Lake Manatee State Park Advisory Group Draft Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks March 2018 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 ................................................................... 8 Public Participation ..............................................................................8 Other Designations .............................................................................9 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 11 RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT..................................... 12 Natural Resources ............................................................................. 12 Topography .................................................................................. 12 Geology ....................................................................................... 17 Soils ............................................................................................ 17 Minerals ....................................................................................... 18 Hydrology .................................................................................... 18 Natural Communities (FNAI) ........................................................... 21 Imperiled Species ......................................................................... 34 Exotic and Nuisance Species ........................................................... 39 Special Natural Features ................................................................ 44 Cultural Resources ............................................................................ 44 Condition Assessment .................................................................... 45 Level of Significance ...................................................................... 45 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Sites ..................................... 46 Historic Structures ........................................................................ 46 Collections ................................................................................... 47 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ................................................. 48 Management Goals, Objectives and Actions .......................................... 48 Natural Resource Management ........................................................... 49 Hydrological Management .............................................................. 49 Natural Communities Management .................................................. 50 Imperiled Species Management ...................................................... 57 Exotic Species Management ........................................................... 59 Cultural Resource Management .......................................................... 59 Cultural Resource Management ....................................................... 59 Special Management Considerations .................................................... 60 Timber Management Analysis ......................................................... 60 Arthropod Control Plan ................................................................... 61 Sea Level Rise .............................................................................. 62 Additional Considerations ............................................................... 62 Resource Management Schedule ......................................................... 62 Land Management Review ................................................................. 62 i LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 63 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS .................................................................... 63 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 65 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 65 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ........................................................................ 67 Recreation Resource Elements ............................................................ 67 Land Area .................................................................................... 67 Water Area ................................................................................... 68 Shoreline ..................................................................................... 68 Natural Scenery ............................................................................ 68 Significant Habitat ......................................................................... 68 Archaeological and Historic Features ................................................ 69 Assessment of Use ............................................................................ 69 Past Uses ..................................................................................... 69 Future Land Use and Zoning ........................................................... 69 Current Recreation Use and Visitor Programs .................................... 69 Other Uses ................................................................................... 70 Protected Zones ............................................................................ 70 Existing Facilities .............................................................................. 70 Recreation Facilities ....................................................................... 70 Support Facilities .......................................................................... 71 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN ........................................................... 71 Potential Uses .................................................................................. 71 Public Access and Recreational Opportunities .................................... 71 Proposed Facilities ............................................................................ 72 Capital Facilities and Infrastructure ................................................. 72 Facilities Development ....................................................................... 76 Recreational Carrying Capacity ........................................................... 79 Optimum Boundary ........................................................................... 79 IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT MANAGEMENT PROGRESS .................................................................. 81 Park Administration and Operations .................................................... 81 Resource Management ...................................................................... 81 Natural Resources ......................................................................... 81 Recreation and Visitor Services ........................................................... 81 Park Facilities ................................................................................... 81 MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................ 82 TABLES TABLE 1 – Lake Manatee State Park Management Zones .......................... 12 TABLE 2 – Imperiled Species Inventory .................................................. 36 TABLE 3 – Inventory of FLEPPC Category I and II Exotic Plant Species ....... 41 TABLE 4 – Cultural Sites Listed in the Florida Master Site File ................... 48 TABLE 5 – Prescribed Fire Management .................................................. 51 TABLE 6 – Recreation Opportunities near the Park ................................... 64 ii TABLE 7 – Zoning and Future Land Use Designations ............................... 66 TABLE 8 – Recreational Carrying Capacity .............................................. 80 TABLE 9 – Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates.......................... 83 MAPS Vicinity Map ...........................................................................................3 Reference Map .......................................................................................5 Management Zones Map........................................................................ 13 Topographic Map .................................................................................. 15 Soils Map ............................................................................................ 19 Natural Communities Map ...................................................................... 23 Desired Future Conditions Natural Communities Map ................................ 55 Base Map ............................................................................................ 73 Conceptual Land Use Plan ...................................................................... 77 LIST OF ADDENDA ADDENDUM 1 Acquisition History ....................................................................... A 1 - 1 ADDENDUM 2 Advisory Group Members and Report ............................................