Econfina River State Park Approved Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks October 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 ................................................................... 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 ............................................................................................ 15 Minerals ....................................................................................... 16 Hydrology .................................................................................... 16 Natural Communities (FNAI) ........................................................... 20 Imperiled Species ......................................................................... 35 Exotic and Nuisance Species ........................................................... 39 Special Natural Features ................................................................ 40 Cultural Resources ............................................................................ 41 Condition Assessment .................................................................... 41 Level of Significance ...................................................................... 41 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Sites ..................................... 42 Historic Structures ........................................................................ 44 Collections ................................................................................... 44 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ................................................. 47 Management Goals, Objectives and Actions .......................................... 47 Natural Resource Management ........................................................... 47 Hydrological Management .............................................................. 47 Natural Communities Management .................................................. 49 Imperiled Species Management ...................................................... 51 Exotic Species Management ........................................................... 52 Cultural Resource Management .......................................................... 52 Cultural Resource Management ....................................................... 52 i Special Management Considerations .................................................... 54 Timber Management Analysis ......................................................... 54 Coastal/Beach Management ........................................................... 55 Arthropod Control Plan ................................................................... 55 Sea Level Rise .............................................................................. 55 Resource Management Schedule ......................................................... 56 Land Management Review ................................................................. 56 LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 57 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS .................................................................... 57 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 59 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 59 Florida Greenways and Trails System (FGTS) ....................................... 62 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ........................................................................ 62 Recreation Resource Elements ............................................................ 63 Land Area .................................................................................... 63 Water Area ................................................................................... 63 Shoreline ..................................................................................... 63 Natural Scenery ............................................................................ 63 Natural Features ........................................................................... 63 Archaeological and Historic Features ................................................ 63 Assessment of Use ............................................................................ 64 Past Uses ..................................................................................... 64 Future Land Use and Zoning ........................................................... 64 Current Recreation Use and Visitor Programs .................................... 64 Protected Zones ............................................................................ 67 Existing Facilities .............................................................................. 67 Recreation and Support Facilities .................................................... 67 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN ........................................................... 68 Potential Uses .................................................................................. 68 Public Access and Recreational Opportunities .................................... 68 Proposed Facilities ............................................................................ 71 Capital Facilities and Infrastructure ................................................. 71 Facilities Development ....................................................................... 73 Recreational Carrying Capacity ........................................................... 74 Optimum Boundary ........................................................................... 74 IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT MANAGEMENT PROGRESS .................................................................. 79 ii Park Administration and Operations .................................................... 79 Resource Management ...................................................................... 79 Natural Resources ......................................................................... 79 Cultural Resources ........................................................................ 79 Recreation and Visitor Services ........................................................... 80 Park Facilities ................................................................................... 80 MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................ 80 TABLES TABLE 1 – Econfina River State Park Management Zones ......................... 12 TABLE 2 – Imperiled Species Inventory .................................................. 37 TABLE 3 – Cultural Sites Listed in the Florida Master Site File ................... 44 TABLE 4 – Prescribed Fire Management .................................................. 49 TABLE 5 – Resource Based Recreational Opportunities Near Econfina River State Park .......................................................................... 58 TABLE 6 – Zoning and Future Land Use Designations for Taylor County ..... 60 TABLE 7 – Recreational Carrying Capacity .............................................. 74 TABLE 8 – Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates.......................... 83 MAPS Vicinity Map ...........................................................................................3 Reference Map .......................................................................................5 Management Zones Map........................................................................ 13 Soils Map ............................................................................................ 17 Natural Communities Map ...................................................................... 21 Base Map ............................................................................................ 65 Conceptual Land Use Plan ...................................................................... 69 Optimum Boundary Map ........................................................................ 77 LIST OF ADDENDA ADDENDUM 1 Acquisition History ....................................................................... A 1 - 1 ADDENDUM 2 Advisory Group Members and Report ............................................. A 2 - 1 ADDENDUM 3 References Cited ........................................................................