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{{Short description|State forest in Florida, United States}}
{{Infobox Protected area▼
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
| name = Lake George State Forest▼
▲{{Infobox Protectedprotected area
| width = 300
▲ | name = Lake George State Forest
| native_name =
| iucn_category alt_name =
| photo = Lake George State Forest Welcome Sign.jpg
| image = Map of Florida highlighting Volusia County.svg
| photo_alt = Lake George State Forest welcome sign
| base_width = 288
| captionphoto_caption = Welcome sign near the = Mapcommunity of [[Volusia, Florida]]
| locator_x photo_width = 229
| map = Florida
| locator_y = 80
| relief = yes
| location = [[Volusia County, Florida|Volusia County]], [[Florida]]▼
| map_width = 240
| nearest_city = [[Pierson, Florida|Pierson]]▼
| coords map_caption =
▲ | location = [[Volusia County, Florida|Volusia County]], [[Florida]], United States
| lat_degrees = 29
▲ | nearest_city = [[DeLand, Florida|DeLand]] =or [[Pierson, Florida|Pierson]] <small>(town)</small>
| lat_minutes = 10
| coordinates = {{coord|29.15546|N|81.4389|W|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| lat_seconds = 11
| area = {{convert|21176|acre|ha|0}}
| lat_direction = N
| long_degrees established = 81
| long_minutes visitation_num = 30
| long_seconds visitation_year = 49
| governing_body = [[Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services|Florida Department of Agriculture <br />and Consumer Services]], <br />Florida Forest Service
| long_direction = W
| world_heritage_site = ▼
| area = 19,648 acres (80 km²)
| established website =
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = State of Florida (Multiple Agencies)
▲ | world_heritage_site =
| website =
}}
[[Image:FL_DOF_LakeGeorgeForest_Map.gif|thumb|288px|Map of Lake George State Forest]]
The '''Lake George State Forest''' is in the [[United States|U.S.]] state of [[Florida]]. The {{convert|19648|acre|km2|0|sing=on}} forest is located in Northwestern [[Volusia County, Florida|Volusia County]], [[Florida]], near the communities of [[Seville, Florida|Seville]] and [[Pierson, Florida|Pierson]].
 
The '''Lake George State Forest''' is a designated [[Protected areas of the United States|protected area]] and [[state forest]] in the [[United States|U.S.]] state of [[Florida]]. The {{convert|21176|acre|ha|0|sing=on}} forest is located in northwestern [[Volusia County, Florida|Volusia County]], [[Florida]], near [[Lake George (Florida)|Lake George]] and the communities of [[Pierson, Florida|Pierson]], [[Barberville, Florida|Barberville]], and [[Volusia, Florida|Volusia]]. It is overseen by the Florida Forest Service within the [[Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services]].<ref name=DOF>[http://www.floridaforestservice.com/state_forests/lake_george.html "Forest Management".] [http://www.floridaforestservice.com/ ''Florida Forest Service''.] Retrieved March 27, 2010.</ref>
Lake George State Forest is made up of three tracts of land. These consist mostly of slash pine, longleaf pine, bottomland hardwoods, and interspersed cypress and bay depressions. In 1998 nearly half the acreage of Lake George State Forest was damaged during the Firestorm wildfires. Restoration efforts included harvesting salvage timber and reforestation with longleaf pine and slash pine.
 
Lake George State Forest is divided into three tracts of land. The northernmost Astor Tract stretches roughly from a point between Pierson and Lake George south to [[Florida State Road 40|State Road 40]] east of the Volusia settlement. South of SR 40 are the Mary Farms and Dexter Tracts, which encompasses land between the [[St. Johns River]] to the west, and Barberville, [[U.S. Route 17 in Florida|US 17]], and [[De Leon Springs State Park]] to the east, and south to the banks of Lake Dexter, Spring Garden Creek, and the [[Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge]].<ref name=DOF/>
 
Lake George State Forest should not be confused with the Lake George Forest, a separate {{convert|7858|acres|ha|0|sing=on}} property to the immediate north which is jointly owned by Volusia County and the [[St. Johns River Water Management District]] (''SJRWMD''),<ref>[http://www.sjrwmd.com/recreationguide/lakegeorge2/index.html "Recreation Guide to District Lands: Lake George Forest".] [http://www.sjrwmd.com/ ''St. Johns River Water Management District''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930221300/https://www.sjrwmd.com/ |date=September 30, 2019 }}. Retrieved March 27, 2010.</ref> or the Lake George Conservation Area, a {{convert|11973|acres|ha|0|sing=on}} site owned by the SJRWMD.<ref>[http://www.sjrwmd.com/recreationguide/lakegeorge1/index.html "Recreation Guide to District Lands: Lake George Conservation Area".] [http://www.sjrwmd.com/ ''St. Johns River Water Management District''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930221300/https://www.sjrwmd.com/ |date=September 30, 2019 }}. Retrieved March 27, 2010.</ref>
 
== History ==
Prior to European settlement, the area had for thousands of years been the home to Native American tribes like the extinct [[Timucua]]. They left behind a rich archaeological history in the form of large [[midden]]s of freshwater shellfish, which they deposited along the banks of the St. Johns River and Lake George. The Bluffton Mound and [[Midden]] at the Bluffton Recreation Area in Lake George State Forest is one such example.<ref name=DOF/>
The Bluffton Mound and Midden at the Bluffton Recreation Area illustrate the rich archaeological history of the St. Johns River and Lake George area. For thousands of years early Florida Indians inhabited the area. Explorers of the 18th and 19th centuries first noticed the large mounds of freshwater shellfish that were created by the Indians. Later, the shell mounds attracted some of Florida's earliest archaeologists. Today, little of the mounds exist as most were excavated for material to build roads.
 
Past uses of Lake George State Forest includeis timberformed managementfrom lands previously resourced for timber, production of naval stores production, cattle grazing, and hunting. Prior[[Taxodium todistichum|Cypress]] 1910logging, loggingby canalsway wereof canals dug throughinto the swampsswampland, tooccurred removeup cypressuntil logs1910. InThe the1930s 1930'ssaw much of the area wasland forested inwith [[longleaf pine|longleaf]] and [[slash pine]], andor usedleft forin cattleservice grazing.of Startingthe in[[Florida thecracker]] 1960's,cattle slashindustry. pineAfter wasdecades plantedof asaggressive previousharvesting, ownersthe had1960s aggressivelysaw harvested[[reforestation]] theefforts forestagain plant slash pine.<ref name=DOF/>
 
Dry conditions brought on by severe drought led to massive wildfires in 1998, which left close to half of the forest charred and damaged. After efforts to salvage the area's timber, restoration again involved planting of pine seedlings.<ref name=DOF/>
== Natural Features ==▼
Lake George State Forest is one of several publicly-owned tracts of land encircling Lake George, the second largest lake in Florida. The St. Johns River borders 3 1⁄2 miles of the forest and provides a wealth of ecologically valuable communities as well as river-based recreation. The surrounding landscape of the forest contributes to water resource protection of the Lake George watershed and aquifer recharge.
 
▲== Natural Featuresfeatures ==
Wildlife that make their home on the forest include: bald eagle, sandhill crane, white-tail deer, wild turkey, bobcat and gopher tortoise.
[[Image:Idle Speed No Wake - St. Johns River.jpg|thumb|left|Lake George State Forest seen from across the St. Johns River in [[Astor, Florida|Astor]].]]
Lake George State Forest is named for [[Lake George (Florida)|Lake George]], the largest lake in Florida after [[Lake Okeechobee]], and the largest lake of the [[St. Johns River]] system. The river itself bounds a {{convert|3.5|mi}} section of the forest, offering both a vibrant ecology and a wealth of recreation opportunities. The forest and associated wetlands are located within the Lake George watershed, and as such, serve as an important aquifer recharge area.<ref name=DOF/>
 
The arboreal composition of the Lake George State Forest is primarily longleaf and slash pines, with bald cypress and other bottomland hardwood hammocks found in lowland deposits and along the floodplain.<ref name=DOF/>
== Recreation ==▼
Lake George State Forest offers many recreation opportunities. Bluffton Recreation Area is located on the St. Johns River and offers fishing, picnicking, and a 3/4 mile interpretive nature trail. While there is no boat ramp available, canoes and small jon boats may be launched from the bank. Fishing is also available at Jenkins Pond.
 
Lake George State Forest is part of two [[Wildlife Management Area]]s (''WMA'') managed through the [[Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission]]. The forest's two southern tracts form the Dexter/Mary Farms Unit WMA,<ref name=WMA>[http://myfwc.com/Recreation/WMASites_LakeGeorgeDexterMaryFarmsUnit_index.htm "Lake George Dexter/Mary Farms Unit".] ''[[Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission]]''. Retrieved March 27, 2010.</ref> while the Astor Tract is grouped with adjacent land (like SJRWMD's and Volusia County's Lake George Forest and Conservation Area) to form the Lake George WMA.<ref>[http://myfwc.com/Recreation/WMASites_LakeGeorge_index.htm "Lake George WMA".] ''[[Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission]]''. Retrieved March 27, 2010.</ref> The WMAs of Lake George State Forest are part of a network of protected lands forming a [[wildlife corridor]] and roaming habitat which is critical to the survival of the [[Florida black bear]]. Other species of wildlife that call the area home include the [[bald eagle]], [[sandhill crane]], [[white-tail deer]], [[wild turkey]], [[Gopherus polyphemus|gopher tortoise]], and [[bobcat]].<ref name=DOF/>
The forest is open to visitors during daylight hours. Hikers, bicyclists and equestrians are welcome on roads, designated trails and permanent fire lines. Contact the State Forest Service to obtain a State Forest Use Permit for primitive camping or for vehicle access to portions of the Mary Farms/Dexter Units (except during Special Opportunity Hunts).
 
▲== Recreation ==
Lake George State Forest is managed as a Wildlife Management Area through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Numerous recreation opportunities are found at Lake George State Forest, including fishing (on the river, lake, and at Jenkins Pond), picnicking, and an interpretive nature trail three-quarter mile (1.21&nbsp;km) in length. The fall and spring months bring great opportunities for migratory bird-watching, as the forest is part of the [[Great Florida Birding Trail]].<ref name=WMA/>
 
No boat ramps are available within the State Forest boundaries, but community boat ramps are found nearby. Small watercraft such as canoes can launch from the river bank.<ref name=DOF/>
== Wildlife Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:VF_LGSF_BarredOwl01.jpg|
Image:VF_LGSF_Butterfly01.jpg|
Image:VF_LGSF_Gator01.jpg|
Image:VF_LGSF_WildTurkeys01.jpg|
</gallery>
 
Visitors may access the forest during daylight hours. Roads, designated trails, and permanent fire lines are available for hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding. Primitive camping, hunting, and vehicle access is also possible by obtaining a permit from the State Forest Service.<ref name=DOF/>
== Notes ==
{{FLGovernment|sourceURL=[http://www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/lake_george.html Lake George State Forest], ''Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Forestry''}}
 
== References and external links ==
{{commonscatreflist}}
 
== External links ==
* [http://www.fl-dof.com/state_forests/lake_george.html Lake George State Forest: Florida Division of Forestry- FDACS]
{{Commons category|Lake George State Forest}}
* [http://www.floridaconservation.org/recreation/cooperative/lake_george.asp Lake George State Forest: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission]
* [httphttps://www.sjrwmdfdacs.comgov/recreationguideForest-Wildfire/nc06Our-Forests/State-Forests/Lake-George-State-Forest Lake George State Forest: St.Florida Johns RiverForest WaterService Management- DistrictFDACS]
* [http://www.volusia.org/birding/george.htm Lake George State Forest: Volusia County]
 
{{Protected Areasareas of Florida}}
 
[[Category:Florida state forests]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Volusia County, Florida]]
[[Category:St. Johns River]]
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