Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park APPROVED Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks August 19, 2014 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..................................... 15 Natural Resources ............................................................................. 15 Topography .................................................................................. 15 Geology ....................................................................................... 15 Soils ............................................................................................ 15 Minerals ....................................................................................... 16 Hydrology .................................................................................... 16 Natural Communities (FNAI) ........................................................... 22 Imperiled Species ......................................................................... 37 Exotic and Nuisance Species ........................................................... 48 Special Natural Features ................................................................ 56 Cultural Resources ............................................................................ 56 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Sites ..................................... 56 Description ............................................................................... 57 Condition Assessment ................................................................ 57 Level of Significance .................................................................. 58 Historic Structures ........................................................................ 59 Description ............................................................................... 59 Condition Assessment ................................................................ 59 Level of Significance .................................................................. 60 Collections ................................................................................... 61 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ................................................. 69 Management Goals, Objectives, and Actions ......................................... 69 Natural Resource Management ........................................................... 70 i Hydrological Management .............................................................. 70 Natural Communities Management .................................................. 71 Imperiled Species Management ...................................................... 76 Exotic Species Management ........................................................... 80 Special Management Considerations .................................................... 81 Timber Management Analysis ......................................................... 81 Arthropod Control Plan ................................................................... 82 Sea Level Rise .............................................................................. 82 Additional Considerations ............................................................... 82 Cultural Resource Management .......................................................... 82 Cultural Resource Management ....................................................... 83 Resource Management Schedule ......................................................... 84 Land Management Review ................................................................. 84 LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 85 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS .................................................................... 85 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 85 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 86 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ........................................................................ 88 Recreational Resource Elements ......................................................... 88 Land Area .................................................................................... 88 Water Area ................................................................................... 89 Shoreline ..................................................................................... 89 Natural Scenery ............................................................................ 89 Significant Habitat ......................................................................... 89 Natural Features ........................................................................... 89 Archaeological and Historic Features ................................................ 90 Assessment of Use ............................................................................ 90 Past Uses ..................................................................................... 90 Future Land Use and Zoning ........................................................... 90 Current Recreational Use and Visitor Programs ................................. 93 Other Uses ................................................................................... 93 Protected Zones ............................................................................ 93 Existing Facilities .............................................................................. 93 Recreation Facilities ....................................................................... 93 Support Facilities .......................................................................... 94 ii CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN ........................................................... 94 Potential Uses .................................................................................. 99 Public Access and Recreational Opportunities .................................... 99 Proposed Facilities .......................................................................... 101 Capital Facilities and Infrastructure ............................................... 101 Facilities Development ..................................................................... 104 Recreational Carrying Capacity ......................................................... 105 Optimum Boundary ......................................................................... 107 IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT MANAGEMENT PROGRESS ................................................................ 111 Acquisition ..................................................................................... 111 Park Administration and Operations .................................................. 111 Resource Management .................................................................... 112 Natural Resources ................................................................... 112 Cultural Resources ................................................................... 113 Recreation and Visitor Services ......................................................... 113 MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION .......................................... 113 TABLES TABLE 1 – Management Zones .............................................................. 12 TABLE 2 – Imperiled Species Inventory .................................................. 41 TABLE 3 – Inventory of FLEPPC Category I and II Exotic Plant Species ....... 50 TABLE 4 – Cultural Sites Listed in the Florida Master Site File ................... 63 TABLE 5 – Prescribed Fire Management .................................................. 73 TABLE 6 – Recreational Carrying Capacity ............................................ 105 TABLE 7 – Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates........................ 115 MAPS Vicinity Map ...........................................................................................3 Reference Map .......................................................................................5 Management Zones Map........................................................................ 13 Soils Map ............................................................................................ 17 Natural Communities Map ...................................................................... 23 Base Map ............................................................................................ 91 Conceptual Land Use Plan .....................................................................