complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Unit Name: Yellow River Wildlife Management Area - Escribano Point
Acres: 1,296
Managing
Agency:
FWC
Current Management Plan
Approved:
433
2/16/2007
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.
Escribano Point Unit of Yellow River Wildlife Management Area was purchased by the State of
Florida under the Florida Forever Program (Chapter 259.105, F.S.) as part of the Escribano Point
Florida Forever Acquisition Project. The project itself comprises 2,914 acres, with 1,753 acres
remaining to be acquired. Among this acreage remaining to be purchased is the showcase parcels
surrounding the actual Escribano Point itself as well as the majority of shoreline. This land
acquisition project is distributed over a north-south distance of approximately 7 miles and over an
east-west distance of approximately 4 miles extending to the mouth of the Yellow River.
Subsequently, the complete purchase of this project would provide recreational opportunities and
natural resource protection for 10.4 miles of shoreline along East Bay and Blackwater Bay. The
project has potential to provide a varied recreation experience by offering opportunities such as
saltwater swimming, bicycling, picnicking, camping, saltwater & freshwater fishing, hiking, hunting,
nature appreciation and natural resource education.
As presently with inland parcels landlocked, access is through Eglin Air Force Base, access itself is a
limiting factor. The N/A notations found in the Public Access and Recreational Opportunities Table
is due to the fact that quantification of visitors and use is very limited due to the fragmented
nature of the purchase to date and limited access availability. Moreover, facilities development and
maintenance is not prudent due to the disjunct nature of the parcels owned to date. It is expected
that as the remaining parcels are purchased in the future, that recreational opportunities would
increase and improve considerably. Continuing along this same reasoning, Capital Facilities and
Infrastructure have been constrained too little economical practicality or feasibility at this time.
Conditions affecting intensity of management, not just recreationally, but restoration and
maintenance of ecosystem functions have been the disjunct/fragmented nature of the parcels as
well. Cooperative prescribed burns with adjacent government landowners—Northwest Florida
Water Management District and Eglin Air Force Base should improve the integrity of the ecosystem
to some extent. Still the unwillingness on behalf of private landowner neighbors to cooperate has
made the use of prescribed fire on much of the Unit tenuous at best.