Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Advisory Group Draft Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks August 2019 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 ...................................................................... 9 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 ....................................................................................... 17 Soils ............................................................................................ 18 Minerals ....................................................................................... 21 Hydrology .................................................................................... 21 Natural Communities (FNAI) ........................................................... 22 Imperiled Species ......................................................................... 45 Exotic and Nuisance Species ........................................................... 55 Special Natural Features ................................................................ 58 Cultural Resources ............................................................................ 59 Condition Assessment .................................................................... 59 Level of Significance ...................................................................... 59 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Sites ..................................... 60 Historic Structures ........................................................................ 65 Collections ................................................................................... 66 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ................................................. 69 Management Goals, Objectives and Actions .......................................... 69 Natural Resource Management ........................................................... 69 Hydrological Management .............................................................. 69 Natural Communities Management .................................................. 72 Imperiled Species Management ...................................................... 77 Exotic Species Management ........................................................... 81 Cultural Resource Management .......................................................... 83 Special Management Considerations .................................................... 85 Timber Management Analysis ......................................................... 85 Coastal/Beach Management ........................................................... 85 i Arthropod Control Plan ................................................................... 86 Sea Level Rise .............................................................................. 87 Resource Management Schedule ......................................................... 87 Land Management Review ................................................................. 87 LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 89 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS .................................................................... 89 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 92 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 92 Florida Greenways and Trails System (FGTS) ....................................... 95 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ........................................................................ 96 Recreation Resource Elements ............................................................ 96 Land Area .................................................................................... 96 Water Area ................................................................................... 97 Shoreline ..................................................................................... 97 Natural Scenery ............................................................................ 97 Significant Habitat ......................................................................... 97 Natural Features ........................................................................... 98 Archaeological and Historic Features ................................................ 98 Assessment of Use ............................................................................ 98 Past Uses ..................................................................................... 98 Future Land Use and Zoning ........................................................... 98 Current Recreation Use and Visitor Programs .................................... 99 Protected Zones .......................................................................... 102 Existing Facilities ............................................................................ 102 Recreation Facilities ..................................................................... 103 Support Facilities ........................................................................ 103 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN ......................................................... 103 Potential Uses ................................................................................ 104 Public Access and Recreational Opportunities .................................. 104 Proposed Facilities .......................................................................... 109 Capital Facilities and Infrastructure ............................................... 109 Facilities Development ..................................................................... 112 Existing Use and Optimum Carrying Capacity ..................................... 112 Optimum Boundary ......................................................................... 113 IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT MANAGEMENT PROGRESS ................................................................ 117 Park Administration and Operations .................................................. 117 Resource Management .................................................................... 117 Natural Resources ....................................................................... 117 Cultural Resources ...................................................................... 118 Recreation and Visitor Services ......................................................... 118 ii Park Facilities ................................................................................. 119 MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION .......................................... 119 TABLES TABLE 1 – Topsail Hill Preserve State Park Management Zones ................. 12 TABLE 2 – Water Quality Parameters for Campbell Lake ........................... 42 TABLE 3 – Water Quality Parameters for Morris Lake ............................... 42 TABLE 4 – Water Quality Parameters for Stalworth Lake .......................... 43 TABLE 5 – Imperiled Species Inventory .................................................. 51 TABLE 6 – Inventory of FLEPPC Category I and II Exotic Plant Species ....... 58 TABLE 7 – Cultural Sites Listed in the Florida Master Site File ................... 67 TABLE 8 – Prescribed Fire Management .................................................. 72 TABLE 9 – Walton, Bay, and Okaloosa County Population Projections ......... 90 TABLE 10 – Resource-Based Recreational Opportunities within 15 miles of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park .............................................................. 90 TABLE 11 – Zoning and Future Land Use Designations for Adjacent Parcels 93 TABLE 12 – Visitors to South Walton County........................................... 95 TABLE 13 – Regional Park Annual Attendance ....................................... 101 TABLE 14 – Economic Impact of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park ............. 102 TABLE 15 – Existing Use and Recreational Carrying Capacity .................. 113 TABLE 16 – Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates ...................... 121 MAPS Vicinity Map ...........................................................................................3 Reference Map .......................................................................................5 Management Zones Map........................................................................ 13 Topographic Map .................................................................................