complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

APPENDIX B:
I.A. Natural Communities
� Management plan needs to take a closer look at description of current natural communities
defining structure and composition that exists now and explain specific management needs.
Flatwoods are largely fire-suppressed, except for 300 acres or so that have had fire during the last
four years. Much more burning needs to be accomplished. Rollerchopping and shredding have
been accomplished on some sites – which will greatly enhance burning opportunities. Encourage
more effort at introducing growing season fire in the slash pine planted sandhill sites. Encourage
vigilant approach to removal of the inevitable sandpine regeneration in the sandhills following the
current timber harvest.
� Fire is being used in dome swamp management – excellent!!
� Good that several of the dome swamps had been burned through – many had an open, nice
appearance.
� Basin swamps need hydrology work/more water – impeded by development. Could add lake
monitoring/lake watch.
I.B. Listed Species
� Good work to initiate sandhill restoration to increase habitat in the future. Kestrel boxes are
monitored each year for breeding success. Good job identifying and mapping pitcher plant and
cutthroat populations.
� Animal species inventories and plan would good – management plan is old and needs revision.
� Should consider wading bird survey.
� Need periodic surveys.
� Invite native plant society for surveys.
I.C. Natural Resources Survey
� Suggest doing a very basic post-burn assessment capturing a few results of fire and
� Since fishing and hunting are major activities, monitoring to verify fluctuations and status would
be ideal. Would be really good to do a thorough scrub / scrubby flatwoods vegetative survey and
get a specialist for intact systems.
� Hog removal low.
II.A.B. Cultural Resources
� DHR completed an excellent archeological survey of site in 2006. More effort should be made to
work with DHR to establish priorities and frequency for site monitoring. A local FWC person has
yet to attend the DHR archaeological site monitor training.
� Appear to be insignificant – what has been found has been at Osprey which is highly disturbed.
III.A. Resource Management
� Much is yet to be done to re-establish 2-4 year burn regime in the flatwoods. Only 20-25% of
these lands are within fire rotation.
� Staff is knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I am confident that desired future conditions are
obtainable for the intact ecosystems.
� More fire as possible based on mechanical treatment and weather/hydrological conditions.
III.B. Restoration
� Excellent results from introducing native grasses in 80-acre flatwoods restoration site.
� GCR has made excellent progress, still need diversity and shrub and tree species. Slash
plantations have been thinned, but on GCR yet. With so much ruderal acreage stated for
restoration, costs of real restoration are cost prohibitive. The reality is moving forward with
pieces and bits. Multiple, interim uses such as timber, citrus, cattle grazing, etc., maybe only
trained feasible options for management.
� 80 acres of excellent restoration to native groundcover grasses. Now need to add wildflowers and
shrubs and longleaf pine.
� Pastures to flatwoods restoration impressive/nice groundcover establishment. Large amount of
ruderal areas acknowledged – restoration is longterm/expensive. Focus on interim management.
III.E. Non-Native, Invasive & Problem Species
� Excellent work in treating cogongrass and tropical soda apple, especially in the Osprey Unit.
69