OSCAR SCHERER STATE PARK APPROVED UNIT MANAGEMENT PLAN STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks April 15, 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................... 1 PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PARK................................................. 1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE PLAN.................................................................. 2 MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW............................................................ 6 Management Authority and Responsibility............................................................ 6 Park Management Goals ........................................................................................... 6 Management Coordination....................................................................................... 7 Public Participation.................................................................................................... 8 Other Designations.................................................................................................... 8 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................... 9 RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT............................................. 10 Natural Resources.................................................................................................... 10 Topography............................................................................................................ 10 Geology .................................................................................................................. 10 Soils......................................................................................................................... 12 Minerals.................................................................................................................. 12 Hydrology.............................................................................................................. 12 Natural Communities (FNAI) .......................................................................14—22 Desired Future Condition............................................................................14—22 Description and Assessment .......................................................................14—22 General Management Measures .................................................................14—22 Imperiled Species............................................................................................22—27 Inventory.......................................................................................................22—27 Status .............................................................................................................22—27 Management Actions ...................................................................................22—27 Monitoring Level Actions............................................................................22—27 Exotic Species..................................................................................................27—31 Inventory.......................................................................................................27—31 FNAI Distribution Categories.....................................................................27—31 Management Zones......................................................................................27—31 Special Natural Features....................................................................................... 31 Cultural Resources............................................................................................31—35 Condition Assessment....................................................................................31—35 Level of Significance.......................................................................................31—35 Pre-Historic and Historic Archaeological Sites............................................31—35 Description....................................................................................................31—35 Condition Assessment .................................................................................31—35 Level of Significance ....................................................................................31—35 General Management Measures .................................................................31—35 Historic Structures/Sites................................................................................31—35 Desired Future Condition............................................................................31—35 iii Description....................................................................................................31—35 Condition Assessment .................................................................................31—35 Level of Significance ....................................................................................31—35 General Management Measures .................................................................31—35 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM .......................................................... 35 Management Goals, Objectives and Actions......................................................... 35 Natural Resource Management.......................................................................36—45 Hydrological Management............................................................................36—37 Goal ...................................................................................................................... 36 Objectives........................................................................................................... 37 Natural Communities Management.............................................................38—45 Goal ...................................................................................................................... 38 Prescribed Fire Management ....................................................................38—40 Objectives..................................................................................................38—40 Natural Communities Restoration ...........................................................40—41 Objective .......................................................................................................... 40 Natural Communities Improvement............................................................... 41 Objective .......................................................................................................... 41 Imperiled Species Management ....................................................................42—44 Goal ...................................................................................................................... 42 Objectives....................................................................................................42—44 Exotic Species Management.................................................................................. 44 Goal ...............................................................................................................44—45 Objectives....................................................................................................44—45 Special Management Considerations..............................................................45—46 Timber Management Analysis ............................................................................. 45 Additional Consideration ..................................................................................... 46 Cultural Resource Management......................................................................46—47 Cultural Resource Management....................................................................46—47 Goal ...............................................................................................................46—47 Objectives....................................................................................................46—47 Resource Management Schedule............................................................................ 47 Land Management Review ..............................................................................47—48 LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... 49 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS..................................................................................... 49 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands.............................................................................. 50 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands.............................................................................. 51 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ........................................................................................... 51 Recreation Resource Elements.........................................................................52—53 Land Area............................................................................................................... 52 Water Area ............................................................................................................. 52 Natural Scenery ..................................................................................................... 52 Significant Wildlife Habitat .................................................................................. 52 iv Natural Features...................................................................................................