Austin Cary Flatwoods

Rapid Ecological Project Assessment

Alachua County Forever

 

Draft Date:                             October 15, 2002

Matrix Score:                         7.36 of  9.44

Size:                                        12,062 acres

Number of parcels:                106

Number of ownerships:          34

 

LOCATION / DESCRIPTION: 

The 12,062 acre Austin Cary Flatwoods Project is located essentially between Waldo Road, State Road 301, and County Road 26. It is south of the City of Waldo and northeast of Newnan’s Lake (Map 1).  

The Austin Cary Flatwoods Project is a combination of two projects from the Alachua County Ecological Inventory Project (KBN Study), KBN 1996; the Austin Cary Flatwoods and the Hatchet Creek Connector.  The purpose of this Study was to identify, inventory, map, describe, and evaluate the most significant natural biological communities, both upland and wetland, that remain in private ownership in Alachua County and make recommendations for protecting these natural resources, KBN 1996.  The KBN Study ranked the Austin Cary Flatwoods Project fifteenth of 47 projects evaluated in the county, and categorized it as a slightly above average project.  The Hatchet Creek Connector was ranked 31st, and categorized as below average. 

              The KBN Study summarized the Austin Cary Flatwoods project by stating that, “This is a large site of mostly pine flatwoods habitat used for commercial forestry.  The mesic flatwoods has been converted to slash pine plantation and the sites have been bedded.  It varies from fairly poor habitat to fairly good habitat.  The wetland sites of creek bottoms, cypress domes, and basin swamps that are scattered throughout the flatwoods are mostly in good condition. A significant part of Hatchet Creek and its watershed is here, making this a significant surface water resource area.”, KBN 1996.

The Hatchet Creek Connector project is summarized in the KBN Study by the following paragraph, “This is a narrow, branched, linear connector along the middle section of Hatchet Creek and some of its tributaries.  It provides a critical link between some of Alachua County’s largest wildlife habitat areas.  The forest is a rich, tall, mature bottomland hardwood forest along the creek bottom, is a shrub dominated seepage slope on some of the wet slopes, and is a pioneer hardwood forest on the dry slopes.”, KBN 1996.

Protecting Water Resources:

The Austin Cary Flatwoods site is located in the confined aquifer zone of Alachua County.  This zone of relative aquifer confinement stretches from north-central Alachua County southeastward comprising most of the eastern half of the county.  It is a region of higher elevations underlain by at least 10 feet of clays or clayey sands which form an aquiclude to the Floridan Aquifer System, Macesich, 1988. 

Although the project site is shown as a high to moderately high aquifer recharge area on the St. John’s River Water Management District Aquifer Recharge Map, and the Aucott map, Aucott, 1988, new data indicates that this area of the county does not serve a significant aquifer recharge function, personal communication Robin Hallbourg, Environmental Engineer, Water Quality Division, Alachua County Environmental Protection Department (ACEPD).

Approximately 38% of the total acreage is wetlands, has hydric soils, or falls within the FEMA 100 or 500 year flood hazard zone.

“The surface drainage is to Hatchet Creek, which flows to Newnan’s Lake, which flows to Paynes Prairie and Orange Lake, both of which provide direct input to the Floridan Aquifer”, KBN 1996 (Map 2).

As part of their 2003 Legislative Agenda, Alachua County is considering requesting that the entire Orange Creek Basin be included in the State’s Surface Water Improvement (SWIM) Program.  This area includes Paynes Prairie, Newnans Lake, Lake Lochloosa, Orange Lake, and the impaired urban streams and lakes in the City of Gainesville.  At this time Newnans, Lochloosa and Orange Lakes have shown increased levels of degradation.  The Chlorophyll A concentration in Newnans and Lochloosa Lakes exceeds levels reported for Lake Apopka prior to restoration.  Lake Lochloosa, Paynes Prairie and Orange Lake were designated an “Outstanding Florida Water”.

            Because Hatchet Creek discharges into Newnans Lake, protecting the creek and its tributaries, enhancing the riparian buffers and reducing some of the negative effects of agricultural practices in the surrounding uplands will certainly help improve the quality of the water entering Newnans Lake.

Protecting Natural Communities and Landscapes:

 

Natural Communities

Sandhill

Former Sandhill

Wet Flatwoods

Mesic Flatwoods

Bog

Baygall

Seepage Slope

Seepage Slope Forest

Bottomland Forest

Floodplain Swamp

Depression Marsh

Basin Swamp

Dome Swamp

Flatwoods/ Prairie Lake

Swamp Lake

Other

Rough Pasture

Row Crops

Active Mining

Low Impact Development

Farm Pond

 

            The above list of natural communities is from the KBN Report, KBN, 1996.  The ecological quality of the natural communities is low to moderate.  Much of the area is in silviculture and ranges from bedded rows of planted pines with little understory to areas with moderate to high diversity. 

The Project site is adjacent to three properties that are currently in conservation ownership; Austin Cary Memorial Forest, Balu Forest and the Gum Root Swamp Conservation Area (Map 1). 

The project site is within the Florida Ecological Greenways Network (FEGN), in the priority 3 project area known as Ocala North Florida-Lochloosa-Paynes Prairie-Newnans Lake. This FEGN project is the highest priority project in Alachua County.  The Florida Ecological Greenways Network is a decision support model to help identify the best opportunities to protect ecological connectivity statewide.  It was developed by the University of Florida for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.  GIS data on land use and significant ecological areas were integrated in a process that identified a statewide Ecological Greenways Network containing all of the largest areas of ecological and natural resource significance and the landscape linkages necessary to link these areas together in one functional statewide network, Hoctor et al. 2002. 

The strategic location of the Austin Cary Flatwoods Project on the east side of the county within an existing corridor of natural and silvicultural properties that form a large connected area for wildlife and natural resource conservation, is the most critical feature of this project.  The area is a mosaic of public and private lands.  Protection of this corridor is one of the best opportunities to protect and enhance natural resource values in our county, and more importantly it is of regional importance as one of several possible corridors that connect Ocala National Forest north to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and west to the Gulf Coast. 

AUS Project does not fall within a Strategic Habitat Conservation Area. Strategic Habitat Conservation Areas were developed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC).  They are private lands containing habitats critical to the continued survival of populations of inadequately protected plants and animals, Cox et al. 2000.  These lands are essential to providing some of state’s rarest animals, plants, and natural communities with the land base necessary to sustain populations into the future, Cox et al.1994. 

Approximately twenty percent of the site is within the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) priority 2-5 Habitat Conservation Priorities.  FNAI’s Habitat Conservation Priorities prioritize places on the landscape that would protect both the greatest number of rare species and those species with the greatest conservation need, Florida Natural Areas Inventory, June 2001.

Pine flatwoods are listed as an Under-represented Natural Community occurring on the project site.  Under-represented Natural Communities are those natural community types that were inadequately represented on conservation lands in Florida.  A natural community is considered to be inadequately represented on conservation lands if less than 15% of the original extent of that community is currently found on existing conservation lands.  Under-represented natural communities include, seepage slope, upland hardwood forest, pine rockland, tropical hardwood hammock, sandhill, scrub, upland glades, and pine flatwoods. This data was developed by the Office of Environmental Services, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and FNAI, FNAI, December 2001. 

PROTECTING PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES:

Common Name                     Endemic/ Large                   Fed/State               FCREPA/FNAI             Observed

                                                Home-Range                         Status                    Designation

Amphibians

Eastern Tiger Salamander                   -/-                            -/-                            SU/S3                                     SM

Flatwoods Salamander                        -/-                            T/-                           R/S2S3                                   SM

Gopher Frog                                          -/-                            -/SSC                      T/S3                                        SM,K

Striped Newt                                         -/-                            -/-                            R/S2S3                                   SM

Reptiles

American Alligator                              -/-                            T/SSC                     -/S4                                         SM

Canebrake Rattlesnake                        -/-                            /-                             -/S3                                         K

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake    -/-                            -/-                            -/S3                                         SM

Eastern Indigo Snake                          -/-                            T/T                         SSC/S3                                   SM

Florida Box Turtle                                X/-                          -/-                            -/-                                            P

Florida Crowned Snake                       X/-                          -/-                            -/-                                            SM

Florida Pine Snake                               -/-                            -/SSC                      SU/S3                                     SM

Gopher Tortoise                                   -/-                            -/SSC                      T/S3                                        F,N,K

Peninsula Mole Skink                          -/-                            -/-                            -/-                                            SM

Red-cockaded Woodpecker               -/-                            E/T                          E/S2

Short-tailed Snake                                X/-                          -/T                           T/S3                                        SM

Spotted Turtle                                      -/-                            -/-                            R/S3?                                      SM,N

Birds

Bachman’s Sparrow                             -/-                            -/-                            -/S3                                         K

Black Rail                                               -/-                            -/-                            R/S3                                        SM

Cooper’s Hawk                                     -/-                            -/-                            SSC/S3                                   SM

Great Egret                                            -/-                            -/-                            SSC/S4                                   SM

Hairy Woodpecker                              -/-                            -/-                            SSC/S3                                   SM

Little Blue Heron                                  -/-                            -/SSC                      SSC/S4                                   SM

Osprey                                                   -/-                            -/-                            T/S3S4                                   SM

Snowy Egret                                         -/-                            -/SSC                      SSC/S3                                   SM

Southern Bald Eagle                            -/L                           T/T                         T/S3                                        F,N

Swallow-tailed Kite                              -/L                           -/-                            T/S2                                        F

Tricolored Heron                                  -/-                            -/SSC                      SSC/S4                                   SM

Wild Turkey                                          -/L                                                                                                           F,K,S

Wood Stork                                          -/-                            E/E                          E/S2                                        SM,K

Mammals

Bobcat                                                   -/L                           -/-                            -/-                                            F

Florida Black Bear                                X/L                         -/T                           T/S2                                        F,K

Northern Yellow Bat                            -/-                            -/-                            SU/-                                        SM

River Otter                                             -/-                            -/-                            -/-                                            SM,N

Round-tailed Muskrat                         X/-                          -/-                            SSC/S3                                   SM

Sherman’s Fox Squirrel                       -/-                            -/SSC                      T/S3                                        F

X= Endemic, L=species with large home ranges according to the Closing the Gaps in Florida’s Wildlife Habitat System, S= observed by Alachua Co. EPD staff and/or an LCB subcommittee member, SM= documented on the Species Models maps created by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, F= Focal species used for the most detailed analyses in the Closing the Gaps in Florida’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation System, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, 1994, N= Florida Natural Areas Inventory Element Occurrence, P= potential for species based on habitat types, K=documented in the Alachua County Ecological Inventory Project.

The KBN Study noted the following listed plants on the Austin Cary Flatwoods site: hooded pitcher plant, bearded grass-pink, yellow butterwort, blue butterwort, wild azalea, royal fern, and cinnamon fern.

The area of Hatchet Creek near County Road 225 has the most diverse macro-invertebrate population in Alachua County, personal communication with Robin Hallbourg, Environmental Engineer, Water Quality Division, ACEPD. 

The FF WCC 2001 data shows four bald eagle nests within 2 miles of the AUS Project site.

Greater than two thirds of the site is within Regional Biodiversity Hotspots. The purpose of the Regional Biodiversity Hot Spots maps, developed by FFWCC, is to “convey more detailed information on the known locations of as many components of biological diversity as possible, regardless of whether or not they fall within proposed Strategic Habitat Conservation Areas, to help meet the need for conservation information at regional and local levels”, Cox et al. 1994..

Exotic plants found on this property in small numbers are mimosa, and camphor tree, KBN 1996.

           

Achieving Social and Human Values:

The Austin Cary Flatwoods Project area ranges from a Priority 1-4 Natural Resource-based Recreation Area, Knight, et al. 2000, and is a priority 3 Ecological Greenway.  The Natural Resource-based Recreation map was developed by FNAI in collaboration with DEP, FFWCC and DOF.  The recreation potential of a site depends on available road access, presence of a water body or beach, proximity to urban areas, and size of the site.  “These criteria were applied to Potential Natural Areas delineated by FNAI using aerial photography and revised using the 1995 Water Management District land cover data. Sites were ranked by recreation potential.” Knight, et al. 2000. 

The Austin Cary Flatwoods Project is part of the Emerald Necklace Land Conservation Initiative – “a publicly accessible, connected, and protected network of trails, greenways, open space, and waterfronts surrounding the Gainesville urban area”. 

The project would enhance the SJRWMD’s Gum Root Swamp Conservation Area’s Recreation Plan.

The property provides excellent opportunities for compatible resource based recreation.

Management Issues:

            The project site is dominated by active silviculture.  Prescribed fire and invasive plant control and allowing the pines to mature will go a long way toward improving the ecological quality of the area.  The large size of the property and easy access will facilitate management activities. 

 Economic/ Acquisition Issues:

There are 106 parcels and 34 ownerships in the 12,062 acre Austin Cary Flatwoods Project.  The Alachua County Property Appraiser shows 26 buildings on their parcel data.  Three ownerships make up 7,812 acres or 62% of the project acreage.  The Alachua County Property Appraisers 2002 Just Value or land value for the entire project is $13,556,900 or $1,124/ acre. The ACPA’s total value (Just, Miscellaneous and Buildings) for the project area is $14,344,400 or 1,189/acre.  These figures are for comparative purposes between nominated properties, and are not necessarily an accurate reflection of the true cost of the property if acquired by the Alachua County Forever Program. 

The keystone parcels in this project are as follows (Map 3):

1)      The 4,695 acre Donaldson tract which connects Austin Cary Memorial Forest, Balu Forest and Gum Root Swamp Conservation Area, and also makes a connection to the NE Flatwoods Project and on to the Santa Fe River.

2)      The 1,795 acre Rayonier tract which connects the Gum Root Swamp Conservation Area to the Austin Cary Memorial Forest.

3)      The 1,322 acre Plum Creek Timberland tract that connects the Gum Root Swamp Conservation Area to Balu Forest, and makes a connection to the Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods Project.

ACF staff should work with IFAS staff to protect Hatchet Creek as it passes through the 447 acre IFAS property, because of the high macro-invertebrate diversity in the this area of the creek. 

The SJRWMD is interested in cooperating on the acquisition of the Donaldson tract.

There is one old construction and demolition Landfill on a portion of the Rayonier property.  The landfill is closed and vegetation covers the site.

The project site falls within unincorporated Alachua County and is zoned Agriculture.  It is adjacent to the Urban Services Line and the Urban Cluster on the southwest side. Approximately 1,900 acres are within the Urban Reserves.  The Future Land Use map shows approximately 885 acres of the Donaldson and Williams Anderson Tracts in Institutional and the rest in an agriculture/rural designation. The majority of the land is in silviculture at this time.  There does not appear to be a great deal of development pressure in the project area. 

Other:

There are three archeological sites on or immediately adjacent to the project site as listed on the Florida Master Site Files by the Division of Historical Resources.

 

 

 

Literature Citations:

Aucott, W. 1988. Water Resources Investigation Report 88-4057. USGS.

 

Cox, J., R. Kautz, M. MacLaughlin, and T. Gilbert. 1994.  Closing the Gaps in Florida’s Wildlife Habitat Conservation System, Office of Environmental Services, Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee, Florida.

 

Cox, J. and R. Kautz. 2000. Habitat Conservation Needs of Rare and Imperiled Wildlife in Florida. Office of Environmental Services, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Tallahassee, Florida.

 

Florida Natural Areas Inventory. June 2001. Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment Technical Report

 

Hoctor, T.S., J. Teisinger, M.G. Carr., P.C, Zwick. 2002. Identification of Critical Linkages Within the Florida Ecological Greenways Network. Final Report. Office of Greenways and Trails, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Tallahassee, FL.

 

Knight, G., A. Knight, and J. Oetting. 2000. Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment Summary Report to the Florida Forever Advisory council. Florida Natural Areas Inventory.

 

KBN, A Golder Associates Company. 1996. Alachua County Ecological Inventory Project. Prepared for Alachua County Department of Growth Management, Gainesville, Florida.

 

Macesich, M. 1988.  Geologic Interpretation of the Aquifer Pollution Potential in Alachua County, Florida, Open File Report – 21.  Florida Geologic Survey, Tallahassee, Florida.

 

Florida Natural Areas Inventory. December 2001. Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment Version 1.1 Supplement to the technical Report June 2001. Tallahassee, Florida.