RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN 6/85
Suite 201
1300 West Lantana Road
Lantana, Florida 33462
Phonel (305) 533-0902
RITECO
DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATION
June 6, 1985
City of Boynton Beach
Attn Carmen Annunziato
POBox 310
Boynton Beach, FL 33435
Dear Carmen
Enclosed is the Resource Management Plan for the Boynton
Beach Park of Commerce Scrub Tract
After you have reviewed the Plan, please call me with your
comments
Sincerely yours,
~
Wade Riley
Vice President
WR/gd
cc Nate L Adams, II
enclosure
Report on the Prop:>sed Resource Management Plan on the Boynton Beach Park of
Canmerce Scrub Tract, Palm Beach County, Florida.
Dick Roberts,
Biologist
P.D Box 1246
Hobe Sound, Florida 33455
Ixm Richardson
Ecological Consultants
8909 Hooley Court
Tampa, Florida 33614
As per a developnent order prop:>sed by the Treasure Coast Regional
Planning Council, the disappearance of sand pine scrub habitat within the region
has caused concern for the remaining reITU1ants and the preservation of its tmique
plants and animals.
In an effort to preserve the largest contiguous area of sand pine scrub,
the developer of this property, the City of Boynton Beach, and the Treasure Coast
Planning Council staff have agreed to set aside the 35 acres east of High Ridge
Road and north of 22nd Avenue (a p:>rtion of Yilidl is mature sand pine scrub) lD'ltil
such time it is ascertained whether the 40 acres that is west of High Ridge Roa::1
and north of 22nd Avenue can be restored to a satisfactory diversity of scrub
habitats and species. The latter site has suffered deterioration due to sp:>ra::1ic
understory clearing and livestock qrazing, but is one manageable piece of property
and still supp:>rts a number of scrub plants and animals of regional concern. In
the agreerrent, the second site (40 acres) would be reveqetated and rranaged up to a
period of 3 to 5 years during which it will be exmpared with the 35 acre site.
'Ihe management period is now extended to a maxinum of 12 years. If and Yilen the
managed site does achieve the natural diversity and the tmique species
cornrrensurate with the 35 acres, then the 35 acre site will be released for
developnent and the 40 acre site will becane a preserve for indemic flora and
fauna.
Annual rep:>rts concerning the progress of the 40 acre site will be sent to
thp City of Boynton Beach, CNR and TCRPC..
Also, it was agreed that during the 12 years of mitigation no develqment
will occur in the natural scrub site east of High Ridge Road.
The pJrpose of this report is to define the prop:>sed management philosophy
for preservation of the 40 acre site and establish methodology for the next 12
years.
BASIC MANAGEMEm' PHILOSOPHY
'Ihe objective of the resource rranagerrent plan is to restore the subjected
piece of property to a representative sample of an original Florida ecosystem and
also increase its natural diversity
RESOURCE MANAGEMEm'
'l11e predominant plant canmuni ty is sand pine scrub. It occurs at eleva-
t ions approaching 15 to 26 feet and shows evidence of early Pleistocene soorelines
by occurring in a dune ridge. 'l11e scrub is a very xeric type of plant canmmi ty
and is adapted to the dry and relatively sterile sand of the old dunes As soch,
Page 2
species living within this system are adapted to survive under
conditions of extreme drought and low soil fertility associated
with well-drained sands, as well as periodic fire
Sand pine (Pinus clausa) is the dominant tree and is
usually found in closed canopy situations of mature stands as
shown north of 22nd Avenue. The characteristic woody understory
species adapted to xeric conditions of the scrub include various
scrub oaks, saw palmetto, and rosemary.
Fire generally does not enter sand pine stands except
when the fuel levels are high and weather conditions severe This
often leads to very hot crown fires, hot enough to kill the sand
pines and other vegetation. However, fires are necessary to regen-
erate sand pine forests, and it reduces hardwood competition,
triggers the release of sand pine seeds, and improves the seedbed
If fire is excluded from scrub, the sand pines eventually
will die of old age, approximately 80 years, and the habitat may
ultimately grow into a xeric oak forest. However, if a fire is
carried through the area, the mature trees are killed and the new
seeds begln the cycle again.
This plant community also contains many endangered,
threatened, and endemic plant and animal species that depend on
this type of habitat for survival. Some have different environ-
mental requirements even with the same plant community, and will
require different management objectives if they will be retained on-
site
MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES
In our stated objective for the management of this property,
there are major responsibilities for the long term preservation
of the vegetation, wlldlife, and soil, plus the area's natural
resources In this role, the following comments are reasonable
judgments as to the management "state of the art", so that the
area will be sufficiently protected for the future and not just
short-term realities Assessment of impact and management recommen-
dations are based on field observations, comparison to past records,
and a review of pertlnent literature.
Fire Management - Fire has a necessary historical role in the
perpetuation of sand pine scrub and maintaining its diveristy of
vegetation. Man's efforts to suppress fires and the development of
firebreaks provided by human activity (roads, etc.) have created
the need for instigating prescribed burns to maintain scrub In
addition, the burning of the areas at different times will also
help promote a diversity of different age stands of vegetation.
Page 3
This plant community appears to be adapted to a 30 to 40
year cycle This documentation is largely established as a theoreti-
cal ideal time sequence for Rosemary (Ceratiola ericoides) and Sand
pine (Pinus clausal as both can be aged and their life histories
have been well studied.
A preliminary survey of 27 randomly selected trees, starting
near the south end of the 40 acre parcel and working north, were
cored and the age of each tree determined by counting growth rings.
It was easily summarized that even with this small sampling, the
older trees were located on the southern end of the property (oldest
approximately 50 years of age) and the youngest trees were on the
northern end of the property (approximately 15 years old). Using
this data, which will have to be further defined, the scrub commu-
nity was divided into zones that will be used for future management
purposes to promote a diversity of different age stands of scrub.
Although somewhat theoretical and the fact this will have
to be further defined in the field with more core samples and field
observations, a preliminary map has been attached. This information
will also be based on the ongoing census of the endangered plants
and animals. As the study continues to develop, a better picture
of all the management zones will appear.
Of course, a fire model will be formulated to judge the
effects of the thermal dynamics of a proposed fire. This will
include the amount and combustability of fuels, required moisture
content, air temperature and humidity, desired wind speed and
direction, and any other changes that may alter the fire's progress.
A defined fire prescription will be developed for the site that
will include good smoke management. However, most of this data is
site specific and will have to wait until the size, location, and
special problems for the preserved piece of property is better defined.
Also, the plan will address the need to maintain the
ecological diversity of the scrub. Instead of burning all the fire-
adapted communities at one time, the site selected for preservation
will be partitioned into zones that will be managed and burned
separately. Thus, the wildlife will be able to use recently burned
tracts, as well as formerly burned areas.
If burning turns out to be a non-acceptable means for main-
taining the existing scrub due to smoke management or excessive
explosive fuels, the mechanical means, such as what is currently
being utilized at Ocala National Forest, will be instituted. However,
this is only viewed as a last resort because of soil disruption
and the compaction it causes.
Page 4
Threatened Plants - All native plants within the site are of
interest and worthy of protection, however, the following is a
list referenced from the Florida Committee on Rare & Endangered
Plants & Animals, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer
Services, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (see the DRI
Assessment Report on this property for more information)
Scrub Mint
Indian Pipes
Sand Spikemoss
Conradina grandlflora
Monotropa brittonii
Selanginella arenicola
All of the above listed plants except Indian Pipes are
largely noted on this list because of the limited expanse of sand
pine scrub vegetation, and the devestation being inflicted upon it
by the development of business areas and residential housing along the
southeast coast of Florida. It is suggested that Scrub Mint and
Sand Spikemoss respond favorably to fire by seeding into the new
burned over areas. Also, Scrub Mint and Sand Spikemoss are somewhat
intolerant of heavy shade and do best in clearings or open areas
Crown closure of the overstory should be suppressed around these
specles.
Any area within the proposed preserved site that will
require restoration because of past impacts (old trails, dump
locations, etc.) will use the native plant species of that indicated
community.
Threatened Animals - Several reptiles and a mammal are considered
highly adapted to scrub (i.e , reaching their maximum population
levels or found only within this habitat) and deserve further
comments.
All are referenced in the Florida Committee of Rare &
Endangered Plants & Animals book and have been observed by qualified
field observations:
Gopher Tortoise
Indigo Snake
Florida Mouse
Gopherus polyphemus
Drymarchan corais
peromyscus floridanus
The Gopher Tortoise is known from several plant communities
all of them being well-drained, having sandy soils, and containing
an abundance of grasses. This would clearly indicate that they
would be more abundant in early successional stages of sand pine
scrub than in the more advanced, closed canopy, thick understory
conditions. It has been reported at the Fifth Annual Gopher Tor-
toise Council Meeting (November 9-11, 1984) that tortoise densities
average 10.4 to 20.4/ha , but may reach a density as high as 28 to
33/ha. where predation is minimized and habitat is ideal.
Page 5
If the present census of 36 animals is correct for the
total 540 acre piece of property, then using at least 9 acres
of the 40 acres (the lowest density, 10.4/ha.) should be maintained
and managed for Gopher Tortoises. Proper management would be either
to burn or chop (manually, not with heavy machines) on a yearly
cvcle.
The Indigo Snake is not restricted to scrub habitat. When
it is found in this habitat, the shelter and moisture provided by
the Gopher Tortoise burrows is a critical factor. The management
of scrub to provide more diversity of age stands and younger sites
would tend to favor these two above mentioned animals.
The Florida Mouse is a threatened species found almost en-
tirely within the scrub and generally associated with Gopher Tor-
toise burrows. It has been generallly more often trapped in the early
stages of this plant community that have low shrub height and thick
cover than the more mature stands (Roberts, unpublished manuscript).
Like the above animals, this would suggest that this habitat should
be burned on a more frequent schedule and have natural corridors
open for animals to move from one area to another.
Because of the negative impacts (genetic pool disruption,
stress to existing populations, disease transmission, etc.) the re-
location of the above species to an off-site location would not be
desirable.
Exotic Plants One of the most serious threats to any native plant
community in South Florida 1S the invasion of exotic vegetation.
Exotics can modify normal ecological processes or relationships,
including predator-prey and herbivore-plant relationships, nutrient
and energy cycles, and soil-building and erosion processes. It has
also been shown that the general stability of our natural communities
is also reduced.
One exotic plant species is an existing threat, namely
Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) and has been noted within
the area of study. The permanent removal of exotics must be completed
with the reforestation of native plant species relating to that par-
ticular plant community.
Roads and Trails - Although some damage has occurred by the creation
of roads and trails on the site, it has been left largely unscarred.
The planned use of preserved sites should restrict the construction
of fire roads to as few as possible and restrict research vehicular
useage (by Mytinger and Roberts in their "E.I.S. of Military Reserve
and National Guard Activities on a Portion of Jonathan Dickinson State
Park"). Once these areas are impacted, their rate of recovery is slow
and the entire community may be affected.
P~e 6
Prior to any management manipulation, at least 4 permanent line transects
will be established on the 40 acre site, as well as on the 35 acre site Along
each 100 meter line, a rrodified line intercept method will be used (rrainly looking
at frequency) to establish the baseline information. They will be resurveyed
annually to see if the stated objectives have been readled. Also, any landscaping
that will be aocornplished in this interim period will obtain the same percentage
of veqetational frequency as the control.
4/85
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