complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Checklist Findings
The following items received high scores on the review team checklist, which indicates that management
actions exceeded expectations.
� Managed Area Uses, specifically hiking, equestrian use, bicycling, wildlife viewing, fishing,
canoeing, and kayaking.
The following items received low scores on the review team checklist, which indicates that management
actions noted during the Field Review (FR) were not considered sufficient (less than 2.5 score on average),
or that the text noted in the Management Plan Review (PR) does not sufficiently address this issue (less
than .5 score on average.). The management plan must include responses to the checklist items identified
below:
1. Discussion in the management plan regarding Listed Species, specifically Animal Inventory, Black
Bear, Gopher Tortoise and Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. (FR)
Managing Agency Response: Agree; This Land Management Review was conducted on a relatively new
park that did not yet have an approved unit management plan (UMP) associated with it. The draft UMP is
nearing completion with many sections already having been written. The draft Resource Management
Component of the UMP will adequately address the management needs of listed species in the park. The
park staff continues to record unique animal sightings as they are encountered. DRP personnel will also
be surveying for selected listed species as part of their management activities; for example, gopher tortoise
monitoring is regularly conducted in conjunction with the prescribed burning program.
2. Discussion in the management plan regarding Natural Resources, specifically Sport fish or habitat
monitoring, and other habitat management effects monitoring. (FR)
Managing Agency Response: Agree related to habitat monitoring; The Park currently monitors use areas
for signs of visitor damage or progressive deterioration. Photo point monitoring associated with prescribed
burns is ongoing. Disagree related to sport fish monitoring; The current park boundary presents limited
sport fishing opportunities. This upstream portion of the St. Marks River can be considered to have
ephemeral flow characteristics in which segments are prone to drying out during drought conditions.
Furthermore, the channel is poorly defined in much of the park as the water meanders through wetlands
within its floodplain. While one can certainly fish here for many of the desirable species, access and
probability of success is more favorable at other nearby locations. With future acquisition of parcels, this
situation is likely to change as sections of the river are purchased further downstream.
3. Discussion in the management plan regarding Management Resources, specifically Buildings and
Funding. (FR)
Managing Agency Response: Agree; Planning for resource management support facilities and
infrastructure is adequately addressed in the Land Use Component of the draft UMP. Basic public access
and trailhead amenities have already been developed. Division funding is determined annually by the
Florida Legislature and funds are allocated to the 160 state parks according to priority needs.
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