Wekiva River Basin State Parks Approved Unit Management Plan STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Division of Recreation and Parks October 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................1 PURPOSE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PARK ....................................... 1 Park Significance ................................................................................2 PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE PLAN..................................................... 7 MANAGEMENT PROGRAM OVERVIEW ................................................... 9 Management Authority and Responsibility .............................................. 9 Park Management Goals ...................................................................... 9 Management Coordination ................................................................. 10 Public Participation ............................................................................ 10 Other Designations ........................................................................... 10 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 13 RESOURCE DESCRIPTION AND ASSESSMENT..................................... 19 Natural Resources ............................................................................. 19 Topography .................................................................................. 19 Geology ....................................................................................... 20 Soils ............................................................................................ 20 Minerals ....................................................................................... 27 Hydrology .................................................................................... 27 Natural Communities (FNAI) ........................................................... 42 Imperiled Species ......................................................................... 86 Exotic and Nuisance Species ......................................................... 101 Special Natural Features .............................................................. 113 Cultural Resources .......................................................................... 114 Condition Assessment .................................................................. 114 Level of Significance .................................................................... 114 Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Sites ................................... 115 Historic Structures ...................................................................... 117 Collections ................................................................................. 119 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM ............................................... 127 Management Goals, Objectives and Actions ........................................ 127 Natural Resource Management ......................................................... 128 Hydrological Management ............................................................ 128 Natural Communities Management ................................................ 131 Imperiled Species Management .................................................... 143 Exotic Species Management ......................................................... 146 Cultural Resource Management ........................................................ 147 Special Management Considerations .................................................. 150 Timber Management Analysis ....................................................... 150 Arthropod Control Plan ................................................................. 152 Resource Management Schedule ................................................... 152 Land Management Review ............................................................... 152 i LAND USE COMPONENT INTRODUCTION ............................................................................... 155 EXTERNAL CONDITIONS .................................................................. 155 Existing Use of Adjacent Lands ......................................................... 156 Planned Use of Adjacent Lands ......................................................... 158 PROPERTY ANALYSIS ...................................................................... 160 Recreational Resource Elements ....................................................... 160 Land Area .................................................................................. 160 Water Area ................................................................................. 161 Natural Scenery .......................................................................... 162 Significant Habitat ....................................................................... 162 Natural Features ......................................................................... 163 Archaeological and Historic Features .............................................. 164 Assessment of Use .......................................................................... 165 Past Uses ................................................................................... 165 Future Land Use and Zoning ......................................................... 166 Current Recreation Use and Visitor Programs .................................. 166 Other Uses ................................................................................. 168 Protected Zones .......................................................................... 168 Existing Facilities ............................................................................ 168 Wekiwa Springs State Park Recreation Facilities .............................. 168 Wekiwa Springs State Park Support Facilities .................................. 169 Rock Springs Run State Reserve Recreation Facilities ...................... 169 Rock Springs Run State Reserve Support Facilities .......................... 170 Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park Recreation Facilities ........... 170 Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park Support Facilities ............... 170 CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN ......................................................... 177 Potential Uses ................................................................................ 177 Public Access and Recreational Opportunities .................................. 177 Proposed Facilities .......................................................................... 180 Capital Facilities and Infrastructure ............................................... 180 Facilities Development ..................................................................... 184 Recreational Carrying Capacity ......................................................... 193 Optimum Boundary ......................................................................... 195 IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT MANAGEMENT PROGRESS ................................................................ 203 Park Administration and Operations .................................................. 203 Resource Management .................................................................... 203 Natural Resources ....................................................................... 203 Cultural Resources ...................................................................... 204 Recreation and Visitor Services ......................................................... 204 Park Facilities ................................................................................. 205 MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION .......................................... 206 ii TABLES TABLE 1a – Wekiwa Springs State Park Management Zones ..................... 14 TABLE 1b – Rock Springs Run State Reserve Management Zones .............. 16 TABLE 1c – Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park Management Zones ... 18 TABLE 2 – Imperiled Species Inventory .................................................. 95 TABLE 3 – Inventory of FLEPPC Category I and II Exotic Plant Species ..... 104 TABLE 4 – Cultural Sites Listed in the Florida Master Site File ................. 121 TABLE 5 – Prescribed Fire Management ................................................ 132 TABLE 6 – Recreational Carrying Capacity ............................................ 194 TABLE 7 – Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates................. 207-211 MAPS Vicinity Map ...........................................................................................3 Reference Map .......................................................................................5 Wekiwa Springs State Park Management Zones Map ................................. 21 Rock Springs Run State Reserve Management Zones Map ......................... 23 Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park Management Zones Map .............. 25 Wekiwa Springs State Park Soils Map ...................................................... 29 Rock Springs Run State Reserve Soils Map .............................................. 31 Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park Soils Map ................................... 33 Wekiwa Springs State Park Natural Communities Map ............................... 45 Rock Springs Run State Reserve Natural Communities Map ....................... 47 Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park Natural Communities Map ............ 49 Wekiwa Springs State Park Desired Future Conditions Map ...................... 135 Rock Springs Run State Reserve