You’re receiving this email because you played a role in keeping commercial cattle operations out of Myakka River State Park.
This coming Thursday, January 24th, 2019 representatives from Florida Department of Environmental Protection will be in Sarasota to make a presentation and receive comments regarding a revised draft Unit Management Plan (UMP) for Myakka River State Park. The last time they were here the public was not allowed to speak – things have improved significantly since then.
The meeting will be held at Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road, in the “Green Room” associated with the IFAS Extension Office. The meeting starts at 6:30. Written comments will be accepted until February 8, 2019.
Please download and look at the draft plan. It contains a lot of great information about the Park and, more importantly, charts a path for the next decade. This is 121-page document, and most of the plan deals with managing the natural and cultural resources. The proposed future management related to how people will use the park recreationally can be found from page 91 onward.
You can access the file here: https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/5%20-%20MRSP_Main%20DRAFT%20UMP%20Components_0.pdf
There are also extensive appendices: https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/5.1%20-%20MRSP_DRAFT%20UMP%20Appendix%201-12.pdf
The Myakka River Management Coordinating Council’s focus is on the Wild and Scenic River (so not the prairie). Here are the four recommendations made last August by the Council:
Add one page summarizing how the Statute, Rule, and Management Plan affect management of the park
Add “avoid or” to all references to minimizing impacts on river values
Find short term funding for recreational carrying capacity study and complete study before proposing increased uses in river area.
Hold off on increased recreational opportunities in the Upper Myakka Lake Day Use River area until completion of the recreational carrying capacity study.
Your voice and views do matter – it was public outcry and pressure that led to the improvements we have seen in the UMP. Keep at it.