Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park Advisory Group Draft Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks February 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 ................................................... 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 ............................................................................................ 16 Minerals ....................................................................................... 16 Hydrology .................................................................................... 16 Natural Communities .................................................................... 26 Imperiled Species ......................................................................... 41 Exotic and Nuisance Species ........................................................... 48 Special Natural Features ................................................................ 50 Cultural Resources ............................................................................ 50 Condition Assessment .................................................................... 51 Level of Significance ...................................................................... 51 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Sites ..................................... 51 Historic Structures ........................................................................ 52 Collections ................................................................................... 53 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ................................................. 58 Management Goals, Objectives and Actions .......................................... 58 Natural Resource Management ........................................................... 59 Hydrological Management .............................................................. 59 Natural Communities Management .................................................. 61 Imperiled Species Management ...................................................... 64 Exotic Species Management ........................................................... 66 Cultural Resource Management .......................................................... 66 Special Management Considerations .................................................... 68 Timber Management Analysis ......................................................... 68 Arthropod Control Plan ................................................................... 68 Sea Level Rise .............................................................................. 69 i Additional Considerations ............................................................... 69 Resource Management Schedule ......................................................... 70 Land Management Review ................................................................. 70 LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 71 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS .................................................................... 71 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 73 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 73 Florida Greenways and Trails System (FGTS) ....................................... 73 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ........................................................................ 74 Recreation Resource Elements ............................................................ 74 Land Area .................................................................................... 74 Water Area ................................................................................... 74 Natural Scenery ............................................................................ 74 Significant Habitat ......................................................................... 75 Natural Features ........................................................................... 75 Archaeological and Historic Features ................................................ 75 Assessment of Use ............................................................................ 76 Past Uses ..................................................................................... 76 Future Land Use and Zoning ........................................................... 76 Current Recreation Use and Visitor Programs .................................... 76 Other Uses ................................................................................... 77 Protected Zones ............................................................................ 77 Existing Facilities .............................................................................. 77 Recreation Facilities ....................................................................... 77 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN ........................................................... 77 Potential Uses .................................................................................. 78 Public Access and Recreational Opportunities .................................... 78 Proposed Facilities ............................................................................ 81 Capital Facilities and Infrastructure ................................................. 81 Facilities Development ....................................................................... 82 Recreational Carrying Capacity ........................................................... 82 Optimum Boundary ........................................................................... 85 IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT MANAGEMENT PROGRESS .................................................................. 89 Acquisition ....................................................................................... 89 Park Administration and Operations .................................................... 89 Resource Management ...................................................................... 89 Natural Resources ......................................................................... 89 Cultural Resources ........................................................................ 90 Recreation and Visitor Services ........................................................... 90 Park Facilities ................................................................................... 90 ii MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................ 90 TABLES TABLE 1 – Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park Management Zones ......... 12 TABLE 2 – Imperiled Species Inventory .................................................. 44 TABLE 3 – Inventory of FLEPPC Category I and II Exotic Plant Species ....... 49 TABLE 4 – Cultural Sites Listed in the Florida Master Site File ................... 54 TABLE 5 – Prescribed Fire Management .................................................. 62 TABLE 6 – Resource-Based Recreational opportunities near Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park .............................................................................. 72 TABLE 7 – Recreational Carrying Capacity .............................................. 85 TABLE 8 – Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates.......................... 91 MAPS Vicinity Map ...........................................................................................3 Reference Map .......................................................................................5 Management Zones Map........................................................................ 13 Soils Map ............................................................................................ 17 Natural Communities Map ...................................................................... 29 Base Map ............................................................................................ 79 Conceptual Land Use Plan ...................................................................... 83 Optimum Boundary Map ........................................................................ 87 LIST OF ADDENDA ADDENDUM 1 Acquisition History .......................................................................... A 1 - 1 ADDENDUM 2 Advisory Group Members and