Lake Griffin State Park Approved Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks December 2016 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 .............................................................................9 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 11 RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT..................................... 12 Natural Resources ............................................................................. 12 Topography .................................................................................. 12 Geology ....................................................................................... 12 Soils ............................................................................................ 12 Minerals ....................................................................................... 17 Hydrology .................................................................................... 17 Natural Communities (FNAI) ........................................................... 18 Imperiled Species ......................................................................... 29 Exotic and Nuisance Species ........................................................... 32 Special Natural Features ................................................................ 35 Cultural Resources ............................................................................ 35 Condition Assessment .................................................................... 36 Level of Significance ...................................................................... 36 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Sites ..................................... 36 Historic Structures ........................................................................ 38 Collections ................................................................................... 38 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ................................................. 39 Management Goals, Objectives and Actions .......................................... 39 Natural Resource Management ........................................................... 40 Hydrological Management .............................................................. 40 Natural Communities Management .................................................. 41 Imperiled Species Management ...................................................... 47 Exotic Species Management ........................................................... 48 Special Management Considerations .................................................... 49 Timber Management Analysis ......................................................... 49 Arthropod Control Plan ................................................................... 49 Additional Considerations ............................................................... 49 Cultural Resource Management .......................................................... 50 i Resource Management Schedule ......................................................... 51 Land Management Review ................................................................. 51 LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 53 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS .................................................................... 53 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 54 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ........................................................... 54 Florida Greenways and Trails System .................................................. 55 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ........................................................................ 55 Recreation Resource Elements ............................................................ 56 Land Area .................................................................................... 56 Water Area ................................................................................... 56 Shoreline ..................................................................................... 56 Natural Scenery ............................................................................ 56 Significant Habitat ......................................................................... 56 Natural Features ........................................................................... 56 Archaeological and Historic Features ................................................ 57 Assessment of Use ............................................................................ 57 Past Uses ..................................................................................... 57 Future Land Use and Zoning ........................................................... 57 Current Recreational Use and Visitor Programs ................................. 57 Other Uses ................................................................................... 58 Protected Zones ............................................................................ 58 Existing Facilities .............................................................................. 58 Recreation Facilities ....................................................................... 61 Support Facilities .......................................................................... 61 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN ........................................................... 61 Potential Uses .................................................................................. 62 Public Access and Recreational Opportunities .................................... 62 Proposed Facilities ............................................................................ 65 Capital Facilities and Infrastructure ................................................. 65 Facilities Development ....................................................................... 67 Recreational Carrying Capacity ........................................................... 67 Optimum Boundary ........................................................................... 71 IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT MANAGEMENT PROGRESS .................................................................. 74 Acquisition ....................................................................................... 74 Park Administration and Operations .................................................... 74 Resource Management ...................................................................... 74 Natural Resources ......................................................................... 74 Recreation and Visitor Services ....................................................... 74 Park Facilities ................................................................................... 75 ii MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................ 75 TABLES TABLE 1 – Lake Griffin State Park Management Zones ............................. 12 TABLE 2 – Imperiled Species Inventory .................................................. 31 TABLE 3 – Inventory of FLEPPC Category I and II Exotic Plant Species ....... 33 TABLE 4 – Cultural Sites Listed in the Florida Master Site File ................... 39 TABLE 5 – Prescribed Fire Management .................................................. 42 TABLE 6 – Recreational Carrying Capacity .............................................. 68 TABLE 7 – Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates.......................... 76 MAPS Vicinity Map ...........................................................................................3 Reference Map .......................................................................................5 Management Zones Map........................................................................ 13 Soils Map ............................................................................................ 15 Natural Communities Map ...................................................................... 19 Base Map ............................................................................................ 59 Conceptual Land Use Plan ...................................................................... 63 Optimum Boundary Map ........................................................................ 69 LIST OF ADDENDA ADDENDUM 1 Acquisition History ....................................................................... A 1 - 1 ADDENDUM 2 Advisory Group Members and Report ............................................. A 2 - 1 ADDENDUM 3 References Cited ......................................................................... A 3 - 1 ADDENDUM 4 Soil Descriptions