18. Uses of natural area: 



Much of the natural area has been logged over in several 

 cycles to obtain the successively most valuable remaining or 

 regenerated timber. Early loggers used barges and a series 

 of tram roads to remove timber. Recently (1979) , loggers dug 

 a short canal into the Alligator River side of the island and 

 selectively cut timber along this canal and along a series of 

 skidder trails. The canal construction was halted when the 

 Army Corps of Engineers issued a cease-and-desist order re- 

 quiring a "404" wetlands permit. Some logging continues at 

 the present time by cable. 



There has been no agricultural development on the island. 



However, there have been some small-scale logging, clearing, 



and bush-hogging operations along the Intracoastal Waterway 



(IWW) spoil area. A portion of the spoil area has been opened 

 to cattle grazing. 



Construction of the IWW in the 1930 's created Roper Island 

 and effectively curtailed many uses by cutting the area off from 

 the mainland. 



Some deer hunting is done by the present and neighboring 

 owners. Excellent fishing is reported along the Alligator 

 River and along the three major streams which drain out of 

 Roper Island. 



19 j Uses of surrounding land: 



a. Wildland 70 \ 



b. Agricultural land 



c. high-intensity forestry_ 



d. developed 30 % 



(Intracoastal Waterway) 



20. Preservation Status: 



Cat 



* % 



*Description of preservation status i 



6 



100 



Private land, not protected as a natural area by owner. 









21„ Regulatory protections in force: 



The Army Corps of Engineers "404" permit process applies to this 

 area. 



80 



