complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Unit Name: Wekiwa Springs State Park and Lower Wekiva River Preserve State Park
Acres:
Wekiwa Springs:
9,492.17
Lower Wekiva River:
16,991.1
Description:
Managing
Agency:
DRP
Current Management Plan
Approved:
Located at the headwaters of the Wekiva River, the beautiful vistas within the state park offer a
glimpse of what Central Florida looked like when Timucuan Indians fished and hunted these lands.
Wekiwa Springs offers visitors the opportunity to relax in a natural setting, enjoy a picnic or take a
swim in the cool spring. Canoeists and kayakers can paddle along the Wekiva River or Rock Springs
Run. Thirteen miles of trails provide opportunities for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. A
family campground, both primitive and developed group camps and back country primitive
campsites provide a wide range of camping opportunities at the park. At the Lower Wekiva River
Preserve State Park, canoeists can access the Wekiva River and picnic under the oak trees at the
new Katie’s Landing entrance. Equestrian camping, horse stalls and corrals are also available at the
preserve. The management of these two state parks is integrated under one management staff.
Accomplishments:
Resource Management
• Reduced backlogged prescribed fire acreage.
• Fire was introduced on new acreage at Neighborhood Lakes.
• Re-introduced 300 scrub lupine to scrub habitat..
• Numbers of giant ground orchids have increased due to prescribed fire management.
• Continued the bi-annual turtle surveys conducted by UNF.
• Eighteen Florida burrowing owl burrows found on new acquisition.
Capital Improvements
• Connection of the state park facilities to city sewer is in progress.
Other
• CSO President Don Philpott was named the Friends of Florida State Parks Volunteer of the Year
for 2008.
292
2005