complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Unit Name: Box-R Wildlife Management Area
Acres: 10,417 Managing
Agency:
FWC
Current Management Plan
Approved:
399
4/21/2006
Narrative:
The management plan for this area was approved prior to July, 2008, and does not contain the
eight common management goals and associated quantitative measures that are now required to
be addressed by all management plans. Our progress, during the last two years toward achieving
the common goals and applicable core objectives are described in the narrative below and in
quantitative terms in the tables. Where applicable, this narrative lists outstanding
accomplishments, identifies any deficiencies and corrective actions, and provides other important
or clarifying information for each of the required management goals.
The land was acquired from timber companies who managed the accessible uplands for industrial
pine pulpwood production. Common management practices included clearcutting, root raking, row
planting of offsite pine species, bedding, ditching, road construction, and fire suppression. The
resulting changes have negatively affected every aspect of the landscape.
Current management activities are designed to restore the form and function of this area to a more
natural state. This includes restoring native vegetation from ground cover to overstory, restoring
natural hydrology regimes, documenting and promoting threatened and endangered species,
restoring fire as a management tool, and managing invasive exotic species.
Through the Objective Based Vegetation Management (OBVM) Workshop process, management
units were delineated and desired future conditions for vegetation were defined for actively
managed communities. Historically, Box-R contained 3,858 acres of mesic and wet flatwoods
(3,382 and 476 acres respectively).
The reintroduction of fire to Box-R is critical to the restoration process. Past fire suppression has
led to extremely heavy fuel loads and very tall dense woody shrub under and mid stories. To date,
at least one prescribed burn has been conducted on approximately 5,103 acres. Much of this
acreage has been burned twice.
A timber inventory of Box-R was completed in FY 2008-09. In FY 2009-10, a comprehensive
timber management plan was written. The intent of this plan is to guide upland restoration efforts
on Box-R WMA by planning timber and replanting regimes that will ultimately result in replacement
of offsite pine species. This plan will be implemented beginning in FY 2010-11.
An assessment of rare and invasive exotic plants was conducted on Box-R from October 2006 to
July 2007 for populations of federal and state listed rare plants. Ten rare plant species were found
during the survey. Eight exotic plant species listed as invasive by the Florida Invasive Pest Plant
Council (2005) were observed on Box-R WMA.
A Hydrology Assessment and Restoration Plan were completed in 2006. This plan describes current
conditions and recommends actions to restore natural hydrology regimes. Restoration efforts are
ongoing.