Every 10 years, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) updates the management plan for each state park and trail. Each update is based on statewide resource management goals, recreational needs, current department policies and priorities and responses to the priorities and issues of the specific area.
Each plan looks in-depth at the natural, cultural and recreational resources at the park and identifies objectives and land uses. This approach allows the department to create management solutions that respond to the unique physical and social setting of the park, as well as the park's needs.
In order to present a draft plan for Madison's beloved Blue Springs with all of the above components, the FDEP's Division of Recreation and Parks held a public hearing on Thursday, June 9 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Madison County Senior Center. The meeting kicked off with an open house at 5 p.m., where those who attended could view the maps associated with the management plan.
At 6 p.m., FDEP representatives presented proposed improvements for the Madison Blue Springs management plan as well as a visual powerpoint walkthrough in order to see the park's existing facilities.
In the management of a state recreation area, major emphasis is placed on maximizing the recreational potential of the unit.
The following are the proposed recreational improvements for the park:
Reroute park entrance to provide better traffic flow and reduce hazards;
Remove restroom from entrance and reconstruct in upland picnic area;
Construct four new pavilions in picnic area;
Build a canoe/kayak launch;
Improve interpretation of natural communities on the nature trail;
Stabilize the spring-access path around the basin for safety and erosion control; and
Add a ranger residence and relocate existing support facilities to upland.
Several of the park's natural resources will be implemented throughout the plan. FDEP plans to monitor aquatic caves, restore 3.5 acres of upland, monitor the park's endangered species, introduce fire return interval (controlled burning), remove/control exotic/invasive species and assess the park's hydrological needs.
The objective for cultural management is to achieve a balance in the park's preservation and public access while evaluating the sole archaeological site within the park.
After the presentation was over, open house was continued and the audience was urged to submit comments orally, through email or on a provided form. The public will have until Thursday, June 23 to provide input about the improvements they would like to see at Blue Springs. Anyone wanting to share their comments may do so by calling (850) 245-3051 or emailing FL_statepark@dep.state.fl.us.
As soon as all of the comments are gathered, FDEP will hold an advisory meeting to discuss all of the needs of Blue Springs. From there, the Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC) will review the plan and it will become the next guided document for Blue Springs for the next 10 years.
To view a draft of the management plan, visit www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/planning/files/MadisonBlue/MadisonBlueSpring_DraftPlan.