DRAFT COMPATIBILITY DETERMINATION USE: Research, Scientific Collection and Surveys by Third Parties REFUGE NAME: Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge as managed by Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge Scarecrow, Crooked, Sugar, Big Charity, and Little Charity Islands are located in Lake Huron, are part of the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), and are managed by Shiawassee NWR. ESTABLISHING AND ACQUISITION AUTHORITY(IES): Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 714-714r) and Refuge Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 460k-460k-4). REFUGE PURPOSE(S): "... as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife ..." "... for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds." 16 U.S.C. Section 715d (Migratory Bird Conservation Act) and "... conservation, management, and restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans . " 16 U.S.C. Section 668dd(a)(2) (National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act). This compatibility determination is for the five Michigan Islands NWR islands that are located in Lake Huron and managed by Shiawassee NWR. Presently, this includes Scarecrow Island, which was acquired in 1943; Big and Little Charity Islands, which were donated to the refuge in 1999; Sugar Island which was purchased by the Service in 2011; and Crooked Island which was purchased by the Service in 2018. Land acquisition is ongoing and this CD may apply to other islands that become part of the refuge. 1 On October 23, 1970 Public Law 91-504 established Scarecrow Island as a designated Federal Wilderness Areas. In 2000, Scarecrow Island was designated as part of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM MISSION: “...To administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.” DESCRIPTION OF USE: What is the use? The refuge receives periodic requests from non-Service entities (e.g. universities, state agencies, independent researchers, other federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations) to conduct research, scientific collecting, and surveys on refuge lands. Service policy defines the following: • Research: Planned, organized and systematic investigation of a scientific nature. • Scientific collecting: Gathering of refuge natural resources or cultural artifacts for scientific purposes. • Surveys: Scientific inventory or monitoring. These requests can involve a wide range of natural, cultural and public-use resource management issues. Natural resource data, cultural and historical data, environmental data, bio-prospecting information (discovery of plant and animal species from which medicinal drugs and other commercially valuable compounds can be obtained) and taxonomic specimen collection or analyses will be considered. Studies may be species-specific, refuge-specific, or evaluate the relative contribution of refuge lands to the larger landscape (e.g. flyways). Permitted Archaeological Investigations are those requested by Archaeologists who are not performing investigations for refuge management purposes, such as compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Archaeological investigations would include the monitoring and documentation of archaeological sites and artifacts in the refuge for scientific and historical purposes. 2 The Service's Research and Management Studies (4 RM 6) and Appropriate Uses (603 FW1.10D (4)) policies designate priority for scientific investigatory studies that contribute to the enhancement, protection, use, preservation and management of native wildlife populations and their habitats. Projects that contribute to refuge specific needs for resource and/or management goals and objectives will be given a higher priority over other requests. Research and related data will be used to inform land management decisions, apply adaptive management principles and support landscape-level conservation efforts. Where is the use conducted? The use could occur any place on the refuge. Sites for this use would depend on the particular action (research, collecting or survey) being conducted and could occur in a variety of habitat types. If approved, a special use permit will specify where the research and associated activities, such as ingress and egress, could occur. When is the use conducted? The use can occur at any time of the day or year, but it is anticipated that most research would occur during daylight hours and generally between May and September. The timing, duration, number of staff, and number of visits by permittees may be restricted through the use of a special use permit at the discretion of the refuge manager or designee. How is the use conducted? All research activities will be conducted with the primary goals, objectives and habitat management requirements of the refuge as the guiding principles. Every effort will be made to minimize the impacts of research activities on wildlife and their habitats and avoid conflicts with management activities, and private land use. A special use permit will be issued for each proposal with associated stipulations that specifies who, what, when, where and how research and surveys may be conducted on the refuge. A refuge research special use permit application accompanied by a written project proposal is required for review and approval before access and research-related activities are permitted. If approved, access to refuge lands and waters will be limited to the least invasive means required to accomplish the research. Research will be conducted by professors, students, contractors, refuge staff and volunteers. Researchers will be required to notify the refuge manager or designee of entry and exit times when conducting research, provide written reports, and make data 3 available to refuge staff. Researchers may be required to obtain additional permits (e.g. handling of animals, collecting of specimens, etc.) prior to approval and issuance of a special use permit. Research projects will not be approved if, in the discretion of the refuge manager, such research would adversely and disproportionately affect wildlife or vegetation, interfere with refuge management activities, or could be conducted in other locations less sensitive than the refuge. Projects will adhere to scientifically defensible protocols for data collection, where available and applicable. Research study site(s), collection and sampling location(s) and transect(s) may be temporarily marked by highly visible wooden or metal posts or other pre-approved methods if requested. Site markers may be detrimental to local organisms and will be approved on a case- by-case basis. All markers must be removed by the permittee when the project is complete. Access to study sites can be by foot, bike, ATV, boat, or canoe/kayak depending on the island. Archaeologists request Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) permits or Antiquities Act permits to conduct “Surveys, limited testing and/or limited collections on lands identified” and “Excavation, collection and intensive study of specific sites described” on refuge lands. Permits are issued by the Regional Director to qualified archaeologists when the refuge manager determines the investigation will not interfere with refuge programs. Why is the use being proposed? The Service recognizes that research, scientific collection, and surveys conducted by non-Service entities contribute to the enhancement, protection, use, preservation and management of wildlife populations and their habitats, and to protect and preserve cultural history on and off refuge lands. Studies also expand the body of scientific knowledge of refuge wildlife populations and their habitats or otherwise provide information beneficial to wildlife conservation and management. Archaeologists conduct studies to document and collect artifacts from archaeological sites that are at risk such as being exposed from soil erosion processes. When artifacts become exposed they become vulnerable to illegal collection and, if collected, valuable historical and cultural data is lost. Additionally, research activities are an integral part of the refuge’s goals for coordination and interaction with governmental and non-governmental partners. Specifically, research and monitoring is critical to making informed, sound decisions in the restoration and management of ecosystems/landscapes for fish and wildlife communities as well as preservation of our cultural history occurring on national wildlife refuge lands. Data and research are needed to evaluate the 4 efficacy of our land management actions and to apply adaptive management principles to our efforts and decisions. Research and monitoring are integral to our long-term management and biological and cultural understandings, which continue to inform management of the refuge. AVAILABILITY OF RESOURCES: Much of the research is anticipated to be funded by grants, other government agencies, universities, or be conducted by students and volunteers. Refuge staff involvement includes reviewing research proposals, occasionally supervising or monitoring research activities, reviewing reports, occasionally providing equipment and vehicles, and occasionally participating in fieldwork. Based on past time and resources allocated