complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Unit Name: Lake Talquin State Forest
Acres: 19,346.76 Managing Agency: FDACS-DOF
Current Management Plan
Approved:
372
12/19/2000
Narrative:
Lake Talquin State Forest (LTSF) is comprised of 19,347 acres in Leon, Gadsden, Liberty and
Wakulla counties. The presence of the Ochlockonee River and Lake Talquin give this Forest the
distinction of having two Outstanding Florida Waters. The majority of the Forest is adjacent to
Lake Talquin, and the 595 acre Searcy Tract in Wakulla County is located 9 miles south of Bloxham
on the Ochlockonee River. In 1977, the Florida Power Corporation donated 13,553 acres to the
State of Florida. Subsequent additions include 5,240 acres of land purchased with Preservation
2000 & Florida Forever funds; the 492 acre Bear Creek Tract which was purchased via the Land
Acquisition Trust Fund; and the 62 acre Wainwright Tract which was acquired through mitigation.
Prior to state ownership, much of LTSF’s timber was removed under a long-term timber contract.
Native ground cover species and natural stands of longleaf pine are largely absent. Restoration of
these communities will be one of the focal points of management. In the last two years, 224,000
longleaf pines were planted on LTSF. Since taking over management, the Division of Forestry has
managed for reforestation, ecosystem restoration, and outdoor recreation. Portions of the property
have been subleased to the Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of America, Talquin Electric and the
Leon County Parks and Recreation Department.
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 LTSF, is described in quantitative terms on Tables 1- 8. The
management plan for LTSF 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 Division of Forestry manages LTSF under the multiple-use concept balancing environmental,
recreational and resource use needs. Hiking, camping, horseback riding, biking, picnicking, birding
and nature study can be enjoyed using existing service roads, old road beds and established trails.
Canoes, kayaks and power boats are allowed. Located within the LTSF, Bear Creek Educational
Forest offers free guided programs where students will learn from activities correlated to Florida’s
Sunshine State Standards. In the last two years, 79 school programs were held on LTSF.
Natural communities on the Forest include upland pine forest, sandhill, upland hardwood forest,
floodplain forest and swamp, slope and ravine forest communities and mesic flatwoods. Species
found on LTSF include the red-shouldered hawk, bobcat, osprey, white-tailed deer, fox squirrel,
turkey, and mourning dove. Species of special concern, such as bald eagles and gopher tortoise,
can also be found on the Forest. Prescribed burning is an important management tool and is used
on portions of the forest in a 3 to 5 year rotation.