Florida Division of Florida Division of ForestryForestry

MyakkaMyakkaState ForestState Forest

Jim Karels, DirectorJim Karels, Director

Florida Department of Agriculture

and Consumer Services

Charles H. Bronson, Commissioner

Myakka State ForestMyakka State Forest Approximately 8,593 acres

Southwestern Sarasota Co

Almost entirely within the North Port City limits

Land AcquisitionLand Acquisition 1995

Atlantic Gulf Communities Corporation made 8,532 acres available to the state

2000

61 acres became available

Co-managed between DOF & DEP

Preservation 2000

Save Our Rivers

AccomplishmAccomplishmentsents- Recreation- Recreation 19,039 day visitors to the forest for 2009-10

10 drive-to and 4 remote campsites developed on the forest

2,236 camp permits issued in 2009-10

20 annual passes sold in 2009-10

Established as a Public Small Game Hunting Area with FWC in 2005

2,511 hunter visits to the forest in 2009-10 season

10 drive-to campsites

4 remote campsites

4 trails

Over 20 miles of multi-purpose trails

Camping & Trails

850 acres of South Florida slash and longleaf pine planted since 2000

Timber inventory complete

1,500 to 2,000 acres prescription burned annually

Developed and implemented an exotic-invasive species control program

AccomplishmAccomplishmentsents- Timber- Timber

AccomplishmentAccomplishment-Invasive Plant Control-Invasive Plant Control 8,593 acres surveyed 600 acres treated

Examples of Species Treated:Cogan GrassJapanese Climbing FernBrazilian PepperMelaleuca

Cogongrass

Melaleuca

Endangered, Threatened Endangered, Threatened and Sensitive Speciesand Sensitive Species

Water ResourcesWater Resources Myakka River

Outstanding Florida Water (OFW)

Wild and Scenic River

Divides the Forest into two Tracts

Big Slough

Also known as the Myakkahatchee Creek

Ainger Creek

Rock Creek

Part of the Charlotte Harbor estuarine system

2 major wetland restoration projects completed on the forest

On-going restoration in coordination with SW Florida Water Mgmt Dist

AccomplishmAccomplishmentsents- Hydrology- Hydrology

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