complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Unit Name: Charles H. Bronson State Forest
Acres: 10,945.04 Managing Agency: FDACS-DOF
Current Management Plan
Approved:
361
New Acquisition
Narrative:
The Charles H. Bronson State Forest (CHBSF) is comprised of approximately 11,000 acres. The
Forest is named after Charles H. Bronson, who served as the ninth Commissioner for the Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services from 2001 to 2011. CHBSF’s most notable
feature is the St. Johns River, an Outstanding Florida Water, which flows along a section of the
eastern boundary. Restoration of degraded ecosystems and abandoned agriculture fields is the
main focus for CHBSF. The Forest is contains three Tracts: Joshua Creek, Turkey Creek, and the
Clonts Tract. The CHBSF adds to other conservation lands along the St. Johns River, preserving
habitat for the bald eagle, Florida black bear, as well as rare aquatic bird and plant species and
preserving several archaeological sites.
In an effort to standardize the land management planning and reporting methods implemented by
all state land managers, the LMUAC has established eight common management goals and 32
quantitative measures that should be addressed by all management plans, where they apply to the
specific purposes and mission of each management unit. Due to the recent acquisition of the
CHBSF, specific measures and timeframes for the goals, objectives and recommended actions for
the Forest are still being developed. The Division of Forestry’s progress since acquisition towards
achieving the common goals and applicable core objectives, as well as additional State Forestspecific
objectives for the CHBSF, is described in quantitative terms on Tables 1- 8. The narrative
below details applicable outstanding accomplishments, deficiencies and corrective actions since
acquisition, as well as other important or clarifying information is provided for each of the LMUAC
management goals.
The Division of Forestry has worked to achieve various accomplishments, including posting
boundaries, installing gates, and the implementation of a prescribed burning program. Prescribed
burns have been conducted on 2,085 acres of the Forest. Forest inventory was completed on
5,600 acres in the spring of 2010. Thirty-seven miles of forest boundary maintenance and marking
has been conducted, 11 miles of fire breaks were maintained, and 7 miles of roads have been
mowed. One parking area was constructed on the Joshua Creek Tract, two entrance signs were
installed, and two bridges were built. Three acres have been treated for exotic plants and 15 hogs
have been trapped and removed from the Forest. Currently there are three cattle leases on the
CHBSF; two DOF cattle leases on the Joshua Creek Tract, and one SJRWMD cattle lease on the
Turkey Creek Tract.
Natural communities on CHBSF include mesic and wet flatwoods, marsh, and a variety of hydric
forest types. Threatened or endangered species on CHBSF include the bald eagle, American
kestrel, osprey, sandhill crane, and sand butterfly pea. Habitat for these species will be maintained
through a regular burn program. The Division of Forestry manages CHBSF under the multiple-use
concept balancing environmental, recreational and resource use needs. Recreational activities that
are planned for CHBSF in the near future are hiking, horseback riding, bird watching, and hunting.
A trailhead has already been completed on the Joshua Creek Tract. Additional trails and access
points are planned for the Forest, with multiple connector trails to public lands adjacent to CHBSF.
Hunting is allowed on the Bronson Wildlife Management Area (Joshua Creek and Turkey Creek
Tracts), with the first hunts expected in the fall of 2010. There are nine know archaeological and
historical sites on CHBSF.