September 2011 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WEKIVA WILD AND SCENIC RIVER SYSTEM Florida __________________________________________________________________________ The Wekiva Wild and Scenic River System was designated by an act of Congress on October 13, 2000 (Public Law 106-299). The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 USC 1247) requires that each designated river or river segment must have a comprehensive river management plan developed. The Wekiva system has no approved plan in place. This document examines two alternatives for managing the Wekiva River System. It also analyzes the impacts of implementing each of the alternatives. Alternative A consists of the existing river management and trends and serves as a basis for comparison in evaluating the other alternative. It does not imply that no river management would occur. The concept for river management under alternative B would be an integrated program of goals, objectives, and actions for protecting and enhancing each outstandingly remarkable value. A coordinated effort among the many public agencies and entities would be needed to implement this alternative. Alternative B is the National Park Service’s and the Wekiva River System Advisory Management Committee’s preferred alternative. Implementing the preferred alternative (B) would result in coordinated multiagency actions that aid in the conservation or improvement of scenic values, recreation opportunities, wildlife and habitat, historic and cultural resources, and water quality and quantity. This would result in several long- term beneficial impacts on these outstandingly remarkable values. This Environmental Assessment was distributed to various agencies and interested organizations and individuals for their review and comment in August 2010, and has been revised as appropriate to address comments received. For more information contact Jaime Doubek-Racine, National Park Service, 5342 Clark Road, PMB#123, , Sarasota, FL 34233. U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service ii SUMMARY The Wekiva River System, composed of one of Florida’s principal metropoli- the Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, tan areas with a rapidly growing Wekiwa Springs Run, and Black Water population. Approximately two million Creek, was designated by the U.S. people reside in the tri-county area Congress as a national wild and scenic according to 2006 estimates by the river in October 2000. Five U.S. Census Bureau. outstandingly remarkable values (ORVs) have been identified for the river During the past 30 years, human system: scenic, recreational, wildlife actions and an increasing population and habitat, historic and cultural, have created challenges to managers of and water quality and quantity. In the Wekiva River System’s outstanding accordance with the Wild and Scenic values. Wildlife habitat has been Rivers Act (PL 90-542), these values, fragmented, and numerous exotic the river system’s free-flowing species have invaded natural areas. characteristics, and its immediate Diverse recreation demands have environment ―shall be protected for created conflicts between users and the benefit and enjoyment of present threaten the ecological integrity of and future generations‖ (section 1(b)) the natural resources people come to Wild and Scenic Rivers Act). Unlike enjoy. Water quality and quantity have most rivers in the national wild and also been affected by land use within scenic river system that are managed and around the Wekiva River System. exclusively by either a federal or Important cultural resources have been state agency, the Wekiva River System degraded by visitors who are unaware is considered a partnership wild and of their value or who deliberately scenic river, meaning that it is seek to loot artifacts. jointly managed by a consortium of local stakeholder groups referred to Despite these challenges, resources of as the Wekiva River System Advisory the Wekiva River System remain Management Committee (the advisory relatively intact. Resource managers, management committee) with oversight the public, and all those who enjoy and coordination provided by the the river system must be diligent in National Park Service (NPS). protecting these resources. Without adequate protection, areas of the Section 3(d)(1) of the Wild and Scenic river system may lose their values Rivers Act requires that a when the sights and sounds of modern comprehensive management plan be life intrude on the back country of developed to serve as the basis for the Wekiva River System. protecting a designated river’s values. The Comprehensive River This environmental assessment explores Management Plan developed by the two alternatives for future management Wekiva Wild and Scenic River System of the Wekiva River System. Advisory Management Committee through collaboration with the NPS (summarized as the preferred alternative in this ALTERNATIVE A: CONTINUE CURRENT document) fulfills the requirement of MANAGEMENT (THE NO-ACTION ALTERNATIVE section 3(d)(1). REQUIRED BY THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT) The Wekiva River System is in central Florida, including parts of Lake, Alternative A would continue existing Orange, and Seminole counties. The management efforts in the Wekiva River river system is just north of Orlando, System. The so-called ―no-action‖ alternative does not imply the river basin have a long history of cessation of ongoing activities but partnership and cooperation that will provides a baseline for comparison in provide a solid foundation for evaluating the changes and impacts of implementing the plan. the other alternative. Government agencies, including those on the The goals, objectives, and actions are advisory management committee, would separated into five categories, one continue to manage the river system as for each outstandingly remarkable it is currently being managed. value. The following summarizes the Existing agency operations and visitor goals identified for each facilities would remain in place. outstandingly remarkable value. A comprehensive river management plan Scenic Goals required by Section 3(d)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act would not Maintain and enhance healthy native be approved under this alternative and plant and animal communities in the so it would be in violation of the Wekiva River System. act. Maintain and enhance the wild and Alternative A includes the scenic character of the Wekiva continuation of several actions and River System by limiting the activities that benefit outstandingly intrusion of the visual and audi- remarkable values. It would not tory aspects of human development include specific actions that result and activity. in adverse impacts to these values, but would continue other ongoing Recreational Goals trends that may cause adverse impacts. Provide opportunities for Alternative A corresponds to the recreation on the Wekiva River continuation of current management System that are compatible with the activities, therefore is not likely to area’s natural and cultural adversely affect special status features and management objectives. species (per compliance with Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act). Alternative A would result in no new Ensure that river recreation effects on historic and cultural minimizes environmental impacts and resource values but could result in user conflicts and is compatible the continuation of adverse effects on with the preservation of natural some cultural resources under Section and cultural qualities of a 106. national wild and scenic river. Wildlife and Habitat Goals ALTERNATIVE B: THE PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE Protect aquatic and aquatic- dependent organisms and their This alternative proposes an habitats throughout the Wekiva integrated program of goals, River System and its associated objectives, and actions for protecting wetlands. and enhancing each outstandingly remarkable value. A coordinated effort Maintain habitat quality, landscape among the many public agencies and diversity, and ecosystem entities would be needed to implement connectivity within the Wekiva this alternative. Fortunately, public basin area and associated agencies and local governments of the iv Summary ecosystems with an emphasis on the level of change is in an acceptable black bear as an umbrella species. range. Reduce the impacts of invasive The description of the preferred species and exotic species on alternative appearing in this native species and habitats environmental assessment is a summary throughout the Wekiva River System of the Wekiva Wild and Scenic River and its associated wetlands. System Management Plan prepared for the Wekiva Wild and Scenic River Historic and Cultural Resource Goals System Advisory Management Committee, which is available from the advisory Identify, protect, and preserve management committee. historic and cultural resources from human-related and natural Alternative B corresponds to the threats. continuation of current management activities in addition to several new or enhanced initiatives protective of Foster an understanding among the wildlife, therefore it is not likely public of the significance of the to adversely affect special status historic and cultural resources of species (per compliance with Section 7 the Wekiva basin. of the Endangered Species Act). Overall, the implementation of Water Quality and Quantity Goals alternative B would have no adverse effect on cultural resources and Protect instream water quality of values under Section 106 of the the Wekiva River System. National Historic Preservation Act. Protect flow regimes