23. Management and preservation recommendations: 



1. ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT 



^Update the park master plan to limit park development to 



the northwestern corner, from the mill pond to US 158, and 

 along SR 1403-1400 near the spillway. Development in the 

 center of the park as proposed in the original master plan 

 would be enormously detrimental to park wildlife, mill pond 

 plant communities and esthetic values. 



Because of future funding uncertainties, care should be 



taken not to develop facilities beyond the ability of one 

 or two rangers to maintain. Examples abound in other state 

 park systems, where excess commitment to user facilities 

 was followed by loss of staff positions, with the consequence 

 that present facilities are shabby and run down, and with 

 inadequate staff to prevent damage to natural values caused 

 by excessive public access and use. 



^The planned park boundary should be completed. Future 



conversion of land use to other types will necessitate that 

 all state parks should be, as far as possible, complete 

 and self-sufficient ecosystems. 



2. PERSONNEL 



^The park should always have a resident naturalist, or the 



park superintendent or a ranger should be a competent 

 naturalist with a degree in Biology, Botany, Ecology or 

 Forestry. One of the naturalist's responsibilities should 

 be to make recommendations and be involved in any aspect of 

 park operations, construction and development that might 

 affect the natural systems involved. 



3. FIRE MANAGEMENT 



_A fire plan should be developed for the park, in conjunction 

 with county forestry personnel. It should be made clear that 

 in no circumstance should fire plows be used within park 

 boundaries. The use of fire plows to fight fires in any 

 state park should be eliminated. Preservation of soil 

 structure and topography will one day be recognized as as 

 important role of these areas. 



_Any fire should be controlled with hand tools only. Areas 

 around buildings or equipment should have vegetation 

 thinned, mowed or otherwise planned so that fire will not 

 be a threat. Forestry may consider it necessary to prevent 

 a fire originating on, or passing through the park from 

 continuing onto adjacent private property. In this case. 



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