Lake County Comprehensive Plan Evaluation & Appraisal Report ...

National Forest. The springs, rivers, lakes, swamps, and uplands that comprise this part of theWekiva and St Johns River basins provide an important refuge for endangered or threatenedspecies like the Florida black bear, as well as other wildlife such as the bald eagle, SwallowtailedKite, Florida Scrub Jay, and Gopher Tortoise. Prescribed fire is an essential component of landmanagement within the greenway. As envisioned, this ensemble of conservation landsprotected by public acquisition and conservation easements will provide a seamless connectionbetween Wekiwa Springs State Park, Rock Springs Run State Reserve, Lower Wekiva River StatePark, Seminole State Forest, Hontoon Island State Park, and the Ocala National Forest. It willalso provide residents and visitors with an opportunity to enjoy camping, fishing, swimming,hiking, canoeing, and other passive recreational pursuits. The statewide Florida National ScenicTrail crosses through the project. 8Over half of the total lands needed to complete the Wekiva-Ocala Greenway is now in publicownership. Although during the past two decades, significant strides have been made toacquire land for preservation within the corridor, a secure link for safe passage of bear andother wildlife is not yet in place. In order to protect the significant public investment that hasbeen made in this area, it is important that remaining private land within and around theproject maintain very low rural densities and intensities, and that future development requireclustering to protect contiguous corridors of permanently protected open space.Emeralda MarshEmeralda Marsh, located between Lake Griffin and Lake Yale, is considered one of the mostprized conservation areas in Central Florida for bird watching and is federally recognized as aNational Natural Landmark. The protected part of the marsh, known as the Emeralda MarshConservation Area, occupies about 7,000 acres.In the 1940s, the marsh lands east of Lake Griffin were drained and converted to agriculturalfields and cattle pastures. With community support, however, the St Johns River WaterManagement District purchased seven parcels between 1991 and 1993 that now comprise theconservation area. Restoration began when a wetland treatment marsh was established over1,500 acres of former agricultural fields bordering Lake Griffin and Haynes Creek. Known for itsvarying habitats, what separates the conservation area from other preserves is its 4.3 milewildlife drive. Built atop dikes in the treatment marsh, the drive provides ideal access to theinterior of wetland habitats for bird watching.Nestled within the Harris Chain of Lakes, Emeralda Marsh is a contributing headwater to theOcklawaha River, and through a landscape of the wetlands and agricultural property, includingthe Fly’n R Ranch which is protected by conservation easement, connects northward to theOcala National Forest. Protection of rural land and open space will contribute to ecologicintegrity of the marsh. 98 http://www.dep.state.fl.us/lands/FFAnnual/B_WekivaOcalaGreenway.pdf9 http://www.lakecountyfl.gov/bird_watching/emeralda_marsh.aspx2008 Evaluation and Appraisal Report – Lake County, FloridaSeptember 23, 2008 19