North Woods Teaching Area
Overview
The area, approximately 10 acres in size, preserves the last remaining undeveloped site at Santa Fe College’s Northwest Campus. The site is maintained for conservation of native plants and wildlife and to provide a living nature laboratory for students, faculty and staff members.
The area includes trails that pass through a mix of open fields, mixed pine and hardwood, pine flatwood, and mesic hammock dominated by live oaks. The area also includes several small sinkholes—including one pond that holds water—that serve as aquifer recharge areas. Controlled burns have been done on one of the pine flatwood areas and on an open field, enabling students to observe how plant species recover from fire.
Proposal
Approximately 10 acres along the north side of North Road on Santa Fe College's Northwest campus. The area now includes old field, planted Loblolly Pines and Live Oak dominated Mesic Hammock with several small sinkholes, one of which retains water for prolonged periods.
Plan
To maintain the small natural area in perpetuity for conservation of native plants and wildlife and provide an environment for Santa Fe students, faculty, and staff to conduct nature studies. We will address some of the needs for this natural area in two phases:
Phase 1
- Remove trash and garbage and old construction/fencing debris.
- Establish mowed trails to concentrate foot traffic in designated areas.
- Erect outdoor classroom tables (with trashcans) in a designated area for instruction.
- Control mosquitoes by non-toxic means such as bait briquettes, gambusia fish, and bat boxes.
- Label plants and trees with identification tags or numbers and prepare a printed key.
- Erect perimeter signs denoting area for student use only and daylight use only.
Phase 2
- Place benches along the trails.
- Construct an interpretive/informative kiosk in the classroom area.
- Set up informational stations along the trail for each ecosystem type and special interests.
- Survey and set up grid and/or permanent plots within each ecosystem type for ecological studies.
- Other possibilities include reforesting part of the old field and studying the succession of the old field to pines and mesic hammock over time. Small prescribed burns of a portion of the pine area may be conducted to observe the effects of fire on biological diversity and ecological succession. These burns will also reduce likelihood of wild fires.
Justification and Uses
This project will help preserve the last remaining undeveloped site on campus, following the Santa Fe Master Plan Phase III, part of which is attached to this proposal. It will encourage a variety of nature studies by students. Planned student activities involved with biology, ecology, botany, environmental science and local flora classes will be conducted. Such activities as plant identification, ecological succession studies of specific plots over time, pond ecology studies and studies of animal behavior will be carried out. By using this adjacent on-campus natural teaching area, we can reduce the need for off-campus travel for field trips. Planned student activities from other areas such as art, land surveying, geology, zoo animal technology and statistics will be encouraged. Various sources of funding for physical materials and possible research/study projects by students and faculty are being investigated.