East Newnan’s Lake

Rapid Ecological Project Assessment

Alachua County Forever

Lake Forest Creek

Rapid Ecological Project Assessment

Alachua County Forever

Draft Date:                             February 15, 2003

Matrix Score:                         7.51 of 9.44

Size:                                        3,361 acres

Number of parcels:                55

Number of owners:                31

Number of buildings: 19

 

The 3,361 acre East Newnans Lake (ENL) project encompasses the east side of Newnans Lake, exclusive of the developed areas and existing conservation lands.  It connects Paynes Prairie State Park and the Lochloosa Wildlife Conservation Area (LWCA) on the south to the Gumroot Swamp Conservation Area (GSCA) on the north.  Hawthorne Road and SR 234 cross through the south and east portions of the ENL project area, Map 1.  The Lake Forest Creek, Lochloosa Forest – Levy Prairie Connector, and Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods Alachua County Forever (ACF) projects abut the ENL project on the west, southwest and east respectively. 

            The Alachua County Ecological Inventory Project (KBN Study) known as East Side Newnans Lake overlaps the Alachua County Forever East Newnans Lake (ENL) project.  The purpose of the KBN 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 East Side Newnans Lake project was ranked 13th of 47 projects evaluated in the county, and categorized as above average.

The KBN Study summarized the East Side Newman Lake project by stating that, “This is the southeast quarter of the shore line of Newnans Lake and the strip of land between the lake and the paved roads.  It includes the magnificent fringe of lake shore cypress swamp, and some other swamps, ponds, pine flatwoods, and hardwood forest”, KBN, 1996.

Protecting Water Resources:

            The ENL project 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 of the Hawthorn Group which form an aquiclude to the Floridan Aquifer System, Macesich, 1988.

            According to the St. Johns River Water Management District’s (SJRWMD) Aquifer Recharge Map for Alachua County 51% of the ENL project recharges between 0-4 inches of water to the Floridan Aquifer per year, while the remaining 49% of the project area is considered a Discharge area from the Floridan Aquifer.  According to the USGS Water resources Investigation Report 88-4057, the property falls in an area of 1-10 inches of recharge per year, Aucott, 1988.

            Approximately 73% of the ENL site is wetlands, has hydric soils, or falls within the FEMA 100 or 500 year flood hazard zone.

            As part of their 2003 Legislative Agenda, Alachua County will request 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 are designated “Outstanding Florida Waters”.

The forested wetland area around Newnans Lake is the only remaining natural filter to trap nutrients and sediments prior to discharge into the Lake.  “The drainage is into the lake and then down Prairie Creek into both Paynes Prairie, where the water goes down Alachua Sink into the Floridan Aquifer, and into Orange Lake by way of Camp’s Canal and the River Styx, where some water goes into the Floridan Aquifer and some into Orange Creek” KBN 1996, Map 2. 

Protecting Natural Communities and Landscapes:

 

Natural Communities

Scrub

Xeric Hammock

Wet Flatwoods

Mesic Flatwoods

Scrubby Flatwoods

Hydric Hammock

Baygall

Floodplain Swamp

Depression Marsh

Basin Swamp

Dome Swamp

Flatwoods/ Prairie Lake

Blackwater Stream

Rough Pasture

Lake Shore Swamp

Other

Improved Pasture

Old Field Pine Plantation

Row Crops

 

The above list of natural communities is from the KBN Study. The ecological quality of the natural communities ranges from fair to good, KBN 1996. 

The ACF Lake Forest Creek, Locloosa Forest- Levy Prairie Connector, and Lochloosa Creek Flatwoods Projects are immediately west, southwest and east respectively of the ENL project.  The preservation of the ENL project would connect Paynes Prairie State Park and the Lochloosa Wildlife Conservation Area (LWCA) on the south to the Gumroot Swamp Conservation Area (GSCA) on the north.  

Eighty-four percent of the ENL project is within the Florida Ecological Greenways Network (FEGN); 57% is in the priority 3 project area known as “Ocala NF-Lochloosa-Paynes Prairie-Newnans Lake” (the highest priority FEGN project in Alachua County), and 27% is in an un-named priority 6 project area.  Of the 16% of the project area that does not lie within the FEGN, only twelve acres or 0.3% are not in Newnans Lake.  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 location of the ENL 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 one of the key features of this project.  The east side of the county 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 Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, and west to the Gulf Coast.

Approximately 8% of the ENL project falls within a Strategic Habitat Conservation Area for wading birds. 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 58 % of the site falls within the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) priority four or five 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.  Of the 42% of the project area that lies outside of the Habitat Conservation Priority area, only 36 acres are not within Newnans Lake. 

About 30 % of the project area is delineated as Pine flatwoods, an Under-represented Natural Community.  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

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

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

Reptiles

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

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

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

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

Gopher Tortoise                                   -/-                            -/SSC                      T/S3                                        K

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

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

Spotted Turtle                                      -/-                            -/-                            R/S3                                        SM

Birds

Black-Crowned Night Heron              -/-                            -/-                            SSC/S3                                   SM

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

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

Great Egret                                            -/-                            -/-                            SSC/S4                                   SM,N

Least Bittern                                         -/-                            -/-                            SSC/S4                                   SM

Limpkin                                                  -/-                            -/SSC                      SSC/S3                                   F

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

Osprey                                                   -/-                            -/-                            T/S3S4                                   SM

Snowy Egret                                         -/-                            -/SSC                      SSC/S3                                   SM,N

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

Tricolored Heron                                  -/-                            -/SSC                      SSC/S4                                   SM,N

Wild Turkey                                          -/L                                                                                                           F

Wood Stork                                          -/-                            E/E                          E/S2                                        SM

Mammals

Bobcat                                                   -/L                           -/-                            -/-                                            F

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

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

River Otter                                             -/-                            -/-                            -/-                                            SM

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, K=documented in the Alachua County Ecological Inventory Project.

 

The KBN Study reports some mimosa trees, and air-potato vines, KBN 1996.

FNAI notes in their Element Occurrence data a bird rookery inhabited by great blue herons, anhingas, and great egrets in the project area

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data shows five bald eagle nests on the project site and nine others within two miles.  The cluster of bald eagle nests around Orange, Newnans and Lochloosa Lakes has been apparent for the last twenty years, and is one of the densest populations in the state of Florida, personal communication Steve Nesbitt, FWCC.

Approximately 50% 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.

Achieving Social and Human Values:

Approximately 48% of the ENL project area falls within a Priority 1 Natural Resource-based Recreation Area, Knight, et al. 2000.  Of the remaining 52% of the project area, only 3% is outside of Newnans lake.  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. 

Eighty-four percent of the ENL project lies within the Florida Ecological Greenways Network.

The ENL 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”. 

Alachua County received $100,000 in Federal funds to assist with the implementation of the Emerald Necklace Initiative.  These funds are slated for the development of the Lake Pithlachocco – Historic Overlook Project, an interpretive feature showcasing the largest cache of dugout canoes found in North America, and the Native Americans that lived in the area.  This feature, located on the shore of Newnans Lake, will be a recreational and educational destination.

The ENL project would link GSCA, with Paynes Prairie State Park and the LWCA.  It is easily accessible from the urban areas and would allow additional access to Newnans Lake.  The Hawthorne Trails cuts through a small portion of the project area.  The property provides very good opportunities for compatible resource based recreation.

Management:        

            “The area is in good condition.  The small infestations of exotic plants could easily be removed.  The flatwoods and scrub areas need prescribed burning to achieve the high wildlife value potential these areas have.  This would be difficult to do due to smoke management problems.  SR20 [Hawthorne Road] is on the South side, the Windsor Road [SR 234] is on the east side, and the Gainesville Regional Airport is several miles to the northwest.  This is an area where alternative management techniques such as chopping and mowing might be needed to maintain the pine flatwoods community.  Whether they can be developed to maintain a native community for a century or more is not known.  The lake shore and other wetland communities can remain viable and valuable even if the pine flatwoods community changes to a hardwood forest”, KBN 1996.   

            It should be noted that even though prescribed burning will be a challenge, it will not be impossible. 

Economic & Acquisition:

There are 55 parcels and 31 ownerships in the 3,361 acre East Newnans Lake Project.  The Alachua County Property Appraiser (ACPA) shows 19 buildings on their parcel data.  The ACPA’s 2002 Just Value or land value for the entire project is $2,595,100 or $772/ acre.  The ACPA’s total value (Just, Miscellaneous and Building) for the project area is $3,118,600 or $928/ 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.

Zetrouer is the largest land owner in the project area with 2,335 acres or 69% of the total project acreage.  Approximately 744 acres of this property appear to be within Newnans Lake.  All together around 43% of the project area, or 1,457 acres, are in the actual lake.  The keystone parcels in the ENL project are the Zetrouer parcels, the parcels along Newnans Lake between the north and south portions of the GSCA and the properties that are adjacent to the GSCA.  Approximately 291 acres of the Zetrouer property is within Paynes Prairie State Park’s Optimum Boundary, Map 3. 

The ENL project is within unincorporated Alachua County, although the northern portion of the project in the Windsor area.  The zoning is agriculture, except for 16 acres which are zoned single family residential.  The Future Land Use is Rural Agriculture throughout the entire project area.   

Other:

            There are eight archeological sites within the ENL project area as listed on the Florida Master Site File by the Division of Historical Resources.  This includes the “Lake Pithlachocco Canoe Site” where a large number of log boats dating from 1250-1600 AD were found when the water level in Newnans Lake dropped.

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

 

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

 

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.