Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park APPROVED Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks October 11, 2012 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 ..............................................................................................8 Management Coordination..........................................................................................9 Public Participation.......................................................................................................9 Other Designations......................................................................................................10 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................11 RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT.................................................12 Natural Resources.......................................................................................................12 Topography .............................................................................................................12 Geology ....................................................................................................................15 Soils...........................................................................................................................16 Minerals ...................................................................................................................19 Hydrology................................................................................................................19 Natural Communities (FNAI)...............................................................................20 Imperiled Species....................................................................................................38 Exotic Species ..........................................................................................................45 Special Natural Features........................................................................................50 Cultural Resources......................................................................................................50 Condition Assessment ...........................................................................................51 Level of Significance...............................................................................................51 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Sites ....................................................51 Historic Structures..................................................................................................55 Collections ...............................................................................................................57 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM...............................................................62 Management Goals, Objectives and Actions...........................................................62 Natural Resource Management.................................................................................63 Hydrological Management ...................................................................................63 Natural Communities Management....................................................................63 Imperiled Species Management ...........................................................................68 Exotic Species Management..................................................................................70 Special Management Considerations .......................................................................71 i Timber Management Analysis..............................................................................71 Coastal/Beach Management.................................................................................71 Arthropod Control Plan.........................................................................................73 Additional Considerations....................................................................................73 Cultural Resource Management................................................................................74 Cultural Resource Management...........................................................................74 Resource Management Schedule ..............................................................................76 Land Management Review ........................................................................................76 LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................77 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS..........................................................................................77 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands.................................................................................79 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ................................................................................79 PROPERTY ANALYSIS.................................................................................................80 Recreation Resource Elements...................................................................................81 Land Area................................................................................................................81 Water Area...............................................................................................................81 Shoreline ..................................................................................................................82 Natural Scenery......................................................................................................82 Significant Wildlife Habitat...................................................................................82 Archaeological and Historic Features..................................................................83 Assessment of Use.......................................................................................................83 Past Uses..................................................................................................................83 Future Land Use and Zoning................................................................................84 Current Recreation Use and Visitor Programs...................................................84 Other Uses...............................................................................................................87 Protected Zones......................................................................................................87 Existing Facilities.........................................................................................................87 Recreation Facilities................................................................................................87 Support Facilities ....................................................................................................88 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN .............................................................................89 Potential Uses...............................................................................................................90 Public Access and Recreational Opportunities ..................................................90 Proposed Facilities.......................................................................................................93 Capital Facilities and Infrastructure ....................................................................93 Facilities Development...............................................................................................95 Existing Use and Optimum Carrying Capacity......................................................96 Optimum Boundary....................................................................................................97 ii IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT MANAGEMENT PROGRESS....................................................................................101 Park Administration and Operations.....................................................................101 Resource Management.............................................................................................101 Natural Resources............................................................................................101 Cultural Resources...........................................................................................102 Recreation and Visitor Services ..........................................................................102 Park Facilities........................................................................................................102 MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ......................................................103 TABLES TABLE 1 – Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Management Zones........................12 TABLE