complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Unit Name: Goethe State Forest
Acres: 53,587.02 Managing Agency: FDACS-DOF
Current Management Plan
Approved:
366
8/21/2000
Narrative:
The Goethe State Forest (GSF) is comprised of approximately 53,000 acres of forests, rivers and
lakes. It is named for Mr. J.T. Goethe, from whom most of the land was purchased under Florida's
C.A.R.L. Program in 1992 for purposes of conserving and protecting quickly disappearing native
flatwoods ecosystems and their flora and fauna and to provide areas for natural resource-based,
public recreation. A smaller area of GSF, the Watermelon Pond unit (acquired in 1997), is separate
from the main tract and is located in both Levy and Alachua Counties. It is largely composed of
sandhill and scrub habitat, much of which requires regular burning and hardwood control in order
to enhance the native groundcover. Natural communities on GSF include scrubby flatwoods, dome
swamp, sandhill, and basin swamp. This extensive old-growth forest has one of the largest redcockaded
woodpecker (RCW) populations on state lands in Florida. Other rare animal species
found on the forest include the Florida black bear, gopher tortoise, Sherman's fox squirrel and bald
eagle. Rare plants include the hooded pitcher plant and coontie. Recreation opportunities abound
with an extensive system of equestrian and hiking trails, overnight camping (by permit), hunting
(Goethe WMA), fishing and picnicking 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. The Division of Forestry’s progress
towards achieving the common goals and applicable core objectives, as well as additional State
Forest-specific objectives for the GSF is described in quantitative terms on Tables 1- 8. The
management plan for GSF was approved prior to July 2008, and does not contain specific measures
and timeframes for the goals, objectives and recommended actions. In the narrative below, the
last two years of applicable outstanding accomplishments, deficiencies and corrective actions, and
other important or clarifying information is provided for each of the LMUAC management goals.
The prescribed burn program on GSF enhances the habitat of native fauna and flora on the forest.
Approximately 500 acres of overgrown sandhill/scrub habitat received mechanical treatment; as
well as over 150 acres of sandhill were replanted in longleaf pine over the past two years. The
Division of Forestry manages the Forest under the multiple-use concept balancing environmental,
recreational and resource use needs. Timber management practices on GSF are important in the
restoration and maintenance of forest ecosystems and provide a variety of socioeconomic benefits
to Floridians. GSF staff has removed 80 acres of off-site slash pine, and replanted with longleaf
pines. Ongoing efforts continue to monitor and/or treat approximately 70 acres of GSF that is
infested with cogon grass, natal grass, and camphor. During the past two years, a new visitor
pavilion was completed at the Tidewater Trailhead, a new trailhead with parking & kiosk and seven
miles of trail were all constructed at Watermelon Pond and a boardwalk and overlook was
completed at Buck Island Pond. There are 106 archaeological and historical sites known to occur on
GSF and that are listed on the DHR site files.
Through a very active program of monitoring, artificial cavity inserts, habitat improvement
(burning), GFC has successfully increased the RCW population and the number of breeding pairs.