Withlacoochee State Forest Five-Year Management Plan
Withlacoochee State Forest
Five-Year Management Plan
Withlacoochee State Forest Environmental Analysis Form Headquarters Tract 02 Mowing Project Prepared By: Keith Mousel Date Posted: March 11, 2002
Ending Date: March 25, 2002
Location: Headquarters Tract, project area is located east of 41 adjacent to the entrance to the Center for Wildland Fire and Resource Management Training. See map. Section 17, Township 21, Range 20 Acres: 95 Acres Stand History This area was originally a mixed hardwood pine component. Primarily composed of laurel and water oaks with a component of longleaf pine. In 2000 this area was harvested using a whole tree chipping operation in conjunction with a pine tree harvest associated with a Southern Pine Beetle spot. This stand had a long history of fire exclusion allowing the hardwoods to slowly encroach and in habit the site. Ground cover in the area was degraded and regeneration of longleaf pine had not been occurring. Soils The soils found in this stand are Candler fine sand 0 to 5 percent slope, Flemington fine sand 0 to 5 percent slope, and Arredondo fine sand 0 to 5 percent slope. The Candler and Arredondo soils are droughty with low fertility. The Arredondo has some moisture holding capacity and occasionally has a perched water table due to decreased drainage. The Flemington soils may contain a perched water table and drain poorly. These soil types typically occur in longleaf, turkey oak sandhills with a potential for small isolated wetlands and mixed hardwood forests. Understory and Midstory Vegetation: The sparse understory is composed of sandhill and weedy plants including annual grasses, dog fennel, grape, Carphephorus, blazing star, some legumes and passion vine. Midstory is composed of various oaks (mostly laurel) beauty berry, and some scattered sand pine. Objective: The objective is to reduce the height of the coppicing hardwoods (current height five to 7 feet) before the stand becomes too overgrown for the use of prescribed fire. Ideally the mowing of the sprouts will help provide for a better distribution of fuel in the fuel bed allowing for a more successful prescribed burn. Mowing will also lower the height of the flame lowering intensity and causing less stress to the remaining pines.
A contractor or Division employees utilizing a brown tree cutter and farm tractor to do the work will conduct mowing of the site. All resprouting hardwoods and trees smaller than four inches in diameter will be affected. Adjacent Impacts: This project adjoins US. 41 on the east side and will have a visible impact from the road. The hardwood harvest in 2000 had the largest impact opening the area adjacent to the road. The mowing is intended to keep the vista open until such time that fire can be reintroduced into this stand. Monitoring Plan: The area has photo plots established in the stand. This area is currently highly visible and some form of informal monitoring will always take place. The area will be visually inspected upon completion of the project as well as a third set of photos taken of the stand to make sure the objectives of the project were met. Attach Map: See attached map. DISCUSSION POINTS TO CONSIDER What are the benefits of this project? Look at the multiple use concept and list benefits. Environmental: Benefits will be to restore the area to a longleaf pine wire grass community type by utilizing the hardwood harvest, mowing the coppicing hardwoods and the reintroduction of fire to the stand when appropriate. Recreational: This area will provide a scenic vista to travelers on US. 41. Giving them the opportunity to view the rolling terrain as well as wildlife that may frequent the area. Wildlife: Wildlife has benefited from the additional browse created by the harvest, Butterflies were abundant on the passion vine the mowing should continue to support these species as well as offering another site for bugging spots for young turkeys. Issues to address: Location of RCW’s Wildlife Issues Cultural Sites Exotic Species Old Growth Status
Vince Morris VM Colleen/Vince VM Collen CW Colleen CW Jerry/Gina N/A
Burn Schedule
Vince N/A
Road Access, Needs Plant Issues Recreation Issues Site Prep Reforestation Goals
Tom Willis TW Colleen CW Lynne Bolton LB Gina/Jerry N/A Gina/Jerry/Vince N/A
What are we overlooking? Have all issues been answered and addressed adequately. If yes proceed. If no take another look at the process and revamp the idea. Environmental Analysis Checklist. (YES/NO) _Yes____ Have all key players been advised by email of posting? Date Notified 3/11/02. Yes
Have all sections replied by ending date?
_Yes Is there a need to notify the media? If yes who will do it?__Keith Mousel__ _Yes_ Have road issues been addressed? If no see Tom Willis. _Yes_ Have rec. issues been notified? If no see Lynne Bolton. _No _ Are there residences along our borders that need to be informed of our activities? If yes who will do it?_______________ _No__ Have alternatives been made? If yes list alternatives.
Headquarters Mowing Project 02
Childs Road
95 Acres
US. 41
Mow area.shp Dof0002.shp
N
Goethe State Forest
Ocklawaha Prairie Restoration Area
Dunnellon
Waccasassa Bay State Preserve
Ocala National Forest
Cross Florida Greenway State Recreation and Conservation Area Cross Florida Greenway
Marion County
Ross Prairie State Forest
Marion
Lake Weir
Sunnyhill Restoration Area
ð
Two Mile Prairie (CARL)
Crystal River State Buffer Preserve
Paisley Tower
# S
Two Mile Prairie Field Office
ð Crystal River Tower
Sawgrass Island Preserve
Gum Slough
Crystal River State Buffer Preserve
Lake Norris Cons Area
Potts Preserve
Lake Yale Half Moon WMA
Crystal River
Citrus County
Wildwood Tower
# S ð
Wildwood
Lake Panasoffkee
Fern Prairie Preserve
LeesburgLAke Harris Conservation Area La
ð
ke e fke sof na Pa
Ft. Cooper State Park
Coleman Lake Harris
Flat Island Preserve
Flying Eagle Ranch
Rock Springs Run State Reserve
Citrus Tract
Homosassa (CARL) Homosassa Tower and Field Office
#ð S
Jumper Creek Tract
Sugarmill Woods
Chassahowitzka NWR
Bushnell Work Center and Tower
#ð S
Gulf of Mexico
Chassahowitzka WMA
World Woods (CARL) Training Center
Cason (CARL) Chinsegut Nature Center Annutteliga Hammock
# S
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Little Lake Harris
Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps
Chassahowitzka NWR
Seminole State Forest
Lake Eustus
Lake Griffin
Inverness Inverness Tower
Pine Meadows Conservation Area
Leesburg Work Center and Tower
ð Tsala-Apopka Chain of Lakes
Crystal River State Buffer Preserve
Lower Wekiva River State Preserve
Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area
Headquarters Tract
Sumter County
ð
Lake Apopka Restoration Area
Lake Apopka Restoration Area
Double Run Preserve
Groveland Tower
Bushnell
Withlacoochee Forestry Center
# S
Lake Apopka
Lake County
Webster
Fickett Hammock Preserve Tucker Hill Tower
Subtropical Agricultural Research Station
Janet Butterfield Brooks Preserve
ð Croom Tract
Hernando County
Groveland
Brooksville Baird Tract (CARL)
Weeki Wachee Tower
ð Cypress Lakes Preserve
la cooc W ith
Weeki Wachee
he e S
Richloam Tract Lake Louisa
Richloam Tract
Tr ail
Spring Hill
Warea
Richloam Work Center and Tower
ta te
Weekiwachee River System SWFWMD
# ðS
ð Eva Tower
Lake Louisa State Park
Hilochee WMA Green Swamp
Fillman Bayou Preserve
Pasco County
Withlacoochee District DOF DOF and other state lands 3
0
3
6 Miles
Growers Corner Tower
ð
Green Swamp
Withlacoochee State Forest Properties State Properties CARL Properties Additional Public Lands Federal State Local or Private
Area of Detail
Five-Year Management Plan
Withlacoochee State Forest Environmental Analysis Form Headquarters Tract 02 Mowing Project Prepared By: Keith Mousel Date Posted: March 11, 2002
Ending Date: March 25, 2002
Location: Headquarters Tract, project area is located east of 41 adjacent to the entrance to the Center for Wildland Fire and Resource Management Training. See map. Section 17, Township 21, Range 20 Acres: 95 Acres Stand History This area was originally a mixed hardwood pine component. Primarily composed of laurel and water oaks with a component of longleaf pine. In 2000 this area was harvested using a whole tree chipping operation in conjunction with a pine tree harvest associated with a Southern Pine Beetle spot. This stand had a long history of fire exclusion allowing the hardwoods to slowly encroach and in habit the site. Ground cover in the area was degraded and regeneration of longleaf pine had not been occurring. Soils The soils found in this stand are Candler fine sand 0 to 5 percent slope, Flemington fine sand 0 to 5 percent slope, and Arredondo fine sand 0 to 5 percent slope. The Candler and Arredondo soils are droughty with low fertility. The Arredondo has some moisture holding capacity and occasionally has a perched water table due to decreased drainage. The Flemington soils may contain a perched water table and drain poorly. These soil types typically occur in longleaf, turkey oak sandhills with a potential for small isolated wetlands and mixed hardwood forests. Understory and Midstory Vegetation: The sparse understory is composed of sandhill and weedy plants including annual grasses, dog fennel, grape, Carphephorus, blazing star, some legumes and passion vine. Midstory is composed of various oaks (mostly laurel) beauty berry, and some scattered sand pine. Objective: The objective is to reduce the height of the coppicing hardwoods (current height five to 7 feet) before the stand becomes too overgrown for the use of prescribed fire. Ideally the mowing of the sprouts will help provide for a better distribution of fuel in the fuel bed allowing for a more successful prescribed burn. Mowing will also lower the height of the flame lowering intensity and causing less stress to the remaining pines.
A contractor or Division employees utilizing a brown tree cutter and farm tractor to do the work will conduct mowing of the site. All resprouting hardwoods and trees smaller than four inches in diameter will be affected. Adjacent Impacts: This project adjoins US. 41 on the east side and will have a visible impact from the road. The hardwood harvest in 2000 had the largest impact opening the area adjacent to the road. The mowing is intended to keep the vista open until such time that fire can be reintroduced into this stand. Monitoring Plan: The area has photo plots established in the stand. This area is currently highly visible and some form of informal monitoring will always take place. The area will be visually inspected upon completion of the project as well as a third set of photos taken of the stand to make sure the objectives of the project were met. Attach Map: See attached map. DISCUSSION POINTS TO CONSIDER What are the benefits of this project? Look at the multiple use concept and list benefits. Environmental: Benefits will be to restore the area to a longleaf pine wire grass community type by utilizing the hardwood harvest, mowing the coppicing hardwoods and the reintroduction of fire to the stand when appropriate. Recreational: This area will provide a scenic vista to travelers on US. 41. Giving them the opportunity to view the rolling terrain as well as wildlife that may frequent the area. Wildlife: Wildlife has benefited from the additional browse created by the harvest, Butterflies were abundant on the passion vine the mowing should continue to support these species as well as offering another site for bugging spots for young turkeys. Issues to address: Location of RCW’s Wildlife Issues Cultural Sites Exotic Species Old Growth Status
Vince Morris VM Colleen/Vince VM Collen CW Colleen CW Jerry/Gina N/A
Burn Schedule
Vince N/A
Road Access, Needs Plant Issues Recreation Issues Site Prep Reforestation Goals
Tom Willis TW Colleen CW Lynne Bolton LB Gina/Jerry N/A Gina/Jerry/Vince N/A
What are we overlooking? Have all issues been answered and addressed adequately. If yes proceed. If no take another look at the process and revamp the idea. Environmental Analysis Checklist. (YES/NO) _Yes____ Have all key players been advised by email of posting? Date Notified 3/11/02. Yes
Have all sections replied by ending date?
_Yes Is there a need to notify the media? If yes who will do it?__Keith Mousel__ _Yes_ Have road issues been addressed? If no see Tom Willis. _Yes_ Have rec. issues been notified? If no see Lynne Bolton. _No _ Are there residences along our borders that need to be informed of our activities? If yes who will do it?_______________ _No__ Have alternatives been made? If yes list alternatives.
Headquarters Mowing Project 02
Childs Road
95 Acres
US. 41
Mow area.shp Dof0002.shp
N
Goethe State Forest
Ocklawaha Prairie Restoration Area
Dunnellon
Waccasassa Bay State Preserve
Ocala National Forest
Cross Florida Greenway State Recreation and Conservation Area Cross Florida Greenway
Marion County
Ross Prairie State Forest
Marion
Lake Weir
Sunnyhill Restoration Area
ð
Two Mile Prairie (CARL)
Crystal River State Buffer Preserve
Paisley Tower
# S
Two Mile Prairie Field Office
ð Crystal River Tower
Sawgrass Island Preserve
Gum Slough
Crystal River State Buffer Preserve
Lake Norris Cons Area
Potts Preserve
Lake Yale Half Moon WMA
Crystal River
Citrus County
Wildwood Tower
# S ð
Wildwood
Lake Panasoffkee
Fern Prairie Preserve
LeesburgLAke Harris Conservation Area La
ð
ke e fke sof na Pa
Ft. Cooper State Park
Coleman Lake Harris
Flat Island Preserve
Flying Eagle Ranch
Rock Springs Run State Reserve
Citrus Tract
Homosassa (CARL) Homosassa Tower and Field Office
#ð S
Jumper Creek Tract
Sugarmill Woods
Chassahowitzka NWR
Bushnell Work Center and Tower
#ð S
Gulf of Mexico
Chassahowitzka WMA
World Woods (CARL) Training Center
Cason (CARL) Chinsegut Nature Center Annutteliga Hammock
# S
Wekiwa Springs State Park
Little Lake Harris
Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps
Chassahowitzka NWR
Seminole State Forest
Lake Eustus
Lake Griffin
Inverness Inverness Tower
Pine Meadows Conservation Area
Leesburg Work Center and Tower
ð Tsala-Apopka Chain of Lakes
Crystal River State Buffer Preserve
Lower Wekiva River State Preserve
Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area
Headquarters Tract
Sumter County
ð
Lake Apopka Restoration Area
Lake Apopka Restoration Area
Double Run Preserve
Groveland Tower
Bushnell
Withlacoochee Forestry Center
# S
Lake Apopka
Lake County
Webster
Fickett Hammock Preserve Tucker Hill Tower
Subtropical Agricultural Research Station
Janet Butterfield Brooks Preserve
ð Croom Tract
Hernando County
Groveland
Brooksville Baird Tract (CARL)
Weeki Wachee Tower
ð Cypress Lakes Preserve
la cooc W ith
Weeki Wachee
he e S
Richloam Tract Lake Louisa
Richloam Tract
Tr ail
Spring Hill
Warea
Richloam Work Center and Tower
ta te
Weekiwachee River System SWFWMD
# ðS
ð Eva Tower
Lake Louisa State Park
Hilochee WMA Green Swamp
Fillman Bayou Preserve
Pasco County
Withlacoochee District DOF DOF and other state lands 3
0
3
6 Miles
Growers Corner Tower
ð
Green Swamp
Withlacoochee State Forest Properties State Properties CARL Properties Additional Public Lands Federal State Local or Private
Area of Detail
