TEN-YEAR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE LITTLE BIG ECON STATE FOREST SEMINOLE COUNTY PREPARED BY FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES DIVISION OF FORESTRY APPROVED ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2010 TEN-YEAR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN LITTLE BIG ECON STATE FOREST TABLE OF CONTENTS Land Management Plan Executive Summary ............................................................................................... 1 I. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................. 2 A. General Mission, Goals for Florida State Forests, and Management Plan Direction .................................................................................................. 2 B. Overview of State Forest Management Program .......................................................................... 3 C. Past Accomplishments .................................................................................................................. 3 D. Goals/Objectives for the Next Ten Year Period ........................................................................... 4 E. Management Needs - Priority Schedule and Cost Estimates ........................................................ 8 II. ADMINISTRATION SECTION .......................................................................................................... 11 A. Descriptive Information .............................................................................................................. 11 1. Common Name of Property .............................................................................................. 11 2. Location, Boundaries and Improvements ......................................................................... 11 3. Legal Description and Acreage ......................................................................................... 12 4. Degree of Title Interest Held by the Board ....................................................................... 12 5. Proximity to Other Public Resources ................................................................................ 13 6. Aquatic Preserve/Area of Critical State Concern ............................................................. 14 B. Acquisition Information ............................................................................................................. 14 1. Land Acquisition Program ................................................................................................ 14 2. Legislative or Executive Constraints ................................................................................ 14 3. Purpose for Acquisition .................................................................................................... 14 4. Designated Single or Multiple-Use Management ............................................................. 15 5. Alternate Uses Considered ................................................................................................ 15 6. Additional Land Needs ..................................................................................................... 16 7. Adjacent Conflicting Uses ................................................................................................ 16 8. Surplus Land Assessment ................................................................................................. 16 C. Agency & Public Involvement ................................................................................................... 16 1. Responsibilities of Managing Agencies ............................................................................ 16 2. Public and Local Government Involvement ..................................................................... 17 3. Compliance with Comprehensive Plan ............................................................................. 17 III. RESOURCE SECTION ...................................................................................................................... 17 A. Past Uses ..................................................................................................................................... 18 B. Renewable and Non-Renewable Resources ............................................................................... 18 1. Soil Types ......................................................................................................................... 18 2. Archaeological and Historical Resources ......................................................................... 18 3. Water Resources ............................................................................................................... 19 4. Fish and Wildlife .............................................................................................................. 20 5. Endangered or Threatened Species ................................................................................... 20 6. Beaches and Dunes ........................................................................................................... 22 7. Swamps, Marshes, or Other Wetlands .............................................................................. 22 8. Mineral Resources ............................................................................................................ 23 9. Unique Natural Features ................................................................................................... 23 10. Outstanding Native Landscapes ........................................................................................ 23 11. Timber Resources ............................................................................................................. 23 IV. MANAGEMENT CONCEPTS BY NATURAL COMMUNITIES AND PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ....................................................................................................... 24 A. Existing and Planned Uses.......................................................................................................... 24 1. Property Boundaries Establishment and Preservation ...................................................... 24 2. Soil and Water Protection ................................................................................................. 24 3. Roads ................................................................................................................................ 25 4. Recreation Management ................................................................................................... 25 a. Existing Facilities/Infrastructure/Recreational Activities ............................................ 25 i. Public Access and Parking ...................................................................................... 25 ii. Self Service Pay Stations ........................................................................................ 26 iii. Recreation Facilities ................................................................................................ 26 iv. Recreational Trails .................................................................................................. 26 v. Camping .................................................................................................................. 27 vi. Multiple-Use Field .................................................................................................. 27 vii. Hunting and Fishing ................................................................................................ 27 viii. Environmental Education/Ecotourism .................................................................... 28 ix. Visitor Center .......................................................................................................... 28 b. Planned Recreational Activities ................................................................................... 28 i. Public Access and Parking ...................................................................................... 28 ii. Recreational Trails .................................................................................................. 28 iii. Camping .................................................................................................................. 29 5. Fire Management .............................................................................................................. 29 6. Silvicultural Guidelines & Forest Resource Management Objectives .............................. 31 a. Objectives ................................................................................................................... 31 b. Silvicultural Operations .............................................................................................. 31 c. Timber Sales ............................................................................................................... 32 d. Reforestation .............................................................................................................. 32 7. Research Projects/Specimen Collection ........................................................................... 33 8. Law Enforcement .............................................................................................................. 33 9. Wildlife and Fish Management ......................................................................................... 33 a. Managing Non-Game Species .................................................................................... 34 b. Sensitive Species .......................................................................................................