ENVIRONMENTAL CONFEDERATION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA COMMENTS ON FISHEATING CREEK DRAFT WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN 2014-2024 FISHEATING CREEK PUBLIC HEARING AUGUST 1, 2013 MOOREHAVEN, FLORIDA The Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida (ECOSWF) offers both substantive and editorial comments (which include deliverable dates) on the DRAFT Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Plan for 2014-2024 (FCWMP or WMP). The FCWMP is the story of Fisheating Creek. A person reading this document should finish with physical information as well as objectives and goals. EDITORIAL RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Page 1, first paragraph “Providing important habitat and wildlife corridor links to Big Cypress Swamp, Okaloacoochee Slough, Babcock-Webb Wildlife Management Area, Babcock Ranch Preserve, Lake Okeechobee, and the Lake Wales Ridge,” A map should be included showing Fisheating Creek’s location in the corridor link. 2. Page 1, fourth paragraph references a Figure 1. A figure 1 needs to be included in the WMP. 3. Page 1. Last paragraph “The campground is on US 27. It is approximately 19 miles northwest of Moore Haven, two miles north of the intersection of Hwy 29, and one mile south of Palmdale. Hunters participating in the two special opportunity spring turkey hunts may access the area via the US 27 right of way entrance. Hunters may only access the area by boat, bicycle, or on foot. Boaters may enter the eastern sector of the management area at the boat ramp located on Hwy 78, one mile south of Lakeport. Hikers may enter the east sector via Banana Grove Road located two miles south of Lakeport on Hwy 78. “ A map should be included showing these locations. 4. Page 2 Management Activities and Intent, “The following section provides a description of agency plans to locate, identify, …”. This implies that the agency has yet to locate and identify. It would be better to recognize that this has task has been accomplished and protect and preserve are now the emphasis. 5. Pages 3 -8, Objectives Accomplished from the 2003 -2013 Fisheating Creek WMA Management Plan. When reading this section of the WMA there are several items that grammatically imply that the task is 100% accomplished when in fact it is an ongoing activity. In some cases it is stated that it is ongoing while others do not. Instead of describing the activity as 100% accomplished the column should state “ongoing”. Examples are Goal 1, Objectives 1, 2 continue to seek funding and continue to control exotic plants. Objective 6 implies the wax myrtle and buttonbush are controlled. Are they or is it an ongoing effort? Maps should be provided showing the location pre and post of the exotic plant control. 6. Page 4, Objective 10, the acronym DHR is used for the first time in the document without identifying the Department of Historical Resources. All acronyms should first list the name and then the acronym. A LIST OF ALL ACRONYMS USED IN THE FCWMP SHOULD BE PROVIDED AT THE BEGINNING OR THE END OFT HE DOCUMENT. 7. In the section after the Objectives Accomplished from the 2003 -2013 Fisheating Creek WMA Management Plan there are links given to take the public to several links and webpages. This is great. Links to the Fort Center Management and protection strategies, Goal 2, O Objective 11 and Objective 12, the design and implementation of hiking trails with assistance of the Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association. 8. Page 5,Goal 3, Objective 6 “ By 2004, contact the Loxahatchee Chapter of the Florida Trail Association for assistance in design and implementation of hiking trails.” This is the exact same objective as Objective 12 under Goal 2, except in Objective 12 the task was shown to be 100% accomplished in 2003. Was the plan updated? Why two different accomplished dates? Again a link to view this should be provided. 9. Page 6, Objectives 1,2, and 3/ These should be identified as ongoing instead of 100% and 0%. 10. Page 6, Objectives 6, 7, and 9. As previously stated pre and post maps should be provided. 11. Page 6, Objective 8. Provide the link to the evaluation of the plant communities and the developed vegative management objectives. 12. Page 7, Objective 2. Provide the link to the conditions that are monitored and the criteria used to assure long-term wellbeing of the creek and its watershed. Replace the 100% with “ongoing”. 13. Page 7, Objectives 3 under Goal 6 and Objectives 2 and 3 under Goal 7. Change the 100% accomplished to “ongoing”. 14. Page 8, Objective 1. Change the 100% to “ongoing”. 15. Page 9, “ Initial mapping and vegetation sampling provides FWC staff with baseline data indicating natural community structure, distribution, and condition on the area. Comparing the subsequent monitoring results to desired future conditions, provides key operational information on a management unit’s vegetation structural status at a given point in time and trend over time. Using this information, managers can evaluate, adjust, and modify their management practices to meet the stated objectives.” Provide link or site for public access to the information. 16. Page 9, “On some areas, prescribed burning is limited by the buildup of mid-story brush and a lack of pyrogenic groundcover fuels. This trend is distinctly negative for most wildlife species. Mechanical and chemical control of brush on upland sites can reduce shading and encourage the grasses and forbs that are necessary to sustain prescribed fire. Provide the % of this area in relationship to the WMA. 17. Page 10, Prescribed Burn Plan Provide link or site for the burn plan. 18. Page 10, “Habitats important to migratory species will be protected, maintained, or enhanced. FWC will continue to update inventories for certain species…” Should identify steps already taken to protect, maintain or enhance habitats or give a location to find this information. Species need to be listed rather than “certain species”. 19. Page 11 “Each strategy contains area-specific measurable objectives for managing priority species and their habitat, prescribes management actions to achieve these objectives, and establishes monitoring protocols to verify progress towards meeting the objectives.” List link or site to find this information. 20. Page 12 “The FWC will host a WCPR workshop in 2013 for FCWMA and subsequently will develop a WCPR strategy based on input received at the workshop.” Should provide either the date this took place or the scheduled date. 21. Page 13, “The FWC has adopted a comprehensive approach to the planning and administration of fish and wildlife-based recreational opportunities for the FCWMA. To accomplish this, FWC has worked with recreational stakeholders and the general public to develop a Recreation Master Plan (RMP) for the FCWMA. This plan will be used to design and develop appropriate infrastructure that supports the recreational use of the area by the general public. In the short-term of this Management Plan (i.e., 2014 – 2016), FWC will update the FCWMA RMP. Upon completion and implementation of the RMP, FWC will reassess recreational opportunities every three years. “ Provide a link showing stakeholders and general public opportunities for input, as well as access to view the RMP update. 22. Page 14, 2.4.9 Trails Provide a map. 23. Page 15, 2.6.1 Hydrological Assessment, restoration, and Management. “the FWC will conduct or obtain Site-specific Hydrological Assessment ..” Need to provide a date or time line. 24. Page 15, 2.6.2,” Also, the FWC will request a stream condition index assessment from DEP..” Provide time line or date. 25. Page 16, 2.7 Forest Resource Management “Upland pine forest planted with off-site pines will be reforested with on-site species as appropriate. Through a series of thinning operations FWC will gradually reduce pine basal area to 30 - 40 sq. ft./acre and under-plant sites with on-site pine species to increase the uneven-aged character of the stands, overstory structure, and species diversity.” Provide start and finish dates. 26. Page 17, 2.9.1 Administrative Operations, “ FWC will continue to maintain seven facilities on FCWMA, including the FCWMA Office complex, GFBT kiosk, Check Station entrance complex, and campground.” List the seven facilities. Define GFBT. Is the Lakeport Boat Ramp one of the facilities? The seven facilities should be on the maps showing the trails, paddling and boating channel, the Optimal Resource Boundary and Optimal Conservation Planning Boundary. 27. Page 23, “As guided by the WCPR Strategy, monitor Florida scrub jay, wading bird species, gopher tortoise, bald eagle, and other identified imperiled and focal species.” Show link to monitoring information including frequency and protocol. 28. Page 25, “19. Continue to maintain 24 miles of trails, including a FCWMA paddling trail.” Change paddling trail to paddling channel. 29. Page 29, “4. Identify and recommend parcels for addition to the FWC additions and inholdings list. “ Show existing list and map. Identify additional parcels through a list and map. SUBSUTIVE RECCOMENDATIONS “A natural community, as defined by FNAI, is a distinct and recurring assemblage of populations of plants, fungi, animals, and microorganisms naturally associated with each other and their physical environment. After natural communities have been mapped, management units are delineated. Delineating management units takes into account the distribution and extent of the current and/or historic mapped natural communities, existing and proposed infrastructure, and other management considerations. FWC land managers then identify the predominant current or historic natural community within each management unit that guides the type and frequency of management activities that should be applied.” (Page 8, emphasis added) FCWMA has long been valued for its scenic quality as well as its unique fish and wildlife-based public outdoor recreational opportunities. FWC manages the FCWMA for the conservation of imperiled and common wildlife, and for fish and wildlife-based public outdoor recreation. The area is managed to conserve the important natural communities on-site that provide habitat for a wide range of imperiled and more common wildlife species, to conserve and restore natural wildlife habitat, and to provide high-quality opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, and other fish and wildlife-based public outdoor recreation opportunities including camping, paddling, biking, and hiking.” (Page 1, emphasis added) Within the last 12 months, I have had the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Fisheating Creek beginning at Lakeport and going upstream as far as the channel allowed. I was there during high and low water events. I COULD NOT BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF ALLIGATORS BOTH ON THE BANKS AND IN THE WATER. I live next to the Myakka River and visit the Myakka River State park, the Myakka River and the Upper Myakka Lake and fishing pier at least 3 times a week. In the 33 years I have lived in the area, under flood and drought conditions, I have never seen so many alligators in the water and along the banks as those I saw on my Fisheating Creek trips. It is only a matter of time that one of the 115.3 visitors per day to the FCWMA will be killed by an alligator and unfortunately it will probably be a child. While looking at the natural communities , which includes animals, management units must also look at the distribution and extent of the current alligator population. After a census is conducted, then a determination must be made if the alligator population needs to be reduced. ECOSWF sees the current population level as hazardous to the public. The population greatly limits the recreation opportunities of primitive camping, paddling, biking and hiking. “An exotic animal species of concern on the FCWMA is the wild hog. These animals have high reproductive rates. Populations of wild hogs can significantly degrade natural communities through foraging activity (rooting). FWC will consult with other regional natural resource managing agencies and private landowners to coordinate wild hog control measures as necessary. FWC will also evaluate the efficacy of implementing additional population control measures such as additional public hunting opportunities or trapping. FWC will monitor for additional exotic animal species and control as necessary.”(Page 16). ECOSWF does not support the current limited hog hunting. ECOSWF does not find the current schedule consistent with the SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT (ECOSWF is one of the signatories). Hogs not only degrade the natural communities, but destroy significant historical and archeological sites. ECOSWF recommends FWC staff attend the proper gun safety program and them and the local law enforcement officials begin shooting pigs when they see them. We also recommend they kill monitor lizards and pythons rather than just making a notation about siting them. “Cooperative or similar organizations so that FWC continues to gain understanding and share knowledge of key issues related to potential climate change. In addition, FWC will consider the need for conducting vulnerability assessments to model the potential effects of climate change, especially sea level rise and storm events, on imperiled species and their habitats on FWC managed land.” (Page 21). ECOSWF recommends defining the “trigger” which will have FWC do the vulnerability assessments . What must change before FWC only “considers the need”? “..additional specific goals and objectives to mitigate potential climate change impacts may be developed for the FCWMA Management Plan in the future.” (Page 21) ECOSWF recommends articulating the process that will be used to develop additional specific goals. Will there be public hearings? Challenge 9: Currently the zoning at the FCWMA campground does not allow for the construction of cabins. Strategy 1: Pursue a zoning change that will allow for the construction of cabins within the current FCWMA campground footprint. ECOSWF at this time cannot support this strategy without further information. Will the number of cabins be limited by zoning or carrying capacity of the campground? How will the infrastructure needs of the cabins be met? What disturbances will be caused and for how long to the enjoyment of the campground? Are the cabins to be built at once or over a period of time? What is the actual footprint of the cabins? Will other uses be precluded in order to provide space for the cabins? Respectfully submitted, Becky Ayech President ECOSWF
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 10:44:46 +0000
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