Odum Preserve Management Plan - Alachua County, Florida

[Pages:33]Odum Preserve Management Plan

Approved November 9, 2010

Alachua County Environmental Protection Department

201 SE 2nd Avenue, Suite 201 Gainesville, FL 32601

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Odum Preserve Management Plan

Submitted By: Alachua County Environmental Protection Department 201 SE 2nd Avenue, Suite 201 Gainesville, FL 32601

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

MANAGEMENT PLAN SUMMARY........................................................................................... v I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 1

LOCATION & ADJACENT USES........................................................................................ 1 ACQUISITION HISTORY .................................................................................................... 1 NATURAL RESOURCES SUMMARY................................................................................ 1 PREVIOUS USES .................................................................................................................. 1 RECREATION ....................................................................................................................... 1 II. PURPOSE .................................................................................................................................. 2 PRIORTIZED MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES................................................................... 2 LAND USE AND ZONING ................................................................................................... 2 III. NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ....................................................................... 2 SOILS ..................................................................................................................................... 2 WATER RESOURCES .......................................................................................................... 4 NATURAL COMMUNITIES ................................................................................................ 4 FERAL ANIMALs ................................................................................................................. 6 INVASIVE EXOTIC PLANTS .............................................................................................. 6 NATURAL COMMUNITY RESTORATION....................................................................... 7 LISTED SPECIES PROTECTION ........................................................................................ 7 INVENTORY OF NATURAL COMMUNITIES AND BIOTA ........................................... 8 CULTURAL RESOURCES ................................................................................................... 8 V. SITE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT..................................................................... 8 EXISTING PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS ......................................................................... 8 PROPOSED PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS ....................................................................... 8 OPTIMUM BOUNDARY ...................................................................................................... 9 ACCESS ................................................................................................................................. 9 EASEMENTS, CONCESSIONS, AND LEASES ................................................................. 9 VI. MANAGEMENT NEEDS........................................................................................................ 9 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT .................................................................................................... 9 MAINTENANCE ................................................................................................................... 9 SECURITY ............................................................................................................................. 9 STAFFING ........................................................................................................................... 10 VII. REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 11 VIII. MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION CHART .................................................. 12 EXHIBIT A: LOCATION MAP .................................................................................................. 14 EXHIBIT B: 2008 AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH ............................................................................. 15 EXHIBIT C: PUBLIC LANDS MAP........................................................................................... 16

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EXHIBIT D: SOILS MAP............................................................................................................ 17 EXHIBIT E: NATURAL COMMUNITIES MAP ....................................................................... 18 EXHIBIT F: FNAI FIELD REPORTING FORM....................................................................... 19 EXHIBIT G: PLANT LIST .......................................................................................................... 21 EXHIBIT H: PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ................................................................................... 24 APPENDIX A: ODUM PRESERVE DEED ................................................................................ 25

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Management Plan Summary

Date of Plan: Management Area: Location:

Date Acquired: Cost: Funding Source:

November 2010 47.17 acres, Parcel number 02725-002-002 Northwest Alachua County, 0.2 miles west of CR 241 at the Santa Fe River. November 15, 2006 $5,000 due diligence and closing costs Donation by Elisabeth Odum. ACF Bond funded closing costs.

Summary: The Odum Preserve lies in northwest Alachua County and was acquired through a donation from Elisabeth Odum with funds for closing and due diligence coming from the Alachua County Forever Bond. Outstanding biotic features include approximately ? mile of river frontage on the Santa Fe River, over 47 acres of vegetated buffer along the Santa Fe River, forested wetland natural communities in excellent condition, and populations of plants uncommon in Alachua County. The preserve will be managed to protect, preserve and enhance the unique natural and cultural resources found on the property and to provide a buffer to the Santa Fe River.

Key Management Objectives: 1. Maintain or enhance existing natural communities 2. Inventory natural features of the site, including flora, fauna and natural communities 3. Protect populations of significant and listed plant and animal species 4. Protect water resource values from adverse impacts, 5. Effectively and responsibly manage historic resources

Resource Management Issues: INVASIVE PLANTS ? Continue to control and eradicate invasive, non-native plant

species. FERAL ANIMALS - Remove non-native animals as needed HISTORIC RESOURCES - Protect discovered sites from disturbance MONITORING - Monitor property through field inspections

Site Maintenance ACCESS - Pursue acquisition of legal land-based access to the property SECURITY ? perform periodic security inspections

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I. INTRODUCTION Odum Preserve is owned and managed by Alachua County as part of the Alachua County

Forever (ACF) land conservation program. It was acquired on November 15, 2006 through a donation from Elisabeth Odum . The Alachua County Forever Program was approved by Alachua County voters in November of 2000, to acquire, improve and manage environmentally significant lands in Alachua County, to protect water resources, wildlife habitats and natural areas suitable for resource-based recreation.

This management plan was developed to ensure that the project site will be managed and developed in accordance with the goals of the ACF program.

LOCATION & ADJACENT USES

The 47.17-acre Odum Preserve is located in northwest Alachua County 0.2 miles west of CR 241 (Exhibit A, Exhibit B) and has 0.25 miles of river frontage on the Santa Fe River. It is seven miles northeast of the City of High Springs. It is bordered by low density residential development, and agriculture to the south. Forested properties utilized for hunting border the preserve on the north, east and west. Conservation lands in the vicinity of the Odum Preserve include O'Leno /River Rise State Park, the Santa Fe Ranch Conservation Area, Mill Creek Preserve, River Ranch Addition and Camp Kulaqua Conservation Easement. All of these conservation areas except Mill Creek are along the Santa Fe River (Exhibit C).

ACQUISITION HISTORY

The Odum Preserve was evaluated for the County's ACF Program on November 15, 2004, as part of the Santa Fe River Project area. The property was donated by Elisabeth Odum on November 15, 2006 with the County contributing $5,000 from the Alachua County Forever Bond for closing and due diligence costs. Appendix A contains a copy of the deeds for the Odum Preserve. No land-based access was acquired with this donation.

NATURAL RESOURCES SUMMARY

The Odum Preserve lies in the Santa Fe River floodplain and protects over ? of a mile of river frontage. The property consists of high-quality hardwood forests that are primarily wetlands. These high-quality forests are connected to other forests and natural communities along the river and are a part of the Santa Fe River corridor, an important resource for the region's wildlife and flora. Wetland protection helps to preserve water quality in the Santa Fe River which contributes directly to the Flordian Aquifer.

PREVIOUS USES

The history of use of the Odum Preserve immediately prior to acquisition by the County was for quiet enjoyment. The path of the Santa Fe River was re-routed in the 1940's as part of a State transportation project and the parcel was bisected by the new river channel creating an island between the old path of the river and the present created channel.

RECREATION

Access to the Odum Preserve is by appointment. The Odum Preserve has no road access and land ?based access via an adjacent land owner is restricted to staff-lead tours on a by appointment basis. The nearest public access points to the river are located 4 miles downstream

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within O'Leno State Park at Bible Camp Road on the Columbia County side of the river, and approximately 7 miles upstream at the Chastain-Seay Park in Worthington Springs (Union County side of the river). Canoeing, kayaking and other boating along this portion of the river is limited by water levels and fallen debris.

II. PURPOSE The purpose of the Odum Preserve is to protect, preserve, and enhance the Santa Fe River

shoreline and associated vegetated buffer. The Odum Preserve will be managed only for the conservation, protection and enhancement of natural resources at present with limited access, but the option for public outdoor recreation compatible with conservation, protection and enhancement of the site will be considered as needed or as demand arises in the future.

Management goals are aimed at maintaining or improving the condition of natural communities on the site. Natural communities that are in good to excellent condition will be maintained. Those that are in less than good condition will be improved using management activities including but not limited to invasive exotic plant removal, re-vegetation, and feral animal removal.

PRIORTIZED MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES

1. Protect and enhance water resource values. 2. Maintain or enhance existing natural communities. 3. Inventory natural features of the site, including flora, fauna and natural communities. 4. Protect populations of significant and listed plant and animal species. 5. Effectively and responsibly manage historic resources.

LAND USE AND ZONING

Alachua County will change the Future Land Use designation from Agriculture to Preservation in the next cycle of comprehensive plan amendments.

Land Use and Zoning Strategies Amend Future Land Use from Rural/Agriculture to Preservation.

III. NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

SOILS

Eight different soil types recognized by the Natural Resources Conservation Service are present within the Odum Preserve (Exhibit D; Thomas et al, 1985). The soils are generally poorly drained, somewhat poorly drained or very poorly drained. They are generally loamy or clayey in deeper soil horizons.

There is currently little to no evidence of erosion problems on site. Land stewards will follow generally accepted best management practices to prevent soil erosion and conserve soil and water resources. Saturated soils in many portions of the preserve may limit recreational or other development.

Blichton Sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes This nearly level to gently sloping, poorly drained soil is on relatively broad flats and at

the base of slopes of the gently rolling uplands. These soils are sandy in the surface and

Approved Plan November 2010

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subsurface layers with 2% phosphatic limestone and ironstone in the subsurface layer. The subsoil is sandy loam over sandy clay loam with moderately slow permeability. This Blichton soil has a water table that is less than 10 inches below the surface for 1 to 4 months during most years.

Kendrick Sand 2 to 5 percent slopes This gently sloping, well drained sandy soil is in areas on the gently rolling uplands. A

few areas of Kendrick soils have 0 to 2 percent slopes or 5 to 8 percent slopes. Permeability is rapid in the surface and subsurface layers. The water table is more than 72 inches below the surface. Surface runoff is moderately slow.

Millhopper Sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes This nearly level to gently sloping, moderately well drained soil typically occurs in 10- to

250-acre areas on uplands and on slightly rolling knolls in the broad flatwoods. The soils have rapidly permeable sandy surface and subsurface layers. The subsoil has moderately rapid permeability in the upper loamy sand layer, and moderately slow permeability in the mid subsoil sandy clay loam and lower subsoil sandy loam layers. The water table is at a depth of 40 to 60 inches for 1 to 4 months most years, and at a depth of 60 to 72 inches for 2 to 4 months.

Monteocha Loamy Sand This nearly level, very poorly drained soil is in wet ponds and shallow depressional areas

of about 8 to 35 acres in the flatwoods. The surface layer is rapidly permeable loamy sand; the subsurface and upper subsoil layers are moderately rapid to rapidly permeable sand, with moderately slow to moderately permeable fine sandy loam over sand in the lower subsoil. This soil has a water table that is within 10 inches of the surface for more than 6 months during most years. Most areas are covered with water for more than 4 months.

OLeno Clay, occasionally flooded This nearly level, poorly drained soil is in small to relatively large areas on the flood

plain of the Santa Fe River. The concave slopes are less than 2 percent. Typically these soils have clay in the upper several feet of the soil horizon with sandy loam, sandy clay loam in lower layers. This O'Leno soil is occasionally flooded for periods of about 1 month or less. The water table is at a depth of 6 to 18 inches for 6 to 8 months during most years. Surface runoff is slow. The available water capacity is very high in the clayey surface layer and subsoil, and it is very low to very high in the underlying material. Permeability is slow in the clayey surface layer and subsoil. It ranges from moderately rapid to slow in the underlying material. Natural fertility is medium, and organic matter content of the clay surface layer is moderate.

Pelham Sand This nearly level, poorly drained soil is in small and large areas in the flatwoods. Slopes

are nearly smooth and range from 0 to 2 percent. These soils are generally sandy in the upper horizons with sandy loam and sandy clay loam in the subsoil layers. The water table is less than 10 inches below the surface for 1 to 4 months during most years. The water table recedes below a depth of 40 inches during dry seasons. Surface runoff is slow. The available water capacity is low in the surface and subsurface layers and medium in the loamy subsoil. Natural fertility is low in the upper 29 inches and medium below 29 inches. The organic matter is moderately low.

Approved Plan November 2010

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