Land Uses

“Approved” land uses in the IHN that may have occurred or may still be occurring include: mining and reclamation, industrial (power plants), timbering, and agricultural (including livestock grazing, row crops, and citriculture) activities. “Unapproved” activities that previously occurred or may still be occurring on the property include: encroachment by adjacent property owners, hunting, trespassing, camping, fishing, vandalism, dumping, marijuana cultivation, off-road vehicle use, and illegal excavation and/or collection of archaeological relicts and listed plants.

The BMR, as the sole managing agency for the lands within the IHN that are leased to it, has designated “single use management” for the submerged lands and “multiple use management” for the remainder of the lands in accordance with Sections 253.034(a, b), FS. Submerged lands will be managed primarily to maintain essentially natural conditions, the propagation of fish and wildlife, and public recreation, with limited public recreation permitted at the discretion of the managing agency. Recreational activities, fish and wildlife habitat, agricultural and forested lands, archaeological and historic sites, and water resources will be managed so that they best serve the people of the State and provide the most judicious use of the land. Site-specific management decisions have been and will be predicated upon environmental, economical, recreational, sociological, and aesthetical issues.

At the BMR’s request, the Polk County Planning Division conducted an analysis of the Integrated Habitat Network management plan and determined the plan to be in compliance with the goals, objectives and policies of the Polk County Comprehensive Plan. By ensuring the minimization or mitigation of impacts, promoting the restoration of regional drainage patterns and wildlife habitats within the post-mining landscape, and manage the natural riparian lands and adjacent reclaimed habitats provide regional water quality enhancement and wildlife corridor connectivity, it is the BMR’s contention that this management plan also complies with the goals and objectives of the Conceptual State Lands Management Plan.