complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Unit Name: Twin Rivers State Forest
Acres: 14,881.97 Managing Agency: FDACS-DOF
Current Management Plan
Approved:
386
3/21/2005
Narrative:
The Twin Rivers State Forest (TRSF) is comprised of 14 noncontiguous tracts, and totals
approximately 14,882 acres in size. These lands were purchased with funds from the Save Our
Rivers (SOR) program, created by the Florida State Legislature in 1981, the Preservation 2000
program, established in 1990 by the Florida State Legislature, and the C.A.R.L. program.
Historically, the junction of the Withlacoochee and Suwannee Rivers was an important point of
commerce. In the 1800's, both rivers were used as major commercial routes, steamboats were a
common sight as they carried passengers, freight and mail on the rivers. Today, the majority of the
forest lies within the 100-year floodplain of the Withlacoochee and Suwannee Rivers. In 1995, the
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Forestry, was given lead
management responsibility for TRSF, under a special lease agreement with the Suwannee River
Water Management District.
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 TRSF, is described in quantitative terms on Tables 1- 8. The
management plan for TRSF 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.
Natural communities within the TRSF include sandhills, floodplain, swamp and sinkhole
communities. In addition, clear running springs are located on the Anderson Springs and Pott
Springs Tracts. Wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, bobcat, otter, beaver, alligator
and wild turkey are frequently seen on TRSF. The Division of Forestry manages TRSF under the
multiple-use concept balancing environmental, recreational and resource use needs. Each of the
tracts on TRSF offer many recreational opportunities which include: nature study, picnicking,
hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, canoeing and fishing. Twin Rivers State Forest contains 2 hiking
trails (Ellaville and Anderson Springs) that are included in the Florida Division of Forestry's
Trailwalker Hiking Program. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has designated
several tracts as a Type I Wildlife Management Areas for hunting. Full facility camping is not
available on the forest; however, a few primitive camp areas are located along multiple-use trails.
Permits are required for special or group recreational activities and can be obtained from the TRSF
office at no charge. A forest inventory was completed in the spring of 2010.