complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

APPENDIX B:
I.A. Natural Communities
� Facilities (such as the proposed campgrounds/cabins) should not be sited in pyrogenic
communities. There are enough ruderal areas that all facilities should be built in these already
disturbed areas. Hydrological alterations (ditching) has negatively affected most to all of the
wetland communities.
� Mesic hammock, bottomland forest, floodplain forest, and the floodplain swamp are affected by
historic hydrological changes- ditching so unless hydrology can be restored it will not be a great
representative of those habitats. Old hog damage- no new damage present so good maintenance on
that. Cypress domes had historically been burned not much duff issues.
� Floodplain forest and swamp appear to have been somewhat drained from ditch installation.
Improvement with hydration once ditches are filled and wetland restoration completed. The
decreased hydrology is the only reason the scores are not in 100% maintenance condition.
� Much of the floodplain forest and bottomland forests need hydrologic restoration from ditching if
natural hydroperiods are to be restored to pre-ranch condition. Good effort with SWFWMD to
start the hydrological modeling necessary to assess the potential to restore these communities.
Much of the flatwoods on the north end of the property looked great, in “maintenance”, having
received prescribed fire this past fall or winter. Excellent groundcover diversity. Many areas of
these north flatwoods had significant numbers of old growth longleaf pine. Further assessment is
needed by DRP as to the need to reduce pine stocking to achieve optimum habitat conditions
necessary to reintroduce RCW – a stated goal in the management plan. Be cautious, however,
before doing any thinning in these pristine areas. Other areas of flatwoods – more in the southern
half of the property appeared intact but, all be well out maintenance condition with no recent
burning accomplished. Depression marshes in north end were in great condition with very little
woody shrub growth due to regular fires. Again, more fire is needed on the south end to get fire
into these marshes. Cypress domes have all had some hydrological impacts, however, most of the
domes in the flatwoods looked pretty intact with 30-40 year old cypress. Fire has been allowed to
burn down into the domes, resulting good looking ecotones.
� Mesic flatwoods – good management strategy! Continue to focus on keeping good stuff good.
Plan to bring rough flatwoods into maintenance in a phased way as resources allow. Don’t be
afraid to kill pines with fire in overstocked areas, when harvest is not practical. Pasture – good
condition. Be very careful with fertilization regimes. Excessive soil fertility will make restoration
very difficult – also water quality concerns.
I.B. Listed Species
� Eagle Watch Program – participation, protecting nest, looking at hydrological restoration which
assist management. Wood stork wetland restoration. Audubon inventory and other volunteer
inventory work; not as strong on botanical inventory.
� Excellent volunteer work to survey and develop plant and butterfly lists. Encourage continued
efforts to expand plant surveys and taking the approach that this property can serve as an index
site for all of the Green Swamp conservation areas.
� Do proper management - and species/habitat will take care of themselves – resist micromanaging
for single species whenever possible – manage the natural processes!
I.C. Natural Resources Survey
� FWC provided recommendation quality of fisheries. Annual butterfly and bird survey. SWFWMD
doing surface water modeling.
� Need to start monitoring and conducting bird, butterfly and plant surveys. Possibly recruit
volunteer groups such as Native Plant Society.
� Survey of hydrologic conditions for modeling has been and continues to be accomplished.
Excellent efforts to monitor treated invasive exotic plants. Populations are tracked and
documented in ArcView.
� With limited resources, concentrate monitoring on response to management actions that directly
support adaptation of management to achieve goals. Encourage volunteer monitoring in support of
interpretive programs.
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