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organic matter increase the nutrient levels and favor the invasion of pine rockland habitat by
hardwoods. Winter backing burns can be used to reduce the levels of organic matter in the soil of
those sites where the accumulation is already higher than desirable.
Direct use of fertilizers and other nutrient applications are forbidden. Inputs from off-site nutrient
sources that migrate into pine rocklands should be prevented and controlled in case they are
Management Policy
Soil on pine rockland EEL sites shall be managed by prescribed burning. Direct use of
fertilizers and other nutrient applications are forbidden on any pine rockland EEL site.
Management Policy
The EEL program will support any large scale restoration project which would be
beneficial to the hydrological restoration of pine rockland EEL sites.
EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 41
occurring. Source reduction of nutrients might be needed to reduce edge-of-field and leaching
from neighboring agricultural areas (see Part I, Section 5.2.5).
4.10 Cultural Resources
Cultural resources on pine rockland EEL sites should be managed in accordance with the
management policy for all Miami-Dade County EEL preserves. Please refer to Part I, Section 3.3
of this management plan for details about management of cultural resources on EEL sites.
4.11 Pollution Control
Generally, the goal of source reduction to control pollutants applies to all pine rockland EEL
sites in the same manner as it does for all other EEL sites. Please refer to Sections 5.2.5 and 5.4.3
in Part I of this management plan for management and contingency management of pollutants in
and around EEL preserves.
4.12 Landscaping Considerations
Landscaping adjacent to pine rocklands should be done to minimize the threat of invasive exotic
plants and also native plant species that could become maintenance problems in the ecosystem.
No plant species listed by the FLEPPC as Category I or II (Appendix C) should be planted on
EEL sites. Exotic plant species that can naturalize, even those not listed by FLEPPC, should not
be planted on EEL sites. Lists of exotic species that naturalize in South Florida can be found
online at www.regionalconservation.org in the Floristic Inventory of South Florida database, or
at www.plantatlas.usf.edu/, the Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants. Cultivated trees that are
FLEPPC listed or that naturalize should be removed from EEL sites where they are already
present.
Native hardwood species that may invade pine rocklands should not be used, including live oak,
wild tamarind, gumbo limbo, and others. Where already cultivated on EEL sites, their removal
should be considered.
Management Policy
All landscaping that occurs adjacent to pine rockland EEL sites should avoid exotic
plants or problematic native plant species that could possibly invade EEL sites.
Management Policy
Pollution on pine rockland EEL sites shall be managed through source reduction in
and around all sites.
Management Policy
EEL Program will protect any archeological, historic, and cultural resources found in
its properties. Management of those resources will comply with mandates from the
Florida Statutes [Sections 267.061 (a) and (b)].
EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 42
Native plant species that are suitable for cultivation on EEL sites can be found in the Natives for
Your Neighborhood database online at www.regionalconservation.org. Using this database, lists
of pine rockland species can be generated specific for each zip code in Miami-Dade County.
4.13 Off-site Exotic Plant and Animal Sources
As discussed throughout Parts I and II of this management plan, exotic flora and fauna becoming
invasive within EEL sites is a major problem. This is especially true for pine rockland EEL sites.
A dual approach that includes source reduction and removal of existing species will be most
efficient in managing exotic species in native ecosystems. Possible sources of exotic species into
pine rockland sites include:
• Escape of exotic pets being imported for the exotic pet trade
• Dumping of exotic pets that have become unwanted by their owners
• Wind dispersion of seeds (especially after major storm events such as hurricanes)
• Water dispersion of seeds
• Animal dispersion of seeds
• Intentional introduction of exotic species for drainage or landscaping
The EEL program should work with adjacent landowners where feasible, including public
agencies and private landowners, to eliminate exotic plant populations. Reduction or elimination
of pest plants near pine rockland EEL sites will decrease invasion rates and reduce long-term
management costs.
4.14 Restoration of Pine Rockland on Degraded Soils
At many sites, as discussed individually in Part III of this management plan, it will be desirable
to reestablish pine rockland vegetation in areas with degraded soils, such as rock-plowed or
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.
Gann (2006) details the currently known best practices for replanting pine rocklands. The
discussion below draws from Gann (2006).
All loose soil and organic material on the site should be removed so that almost the entire ground
surface consists of bare oolitic limestone. Pines (which will suffer large mortality) should be
planted at densities of one plant per 50 to 100 square feet, from three (3) to seven (7) gallon
containers or smaller. Palms and subshrubs, including saw palmetto, silver palm, coontie,
Management Policy
Restoration of pine rockland on degraded soils within pine rockland EEL sites shall
consist of soil management, weed control, and planting of advantageous species.
Management Policy
A dual approach that includes source reduction and removal of existing species shall
be used in managing exotic plants and animals in and around pine rockland EEL sites.
EEL Program, Management Plan, Part II – Pine Rockland (DRAFT) _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Page 43
quailberry, pineland croton, and gopher apple should be planted throughout the restoration area.
Larger hardwoods should be avoided.
Weeds should be controlled aggressively on the site to avoid establishment of an organic layer
and a seed bank of unwanted species. Control can be achieved by hand pulling, chemical control,
or other means, but as much of the plant material should be removed from the sites as possible.
Herbaceous species, including forbs, grasses, and sedges, may recruit naturally on the site soon
after soil clearing. They may establish from persistent roots (depending on site history), from a
seed bank, or from seed rain from nearby pine rockland. Herb cover can be augmented several
months after planting of pines, palms, and subshrubs to re-create the diversity of pine rocklands
typical of the project area. Plant species that already occur on the site’s intact pine rockland, or
those that are historically known from the area, should be used.
After all plants are installed, two (2) to three (3) inches of pine straw should be placed
throughout the site. During establishment the site should be watered to ensure survival of as
many plants as possible, as often as once per day for several weeks after installation. Watering