Millhopper Flatwoods

Blues Creek Ravine – IFAS Addition

1/6/04

Revised 2/22/04

Inspection Date: November 30, 2004

Parcel Numbers: 06005-000-000

Size: ~66 acres of a 520 acre parent parcel

S-T-R: 9-9-19

Buildings: 0 within subject area, ACPA 6 on parent parcel, Actual >25

Just Value: $1,092,000, or $2,100 / acre

Project Score: 6.36 of 10.0

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Overall Description:

The Blues Creek Ravine – IFAS Addition (IFAS) lies within the Millhopper Flatwoods Alachua County Forever Project. It consists of ~66 acres on the southeast side of a 520 acre parent parcel owned by the State of Florida Internal Improvement Trust Fund / University of Florida, Map #1. It is located immediately north of Blues Creek Ravine and Chantilly Acres and immediately west of the Blue Creek Subdivision. Acquisition of the IFAS Addition will provide public access for Blues Creek Ravine (BCR), increase the amount of good quality natural area preserved around San Felasco Hammock State Preserve (SFH), protect ~ 500 feet of Blues Creek, provide a buffer for Blues Creek and BCR, and contribute to a potential corridor of conservation lands connecting SFH to other nearby natural areas, including BCR, Devils Millhopper State Park, San Felasco County Park, and possibly to the Santa Fe River.

The Millhopper Flatwoods Project scored 6.98 of 9.44 on the Rapid Ecological Project Assessment (REPA) and is ranked 16th of 33 projects evaluated to date. The IFAS parcel is also included in the Millhopper Flatwoods Alachua County Ecological Inventory Project (KBN Study) where it ranked 23rd of 47 projects evaluated, and is described as an average priority. The KBN study summarizes the Millhopper Flatwoods project as, “a diverse area of relatively mature and undisturbed forest within a rapidly urbanizing part of the county. The pine flatwoods is natural second growth forest that has had no site preparation work such as bedding, but has also lacked fire for several decades. The swamps and hammock areas are mostly in good condition. The area provides much of the headwaters area for Blues Creek, which flows into San Felasco State Preserve” (KBN 1996).

In April of 2001, the Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) nominated the Blues Creek Ravine property to the Alachua County Forever Program (ACF). The property was evaluated by staff and placed in the priority pool by the Land Conservation Board in November of 2001. It was placed on the active acquisition list in February 2002, by the Board of County Commissioners, contingent upon BoCC approval of stewardship cost estimates. ACF staff has not been able to develop stewardship cost estimates because a viable location for public access has not been determined. In the interim ACT and the Trust for Public Lands acquired the property through a Florida Communities Trust Grant in 2002. The property is now owned by ACT. ACT still wishes to partner with the county on the Blues Creek Ravine property. After several years of exploring access options, the IFAS site appears to be the most feasible option.

Natural Communities:

Type Quality

Seepage Stream Very Good

Basin Swamp Good – Very Good

Flatwoods Fair

Dome Swamp Good

Spring Run Fair

Calcareous Mesic Hammock Very Good

Upland Mixed Forest Fair

Sinkhole Lake Good

Other

Grassy field

Pine Plantation

Key Species:

The IFAS Addition contains habitats that were deemed potentially significant for eight animal species modeled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), including swallow-tailed kites, gopher tortoise and short-tailed snakes. FWC 2002 data indicate one bald eagle nest within a 2.5-mile radius of the IFAS Addition.

Listed plant species observed during the site visit include greenfly orchid, cinnamon fern and royal fern.

Key Features:

Acquisition of the IFAS property will provide viable public access to BCR. Public access is necessary to comply with the terms and conditions of the FCT grant. Contingent upon County Commission approval of stewardship cost estimates, the County has agreed to assist ACT with the stewardship of BCR in exchange for a commensurate ownership interest in the property. In order for staff to estimate stewardship costs for BCR, the location of the public access must be determined. To this end, ACT and ACF have been working to determine an appropriate access location for the site. Options explored include acquisition of private property around BCR, leasing the IFAS Addition, entering into an access agreement with the University of Florida, and purchasing a portion of the IFAS Addition from the state. At this time, the most viable option is to purchase a portion of the IFAS Addition from the state.

The ~66 acre IFAS Addition provides room for a one acre parking area in a disturbed field that has recently been planted in slash pine, and a ~208 foot wide path to BCR. Additionally, ~500 feet of Blues Creek, various forested wetlands, a high quality area of calcareous mesic hammock, a spring run and two archaeological sites will be protected.

Just east of the proposed parking area, a spring run surrounded by Carolina willow, elderberry, marsh pennywort, netted chain fern and wax myrtle are present. The spring is not included in the revised IFAS Addition boundary.

There are several good quality small basin swamps in the area composed of black gum, loblolly bay, wax myrtle, fetterbush, green dragon, American holly, Virginia willow, and lizards tail.

An area of fire excluded pine flatwoods is located just north of where Blues Creek enters the property from the east. Vegetation in this area consists of Lyonia, sand live oak, sparkleberry, saw palmetto, St. Johns Wort, loblolly pines and a variety of native grasses.

The sinkhole pond is surrounded by button bush and black gum. To the south of the pond is a small grassy clearing with some scattered solid waste.

The northeast portion of the site is fairly wet with mature loblolly pines, scattered swamp chestnut oaks, magnolia, wax myrtle, red maple, netted chain fern, sabal minor, green fly orchid and muscle wood. A small population of golden canna is located in a wet area on the eastern edge of this area.

Management:

The IFAS property has a high edge to area ratio with ample opportunities for invasive species introductions via the adjacent residential developments and the IFAS facility. However, only small scattered areas of invasive plants were observed during the limited site visit. These include Chinese tallow, Chinese Privet, English ivy, and air potato. Access for management is very good due to dirt roads around the perimeter and within the interior of the site. The portion of the Blues Creek subdivision that is immediately east of the IFAS Addition is going through the City of Gainesville’s development review process at this time. Should the proposed plan be approved 18 residential units would be developed immediately adjacent to the eastern perimeter of the IFAS Addition. If the proposed plan is disapproved it is still likely that some residential units will be developed along this boundary. This will make prescribed burning in the fire excluded flatwoods more difficult, and further reduce the quality of the corridor connecting the natural areas to the west of this point (SFH, Fox Pond and BCR) with those to the east (Devils Millhopper, San Felasco County Park).

It will be necessary to remove the existing solid waste from the property and take actions to ensure that future dumping is discouraged. Most of the solid waste appears to be old agricultural items that are no longer in use.

Recreation:

The IFAS property would provide access to the Blues Creek Ravine Property and expand the available area for nature-based recreation in a rapidly urbanizing area.

Parcel Data:

The 2004 Alachua County Property Appraiser’s (ACPA) just or land value for the property is $1,092,000 or $2,100 per 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 ACF program. According to the ACPA there are six buildings on the parent parcel, although IFAS staff reported that there are in fact more than 25 buildings on the parcel. None of the buildings are located on the ~66 acre IFAS Addition.

There is a strong demand for single-family residential use in this area; however this parcel is currently owned by the University of Florida and designated Institutional Land Use with agricultural zoning (1 dwelling unit/ 5 acres). Adjacent to this property to the east is the Blues Creek Subdivision and within one mile of this site there are numerous urban residential subdivisions as well as commercial uses. UF has the ability to sell the parcel and in the process have the land use designation changed. With a land use of Rural/Agriculture and under the current zoning, the site could be developed for single-family use at a density of 1 unit/5 acres. There are some natural features on the subject area (marsh, sinkhole lake) that would have protection from development activities under current regulations. Under the new comprehensive plan, which could be in effect as early as late January, the entire subject area would be designated as strategic ecosystem, which could provide protection for the wetlands and at least 50% of the uplands on the subject area, but would not change the allowed number of developable units. Under either comprehensive plan and with its current zoning, the area could potentially have nine units on the ~66 acres, however the configuration of these units and amount of land required to be protected could be different depending upon which comp plan is in effect. Either way, the development potential would be high. The subject area does not have direct access to a road at this time.

This development review is based on a limited desk-top review and relates to the current regulation (1991 Comp Plan and Land Development Regulations) as well as policies in the new updated 2002 Comp Plan, which is expected to take effect in January or February 2005.

Other:

There are six Division of Historical Resources Master Site File locations on the parent parcel, including the Spanish mission site, San Francisco De Potano. Two of these sites fall within the ~66 acre IFAS Addition.

Literature Cited:

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

Alachua County Environmental Protection Department, Alachua County Forever Program. 2003. Millhopper Flatwoods Rapid Ecological Project Assessment Alachua County Forever.

Alachua County Environmental Protection Department, Alachua County Forever Program. 2001. The Alachua County Forever Project Ranking Report for Millhopper Flatwoods – Blues Creek Ravine.



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