Tubing on the Blackwater River. Photo Credit: Visit Florida.

What do you want Blackwater River State Park to be 10 years from now?

The chance to have your say is coming up. The public is invited to review a management plan for the park at a meeting in Milton on Tuesday night.

"Each of Florida’s 174 state parks, trails and historic sites has a unit management plan that is reviewed about every 10 years," said Jason Mahon, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection.

"These plans look in-depth at the natural, cultural and recreational resources at the park to identify specific management objectives and land uses. When updating a plan, park staff receives input from many others, including the public, other state agencies, the Florida Natural Areas Inventory staff, the Department of State’s Division of Historic Resources, and local experts in natural or cultural resources, urban planning and recreation."

Blackwater River State Park is a 635 acre facility east of Milton surrounded by the larger Blackwater River State Forest. It offers 30 campsites, nature trails, picnic areas and other recreational amenities. The park provides habitat for a number of imperiled plant and animal species. Red-cockaded woodpeckers have successfully been reintroduced into the park’s pinelands.

The Studer Community Institute believes in government accountability, with the public's participation in events like this one way to hold government accountable. Tourism — as measured by bed tax collection — is one of the metrics measured on the Studer Community Institute's Dashboard. Campsites and other amenities at Blackwater River State Park are tourist draws, particularly the growing ecotourism market.

The draft plan being presented Tuesday identifies the goals, objectives, actions and criteria or standards that will guide the park's administration. It will set the specific measures that will be implemented to meet management objectives and provide balanced public use.

Actions included in the 10-year plan include:

— Conduct a study of the park's hyrdological needs, including developing a hydrological restoration plan and a study of the parks hyrdological features.

— Develop/update annual burn plan.

— Conduct habitat/natural community restoration activities in certain areas.

— Update baseline imperiled species occurrence inventory lists for plants and animals, as needed, and monitor selected species.

— Annually treat 7 acres of exotic plant species in the park, and implement control measures on 4 exotic animal species in the park.

— Practice preventative measures to avoid introduction and spread of exotic species within the park.

— Continue control activities on armadillos and coyotes, and relocate feral cats and stray dogs.

— Compile reliable documentation for all recorded historic and archaeological sites, and bring one of nine recorded cultural resources into good condition.

— Maintain the park's current recreational carrying capacity of 1,272 users per day and increase that by 244 users per day.

— Continue to implement the park's transition plan to ensure facilities are accessible in accordance with the American with Disabilities Act.

— Improve/repair existing seven capital facilities within the park, and add one more.

"On Wednesday, Oct. 13, department staff will present a draft of the plan to the public for input," Mahon said. "On Thursday, Oct. 14, that same draft will be presented to the Blackwater River State Park Advisory Group, which is made up of members of the community surrounding the park, adjacent land owners, local elected officials, state and federal land management agencies, recreational user groups, environmental advocacy groups and the park’s volunteer organization, for additional input."