H: Templates\BOCC Agenda Item Format

8
Board of County Commission
Agenda Request
Date of Meeting:
October 20, 2015
Date Submitted:
September 30, 2015
To:
Honorable Chairperson and Members of the Board
From:
Robert M. Presnell, County Administrator
Allara Mills Gutcher, Planning and Community Development Director
Subject:
PUBLIC HEARING (Legislative): for Transmittal of the Amendment of
the Conservation Element of the Comprehensive Plan to the Department of
Economic Opportunity for Review.
Statement of Issue:
Pursuant to Florida Statutes, this public hearing is part of the process for the amendment of the
Conservation Element of the Gadsden County Comprehensive Plan. This hearing is to transmit the
proposed amendment to the Department of Economic Opportunity for review.
Background:
Gadsden County has been working through updates to the Comprehensive Plan. To date, the
Housing Element, Intergovernmental Element and Future Land Use Element have been amended.
The Planning Commission considered the Conservation Element in June, July and September, and
on September 17, 2015, made a recommendation to transmit the document to the Department of
Economic Opportunity for review.
Analysis:
The Conservation Element is considered compliant with Florida Statutes by staff. An analysis of
the staff compliance is included in this submittal for your review. This hearing is for the BOCC to
transmit the amendment to the Department of Economic Opportunity for review, pursuant to
Florida Statutes. After that review, and review by other state agencies, the DEO will submit to the
County any applicable comments.
This process shall be considered under the State Expedited Review Process. After the County
receives any applicable comments, the BOCC is able to adopt the amended element by Ordinance.
The BOCC must adopt the amendment within 180 days of receipt of agency comments.
The Planning Commission heard a presentation from Cameron Morris, who is on staff with Preble
Rish, and was previously employed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,
regarding the jurisdiction of the county as it pertains to Endangered and Threatened Species and
natural communities. In addition, staff consulted with the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection staff (specifically Any May and Janet Klemm) regarding species and wetland policies.
Planning Commission Recommendation/Findings:
The Planning Commission held a workshop on this Element in June, and public hearings in July
and in September. The Planning Commission made a unanimous recommendation to the BOCC
to transmit this element to the Department of Economic Opportunity for review.
Options:
1. Transmit the Conservation Element to the DEO for review and comment.
2. Don’t transmit the Conservation Element to the DEO for review.
3. Board Direction.
County Administrator’s Recommendation:
Option 1
Attachments:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The current Conservation Element in strikethrough
The amended Conservation Element in underline (new).
Data and Analysis of the Conservation Element
Staff analysis of requirements of the Florida Statutes for the Conservation Element.
Newspaper advertisement.
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Attachment 1 – Current Conservation Element (2001)
CONSERVATION ELEMENT
INTRODUCTION
The following goal, objectives and policies constitute the Conservation Element providing for the
promotion of the conservation, use and protection of the County’s natural resources. The data
collected for this plan element and analysis of this data, contained in the County’s Data and
Analysis document, are not part of this adopted plan element, but serve to provide a foundation
and basis for the formulation of this portion of the Comprehensive Plan.
Conservation uses are defined as activities within land areas designated for the purpose of
conserving or protecting natural resources or environmental quality and within this plan includes
areas designated for such purposes as flood control, protection of quality or quantity of
groundwater or surface water, floodplain management, or protection of vegetative communities or
wildlife habitats.
The Future Land Use Map Series addresses conservation future land use as defined above. The
conservation future land use category shown on the Future Land Use Map identifies conservation
areas which consist of lands within the County which is anticipated to have planned management
of natural resources to prevent exploitation, destruction or neglect of those natural resources. At a
minimum, Conservation Land Use is applied to lands owned by the State of Florida which have
been purchased and/or set aside for habitat protection, resource management, recreation or other
conservation uses. Major flood ways and connected wetlands, are also included in this land use
designation on the Future Land Use Map.
GOAL, OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES
GOAL 5:
THE COUNTY SHALL PRESERVE, CONSERVE, AND APPROPRIATELY MANAGE
THE RESOURCES OF GADSDEN COUNTY AND STRIVE TO PROVIDE
PROTECTION OF UNIQUE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS, LIFE
AND PROPERTY FROM NATURAL AND MAN-MADE HAZARDS.
OBJECTIVE 5.1: The County shall protect air quality by requiring compliance with the
Environmental Protection Agency and Florida Department of Environmental Protection
minimal air quality standards and specific implementation criteria.
Policy 5.1.1: The County shall require that air quality permits are obtained prior to the issuance of
development orders, so that minimum air quality levels established by the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection are maintained in the County.
Policy 5.1.2: The County shall establish standards such as retention and or creation of new
vegetative buffers to control and reduce the impacts on air quality of automobile pollution,
consistent with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
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OBJECTIVE 5.2: Use Best Management Practices (BMPs) and other professionally
acceptable practices to provide for the conservation, appropriate use and projected
water sources, water recharge areas, potable water wells and their cones of influence.
Policy 5.2.1: The County shall require, as part of the development review process, the
intergovernmental coordination of development plans with the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection and the Northwest Florida Water Management District to assist in
monitoring uses and levels of service which may impact the County’s current and projected water
sources.
Policy 5.2.2: Establish a buffer zone for designated prime groundwater recharge areas in order to
protect the natural function of these areas by restricting land uses which would violate groundwater
quality standards established by FDEP.
Policy 5.2.3: The County shall pursue acquisition of appropriate parcels of land through the
Preservation 2000, (Florida Forever) program, the Conservation and Recreational Lands (CARL)
program, the Florida Communities Trust or the Trust for Public Lands and / or other agencies as
may be appropriate to develop State/County partnerships to protect environmentally sensitive
lands, to protect unique, rare and endangered habitats, assure survival of listed wildlife species,
protect scenic water corridors and their shoreline ecosystems, and provide enhanced public access
to outdoor recreational opportunities and open space.
Policy 5.2.4: New development shall be required to maintain a 50 foot minimum natural buffer
around all FDEP Jurisdictional Wetlands. The location of non-residential land uses shall be
prohibited within the wetlands and buffer areas, except as provided in Policy 1.10.7. Stream
crossings shall be permitted in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers Nationwide Permit Process.
Policy 5.2.5: Silvicultural activities shall follow the Best Management Practices outlined in the
publication titled: Silviculture Best Management Practices Manual, Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Forestry, (as currently adopted).
Policy 5.2.6: Mining shall be permissible in wetlands, slope forests, steep heads, and adjacent to
rivers, streams, creeks and lakes in areas designated as Mining on the Future Land Use Maps,
subject to the following criteria:
(A)
Reclamation must be undertaken in accordance with state regulations. (Reclamation
activities for fuller’s earth mining undertaken in accordance with Chapter 378, Florida
Statutes, shall be considered appropriate restoration if these activities maintain or improve
the water quality and the function of the biological systems present at the site prior to the
commencement of mining activities.) If site features make such reclamation impractical,
compensatory mitigation must offset the project’s adverse impacts on surface waters,
including wetlands.
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(B)
Reclamation activities shall be conducted in a manner which has no long-term adverse
impact on surface and groundwater resources, wildlife, and adjacent lands.
(C)
Drainage systems, wetlands, and other surface waters shall function in manners which are
not significantly different from those which existed prior to resource.
(D)
Reclamation plans shall achieve the storm water requirements of the Northwest Florida
Water Management District. (E) Reclamation plans shall incorporate vegetation measures
to offset wildlife habitat lost and shall provide for the establishment of flora and fauna
which are consistent with the previous land use.
(F)
Water within all wetlands and water bodies shall be of sufficient quality to allow recreation
or support fish and other wildlife.
(G)
Herbaceous wetlands shall be planted or otherwise treated to achieve a ground cover of at
least 50 percent within one year of the initial planting or establishment and shall be
protected from grazing, mowing or other adverse land uses for two years to allow further
establishment.
(H)
Wooded wetlands shall be planted to achieve a stand density of 200 trees per acre within
one year of the initial planting.
(I)
The plans for reclamation shall incorporate measures to offset wildlife habitat lost as a
result of extraction. Special programs to restore, enhance or reclaim particular habitats shall
be undertaken especially for endangered and threatened species, as identified by Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) or the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
(J)
Experimental and innovative reclamation techniques are encouraged.
Policy 5.2.7: An evaluation of any application for impact and appropriateness of an amendment
to the Future Land Use Map from an existing land use category to the Mining land use category
will be made prior to the time of the transmittal hearing by the Board of County Commissioners.
The following criteria will be used in the amendment evaluations:
(A)
The map amendment will be reviewed regarding the extent to which it is compatible with
the existing land use categories.
(B)
The amount of land to be amended will be evaluated to determine whether the request, due
to size will have a minimal effect upon the overall development pattern of the County. In
addition, this evaluation will include the extent to which the amendment, when considered
together with other similar amendments, would result in cumulative changes, including
impacts on public facilities and natural resources that are inconsistent with the goals,
objectives and policies of this plan.
(C)
The evaluation will consider whether the amendment is supported by data and analyses to
demonstrate a need for the proposed land use at the site in question and its location in
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proximity to existing area designated on the Future Land Use Map for Mining. The
applicant may submit a study prepared in a professionally accepted manner as a part of the
data and analyses.
The map amendment must be supported by adequate and appropriate data and analyses
regarding the quality and quantity of environmentally sensitive lands included in the lands subject
to the amendment application as well as elsewhere in the County to ensure that environmentally
sensitive lands, as identified in Policy 5.2.20, outside the mining area will be sufficient to maintain
a viable ecosystem.
Policy 5.2.8: To protect ground and surface water, the County shall, through the development
review process, require that post-development run-off rates and pollutant loads do not exceed
predevelopment conditions, consistent with Objective 4.10.7 in the Drainage Sub-Element.
Policy 5.2.9: New developments shall be required, consistent with local, state and federal
permitting requirements, to maintain the natural functions of environmentally sensitive areas,
including but not limited to wetlands and 100 year floodplains so that the long term environmental
integrity and economic and recreational value of these areas is maintained.
Policy 5.2.10: The County shall regulate development within 100 year floodplains to maintain the
flood-carrying and flood storage capacities of the floodways and flood plains and reduce the risk
of property damage and loss of life in accordance with the provisions of 44 Code of Federal
Regulations, Chapter 403, Florida Statues and implementing administrative rules.
Policy 5.2.11: New development shall be required to maintain a 50 foot minimum natural buffer
adjacent to all perennial rivers, streams, creeks and lakes, wetlands, and steep heads. Further, the
location of septic tanks and drain fields shall be prohibited within one hundred feet (100') of all
perennial rivers, streams, creeks, and lakes, wetlands and steep- heads. Agriculture and silviculture
activities shall be allowed in the buffer areas and shall follow the Best Management Practices
outlined in the publications titled Silviculture Best Management Practices Manual (Adopted March
1993, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Forestry).
Department of Health permitting of repairs to existing systems that are in violation of the 100'
setback limit and that have been in use within one year of the date of application, shall be exempt
from this provision.
Policy 5.2.12: The County shall require the use of the “Silviculture Best Management Practices
Manual” and the “Management Guidelines for Forested Wetlands in Florida” as adopted by the
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Forestry, for all aspects of
forestry management practices. These criteria shall be the adopted minimum standards relative to
this policy requirement and be used in conjunction with the provisions of Policies 5.2.4 and 5.2.11.
Policy 5.2.13: Use the designated programs of the Northwest Florida Water Management District
and other applicable agencies for the identification and protection of Water Recharge areas to
ensure aquifer depletion and contamination does not occur in accordance with the Chapter 403,
Florida Statutes.
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Policy 5.2.14: As part of the development review process, the County shall require the
maintenance of the quantity and quality of surface water runoff within freshwater stream to sink
watersheds by prohibiting any development which may diminish or degrade the quality and
quantity of surface water runoff within the County through minimum setbacks, buffering, 208
Water Quality requirements, Chapter 403, Florida Statutes and implementing administrative
regulations.
Policy 5.2.15: The County shall protect the quality of surface and groundwater sources by
coordinating through conferences, workshops, correspondence, etc., with the City of Quincy,
Northwest Florida Water Management District and Florida Department of Environmental
Protection in monitoring any proposed development in the Quincy Creek Drainage Area.
Policy 5.2.16: The County shall comply with the resource management plans of the Northwest
Florida Water Management District for the emergency conservation of water sources by
establishing water conservation measures. Such measures may consist of but not be limited to the
following:
(A)
(B)
(C)
The use of low water use plumbing fixtures.
The reuse of water for irrigation of crops in agricultural operation.
The use of odd-even watering days.
Policy 5.2.17: The County shall cooperate with adjacent municipalities and Talquin Electric to
provide protection for all potable water supply wells by prohibiting certain land uses which could
have an adverse impact on public water supplies within the cones of influence for established wellfield areas as provided for in Policy 1.7.1.
Policy 5.2.18: Prior to development approval, a survey shall be conducted to properly identify
known drainage wells. If any wells are found, the developer shall be required to seal the drainage
wells.
Policy 5.2.19: The County shall retain the right to permit or restrict the sale or export of
groundwater or surface waters out of the County subject to the authority vested in the Northwest
Florida Water Management District.
Policy 5.2.20: Wetlands, slope forests, steep-heads, flood plains, rivers, streams, creeks, ponds,
lakes, drainage conduits and their associated vegetative communities as depicted in Maps CON5, CON-6, and CON-11 which are expressly incorporated herein shall be designated as
environmentally sensitive lands and shall be afforded maximum protection with planning controls.
Policy 5.2.21: Procedures to remove or control submerged, emergent or floating vegetation shall
be limited to that necessary to provide reasonable access, and provides the standard of aquatic
weed control as defined by the appropriate agencies. Any use of chemical herbicides for such
purposes shall ensure that water quality and ecological integrity are not degraded. Restoration of
natural aquatic vegetation will be used in conjunction with shoreline restoration in all future
conservation and outdoor recreation developments bordering the County’s rivers, streams and
lakes.
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OBJECTIVE 5.3: The County shall establish stream bank protection and woodland
improvement provisions as best management practices for conservation, appropriate use
and protection of soils, minerals and native vegetative communities including forests.
Policy 5.3.1: Require that application for any mining permit from state and/or federal agency for
mining operations and or reclamation in Gadsden County be submitted concurrently to the County
for consistency with the adopted Comprehensive Plan and a copy of the approved permit furnished
by the permittee to the Gadsden County Department of Planning and Zoning. The County may
comment to any
federal and/or state agency responsible for mining and/or reclamation during the application
process for such permits.
Policy 5.3.2: The County shall review topographic, hydrologic and vegetative cover factors during
the development review process in order to protect and conserve the natural functions of soils.
Policy 5.3.3: The County shall protect native vegetative communities from destruction by
development activities through proper site plan review procedures unless authorized pursuant to
the applicable state and federal regulations. Such standards may include but not necessarily be
limited to adequate buffer zones, site preservation techniques, etc. The County shall coordinate
with the Northwest Florida Water Management District and other appropriate agencies to promote
the removal of non-native and invasive species, reinstate native and natural vegetation.
Policy 5.3.4: The County shall require, within the development review process, that multiple use
of forest resources, where appropriate, be required to provide for recreation, wildlife habitat, water
shed protection, erosion control and maintenance of water quality.
Policy 5.3.5: Existing recreational areas, as identified in the Recreation Element, shall be protected
by limiting these areas to conservation, recreational or open spaces and designated neighborhood
recreation areas as provided in the Future Land Use Element.
Policy 5.3.6: The County shall cooperate with adjacent counties and municipalities to conserve,
appropriately use and protect unique vegetative communities by participating in intergovernmental
coordination committees to establish joint management procedures for protection of natural
resources.
OBJECTIVE 5.4: Use best management practices and other professionally acceptable
practices for the conservation, use and protection of fisheries, wildlife and wildlife habitats.
Species that are listed as Endangered, Threatened or Species of Special Concern by the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and
the Environmental Protection Agency. Protect rare, unique, or significant natural habitats
within the County.
Policy 5.4.1: Concurrent with the County’s Land Development Regulations, the County will adopt
ordinances requiring on-site protection and/or managed relocation areas for all species listed and
identified as Endangered, Threatened, or Species of Special Concern, and all critical habitats
within the County. Protection and relocation measures will be based on guidelines from the
agencies listed in Objective 5.4.
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Policy 5.4.2: The County shall ensure the protection of all plant and animal species that are listed
by either state or federal agencies as threatened or endangered or as species of special concern by
restricting development as defined in Section 380.04, Florida Statues through proper site plan
reviews, buffering, etc., in accordance with the following guidelines:
(A)
Within all areas designated as Conservation on the Future Land Use Map and for uses
within areas designated as flood-prone or wetlands on the Future Land Use Map Series, all
development proposals shall be accompanied by evidence that an inventory of soils posing
severe limitation to construction; state and/or federally listed threatened and endangered
species of wildlife and plant and species of special concern; and areas prone to periodic
flooding has been conducted. Where development is determined to encroach upon one of
these resources, in order to ensure the protection, preservation, or natural functions of the
resource, a specific management plan shall be prepared by the developer, which includes
necessary modifications to the development, specific setbacks and buffers, and clustering
of development away from site resources. Such management plan shall be incorporated
into the development order. In order to assure that the improvements necessary for
environmental mitigation are constructed as approved by Gadsden County, the developer
shall post to the County, a bond at least equal to the cost of the improvements.
(B)
If state and/or federally-listed plant and animal species designated as endangered or
threatened or as species of special concern are found on development sites, coordination
will be initiated by the County with the FWC and other applicable agencies to ensure that
the management plan required by Policy 5.4.2(A). above is consistent with state and federal
laws.
Policy 5.4.3: A professionally conducted survey of native vegetative communities shall be
required in upland wildlife habitats for all proposed development sites of 40 acres or more that
involve nonresidential developments or more than 10 dwelling units to inventory wildlife and to
determine whether state and federally listed threatened and endangered species of plants and
animals and those designated as species of special concern exists on the site. For proposed
developments which are developed at a residential density equal to or lower than 1 unit per 5 acres,
a survey as envisioned
by this policy is not necessary. For proposed developments containing less than 40 acres which
are part of a parcel or contiguous parcels of land containing 40 acres or more which was under
common ownership on the effective date of the 2001, Comprehensive Plan (November 26, 1991),
minimum of 40 acres shall be surveyed inclusive of the proposed developments area to be cleared.
This survey shall be conducted by an ecologist, biologist, or similar professional. In addition, the
following conditions shall apply:
(A)
Site surveys shall address the following:
1.
The size and distribution of the native habitat.
2.
Wildlife and listed species population within the proposed development site.
3.
The feasibility of and viability of on-site protection and management.
4.
Whether the proposed development site includes a wildlife corridor and the
feasibility of maintaining the wildlife corridor.
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(B)
Protected wildlife habit shall include a combination of connected upland habitats and any
wetland/aquatic habitat on the site.
(C)
Clearing of native habitat shall be prohibited prior to development, meaning that clearing
for uses other than legitimate agricultural and silvicultural uses shall be defined to be
clearing as an adjunct to construction, and shall be subject to all provisions in the plan that
apply to development.
(D)
Where listed species are determined to exist on the site in order to ensure that protection,
preservation and continued viability of the species, a specific management plan shall be
prepared by the developer which includes necessary modifications to the development,
specific setbacks and buffers, and clustering of development away from the species habitat.
Such management plan shall be a condition in the development order.
(E)
If state and/or federally-listed endangered and threatened plant and animal species and
species of special concern are found on the proposed development site, coordination will
be initiated by the County with the FWC and other applicable agencies to ensure that the
management plan required by (D) above is consistent with state and federal law.
(F)
A listed plant and animal species survey shall not be required for:
Lands depicted upon the 1993 Gadsden County LANDSAT Satellite Imagery Map
produced by the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission as:
1.
2.
3.
4.
exotic plant communities;
shrub and brushland;
grassland; or
barren land.
Policy 5.4.4: The County shall cooperate with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
and the Northwest Florida Water Management District in the inventorying and monitoring of
aquiculture activities within the County.
Policy 5.4.5: The County shall provide maximum protection to conservation lands through proper
site plan review procedures, buffers, etc.
OBJECTIVE 5.5: The County shall protect natural resources by reduction, proper disposal
and management of hazardous wastes.
Policy 5.5.1: The County shall apply for available state and federal funds for the establishment of
hazardous waste storage/transfer facilities.
Policy 5.5.2: The County, as part of the development review process, shall require that all
hazardous waste generators properly manage their own wastes and require that new hazardous
waste generators comply with all applicable federal and state permitting requirements before
approving any development plans.
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Policy 5.5.3: The County shall coordinate through conferences, workshops, correspondence, etc.,
with the municipalities and other affected parties in the management program for proper storage,
recycling, collection and disposal of hazardous wastes.
OBJECTIVE 5.6: The County shall ensure that mineral reserves are conserved, protected
from encroachment by conflicting land uses, and appropriately utilized pursuant to the
requirements of state and federal law.
Policy 5.6.1: Any person acquiring or holding property as a mineral reserve for future mining in
the County shall be given the opportunity to file a map and/or legal description of such property
with the Gadsden County Department of Planning and Zoning. Mining in these areas shall only be
allowed through a plan amendment.
Policy 5.6.2: For purposes of public health, safety and aesthetics, require setback standards for
mining operations and associated structures from public parks, existing residential and commercial
areas and public right-of-way. These buffers will ensure compatibility of adjacent land uses
through adequate separation of mining operations from existing residential and commercial areas,
public parks and public right-of-way. Criteria to be met include:
(A)
Regulation of impacts on adjacent existing residential communities, commercial areas and
public parks from noise, traffic, light, dust , generation of toxic and hazardous materials
and litter.
(B)
Techniques to be used to mitigate impacts can include, but not be limited to landscaped
buffers, setbacks, wall/fences, open space and other factors which enhance the appearance
of the mining operations while providing an effective buffer between existing land uses.
OBJECTIVE 5.7: The County shall ensure that areas identified as open space shall be
protected from incompatible land uses and to maintain these valuable resources for passive
recreation.
Policy 5.7.1 In reviewing new developments, the Department of Growth Management shall review
adjoining land uses to ensure that lands previously reserved for open space or recreational uses
shall not be impacted by harmful impacts of adjacent development.
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Attachment 2 – Proposed Conservation Element
DRAFT CONSERVATION ELEMENT
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of the Conservation Element is to provide for the conservation, use and
protection of the County’s natural resources.
GOAL 5A: MAINTAIN, PROTECT, AND ENHANCE NATURAL RESOURCES
THROUGH APPROPRIATE MANAGEMENT.
OBJECTIVE 5.1: Protect ambient air quality.
Policy 5.1.1: Gadsden County shall work with DEP and the Environmental Protection
Agency to eliminate unlawful sources of air pollution.
Policy 5.1.2: Clean air protection shall be fostered by promoting sustainable land
development practices.
Policy 5.1.3: Sustainable and efficient transportation practices, such as the promotion of
transit opportunities, shall be encouraged to mitigate air pollution.
OBJECTIVE 5.2: Provide for the conservation, appropriate use and protection of
those lands deemed as environmentally sensitive.
Policy 5.2.1: Wetlands and lands designated as Special Flood Hazard Areas and/or
floodplains by the Federal Emergency Management Agency are locally designated as
environmentally sensitive lands and shall be afforded maximum protection with applicable
planning controls.
Policy 5.2.2: All required federal and state permits and approvals submitted to the County
in relation to an issued development order must be submitted prior to commencement of
any on-site development, to include land clearing.
Policy 5.2.3: All required federal and state permits and approvals submitted to the County
in relation to an issued development order must be found consistent with said
development order. If the federal or state permit or approval is inconsistent with the
approved final development order, then the applicant shall apply for an amendment to the
approved development order to be in accordance with said federal or state permit and all
applicable local policies and regulations.
Policy 5.2.4: The clearing of vegetation, with exception to bona fide agriculture or
Silviculture uses, shall be prohibited prior to issuance of a development order. Exceptions
shall include hand clearing of underbrush and removal of trees three (3) inches in
diameter or less at a measurement taken 54 inches from ground level.
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Policy 5.2.5: The County shall protect native vegetative communities from destruction by
development activities through the development review process unless such destruction
is authorized pursuant to the applicable state and federal permitting process.
Policy 5.2.6: Standards to protect native vegetation may include but are not necessarily
limited to: adequate buffer zones and site preservation techniques. The County shall
coordinate with the Northwest Florida Water Management District and other appropriate
agencies to promote the removal of non-native and invasive species, and reinstate native
and natural vegetation.
Policy 5.2.7: The County shall cooperate with adjacent counties and municipalities to
conserve, appropriately use and protect unique vegetative communities by participating
in intergovernmental coordination committees to establish joint management procedures
for protection of natural resources.
Policy 5.2.8: The County shall provide maximum protection to those lands classified as
“Conservation” on the Future Land Use Map through additional criteria as specified in the
Gadsden County Land Development Regulations.
Policy 5.2.9: The County shall promote acquisition of appropriate parcels of land through
the Florida Communities Trust Florida Forever Program or the Trust for Public Lands
and/or other programs as may be appropriate to develop state/county partnerships to
protect environmentally sensitive lands, to protect Endangered, Threatened, or Species
of Greatest Conservation Need and their habitats, protect scenic water corridors and their
shoreline ecosystems, and provide enhanced public access to outdoor recreational
opportunities and open space.
Policy 5.2.10: Slope forests shall be afforded the highest protection possible. Slope
forests are well-developed, closed canopy forests of upland hardwoods on steep slopes,
bluffs, and in sheltered ravines within the Apalachicola River drainage, generally within
thirty-five (35) kilometers along the eastern side of the Apalachicola River, as defined by
the Florida Natural Areas Inventory, Guide to Natural Communities of Florida.
Policy 5.2.11: For planning and management purposes, the County shall reference the
Gadsden County Soil Survey, as published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural
Resources Conservation Service during the comprehensive planning and development
review process.
OBJECTIVE 5.3: Conserve and protect the quality and quantity of local water
bodies and their sources.
Policy 5.3.1: Wetlands are locally designated as environmentally sensitive and shall be
afforded maximum protection with applicable planning controls.
Policy 5.3.2: Development shall be required to maintain a fifty (50) foot minimum natural
setback around all FDEP and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers jurisdictional wetlands with
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exception to utility and transportation networks and water dependent uses such as docks
and platforms.
Policy 5.3.3: The location of septic tanks and drain fields shall be prohibited within onehundred (100) feet of all perennial rivers, streams, creeks, lakes and wetlands.
Policy 5.3.4: Any amendment to the Future Land Use Map shall consider the impact to
the functionality of adjacent and on-site wetlands. The protection and conservation of
wetlands by the direction of incompatible land uses away from wetlands shall occur in
combination with other principles, guidelines, standards, and regulations in this Plan and
the Land Development Code.
Policy 5.3.5: Seawalls shall be avoided along lakes, rivers and streams except where no
reasonable alternative exists for the development of the upland portion of the parcel.
Policy 5.3.6: Any Outstanding Florida Water or Class I surface water, designated by 62302.700(9) and 62-302.400(16)(b) Florida Administrative Code respectively shall be
afforded extra protections in the Land Development Code (Map 5.1).
Policy 5.3.7: To protect ground and surface water, the County shall, through the
development review process, require that post-development run-off rates and pollutant
loads do not exceed predevelopment conditions.
Policy 5.3.8: As part of the development review process, the County shall require the
maintenance of the quantity and quality of surface water runoff into fresh water bodies by
prohibiting any development which may diminish or degrade the quality and quantity of
surface water runoff within the County through minimum setbacks and/or buffering.
Policy 5.3.9: The County shall regulate development within 100-year floodplains to
maintain the flood-carrying and flood storage capacities of the floodways and flood plains
and reduce the risk of property damage and loss of life.
Policy 5.3.10: Any filling or grade changes made shall not cause erosion, inhibit the flow
of flood waters, or contribute to additional flood heights.
Policy 5.3.11: Development shall not occur which will adversely affect aquifer recharge
rates in areas designated as “more vulnerable” by the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection through its Florida Aquifer Vulnerability Assessment model.
Policy 5.3.12: The County shall comply with the resource management plans of the
Northwest Florida Water Management District for the emergency conservation of water
sources by establishing water conservation measures. Such measures may consist of but
not be limited to the following:
(a) The use of low water use plumbing fixtures.
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(b) The reuse of water for irrigation of crops in agricultural operation.
(c) The use of odd-even watering days.
Policy 5.3.13: Promote water reuse and reclamation, where appropriate, for landscape,
golf courses, and farm irrigation, and industrial use applications.
Policy 5.3.14: Prescribe water wise “Florida Friendly Landscaping” guidelines for new
non-residential development, and encourage the same for residential development.
Policy 5.3.15: In accordance with the Florida Standard Building Code and the Northwest
Florida Water Management District, Gadsden County shall require irrigation rain sensors
or soil moisture sensors with automatic cut-offs on all new irrigation systems.
Policy 5.3.16: Gadsden County shall discourage the use of potable water for landscape
irrigation.
Policy 5.3.17: Procedures to remove or control intrusive submerged, emergent or floating
vegetation shall be limited to that necessary to provide reasonable access, and provides
the standard of aquatic weed control as defined by the appropriate agencies. Any use of
chemical herbicides for such purposes shall ensure that water quality and ecological
integrity are not degraded. Restoration of natural aquatic vegetation will be used in
conjunction with shoreline restoration in all future conservation and outdoor recreation
developments bordering the County’s rivers, streams and lakes.
Policy 5.3.18: Gadsden County shall require compliance with Florida regulations in
Chapters 68F-20 and 18-20, F.A.C. regarding removal of shoreline vegetation.
Policy 5.3.19: The disposal of yard or other wastes along shorelines and in wetlands is
prohibited.
Policy 5.3.20: Gadsden County shall oppose any activity that causes the withdrawal of
water for commercial bottling purposes.
OBJECTIVE 5.4: Protect Endangered, Threatened and Species of Greatest
Conservation Need.
Policy 5.4.1: Endangered and Threatened wildlife and State-designated Threatened
species, shall be those as listed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission, and are published in the “Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species”.
Policy 5.4.2: Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are species that are
imperiled or at risk of becoming imperiled in the future and shall be those identified by the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and are published in the “Florida’s
State Wildlife Action Plan”.
Page 15 of 54
Policy 5.4.3: Gadsden County shall support state and federal requirements for on-site
protection and/or managed relocation for all species listed and identified as Endangered,
Threatened, or Species of Greatest Conservation Need, and conservation management
of critical habitats.
Policy 5.4.4: The County shall protect Endangered, Threatened, or Species of Greatest
Conservation Need by requiring the following to be submitted in conjunction with any
Comprehensive Plan Map amendment request to a more intense category which is more
than ten (10) acres. Such assessment may be conducted with readily available
information through desktop GIS and/or the most recent state agency published
documentation.
(a) Any finding that lists any Endangered, Threatened, or Species of Greatest
Conservation Need species located on site;
(b) Soil types on site as noted in the Soil Survey in Policy 5.2.11.
(c) Wetlands on site as shown on the National Wetlands Inventory.
OBJECTIVE 5.5: Establish standards for Silviculture activities.
Policy 5.5.1: Silvicultural activities shall follow the Best Management Practices outlined
in the publication titled: Silviculture Best Management Practices Manual, Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Forestry, as identified in
5I-6, F.A.C.
Policy 5.5.2: In order to minimize the potential impacts to State Imperiled Species from
Silviculture activities, Silviculture activities shall follow the Florida Forestry Wildlife Best
Management Practices for State Imperiled Species, as published by the Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
GOAL 5B: PROTECT AND MANAGE MINERAL RESOURCES
OBJECTIVE 5.6: The County shall protect and manage mining and mineral resource
extraction activities.
Policy 5.6.1: A copy of any mining permit or reclamation plan issued by any agency of
the state for the purpose of extraction or reclamation activities shall be submitted to the
Planning Division within thirty (30) days of receipt by the applicant from the state.
Policy 5.6.2: Mining in environmentally sensitive areas as defined in Policies 5.2.1 and
5.3.1 within Gadsden County which cannot be reclaimed shall be prohibited. Such ability
for reclamation shall be as determined by the state permitting process.
Policy 5.6.3: Mineral resources shall be conserved, protected from encroachment by
conflicting land uses, and appropriately utilized pursuant to the requirements of state and
federal law.
Page 16 of 54
Policy 5.6.4: Mining extraction activities shall be conducted in a manner which will
minimize adverse effects to water quality, fish, wildlife, and adjacent land uses. Mining
activates shall not adversely affect existing residential uses.
Policy 5.6.5: Reclamation of lands used for mineral extraction activities shall be in
accordance with any issued permit by the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection. Whenever possible, innovative and creative reclamation techniques shall be
encouraged to enhance the land for future use.
Policy 5.6.6: Setback standards for mining operations and associated structures from
public parks, existing residential and commercial areas and public rights-of-way shall be
established in the Land Development Regulations. These setbacks shall mitigate
compatibility issues with adjacent land uses through adequate separation of mining
operations from existing residential and commercial areas, public parks and public rightsof-way.
Policy 5.6.7: A compatibility analysis shall be completed and submitted in conjunction
with any amendment to the Comprehensive Plan for designation to the Mining Future
Land Use category. Criteria to be included in the compatibility analysis shall include, but
not be limited to:
(a) Projected impacts to adjacent existing residential dwellings, lands designated as
Rural Residential, Commercial or Neighborhood Commercial on the Future Land
Use Map, and parks as a result of generated noise, traffic, light, dust, and toxic
and hazardous materials and litter due to the proposed operation.
(b) Mitigation techniques to be used to off-set the impacts of the mining operation,
which can include, but are not be limited to vegetated landscape buffers, setbacks,
wall/fences, open space and other factors which enhance the appearance of the
mining operation while providing an effective buffer between land uses.
(c) Compatibility to contiguous existing land uses.
(d) Impacts to public facilities and natural resources.
(e) Need for proposed amendment.
(f) Compatibility to this Comprehensive Plan applicable goals, objective, and policies.
Policy 5.6.8: Mining shall be permissible in wetlands and adjacent to rivers, streams,
creeks and lakes in areas designated as Mining on the Future Land Use Map, subject to
the following criteria:
(a) Reclamation must be undertaken in accordance with Florida Statutes and any
FDEP requirements.
Page 17 of 54
(b) Drainage systems, wetlands, and other surface waters shall function in manners
which are maintained or improved from conditions existing prior to the
commencement of the mining activity.
(c) Water within all wetlands and water bodies shall be of sufficient quality to allow
recreation or support fish and other wildlife.
(d) The plans for reclamation shall incorporate measures to offset wildlife habitat lost
as a result of extraction, as pursuant to the FDEP Reclamation permitting process.
(e) Experimental and innovative reclamation techniques are encouraged.
GOAL 5C. IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND TOXIC
SUBSTANCES.
OBJECTIVE 5.7: Protect environmentally sensitive lands and waters from, and
minimize human exposure to hazardous waste, toxic substances and contaminated
sites.
Policy 5.7.1: The County shall apply for available state and federal funds for the
establishment of hazardous waste storage/transfer facilities, as the need arises.
Policy 5.7.2: The County, as part of the development review process, shall require that
all hazardous waste or toxic substance generators submit a hazardous waste
management plan to the Planning Division.
Policy 5.7.3: The County shall coordinate with the municipalities through any means
necessary in management programs for proper storage, recycling, collection and disposal
of hazardous wastes and toxic substances.
Policy 5.7.4: To the fullest extent possible, Gadsden County shall work toward receiving
funding through the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Assessment Grant
Program to inventory, characterize, assess and conduct planning and community
involvement related to Brownfield sites.
Policy 5.7.5: Planning and Community Development staff shall work with appropriate
agencies and/or other County staff members to expand the County’s involvement with the
federal and state Brownfields programs and grants.
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GOAL 5D: PROVIDE FOR SAFE POTABLE WATER
Objective 5.8: Provide for Well Head Protection.
Policy 5.8.1: By 2018, the County shall pursue the establishment of interlocal agreements
or joint planning agreements to ensure the protection of well heads protection zones with
any municipality that may have jurisdiction within said zone(s).
Policy 8.5.2: Ensure protection for all community water supply wells by coordinating with
the Northwest Florida Water Management District to protect well field protection zones.
Policy 8.5.3: A radius of five-hundred (500) feet from any well head is established as an
area that prohibits any storage of hazardous materials or toxic waste, any landfill, storage
of agricultural chemicals, or any commercial animal facility to include grazing pasture.
Policy 8.5.4: A radius of two-hundred (200) feet from any well head is established as an
area that prohibits any use other than single-family residential, recreation, or open spaces
uses. No impervious surface is allowed within this radius except that which is attributed
to a single-family use.
GOAL 5F: PROTECT CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES
Objective 5.10: Maintain a development review process to promote protection of
cultural and historical resources.
Policy 5.10.1: Consistent with Policy 3.7.3, the County shall continually update its files
with all historic resources in the unincorporated areas as provided by the Florida
Department of State, Division of Historical Resources.
Policy 5.10.2: The County will use the State of Florida Master Site File to identify those
areas where cultural, archaeological or historic resources may exist.
Policy 5.10.3: Developers of property which contain a resource listed on the Florida
Master Site File must demonstrate that no listed resource shall be adversely impacted
due to the development of any parcel.
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Attachment 3 - Data and Analysis
CONSERVATION ELEMENT DATA INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS
The purpose of this element is to identify and promote the protection of natural
resources within the County. The Conservation Element contains a detailed, identifying
outline of Gadsden County's natural resources, and an analysis thereof.
Environmental Setting – Overview
The northern border of Gadsden County is contiguous to the state of Georgia. The
southern border is partially bounded by Lake Talquin and the remainder is contiguous to
Liberty County. The Ochlocknee River lies to the east and the Apalachicola River lies to
the west. Both rivers flow southward from Georgia and are designated as an
Outstanding Florida Water (OFW) by Chapter 62-302.400, Florida Administrative Code.
The only other OFW in Gadsden is the water body within the Bear Creek State
Recreational Area (Map 5.1, Conservation Element).
The County has a humid, subtropical climate with long, hot summers and brief, mild
winters that occasionally drop below freezing. The average daily minimum temperature
in the winter is 41.6 degrees F and the average daily maximum temperature in the
summer is 90.2 degrees F. The annual rainfall is about 56.6 inches. Average relative
humidity in mid-afternoon ranges from about 45 percent in April to about 60 percent in
July and August (Source: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural
Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), 2007. Soil Survey of Gadsden County,
Florida. Revised 2009, pgs. 2- 3).
Gadsden County remains a primarily rural county with approximately 77% being
classified as an Agricultural or Silvicultural land use category on the Future Land Use
Map. An additional six (6) percent is classified as Conservation. (Source: Future Land
Use Element data and analysis Table 1.1).
Inventory of Natural Resources
Endangered, Threatened and Species of Special Concern
Florida Panhandle is one of the nation’s six ‘biological hotspots,” which means it has
many rare species, many of which are found in small areas (see Exhibit 9). There are
at least 38 rare animals and 16 rare plants in this region. Gadsden County includes
many of these rare species which are listed as federal and state endangered and
threatened species including the Florida Torreya tree, Ashe’s magnolia, Florida Yew,
gopher tortoise, Gray bat, wood stork, eastern indigo snake, gulf sturgeon, and rare
clams. (Source: Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) Tracking List, Gadsden County,
August 2015.)
The State of Florida has incorporated federal endangered and threatened species as
listed in Chapter 68A-27of the Florida Administrative Code (FAC), ‘Rules Relating to
Endangered or Threatened Species’ as well as state designated endangered and
threatened species and designated species of special concern as well as federal
Page 20 of 54
endangered and threatened species in Florida. According to the document entitled
“Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species” produced by the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC), last updated in January 2013, “all
federally listed species that occur in Florida are now included on Florida’s list as
Federally-designated Endangered or Federally-designated Threatened species”.
Federal and State endangered, threatened and species of special concern are listed in
Appendix CON-1 of this chapter.
Inventory of Natural Communities
The FNAI indicates that there are nine (9) natural communities occurring in Gadsden
County as described by the ‘FNAI 2010 Natural Community Short Descriptions’ as
follows:
1. Alluvial stream
2. Baygall
3. Bottomland forest
4. Mesic flatwoods
5. Seepage stream
6. Slope forest
7. Terrestrial cave
8. Upland glade
9. Upland hardwood forest
(Source: FNAI Tracking List, www.fnai.org/PDF/AA_Short_Descriptions_Find_2010.pdf )
Alluvial stream
Alluvial streams are characterized as lower perennial or intermittent/ seasonal
watercourses characterized by turbid water with suspended silt, clay, sand and small
gravel. They generally have a distinct sediment-derived (alluvial) floodplain and a
sandy, elevated natural levee just inland from the bank. Alluvial forests are influenced
by the disturbance from ongoing floodplain processes. Vegetation typically forms a
closed canopy of mainly deciduous trees including water hickory, overcup oak,
diamond-leaved oak, green ash, American elm, water locust, and river birch.
Baygall
This is a hardwood forest described as a slope or depression wetland with peat
substrate, usually saturated and occasionally inundated. Vegetation is characterized as
a closed canopy of evergreen trees including loblolly bay, sweetbay, swamp bay, titi,
fetterbush.
Bottomland forest
Bottomland forests are located on flatland with sand/clay/organic substrate. They are
typically connected or adjacent to a riverine community and are occasionally inundated
by flood waters. Vegetation consists of a closed canopy of mixed hardwoods,
Page 21 of 54
deciduous or mixed deciduous/evergreen trees, tulip tree, sweetbay, water oak,
sweetgum, diamond-leaved oak, red maple, loblolly pine, spruce pine, and Atlantic
white cedar.
Mesic flatwoods
Mesic flatwoods are part of the pine flatwood and dry prairie natural community
consisting of mesic (moderate or well-balanced supply of moisture) or hydric
(permanently or seasonally saturated by water) pine woodland or mesic shrub land on a
flat sandy or limestone substrate. In natural occurrences they are subject to fire every
two (2) to four (4) years. Vegetation consists of an open pine canopy with a layer of low
shrubs and herbs comprised of longleaf pine and/or slash pine, saw palmetto, gallberry,
dwarf live oak, wiregrass.
Seepage stream
Seepage streams are typically located on or at the base of a seepage slope with loamy
sand substrate. They are maintained by downslope seepage which keeps them
saturated but rarely inundated. In their natural state, they experience frequent fire at a
rate of every one (1) to three (3) years. Vegetation is characterized as a dense
herbaceous community consisting of wiregrass, wiry beaksedges, flattened pipewort,
toothache grass, pitcher plants.
Slope forest
Slope forests are hardwood forested uplands characterized by steep slopes located on
a bluff or in a sheltered ravine within the Apalachicola drainage basin. Vegetation
typically forms a closed canopy of mainly deciduous species including American beech,
Florida maple, white oak, Ashe’s magnolia, southern magnolia, spruce pine, and
Shumard’s oak.
Terrestrial cave
Terrestrial caves are caves lacking standing water often supporting bats and other
terrestrial vertebrates and invertebrates. This category includes interstitial areas above
standing water such as fissures in the ceiling of caves.
Upland Glade
Within Gadsden County, upland glade are “found in small openings ranging from a tenth
of an acre to two acres in size within an otherwise forested landscape. In Gadsden
County upland glade occurs on limestone outcrops of the Miocene Chattahoochee
Formation primarily between the 90 and 120 foot contour lines.” Challenges in
identifying areas that contain upland glade include “areas upland glade usually occupy
are too small to be distinguished at the scale of county soil survey maps.” (Source:
FNAI, Guide to the Natural Communities of Florida, 2010 Edition, pgs. 88-89).
Vegetation typically consists of sparse mixed grasses and herbs with occasional stunted
Page 22 of 54
trees and shrubs that are concentrated around the edge consisting of black bog rush,
poverty dropseed, diamond flowers, hairawn muhly, Boykin’s poly gala, red cedar.
Upland hardwood forest
Upland forests are located on sand/clay and/or calcareous substrate. Vegetation is
characterized by a closed deciduous or mixed deciduous/evergreen canopy consisting
of American beech, southern magnolia, hackberry, swamp chestnut oak, white oak,
horse sugar, flowering dogwood and mixed hardwoods.
Analysis of Natural Communities
The FNAI is a non-profit organization administered by Florida State University dedicated
to gathering, interpreting, and disseminating information critical to the conservation of
Florida’s biological diversity. The FNAI continually builds and maintains a
comprehensive database of the biological resources in Florida and has published a
hierarchical classification of 81 Natural Communities in Florida. Gadsden County is
home to at least nine of these natural communities (Source: FNAI tracking list, Gadsden
County, Natural Communities).
Mixed hardwood and pines are typically located on rolling uplands. Water movement is
gradual to natural drainage ways (Source: USDA, NRCS Soil Survey of Gadsden
County, Florida, Revised 2009, p. 90). This community is important for flood control on
water sheds. They are good producers of timber and some areas are used for timber
production. However, intensive management affects diversity of plants with changes in
some wildlife populations. Undisturbed areas provide good escape cover and travel
routes for most forms of wildlife. Longleaf pine with scrub oaks is important for aquifer
recharge. Soil conditions are favorable for urban development. If proper management
techniques are used, pine cultivated areas have value for wildlife. Upland hardwood
hammocks are valuable for watershed protection and hardwood products, and are
prized for residential development. However, the FFWCC has recognized hardwood
hammocks as first priority communities, indicating that they are deserving of protection
based upon their wildlife values, scarcity within the watershed, and endangerment of the
plant community.
If drained or flooded for extended periods, hardwood swamps will change; however, if a
water regime is maintained, they can withstand slight disturbance. They are highly
endangered due to their sensitivity to changes in the water cycle. Not a prime area for
farms or homes, development would destroy the important wildlife and environmental
values of these communities.
Shrub bogs/titi swamps are important as fire buffers. They protect adjoining swamps
from fire during dry periods, and act as a miniature reservoir by receiving seepage water
and "metering" it out in a small but steady supply. Drainage of a bog or an area
immediately up-slope from them can radically modify or destroy these communities
(FNAI, Apalachicola Region Resources (ARROW) on the Web Almanac, Forested
Wetlands; http://fnai.org/ARROW/almanac/biology/biology_wetlands.cfm)
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Bottomland hardwoods are subject to periodic flooding and are often referred to as
floodplain forest, floodplain or river swamp. The lower parts may be flood almost all
years. It is hard to establish vegetation on their steep slopes and infertile soil; without
vegetation, erosion and sedimentation are problems on the slopes. Hardwoods are
important for wildlife habitat and refuge. When relatively undisturbed, they provide an
excellent
corridor
for
wildlife
movement
(Source:
FNAI,
http://fnai.org/ARROW/almanac/biology/biology_wetlands.cfm ).
Non-Native Communities
Prime Farmland
Prime farmland, as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is “land that has the
best combination of physical and chemical characteristics for producing food, feed,
forage, fiber and oilseed crops and is available for these uses. It can be cultivated land,
pastureland, forestland, or other land, but it is not urban or built-up land or water areas.
Because the supply of high-quality farmland is limited, detailed information about the
criteria for prime farmland is available at the local office of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service. Soils conducive to mixed hardwood and pine are typically
favorable to farming ((Source: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA),
National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Soil Survey of Gadsden County,
Florida, Revised 2009, p. 93).
Forestry - Planted Pine Plantation Community
As of 2009, forestland comprised 263,350+ acres or about 81% of the area of Gadsden
County. Man made and scattered about Gadsden County, these communities result
either when wooded sites are cleared or when pasture or cropland is converted by
planting pines. Pines in plantations are of the same age and species, the most common
being slash pine, either native or planted. Sand pine, longleaf pine, and loblolly pine
species are also grown (USDA, NCRS Soil Survey of Gadsden County, 2009, p. 97).
Timber management in Gadsden County includes clear cutting, bedding, planting and
selective cutting and thinning. As it matures, the understory is held back both by shade
from pines and by prescribed burning. Burning encourages the growth of grasses and
that help to support various wildlife species, including deer, quail and turkey (USDA,
NCRS Soil Survey of Gadsden County, 2009, p. 98).
Commercial Use of Renewable Natural Resources
Timber production and harvesting is the major commercial use of renewable natural
resources in Gadsden County. Timber and agriculture uses in the unincorporated
portion of Gadsden County combined encompass 257,593 acres, or 85% of all lands
with a land use category assigned. Of that total, timber is 213,841 acres. This analysis
was conducted using the Property Appraiser data, Department of Revenue taxing
codes. (Source: Table 1.5 of the Future Land Use Element Data and Analysis).
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In 2002, there were 343 farms, totaling 68,140 acres. In 2007, there were 385 farms
totaling 47,090 acres. Between 2002 and 2007, the average size of a farm dropped
from 199 acres to 122 acres according to the Bureau of Economic and Business
Research (BEBR, 2010). Of the total 15,152 acres of cropland, only 2,209 were
irrigated.
Conservation Lands
The Florida Natural Area Inventory (FNAI) maintains the database for Florida’s
conservation lands. This inventory includes information for federal, state, local, and
private managed areas, all provided directly by the managing agencies. Table 5.1
includes those lands reported to FNAI within Gadsden County. Exhibit 1, Managed
Conservation Land provides a map of these areas.
Table 5.1 – Florida’s Conservation Lands within Gadsden County
Conservation Land
Angus Gholson Jr.
Nature Park of
Chattahoochee
Apalachee Correctional
Institution
Coastal Forest
Resources
Conservation
Easement
Davidson-Riverview
Conservation
Easement
Joe Budd Wildlife
Management Area
Lake Talquin State
Forest
Lake Talquin State
Park
RCM Farms
Conservation
Easement
Shade Farm
Conservation
Easement
Swamp Creek Preserve
Conservation
Easement
Owner
Size in Acres
General Location
City of
Chattahoochee
126.19
Chattahoochee
Florida Dept. of
Corrections
20001
East of Chattahoochee
Private
150.77
West of Leon County line,
north of I-10, along the
Ochlockonee
Private
282
+/- 2 miles west of
Havana
Trustees of the
Internal
Improvement Trust
Fund
Trustees of the
Internal
Improvement Trust
Fund
Trustees of the
Internal
Improvement Trust
Fund
11,133
North of Lake Talquin
19,380.472
North of Lake Talquin
425.783
West end of Lake Talquin
Private
459.81
Private
620
Private
491
West of Lanier south of
Shady Rest Road, north
of HWY 90
South of Shade Farm
Road, northeast of
Gretna, west of HWY 267
+/- 2 miles northwest of
Havana
Page 25 of 54
Conservation Land
Tanyard Creek
Preservation Park
Thompson/Gray
Conservation
Easement
Owner
Size in Acres
General Location
City of Quincy
120.6
Quincy
Private
312
West of Leon County line,
North of I-10
Trustees of the
Southwest Gadsden
Internal
Torreya State Park
12,734.594
County, adjacent to
Improvement Trust
Liberty County
Fund
Source:
Florida
Natural
Areas
Inventory,
March
2014
(http://data.labins.org/mapping/FNAI/cntysearch.cfm/ORDER+sel_county&sel_COUNTY=GADS)
1Acreage includes lands within Gadsden and Jackson Counties.
2 Acreage includes lands within Gadsden, Leon and Wakulla Counties.
3Acreage includes lands within Gadsden, Leon, and Liberty Counties.
4Acreage includes lands within Gadsden and Liberty Counties.
Wetland Communities
Chapter 62.340.200 of the Florida Administrative Code (FAC) and §373.019(25), Florida
Statutes define wetlands as: “Those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface
water or ground water at a frequency and a duration sufficient to support, and under
normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in
saturated soils”. Bounded by uplands, wetlands in Gadsden County are typically
located near rivers and lakes (see Exhibit 3).
In addition to regulations administered by the NWFWMD, FDEP and the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, the County has policies and ordinances in place for the protection
of wetlands. Wetlands, lakes, ponds, and perennial flowing water bodies are protected
by Comprehensive Plan Objective 5.3 and subsequent policies. In addition to
prohibitions from development minimum natural area setbacks are required between
development and wetlands.
Based on Gadsden County GIS estimates there are approximately 55,112 acres of
wetlands in unincorporated Gadsden County, or approximately eighteen (18) percent of
the County (Source: Table 1.9 of the Future Land Use Element Data and Analysis).
Floodplains and Flood Zones
Although any Future Land Use category may have a floodplain within it, only
conservation, agricultural, and mining activities are allowed development activities
within floodplain areas. New residential lots cannot be created inside the floodplain, but
residential development is allowed on existing lots of record and must be elevated one
foot above the base flood elevation in accordance with Chapter 42 of the Gadsden
County Code of Ordinances.
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Floodplains serve an important natural function by controlling and reducing stormwater
runoff and floodwater from natural waterbodies. They help control the volume and
velocity of these waters, provide a natural filter for sediments and pollutants, and allow
for percolation into the groundwater. Any alteration of these natural functions is strictly
limited. In Gadsden County floodplains are home for several rare and endangered
species of both flora and fauna (see Exhibit 4). The NWFWMD in accordance with F.S.
§373.036, § (2)(a), ‘Flood Protection and Floodplain Management’, has regulatory
authority regarding construction in a floodplain. The natural functions of floodplains and
flood prone areas are also protected through the Comprehensive Plan, specifically
Policy 5.2.7. Dredge and fill, and clearing of native vegetation are minimized in order to
maintain the natural topography and hydrological functions of floodplains.
County GIS shows that approximately 64,505 acres or approximately 19% of the
unincorporated county area is located within the A and AE flood zones on the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (Source:
Gadsden County GIS, 2015). The FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps were updated in
2009 (Exhibit 4).
The flood zone which constitutes the majority of the higher risk categories within
Gadsden County is the AE zone, which is defined by FEMA as “An area inundated by
one percent annual chance (100 year) flooding, for which base flood elevations have
been determined, and in a special flood hazard area”. Approximately 22,741 acres of
the total 64,505 acres in flood zones are of FEMA AE zone.
Water Resources
Pursuant to the NWFWMD, the Floridan aquifer (groundwater) and surface water are
the primary water sources in Gadsden County.
Groundwater Resources
Groundwater hydrology of Gadsden County varies greatly. There are three principle
groundwater units in Gadsden County. They are the: the Floridan Aquifer, the
Intermediate Aquifer, and the Surficial Aquifer system. The Floridan Aquifer is the
primary source of groundwater in the county. Wells tapping a surficial aquifer usually
yield small quantities of water (Source: Soil Survey of Gadsden County, Florida, 2009,
pp. 178-179). Since 2003, groundwater is the only source utilized for public water
supply (Source: NWFWMD, 2013 Water Resources Assessment 14-01, January 14,
2013 p. 3-86).
There are two zones of differing hydrologic character within the Florida Aquifer under
Gadsden County. The zone, that is located in the northwest corner of the county near
Chattahoochee, yields water in excess of 1,000 gallons per minute. The second zone,
which comprises the Florida Aquifer in the remainder of Gadsden County, is very
different with little recharge. Much of Gadsden County falls within the Apalachicola
Embayment which is deepest along the axis that runs through central Gadsden County
from the northeast to southwest. Within the embayment, the Floridan aquifer is overlain
Page 27 of 54
by a thick intermediate system, the gulf trough, a geological structural trough, which is
covered a thick layer of clay which, except for the extreme southeast part of the County,
acts as a seal above the Floridan Aquifer. This means that the potential for
groundwater recharge of the aquifer in this County is limited to the unsealed area, and
even there the recharge potential is minimal. (Source: NWFWMD, 2013 Water Supply
Assessment Update, Water Resources Assessment 14-01, January 14, 2013 Chapter
3, pp.86-92).
Agricultural use, the largest sector user, is not anticipated to increase in this area.
Potable water availability in the Floridan Aquifer is low in the central part of Gadsden
County, and moderate in the eastern and northwestern parts. The Floridan Aquifer in
the County is about 500 to 600 feet thick, which is thinner than in most of north Florida.
The lower 30% of the aquifer contains ancient saline water, making it unsuitable as a
potable water source. Most public supply wells draw water from the upper Florida n
Aquifer at depth ranging from 120 to 300 ft. The productive thickness of the Floridan
Aquifer is only about 400 feet because of over pumping or improper well placement
which can result in the mixing of poor quality water with freshwater. Naturally occurring
highly mineralized water in the lower portion of the Floridan aquifer system is a
constraint (Source: 2013 Water supply Assessment Update, NWFWMD, January 2014,
p. 3-92).
The minimum well depth for good quality water from the Floridan Aquifer is usually 300
feet. Water quality in the Floridan Aquifer is generally good if well depths are not
excessive (greater than 900 feet) or over-pumped. Over-pumping of a well can create
upcoming (a mixture of pure with contaminated waters). A factor that lessens
contamination of the Floridan Aquifer is the presence of the Gulf Trough, consisting of
thick beds of clay that slow the infiltration of waters into the Aquifer. The density of the
sediments in the Gulf Trough tends to limit the contamination of the Floridan Aquifer.
Factors that tend to increase contamination of the aquifer include abandoned, deep
wells that are unplugged or improperly plugged and improperly handled chemicals that
are allowed to seep into the Aquifer. Contamination can be found in the surficial
aquifer. The shallowness of this aquifer increases the potential for groundwater
contamination from sources such as improperly constructed wells, leaking underground
fuel storage tanks or leachants from abandoned dumps, garbage pits, and septic
system effluents (Source: NWFWMD, Ochlockonee River and Bay Watershed SWIM, p.
16).
Wellhead Protection
One method of protecting groundwater resources are buffers around wellheads. In
1998, the EPA approved Florida’s Wellhead Protection Program. The DEP Wellhead
Protection program incorporated the Wellhead Protection Rule which establishes a 500foot radius circular Wellhead Protection Area around all wells which serve community
and
non-transient
non-community
public
water
systems
(Source:
www.dep.state.fl.us/water/groundwater/wellhead.htm, and Chapter 62-521 FAC).
Gadsden County has adopted a wellhead protection in the Gadsden County
Comprehensive Plan, as implemented by the Land Development Code, that requires a
Page 28 of 54
500 foot radius from a wellhead of public supply potable water well. The first 200 foot
radius shall be a zone of exclusion, for all uses except existing residential uses.
Additional use restrictions apply within the remaining 300 foot radius.
Surface Water Resources
Surface water resources consist of a well-developed network of streams, natural
wetlands and manmade impoundments. No natural lakes occur in the county. The welldeveloped stream network is typical of areas with clay sub-soils, which limit infiltration
and aquifer recharge resulting in high runoff rates. These characteristics also limit the
availability of surface water during periods of low rainfall or drought. The impoundments
were constructed primarily for agricultural irrigation.
Surface water provides approximately 58% of the agricultural demand in Gadsden
County supply. Virtually all of the current surface water withdrawals are used for
agricultural and recreational purposes. Telogia and Quincy Creek are the major surface
water resources used for water supply in the county (Source: NWFWMD, 2013 Water
Supply Assessment Update, Water Resources Assessment 14-01, January 2014,
Chapter 3, pp. 3, 86 –92).
Regional policies that affect surface water in the County's lakes, rivers, creeks and
ponds are administered and enforced by the NWFWMD, the FDEP, and the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers. The Clean Water Act requires that the surface waters of
each state be classified according to designated uses. As defined in 62.302400, Florida FAC, Class I Surface Waters are those classified as potable water
supplies. Within Gadsden County, there are three Class I Surface Waters. These
include:
•
•
•
Holman Branch – SR 270-A to source.
Mosquito Creek – U.S. HWY 90 north to the Florida state line.
Quincy Creek – SR 65 to source.
It is important to note that in the early 2000’s Quincy Creek is no longer a potable water
source as the City of Quincy constructed and is now using a well.
Lakes and Ponds (Impoundments)
Surface water resources in Gadsden County consist of a network of streams, natural
wetlands and manmade impoundments. The largest impoundments include Lake
Seminole, Lake Talquin, Lake Tallavanna and Lake Yvette. With no natural lakes,
impoundments were utilized in Gadsden County to create lakes, ponds, etc. and to
create water storage for agricultural and other uses. Streams and creeks within the
watersheds have been extensively altered by impoundments (Source: Surface Water
Resources, NWFWMD 2013 Water Supply Assessment Update, p. 3-92).
Page 29 of 54
Lake Seminole, an impoundment constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers, provides
flood control, hydroelectric power, and aids in navigation. It touches Gadsden's
northwest corner, but mostly lies in Georgia and Alabama (Shoreline Management Plan,
Lake Seminole, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nov. 1995, P. 6). Lake Talquin,
Gadsden County's largest impoundment, is spread over approximately 12,000 acres. In
1929 the Jackson Bluff Dam was constructed on the Ochlockonee River to produce
hydroelectric power. The waters held back by the dam formed Lake Talquin, a reservoir
located on the Ochlockonee River between Gadsden & Leon County (Source: Lake
Talquin State Park Unit Management Plan, FDEP, Feb. 15, 2008, p. 12;
www.protectingourwater.org/watersheds/map/ochlockonee_stmarks/ochlockonee).
In the early 1970’s, the 160 acre Lake Tallavana was created by damming the 40 acre
Pine Top Lake as part of the Lake Tallavana subdivision (Source: Lake Tallavana Home
Owners Association)(Draft Ochlokonee River and Bay SWIM Plan, NWFWMD, 2012).
Table 5.2 Lakes and Ponds, Ten Acres or Larger.
Name
Surface Area
(Acres)
Location
A S T Kraysland Pond
25
SE1/4 S27 T2N R4W
Bert Bros Pond
11
NE1/4 S9 T2N R2W
Bryon Suber Mill Pond
40
SW1/4 S2 T2N R5W
C W Thomas Lake
100
SW1/4 S30 T3N R4W
Cecil Butler Lake
39
SE1/4 S26 T3N R2W
Durwood Owens Pond
18
SW1/4 S1 T3N R3W
F J Betts Pond
16
SE1/4 S6 T3N R4W
Gyte Chester Pond
20
NW1/4 S11 T3N R2W
H H Swisher Pond
19
NW1/4 S21 T3N R1W
H M Spooner Pond
11
SE1/4 S8 T2N R5W
Hannas Mill Pond
15
S2 T2N R5W
Hanno Mill Pond
30
SE1/4 S15 T2N R5W
Henry Dover Pond
15
NW1/4S5T1NR2W
Interlocking Lakes
59
S35 T3N R4W
J Frank Smith Pond
29
NW1/4 S7 T3N R2W
J T Budd Pond
42
SW1/4 S26 T1N R3W
Jack Covington Pond
60
SW1/4 S30 T4N R4W
Mary G. Munroe Pond
17
NW1/4 S21 T2N R2W
Pitt Land Slide Pond
22
NE1/4 S36 T3N R6W
Shepards Mill Pond
10
S15 T2N R5W
Talquin Lake
8,800
S25 T1N R3W
Page 30 of 54
Name
Surface Area
(Acres)
Location
Unnamed Lake
10
SW1/4 S19 T2N R2W
Unnamed Lake
10
S34 T3N R5W
Unnamed Lake
52
S21 T2N R2W
Unnamed Lake
10
S15 T3N R2W
Unnamed Lake
23
S7 T3N R2W
Unnamed Lake
10
S10 T3N R2W
Unnamed Lake
17
S20 T3N R1W
Unnamed Lake
37
S34 T4N R6W
Unnamed Lake
29
S32 T3N R5W
Unnamed Lake
62
S25 T3N R5W
Unnamed Lake
23
S26 T3N R2W
Tallavana, Lake
147.01
S6 T2N R2W
Violetta Farm Pond
16
NE1/4 S15 T3N R3W
Wayside Farm Pond
15
SE1/4 S15 T3N R2W
Yvette, Lake
28.17
N31 T2N R2W
Source: Division of Florida Resources, 1969, Florida Board of Conservation and Florida Atlas of
Lakes, WaterAtlas.org, USF. Gazetteer of Florida Lakes, University of Florida Digital Collections,
1982; Lake Watch
Watersheds
The state utilizes the management districts to implement its statewide method of water
resource management FDEP 2014 Integrated Report, pp. 238-239. Through this
watershed management approach utilizes hydrological units as opposed to political
division. Watersheds are defined as an area of land in which all of the water that enters
it drains into a common waterbody, and are also known as a drainage basin. Gadsden
County is located within two major watersheds: the Ochlockonee River Watershed; and,
the Apalachicola River Watershed, which are fed by multiple water basins within the
County (see Exhibit 5). These watersheds are created by a ridgeline that bisects
approximately 25% of the western portion of the county.
Apalachicola River Watershed
The Apalachicola River is formed by the confluence of the Flint and Chattahoochee
Rivers at Lake Seminole. It runs toward the Apalachicola Bay into the Gulf of Mexico
and has the fastest average flow (25,000 cubic feet per second) of any Florida river. It
has a minimum navigable depth of nine (9) feet. Both the flow and the depth of the
Apalachicola are controlled at the Jim Woodruff Dam, which holds Lake Seminole, by
the
U.S.
Army
Corps
of
Engineers
(
www.protectingourwater.org/watersheds/map/apalachicola). Flat and Mosquito Creeks
Page 31 of 54
(Class I waters upstream of US 90) as well as several minor streams carry water from
steephead ravines and discharge into the Apalachicola River. As a designated
Outstanding Florida Water (OFW), the Apalachicola River Watershed is a priority for the
NWFWMD’s Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program to reduce
water resource degradation, as well as protect and preserve natural resources (Source:
NWFWMD, Apalachicola River and Bay Management Plan, Program Series, 96-1).
The Apalachicola River’s high bluffs in Liberty and Gadsden counties are cut by
steephead ravines of seepage streams and are home to more endangered species and
greater plant and animal diversity than can be found in any like-sized area between
Virginia and Texas. These high sandy bluffs, deep ravines and seepage streams are
unique because they support relic plants of Appalachian origin from 2 million years ago
and are not found anywhere else in Florida (Source: Apalachicola Regional Planning
Council, Strategic Regional Policy Plan (SRPP). In the last decade, populations of
Atlantic sturgeon, Gulf sturgeon and striped bass have decreased due to habitat
alteration, reservoir construction, and siltation due to dredging, pollution and agricultural
runoff (Source: www.protectingourwater.org/watersheds/map/apalachicola).
Ochlockonee River Watershed
The Ochlockonee River and its basin cover the largest part of mid- to eastern Gadsden
County. Forty-five (45) percent of the total watershed lies within Florida. The
Ochlockonee River begins in southern Georgia, and stretches for 206 miles (Source:
www.protectingourwater.org). The Florida portion is roughly 116 miles running from the
Georgia line until it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Major surface water features in
Gadsden County include its impounded reach at Lake Talquin, and major tributaries
including Little River and Telogia Creek. Gadsden County has no natural lakes for water
storage. However, it is estimated that there are approximately 46 impoundments in the
County. Lake Talquin is the largest. The average flow of the Ochlockonee River
upstream of Lake Talquin is 1,600 cubic feet per second, while its average channel
depth (not including Lake Talquin) ranges from 10 to 30 feet. There is one named spring
in the Ochlockonee River Basin. Indian Springs, which once was a privately owned
recreational facility, is located in the Ochlocknee River watershed. Water comes into a
naturally occurring pool and seeps from the clay feeding into the pool. A bottled water
pumping operation occurred at Indian Springs from 1994 to 2003 (NWFWMD ‘Draft’
Ochlockonee River and Bay Watershed SWIM, p. 2; and, NCRS, ‘Soil Survey of
Gadsden County, Florida, p. 180).
Impaired Waters
Under Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, states, territories, and authorized tribes
are required to develop lists of impaired waters. These are waters that are too polluted
or otherwise degraded to meet water quality standards. The law requires that these
jurisdictions establish priority rankings for waters on the lists and develop Total
Maximum Daily Loat (TMDL) for these waters. A TMDL, is a calculation of the maximum
amount of a pollutant that a waterbody can receive and still safely meet water quality
standards (http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/lawsguidance/cwa/tmdl/index.cfm).
Page 32 of 54
Total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) are utilized to make a scientific determination of
the maximum amount of a given pollutant that surface water can absorb and still meet
the water quality standards that protect human health and aquatic life. Water bodies
that do not meet water quality standards are identified as "impaired" for the particular
pollutants of concern, nutrients, bacteria, mercury, etc. TMDLs must be developed,
adopted and implemented for those pollutants to reduce pollutants and clean up the
water body.
The threshold limits on pollutants in surface waters, Florida's surface water quality
standards on which TMDLs are based, are set forth primarily in Chapter 62-302, Florida
Administrative Code, and the associated table of water quality criteria. A TMDL
represents the maximum amount of a given pollutant that a waterbody can assimilate
and still meet water quality standards, including its applicable water quality criteria and
its designated uses. TMDLs are developed for waterbodies that are verified as not
meeting their water quality standards. They provide important water quality restoration
goals that will guide restoration activities.
TMDL reports are be followed by the development and implementation of a Basin
Management Action Plan, or BMAP, to reduce the amount of nutrients and five-day
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) that contributed to the verified DO impairments in
Juniper Creek. These activities will depend heavily on the active participation of the
Northwest Florida Water Management District (NWFWMD), local governments,
businesses, and other stakeholders. The Department will work with these organizations
and individuals to undertake or continue reductions in the discharge of pollutants and
achieve the established TMDLs for impaired waterbodies.
While the relative quality of surface water is generally good, as shown in Table 5-1
below, the following waterbodies are deemed impaired.
Table 5-1 Impaired Waterbodies within the Apalachicola and Ochlocknee
Watersheds
Waterbody
Waterbody
ID
Location
State
Waterbody
Type
Length
(Miles)
Status
Cause of
Impairment
Apalachicola Watershed
Apalachicola
River
FL375G1
Apalachicola River
Stream
46.4
Apalachicola
River
FL375H2
Apalachicola River
Stream
2.8
Flat Creek
FL4873
Apalachicola River
Stream
11.7
South
Mosquito
Creek
FL3934
Apalachicola River
Stream
8.8
Impaired/
TMDL
needed
Impaired/
TMDL
needed
Impaired/
TMDL
needed
Impaired/
TMDL
needed
Mercury in fish
tissue
Mercury in fish
tissue
Fecal coliform
Dissolved
oxygen & fecal
coliform
Page 33 of 54
Waterbody
Waterbody
ID
Location
State
Waterbody
Type
Length
(Miles)
Status
Cause of
Impairment
8.9
Impaired/
TMDL
needed
Fecal coliform
Lower Ochlocknee Watershed
Bear Creek
FL7575
North
Ochlockonee
River
Stream
Juniper
Creek
FL6826
Telogia Creek
Stream
3.8
Impaired/
TMDL
needed
Lake Talquin
(southern
portion)
FL1297C
North
Ochlockonee
River
Freshwater Lake
14,656
Impaired/
TMDL
needed
Lake Talquin
(northern
portion)
FL1297D
North Ochlocknee
River
Freshwater Lake
11,584
Impaired/
TMDL
needed
Dissolved
oxygen, fecal
coliform &
chlorophyll-A
Dissolved
Oxygen,
Mercury in fish
tissue, Trophic
State Index
Dissolved
Oxygen,
Mercury in fish
tissue, Trophic
State Index
Iron & mercury
in fish tissue
Impaired/
TMDL
needed
Impaired/
Iron & mercury
Ochlocknee
North Ochlocknee
TMDL
in fish tissue
FL1297F8
Stream
11.4
River
River
needed
Impaired/
Iron & mercury
Ochlocknee
North Ochlocknee
TMDL
in fish tissue
FL1297G9
Stream
1.3
River
River
needed
Impaired/
Fecal coliform
Quincy
North Ochlocknee
TMDL
& iron
FL130310
Stream
9.4
Creek
River
needed
Impaired/
Lake
Trophic State
North Ochlocknee
FreshTMDL
FL540A
64
Index
Tallavana
River
water Lake
needed
Impaired/
Fecal coliform
Telogia
Telogia Creek
Stream
51.6
TMDL
& iron
FL130011
Creek
needed
Impaired/
Fecal coliform
Swamp
North Ochlocknee
TMDL
FL42712
Stream
2.8
Creek
River
needed
Source: Watershed Quality Assessment Report, 2010, US Environmental Protection Agency.
Ochlocknee
River
FL1297E7
North Ochlocknee
River
Stream
14.1
1 This
segment runs south into Liberty County.
segment runs from Lake Seminole to just north of the CSX rail line.
3 From the Gadsden County line to Flat Creek Hills north of Greensboro.
4 From east of Chattahoochee to JWY 379 (Mt. Pleasant Road)
5 From HWY 65 (Hosford HWY) to Lake Talquin.
6 From just west of Juniper Creek Road to just west of HWY 65 (Hosford HWY)
7 From Lake Talquin north to FL1297F.
8 From FL1297F to 1297G (north of CR 157).
9 From the GA state line south 1.3 miles.
10 From 270A (Luten Road) to east of Quincy.
11 Primarily in Liberty County, north to C.W. Thomas Lake (near CR 268).
12 From the GA state line south to about two miles south of Jamieson Road.
2 This
Page 34 of 54
Point and Non-Point Source Pollution Discharge
There are two primary sources of pollution as defined by the Clean Water Act. “Point
Source is any discernable, confined, and discrete conveyance, including but not limited
to any pipe, ditch, channel, tunnel, conduit, well, discrete fissure, container, rolling
stock, concentrated animal feeding operation, landfill, leachate collection system, vessel
or other floating craft from which pollutants are or may be discharged. This term does
not include return flow from irrigated agriculture or agriculture storm runoff (Clean Water
Act, Section 502, General Definitions).” ‘Non-point’ source pollution is any source of
water pollution that does not meet the legal definition of ‘point source’ in Section
502(14) of the Clean Water Act. Per the Clean Water Act, states are required to list
surface waters that do not meet applicable water quality standards and to establish
Total Maximum Daily Loads or TMDL’s for these waters on a prioritized schedule.
Water quality challenges in the Ochlockonee River watershed cross Georgia and
Florida. Pollution sources are concentrated in the upper watershed, corresponding to
agricultural activities, mining, and urban land uses. Agricultural runoff is a significant
contributor of nonpoint source pollution (NPS) particularly in parts of Gadsden County
and much of Georgia’s portion of the watershed. Surface mining, construction sites,
landscape erosion, and unpaved roads are among other sources of NPS pollution
variably distributed within the watershed.
Quincy Creek and Holman Branch Basin
The Quincy Creek and its tributary Holman Branch are designated as Class I water
bodies, classified for potable water use as defined by 62-302-400, Florida
Administrative Code. Quincy Creek is listed as an impaired water body by the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection (Table 5.1). Since 2003, the City of Quincy no
longer uses Quincy Creek (surface water) as a source for potable water. It now utilizes
a potable water well field in northwest Gadsden County. Within the roughly 10,000
acres of the Quincy Creek Drainage Basin, approximately 60 percent of the lands are
classified as vacant or undeveloped
(Source: NWFWMD 2013 Water Supply
Assessment Update, January 2014, p. 3-86)
Telogia Creek Basin
The Telogia Creek is also listed by the FDEP as an impaired waterbody (Table 5.1).
Due to the cumulative effects of surface and groundwater withdrawals in the past,
exemptions from the permitting process are no longer allowed in order to preserve an
adequate flow for Telogia Creek. The flow regime and natural systems in the Telogia
creek basin have been highly altered by construction of farm ponds, in-stream
impoundments, and a long history of agricultural water withdrawals (Source: NWFWMD,
2013 Water Supply Assessment Update, p. 3-94). The central portion of the County
including the Upper Telogia Creek Basin is identified as a Water Resource Caution Area
(WRCA) by the NWFWMD due to concerns regarding the availability of surface water
and groundwater in the Upper Telogia Creek basin. The flow regime and natural
systems in the Telogia Creek basin have been highly altered by construction of farm
Page 35 of 54
ponds, in-stream impoundments, and a long history of agricultural water withdrawals
since designation as a WRCA, no significant increase in surface withdrawals has been
authorized and the impact of pumping activity has been stabilized. NWFWMD has
continued hydrologic restoration activities (NWFWMD, 2013 Work Plan Report & 2014
Water Resources Assessment).
Non-point Source Pollution
Non-point source pollution (NPS) of surface water in the both the Ochlokonee and the
Apalachicola Rivers is the result of pollutants from urban and agricultural areas
resulting in water quality impairment. In urban areas, storm drains, sewers, and paved
and unpaved surfaces contain runoff with waste such as oils, chemicals, and debris.
Sediments, nutrients, and chemicals in agricultural runoff are primarily problems in the
Ochlockonee near the Georgia line, and the tributaries of Telogia Creek. Agricultural
water impoundments act as upstream sinks for surface water sediment and nutrients,
and this keeps some pollutants from reaching the larger tributaries in the County
(Source: NWFWMD, Draft 2012 Ochlockonee River and Bay SWIM Plan, P. 14).
Another non-point source of pollution is stormwater runoff from residential and
commercial areas. The most common types of pollutants found in water runoff are
petroleum products, pesticides and fertilizers. Soil characteristics result in high runoff
rates and relatively high average total stream flow compared to base flow (NWFWMD,
2013 Water Supply Assessment Update). Erosion materials including sediment from
unpaved roads and top soils are another source of water pollution noted in the County.
Efforts continue to encourage farmers and developers to adopt practices that will
prevent erosion.
Pursuant to the FDEP 2010 Nonpoint Source Pollution Report, “Unpaved roads provide
a clear and distinguishable impact to our waters. Sediment from unpaved roads,
included eroded particles of rock, is transported by sheet flow runoff into nearby waters.
This process is accelerated as citizens utilize the roads. Sedimentation in streams
impairs water quality, increases flooding, reduces aquatic habitats, impairs navigation
and recreation, and alters fluvial and alluvial geomorphology.” Since 2001, Gadsden
County has reduced the linear miles of clay and dirt roads from 400 to 234 linear miles
(Source: Gadsden County Public Works).
Soil Erosion
In accordance with the NRCS 2007 Soil Survey of Gadsden County, FL (Exhibit 6),
erosion caused by water is a hazard on cropland where the slope is more than 5%,
especially in areas of well drained and moderately well drained soils. Erosion can
reduce productivity and result in pollution of streams. Agricultural productivity is
reduced as the surface layer erodes and more of the subsoil is incorporated into the
plow layer. Erosion on farmland results in sediment entering streams. Controlling this
erosion minimizes the pollution of streams and improved the quality of water for
municipal uses, for recreational uses and for fish and wildlife. Erosion control practices
provide a protective surface cover, increases the rate of water filtration. Erosion caused
Page 36 of 54
by wind is currently not a significant problem in Gadsden County. Erosion from
construction sites and runoff from dirt roads continue to be producers of large quantities
of sediment. Exhibit 7 shows graphic data derived from the USDA, Natural Resources
Conservation Services Soil Survey of Gadsden County. (Source: USDA, NCRS, Soil
Survey of Gadsden County, Florida, 2009).
Point Source - Industry and Large Volume Waste Producers
Gadsden County has very little industry (see Exhibit 2 for Developed Areas). Since the
adoption of the Comprehensive Plan, the number of industrial waste sites has been
reduced. Industrial waste producers are shown in Table 5.5. These waste producers
are permitted and monitored by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection
(FDEP). The following facilities are identified as point sources of industrial waste.
Table 5.5 Industrial Waste Point Sources
Name
EPA ID
Coastal Treated Products
FLD063524870
FDOT
FLR000029785
Florida State Hospital
FLD984171603
Source: Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 2010
Parramore Surplus, an open area storage facility of surplus equipment, was previously
classified by the FDEP as contaminated and was cleaned and inspected by the EPA as
a Superfund site. It has been finalized and is no longer being monitored.
Post and Lumber, a former wood treating facility site, has been cleaned up by both the
EPA and the FDEP and is being monitored by FDEP. In 1996, the EPA completed
excavation and treatment of onsite soils prior to the adoption of State funded cleanup.
Since 1999, ongoing removal of contaminated soils has occurred on-site and off-site on
adjacent parcels to the east and west of the site. Monitoring indicates that off-site
impacts have been eliminated; however, further on-site remedy will be required as
funding is available.
Table 5.6 shows the list of contaminated sites in Gadsden County.
Table 5.6 EPA Listed Contaminated Sites
Name
EPA ID #
Location
Status
Affected
Media
Parramore
Surplus
FLD041140344
Mt. Pleasant
Deleted
02/21/1989
Ground Water
Quincy
Ongoing
Monitoring
Ground Water
Post and
Lumber
Page 37 of 54
Source: http://www.epa.gov/region4/superfund/allresource/mapping/states/fl.html;
Air Quality
According to the FDEP there are no known sources that are currently contributing to air
pollution in Gadsden County. The closest FDEP monitoring site is located at
Tallahassee Community College in Leon County (Source: Florida Department of
Environmental Protection Air Quality Monitoring System, referenced July 2015).
Small Quantity Hazardous Waste Generators
There are approximately 201 generators of small amounts of hazardous waste in
Gadsden County. This assessment is required by the Florida Resource Recovery and
Management Act (s. 403.701, F.S.) and the Florida Water Quality Assurance Act
(370.30-376.319, F.S.). Table 5.7 lists hazardous waste generators from the FDEP
Hazmat database.
Table 5.7 Hazardous Waste and Disposal Summary (Small Generators)
Description
Number of
Facilities
Pounds
ANTIFREEZE (HW EXCEPT WHEN
RECYCLED)
1
200
0.02%
LEAD-ACID BATTERIES
4
35,112
4.17%
LEAD-ACID BATTERIES
1
45,600
5.41%
USED PAINT THINNER
1
350
0.04%
SPENT ACETONE
1
0
0%
SPENT METHYL ETHYL KETONE(MEK)
1
0
0%
SPENT SOLVENTS (MIX/OTHER)
1
178,992
21.24%
CRUSHED OIL FILTERS
1
2000
0.24%
USED OIL CONTAMINATED W/
HALOGENATED HAZ WAST
1
3,658
0.43%
USED OILCOLLECTED BY PUOCC FACS
6
0
0%
USED OILS & OTHER LUBRICANTS
2
64,922
7.7%
USED OILS & OTHER LUBRICANTS
1
502,920
59.68%
USED OILS & OTHER LUBRICANTS
1
457
0.05%
Percent
Page 38 of 54
USED OILS & OTHER LUBRICANTS
2
8,230
0.98%
UNCRUSHED OIL FILTERS
1
240
0.03%
NOT HAZARDOUS WASTE GENERATORS
187
0
0%
Total:
842,681
Source: FDEP Hazardous Waste Compliance & Enforcement Tracking System, December 2013
Page 39 of 54
APPENDIX Table 1
Gadsden County Federal & State Species Status
Florida Natural Areas Inventory Tracking List – August 2015
Scientific Name
Common Name
Federal
Status
State
Status
Plants
Asclepias viridiflora
Green Milkweed
E
Baptisia megacarpa
Apalachicola Wild Indigo
E
Brickellia cordifolia
Flyr's Brickell-bush
E
Calamintha dentata
Toothed Savory
T
Callirhoe papaver
Poppy Mallow
E
Calycanthus floridus
Sweet-shrub
E
Carex baltzellii
Baltzell's Sedge
T
Cornus alternifolia
Alternate-leaf Dogwood
E
Croomia pauciflora
Croomia
E
Cryptotaenia canadensis
Canada Honewort
E
Cynoglossum virginianum
Wild Comphrey
E
Delphinium carolinianum
Carolina Larkspur
E
Cornus alternifolia
Croomia pauciflora
Dirca palustris
Alternate-leaf Dogwood
Croomia
Eastern Leatherwood
E
E
E
Dodecatheon meadia
Shootingstar
E
Echinacea purpurea
Eastern Purple Coneflower
E
Erythronium umbilicatum
Trout Lily
E
Euonymus atropurpureus
Burningbush
E
Euphorbia commutata
Wood Spurge
E
Forestiera godfreyi
Godfrey's Swampprivet
E
Hepatica nobilis
Liverleaf
E
Hexastylis arifolia
Heartleaf
T
Hybanthus concolor
Green Violet
E
Isotria verticillata
Large Whorled Pogonia
E
Kalmia latifolia
Mountain Laurel
T
Lepuropetalon spathulatum
Little-people
E
Liatris gholsonii
Gholson's Blazing Star
E
Lilium michauxii
Carolina Lily
E
Lillium superbum
Turk’s Cap Lily
E
Lythrum curtissii
Curtiss’ Loosestrife
E
Magnolia ashei
Ashe’s Magnolia
E
Magnolia pyramidata
Pyramid Magnolia
E
Magnolia tripetala
Umbrella Magnolia
E
Malaxis unifolia
Green Adder's-mouth Orchid
E
Page 40 of 54
Scientific Name
Common Name
Federal
Status
State
Status
E
Matelea baldwyniana
Baldwyn's Spiny-pod
Matelea flavidula
Carolina Milkvine
E
Matelea floridana
Florida Spiny-pod
E
Medeola virginiana
Indian Cucumber-root
E
Pachysandra procumbens
Allegheny Spurge
E
Pityopsis flexuosa
Zigzag Silkgrass
E
Platanthera clavellata
Little Club-spur Orchid
E
Rhododendron alabamense
Alabama Rhododendron
E
Rhododendron austrinum
Florida Flame Azalea
E
Rhododendron chapmanii
Chapman's Rhododendron
Salix eriocephala
Heart-leaved Willow
E
Salvia urticifolia
Nettle-leaved Sage
E
Schisandra glabra
Bay Star-vine
E
Silene polypetala
Fringed Campion
Stachys crenata
Shade Betony
E
E
E
E
E
Stachys hyssopifolia var. lythroides Tallahassee Hedge-nettle
E
Staphylea trifolia
American Bladdernut
E
Stewartia malacodendron
Silky Camellia
E
Taxus floridana
Florida Yew
E
Thalictrum thalictroides
Rue-anemone
E
Torreya taxifolia
Florida Torreya
Trillium lancifolium
Narrow-leaved Trillium
E
Uvularia floridana
Florida Merrybells
E
Veratrum woodii
False Hellebore
E
Xanthorhiza simplicissima
Yellow-root
E
E
E
Amphibians and Reptiles
Drymarchon couperi
Eastern indigo snake
T
T
Gopher polyphemus
Gopher tortoise
C
T
Amblema neislerii
Fat threeridge
E
E
Elliptoideus sloatianus
Purple Bankclimber
T
T
Pleurobema pyriforme
Oval Pigtoe
E
E
Lampsilis subangulata
Shinrayed Pocketbook
E
Medionidus penicillatus
Gulf Moccasinshell
E
E
Medionidus simpsonianus
Ochlockonee Moccansinshell
E
E
Gulf Sturgeon
T
T
Gray Bat
E
E
Clams
Fish
Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi
Mammals
Myotis grisescens
Birds
Page 41 of 54
Scientific Name
Common Name
Federal
Status
State
Status
SSC
Aramus quarauna
Limpkin
Egretta caerulea
Little Blue Heron
SSC
Egretta thula
Snowy Egret
SSC
Egretta tricolor
Tricolored Heron
SSC
Edocimus albus
White Ibis
SSC
Falco sparverius paulus
Mycteria americana
Pandion hallaetus
Southeastern American Kestrel
Wood Stork
Osprey
ST
T
SSC
T
Source: www.fnai.org/tracklinglist.cfm
KEY:
FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS
Provided by FNAI for information only. For official definitions and lists of protected species, consult the
relevant federal agency. Definitions derived from U.S. Endangered Species Act of 1973, Sec. 3. Note
that the federal status given by FNAI refers only to Florida populations and that federal status may
differ elsewhere.
C = Candidate species for which federal listing agencies have sufficient information on biological
vulnerability and threats to support proposing to list the species as Endangered or Threatened.
E = Endangered: species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
T = Threatened: species likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future throughout all or a
significant portion of its range.
STATE LEGAL STATUS
Provided by FNAI for information only. For official definitions and lists of protected species, consult the
relevant state agency.
Fauna - Species: Definitions derived from “Florida’s Endangered Species and Species of Special
Concern, Official Lists” published by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 1 August
1997, and subsequent updates and species as adopted per Chapter 68A-27FAC.
FE = Listed as Endangered Species at the Federal level by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
FT = Listed as Threatened Species at the Federal level by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
ST = State population listed as Threatened by the FFWCC. Defined as a species, subspecies, or
isolated population which is acutely vulnerable to environmental alteration, declining in number at a
rapid rate, or whose range or habitat is decreasing in area at a rapid rate and as a consequence is
destined or very likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future.
SSC = Listed as Species of Special Concern by the FFWCC. Defined as a population which warrants
special protection, recognition, or consideration because it has an inherent significant vulnerability to
habitat modification, environmental alteration, human disturbance, or substantial human exploitation
which, in the foreseeable future, may result in its becoming a threatened species.
Flora - Plants: Definitions derived from Sections 581.011 and 581.185(2), Florida Statutes, and the
Preservation of Native Flora of Florida Act, 5B-40.001. FNAI does not track all state-regulated plant
species; for a complete list of state-regulated plant species, call Florida Division of Plant Industry,
352-372-3505 or see: http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/.
LE = Endangered: species of plants native to Florida that are in imminent danger of extinction within
the state, the survival of which is unlikely if the causes of a decline in the number of plants continue;
includes all species determined to be endangered or threatened pursuant to the U.S. Endangered
Species Act.
Page 42 of 54
269 A
G
H
379B
G
H
FLORIDA / GEORGIA ST
ATE LINE
Chattahoochee
G
H
65A
G
H
G
H
16
1
27 2
H
G
12B
483
G
H
H
G
G
H
379
G
H
270
G
H
159
10
H
G
H
G
12
G
H
G
H
A
15 9
1
16
272
268
10
A
157A
9
G
H
256
G
H
G
H
G
H
26
JACKSON
G
H
65
G
H
159A
65B
Havana
270A
Gretna
0A
27
H
G
157
G
H
G
H
268A
H
G
8
G
H
270A
G
H
27
0
48
3
G
H
270
G
H
15
9
Quincy
65
27 0
G
H
379
H
G
G
H
270B
0
27
G
H
G
H
CALHOUN
274
G
H
Greensboro
26 8
G
H
12
A
26 7
H
G
65A
G
H
90
t
u
H
G
65B
9
15
10
G
H
LEON
Midway
EXHIBIT 1
DATA SOURCE: Florida Natural Areas Inventory
Florida Conservation Lands - June, 2015
Florida Forever Acquistins - November 2014
PREBLE-RISH,
INC.
PREPARED BY:
SRay July 2015
K:\228.100 EAR Amendments\GIS Comp Plans
Base Features
County Outline
City Limits
Lake Talquin
Interstate 10
LIBERTY
This map is intended for planning purposes only. Gadsden County
makes no claims, no representations, and no warranties, express or
implied, concerning the validity, reliability or the accuracy of the
.information provided herein
MANAGED CONSERVATION LAND
GADSDEN COUNTY COMMPREHENSIVE PLAN DATA AND ANALYSIS
0 0.5 1
2
Miles
3
State Road
County Road
o
1 :14,000 ft
Page 43 of 54
MAP SCALE
(11"x17" Print Format)
Page 24 of 33
Angus Gholson Jr. Nature Park of Chattahoochee
Apalachee Correctional Institution
Coastal Forest Resources Conservation Easement
Davidson-Riverview Conservation Easement
Joe Budd Wildlife Management Area
Lake Talquin State Forest
RCM Farms Conservation Easement
River Ridge Plantation Conservation Easement
Shade Farm Conservation Easement
Swamp Creek Preserve Conservation Easement
Tanyard Creek Preservation Park
Thompson/Gray Conservation Easement
Torreya State Park
Florida Forever Lands
26 7
Managed Conservation Lands
CR 269A
FLORIDA / GEORGIA STA
TE LINE
CR 379B
Chattahoochee
CR 159A
JACKSON
CR 65B
CR 65B
CR 65A
CR 269A
CR 157A
63
CR 379 CR 256
CR 272
CR 161A
CR 159
CR 12B
CR 269
CR 12
CR 379A
CR 483
CR 65
267
CR 157
10
10
CR 159A
CR 272
CR 270
CR 161
Havana
CR 12A
9
15
CR 268
12
CR 270A
CR 268A
CR 270
CR 270A
CR 153
CR 65A
CR 270
CR 270B
12
CR 159
CR 0418
Gretna
CR 270
Quincy
CR 270A
CALHOUN
CR 1607
CR 270
CR 1610
CR 270
63
CR 274
CR 274
CR 379
CR 483
Greensboro
65
CR 269B
CR 269
CR 65D
CR 65A
CR 274
CR 159
12
CR 267A
8
10
CR 268
Midway
LEON
CR 65B
26 7
CR 65C
LIBERTY
Base Features
County Outline
This map is intended for planning purposes only. Gadsden County
makes no claims, no representations, and no warranties, express or
implied, concerning the validity, reliability or the accuracy of the
.information provided herein
Developed Areas
EXHIBIT 2
DATA SOURCE: Northwest Florida Water Management District
2012-2013 Land Use
PREPARED BY: PREBLE-RISH, INC.
SRay July 2015
K:\228.100 EAR Amendments\GIS Comp Plans
DEVELOPED AREAS
GADSDEN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DATA AND ANALYSIS
0 0.5 1
2
Miles
3
City Limits
Lake Talquin
o
1 :14,000 ft
Page 44 of 54
MAP SCALE
(11"x17" Print Format)
Page 25 of 33
LEGEND
269 A
G
H
FLORIDA / GEORGIA ST
ATE LINE
379B
G
H
Chattahoochee
G
H
65A
G
H
G
H
16
1
27 2
H
G
12B
483
H
G
379
G
H
10
G
H
270
G
H
159
10
12
G
H
G
H
A
15 9
1
16
272
H
G
268
H
G
H
G
A
157A
9
G
H
256
G
H
G
H
26
G
H
JACKSON
65
G
H
159A
65B
G
H
Havana
Gretna
0A
27
H
G
157
G
H
270A
G
H
268A
H
G
8
G
H
270A
G
H
27
0
48
3
G
H
270
H
G
15
9
Quincy
65
27 0
G
H
379
H
G
G
H
270B
0
27
G
H
G
H
CALHOUN
G
H
274
Greensboro
26 8
G
H
12
A
26 7
H
G
65A
G
H
H
G
65B
90
t
u
9
15
10
G
H
LEON
26 7
Midway
Wetland System
Freshwater Emergent Wetland
Base Features
Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland
County Outline
LIBERTY
This map is intended for planning purposes only. Gadsden County
makes no claims, no representations, and no warranties, express or
implied, concerning the validity, reliability or the accuracy of the
.information provided herein
Riverine
Lake
EXHIBIT 3
DATA SOURCE: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Wetlands Inventory - May, 2015
PREPARED BY: PREBLE-RISH, INC.
SRay July 2015
K:\228.100 EAR Amendments\GIS Comp Plans
WETLANDS MAP
GADSDEN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DATA AND ANALYSIS
0 0.5 1
2
Miles
3
City Limits
Parcels
o
1 :14,000 ft
Page 45 of 54
MAP SCALE
(11"x17" Print Format)
Page 26 of 33
Freshwater Pond
65A
G
H
H
G
65B
H
G
159A
G
H
16
27 2
1A
G
H
12B
H
G
483
H
G
1
16
G
H
379
G
H
10
10
270
G
H
159
272
268
12
G
H
H
G
A
1 59
G
H
G
H
157A
9
H
G
256
H
G
G
H
26
H
G
JACKSON
LINE
379B
H
G
FLORIDA / GEORGIA STATE
65
H
G
2 6 9A
G
H
Chattahoochee
Havana
Gretna
0A
27
G
H
157
G
H
270A
G
H
268A
G
H
8
G
H
270A
H
G
27
0
48
3
H
G
270
G
H
9
15
Quincy
65
27 0
H
G
379
G
H
H
G
270B
0
27
H
G
G
H
CALHOUN
H
G
274
Greensboro
26 8
G
H
12
G
H
A
G
H
FEMA ZONES
9
15
2 67
G
H
65A
90
t
u
65B
10
H
G
LEON
Midway
X500
A
AE
267
FLOOD ZONE DEFINITIONS
ZONE A - An area inundated by 1% annual chance (100 year)
flooding, for which BFEs (base flood elevations) have
NOT been determined, and in a special flood hazard
area.
ZONE AE - An area inundated by 1% annual chance (100 year)
flooding, for which BFEs have been determined, and
in a special flood hazard area.
EXHIBIT 4
DATA SOURCE: Federal Emergency Management Agency
Flood Hazard Zones of the Digital Flood Insurance Map (DFIRM)
February, 2009
PREPARED BY: PREBLE-RISH, INC.
SRay July 2015
K:\228.100 EAR Amendments\GIS Comp Plans
Base Features
LIBERTY
This map is intended for planning purposes only. Gadsden County
makes no claims, no representations, and no warranties, express or
implied, concerning the validity, reliability or the accuracy of the
.information provided herein
FEMA FLOOD ZONES
GADSDEN COUNTY COMPRENSIVE PLAN DATA AND ANALYSIS
0 0.5 1
2
Miles
3
County Outline
City Limits
o
1 :14,064 ft
Page 46 of 54
MAP SCALE
(11"x17" Print Format)
Page 27 of 33
ZONE X - An area inundated by 0.2% annual chance (500 year)
flooding; a 0.2% annual chance (500 year) area
inundated by 1% annual chance (100 year) flooding
with average depths of less than 1 foot or with drainage
areas less than 1 square mile; or an area protected by
levees from 1% annual chance (100 year) flooding; out
of a special flood hazard area.
FLORIDA / GEORGIA STA
TE LINE
Chattahoochee
UNKNOWN
JACKSON
10
90
t
u
MOSQUITO CREEK
63
27
t
u
APALACHICOLA RIVER
10
Havana
12
FLAT CREEK
QUINCY CREEK
CALHOUN
Gretna
12
LITTLE RIVER
267
27
t
u
63
Quincy
APALACHICOLA RIVER
WATERSHED
TELOGIA CREEK
12
8
Greensboro
OCHOLOCKNEE RIVER
ROCKY COMFORT CREEK
65
10
LEON
UNKNOWN
Midway
BEAR CREEK
267
OKLAWAHA CREEK
OCHLOCKONEE RIVER
WATERSHED
OCHOLOCKNEE RIVER
ST. MARKS RIVER
WATERSHED
HAMMOCK CREEK
Legend
This map is intended for planning purposes only. Gadsden County
makes no claims, no representations, and no warranties, express or
implied, concerning the validity, reliability or the accuracy of the
.information provided herein
Drainage Basins
EXHIBIT 5
DATA SOURCE: Northwest Florida Water Management District
PREPARED BY: PREBLE-RISH, INC.
SRay July 2015
K:\228.100 EAR Amendments\GIS Comp Plans
Base Features
LIBERTY
MAJOR WATERSHEDS
GADSDEN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DATA AND ANALYSIS
0 0.5 1
2
Miles
3
County Outline
City Limits
o
1 :14,000 ft
Page 47 of 54
MAP SCALE
(11"x17" Print Format)
Page 28 of 33
Watersheds
CR 269A
FLORIDA / GEORGIA STA
TE LINE
CR 379B
Chattahoochee
CR 159A
JACKSON
CR 65B
CR 65B
CR 65A
CR 269A
CR 157A
63
CR 379 CR 256
CR 272
CR 161A
CR 159
CR 12B
CR 269
CR 12
CR 379A
CR 483
CR 65
267
CR 157
10
10
CR 159A
CR 272
CR 270
CR 161
Havana
CR 12A
9
15
CR 268
12
CR 270A
CR 268A
CR 270
CR 270A
CR 153
CR 65A
CALHOUN
CR 270
CR 1610
CR 270
CR 274
63
CR 274
CR 379
CR 483
Greensboro
65
CR 269B
CR 269
CR 65D
CR 65A
CR 274
CR 159
12
CR 267A
8
10
CR 268
Midway
LEON
CR 65B
26 7
CR 65C
LIBERTY
Base Features
This map is intended for planning purposes only. Gadsden County
makes no claims, no representations, and no warranties, express or
implied, concerning the validity, reliability or the accuracy of the
.information provided herein
GENERAL SOILS ASSOCIATIONS
DATA SOURCE: USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service
PREPARED BY: PREBLE-RISH, INC.
SRay July 2015
K:\228.100 EAR Amendments\GIS Comp Plans
GADSDEN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DATA AND ANALYSIS
0 0.5 1
2
Miles
3
County Outline
City Limits
o
1 :14,000 ft
Page 48 of 54
MAP SCALE
(11"x17" Print Format)
Page 29 of 33
EXHIBIT 6
CR 159
CR 1607
ALBANY
BIBB
BLANTON
BONIFAY
BONNEAU
CHIPLEY
COWARTS
DOTHAN
EUNOLA
FACEVILLE
FOXWORTH
FUQUAY
GOLDSBORO
GRADY
HARDIN HEIGHTS
HOSFORD
HURRICANE
LAKELAND
LEEFIELD
LEON
LUCY
NORFOLK
OCILLA
ORANGEBURG
OUSLEY
PELHAM
PICKNEY
PITS
PLUMMER
RAINS
RUTLEGE
TELOGIA
TIFTON
TROUP
UDORTHENTS
URBAN LAND
WAHEE
WATER
CR 270B
CR 270
12
CR 0418
Gretna
SOIL SURVEY LEGEND
Quincy
CR 270A
CR 270
CR 269A
FLORIDA STATE LINE
CR 379B
Chattahoochee
CR 159A
JACKSON
CR 65B
CR 65B
CR 65A
CR 269A
CR 157A
63
CR 379 CR 256
CR 272
CR 161A
CR 159
CR 12B
CR 269
CR 12
CR 379A
CR 483
CR 65
267
CR 157
10
10
CR 159A
CR 272
CR 270
CR 161
Havana
CR 12A
9
15
CR 268
12
CR 270A
CR 268A
CR 270
CR 270A
CR 153
CR 65A
CR 270
CR 270B
12
CR 159
CR 0418
Gretna
CR 270
Quincy
CR 270A
CALHOUN
CR 1607
CR 270
CR 1610
CR 270
63
CR 274
CR 274
CR 379
CR 483
Greensboro
65
CR 269B
CR 269
CR 65D
CR 65A
CR 274
CR 159
12
CR 267A
8
10
CR 268
Midway
LEON
CR 65B
26 7
CR 65C
LIBERTY
Base Features
This map is intended for planning purposes only. Gadsden County
makes no claims, no representations, and no warranties, express or
implied, concerning the validity, reliability or the accuracy of the
.information provided herein
Somewhat Limited
Very Limited
EXHIBIT 7
SOIL LIMITATIONS
DATA SOURCE: USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Services
PREPARED BY: PREBLE-RISH, INC.
SRay July 2015
K:\228.100 EAR Amendments\GIS Comp Plans
GADSDEN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DATA AND ANALYSIS
0 0.5 1
2
Miles
3
County Outline
City Limits
o
1 :14,000 ft
Page 49 of 54
MAP SCALE
(11"x17" Print Format)
Page 30 of 33
DEVELOPMENT LIMITATIONS
269 A
G
H
FLORIDA / GEORGIA ST
ATE LINE
65A
G
H
9
16
1
A
H
G
12
G
H
G
H
A
15 9
1
16
H
G
159
270
G
H
H
G
G
H
272
379
G
H
Tmc
12B
10
Tmc
G
H
483
G
H
H
G
Tht
Tmc
27 2
268
10
Tmc
159A
G
H
256
G
H
Tro
G
H
157A
G
H
26
JACKSON
G
H
65B
65
G
H
Chattahoochee
G
H
379B
G
H
Tci
Havana
Gretna
0A
27
H
G
157
G
H
270A
G
H
268A
H
G
8
G
H
27
0
Quincy
65
27 0
G
H
270B
379
G
H
G
H
48
3
G
H
H
G
270
Tmc
15
9
G
H
0
27
G
H
G
H
270A
CALHOUN
Tht
274
G
H
Tci
Greensboro
26 8
G
H
12
A
26 7
H
G
65A
G
H
Tht
H
G
65B
90
t
u
9
15
10
G
H
LEON
Midway
EXPLANATION
Tro - Residuum on Oligocene sediments - The undifferentiated Oligocene residuum,
mapped on parts of the Chattahoochee "Anticline", characteristically consists of
reddish brown, variably sandy clay with inclusions of variably fossiliferous,
silicified limestone.
Tci - Citronelle Formation - The Citronelle Formation consists of gray to orange,
often mottled, unconsolidated to poorly consolidated, very fine to very coarse,
poorly sorted, clean to clayey sands. It contains significant amounts of clay, silt
and gravel which may occur as beds and lenses and may vary considerably over short
distances. Much of the Citronelle Formation is highly permeable. It forms the Sand
and Gravel Aquifer of the surficial aquifer system.
Tmc - Miccosukee Formation - The Miccosukee Formation is a siliciclastic unit with a
limited distribution in the eastern panhandle. It occurs in the Tallahassee Hills from
central Gadsden County to eastern Madison County, often capping hills.
The Miccosukee Formation grades to the west, through a broad facies transition, in
central Gadsden County into the Citronelle Formation. It is composed of grayish orange
to grayish red, mottled, poorly to moderately consolidated, interbedded clay, sand and
gravel of varying coarseness and admixtures. The unit is relatively impermeable but is
considered a part of the surficial aquifer system.
EXHIBIT 8
DATA SOURCE: U.S. Geological Survey
LIBERTY
Legend
Tci
Citronelle Formation
Tht
Hawthorne Group, Torreya Formation
Tjb
Jackson Bluff Formation
Tmc Miccosukee Formation
Tro
Residuum on Oligocene Sediments
Base Features
Tjb
This map is intended for planning purposes only. Gadsden County
makes no claims, no representations, and no warranties, express or
implied, concerning the validity, reliability or the accuracy of the
.information provided herein
GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS AND MINERAL RESOURCES
PREPARED BY: PREBLE-RISH, INC.
SRay July 2015
K:\228.100 EAR Amendments\GIS Comp Plans
GADSDEN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DATA AND ANALYSIS
0 0.5 1
2
Miles
3
County Outline
City Limits
o
1 :14,000 ft
Page 50 of 54
MAP SCALE
(11"x17" Print Format)
Page 31 of 33
Tht - Torreya Formation - The Torreya Formation is exposed or near the surface from
western Gadsden County eastward to western-most Hamilton County. It is informally
subdivided into a lower carbonate unit and an upper siliciclastic unit. Phosphate is
present in the carbonate sediments, particularly in the Sopchoppy Member. The
siliciclastics vary from white to light olive gray, unconsolidated to poorly indurated,
slightly clayey sands with minor phosphate to light gray to bluish gray, poorly
consolidated, variably silty clay.
2
67
Tjb - Jackson Bluff Formation - The Jackson Bluff Formation,occurs at or near the
surface in a limited area of the panhandle in Leon, Liberty and Wakulla Counties.
It is described as a sandy, clayey shell bed composed of tan to orange-brown to
gray green, poorly consolidated, fossiliferous, sandy clays to clayey sands.
26 9 A
H
G
E LINE
G
H
FLORIDA / GEORGIA STAT
379B
Chattahoochee
H
G
9A
37
G
H
65B
H
G
157 A
65 A
H
G
A
26 9
H
G
65
B
26
H
G
9
G
H
272
256
G
H
H
G
159A
H
G
JACKSON
H
G
16
65
G
H
27
t
u
1A
12
G
H
H
G
12B
483
H
G
159
379
H
G
G
H
270
H
G
90
t
u
10
1
16
H
G
G
H
15 9A
272
G
H
268
G
H
Havana
268A
H
G
12A
G
H
H
G
0
27
G
H
15 7
G
H
G
H
15 9
G
H
16
07
27
0
H
G
27 0
H
G
270B
G
H
274
G
H
159
G
H
379
G
H
269B
G
H
3
G
H
G
H
27
t
u
3
48
H
G
26
9
Quincy
274
H
G
Greensboro
G
H
Gretna
1610
270
G
H
A
15
G
H
270 A
270
G
H
CALHOUN
0418
G
H
G
H
0
27
65A
G
H
270A
LEON
274
H
G
H
G
65D
H
G
26
7
A
65A
H
G
LIBERTY
G
H
26
8
G
H
65 B
10
Midway
H
G
65 C
This is a "hot spot" data set representing biological diversity, created by aggregation
of predictive habitat maps for wading birds, important natural communities, and 44 focal
species. It also includes known species and community locations.
Data was created from Landsat Thematic Mapper Satellite Imagery dated 1985-1989
(30m pixels) in order to classify 22 land cover types (i.e., wildlife habitats) known in
the state of Florida. The FFWCC worked with a team of ecologists to reconstruct Floridian
habitat types.
Base Features
CLASSES
County Outline
This map is intended for planning purposes only. Gadsden County
makes no claims, no representations, and no warranties, express or
implied, concerning the validity, reliability or the accuracy of the
.information provided herein
5-6 Focal Species Overlap
7 + Focal Species Overlap
EXHIBIT 9
BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS
DATA SOURCE: Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
Data derived from 1985 - 1989 LandSat Thematic Mapper Imagery.
PREPARED BY: PREBLE-RISH, INC.
SRay - July 2015
GADSDEN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DATA AND ANALYSIS
0 0.5 1
2
Miles
3
City Limits
Lake Talquin
o
1 :14,000 ft
Page 51 of 54
MAP SCALE
(11"x17" Print Format)
Page 32 of 33
3-4 Focal Species Overlap
26 9 A
H
G
E LINE
G
H
FLORIDA / GEORGIA STAT
379B
Chattahoochee
H
G
9A
37
G
H
65B
H
G
157 A
65 A
H
G
A
26 9
H
G
65
B
26
H
G
9
G
H
272
256
G
H
H
G
159A
H
G
JACKSON
H
G
16
65
G
H
27
t
u
1A
12
G
H
H
G
12B
483
H
G
ER
159
RIV
270
H
G
PE
R)
379
H
G
G
H
90
t
u
10
1
16
H
G
G
H
15 9A
272
G
H
268
G
H
Havana
G
H
(U
P
15 7
G
H
15 9
G
H
274
H
G
274
G
H
Greensboro
159
G
H
3
48
H
G
27
t
u
Quincy Station
27
0
16
07
1610
270
G
H
G
H
H
G
0418
G
H
27 0
H
G
270B
G
H
G
H
3
Quincy
G
H
379
G
H
Gretna
15
G
H
270 A
270
G
H
CALHOUN
65A
G
H
G
H
A
LO
CK
0
27
0
27
ON
EE
H
G
270A
OC
H
268A
H
G
12A
G
H
269B
26
9
G
H
LEON
G
H
274
H
G
H
G
65D
H
G
26
7
65A
H
G
A
G
H
Midway Station
26
8
10
G
H
65 B
Midway
LAKE TA
LQ
LEGEND
UIN
H
G
65 C
Gadsden Express
Sidewalks
Bike Lane
Paved Shoulder
LIBERTY
TALQ
UIN
LO
OP
Existing Trails
Paddling Trail
Base Features
Multi-Use Trails
Managed Conservation Land
County Outline
This map is intended for planning purposes only. Gadsden County
makes no claims, no representations, and no warranties, express or
implied, concerning the validity, reliability or the accuracy of the
.information provided herein
Conservation
Recreational
EXHIBIT 10
ENERGY CONSERVATION FEATURES
DATA SOURCE: Gadsden County Planning & Zoning, Gadsden County GIS
University of Florida GeoPlan Center, Big Bend Transit
Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection Office of Greenways & Trails
Florida Natural Areas Inventory Florida Managed Areas
PREPARED BY: PREBLE-RISH, INC.
SRay - July 2015
GADSDEN COUNTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DATA AND ANALYSIS
0 0.5 1
2
Miles
3
City Limits
Lake Talquin
o
1 :14,000 ft
Page 52 of 54
MAP SCALE
(11"x17" Print Format)
Page 33 of 33
Future Land Use
Conservation Element - §163.3177(6)(d)
Statutory Reference
Provide for the conservation, use, and protection of natural resources in the area, including air, water,
water recharge areas, wetlands, waterwells, estuarine marshes, soils, beaches, shores, flood plains, rivers,
bays, lakes, harbors, forests, fisheries and wildlife, mariine habitat, minerals, and other natural
environmental resources, including factors that affect energy conservation.
a) Identify rivers, bays, lakes, wetlands including estuarine marshes, groundwaters, and springs,
including information on quality of the resources available.
b) Floodplains.
c) Known sources of commercial valuable materials.
1.
d) Areas known to have experienced soil erosion problems.
e) Areas that are the location of recreationally and commercially important fish or shellfish,
wildlife, marine habitats, and vegetative communities, including forests, indicating known
dominant species present and species listed by federal, state, or local government agencies as
endangered, threatened, or species of special concern.
Policy
Goal 5A; Objective 5.1; Objective 5.2; Objective 5.3; Objective
5.4; Goal 5B; Objective 5.6;
The Conservation Element data and analysis has identified the
noted areas in the Exhibits provided with that analysis.
a) Protects air quality.
Objective 5.1; Policies 5.1.1-5.1.3
b) Conserves, appropriately uses, and protects the quality and quantity of current and projected
water sources; includes natural groundwater recharge areas, wellhead protection areas, and
surface waters used as a source of public water supply.
Policy 5.3.11; Policy 5.3.12; Policy 5.3.13; Ppolicy 5.3.14;
Policy 5.3.15; and Policy 5.3.16
c) Provides for the emergency conservation of water sources in accordance with the plans of the
regional water management district.
Goal 5D; Objective 5.8; Policies 5.8.1 - 5.8.4
d) Conserves, appropriately uses, and protects minerals, soils, and native vegetative communities, Objective 5.2 and corresponding policies; Goal 5B; Objective
including forests, from destruction by development activities.
5.6 and corresponding policies.
2.
e) Conserves, appropriatesly uses, and protects fisheries, wildlife, wildlife habitat, and marine
habitat and restructs activiteis known to adversely affect the survival of endangered and
threatened wildlife.
Objective 5.4; Policies 5.4.1-5.4.4
f) Protects existing natural reservations identified in the recreation and open space element.
N/A
g) Maintains cooperation with adjacent local governments to conserve, appropriately use, or
protect unique vegetative communities located within more than one jurisdiction.
Policy 5.2.7
h) Designates environmentally sensitive lands for protection based on locally determined criteria
which further the goals and objectives of the conservation element.
Objective 5.2; Policy 5.2.1; Policy 5.2.5; Policy 5.2.6; Policy
5.2.10; Policy 5.2.11
i) Manages hazardous waste to protect natural resources.
Goal 5C; Objective 5.7 and corresponding policies.
Policy 5.3.1; Policy 5.3.2
j) Protects and conserves wetlands and the natural functions of wetlands.
k) Directs future land uses that are incompatible with the protection and conservation of wetlands
Policy 5.3.3; Policy 5.3.4
and wetland functions away from wetlands.
Page 53 of 54
Attachment 5 – Newspaper Advertisement
GADSDEN COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
The Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners will hold a regularly scheduled meeting
on Tuesday, October 20, 2015, at 6:00 p.m. in the Board of County Commission Chambers
located at 7 East Jefferson Street, Quincy, FL. The proposed agenda will include the
following:
Public Hearing:
1.
PUBLIC HEARING (Legislative) – A public hearing for consideration of transmittal
of the Conservation Element of the Comprehensive Plan to the Department of Economic
Opportunity for review (CPA 2015-02).
2.
PUBLIC HEARING (Legislative) – A public hearing for consideration of adoption of
Ordinance 2015-012 which includes amendments to the Land Development Code, specifically
to Chapter 1, Administration and Enforcement, Chapter 6, Subdivision of Land, and Chapter 7
Development Orders, Development Permits, and Development Agreements. The title of the
ordinance reads as follows:
ORDINANCE 2015 - 012
AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
GADSDEN COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE GADSDEN COUNTY LAND
DEVELOPMENT CODE, AMENDING CHAPTER 1, ADMINISTRATION AND
ENFORCEMENT; CHAPTER 6, SUBDIVISION OF LAND; AND CHAPTER 7,
DEVELOPMENT ORDERS, DEVELOPMENT PERMITS, AND DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENTS; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL, SEVERABILITY, AND
MODIFICATIONS THAT MAY ARISE FROM CONSIDERATION AT PUBLIC
HEARING; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
3.
PUBLIC HEARING (Quasi-judicial) – A public hearing for consideration of a special
exception use for the expansion of the Talquin Electric Hinson Substation (SE-2015-1) located
on Potter Woodberry Road (Tax Parcel ID# 2-22-3N-2W-0000-00123-0100).
4.
PUBLIC HEARING (Quasi-judicial) – A public hearing for consideration of a
conceptual/preliminary site plan for the expansion of the Talquin Electric Hinson Substation
(SP-2015-03) located on Potter Woodberry Road (Tax Parcel ID #2-22-3N-2W-0000-001230100).
Persons wishing to review the files on the above projects may do so on the County
website at www.gadsdencountyfl.gov or at the Gadsden County Planning and Community
Development Department located at 1-B East Jefferson Street, Quincy, FL. In accordance
with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing assistance in obtaining any
information from the County or attending the public hearing should contact the County by
calling 850-875-8665 or 850-510-7842, at least 48 hours prior to the hearing.
If any person decides to appeal any decision made with respect to any matter considered
at such public hearing, he or she will need a record of the proceedings, and for such
purpose, he or she may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made,
which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be used.
Page 54 of 54