complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Unit Name: Watson Island State Forest
Acres: 505.58 Managing Agency: FDACS-DOF
Narrative:
Current Management Plan
Approved:
388
7/20/2010
The Watson Island State Forest (WISF) is comprised of 506 acres. WISF is made up of two noncontiguous
parcels in west central St. Johns County. The 276-acre Watson Island Tract, located
along one mile of the St. Johns River, was donated to the State of Florida in 1976 through a special
warranty deed. The Warner Tract, a few miles to the east, was purchased in 2005 through Florida
Forever funding as part of the St Johns River Blueway project for purposes of protecting the
shoreline and tributaries of this major Florida River. Due to the remote location of both tracts, the
presence of only old logging trails, and generally wet conditions, public access is limited currently
to boats coming off the river and/or hiking in from nearby highways. Plans for a small public
parking area and short nature trail on the Warner Tract are nearing completion. Several listed
species have been identified near the forest however only the bald eagle has been identified
actually on the forest with an active nest on the Watson Island Tract last observed in 2008.
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 WISF since the 2010 approval of the management plan is
described in the narrative below and in quantitative terms on Tables 1- 8. Where applicable,
outstanding accomplishments, deficiencies and corrective actions, and other important or clarifying
information is provided for each of the LMUAC management goals.
Prescribed burning on WISF enhances the habitat of native fauna and flora living on the forest.
WISF has established goals to enhance burning accomplishments and increase the amount of wet
and mesic flatwoods habitat that is brought into a fire maintenance condition. WISF staff has
reduced fuel levels on nearly 60 acres of slash pine flatwoods through recent roller chopping, which
was necessary before reintroducing fire to this fire suppressed community. Twenty-five acres of
this treatment area has since been burned.
The Division of Forestry manages this State Forest under the multiple-use concept balancing
environmental, recreational and resource use needs. Additional work is needed to assess old
logging roads and any ditches that are impacting negatively wetland hydroperiods, ecotones - to
determine the appropriate approach to restoration. Timber management practices on WISF are
important in the restoration and maintenance of forest ecosystems and provide a variety of
socioeconomic benefits to Floridians. WISF staff completed an intensive forest inventory of nearly
120 acres on the Warner Tract in 2008. While it is unlikely, due to poor access, that timber
harvesting will occur on the Watson Island Tract, the Warner Tract has both planted and naturally
regenerated pine stands that will require silvicultural management in the future.
Invasive plants discovered on WISF include wild taro along the shore and forest border of the St.
Johns River. Other than presence of a small population of lantana, it is the infestation of cogon
grass on properties and rights-of way adjacent to the Warner Tract that is of concern. Accordingly,
WISF staff has treated patch occurrences of cogon grass identified on these adjacent properties, as
well as along the roadsides of County Road 13A – hopefully reducing the threat to the Forest.