A Plan for the Use and Managementof the

Lake Manatee Reserve

October 26, 2004

Southwest Florida Water Management DistrictBrooksville, Florida

330638A Plan for the Use and Management of the LakeManatee ReserveDepartment: 0305005 Title Code: 215.1RP5573

A Plan for the Use and Managementof the

Lake Manatee Reserve

October 26, 2004

Southwest Florida Water Management DistrictBrooksville, Florida

If a disabled individual wishes to obtain the information contained in thisdocument in another form, please contact Cheryl Hill at 1-800-423-1476,extension 4452; TDD ONLY 1-800-231-6103; FAX (352)754-6877.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................................ii

LIST OF FIGURES ..........................................................................................................iv

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................ v

INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1

Property Attributes ................................................................................................ 1Land Cover ........................................................................................................ 3

Wetlands .................................................................................................... 3Uplands ...................................................................................................... 7

Areas of Responsibility ......................................................................................... 8Water Supply Protection ............................................................................ 8Water Quality Protection ............................................................................ 8Flood Protection ......................................................................................... 9Natural Systems Protection ..................................................................... 10

CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN ............................................................................... 12

Land Use ............................................................................................................ 12Recreation ............................................................................................... 12Public Access .......................................................................................... 14

Wet Crossings ............................................................................... 15Creation of New Trails ................................................................... 16

Multiple Use Potential .............................................................................. 16Utilities and Other Public Facilities ........................................................... 17Security .................................................................................................... 18

Special Protection Areas .................................................................................... 18Monitoring Stations .................................................................................. 19Scrub-Jay Management Zones ................................................................ 19Active Burrowing Owl Habitat .................................................................. 20Wetland Mitigation Site ............................................................................ 21Habitat Restoration Sites ......................................................................... 21Archaeological Sites ................................................................................ 21

Land Management .............................................................................................. 22Prescribed Fire ........................................................................................ 22Habitat Restoration .................................................................................. 23Control of Exotic Species ......................................................................... 24

Plants ............................................................................................ 24Animals ......................................................................................... 25

Preparation of a Mosquito Control Plan ................................................... 25Projected Cost of Management ............................................................... 26

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ADMINISTRATION ....................................................................................................... 27

REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 29

APPENDIX A ................................................................................................................ 31

ni

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

1 Location of the Lake Manatee Reserve ................................................................ 2

2 Hot Spots of Biological Resources at the Lake Manatee Reserve ........................ 4

3 Vegetation Map for the Lake Manatee Reserve and Vicinity ................................ 5

4 Flood Prone Areas in the Lake Manatee Reserve and Vicinity ........................... 11

5 Conceptual Land Use Plan for the Lake Manatee Reserve ................................ 13

iv

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The 7,932-acre Lake Manatee Reserve(Reserve), known formerly as the LakeManatee Lower Watershed Project, islocated in central Manatee Countyapproximately 10 miles east of the Cityof Bradenton. The Reserve lands wereacquired by the District for the primarypurpose of protecting the watershed ofthe Lake Manatee Reservoir, whichserves as a major source of potablewater for the residents of Manatee andSarasota Counties. This plan isdesigned to guide the recreational usesand resource management activities onthe Reserve in a manner that strikes abalance between both goals. TheReserve has been designated anurban-fringe parkland based on itsproximity to the expanding suburbs ofunincorporated Manatee County and theCity of Bradenton.

Recreational uses accommodated onthe Reserve will include hiking,horseback riding, primitive camping,picnicking, birding, and other forms ofnature study. Compatiblerevenue-generating multiple uses,including cattle grazing and timbermanagement, will also be implementedon the Reserve. The Reserve's GilleyCreek North management unit has beenpopular among equestrian users sincethe property was initially acquired, and itis proposed that the smaller and morehighly altered Gilley Creek Southmanagement unit be dedicated to arevenue-generating cattle lease. Thevarious uses proposed for the Reservewill be divided among three disjunctmanagement units based onsite-specific resources andcharacteristics. The District will alsoexplore opportunities to partner with

Manatee County in the management ofrecreational use and will work with otherpotential partners to make the Reserveavailable for environmental education.

Water management benefits associatedwith the Reserve include water supplyprotection, water quality protection, andflood protection. The Reserve's naturalsystems values will also be protectedthrough the public's ownership of theproperty.

Special Protection Areas (SPAs)designated for the Lake ManateeReserve include active Florida scrub-jayand burrowing owl habitat; severalhabitat restoration sites; archaeologicalsites; and resource monitoring sites.Protection of these areas will takeprecedence over other land use andmanagement considerations.

Major management needs includecontinued implementation of aprescribed burning program, restorationof altered wetlands, habitat restorationover approximately 530 acres of altereduplands, and the management andmonitoring of resident wildlife tomaintain or enhance existing levels ofbiodiversity. Ongoing efforts to controlinvasive species, and to accommodatecompatible recreational usage by thepublic, will also continue.

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INTRODUCTION

The Lake Manatee Reserve (Reserve)is comprised of three disjunct parcelslocated in central Manatee County(Figure 1). The three parcels, treatedas separate management units in thisplan, are the Gilley Creek North Unit(Gilley Creek North), the Gilley CreekSouth Unit (Gilley Creek South), and theCoker Prairie Unit (Coker Prairie).Collectively, these parcels account for atotal land area of approximately 7,932acres. All contribute surface flow to theManatee River, and ultimately to theLake Manatee Reservoir (Reservoir).The Reservoir serves as the primarysource of water for unincorporatedManatee County and a portion ofSarasota County. Protection of thiswater supply source was the primaryrationale for the District's acquisition ofthe property.

Gilley Creek North, at approximately4,700 acres, is the largest of the threeparcels. It encompasses much of theGilley Creek sub-basin and protectsmost of its shoreline. Gilley Creek is amajor tributary to the Manatee River anddischarges directly to the Reservoir(Figure 1) shortly after it exits the parcel.Gilley Creek South is approximately1,100 acres in size. It protects a portionof the south branch of Gilley Creek nearits confluence with the main stem of thecreek.

Coker Prairie is located about five milessoutheast of the Gilley Creek units andis approximately 2,150 acres in size. Itcontrasts with the Gilley Creek units,which have been subjected toconsiderable alteration to supportagricultural land uses, by beingcomprised almost entirely of lands that

remain in a natural state. Coker Prairiestraddles the watershed divide and isdivided about equally between theManatee River Watershed and theMyakka River Watershed (Figure 1).

This plan is designed to guide therecreational uses and resourcemanagement activities on the Reserve.It was developed in accordance withDistrict Policy 610-3, District Procedure61-3, and other pertinent mandates andguidelines for the management ofDistrict lands and the preparation of site-specific management plans. TheReserve has been designated anurban-fringe parkland based on itsproximity to the expanding suburbs ofunincorporated Manatee County and theCity of Bradenton.

Property Attributes

The Manatee River watershedencompasses a total land area of 345square miles (220,800 acres); however,only the uppermost 129 square miles(82,240 acres), or just 37 percent of theentire watershed, drains into the LakeManatee Reservoir (SWFWMD, 2001).District ownership of the Reserveproperty ensures that a portion of thecontributing area to the Reservoir will beprotected from alteration and land usesthat could potentially degrade waterquality in this important source of publicwater supply.

The Gilley Creek North and South Unitsare especially critical to achieving thisobjective given their location along thedownstream end of the Gilley Creektributary system (Figure 1). Waterquality analyses conducted by ManateeCounty have demonstrated

1

Watershed BoundaryLake Manatee Reserve

Other Conservation Lands

Gilley Creek ) Duette ParkSouth Unit

1 0.s o

Proposed for District Acquisition

Manatee County Water Treatment PlantA

2 Miles

Figure 1. Location of the Lake Manatee Reserve Property.

2

that nutrient enrichment arising fromagricultural land uses in the Reservoirsub-basin is the primary threat to waterquality in the Reservoir.

Protection of the Reserve alsopreserves significant wildlife habitat.The Coker Prairie Unit remains in anessentially natural condition andsupports significant stands of rareFlorida scrub vegetation. The GilleyCreek Units, though altered to a greaterdegree than Coker Prairie, also containremnant stands of natural vegetation.The threatened Florida scrub-jay ispresent on the Reserve and GilleyCreek North supports a small colony ofthe Florida Burrowing Owl. The FloridaFish and Wildlife ConservationCommission (FFWCC) delineated "hotspots" of biological resources in Floridaby identifying areas that provide habitatsuitable for an array of native species(Cox et al., 1994). Figure 2 delineatesthe "hot spots" identified for the Reserveand the area surrounding it, andprovides a relative measure of theReserve's wildlife value. This valuevaries considerably among theindividual management units; however,the regional significance of the Reserveas a haven for wildlife will probablyincrease over time as developmentencroaches from the west. Much of thevaluable habitat identified on landssurrounding the Reserve has beenconverted to row crops and otheragricultural usage since the FFWCCstudy was conducted.

Maintaining a natural connection withthe county-owned Duette Park (Figure1) through additional land acquisitionwithin the approved project area wouldincrease the Reserve's long-term habitat

value and the viability of local wildlifepopulations. The public's recreationaluse and enjoyment of the Reservewould also be enhanced throughprotection of a "greenway" linkagebetween these natural areas. Anongoing effort by Manatee County tocreate a countywide network ofgreenways and recreational trails hasresulted in delineation of a conceptualgreenway network (Manatee CountyCitizens Trail Committee, 2002).Purchase of the unacquired portions ofthe project area would further ManateeCounty's greenway preservation effortwhile achieving the multiple waterresource and natural system protectionbenefits discussed above.

Land Cover

The following discussion provides a briefdescription of the natural vegetation andother land cover types present on theReserve. Figure 3 delineates the extentand configuration of each naturalcommunity type.

Wetlands

Wetlands account for a total land area ofapproximately 1,360 acres, or 17percent of the Reserve. These include815 acres of floodplain swamp and 550acres of freshwater marsh. Thedistribution of wetlands among the threedisjunct management units thatcomprise the Reserve is not uniform;about 60 percent of the wetland landarea is concentrated into the 2,150-acreCoker Prairie Unit, which accounts forlittle more than 25 percent of entireReserve land area.

3

Gilley Creek North Unit

Gilley CreekSouth Unit

Coker Prairie Unit

A 0 0.5 1 2 Miles

Lake Manatee Reserve Property

Other Conservation Lands

3-4 Focal Species

5-6 Focal Species

7 + Focal Species

Figure 2. Hot Spots of Biological Resources at the Lake Manatee Reserveand Vicinity. Based on data provided by the Florida Fish and WildlifeConservation Commission.

Categories of Biodiversity Hot Spots

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Pine F latwoods

Hardwood Hammock

Oak Scrub

Xeric HammockOpen Water

Floodplain Swamp

Freshwater Marsh

Row Crops (tomatoes)Cropland and Pastureland

Citrus

Residential

Other Developed Land

I

I

A

0 1 2 4 Miles

Figure 3. Vegetation Map for the Lake Manatee Reserve and Vicinity.

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The floodplain swamp vegetation isclosely associated with the watercourses that cross the Reserve: GilleyCreek, Coker Creek, and Webb Branch.These forested wetlands are dominatedby hardwood species that can tolerateannual flooding of short duration. Thereis evidence of abnormal stress andmortality among the trees in thefloodplain swamp of the Coker PrairieUnit (PBS&J, 1999) and in a portion ofthe swamp that lines Gilley Creek in theGilley Creek North Unit. The stress andmortality resemble that observed in theZone of Potentially Abnormal Mortalityand Stress (ZPAMS) in the District'sFlatford Swamp Preserve property tothe south.

In 1998, in response to the stress andmortality documented in Flatford Swampcanopy, the District initiated aninvestigation into the cause of theabnormal tree die-off. The investigationconcluded that a protracted increase indry-season water levels was the causeof the die-off (Coastal Environmental,1998). Seepage from surroundingagricultural lands was identified as theprimary source of excessive dry-seasonwater levels in the swamp. Asubsequent study that expanded thegeographic scope of the investigationnoted the appearance of abnormal treemortality in Coker Prairie's forestedwetlands as early as 1995. By 1998,the ZPAMS had expanded toencompass virtually the entire floodplainswamp of the Coker Prairie Unit of theReserve (PBS&J, 1999).

A narrow strand of floodplain swamplining Gilley Creek in Gilley Creek Northalso appears to be exhibiting abnormaltree mortality. The area, which isapproximately 8 acres in size, has not

been the subject of a formalinvestigation to confirm the abnormalmortality or to ascertain its cause. Therestoration of a natural canopy to theseaffected wetland systems is one of theprimary resource managementobjectives for the Reserve. Please referto the discussion of habitat restorationon page 23 for a more detailedtreatment of this issue.

Most of the freshwater marsh isconcentrated in the Coker Prairie Unitand is associated with the Coker Prairiewetland system, which serves as theheadwaters of both Coker Creek andWebb Branch. The other occurrencesof freshwater marsh are small, isolatedsystems scattered through the uplandportions of all three units of the Reserve.

An important ecological distinctionbetween the large marshes in CokerPrairie and the smaller, isolateddepression marshes occurringelsewhere on the Reserve, is thegreater likelihood of the latter to dry upon a seasonal basis. Such ephemeralwetlands provide critically importanthabitat for many amphibian speciesbecause they are free of fish and otheraquatic predators that make it difficultfor such species to reproducesuccessfully. These isolated marsheshave probably burned regularly throughexposure to fires that erupted inadjoining upland areas. It has beenestimated that fires would occurnaturally in marsh systems at afrequency of once every 1-5 years(FNAI and DNR, 1990). Fire in marshhabitats helps to maintain apreponderance of herbaceousvegetation by precluding theestablishment of woody shrubs andtrees. Continued exposure to fire

6

through the District's prescribed burningprogram will be essential to maintainingthe depression marshes and theircontribution to the habitat values andheterogeneity of the Reserve'slandscape.

Uplands

Over 80 percent of the Reserve propertysupports upland vegetation consistingprimarily of pine flatwoods, oak scrub,and mesic hammock communities.Aerial photography suggests that by1950 a sizable portion of the Reservehad been converted to improvedpasture. During the 1980s, much of thepasture was converted again for thecultivation of citrus and row crops. Theunaltered uplands were used as nativerange to support cattle grazing.Subsequent to acquisition by theDistrict, agricultural land uses ceased onthe property and much of the improvedagricultural land has since lain fallow.These areas, totaling approximately1,470 acres (18 percent of the Reserve),are distinguished as pastureland inFigure 3.

The natural uplands are dominated bypine flatwoods (Figure 3), which accountfor approximately 3,800 acres, or nearlyhalf of the Reserve land area. Thehistoric harvest of pines by previouslandowners is still apparent due to asparse overstory dominated by relativelyyoung pines. Ongoing Districtmanagement will allow the flatwoods tocontinue recovery from this historic landuse and thereby enhance the wildlifehabitat values of the Reserve.

The District's resource managementapproach will also benefit the Reserve's400 acres of xeric vegetation. Oak

scrub (300 acres total) and xerichammock (100 acres total) are patchy indistribution, with the vast majorityoccurring on the Coker Prairie Unit. Thexeric hammocks represent an advancedstage of oak scrub that has developeddue to suppression of fire. Some of thestands identified as xeric hammockhave a dense overstory of sand pinethat also reflects a history of firesuppression. These areas are moreaccurately referred to as sand pinescrub, but are difficult to map at thisscale and have been lumped into thexeric hammock category. As with thepine flatwoods, the District's prescribedburning program has been tailored tomimic the natural occurrence of fire andwill progressively restore a more naturalcondition to these areas and enhancehabitat value. Recent observationssuggest scrub-jay numbers may beincreasing at Coker Prairie (WillVanGelder, pers. comm.), and thepresence of this threatened species hasalso been confirmed by occasionalsightings at Gilley Creek North.

The Gilley Creek North and Gilley CreekSouth management units wereevaluated to identify pastures that couldbe leased for environmentallycompatible cattle grazing. Theevaluation considered a range of issues,and the grazing lease that wassubsequently executed was designed tominimize impacts to both theenvironment and future recreationalusage of the Reserve. An area offormer pasture at Gilley Creek North hasbeen planted with native pines anddesignated a Timber Management Zonewhere the District will cultivate the pinesfor future harvest and revenuegeneration. Consistent withlongstanding District policy, these

7

revenue-generating uses will be focusedprimarily in those previously alteredareas identified as pastureland in Figure3. Please refer to page 17 for a detaileddiscussion of revenue-generatingmultiple uses that may be implementedon the Reserve. An area located in thenortheast corner of Gilley Creek Norththat formerly supported row crops will berestored to natural vegetation as part ofan ongoing habitat restoration project.

Areas of Responsibility

The acquisition of land important to themanagement of water resources is animportant element in the District's effortto meet its four primary Areas ofResponsibility (AORs). These AORsare flood protection, water supply, waterquality, and natural systems protection.The Reserve's contribution to meetingthese responsibilities is discussed indetail below. The primary watermanagement benefit associated withDistrict ownership of the property iswater supply protection.

Water Supply Protection

Most residents of Manatee Countyderive their potable water from theManatee County Water PurificationPlant located on the southwestern shoreof the Lake Manatee Reservoir (Figure1). The Water Purification Plant has amaximum treatment capacity of 84million gallons per day (gpd) and treatsan average of 42 mgd. The treatedwater is a combination of surface waterwithdrawn from the Reservoir andgroundwater withdrawn from a series ofwells located on the County-ownedDuette Park property. Approximately67 percent of the water comes from theReservoir, which was formed by the

construction of a dam across theManatee River from 1965 to1967.

Gilley Creek discharges directly into theReservoir and is the primary tributary tothe upper Manatee River above thedam. The Gilley Creek North and Southmanagement units comprise a largeportion of the Gilley Creek sub-basin,including the creek's southern branch.The Coker Prairie Unit directs outflowvia Webb Branch into the upperManatee River. It also protects a smallportion of the neighboring Little FortCrawford Creek sub-basin.

Protection of the Reservoir's contributingsub-basins, and the resulting protectionthis confers to Manatee County's mostimportant water supply source, was theprimary rationale for District acquisitionof the Reserve. The managementapproach employed on these lands isdesigned to maintain the Reserve'svaluable contribution to the District'swater supply mission.

Water Quality Protection

The protection of water quality in GilleyCreek and Webb Branch is an importantelement of the District's goal to maintainthe water supply value of the Reserve.All the Manatee River tributariesupstream of the Reservoir have beendesignated Class I waterbodies by theState of Florida based on their use as asource of potable water (Chapter62-302.400, F.A.C.). Protecting waterquality in the Reservoir is asfundamental to protecting its watersupply values as is maintaining theinflow of water.

In 1998, the United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency

8

(USEPA) included Gilley Creek in thelist of impaired water bodies preparedas a requirement of Section 303-(d) ofthe Clean Water Act. Coliform, nutrientsand dissolved oxygen were listed as theparameters of concern and nutrientlevels in the Reservoir had occasionallytested high due to nitrogen content.However, data collected from 1990through the present suggest thatnutrient levels have declined, whilecoliform and minerals have increasedand dissolved oxygen levels aresometimes low (Mark Simpson,Manatee County Water Plant, pers.comm.). The mineralization has beenattributed to increases in the use ofgroundwater to irrigate agricultural landsin the upper watershed.

District protection of the Reserve willhelp to maintain water quality in theReservoir. The period of decline innutrient levels coincides with the periodof District ownership, although a directlink to the changes in on-site land usethat have occurred since the Districtacquired the property has not beendocumented. Natural treatment ofsurface water draining from neighboringfarm fields and other up-gradientagricultural lands through the Reserve'swetlands will also assist in themaintenance of water quality.

The USEPA's 2004 "303-(d)" Master Listpoints to the need for additionalmonitoring to track water qualityconditions in the Reservoir and most ofits tributary streams. These includeGilley Creek, which has been placed onthe Planning List for continuedmonitoring. Despite occasional water

quality problems, the FloridaDepartment of Environmental Protectionreports that water quality in Gilley Creekcomplies with Federal Clean DrinkingWater Act and Florida Safe DrinkingWater Act standards. Manatee Countywill continue to monitor water qualityconditions rigorously in association withits use of the Reservoir as source ofpotable water. Some of the County'smonitoring stations are located on theReserve, or must be accessed bycrossing the property. The District willcoordinate with the County to ensurethey enjoy unimpeded access to thesemonitoring sites.

Management Actions:

¢ Ensure that Manatee Countycontinues to have unimpededaccess to the water qualitymonitoring stations located on,or accessed through, theReserve property.

Flood Protection

Flood protection depended historicallyupon a structural approach to providefor the storage and controlledconveyance of floodwater. Anon-structural approach has since beenadopted as the more environmentallybenign, cost-effective strategy in areaswhere such an approach is feasible.The District's primary flood protectionstrategy depends upon identifying andpreserving natural floodplains and otherland that can serve as storage areas forstorm-generated floodwater.

9

Figure 4 illustrates the extent of floodprone areas at the Reserve. A total ofapproximately 1,850 acres, or 23percent of the Reserve, is distinguishedas flood prone because it lies within the100-year floodplain as defined by theFederal Emergency ManagementAgency, or is wetland located outsidethe defined floodplain. Most of the floodprone area is concentrated in the CokerPrairie Unit and conforms with the limitsof the Coker Prairie wetland system.Indeed, nearly 60 percent of theReserve's total wetland land area isconcentrated in the Coker Prairie Unit ofthe Reserve. This portion of theReserve straddles the divide betweenthe Manatee River and Myakka Riverwatersheds (Figure 4). Nearly half ofthe Coker Prairie wetland drainssouthward to Flatford Swamp and theMyakka River via Coker Creek. Theremainder drains to the Manatee Rivervia Webb Branch.

The limited floodplain in the Gilley CreekNorth and Gilley Creek South Units(Figure 4) provides for limited detentionbefore conveying flood water to theLake Manatee Reservoir via the narrow,incised channel of Gilley Creek. TheReservoir serves as the primary waterstorage area in the middle reaches ofthe Manatee River watershed. As such,the contribution of the Gilley Creek unitsto regional flood protection is relativelyminor and is exceeded by that of theCoker Prairie Unit, which is better suitedfor the storage and attenuated releaseof flood water. Maintenance of theReserve's flood protection value will beachieved through simple preservation ofthe property and it's innate storage andattenuation characteristics.

Natural Systems Protection

Many of the Reserve's natural systemsvalues were recounted in a precedingdiscussion of the property's attributes(page 3). Approximately 80 percent ofthe Reserve supports native vegetationthat is characteristic of at least sixdifferent natural community types.These areas provide habitat for adiverse array of native wildlife species,including several that receive protectiondue to documented imperilment(FFWCC, 1997). The Reserve'simportance as a refuge for wildlife willincrease as residential construction andother land development continues toencroach from the west. Themanagement approach outlined by thisplan will maintain the Reserve's value toregional wildlife populations and tonatural systems protection.

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Watershed BoundaryLake Manatee Reserve

Other Conservation Lands

Coker Prairie Unit

1 0.5 0

Manatee County Water Treatment Plant

Flood Prone Area

1

A

2 Miles

Figure 4. Flood Prone Areas in the Lake Manatee Reserve and Vicinity.Areas distinguished as flood prone include wetlands and the 100-yearfloodplain as delineated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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CONCEPTUAL LAND USE PLAN

Land Use

Recreation

Recreational usage of District lands isguided by Board Policy 610-3, whichdirects that such usage be permittedprovided it is compatible with naturalresource management and protectionneeds. Typically, recreational usage ofDistrict land is limited to activities thatare "resource-based." Resource-basedactivities consist of those outdoorrecreational or educational pursuits inwhich natural surroundings are afundamental requirement for engagingin the activity.

Recreational uses that will be permittedon the Reserve include hiking,horseback riding, picnicking, primitivecamping, birding and other forms ofnature study. Each management unitwill be dedicated to a different mixture ofuses based on such site-specific factorsas size, accessibility, land covercharacteristics, and suitability forrevenue-generating multiple uses.

Gilley Creek South, which at 1,100acres is the smallest of the threeparcels, will not be made available forrecreational use. Approximately half ofthe Gilley Creek South land area isimproved pasture. Much of theremainder supports pine flatwoods thathave been semi-improved through theplanting of non-native pasture grasses.This unit is also difficult to access from apublic right-of-way. These factors limitits utility and attractiveness forrecreational use, while increasing itspotential to serve as leased grazing land

that will generate revenue to support theDistrict's land management program.As such, nearly the entirety of GilleyCreek South has been incorporated intoa grazing lease (Figure 5). If GilleyCreek South ever ceases to be leasedfor cattle grazing, and if its recreationalpotential increases due to theacquisition of adjoining lands or otherchanging circumstances, then thisportion of the Reserve will be madeavailable for recreational use.

The limited recreational potential ofGilley Creek South stands in contrast tothat of the other units. Coker Prairieremains in an essentially unalteredcondition and supports outstandingoccurrences of several naturalcommunity types. Coker Prairie will bemade available for hiking, primitivecamping, birding, and other naturestudy. It is not conducive to equestrianuse due to the limited overall size of theunit, a high proportion of wetland, andthe prevalence of unconsolidated sandysoils. Approximately 37 percent of the2,150-acre parcel is wetland and muchof the upland land area is sensitive oakscrub habitat characterized by loosesands that cannot withstand sustaineduse by equestrians. The distributionand limited extent of the remaininguplands make them incapable ofproviding a satisfactory experience forequestrians. Alternatively, the diverseand scenic natural landscape, and therelative isolation of the parcel, make itattractive for day hikes, birding andnature study. A primitive hike-incampsite will be designated at aninterior location to enhance CokerPrairie's recreational potential by

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Gilley Creek North Unit

I

Duette Park

Coker Prairie Unit

Property Boundary

Other Conservation Land

Timber Management Zone

Habitat Restoration Area

Pasture Lease Area

Power Line Easement

0 0.5 1 2 Miles11 1 1 I 1 1 1

Public Access Point

Stream Flow M onitoring Station

Monitoring Well

A/ Shared-Use Trail Network

Hiking Trail Network

Figure 5. Conceptual Land Use Plan for the Lake Manatee Reserve.

13

accommodating overnight hiking trips.The total length of hiking trail at CokerPrairie is approximately 6 miles (Figure5).

Gilley Creek North will be madeavailable for the full range ofrecreational uses, with the soleexception of primitive camping. With atotal land area of 4,700 acres and asmall proportion of wetland, Gilley CreekNorth provides a trail networkapproximately 12 miles in length. Thislength of trail is sufficient to satisfy theneeds of equestrians and is designatedas shared-use trail (Figure 5). There isalso potential for the Gilley Creek Northtrail system to be incorporated into alarger regional network. ManateeCounty has completed a study thatidentified a conceptual countywidegreenway network (Manatee CountyCitizens Trail Committee, 2002). Theconceptual network identifies an EastCounty Spine Trail that follows aprivately owned utility easementbordering the northern boundary ofGilley Creek North (Figure 5). The trailidentifies connections northward intoHillsborough County, and includes asouthern leg that links with the LakeManatee State Park.

Maintaining a natural connection withthe County-owned Duette Park (Figure1) by acquiring additional land within theapproved project area would increasethe Reserve's water managementvalues and natural system value whilealso creating a recreational greenwaylinkage between these natural areas.This District will coordinate withManatee County in any cooperativeefforts to protect additional lands withinthe approved project area.

Management Actions:

¢ Make the Reserve available forhiking, horseback riding,primitive camping, birding andvarious forms of nature studyconsistent with site-specificlimitations.

¢ Construct entrance facilities toaccommodate the site-specificrecreational uses enumeratedin this plan.

¢ Coordinate with ManateeCounty to integraterecreational use of the Reserveinto the conceptual greenwaysystem envisioned by thecounty, and to maintain agreenway linkage with DuettePark.

Public Access

Public access points have already beenestablished for both the Coker Prairieand Gilley Creek North units (Figure 5).The Coker Prairie access point islocated on State Road 64 and GilleyCreek North is accessed from CountyRoad 675 (Figure 5). The acquisition ofthese parcels was designed to ensureeach site would have a legal point ofaccess from a public right-of-way.

Each access point provides a parkingarea and walk-thru entrance. Measuresto enhance the designated network oftrails will also be undertaken, includingthe installation of interpretive signs atappropriate points of interest, andconstruction of a kiosk at each entranceto provide a central location for the

14

dissemination of informational literature.Vehicular access beyond the entrancefacilities will not be allowed, althoughspecial permits may be granted on acase-by-case basis to allow vehicularaccess to the interior of the parcels toaccommodate special circumstances.

Limitations on vehicular access areimposed to reduce the Reserve'sexposure to the physical disturbanceand unauthorized activities that canresult from uncontrolled andunsupervised vehicular access. Roadsand vehicular traffic have also beendemonstrated to produce a variety ofdetrimental impacts to wildlife andcontribute greatly to the habitatfragmentation that threatens thelong-term survival of much of Florida'snative wildlife. Finally, restrictions onvehicular access enhance the property'sattractiveness for trail use and otherrecreational activities that benefit fromsolitude and undisturbed naturalsurroundings.

The entrance to the Gilley Creek NorthUnit is designed to accommodateaccess by equestrian users. Anadditional walk-thru entrance mayeventually be constructed on the unit'snorthern boundary if the adjoiningprivate lands are incorporated into therecreational trail network throughimplementation of Manatee County'sconceptual greenway plan.

The only access available to GilleyCreek South is via an easement thatallows access by District staff and itsassigns, but precludes use by thepublic. The absence of public access tothis unit is not problematic due to itsvery limited recreational potential and,

as stated previously, it has been leasedfor cattle grazing.

Wet Crossings

Access through both the Gilley CreekNorth and Coker Prairie Units ishindered by natural watercourses thatmust be successfully negotiated tomake large segments of the Reserveaccessible to recreational users. TheGilley Creek North segment of the GilleyCreek system includes several minortributaries, or branches, that dischargeto the main stem of the creek. TheCoker Prairie Unit is subdivided byWebb Branch and a tributary of LittleFort Crawford Creek. Several locationswhere the designated trail networkintersects these watercourses must beimproved through the construction ofstabilized wet crossings. Stabilizationwill reduce erosion rates at theselocations while enhancing public safetyand expanding opportunities foryear-round recreational access.

An existing wet crossing of Gilley Creek,which has a long history of use by boththe previous owner and District staff,has experienced severe erosion that is asource of sedimentation in the streamchannel. The localized deposition ofsediment is impounding water upstreamof the crossing during periods of highflow, and may be a factor in the treedie-off observed in this portion of theGilley Creek floodplain. The damage atthis site also impedes vehicular travel byDistrict staff engaged in official landmanagement duties. The portion ofGilley Creek North lying east of GilleyCreek will not be opened for public useuntil a stabilized wet crossing, suitablefor both vehicular and equestrian traffic,has been constructed at this location.

15

The improvements constructed at eachwet crossing will be designed toaccommodate the site-specific uses forwhich the area has been designated,i.e., the Gilley Creek North crossings willbe designed for equestrian use, whilethose at Coker Prairie will be designedfor hikers. They will also be designed,where necessary for land managementpurposes, to accommodate vehicularuse. The crossings at Coker Creek arequite short and consideration will begiven to constructing footbridges thatobviate the need for hikers to ford thesecrossings of Webb Branch and LittleFort Crawford Creek.

Creation of New Trails

Although the future development of newrecreational trails is not precludedentirely, the development of such trailstypically must be conducted inpartnership with a local governmentand/or organized user group, e.g., theFlorida Trail Association, who will assistwith trail delineation, construction, andlong-term maintenance needs. Thenetwork of existing trail roads is a legacyof past agricultural use and the creationof new trails through undisturbedportions of the Reserve will not beundertaken until appropriate wildlifesurveys and research have beencompleted. Information provided bysuch surveys will be essential to guidingfuture decision regarding any expansionof public use. In summary, prerequisitesto creation of new trails will include:formation of a partnership with a localgovernment or established user group;confirmation there is a need or demandfor additional trails; and completion ofwildlife surveys and other research thatensure the trails will be configured tominimize environmental impacts.

Existing trail roads that are not projectedto be needed for future landmanagement purposes, or roads thattraverse wetlands or other sensitivenatural features, will be retired from useto promote the recovery of nativevegetation and to enhance theirattractiveness and potential for futurerecreational enjoyment and wildlifeusage.

Management Actions:

¢ Construct wet crossingsand/or footbridges to enhanceyear-round accessibility forrecreational use and to reduceerosion.

Multiple Use Potential

In 1996, the District began to evaluatevarious alternatives for generatingrevenue on District-held lands in orderto assure a continuous source offunding to support land management.Legislative constraints on the use oflands held in trust by the District limitedthe range of options to those that wouldbe compatible with resource protectionneeds. As a result, the Districtconsidered only those alternatives thatwould capitalize on existing resourcesand not result in the alteration of natural,undisturbed lands. Fallow improvedpastures were analyzed to determineviability for revenue-generating cattleleases, harvesting of hay, or timberproduction (Fox and Tully, 1996a;SWFWMD, 1997). Likewise, existingstands of planted pine on District landswere evaluated to project their long-termcapability to support continuous,sustainable timber harvests (Fox andTully, 1996). This comprehensive

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analysis resulted in the designation ofmore than 8,000 acres as TimberManagement Zones (TMZs) wheresustainable silviculture will be practicedto provide a continuous revenue streamto support land management.Appropriate pastureland has beenleased to private citizens to serve asgrazing sites for cattle or as sites for theharvest of hay.

Two fallow pastures in Gilley CreekNorth have been dedicated to timberproduction as TMZs (Figure 5). TheseTMZs account for a total land area ofapproximately 470 acres. Thewesternmost TMZ is approximately 300acres in size, and the other accounts forthe remaining 170 acres. Both havealready been planted in longleaf pine.

An analysis also determined that itwould be consistent with the District'smultiple use protocols to lease severalpasture areas for cattle grazing. Arange management plan (PBS&J, 2001)evaluated the compatibility of cattlegrazing on the Reserve and calculatedstocking rates for various sites. Agrazing lease was executed in 2004.The grazing will be confined to specifiedpastures in the Gilley Creek North andGilley Creek South Units, and will bemanaged consistent with the District'sresource management objectives.Approximately 1,812 acres of theReserve have been incorporated intothe grazing lease (Figure 5).

Management Actions:

¢ Manage the two TimberManagement Zones in theGilley Creek North Unit ofReserve to produce asustained yield of timber.

¢ Ensure that the grazing ofcattle on the Gilley Creek Northand South Units is conductedaccording to best managementpractices and is consistentwith terms of the executedgrazing lease.

Utilities and Other Public Facilities

Consistent with legislation adopted bythe State of Florida in 1999, landsacquired through state-fundedacquisition programs can be used for avariety of public facilities. These includeutility lines and other linear facilities,storm water management projects, andwater supply development projects.Approval of such uses is contingentupon a number of criteria, including: theuse must be compatible with the naturalresource values of the property;reasonable compensation must beprovided to the titleholder of said lands;the proposed use must be in the publicinterest; the use must be locatedappropriately on the lands with dueconsideration given to use of otherlands; and the proposed use must beconsistent with the management plan forthe property.

The monitoring wells located on theReserve meet the criteria established formaking public conservation landsavailable for such uses. The installationof additional monitoring wells may beconsidered in the future. No otherpublic facilities are currently projectedfor the property.

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Management Actions:

¢ Ensure that any utilities orother public facilities permittedto locate on the Reserve areconsistent with statutoryguidelines established forpermitting such uses ofpublicly owned conservationland.

Security

Security will be maintained on theReserve through several means. TheDistrict's Land Resources staff, and to alimited extent the staff of otherdepartments, will assist with security bymaintaining a regular presence on theproperty through the course ofconducting normal land managementactivities. Supplemental security willalso be provided by limiting accesspoints and restricting vehicular access.In accordance with District policy 610-3,perimeter fencing will be maintainedaround the perimeter of the Reserve.

Informational signage can aid inproviding security by keeping the publicinformed of permitted and prohibitedactivities. Limiting public use to daylighthours will also help to reduce bothsecurity concerns and concerns relatedto public safety. Vehicular access andnighttime use of the Reserve will remainlimited to those users holding specialpermits, as issued by the District on acase-by-case basis. The cattle-grazinglease executed for the Reserve will alsoenhance security by maintainingadditional presence on the property.

If serious breeches in security areexperienced, the District will considerentering into a contractual agreement

with a private security contractor orother party to patrol the Reserve during"off hours." Such patrols would confer ameasure of security that cannot beattained solely by District staff patrollingthe site during work hours.

Special Protection Areas

Areas that are extremely sensitive todisturbance, that harbor unique orregionally significant natural features, orthat play a critical role in maintenance ofthe water management values attributedto the Reserve, merit designation asSpecial Protection Areas. Typically,Special Protection Areas must bediscrete features that can be readilydefined. Although public access to suchsites is not normally prohibited,protective measures will takeprecedence over most other land useand management considerations.Special Protection Areas (SPAs)designated for the Reserve include:monitoring sites established as part ofthe District's water management database network; known archaeologicalsites; active scrub-jay and burrowing owlhabitat; a 324-acre habitat restorationsite; and a Department of Transportation(DOT) wetland mitigation site located onthe Gilley Creek South Unit. Additionalinformation on these sites or features isprovided below. Additional SPAs maybe established in the future inrecognition of other significant resourcevalues or concerns.

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Monitoring Stations

There are currently several monitoringsites established on the Reserve.These include a monitoring well at GilleyCreek North and a stream-flowmonitoring site at Coker Prairie (Figure5), and water quality monitoring stationsused by Manatee County in associationwith the Reservoir's use as a source ofpotable water. Other monitoring sitesmay be established in the future tomonitor hydrologic conditions. Allexisting and future on-site monitoringstations will be treated as SPAsthroughout the duration of their use.Land management and maintenanceactivities, as well as improvements toaccommodate the public's recreationaluse of the Reserve, will be designed toavoid any alterations or changes thatwould damage the sites or confound theinterpretation of data collected fromthem.

Management Actions:

¢ Treat on-site monitoringstations as Special ProtectionAreas to prevent physicaldisturbances that wouldcompromise their continuedvalue as resource monitoringsites.

Scrub-Jay Management Zones

The Florida scrub-jay has beendesignated a threatened species byboth the United States Fish and WildlifeService (USFWS) and the Florida Fishand Wildlife Conservation Commission(FFWCC). The presence of at least twofamilies of jays has been documentedon the Reserve. On-site patches of

scrub vegetation that are occupied byscrub-jays will be treated as SpecialProtection Areas to help ensurecontinued habitation by this species.The scrub-jays imperiled status isattributed largely to habitat loss andfragmentation resulting from both landdevelopment and the long-termsuppression of fire in the xeric habitatson which the species is dependent. Theuse of prescribed fire in ongoingmanagement of the Reserve, asdiscussed in a subsequent section ofthis plan, will be tailored to maintainhabitat conditions conducive to theFlorida scrub-jay. Where necessary,mechanical treatments will be employedto restore areas of scrub that have beenaffected by long-term fire suppression.

Scrub-jays are also present on thepublicly owned Duette Park property(Figure 1) and an ongoing project totranslocate scrub-jays to a neighboring,privately owned parcel may result in anexpansion of the regionalmetapopulation. The relocation site issituated between occupied habitat atCoker Prairie and Duette Park, and isowned by IMC Global, Inc (IMC), whichis engaging in the relocation project tomitigate for impacts to the species onlands they will mine. A recovery planfor the species (USFWS, 1999)emphasizes the importance ofcoordinating scrub-jay managementamong adjoining or proximateconservation tracts. The District willcontinue ongoing coordination with bothManatee County and IMC to ensure anholistic approach to management andprotection of the local scrub-jaymetapopulation. Such coordination willinclude a bird-banding project that willenable the population to be monitoredmore effectively.

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Management Actions:

¢ The use of prescribed fireand/or mechanical methodswill be employed to maintain orrestore habitat conditionsconducive to continuedhabitation by the Floridascrub jay.

¢ Survey the Reserve's oakscrub and scrubby flatwoodsites for the presence ofscrub jays on at least anannual basis, and immediatelyprior to conducting anyprescribed fires within oradjacent to occupied habitat. Ifsurveys for the presence ofFlorida scrub jays identify newoccurrences, the prescribedburning strategy for such sitesshall be amended, asnecessary, in a mannerconsistent with perpetuatingsuch colonization.

¢ The District will continue tocoordinate with both IMC andthe managers of nearbypublicly owned tracts thatsupport scrub jays to ensurethat the local scrub jaymetapopulation is managed inan holistic manner, rather thanas individual occurrences, andemphasizing the need formaintenance of potentialmovement corridors amongtracts.

Active Burrowing Owl Habitat

A number of breeding pairs of theFlorida burrowing owl have colonized an

area in Gilley Creek North. The Floridaburrowing owl has been designated aSpecies of Special Concern by theFFWCC. The species requires open,well-drained areas with low vegetativegrowth in which to construct burrowsand breed. The occupied Gilley CreekNorth habitat is located in and aroundan improved pasture that has beenincorporated into the proposed cattlegrazing lease. Grazing cattle are notinherently incompatible with productiveburrowing owl habitat, as illustrated byregular co-occurrence elsewhere withinthe species' range. Pastures andruderal grasslands associated withhuman development have becomeincreasingly important potentialburrowing owl habitat as the species'natural dry prairie and sandhill habitatscontinue to be supplanted bydevelopment. Grazing by cattle helps tomaintain the low grass height andopenness that is characteristic ofoccupied habitat. Protection fromharassment by precluding recreationaluse of the leased pasturelands used fornesting, and preventing the destructionor degradation of burrows byestablishing appropriate limitations ongrazing densities, will help to ensurecontinued habitation by burrowing owls.At least two burrows have beenestablished in the dry prairie vegetationsurrounding the occupied pasture, andmanagement in these areas will betailored to induce continued habitation inthe dry prairie.

Management Actions:

¢ Any future cattle grazing leasewill include conditions ongrazing density, rangemanagement, prescribedburning, and other applicable

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issues to ensure the grazing ismanaged in a manner that willbe compatible with continuedhabitation of the Reserve byburrowing owls.

Wetland Mitigation Site

The Department of Transportation(DOT) implemented a wetland mitigationproject on the Gilley Creek South Unit inresponse to wetland impacts associatedwith roadway improvements on SR 64.Agricultural uses conducted on theproperty prior to District acquisition hadbeen facilitated by draining on-sitemarshes with a series ofinter-connecting ditches. The DOTproject restored pre-alteration wetlandhydrology by back-filling drainageditches and planting native wetlandvegetation. Management of the GilleyCreek South Unit will be conducted in amanner that supports continuedrecovery of the mitigation wetlands andassociated upland buffers. When it hasbeen determined that the mitigationproject has met all applicable successcriteria and been deemed complete, theSpecial Protection Area designation willbe rescinded.

Habitat Restoration Sites

A habitat restoration project will beimplemented on a 330-acre site in thenortheast corner of the Gilley CreekNorth Unit (Figure 5). The project willrestore pre-alteration plant communitiesto former farm fields. Approximately 46acres of scrub, 142 acres of scrubbyflatwoods, and 137 acres of dry prairiewill be restored to the site through theinstallation of native plants and routinemanagement actions that will promotethe regeneration of these communities.

Restoration activities are scheduled tobegin during the 2005 fiscal year and tobe completed during the 2008 fiscalyear.

As described in the discussion of habitatrestoration on page 25, areas of scrubhabitat that have succeeded to xerichammock due to long-term firesuppression are also undergoingrestoration. A combination ofmechanical methods and prescribed fireare being employed at these sites.These, and any additional restorationsites established in the future, will bemanaged as Special Protection Areasuntil restoration has been determined tobe complete.

Archaeological Sites

Surveys have identified eightarchaeological sites situated along theperiphery of the Gilley Creek streamchannel. The limits of two of the sitescross the property line and lie partially inthe Gilley Creek North Unit. The reportson these sites acknowledge that bothhave been subjected to majordisturbance related to construction ofthe Lake Manatee Reservoir and a longhistory of agricultural usage. Both aredeemed to merit no additional research;however, the District will conduct futuremanagement activities and directrecreational use in a manner that willprevent any additional disturbance tothese sites.

Management priorities for these siteswill focus primarily on prevention oflooting. Land management personnelassigned to the Reserve, and anysecurity staff potentially assigned to theproperty in the future, will be apprized ofthe locations of these sites and will be

21

instructed to monitor them. Althoughthe District does not generally providefunding to support archaeologicalinvestigations and assessments, anyadditional sites found at the Reserve willbe made available for supervised studyby professional archaeologicalresearchers. Proposals to conductsuch research will be reviewed by theDistrict on a case-by-case basis andmust satisfy any requirements orprotocols dictated by the Division ofHistorical Resources of the FloridaDepartment of State.

The other archaeological sites along theGilley Creek channel are located whollyon neighboring private lands situatedbetween the Gilley Creek North andGilley Creek South Units. A futurecattle-grazing lease may designate acattle crossing through these interveningprivate lands that would allow cattle tobe rotated among the pastures of GilleyCreek North and Gilley Creek South.These archaeological sites, like the twosites located partially on the GilleyCreek North Unit, have already beensubjected to major disturbance.However, the District will ensure thatany future site designated as a cattlecrossing in this location will be selectedto avoid additional disturbance to thesedocumented archaeological sites.

Management Actions:

¢ Direct future recreationalimprovements, structures, orother land-disturbing activitiesaway from any knownarchaeological sites, or planand conduct such activities ina manner that avoids impactsto such sites.

Land Management

The District engages in a variety of landmanagement activities designed toprotect or enhance the natural resourcevalues of its properties and to ensurepublic safety. The following is adiscussion of some of the managementpractices and resource protectionmeasures (see Appendix A) to beemployed at the Reserve.

Prescribed Fire

Prescribed fire is the most importantmanagement tool available to managersof conservation land in Florida.Approximately 6,500 acres (82 percentof total land area) of the Reservesupports vegetation that is dependenton recurring fire for its long-termmaintenance and viability. Theseinclude the pine flatwoods, oak scrub,and freshwater marsh communities. Inthe prolonged absence of fire, thevegetative structure, speciescomposition, and habitat values of theseareas would be degraded.

The inclusion of a detailed prescribedburning strategy is beyond the scope ofthis plan. Burn plans are developed foreach District-held property individually,and independently of site-specific landmanagement plans such as this. TheDistrict's land management staff hasextensive experience in the use ofprescribed fire and a burning programhas already been implemented on theReserve. Generally, prescribed fires onthe Reserve will continue to be designedto mimic natural, lightning-induced fires.Appropriate burn seasons and fire returnfrequencies are established for eachfire-maintained community and will beadhered to whenever possible. Burns

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will attempt to create a natural mosaic ofburned and unburned patches tomaximize heterogeneity of thelandscape.

Smoke management will continue to beone of the most problematic issuesassociated with implementation of theprescribed burning program due toproximity of residential development andpublicly traveled transportationcorridors. Prescription parameters willbe designed to minimize the impact offire-generated smoke on surroundinglands. Fire breaks have already beenestablished along those portions of theReserve perimeter that adjoin privatelyowned lands, and these fire breaks willbe maintained through regular discing orother mechanical methods to preventthe escape of fire onto surroundingproperties.

Management Actions:

¢ Continue implementation of theprescribed burning plan for theReserve's fire-dependentnatural communities andcontinue to emphasizeprescription parametersdesigned to prevent the escapeof fire to adjoining propertiesand minimize the potential forplacement of fire-generatedsmoke over sensitive areas.

¢ Conduct prescribed firesduring the growing season, tothe greatest extent practicable,in order to most effectivelymimic the effects of naturalfire.

Habitat Restoration

District Policy 610-3 directs that sites onDistrict-managed land that have beenaltered from a natural state andcondition must be restored to a naturalcondition whenever practical. Decisionsregarding the restoration of altered sitesalso consider the potential for thealtered site to supportrevenue-generating multiple uses, i.e.,cattle grazing or haying leases, or thecultivation of pines in TimberManagement Zones. As discussedpreviously, some altered sites within theGilley Creek North and Gilley CreekSouth Units will be dedicated to suchuses. However, the hardwood swampthat comprises the northern section ofthe Coker Prairie wetland has beendegraded by abnormal stress andmortality within the canopy, consistentwith the stress and mortality observed inthe downstream Flatford Swamp system(PBS&J, 2001). Promoting recovery ofthe canopy is the primary habitatrestoration need for the Reserve and isconsidered an important resourcemanagement need. The District hasinitiated a strategy for reversing thisabnormal stress and mortality within theFlatford Swamp system, including CokerPrairie, by restoring normalhydroperiods. This strategy has beendescribed in the management plan forthe Flatford Swamp Preserve(SWFWMD, 2003). The managementapproach outlined by this plan isconsistent with the ongoing recoveryefforts. Additional actions to restore theCoker Prairie canopy will be formulatedand implemented if natural regenerationdoes not occur after normalhydroperiods have been restored inFlatford Swamp.

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A section of the Gilley Creek floodplainin Gilley Creek North is also exhibitingsigns of potentially abnormal stress andmortality within the canopy, similar tothat observed in Coker Prairie; however,this area was not encompassed in theevaluation of the Flatford Swampsystem and has not been the subject ofa targeted study. An investigation of thesite will be conducted in order to confirmthe existence of abnormal stress andmortality, and to identify any actionsnecessary for remediation. Althoughresponsibility for this investigationremains unassigned, the Districtrecently contracted with a privateconsulting firm to evaluate andimplement potential wetland restorationoptions for the Gilley Creek North unit.Gilley Creek North was subjectedhistorically to hydrologic alterationssimilar to those addressed in theRutland South wetland mitigationproject. Amendment of the contract willbe explored as a potential strategy forevaluation of the Gilley Creek impacts.

Some areas of scrub habitat in theGilley Creek North Unit have succeededto xeric hammock due to long-term firesuppression. As noted previously in thediscussion of Scrub-Jay ManagementZones, restoration of these areas will beactively promoted through the combineduse of prescribed fire and mechanicaltreatments. Similarly degraded landswithin the Coker Prairie Unit havealready undergone restoration throughsuch methods.

Management Actions:

¢ Assess the canopies of CokerPrairie and the Gilley Creekfloodplain through the GilleyCreek North Unit for evidence

of abnormal stress ormortality, and identifystrategies for any necessaryremediation.

¢ Utilize mechanical treatments,as necessary, to restore scrubhabitat in sites that havesucceeded to xeric hammock.

Control of Exotic Species

The District has adopted a formalprocedure (Board Procedure 61-9) toaddress the control of exotic species inresponse to the severity of this threat.The ultimate goal of the landmanagement program is eradication ofthe most invasive species. At aminimum, those invasive exotic speciesoccurring on the properties will bemaintained below current densities andareal coverage. No encroachment intonatural systems will be tolerated, andspot treatment of exotic species thathave invaded the Reserve will occurimmediately upon observation.

Plants

Exotic plant species known to bepresent on the Reserve include: tropicalsoda apple, Caesar weed, natal grass,cogon grass, rosary pea, Japaneseclimbing fern, bahiagrass,bermudagrass and camphor tree(PBS&J, 2001). With the exception ofnatal grass, bermudagrass and Caesarweed, all these plant species have beendesignated Category I invasive pestplant species by the Florida Exotic PestPlant Council (Florida Exotic Pest PlantCouncil, 2001). This designation isreserved for those non-native plantspecies that have clearly demonstrateda propensity to invade and disrupt

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Florida's native plant communities.Natal grass and Caesar weed aredesignated Category II species,indicating they may potentially invadeand disrupt native plant communities.Management will continue to be focusedon the eradication or control of thesespecies. The District will also remainalert for the appearance of any otherinvasive, non-native plant species andwill implement appropriate eradication orcontrol measures.

Animals

Non-native animal species also pose athreat to Florida's natural communities.The only such animal that has beennoted on the Reserve is the feral hog.Feral hogs represent a significant landmanagement problem in many naturalareas. The disturbance caused by hogrooting activities can severely damagenatural vegetation in floodplain swamps,hammock, pinelands, and herbaceouswetlands. Hog rooting also createsconditions that promote invasion byexotic plant species. Furthermore,rooting can significantly affect infiltration,sheet flow, and overland drainage towetlands. Finally, hogs feed on acornmast produced by scrub oaks on theproperty and competition for the mastmay reduce the value of these sites fornative species, including the Floridascrub jay, which relies heavily on acornsas a food source during the winter andearly spring. In order to control hognumbers, the District will implement anaggressive trapping program on theReserve.

Management Actions:

¢ Eradicate or control invasive,non-native species consistent

with the direction provided inBoard Procedure 61-9.

Preparation of a Mosquito ControlPlan

Chapter 388 of the Florida Statutesprovides sweeping authority for localgovernments to form mosquito controlprograms. This authority was granted inrecognition of the potential health threatassociated with major swarms ofmosquitoes, in addition to theannoyance they can pose in developedareas. The statute also acknowledgesthe possibility for adverse environmentalimpacts resulting from mosquito controlactivities.

A process has been establishedwhereby local governments preparesite-specific "arthropod control plans" forpublicly owned conservation lands(Section 388.4111, F.S.) when a tract isofficially declared "environmentallysensitive and biologically highlyproductive" by the managing agency.This designation requires that anarthropod (i.e., mosquito) control planbe developed that offers adequatelevels of protection to the naturalsystems and flora and fauna that occupythe site. The mosquito control districthaving jurisdiction over the area isresponsible for preparation of therequired site-specific arthropod controlplan. The entire process isadministered by the Florida Departmentof Agriculture and Consumer Services(FDACS). The District will formallydesignate the Reserve an"environmentally sensitive andbiologically highly productive" propertyand coordinate with FDACS and theManatee County Mosquito ControlDistrict to develop an arthropod control

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plan that will ensure protection of thearea's natural resources while alsoensuring protection of the public'shealth.

Management Actions:

¢ Formally designate theReserve as "environmentallysensitive and biologicallyhighly productive."

¢ Coordinate with the ManateeCounty Mosquito ControlDistrict in the development ofan arthropod control plan.

Projected Cost of Management

The cost of future land managementactivities has been projected based onthe cost of management-relatedexpenses during three preceding fiscalyears (FY2001-FY2003). Based on thisanalysis, the annual average cost ofrecurring management expenses isestimated to be approximately $5.11 peracre, or a total of $40,532 for the entireReserve. Recurring expenses are thosetypically incurred on an annual basisand include such activities as prescribedburning, control of exotic species,maintenance of roads and recreationalfacilities, and wildlife monitoring. It isanticipated that recurring expenses willdecline since a portion of the propertyhas recently been leased for cattlegrazing, because some managementresponsibilities have been relegated tothe lessee.

It is difficult to provide long-rangeprojections of non-recurring expenses.These are associated with such itemsas capital improvements to

accommodate recreational use, andother one-time or unforeseen expenses.The cost of recurring expenses mayalso rise in response to inflation, or inthe event that additional lands areacquired as part of the Reserve.

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Administration

External Coordination

The District coordinates with manyoutside public agencies and publicinterest groups to effectively manage itsproperties. This section identifies thosemanagement and land use activities thatcross, or potentially cross, the limits ofjurisdictional authority and interest andwill require outside coordination.

United States Fish and WildlifeService (USFWS)

The USFWS is the agency with primaryresponsibility for protecting the nation'swildlife resources. This responsibilityincludes the administration of theEndangered Species Act (ESA). TheUSFWS will be consulted regardingspecial management needs of anyspecies protected under the provisionsof the ESA that is known to occur on theReserve or that colonizes the site in thefuture.

Florida Fish and WildlifeConservation Commission (FFWCC)

The FFWCC, formerly the Florida Gameand Freshwater Fish Commission, is theagency with primary responsibility forprotecting and managing Florida'swildlife resources. As such, the Districtwill coordinate closely with the FFWCCin the management and monitoring ofstate-listed wildlife and critical habitatareas occurring on the Reserve.

Florida Department of EnvironmentalProtection (DEP)

The District will coordinate with DEP, asnecessary, in the management andpublic use of adjoining state-ownedlands to maximize efficiency, linkrecreational usage, and potentiallypreserve a regional greenway network.DEP may also be responsible for issuingpermits that would be required inconjunction with habitat restorationactivities, development of recreationalfacilities, or other projects that mayaffect wetlands on these properties.

Manatee County

As the local government havingjurisdiction over the area in which theReserve is located, Manatee Countyhas a compelling interest in the futuremanagement and use of the property. Itwill also exercise control over land usedecisions for lands surrounding theReserve. In addition, the ManateeCounty School Board may serve as apotential partner in the development ofan environmental education programthat would use the Reserve as anoutdoor classroom. Coordination ofpublic use, wildlife management, andother issues that cross ownershipboundaries will also require acooperative relationship with the county,which owns and manages the DuettePark property and envisions creation ofa regional greenway network.

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Other Private Interests

Various private interests may play a rolein future management and use of theReserve. The District has worked withthe Florida Trail Association, Inc., andother organizations that representrecreational user-groups to enhancerecreational opportunities onDistrict-managed lands and the Districtwill be prepared to work with these andother stakeholder groups in thedevelopment and enhancement ofrecreational use of this property. IMCWorld, Inc., is engaged in a project torelocate scrub jays to lands adjoiningthe Coker Prairie Unit of the property.The District will coordinate with IMC inthe management of scrub jays to ensurethat the local metapopulation of thisthreatened species is managed in anholistic manner.

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REFERENCES

Christianson, R.A. 1988. Guidelines forthe Development of Site-SpecificPlans for the Use and Managementof District-Owned Properties.Southwest Florida WaterManagement District

Cox, J., R. Kautz, M. MacLaughlin, andT. Gilbert. 1994. Closing the Gapsin Florida's Wildlife ConservationSystem. Florida Fish and WildlifeConservation Commission.Tallahassee, Florida

Fitzpatrick, John W., Glen Woolfenden,and Mark T. Kopeny. 1991. Ecologyand development-related habitatrequirements of the Florida scrub jay(Aphelocoma coerulescenscoerulescens). Nongame WildlifeProgram. Florida Game and FreshWater Fish Commission,Tallahassee, Florida

Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council. 2001Invasive Plant List

Florida Fish and Wildlife ConservationCommission. 1997. Florida'sEndangered Species, ThreatenedSpecies and Species of SpecialConcern: Official Lists. Florida Fishand Wildlife ConservationCommission. Tallahassee, Florida.

Florida Natural Areas Inventory andFlorida Department of NaturalResources. 1990. Guide to theCommunities of Florida. FloridaNatural Areas Inventory.Tallahassee, Florida.

Jue, S., C. Kindell, and J. Wojcik.Florida Conservation Lands 2001.

Florida Natural Areas Inventory.Tallahassee, Florida

Manatee County Citizens TrailCommittee. 2002. Manatee CountyGreenways Masterplan. ManateeCounty Government. Bradenton,Florida

PBS&J, 2001. Gilley Creek RanchRange Management Plan. PBS&J,Orlando, FL

Stith, B.M. 1999. MetapopulationViability Analysis of the FloridaScrub-Jay (Aphelocomacoerulescens): a statewideassessment. Final Report to theEndangered Species Office, U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service,Jacksonville, FL

SWFWMD, 1988. Ground-WaterResource Availability Inventory.Manatee County Florida. SouthwestFlorida Water Management District

SWFWMD, 1991. Lake Manatee LowerWatershed: Resource Evaluation.Southwest Florida WaterManagement District

SWFWMD. 1992. Needs and Sources(DRAFT), Southwest Florida WaterManagement District

SWFWMD, 1997. Pasture Assessmentfor Cattle Grazing and Haying.Southwest Florida WaterManagement District. Brooksville,Florida

SWFWMD, 1998, Southern Water UseCaution Area; Information Report,Southwest Florida WaterManagement District, April, 1998,

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http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ppr/plans/files/swuca.pdf

SWFWMD, 1999, Estimated Water Usein the Southwest Florida WaterManagement District, SouthwestFlorida Water Management District,Resource Projects Department(January 1997)

SWFWMD, 2001 a. ComprehensiveWatershed Management Plan,Southwest Florida WaterManagement District

SWFWMD, 2001 b. , Five-Year LandAcquisition Plan 2001, SouthwestFlorida Water Management District

SWFWMD, 2001 c. Flatford Swamp;Summary of Water Quality Results,Southwest Florida WaterManagement District

SWFWMD, 2002a, Manasota BasinFive-Year Plan FY2002-FY 2006,Southwest Florida WaterManagement District

SWFWMD, 2002b, Natural SystemsRestoration Program Ten YearPlan2002 - 2002, March 2002 2cdED, Southwest Florida WaterManagement District

SWFWMD, 2003 Plan for Use andManagement of Flatford SwampPreserve March 2003 SouthwestFlorida Water Management District

United States Department of Agriculture,Soil Survey of Manatee CountyFlorida, April 1988, SoilConservation Service

United States Department of the Interior.1997. 1996 National Survey ofFishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. UnitedStates Fish and Wildlife Service.Washington, D.C.

USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTSDatabase, Version 3.5(http://r)lants.usda.gov). NationalPlant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA70874-4490 USA.

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APPENDIX A

The following list summarizes the specific tasks that will be undertaken by the District toimplement the public use and land management approach proposed by the plan.

1) Ensure that Manatee County continues to have unimpeded access to the waterquality monitoring stations located on, or accessed through, the Reserveproperty.

2) Make the Reserve available for hiking, horseback riding, primitive camping,birding and various forms of nature study consistent with site-specific limitations.

3) Construct entrance facilities to accommodate the site-specific recreational usesenumerated in this plan.

4) Coordinate with Manatee County to integrate recreational use of the Reserve intothe conceptual greenway system envisioned by the county, and to maintain agreenway linkage with Duette Park.

5) Construct wet crossings and/or footbridges to enhance year-round accessibilityfor recreational use and to reduce erosion.

6) Complete the establishment of two Timber Management Zones in the GilleyCreek North Unit of Reserve.

7) Incorporate conditions into cattle lease agreements that require bestmanagement practices for grazed areas.

8) Ensure that any utilities or other public facilities permitted to locate on theReserve are consistent with statutory guidelines established for permitting suchuses of publicly owned conservation land.

9) Treat on-site monitoring stations as Special Protection Areas to prevent physicaldisturbances that would compromise their continued value as resourcemonitoring sites.

10)The use of prescribed fire and/or mechanical methods will be employed tomaintain or restore habitat conditions conducive to continued habitat by theFlorida scrub-jay.

11)Survey the Reserve's oak scrub and scrubby flatwood sites for the presence ofscrub-jays on at least an annual basis, and immediately prior to conducting anyprescribed fires within or adjacent to occupied habitat. If surveys for the presenceof Florida scrub-jays identify new occurrences, the prescribed burning strategyfor such sites shall be amended, as necessary, in a manner consistent withperpetuating such colonization.

12)The District will coordinate with owners and/or managers of nearby publiclyowned tracts that support scrub-jays to ensure that the local scrub-jaymetapopulation is managed in an holistic manner, rather than as individualoccurrences, and emphasizing the need for maintenance of potential movementcorridors among tracts.

13)Any future cattle grazing lease will include conditions on grazing density, rangemanagement, prescribed burning, and other applicable issues to ensure thegrazing is managed in a manner that will be compatible with continued habitationof the Reserve by burrowing owls.

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14)Direct future recreational improvements, structures, or other land-disturbingactivities away from any known archaeological sites, or plan and conduct suchactivities in a manner that avoids impacts to such sites.

15)Continue implementation of the prescribed burning plan for the Reserve'sfire-dependent natural communities and continue to emphasize prescriptionparameters designed to prevent the escape of fire to adjoining properties andminimize the potential for placement of fire-generated smoke over sensitiveareas.

16)Conduct prescribed fires during the growing season, to the greatest extentpracticable, in order to most effectively mimic the effects of natural fire.

17)Assess the canopies of Coker Prairie and the Gilley Creek floodplain through theGilley Creek North Unit for evidence of abnormal stress or mortality, and identifystrategies for any necessary remediation.

18)Utilize mechanical treatments, as necessary, to restore scrub habitat in sites thathave succeeded to xeric hammock.

19)Eradicate or control invasive, non-native species consistent with the directionprovided in Board Procedure 61-9.

20)Formally designate the Reserve as "environmentally sensitive and biologicallyhighly productive.

21)Coordinate with the Manatee County Mosquito Control District in thedevelopment of an arthropod control plan.

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