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plants or problematic native plant species that could possibly invade EEL sites.
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Management Policy
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Pollution on pine rockland EEL sites shall be managed through source reduction in
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and around all sites.
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Management Policy
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EEL Program will protect any archeological, historic, and cultural resources found in
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its properties. Management of those resources will comply with mandates from the
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Florida Statutes [Sections 267.061 (a) and (b)].
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EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Page 42
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Native plant species that are suitable for cultivation on EEL sites can be found in the Natives for
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Your Neighborhood database online at www.regionalconservation.org. Using this database, lists
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of pine rockland species can be generated specific for each zip code in Miami-Dade County.
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4.13 Off-site Exotic Plant and Animal Sources
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As discussed throughout Parts I and II of this management plan, exotic flora and fauna becoming
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invasive within EEL sites is a major problem. This is especially true for pine rockland EEL sites.
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A dual approach that includes source reduction and removal of existing species will be most
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efficient in managing exotic species in native ecosystems. Possible sources of exotic species into
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pine rockland sites include:
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• Escape of exotic pets being imported for the exotic pet trade
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• Dumping of exotic pets that have become unwanted by their owners
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• Wind dispersion of seeds (especially after major storm events such as hurricanes)
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• Water dispersion of seeds
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• Animal dispersion of seeds
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• Intentional introduction of exotic species for drainage or landscaping
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The EEL program should work with adjacent landowners where feasible, including public
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agencies and private landowners, to eliminate exotic plant populations. Reduction or elimination
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of pest plants near pine rockland EEL sites will decrease invasion rates and reduce long-term
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management costs.
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4.14 Restoration of Pine Rockland on Degraded Soils
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At many sites, as discussed individually in Part III of this management plan, it will be desirable
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to reestablish pine rockland vegetation in areas with degraded soils, such as rock-plowed or
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bulldozed soils. Unlike the re-creation of rockland hammock habitat, discussed in Chapter X, recreation of pine rocklands are much more difficult and the process has not been fully developed.
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Gann (2006) details the currently known best practices for replanting pine rocklands. The
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discussion below draws from Gann (2006).
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All loose soil and organic material on the site should be removed so that almost the entire ground
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surface consists of bare oolitic limestone. Pines (which will suffer large mortality) should be
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planted at densities of one plant per 50 to 100 square feet, from three (3) to seven (7) gallon
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containers or smaller. Palms and subshrubs, including saw palmetto, silver palm, coontie,
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Management Policy
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Restoration of pine rockland on degraded soils within pine rockland EEL sites shall
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consist of soil management, weed control, and planting of advantageous species.
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Management Policy
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A dual approach that includes source reduction and removal of existing species shall
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be used in managing exotic plants and animals in and around pine rockland EEL sites.
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EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Page 43
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quailberry, pineland croton, and gopher apple should be planted throughout the restoration area.
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Larger hardwoods should be avoided.
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Weeds should be controlled aggressively on the site to avoid establishment of an organic layer
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and a seed bank of unwanted species. Control can be achieved by hand pulling, chemical control,
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or other means, but as much of the plant material should be removed from the sites as possible.
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Herbaceous species, including forbs, grasses, and sedges, may recruit naturally on the site soon
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after soil clearing. They may establish from persistent roots (depending on site history), from a
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seed bank, or from seed rain from nearby pine rockland. Herb cover can be augmented several
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months after planting of pines, palms, and subshrubs to re-create the diversity of pine rocklands
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typical of the project area. Plant species that already occur on the site’s intact pine rockland, or
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those that are historically known from the area, should be used.
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After all plants are installed, two (2) to three (3) inches of pine straw should be placed
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throughout the site. During establishment the site should be watered to ensure survival of as
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many plants as possible, as often as once per day for several weeks after installation. Watering
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should be decreased as quickly as possible to prevent weed invasions. Weeds should be
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controlled monthly until the project is self-sustaining. Additional applications of pine straw may
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be required. Pine straw should be clean, having no seeds. Pine straw can also be collected within
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pine rockland on the same site as the planting area if there is enough. This would have the added
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benefit of introducing seeds of pine rockland plant species from the same property.
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4.15 Security
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At times, it may be necessary to enforce certain security measures to ensure the preservation of
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EEL pine rockland sites. These measures, which include but are not limited to, fencing, signage,
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patrolling by county personnel, and continuous staffing of entrances to sites, are similar for all
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EEL sites. Please refer to Part I, Section 5.4.5 of this management plan for details about the
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security management policy for EEL preserves.
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4.16 Partnerships
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The EEL program has partnered with several Miami-Dade County agencies and organizations in
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an effort to better protect and preserve EEL sites. These agencies include Miami-Dade County
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Natural Areas Management (NAM), Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation Department, IRC,
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FTBG, and the Nature Conservancy. Please refer to Part I of this management plan for details
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about these agencies, and others, and how they play a role in the EEL program.
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Management Policy
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In the event of any security breach at any pine rockland EEL site, the site manager (or
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any persons observing such a violation) should report such actions to the Miami-Dade
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County Police Department, for proper investigation.
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EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Page 44
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5.0 Public Use of the Pine Rockland EEL Properties
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Consistent with the defined goals of the EEL Program (refer to Part I, Section 5.3), prospective
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public uses of pine rockland sites should avoid potential ill effects. Public use on all pine
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rockland EEL sites will be managed in accordance with all management policies outlined in Part
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I of this management plan. Part III of this management plan will provide site-specific
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information for the uses that are allowed in each of the EEL preserves, taking into consideration
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the need for preservation as well as the opportunities for primarily passive recreation.
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EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Page 45
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6.0 Monitoring, Research, and Information Needs
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General monitoring, research, and information needs have been discussed in Part I of this
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management plan. Long-term management of pine rocklands poses several challenges that will
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require specific research to overcome. Additional issues that should be studied include:
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• Appropriate densities of pine trees and understory shrubs and hardwoods
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• Control of some exotic and problematic plant species including:
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o Natal grass (currently being studied by Jennifer Possley at FTBG)
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