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FROM FRIENDS OF PAYNES PRAIRIE
& PRESERVE STAFF

Spring 2010

Prairie Friends,

In February, George Edwards retired as President of Friends of Paynes Prairie. During his six-year tenure Friends flourished, growing from 30 members in 2003 to highs of 550. Available funding also grew and many features at the Preserve are sponsored in part by Friends. Friends has been active in projects including the La Chua Trail education booth, ecosystem restoration such as wiregrass and longleaf pine plantings, native plant landscaping at the Ranger Station, educational events at the Visitor Center and in the community, Stargazing Night, the weekly Downtown Farmers’ Market, and the grant for new exhibits and programs at the Visitor Center. Thank you to George for his leadership and for juggling the administrative responsibilities that comes with these successes. Keep an eye out for George (now with free time) on the Gainesville Hawthorne Trail and give him a thumbs-up.

As the new President I also want to thank you - the community of Prairie supporters - for Friends’ accomplishments. Your continued membership and participation at the Preserve collectively make much possible. Moving forward I want to highlight Friends’ goals for 2010 (below), encourage you to consider serving on a committee, or if you haven’t already… Join Us! Park Staff and Friends will be sharing compelling and curious Prairie News more regularly on our Facebook page and website. And your questions and suggestions are always welcome. We'd love to hear from you.

Friends is excited to continue the meaningful partnership with the staff of Paynes Prairie to protect, improve, and interpret one of Florida's most special places - where cranes sing, gators gather, and bison roam.

See you ‘round the Prairie,
JulieAnne Tabone
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President, Friends of Paynes Prairie, Inc.
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Donate! Your membership and donations DIRECTLY support Paynes Prairie
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Selected list of 2010 Friends Goals (The FULL list)

Support two events at the Visitor Center:

May 14: Film Forum on Sweetwater Branch + Wetland Restoration Details HERE!

November: "Walk Through Time" Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the Florida Park Service and 25th Anniversary of Friends of Paynes Prairie.

Support volunteer resource management programs including Sweetwater Branch cleanup, and providing supplies and equipment for exotics removal and native plantings. Encourage parents and kids to join in the fun!

Install lighting along visitor center walkway for after hours events.

Fund materials for family campground improvements.

Initiate fundraising project to help purchase Marsh Master for prescribed fire, wetland restoration, exotic removal and MORE.

Attend community functions and volunteer on the La Chua Trail to inspire, educate, and fundraise for the Preserve.

Support pavement improvements on Gainesville Hawthorne Trail – no more cracks and bumps.

Execute $25,000 Alachua County Tourism Grant awarded for La Chua Trail Improvements.

Establish memorial for Dominick Martino, Friend and Paynes Prairie Photographer-in Residence.

Participate in the Conceptual Plan and Design Plan phases for new exhibits, programs, and interior improvements at the Visitor Center .

Grow the Endowment Fund.

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Park Manager’s Message

2010 is a year of milestones, marking the 75th anniversary of the Florida Park Service, the 40th anniversary of the acquisition of Paynes Prairie Preserve (though it became a park in 1971), and the 25th anniversary of the incorporation of the Friends of Paynes Prairie. The first three months of this year have been a time of action, interpretation, celebration, and as always, change. One of these changes, as you’ve already read, is in leadership of the Friends of Paynes Prairie. The staff at Paynes Prairie is incredibly grateful for the tireless, far-reaching efforts of George Edwards during his tenure as President of the Friends. Thank You George! This thanks also extends to Lee Edwards who so has so diligently handled much of the administrative paperwork associated with the operation of the Friends during this time. These two truly are a dynamic duo. In the wake of this change, we are incredibly lucky to have JulieAnne Tabone as the new President of the Friends. From a powerhouse pair to an incredible individual, the sun is shining on Paynes Prairie!

This summer, park staff will be updating and revising the preserve’s unit management plan. Like the Census, this is an event that comes once every ten years, and is a major process in setting goals and objectives for the long term management of the Preserve and its resources. To learn more, and see a copy of the current unit management plan, visit this link: Prairie Management .

We’ve had the opportunity to recognize the excellence of several staff and volunteers at the Prairie this quarter (see notes to follow). We are so fortunate here to be surrounded by so many talented and dedicated folk.

Prairie life is good!

David Jowers, Park Manager

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Jim Weimer, Park Biologist, receives prestigious award for interpretation!

Our Park Biologist, Jim Weimer, was recognized for his outstanding work interpreting the Prairie’s resources in 2009, by being awarded one of the Florida Park Service’s most prestigious awards, the Joe Kenner Interpreter of the Year. Jim was selected from other nominees in District 2 as the District award recipient, and out of 5 Districts, was selected as the STATEWIDE recipient of the Joe Kenner Interpreter of the Year award! Anyone who has had the opportunity to spend time in the Preserve with Jim will easily understand how his skill and passion for sharing and educating about the Prairie is award-winning. Image courtesy of Amy Richard, UF-IFAS CAIP.

Beth Feely, Senior Clerk, is the March Employee of the Month for District 2!

If you visit the Prairie during the week you may have had the chance to meet Beth Feely, our lead Senior Clerk. The next time you see her, congratulate her on being named District 2 Employee of the Month for March 2010! Beth plays a major role at the Prairie through her work in the Ranger Station, and helped ensure smooth operations by taking on extra duties during our recent transition between Administrative Assistants. Beth has also just reached an employment milestone…20 years of service!! Way to go Beth!

Three Cheers for Volunteers!

Our volunteers contribute so much to Paynes Prairie. This quarter, volunteers contributed over 4,000 hours to the Preserve! In the past months, we had the opportunity to recognize these efforts in the broader arena. Staff submitted two nominations for statewide volunteer awards. The team of 27 volunteers that keeps the visitor center running smoothly was nominated for the 2009 Volunteer Team of the Year award. One of our “behind-the-scenes heroes”, Brent Rugh, was nominated for the 2009 Adult Volunteer of the Year award. Brent is an excellent heavy equipment operator, doing fireline maintenance, mowing, and equipment maintenance. Some of you may have also seen Brent demonstrating his skills as the hayride driver for events like Stargazing and Fire Fest. Seen here: Brent Rugh with his "little friend".

Are you interested in volunteering at the Prairie? We can always use more help. Contact Andi Christman, Park Service Specialist at Andrea.Christman@dep.state.fl.us

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Visitor Center News!

After a lengthy review process, a design firm has been selected to complete Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the visitor center exhibit re-design project. This project will eventually result in a new and more cohesive exhibit approach to interpreting the wonders of the Prairie and opportunities to experience and explore them. The selected design firm is Content Design Collaborative (CDC), based in Scituate, MA. Preserve staff and key collaborators will be working with CDC in coming months to design a new exhibit experience for park visitors that enhances and expands our ability to meet our mission. Funding for Phase 1 and 2 has been provided the National Scenic Byways Program.

The grant application for Phase 3 of the Visitor Center project (fabrication and installation of new exhibits) was submitted in March, and was ranked #4 statewide, which allowed it to move to the next level for review. We should find out in September if Phase 3 is funded (let’s all keep our fingers crossed!!!). The progress to date in this significant project is due to the support and efforts from National Scenic Byways, partners of the Old Florida Heritage Highway/Scenic Hwy 441, Florida DOT, Friends of Paynes Prairie, and notably JulieAnne Tabone, Paynes Prairie Grants Specialist.

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Sightings and Notes from Preserve Management
With the onset of spring, the reptile and amphibian activity has increased on the Prairie. Snakes and alligators have been basking on the La Chua Trail and in other areas where human visitors travel. Remember to keep a safe distance from these special creatures. A good rule of thumb is 20 feet from an alligator on land, and 5 feet from the waters edge. Observe them with respect, and enjoy our good fortune at being able to keep a healthy population of these animals in our ecosystems.

Above first: Brown watersnake, Nerodia taxispilota. Above second: Florida cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti (image courtesy of estate of Dom Martino). (Comparison of Cottonmouth and Watersnake).

Black-necked stilts, Himantopus mexicanus, have been sighted recently at the La Chua Trail (image courtesy of estate of Dom Martino). Though the migratory sandhill cranes have headed north, up to three whooping cranes are still being sighted regularly in at the La Chua trail. These whoopers are likely from the non-migratory population established at Kissimmee Prairie .

Prairie volunteer and photographer Chuck Littlewood (seen here with park ranger Howard Adams, and visitors, at the La Chua Trail tower) is providing regular trail reports and images through the Friends website.

Tis the Season to BURN!

The air around the Prairie has been thick with the smell of smoke for the past few months. The spring prescribed fire season has arrived along with an increased emphasis on prescribed burning at Paynes Prairie and other District 2 parks. We’ve burned 5 units at Paynes Prairie, 3 at the south end near Micanopy, and 2 along the Gainesville Hawthorne Trail. In addition, preserve staff has assisted in prescribed burns at Rainbow Springs SP, O’Leno SP, Silver River SP, and Gold Head Branch SP. Staff from other parks have come to the Prairie to help us as well. You may have also smelled smoke from other burns, as city, county, state, federal, and private land managers have been doing their best to take advantage of the favorable weather conditions. In Florida, the ability to use prescribed fire in land management is critical to maintaining the health and function of many of our native species, and to the prevention of dangerous vegetative fuel buildup and threat of damaging wildfires. Seen here: Park ranger Justin Teall igniting a burn along Puggy Rd. To learn more, visit the Division of Forestry Webpage.

News! News! News! We are now charging a $2 per person fee at the La Chua Trail, and a $2 per vehicle fee at Bolen Bluff. Look for the pay stations at these trails. Preserve staff will be working on improvements to the La Chua Trail in coming weeks. The trail from the trailhead to the boardwalk will be paved and the trail itself will soon travel through the breezeway in the horse barn. ADA accessibility will be improved by these changes, and over the next year, new interpretive displays will be installed with the aid of a ALACHUA COUNTY TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT GRANT.

Americorps Update – The Prairie was lucky to get funding for an Americorps position at the park for 2010. Americorps volunteers make significant contributions to management of Florida’s state parks (Learn More) . Craig Littauer has filled our Americorps position and will be primarily assigned to resource management, but assisting with all aspects of preserve operations. If you see Craig around the park, say “hello”.

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SPECIAL EVENTS - Did You Join Us?

Stargazing - The annual Stargazing Event was held on February 13th, at the Hickory Ranch unit of Paynes Prairie. Over 350 visitors attended, and enjoyed the campfire, smores, hot cocoa, hayride, and the opportunity to learn about the night sky. Many thanks to the Alachua Astronomy Club for bringing the telescopes and the knowledge, and to the 16 prairie volunteers who made the event a success. Try making cocoa at the speed of light for 3 hours! It takes dedication and a sense of humor, which these folks have aplenty. Seen here: Prairie volunteers Chris Russell, Craig Littauer, David Stringer, and Fairlie Bagley enjoy the campfire in the "calm before the storm". Image courtesy of Kim Stringer.

Fire Fest 2010 - In celebration of Florida’s Prescribed Fire Awareness Week, the Prairie hosted “Fire Fest 2010”, on Sunday, March 7. Partners from the Division of Forestry, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, The Nature Conservancy, Alachua County Fire Rescue, Alachua County Forever, the USDA Forest Service Interface South program, Alachua Conservation Trust, and the Florida Park Service set up stations with equipment and activities for visitors to explore. Approximately 400 visitors attended the event, visited with Smokey Bear, tried on fire gear and tried out equipment, and learned about prescribed fire on an interpretive hayride. Many thanks to all the partners who participated in the first of what will become an annual celebration of one of our most important land management tools. Seen here: The DOF fire plow and Smokey Bear were a big hit with Fire Fest attendees. Image courtesy of Kim Stringer. For more Fire Fest images, visit the Gainesville Sun Photo Gallery .

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FOR YOUR CALENDAR

Paynes Prairie's interpretive season wraps up at the end of April. At this time, the Friends interpretive trailer at the LaChua Trail, the Rim Ramble hike and Ranger’s Choice hikes, and the Gentle Walk will all be adjourned until November, when the heat and insects abate. Check the Friends calendar for other park events during the summer.

Thursday, April 22nd

Gentle Walk, 9 am (Call the Visitor Center at 466-4100 to RSVP.)

Saturday, April 24th

Earth Day at the Harn Museum, 10 am to 3 pm (More information)

Saturday, May 8th

The Prairie by Bicycle**This Ride is FULL** (More information)

Film Forum - Making Sweetwater Sweeter: Water is life!

Join us for a Film Forum Event on the Sweetwater Restoration Project. Featuring a a film

screening and Panel Discussion with restoration planners, and refreshments, at the Visitor

Center from 7pm to 9pm. More information HERE. RSVP to info@prairiefriends.org .

Photography Walk ,TBA (The Prairie's volunteer photographers may offer an informal

photography walk in May, and share their knowledge of equipment and techniques if

enough interest is indicated. Send a note to info@prairiefriends.org if you might be

interested in this opportunity. )

Union Street Farmers Market

Alternate Wednesdays, 4 pm-7 pm

Have you ever been to the Union Street Farmers Market ? The Prairie has a booth at the

market on alternating Wednesdays, from 4-7pm. Every other Wednesday you’ll see the

park staff and Friends, and when we aren’t there, the booth is occupied by

Alachua Conservation Trust or Florida's Eden . Stop by and say hello, learn about new and

upcoming events, and share the good word about the Prairie!

OTHER OUTDOOR FUN
City of Gainesville Nature Activities
Morningside Nature Center Schedule

Birdwatching trips at Paynes Prairie and Alachua Conservation Trust Preserves:
Schedule of Alachua Audubon Trips

Alachua Conservation Trust has NEW guided programs:
Trip details
Join ACT's Facebook page
Download their latest newsletter

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Have you renewed your membership??

Friends of Paynes Prairie :: 100 Savannah Blvd. :: Micanopy, FL 32667
Questions or Comments - Send us an email: info@prairiefriends.org.

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