|
Post by 4ward on Aug 5, 2023 12:20:38 GMT -5
4ward, if I remember correctly from the FS forum that you are from the Cross Creek area. Now if I'm correct in what I'm calling Titi, it's the predominant plant growing in Mosquito Bay especially in the couple of places that they made cuts in the bay. If it is real wet you will find it growing on old stumps. Plant ID is certainly not what it was 30 yrs ago. I recognized the titi immediately. I walked many dogs thru mosquito bay( and cut many off at the highway). I was in Grove Park for the first couple years, while I understand why it went to the Rec.Use permit area, I spent too much sweat and years walking every inch of”old Lochloosa “ only to have it ripped apart. I’m not bitter about it, just a bad taste in my mouth still. I miss the freedom of walking much of those woods.
|
|
|
Post by Crkr 23 on Aug 5, 2023 13:57:52 GMT -5
IMO Grove Park is a POS WMA compared to what it was as a part of the old Lochloosa WMA because of all the use of herbicides by Weyerhaeuser. It was certainly a better piece of land when Owens-Illinois managed it.
|
|
|
Post by 4ward on Aug 5, 2023 14:13:40 GMT -5
Still better than being sold to a developer. It’ll happen someday, hopefully I’m not around to see it.
|
|
|
Post by 4ward on Aug 5, 2023 14:22:58 GMT -5
It will be interesting to see what happens with the Franklin property(River Styx Ranch)in the future. Conservation or Money? It will make or break the best that Grove Park has to offer.
|
|
|
Post by Crkr 23 on Aug 5, 2023 15:06:35 GMT -5
I believe that Grove Park is the carrot on the string that Weyerhaeuser dangles in front of government, local and state to developed the Cracker Boy Tract. They'll eventually give up a conservation easement or Greenway on Grove Park to develop other lands. I could see Alachua county buying River Styx Ranch and all the Weyerhaeuser property west of River Styx. You know what will become of it when those yahoos buy, you better take up birdwatching if you want access to it. I throw the Weyerhaeuser property in the deal because IMO there's significant archaeological sites on the property. I believe the reason that land has not been logged is because of this. There's pines on that property that are way past maturity, I can't think of another reason.
|
|
|
Post by 4ward on Aug 5, 2023 15:19:56 GMT -5
Horse people have alot of money.
|
|
|
Post by cyclist on Aug 6, 2023 9:19:32 GMT -5
IMO Grove Park is a POS WMA compared to what it was as a part of the old Lochloosa WMA because of all the use of herbicides by Weyerhaeuser. It was certainly a better piece of land when Owens-Illinois managed it. Gp was a horrible land manager and Weyerhaeuser is just as bad. I wish St John's would own it but as 4ward says, a conservation easement is much better than nothing. Grove Park is already under easement. 4ward is River styx on this map? Map www.alachuacounty.us/Depts/LandConservation/PublishingImages/ACF-ProjectMap.jpg
|
|
|
Post by Crkr 23 on Aug 6, 2023 9:41:24 GMT -5
I believe River Styx Ranch is in the nominated land category, it appears as light green just west of River Styx. I suspicioned that Grove Park may have already been a conservation easement because of the tortoise mitigation fence that was a long River Styx Road.
|
|
|
Post by 4ward on Aug 6, 2023 9:42:37 GMT -5
90% of the nominated land west of river styx/ from 346 north to the grove park border is Franklin property. The old man was a hard core conservationist, the son that took control apparently has dementia. I have no idea what sort of a trust has been set up but I know the son followed what his father wanted.
|
|
|
Post by bullfrog on Aug 6, 2023 10:31:43 GMT -5
Do tell about Grove Park. I had about 12 stands scattered in this area in the mid 2000s and I knew where everyone else’s were. I lived 15 minutes away and was in the transition time between my undergrad and law schools. So I had all the time in the world. Good times.
|
|
|
Post by Crkr 23 on Aug 6, 2023 11:03:11 GMT -5
I can tell you the price went up 50%, and the quality went down 100%, IMO.
|
|
|
Post by skunkdog on Aug 6, 2023 12:53:54 GMT -5
I have a weed growing around my property that has a tiny blue flower. Deer just friggin' love it, so do my horses. I had it Id'd once but I forgot what it is called. Some sort of invasive plant from India or VietNam. The deer were coming right up to my house and eating it.
|
|
|
Post by cyclist on Aug 6, 2023 14:33:53 GMT -5
I have a weed growing around my property that has a tiny blue flower. Deer just friggin' love it, so do my horses. I had it Id'd once but I forgot what it is called. Some sort of invasive plant from India or VietNam. The deer were coming right up to my house and eating it. Post up a pic!
|
|
|
Post by skunkdog on Aug 6, 2023 15:03:38 GMT -5
I have a weed growing around my property that has a tiny blue flower. Deer just friggin' love it, so do my horses. I had it Id'd once but I forgot what it is called. Some sort of invasive plant from India or VietNam. The deer were coming right up to my house and eating it. Post up a pic! If I can find some, we put the horses out in the pasture the other day and they literally wiped it out.
|
|
|
Post by 4ward on Aug 6, 2023 15:35:11 GMT -5
View AttachmentDo tell about Grove Park. I had about 12 stands scattered in this area in the mid 2000s and I knew where everyone else’s were. I lived 15 minutes away and was in the transition time between my undergrad and law schools. So I had all the time in the world. Good times. Lots of great area in the NW side of your circle. Everyone parks at the 346 gate and heads south. There is a flat pond and then a small swamp head to the north and west across the highway. If you get your feet dirty and leave the $3000 bike at home, there are some nice ones in there.(or there were) They cut and planted east of 325 several years ago, plenty of dove and rabbits in there at times.
|
|