Lake Kissimmee State Park APPROVED Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks July 7, 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 ................................................... 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 ....................................................................................... 15 Soils ............................................................................................ 15 Minerals ....................................................................................... 15 Hydrology .................................................................................... 16 Natural Communities (FNAI) ........................................................... 19 Imperiled Species ......................................................................... 33 Exotic and Nuisance Species ........................................................... 37 Special Natural Features ................................................................ 41 Cultural Resources ............................................................................ 41 Condition Assessment .................................................................... 42 Level of Significance ...................................................................... 42 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Sites ..................................... 43 Historic Structures ........................................................................ 45 Collections ................................................................................... 45 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ................................................. 47 Management Goals, Objectives and Actions .......................................... 47 Natural Resource Management ........................................................... 48 Hydrological Management .............................................................. 48 Natural Communities Management .................................................. 49 Imperiled Species Management ...................................................... 55 Exotic Species Management ........................................................... 57 Special Management Considerations .................................................... 58 Timber Management Analysis ......................................................... 58 Arthropod Control Plan ................................................................... 58 Additional Considerations ................................................................... 59 Cultural Resource Management .......................................................... 59 i Cultural Resource Management ....................................................... 59 Resource Management Schedule ......................................................... 61 Land Management Review ................................................................. 61 LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 63 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS .................................................................... 63 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 64 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 64 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ........................................................................ 64 Recreation Resource Elements ............................................................ 65 Land Area .................................................................................... 65 Water Area ................................................................................... 65 Shoreline ..................................................................................... 65 Natural Scenery ............................................................................ 65 Significant Wildlife Habitat .............................................................. 65 Natural Features ........................................................................... 66 Archaeological and Historic Features ................................................ 66 Assessment of Use ............................................................................ 66 Past Uses ..................................................................................... 66 Future Land Use and Zoning ........................................................... 66 Current Recreation Use and Visitor Programs .................................... 66 Protected Zones ............................................................................ 69 Wilderness Preserves ..................................................................... 69 Existing Facilities .............................................................................. 70 Recreation Facilities ....................................................................... 70 Support Facilities .......................................................................... 70 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN ........................................................... 71 Potential Uses .................................................................................. 72 Public Access and Recreational Opportunities .................................... 72 Proposed Facilities ............................................................................ 75 Capital Facilities and Infrastructure ................................................. 75 Facilities Development ....................................................................... 77 Recreational Carrying Capacity ........................................................... 78 Optimum Boundary ........................................................................... 79 IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT MANAGEMENT PROGRESS .................................................................. 83 Acquisition ....................................................................................... 83 Park Administration and Operations .................................................... 83 Resource Management ...................................................................... 83 Natural Resources ..................................................................... 83 Cultural Resources ..................................................................... 84 Recreation and Visitor Services ....................................................... 84 ii Park Facilities ............................................................................... 84 MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................ 85 TABLES TABLE 1 – Lake Kissimmee State Park Management Zones ....................... 12 TABLE 2 – Imperiled Species Inventory .................................................. 34 TABLE 3 – Inventory of FLEPPC Category I and II Exotic Plant Species ....... 40 TABLE 4 – Cultural Sites Listed in the Florida Master Site File ................... 46 TABLE 5 – Prescribed Fire Management .................................................. 50 TABLE 6 – Recreational Carrying Capacity .............................................. 79 TABLE 7 – Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates.......................... 87 MAPS Vicinity Map ...........................................................................................3 Reference Map .......................................................................................5 Management Zones Map........................................................................ 13 Soils Map ............................................................................................ 17 Natural Communities Map – Existing Conditions ....................................... 21 Natural Communities Map – Desired Future Conditions .............................. 53 Base Map ............................................................................................ 67 Conceptual Land Use Plan ...................................................................... 73 Optimum Boundary Map ........................................................................ 81 LIST OF ADDENDA ADDENDUM 1 Acquisition History ....................................................................... A 1 - 1 ADDENDUM 2 Advisory Group Members and Report ............................................