GREENWAYS & NATURAL LANDS

Lake Proctor Wilderness Area Management Plan

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The 475 acre Lake Proctor Wilderness Area is located on the east side of Seminole County, west of Lake Harney. You can find it by taking SR 46 east from Sanford and follow it to the entrance on the left (north) side of SR 46 approximately 1 mile east of the intersection with CR 426.

This site was purchased through the Seminole County Natural Lands Program which was put in place in 1990 by the Citizens and Board of County Commissioners through recognition of the role conservation and natural resources play in promoting and protecting a quality community.

 

Resource Management: As with all Seminole County natural lands the primary management objective is to preserve and/or restore the natural, ecological functions of the land while providing a passive resource based recreational experience for the citizens. To accomplish our objectives several methodologies will be employed.

Prescribed Fire: Many of the communities on this site will require prescribed burns to restore and maintain their diversity. These burns also reduce fuel loads and the chance of damaging wildfires.

Restoration: Restoration on this site will focus on the reintroduction of fire to restore the flatwoods, sandhill and possibly the sand pine scrub habitats. The later may require other methods such as mechanical manipulation due to the intense nature of fire in this habitat and the close proximity of residential structures.

Preservation: The sand pine scrub and sandhill habitat, are two of the most endangered habitats in the state of Florida and will be a focus of preservation on this site. Through the use of fire and continued monitoring these local samples of imperiled plant communities will be improved and maintained, benefiting wildlife such as the gopher tortoise and sherman's fox squirrel, both listed species.

Monitoring: By the continuous collection of data over a period of time we are able to assess land management practices and make adjustments where necessary; determining if resource goals are being attained. Of particular interest on this site are the isolated ephemeral ponds. These seasonally wet sinkholes located in the xeric, uplands, serve as important feeding, breeding and watering sites for many species of wildlife.