complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Unit Name: Indian Lake State Forest
Acres: 4,462.09 Managing Agency: FDACS-DOF
Current Management Plan
Approved:
368
New Acquisition
Narrative:
Indian Lake State Forest (ILSF) is comprised of over 4,400 acres in Marion County. The property
was acquired in 2007 and 2008 by the State with the assistance from The Nature Conservancy and
Marion County. Natural community types found on the forest include sandhill, sinkholes,
depression marshes, and mesic flatwoods. The string of “hat-rack” cypress growing between
Indian Lake Prairie and Indian Lake is a stirring reminder of old Florida. Relatively intact, rolling
sandhill on a sinkhole rich, karst topography, dominates the property. Much of the historical
sandhill, however, has been converted to till agriculture or improved pasture. One of the major
goals of the Florida Forever purchase was to restore these altered areas and eliminate any adverse
impacts these alterations might have upon the Silver Springs system for water flow and water
quality. In addition, a focus of management will be to design and implement a balanced program
of public access that includes recreational opportunities such as day use and picnicking areas,
interpretive kiosks, hiking and equestrian trails and primitive campsites. Currently only pedestrian
access is allowed; however, group events can be arranged by permit through the field office in
Ocala. No hunting is permitted at this time. Seven imperiled animals are documented currently as
occurring on the forest, including Florida black bear, Sherman’s fox squirrel, gopher tortoise,
Southeastern American kestrel, and bald eagle.
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 ILSF,
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 ILSF are 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 prescribed fire program on ILSF will enhance the habitat of native fauna and flora. Staff has
burned over 1,100 acres of old fields and sandhill, and of this total, nearly 500 acres was
accomplished during the growing season.
The Division of Forestry manages the Forest under the multiple-use concept balancing
environmental, recreational and resource use needs. Picnicking, hiking and equestrian trails,
nature trails, bicycling, primitive camping and limited hunting are potential uses being evaluated.
Staff have reforested approximately 260 acres, and completed over 525 acres of forest inventory.
Efforts continue to monitor and/or treat nearly 100 acres impacted with non-native, invasive
plants. The initial treatment focus has been to locate and treat cogon grass. In the past two
years, nearly 50 acres have received an initial treatment. Also treated has been a population of
Japanese climbing fern and Chinaberry.
DOF staff has replaced six old entrance gates. Boundary and highway fence removal and/or
replacement have been initiated along Baseline Road. There are currently thirteen DHR-recorded
archaeological and cultural sites known to occur within the boundary of ILSF.