short-term goals, please submit a signedletter identifying categories, goals, and results with attached methodology to the Division of State Lands, Officeof Environmental Services. Pursuant to s. 259.032(8)(g), F.S., by July 1 of each year, each governmentalagency and each private entity designated to managelands shall report to the Secretaryof Environmental Protection, via the Division of State Lands, on the progress of funding, staffing,and resource management of every projectfor which the agency or entity is responsible. Pursuantto s. 259.036(2), F.S., management areas that exceed 1,000 acres in size, shall be scheduled fora land management review at least every 5 years. Pursuant to s. 259.032, F.S., and Chapter 18-2.021, F.A.C., management plans for areas less than 160 acres may be handledin accordance with the negative response process. This process requires small managementplans andmanagement plan amendments be submitted to the Division of State Lands forreview, and the Acquisition and Restoration Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park Approved Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks January 2019 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 ............................................................................ 10 Other Designations ........................................................................... 10 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 11 RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT..................................... 15 Natural Resources ............................................................................. 15 Topography .................................................................................. 15 Geology ....................................................................................... 16 Soils ............................................................................................ 16 Minerals ....................................................................................... 19 Hydrology .................................................................................... 19 Natural Communities (FNAI) ........................................................... 22 Imperiled Species ......................................................................... 42 Exotic and Nuisance Species ........................................................... 52 Special Natural Features ................................................................ 60 Cultural Resources ............................................................................ 60 Condition Assessment .................................................................... 61 Level of Significance ...................................................................... 61 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Sites ..................................... 61 Historic Structures ........................................................................ 64 Collections ................................................................................... 64 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ................................................. 67 Management Goals, Objectives, and Actions ......................................... 67 Natural Resource Management ........................................................... 68 Hydrological Management .............................................................. 68 Natural Communities Management .................................................. 70 Imperiled Species Management ...................................................... 73 Exotic Species Management ........................................................... 76 Cultural Resource Management .......................................................... 77 Special Management Considerations .................................................... 78 Timber Management Analysis ......................................................... 78 Wilderness Preserve ...................................................................... 79 Arthropod Control Plan ................................................................... 79 i Additional Considerations ............................................................... 79 Resource Management Schedule ......................................................... 80 Land Management Review ................................................................. 80 LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 83 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS .................................................................... 83 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 86 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 87 Florida Greenways and Trail System .................................................... 89 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ........................................................................ 90 Recreation Resource Elements ............................................................ 90 Land Area .................................................................................... 90 Water Area ................................................................................... 90 Shoreline ..................................................................................... 90 Natural Scenery ............................................................................ 91 Significant Habitat ......................................................................... 91 Natural Features ........................................................................... 91 Archaeological and Historic Features ................................................ 91 Assessment of Use ............................................................................ 91 Past Uses ..................................................................................... 91 Future Land Use and Zoning ........................................................... 92 Current Recreation Use and Visitor Programs .................................... 92 Other Uses ................................................................................... 93 Protected Zones ............................................................................ 93 Wilderness Preserve ...................................................................... 93 Existing Facilities .............................................................................. 94 Recreation Facilities ....................................................................... 94 Support Facilities .......................................................................... 94 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN ........................................................... 98 Potential Uses .................................................................................. 98 Public Access and Recreational Opportunities .................................... 98 Proposed Facilities .......................................................................... 104 Capital Facilities and Infrastructure ............................................... 104 Facilities Development ..................................................................... 106 Recreational Carrying Capacity ......................................................... 107 Optimum Boundary ......................................................................... 108 IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT MANAGEMENT PROGRESS ...............................................................