REVIEW AND APPROVALS
OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
FOLKSTON, GEORGIA
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 2007
Refuge Manager Date
Refuge Supervisor, Area III Date
r / Chief of Refuge^ Date' TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION iii
HIGHLIGHTS iv
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS v
MONITORING AND STUDIES 1 l.a. Surveys and Censuses 1 l.b. Studies and Investigation 18
HABITAT RESTORATION 21 2.a. Wetland Restoration: On-refuge 21 2.b. Upland Restoration: On-refuge 25 2.c. Wetland Restoration: Off-refuge (Nothing to Report) 25 2.d. Upland Restoration: Off-refuge (Nothing to Report) 25
HABITAT MANAGEMENT 26 3.a. Wetland Management 27 3.b. Moist Soil Management (Nothing to Report 30 3.c. Graze/Mow/Hay (Nothing to Report) 30 3.d. Farming (Nothing to Report) 30 3.e. Forest Management 30 3.f. Fire Management 38 3.g. Control Pest Plants '. 52
FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 54 4.a. Bird Banding 54 4.b. Disease Monitoring and Treatment 54 4.c. Reintroductions 54 4.d. Nest Structures 54 4.e. Pest, Predator and Exotic Animal Control 54
COORDINATION ACTIVITIES 55 5.a. hiteragency Coordination 55 5.b. Tribal Coordination (Nothing to Report) 55 5.c. Private Land Activities (excluding restoration) (Nothing to Report) 55 5.d. Oil and Gas Activities .....(Nothing to Report) 56 5.e. Cooperative/Friends Organizations 56 RESOURCE PROTECTION 57 6.a. Law Enforcement 57 6.b. Wildfire Preparedness 58 6.c. Permits & Economic Use Management 58 6.d. Contaminant Investigation and Cleanup (Nothing to Report) 58 6.e. Water Rights Management (Nothing to Report) 58 6.f. Cultural Resource Management (Nothing to Report) 59 6.g. Federal Facility Compliancy Act (Nothing to Report) 60 6.h. Land Acquisition 60 6.i. Wilderness and Natural Areas 60 6.j. Threats and Conflicts 61
ALASKA ONLY 62
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RECREATION 63 8.a. Provide Visitor Services 63 8.b. Outreach 79
PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION 85 9.a. Comprehensive Management Planning 85 9.b. General Administration 85 9.c. Training and Travel 89 9.d. Energy 94 9.e. Funding 95 9.f Safety : ; 96 9.g. Volunteers 97 9.h. Computers and Communication 99
11 INTRODUCTION
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is situated in the southeastern Georgia counties of Ware, Charlton, and Clinch and northeastern Baker County in Florida. The refuge was established by Executive Order in 1937 and presently consists of 401,862 acres. The primary purpose of the refuge is to protect the ecological system of the 438,000-acre Okefenokee Swamp. Approximately 371,000 acres of the Okefenokee Swamp wetlands are incorporated into the refuge including 353,981 acres designated as wilderness by the Okefenokee Wilderness Act of 1974. In 1986, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge received the designation as a Wetland of International Importance by the Wetlands Convention.
The natural beauty of the Okefenokee Swamp was first threatened in the 1890's, when attempts were made to drain the swamp to facilitate logging operations. The Suwannee Canal was dug 11.5 miles into the swamp from Camp Cornelia. After the failure of this project, known as "Jackson's Folly," other interests acquired the swamp and began removing timber in 1909, using a network of tram roads extending deep into the major timbered areas. When logging operations were halted in 1927, more than 423 million board feet of timber, mostly cypress, had been removed from the swamp.
The establishment of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge on March 30, 1937, marked the culmination of a movement that had been initiated at least 25 years earlier by a group of scientists from Cornell University who recognized the educational, scientific, and recreational values of this unique area. The Okefenokee Preservation Society was formed in 1918 to promote nationwide interest in the swamp. With the support of state and local interests and numerous conservation and scientific organizations, the Federal Government acquired most of the swamp for refuge purposes in 1936.
The Okefenokee Swamp is a vast peat bog filling a huge saucer-snaped sandy depression that was perhaps once part of the ocean floor. The upper margin of the swamp, or the "swamp line," ranges in elevation from 128 feet above sea level on the northeast side to 103 feet on the southwest side. The shallow, dark-stained waters of Okefenokee flow slowly but continuously across the swamp toward the two outlets, the famed Suwannee River on the west side and the historic St. Marys River on the southeast. The eight predominant habitat types on the refuge include prairies (freshwater marsh), scrub-shrub, mixed cypress forests, blackgum forests, bay forests, pure cypress forests, and managed upland pine forests.
Three primary entrances and two secondary entrances exist on the refuge. The Suwannee Canal, located 11 miles southwest of Folkston, GA serves as the primary access on the east side and is the location of the refuge headquarters managed solely by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Stephen C. Foster State Park is located at the refuge's west entrance, 18 miles northeast of Fargo, GA. This state park is operated on refuge lands under the provisions of a long-term agreement with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The Okefenokee Swamp Park, located about 13 miles south of Waycross, GA serves as the refuge's north entrance. This park is administered by a nonprofit organization on refuge and state forest lands. Kingfisher Landing located between Folkston and Waycross and the Suwannee River Sill on the west side are considered secondary entrances into the refuge.
111 HIGHLIGHTS
Big Turnaround Fire Complex burned a total of 563,118 acres of which 326,516 acres were refuge lands (81% of the refuge).
The ground-breaking ceremony for the new Environmental Education Classroom and Concession Building occurred in November.
The climatically controlled metal building designed to house two emergency response vehicles stationed at the refuge was begun in the Fall.
Biologist Sara Aicher received the Regional Sense of Wonder Award.
The Fish and Wildlife Service Washington D.C. Directorate visited the refuge in January.
A special roofing contract for the east and west sides of the refuge was completed.
IV CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
Climatic conditions are recorded at several locations throughout the refuge. The records of longest duration, dating back to 1945, are from a manual National Weather Service station located at Camp Cornelia at the east entrance to the refuge. Since 1999, the data from a Forestry Technology System (FTS) fire weather station replaced the manual station readings. The refuge also uses weather data from an FTS weather station located on Jones Island. Additional FTS weather stations are located at Eddy Fire Tower and Waycross airport.
The following seven FTS water monitoring stations are currently being used:
Suwannee Canal Water level and water quality Jones Island Water level (addition to Fire Weather Station) Suwannee Creek Water level and precipitation Kingfisher Landing Water level and precipitation Gannet Lake Water level, precipitation, water quality, and fire weather/fuel moisture North Fork (Sill) Water level Cypress Creek Water level and precipitation
Precipitation during 2007 resulted in a total of 46.76 inches at Camp Cornelia on the east side of the refuge (Table 1). This is 5.67 inches below the 62-year average of 52.43 inches. Water levels were already below normal as the year began and continued to drop until June. Only 10.03 inches of rain fell during the first 5 months of the year compared to an average of 16.96 inches that normally falls. This is a difference of 6.96 inches. Good rains came in June, squelching the fires that were burning in the swamp. August and October also brought good rainfall allowing the water levels in the swamp to rise to and above normal levels. Refer to Section 3.a. Water Monitoring.
Temperatures ranged from 23°F to a high of 102°F (Table 2) on the east side of the refuge. With water levels low and dry fuels, strong winds were a major factor in driving the wildfires during the spring.
v Table 1. Monthly precipitation (inches) for 2007 compared with the 62-year monthly average at Camp Cornelia. Month 2007 Average 1945-2006 January 4.27 3.38 February 2.00 3.55 March 1.88 4.20 April 1.40 3.31 May 0.48 3.65 June 7.39 5.96 July 4.17 7.47 August 9.03 7.28 September 5.48 5.33 October 8.72 3.25 November 0.39 2.15 December 1.55 2.90 TOTAL 46.76 52.43
Table 2. Mean and absolute minimum and maximum monthly temperatures (°F) for 2007 recorded at Camp Cornelia. Average Absolute Absolute Average Maximum Minimum Minimum Maximum Year 2007 90-06 2007 90-06 2007 90-06 2007 90-06 January 46 42 69 67 28 16 83 84 February 42 45 69 70 23 13 82 88 March 50 50 79 76 33 21 88 91 April 52 54 78 82 30 30 94 95 May 61 62 87 89 47 38 94 103 June 68 68 92 92 63 54 102 104 July 73 71 94 94 62 62 99 106 August 73 71 96 93 68 61 101 104 September 70 68 90 89 63 50 96 98 October 65 58 84 82 53 36 92 95 November 49 49 75 75 31 24 84 89 December 49 44 73 67 28 19 82 84
VI A small tornado associated with thunderstorm activity touched down in several locations around Baxter, south of the refuge boundary in Baker County, FL on April 15, 2007 and continued its path eastward across the southeast corner of the refuge (Figure 1). Small blowdowns of approximately 1A acre to 2 acres in size were seen during an aerial reconnaissance following the passage of the storm (Figure 2).
Figure 1. Path of tornado through Baxter, FL and southeast corner of refuge, April 15,2007.
vn Figure 2. Tornado damage to structures and cleanup of downed trees from tornado on April 15, 2007.
vin 1 MONITORING AND STUDIES l.a. SURVEYS AND CENSUSES
Threatened and Endangered Species
Bald Eagles
The refuge has discontinued the formal mid-winter bald eagle survey since eagles have not historically been seen at the beginning of January. Incidental sightings are recorded whenever they are reported by refuge staff and volunteers. One adult eagle was seen in August near the east entrance gate and an adult eagle was seen along SRI21 in December. Several frequently visit the Chesser Island landfill. Firefighters recovered an adult bald eagle that could not fly from the roadside along SR121 south of the refuge on 13 May (Figure 3). It was thought this bird may have consumed something at the nearby landfill. However, blood tests did not reveal anything unusual. There were no visible injuries. A wildlife rehabilitator placed him in a flight cage and within 24 hours he was ready for release near St. Simons Island. It was thought that smoke from the local wildland fires may have caused some disorientation. r
Figure 3. Adult bald eagle that was found along SRI21 during May 2007. Red-cockaded Woodpeckers
Population Status
Refuge biological staff and interns conducted a complete survey of all Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) cavity trees in the perimeter upland management compartments prior to the 2007 breeding season. Six of the seven clusters on Blackjack Island were visited after the breeding season to assess the effects of the Bugaboo Scrub fire. Overall, the number of active clusters reported for the refuge in 2007 was 41 (Figure 6). The upland management compartments contained 20 active and 25 inactive clusters (Table 3). The five interior islands surveyed in 2006 (Billys, Honey, Mitchell, Bugaboo and Number One) and the Blackjack survey in July 2007 recorded 21 active and 21 inactive clusters within the refuge wilderness area (Table 4).
The total number of refuge clusters remained at 87 (45 perimeter, 42 islands) in 2007. Two hundred and fifty-seven trees (231 perimeter, 26 islands) were checked this year. Refuge perimeter clusters had 187 cavity trees that were suitable for roosting/nesting, of which, forty- eight (26%) were active. Blackjack Island clusters had a total of 26 cavities, of which, six cavities in one cluster were active.
Although long-term viability of fragmented RCW populations is still being investigated, the natural condition of interior island clusters is of significant regional value. The suitability of the habitat, particularly with respect to availability of suitable cavities, is a critical element in determining the limiting factors within these populations. Fire is the only management tool applied to pine habitat on interior islands and it is an essential element needed to maintain understory plant species and improve forage and nesting habitat quality for RCW groups.
Population Monitoring and Translocations
Northwest Population
This population had some moderate to severe impacts to active clusters resulting from wildland fire and suppression activities. Many of the firelines, particularly along the Swamps Edge Break, were widened or improved to allow firefighter access or escape routes. Most vehicle traffic related to fire suppression efforts was confined to the Perimeter Road but occurred near or within cluster areas during the breeding season.
In Compartment 15, four pairs nested during 2007. One cluster (151) failed to produce young despite having five eggs in the nest. Another pair in 15C renested after their eggs were burned during the Big Turnaround fire; the second nest hatched two chicks, with one surviving to banding age. Despite the four nests being initiated, only one female chick survived and fledged in cluster 1 SAB.
Compartment 15 had the most fire-related damage to RCW cavity trees. Several insert tunnels needed to be repaired after the outer PVC lip of the tunnels melted and reduced the diameter of the entrance. Damage to tree roots from "tator raking" occurred in cluster 15AB during an attempt to cut off the flank of a section of the Big Turnaround fire that ran through the north section of Compartment 15 (Figure 4) on 23 May. This practice is used extensively in young pine plantations on private lands. The timber on the refuge is nearing 100 years old and we feared that this timber would be lost due to the root damage or later to the wind. Within three weeks of the incident, small excavators were contracted to roll the soil back over the roots (Figure 5). At years end, very few trees had died or fallen. Plots were surveyed to document the health of the trees through the next year. Active cavity trees were lost to fire in clusters D (2) and J (1) and trees with inactive cavities and starts were lost in clusters AB (2), C (2), and I (1).
Six adult RCW's were recaptured in Compartment 15 during 2007 to remove/replace color bands. One decomposed RCW carcass was recovered from a cavity in cluster 15 J but there were no bands seen in the cavity. One flying squirrel was removed from a cavity in cluster 15G.
Figure 4. Plow lines from fire suppression efforts in cluster 15AB on 23 May 2007. •;->.' - -MF ! . ^HflfiE
Figure 5. Excavators turning the dozer benns back over the cut roots of the 100 year old longleaf pines damaged during fire suppression efforts in cluster 15AB. 2007 Red-cockaded Woodpecker Populations Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Cluster Status • Active • Inactive-Natural • Inactive-Recruitment [~~| Refuge Boundary ~ Upland Habitat Wilderness Area
DATASOUHCE: U. S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE OKEFENOKEE NWR A FOLKSTON. GA
Figure 6. Status of red-cockaded woodpecker clusters at Okefenokee NWR during 2007. TableS. RCW clusters in upland management compartments in 2007. Artificial Clusters Inserts AU Clusters Artificial Total Compartment Occupied This Installed This Clusters Clusters Active Inactive1 Year Year 2 0 A,B B 0 0 2 E, F, G- 2 Replaced 3 A, B, C, K J,K,L J;L 10 L,H,I, J 4 0 A,B B 0 0 2 A,B,C,D, 5 0 E 0 0 5 E 6 0 A A 0 2 Replaced 1 7 0 A, C 0 0 2 Replaced 2 8 0 A,B B 0 4 Replaced 2 11 0 A A 0 0 1 12 0 A,B B 0 4 New 2 A, B, D, A, C, D, E, 13 C A, D, E, F 0 6 E3F F
14 A B A,B A 0 2
A-B, C, 15 D, B, F, H,K E, F, G, H, I E, F, G, I 6 Replaced 10 G,J,I 4 new Totals 20 25 22 11 45 15 replaced Includes recruitment clusters.
Table 4 RCW clusters on interior islands in 2007. Interior Island Active Inactive Total Clusters Billys Island A, D, G-H, I, J, K-L, 0-P B, E, F, Q-R, S . 12 Blackjack E,F A,B,C,D,G 7 Bugaboo B,C A, D, E, F 6 Honey A, B, C, F, G, H D, E, I, J 10 Mitchell B, C, D, E A 5 Number One None A,B ' 2 Totals 21 21 .. 42 Cluster 14A remained active during 2007. The pair in this cluster attempted to nest again this year but the eggs failed to hatch. The Big Turnaround fire burned through this cluster on 25 May and caused severe mortality within the cluster. However, none of the cavity trees were lost.
Five of the six RCW's that were translocated to Compartment 13 from Ft. Stewart in November 2004, remained in the compartment during 2007 and two of the four birds translocated in December 2006 attempted to nest in cluster 13F. Two single females were present in • Compartment 13 prior to the breeding season, but neither was located in July. Two new RCW's were located in cluster 13F during November; one was unhanded and the other was a female born in cluster 15AB during 2005. On 23-28 May, fire burned through Compartment 13 and caused the mortality of cavity trees in clusters A (1), E (1) and F (1).
Four insert cavities were installed in Compartment 12 and on 20 June, an unbanded RCW and a female RCW translocated to cluster 13F were seen foraging and checking out the inserts in cluster 12A. Apparently these birds did not find the area appealing because the cavities remained inactive during 2007. This compartment also burned on 25-28 May when part of the Big Turnaround fire exited the swamp. None of the cavity trees in either cluster were killed during the fire.
East Population
Six of the seven active clusters in the east population attempted to nest during the 2007 nesting season despite the increased traffic through the area due to wildfire activities (Table 3). Cluster 3C was active prior to the breeding season with a single active cavity. However, this bird moved to a cavity in cluster 3F when a suitable cavity was provided. The pair in cluster 3E produced three eggs but none of the eggs hatched; the adults appeared to give up on incubation after about five weeks. Cluster 31 produced one chick which was banded and found decomposed when biological staff returned to check the sex of the nestling.
Fledging success was fairly low again this year with only five young fledged. This success rate was the same as 2006 but low compared to nine in 2005 and 15 in 2004. Biological staff banded seven RCW nestlings in Compartment 3 during the 2007 breeding season (Figure 7); five of these survived to fledging age (Table 5). Visual observations during fledge checks indicate that all of the other adult RCW's in this compartment have been previously banded, although a few have color bands that have faded and need to be replaced. To provide an adequate number of suitable cavities in active clusters, two inserts were replaced and PVC entrance runnels with restrictor plates were installed on two natural cavities during 2006 to reduce competition by red- bellied woodpeckers, hi addition, thirty-six flying squirrels were removed from six clusters prior to the 2007 breeding season.
The east side of the wildlife drive was ignited by fire crews on 2-3 June for suppression purposes. Figure 7. Deputy Regional Director Cindy Dohner with RCW chicks banded in cluster 3G. Table 5. Nesting and reproduction in perimeter clusters during 2007. Cluster Clutch size No. Banded No. Fledged Sex Adults 3C No activity in cluster 0 3E 3 0 0 2 3F 2 1 1 1 male 2 3G-L 2 2 2 1 male, 1 female 2 3H 3 1 1 1 female 2 31 4 1 0 2 3J 4 2 1 1 male 3 13B o 2 0 2 13D 0 o' 0 3 13F 3 0 0 - 2 14 A 4 0 0 2 15A-B 5 2 1 1 female 2 15C 2 1 0 2. 15D 0 0 0 2 15E Recruitment site - one active cavity but no nest 15F Recruitment site - one active cavity but no nest 15G Translocation site - 2 active cavities but no nesting attempted 2 15H Recruitment site - no activity 151 5 0 0 3 15J 4 2 0 2
Central and South Populations
All islands within the swamp were burned during the wildland fires of 2007. Following the Bugaboo Scrub fire, which swept rapidly southward on 27-28 May, Blackjack Island clusters were surveyed to assess the damage and look for active trees. One RCW was seen in cluster C during the survey. A survey of all island clusters is planned for 2008. S£
Figure 8. Active cavity in tree #39 in cluster C on Blackjack Island that survived the fire; one RCW was seen at this tree during the survey on 20 July.
Habitat Management
No dormant season prescribed burning was conducted during 2007. All of the habitat within clusters in perimeter Compartments 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15 burned during the growing season as a result of the Big Turnaround and Bugaboo Scrub fires. Additionally, all habitat within clusters on interior islands burned during the 2007 growing season. The intensity of burns within clusters varied widely with Clusters 7B (5 cavity trees killed), 15C (3 cavity trees killed) and 15J (2 cavity trees killed) being most severely impacted and clusters in compartments 8, 12, and 14 not losing any cavity trees. The most severe long-term impact may be loss of foraging trees, particularly within and surrounding the wetland habitat (ponds and strands). These areas were burned intensely and many lost all of the larger pine trees that were used for foraging.
Thinning of forest stands to improve RCW habitat continued and was completed on the south end of Chesser Island in Compartment 4. Cruising began on sections of Compartment 3. Forestry staff also worked on a management prescription for Compartment 2 that will be completed in 2008.
RCW Habitat Partnerships
The refuge maintained the habitat management agreement or Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with the Georgia Forestry Commission during 2007. The refuge's MOU with Internationa] Paper (IP) was terminated when timber and recreational rights on 6,782 acres of upland habitat along the eastern boundary of the refuge between Camp Cornelia and Cowhouse Island were sold to a private timber investment group. The MOU with the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) includes 2,258 acres of Cowhouse Island on the Dixon Memorial State Forest (DMSF) (Figure 9). Most of the area covered under this agreement was burned during the
10 Big Turnaround fire and was subsequently clear cut to salvage as much timber as possible. Approximately 80 acres of young longleaf pine stands survived the fire and approximately 263 acres of 49 year-old slash pines, most of which are old turpentine trees with catface scars on the trunks, remain on the site. The total acreage within the agreement area is 1,333 acres and much of this will be planted with longleaf in the next few years.
REFUGE MOU BOUNDARY FOR RCW FORAGING HABITAt Georgia Forestry Commission
RCW Clusters 9 Inactive 0 Active Uplands { MOU Area | Refuge Boundary
10 Miles
Figure 9. Map of the MOU site at Dixon Memorial Forest (Georgia Forestry Commission) for RCW habitat.
Recruitment Stands and Artificial Clusters
Two of the recruitment sites in Compartment 13 and one recruitment site in Compartment 15 were used for translocation during 2006. One pair from the 2006 translocation stayed at the release site and nested during 2007 in cluster 13F while the other two pairs either moved to another cluster or dispersed from the release sites and were not seen again. At the end of 2007, there were 10 recruitment sites and 12 inactive clusters around the refuge with enough suitable cavities for pairs of RCW's to move into.
American Alligator
11 Drought impacted the population and distribution of alligators during 2007. With low water levels, the alligators sought out the deeper pools of water. Billys Lake, the river channel to Big Water, the Suwannee Canal, and the scattered lakes within the swamp were key to alligator survival. All other areas were dry. Cannibalism was probably extensive along with the reduction of the fish population.
No alligator surveys were conducted in 2007.
Other Wildlife
Waterfowl
No formal survey of waterfowl was conducted during 2007. hi the past, this information was obtained during monthly airboat surveys. A new airboat was purchased in 2007. Once again monthly surveys may be conducted after a minimum requirement decision guide is completed.
Marsh and Water Birds
During the spring, the dry conditions forced the large flocks of waterbirds to search out other areas. Flights over the swamp revealed very few wading birds and no flocks of white ibis.
The colonial waterbird survey was not conducted hi 2007 due to the helicopter being dispatched on fire missions. On June 29, wildlife biologist Dean Easton was able to fly and assess the condition of old colony sites near the Pocket. The colony site north of Cravens Hammock was almost completely dry (Figure 10) and no nests or birds were visible. The colony northwest of Stephen Foster State Park (Figure 11) that has been active in the past several years had some water but no nests were visible so it was unlikely that they nested during 2007.
12 < .: Figure 10. Dry channel north of Cravens Hammock. Colony site indicated by red circle.
- :
Figure 11. Another colony north of Stephen C. Foster State Park (SFSP) appeared to be abandoned also.
13 As water returned to the strands leading into the swamp and the isolated wetlands that were opened up during the fire, wading birds flocked to these areas to forage (Figure 12).
An aerial survey for sandhill cranes was conducted on November 1. Twenty-four cranes were observed along the route through Grand, Chesser, Mizell, Chase, Durdin, Maul Hammock, Sapling, and Floyds Prairies. This national survey generally is too early to catch large flocks of the greater sandhill cranes. The birds counted are likely to be residents since most of the migrant population begins to arrive in mid to late November.
Two whooping cranes were located near Sapling Prairie in late February 2007 by researchers from the International Crane Foundation. These birds moved out of the area shortly after and migrated to breeding grounds near Necedah NWR in Wisconsin.
Figure 12. White ibis and other wading birds used the severely burned strands and wetlands as foraging areas once water returned.
Raptors
The annual survey for osprey nests was not conducted this year.
Swallowtail kite sightings were seen occasionally in March, April, and May in upland forest management compartments. Okefenokee's contract helicopter pilot reported seeing kites near the active fire line in the northwest part of the refuge during a reconnaissance flight in June.
14 Other Birds
Breeding bird point counts were not conducted this year due to active fires during the sampling period. Most of the sites were burned during 2007.
The annual Christmas Bird Count was held on 29 December with eleven participants, eight of which covered routes within the refuge. Eighty-eight species were recorded county wide with 58 species recorded within the refuge boundary. A total of 3,855 individual birds were observed during this year's survey, which was slightly lower than the 2006 total of 4,149 individuals recorded in 2006. American robin was the most abundant species again this year (453 individuals), comprising thirty percent of the total number of individuals (1,525) reported on the refuge.
Mammals
White tailed Deer - The Suwannee Canal Recreation Area hunt in upland Compartments 3 and 4 was conducted on October 26l and 27th. A total of twenty-six hunters participated in the hunt in which thirteen deer (six females and six males and one yearling) were harvested. The largest deer harvested was a 153 pound, 3 Vz year-old buck.
The Cowhouse Island section (Upland Compartment 1) of the refuge was open to deer hunting for the fifth year and administered by GA DNR in conjunction with hunts conducted on Dixon Memorial State Forest (DMSF). Refuge hunters were required to follow the 2007/2008 Georgia state regulation guide pertaining to the DMSF. Small game hunting was open on Cowhouse in accordance with state seasons and regulations. There is no information currently available on the 2007 small game harvest.
The Pocket was opened for archery season for the fifth year. The season consisted of either-sex hunts from September 8th through October 12th. Refuge hunters were required to follow the 2007/2008 Georgia state regulations. There were a total of 316 hunter visits, which was up from the 289 recorded in 2006, but less than the 362 hunter visits in 2005. A total of fourteen deer (6 bucks and 8 does) were harvested.
Black Bear - Bear hunting is not allowed on refuge lands; however, during the 2007 season, a total of 134 bears were harvested in the five Georgia counties surrounding the refuge. This is an extremely high number of bears harvested compared to most years when 30-50 bears are taken. Occasionally, the number of harvested bears reaches 80 during a season. The high number this year probably is related to the lack of food sources within the swamp and the lack of cover on the uplands. Fire crept through the litter under the hardwoods in the northwest side of the refuge. As the roots were exposed and burned, the trees toppled. Black gum, a favorite food source for the bears, was an important part of this hardwood stand. The toppled trees also may have created a barrier for travel between the uplands and the safety of the swamp.
The refuge has good black bear population data from a five year study in the 1990's. Now, we would like to look again at the population and examine the impacts of this year's fires on the population.
15 Bear Bait Stations - Surveys of black bears visiting sardine bait stations were conducted from July 17-26. Bears visited 13 of the 33 sites for a total of 39 percent. Visits occurred at two stations on Moonshine Ridge, four stations on Fiddlers Island, three stations on Mims Island, two stations on Soldier Camp Island, and two stations on the Pocket. A sow and three small cubs (Figure 13) were seen on Fiddlers Island and a small adult was seen on Mims Island. As a result
Figure 13. Two bear cubs seen on Fiddlers Island during the bait station survey on July 12. of the fires this year, bears appeared to feed more heavily on new growth of saw palmetto plants that had been burned. Several areas on Moonshine Ridge, Mims Island and Fiddlers Island were identified where bears had pulled out the heart of the plant and consumed the base of the stem (Figure 14).
Figure 14. Saw palmetto plants showing sign of being stripped of new growth that had been consumed by black bears.
16 Fisheries
The refuge contributes to the Suwannee and St. Marys River fisheries, both of which originate within its boundary. The GA DNR and Panama City Fisheries Assistance Office conducted electrofishing surveys of the west and east sides of Okefenokee NWR in December. As expected following the drought, low numbers offish were caught (Table 6).
Table 6. Electrofishing results through December 2007 compared to previous years. GO 6 34 0. 178 258 15 13 531 d Dec 98 17 L_ 16 W Jan 98 6 4 8 9 0 60 123 2 2 208 Dec 96 6 5 15 1 0 98 85 • 1 2 207 Dec 95 4 6 43 1 0 387 67 0 12 516 Dec 94 6 21 57 0 1 634 169 3 2 887 Jan 94 6 7 19 0 2 427 308 4 0 767 Dec 07 4 16 6 0 0 86 24 3 0 135 Jan 05 47 16 2 9 239 228 10 5 556 Jan 04 6 27 87 0 25 87 97 16 7 346 Jan 02 3 66 27 2 12 14 1 24 4 150 TCdD Dec 00 3 84 28 1 3 10 4 35 80 245 -1— ( CO Dec 99 4 99 34 0- 0 67 24 25 47 296 •4-J CDO Dec 98 6 65 31 1 0 133 181 41 37 489 £ Jan 98 6 27 12 0 0 35 68 10 1 153 Dec 96 6 15 25 0 1 77 142 52 16 328 Dec 95 2 9 47 2 0 137 41 0 12 248 Jan 95 6 5 15 0 0 29 66 9 0 124 Dec 93 6 20 37 0 3 157 135 39 0 391
Amphibians
On 19 July, oak toads were found within a flooded road bed that was missing limbs. The location was east of Tie Island Dip Site, just north of Compartment 15.
17 Invertebrates
Mosquitoes were very abundant during the spring and early fall. The blackened areas from the fires harbored the most mosquitoes. Reasons for this may be related to mosquitoes being attracted to heat, lack of vegetation and food sources, and these areas holding small pools of water for reproduction. l.b. STUDIES & INVESTIGATIONS
Contaminants
Air Quality Monitoring - USFWS Air Quality Division, Denver, CO
Contractor Ron Phernetton operates the air quality station for the refuge. The station monitors air quality through the following programs:
• Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) • National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) • Mercury Deposition Program (MDP)
Other Researchers
The following researchers obtained special use permits from the refuge to collect data for various studies:
• Chris Dowdy and Don Chappel with the Georgia Forestry Commission conducted and evaluated the Forest Inventory Analysis plots within the refuge. This year's sites were near Greasy Branch, Swamp Island Drive, Floyds Island, and Soldiers Camp Island.
• Linda M. Ham from Georgia Department of Natural Resources, EPD Watershed Protection Branch began to assess the impact of air quality regulations that require reductions in mercury emissions in Georgia by monitoring pickerel fish in Billys Lake and large mouth bass in Banks Lake. This study will continue for the next 20 years.
• Zachary I. Loughman from West Liberty State College in Virginia collected crayfish near Stephen C. Foster State Park. Four species were collected (Procambarus (H.) talpoides, Procambarus (L.) p. pubischelae, Procambarus (O.) fallax, Procambarus (O.) seminolae) (Figure 15 ). All are members of the genus Procambarus., and were previously documented within the region by Hobbs (1981). One species (Procambaruspygmaeus) was not collected that was expected to occur within the region. This species will be the focus of collecting efforts in 2008.
• Thomas M. Floyd, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division, surveyed Cowhouse Island for fiatwoods salamanders: This study was late getting started so limited area was surveyed. It will continue in 2008.
18 Figure 15: Crayfishes of Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge A. Procambarusp. pubischelae B. Procambarus talpoides C. Procambarus seminolae D. Procambarus fallax
Post Fire Research
In April-June of 2007, 81 percent of the refuge burned. The fire was exacerbated by prolonged droughts in the southeastern U.S. Changes in the landscape as well as chemical dynamics began to happen immediately. These changes affect the availability of nutrients, minerals, and contaminants to the fauna and flora of the area. There are many possible research questions on the effects of the fires and how the system will recover. Additional questions could be investigated concerning the conditions at which the fire moved across the landscape giving us insight into future fires.
On September 21st, a workshop with researchers and ecologists attending was held to discuss post fire research needs. Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is fortunate to have past researchers that have studied the vegetation changes, peat dynamics and invertebrate community associations that can utilize their past data and begin collecting more data to increase our knowledge on how fires and drought impact the ecosystem. It is an unique opportunity to look at ecological conditions after a large ecosystem fire. There may still be time to identify impacts on
19 chemical processes, short-term vegetation dynamics based on nutrient and mineral releases, and wildlife community changes before the conditions are blurred or permanently altered. With years of research on the botany, chemistry, micropetrography, geology, hydrology, and invertebrates, it is a one-time opportunity to use a large baseline of quantitative information and years of observational experience to measure the changes produced by this mega-fire.
The following researchers have collected preliminary data and plan to conduct research in 2008 as funding allows:
Dr. Art Cohen — Department of Geological Sciences at University of South Carolina.
Dr. Cohen is interested in quantifying the loss of carbon from this massive carbon sink and identify the kinds and amounts of charcoal that were produced from different vegetation communities by different types of burns. A comparison of pre-and post-fire vegetation and geochemical/ecological conditions will also be obtained.
Dr. Cyndy Loftin — University of Maine
Dr. Loftin has outlined three parts to a research plan with the first examining vegetation response to the fires through time. The second part compares pre-burn vegetation composition and distribution with the pattern and intensity of the fire as it moved over the landscape. The third part examines hydroperiod influences on post-fire vegetation regrowth and dynamics.
Dr. Darold Batzer — University of Georgia
Dr. Batzer is interested in examining invertebrate responses to the fires. He would be looking at water quality and substrate conditions.
A fire event of this scale provides the opportunity to investigate the resilience of a system. It is a once in a life time opportunity that will enhance our knowledge of fire behavior in the future, the changes within the wetlands, wildlife responses to these changes, and the global impact of this type of event. Many research topics were identified during the workshop and funding is being sought so some of these topics can be addressed.
20 2• HABITAT RESTORATION 2.a. WETLAND RESTORATION: ON-REFUGE
Although no mechanical wetland restoration was planned or undertaken for the Okefenokee Swamp, wildland fire rejuvenated the system in 2007. Mostly wetlands burned during the fires of 2007. Some areas in the north part of the swamp had not burned for over 75 years (Figure 16). The fire burned primarily the surface fuels removing thick scrub-shrub, stands of pines, cypress, and bay trees. Fire crept around the roots of the hardwoods in the northwest side of the refuge in an area that traditionally acts as a fire barrier. This caused them to fall and leave masses of fuel on the ground (Figure 17). Scattered cypress remain standing in this area. There will be complete stand replacement in this area; however, the species that comes into that area depends on the seed bank within the soil. It is thought that this perhaps was once a cypress forest and may return to this. It is also interesting to note that Dr. Art Cohen found a layer of logs under the peat in Grand Prairie that may be a result of a similar type of event.
Although the northeast prairies of the swamp maintain deeper and/or more consistent water levels than other prairies, the shrub component has been increasing in density and creating a more continuous fuel layer. Strong winds pushed the fire through this area. The area was opened up around Maul Hammock so the views are more extensive along the red trail (Figure 18). The scrub-shrub also burned intensively south of the Suwannee Canal increasing the views where it approached the canal.
Other areas where most of the overstory was burned are north of Gannett Lake, between Bugaboo and Blackjack Islands and south of Blackjack Island. There is a lot of down timber that brings the fuel load closer to the peat layer. The fire event of 2007 may be a step towards increased peat fires that are necessary to maintain the mosaic of habitats within the Okefenokee.
The isolated wetlands and strands flowing into the swamp were burned intensely, opening these areas. Mortality of trees and shrubs was high. Suppression actions and the fact that these were wetter zones during past fires resulted in high fuel loads. These areas were dry and burned readily during this year's fires. Duckweed covered the surfaces once water returned to these areas and nutrients were flushed from the surrounding area. Wading birds flocked to these drains and ponds to forage, especially in the northwest part of the refuge.
In contrast to this rejuvenation of the swamp, suppression actions around the perimeter of the swamp altered the drainage patterns. The Swamps Edge Break was widened from 30 feet to over 100 feet in some places (Figure 19). Trees were plowed to the upland side creating a large berm. Some key drainages such as Suwannee Creek (Figure 20) and the St Marys River were plowed near the refuge boundary. Other drainages were blocked by piles of plowed debris.
21 ft.creatdB Aprtf5007-
Figure 16. Perimeter of 2007 fires and the time sinc*e the last wildland fire.
22 Figure 17. Down timber in hardwood wetlands north of Rowells Island.
Figure 18. Maul Hammock Prairie on 8 May.
23 V
Figure 19. The Swamps Edge Break was widened from 30 ft to over 100 ft in places as part of suppression actions.
Figure 20. Suwannee Creek after it was plowed for suppression purposes.
24 2.b. UPLAND RESTORATION: ON-REFUGE
Refer to Section 3.e. Upland Forests.
2.c. WETLAND RESTORATION: OFF-REFUGE
Nothing to Report. 2.d. UPLAND RESTORATION: OFF-REFUGE
Slash pine plantations northwest of the refuge were severely damaged by the fires and resulted in large tracts being clearcut and salvaged. Although the refuge lost some upland timber, the contrast between refuge uplands and the adjacent plantations was drastic. The Rural Development Center was encouraging small landowners that lost timber during this year's wildland fires to re-plant with longleaf pines by providing a funding source. Timber companies harvesting timber adjacent to the swamp were also encouraged to plant longleaf pines, especially between the Swamps Edge Break and the Perimeter Road, to provide a less vulnerable buffer in future fires.
With the clearing of lands, alternatives to planting timber are being considered. More and more areas are being planted for blueberry production northwest of the refuge.
25 3. HABITAT MANAGEMENT
The 401,862 acre refuge includes most of the 438,000-acre Okefenokee Swamp. To protect this sensitive ecosystem, the refuge has established the following goals for wildlife management, resource protection, and wilderness values that guide habitat management. The more specific objectives and strategies can be found in the refuge's Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP).
Wildlife Management
Goal: Promote and provide high quality habitat and protection for endangered and threatened species and conserve the natural diversity, abundance, and ecological function of native flora and fauna on and off refuge lands.
Resource Protection
Goal: Restore, maintain, protect, and promote native habitats and healthy natural systems where possible to imitate historic distribution, frequency, and quality on and off the refuge, and preserve the associated cultural sites and wilderness qualities.
Wilderness Values
Goal: Restore, preserve, and protect the primeval character and natural processes of the Okefenokee Wilderness, leaving it untrammeled by man while providing recreational solitude, education, scientific study, conservation ethics, and scenic vistas.
To meet the objectives associated with these goals, habitat management techniques include prescribed burning, wildfire, timber stand thinning, commercial timber harvest, planting, herbicide application, and trail cutting. The vastness, inaccessibility to most of the swamp, and wilderness designation places additional challenges on management practices.
The most intensive management occurs on 33,602 acres of upland pine stands. Although the refuge owns an additional 6,800 acres of uplands, the timber rights will not be available for management by the refuge until 2081. Upland pine forests managed by the refuge are primarily for the re-establishment of the native longleaf pine/wiregrass community and the red-cockaded woodpecker. A Habitat and Population Management Plan is currently being written as a step- down plan under the CCP.
26 3.a. WETLAND MANAGEMENT
Water Monitoring
Wetlands comprise 371,000 acres within the refuge. Water levels influence prescribed burning on interior islands, travel and access into certain areas and the distribution of wildlife species. Forestry Technology System (FTS) water monitoring stations were functioning intermittently during 2007 to record water levels. Although some water levels dropped below the sensor, no station was destroyed by fire. The most consistent data comes from the stations at Suwannee Canal, Suwannee Creek, and Gannet Lake. ICingfisher Landing, North Fork Suwannee River, and Cypress Creek also provided information throughout the year. Jones Island water level sensor was replaced in the fall of 2006 but water levels soon dropped below the sensor. No readings were obtained from this station for water level during.2007. Five of the seven stations are also equipped with a precipitation tipping bucket to monitor rainfall in key areas of the refuge. The refuge's water quality probes were sent in for repair during 2007. Low water levels prohibited access to many of the stations.
Water levels at Suwannee Canal Recreation Area (SCRA) and Stephen C. Foster State Park (SCFSP) were below the 15-year average for most of the year (Table 7 and Figure 21). Water levels reached their lowest level at the beginning of June. On June 1, water levels were 1.58 ft and 2.54 ft below the 15 year average at SCRA and SCFSP. With above normal rainfall in June, August, and October, water levels rose above average water levels in August on the east side of the refuge and in November on the west side. At year's end, water levels were near normal levels.
27 Table 7. Water levels (msl) at Suwannee Canal Recreation Area (SCRA) and Stephen Foster State Park (SFSP) for 2007. SCRA SFSP 2007 Avg 92-06 2007 Avg 92-06 Jan 1 119.50 120.15 - 113.34 114.69i3 15 119.61 120.24 113.40 114.84i3. Feb 1 . 119.64 120.33 113.50 114.97i4 15 119.80 120.35 113.78 115.0914 Mar 1 119.67 120.39 113.68 115.27i3 15 119.64 120.43 113.66 115.20i4 Apr 1 119.35 120.43 113.32 115.00i4 15 119.29 120.33 112.80 114.81i4 May 1 118.78 120.17 112.34 114.44 15 118.47 119.92 . 111.93 114.03 Jun 1 118.08 119.66 '111.26 113.80 15 . 119.00 119.83 112.86 114.06 Jul 1 119.09 119.95 112.64 114.25 15 118.91 119.98 112.84 114.25 Aug 1 118.79 120.01 112.84 114.28 15 120.44 120.09 113.90 114.36 Sep 1 120.39 120.13 113.50 114.35 15 120.33 120.14 113.62 114.52 Oct 1 120.50 120.24 114.00' 114.59 15 120.69 120.28 114.72 114.74i4 Nov 1 120.85 120.22 114.82 114.48i4 15 120.63 120.14 114.56 114.38 Dec 1 120.49 120.06 114.36 114.35 15 120.35 120.06 114.20 114.42
Subscripts indicate number of years included in the average due to missing data.
28 Suwannee Canal -East
Stephen Foster State Park-West
5 5 -8 Date ee Calm] 1 5-yr Avg 1-oslcr Sunc I'ark ] ^->T Avj:
Figure 21. Water levels at Suwannee Canal Recreation Area and Stephen Foster State Park during 2007 compared with the 15-year averages.
118.00 -
Figure 22. Water levels at Suwannee Canal from 1990-2007.
29 Water Control Structures
The Suwannee River Sill contains two water control structures which remained open according to recommendations set forth in the 1998 Environmental Assessment. For more information, refer to Section 2.a. 3.b. MOIST SOIL MANAGEMENT
Nothing to Report.
3.c. GRAZE/MOW/HAY
Nothing to Report. 3.d. FARMING
Nothing to Report. 3.e. FOREST MANAGEMENT
Okefenokee NWR contains 353,913 acres of forested land, including 313,529 acres of wetland hardwoods, cypress, and brush lands. The remaining 40,384 acres are upland forest stands of longleaf, slash, loblolly, pond pine, and scattered upland hardwoods. The uplands also contain many bog-filled ponds containing mixed stands of pine, cypress, and hardwoods. Approximately half of the upland forest area, 17,444 acres, is located on islands within designated Wilderness. The remaining 22,940 acres of upland forest are in areas designated as habitat management compartments. Commercial harvesting is permitted in the compartments as a tool to accomplish habitat management goals. The Conservation Fund donated to the refuge approximately 6,000 acres of upland habitat on the east side of the refuge. This 6,000 acres is not included in the aforementioned upland acres due to the timber management rights remaining with Forest Investment Associates through 2081.
Upland Forests
Goals for upland forests on the refuge include the restoration of the longleaf pine community, which historically covered most of the refuge upland, and maintenance of this habitat through replication of the natural processes. This habitat was reduced throughout the Southeast due to turn of the century logging practices and disruption of the natural, frequent fire regime. Open longleaf pine stands hosted a diverse understory of warm season grasses and many low shrubs and forbs maintained by frequent, low intensity fires. The old growth longleaf pine community was replaced by dense stands of more prolific, less fire dependent overstory and understory species normally restricted to wetter areas. Only remnant stands of longleaf pine remain, representing less than five percent of its former range. Many wildlife species associated with this habitat, including the red-cockaded woodpecker, are either endangered or threatened.
30 By the time Okefenokee NWR was established in 1936, the habitat on the refuge consisted of a few pure stands of longleaf pine confined to sandy ridges, a few predominately longleaf pine stands, and many mixed pine stands with a few relic longleaf pine trees abandoned by the logging operations of the 1920's. Because of the difficulty of re-establishing longleaf pine and continued exclusion of fire, native longleaf pine communities continued to decline in quality and quantity for many years. Understory conditions depreciated during this period, allowing dense hardwood shrubs to replace grasses, herbs and low shrubs.common to this habitat. Table 8 lists the present distribution of longleaf pine and other species throughout the refuge uplands. Figure 10 shows the locations of the 16 habitat management compartments and the wilderness islands.
Table 8. Distribution of longleaf pine on upland forest stands. ACRES Habitat Management Wilderness Species Class Compartments Islands Total Mature Pine (> 9 " DBH) • Pure Longleaf Pine (>70%) 1,731 1,429 3,160 • Longleaf Dominant (>40%) 1,303 1,305 2,608 • Scattered Longleaf (<40%) . 2,085 2,522 4,607 • Other Pine Species 9,471 8,976 18,447 Young Pine (< 9 " DBH) • Pure Longleaf Pine (>70%) 1,016 0* 1,016 • Longleaf Dominant (>40%) 182 0* 182 • Scattered Longleaf (<40%) 410- 70* 480 • Other Pine Species 4,213 1,730 5,943 Upland Hardwoods 248 509 757 Bottomland Hardwoods 335 22 357 Bog Filled, Forested Ponds 1,894 820 2,714 Open and Administrative Areas 52 61 113 TOTALS 22,940 17,444 40,384
*While there are very few young longleaf pine stands on the -wilderness islands, small patches of longleaf regeneration, not constituting a stand, are scattered on some wilderness islands and some compartments. As more of these patches accumulate, they willform multi-aged stands.
* 31 /\ State Line Perimeter Road I Forestry Compartments/Islands /' ... Waterways CZJj Refuge Boundary
J^ J"Comp15 i
Okelenokee Co¥ National Wildlife Refug£ ^ ^Minnies 7 /Island h M -A-i, **" / v •«- i i' j i VxRowells Island ^ Island i VVX P\r\e A I
Blackjack Island '\,NcTm&er One Q^—W
_Georgia Florida
10 15 Miles
Figure 23. Habitat Management Compartments and Interior Islands.
32 Habitat management tools utilized to restore native longleaf pine communities include:
• Maintenance of multi-aged pine stands. • Selective thinning on a 10-year cycle to favor longleaf pine. • Removal of undesired mid-story stems. • Dormant and growing season fire. • Several methods of stand conversion include patch regeneration, shelterwood regeneration, direct seeding, planting of containerized seedlings, and mounding.
Restoration activities for the understory component have been limited to dormant and growing season prescribed fire. Existing hardwood stands, openings and wetland areas within or adjacent to the longleaf pine community are included in pre-established burn units and allowed to seek a more natural condition under the influence of fire. These areas provide a variety of habitats to meet the needs of native wildlife and provide an aesthetically pleasing variety of forest lands. Only areas of special interest are excluded from fire.
Fire is the most effective tool available for habitat management on wilderness uplands. Fire may be used to thin young forest stands, remove midstory pines and hardwoods, reduce invading hardwood understory species, prepare seed beds for regeneration, and reduce slash pine and other unwanted pine seedlings. If used skillfully, fire can accomplish most of these tasks without damage to fire resistant longleaf seedlings. All distinguishable islands inside the refuge boundary receive periodic dormant or growing season prescribed fire. Other management activities conducted on the upland wilderness islands include RCW status surveys.
Habitat Management Planning
The Habitat and Population Management Plan, when completed, will be a comprehensive plan covering the management of uplands, wetlands, hydrology, wildlife, and other disciplines. This plan is part of the CCP as a step-down plan and evaluated through the NEPA process.
Forest Management Prescriptions
A Forest Management Prescription for Compartment 2 will be written in early 2008. After approval of this document, timber marking will be completed and a timber sale will take place for habitat improvement. Also, a forest inventory cruise will begin in late 2007 in Forest Management Compartment 3.
Timber Marking
No timber marking occurred during 2007. The cutter select method of timber harvesting was used in Compartment 4, ehminating the need for forestry technicians to mark the area.
33 Timber Harvesting
Timber harvests play a significant part in restoring the historical longleaf pine ecosystem. More importantly, these harvests help restore and maintain habitat for the threatened and endangered species associated with the longleaf pine ecosystem. Timber harvest in Compartment 4 SE and SW sale areas was completed by August 2007 (Figure 24). The 2007 forest product receipts are listed in Table 9 and a ten-year summary of forest management activity is provided in Table 10.
Figure 24. View along western edge of Chesser Island after a cutter select harvest completed by M&G Logging, Inc. of Racepond, GA.
Table 9. Forest products receipts for 2007. Special Use Value/Ton 2007 Volume 2007 Permit # Permittee Area Product Harvested Receipts C.L. Crews Compartment 4 Pine Varied $ per 946 tons 05-027 $13,430.71 Timber (southeast) Timber product (344 cords) M&G Compartment 4 Pine Varied $ per 1,720 tons 05-028 $23,930.86 Logging (southwest) Timber product (626 cords) 2,667 tons TOTAL ALL PERMITS $37,3621.57 (970 cords)
34 Table 10. Ten-year forest products removal summary. ALL TIMBER CY TONS TOTAL VALUE CATEGORIES (CORDS) 1998 1,356 3,739 $43,438 1999 2,937 8,077 $94,619 2000 7,603 20,908 $290,028 2001 5,001 13,753 $147,693 2002 3,690 10,148 $88,049 2003 2,499 6,873 $47,285 2004 5,144 14,146 $336,477 2005 . 1,176 3,234 $41,212 2006 7,291 20,251 $496,911 2007 970 2,667 $37,362
Status of Longleaf Pine Community Restoration
Longleaf pine community restoration continues to be a high priority when it comes to habitat management on refuge uplands. Community restoration provides habitat for all species of flora and fauna instead of several key species. Favoring longleaf pine during selective timber harvests gives the species a head start on the other more prolific pine species. Minimizing ground disturbance is also critical in maintaining the diversity of the understory species in this community. Although natural regeneration is preferred, hand planting containerized longleaf seedlings continues to be very successful in establishing new age classes needed to perpetuate the community.
Although'prescribed fire continues to be used to reduce understory competition, stimulate native ground cover, and remove the hazardous fuel build-up, wildfire sometimes fills a niche that prescribed fire cannot. As evidenced by the wildfires of the 2007 spring and summer, fire moved across the 80% of Okefenokee's acres, both upland and wetland with what seems to be very positive results.
It is apparent through the use of selective thinning and prescribed fire that longleaf pine communities can be restored on refuge upland forest management compartments without clear cutting and planting operations.
35 Reforestation
Twenty-two thousand containerized longleaf pine seedlings were obtained from Meeks Farms in Kite, GA. (Table 11). Refuge staff, volunteers and a local Boy Scout group planted the longleaf seedlings (Figure ). Location and number of trees planted are recorded on compartment maps, and post site evaluations monitor the success of these plantings.
Table 11. Longleaf pine planting sites for 2007.
Location Seedlings Planted Acres Remarks Compartment 1 2,000 5 Replanted after 2007 wildfires Compartment 4 6,000 20 Loading areas planted after timber sale completion Compartment 7 3,000 10 Replanted after 2007 wildfires Compartment 10 • 5,000 9 Replanted after 2007 wildfires Compartment 15 1,500 3 Replanted after 2007 wildfires Totals 17,500 47
Note: Excess boxes of longleaf pine seedlings were donated in the community to help promote planting of longleaf pine trees.
36 Figure 25. Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of Folkston planted containerized longleaf pine seedlings in Compartment 4 .
Timber Stand Improvement
No timber stand improvement (TSI) was accomplished in 2007. Most of the TSI work completed in forest stands, particularly mid-story hardwood removal in RCW foraging stands, is achieved through the use of growing and dormant season prescribed fire.
Wetland Forest
Swamp forest areas include all refuge wetland forest inside the swamp edge and outside the perimeter of the interior islands. The wetland forest community is comprised of 313,529 acres which included the following prior to the fires of 2007:
Scrub Shrub 230,187 acres Mixed (Bay, Cypress, Pine) 55,359 acres Broad Leaved Hardwoods 15,424 acres Cypress 11,831 acres Scrub Pine 728 acres
37 Habitat communities are expected to change due to the fires intensity in some areas. Aerial photos, satellite images, and burn severity maps will be used to create a new vegetation map of the refuge over the next two years.
The basic goal of wetland management is to maintain the mosaic of wetland habitat types including wetland forest. Because most of the wetland area is located within national wilderness boundaries, habitat management activities are limited to Fire for Natural Resource Benefit (Fire Use), prescribed fire, habitat monitoring, and wildlife surveys. 3.f. FIRE MANAGEMENT
Traditional upland fire dependent communities are valuable to many species of native wildlife. This habitat has been drastically altered by changes in the fire regime. However, over the past 30 years routine prescribed burns every 2-3 years have maintained the understory fuel loads at manageable levels. Although upland habitats are fire dependent, fire must be carefully managed to prevent destruction of valuable habitat while reducing unnatural understory fuels.
Within the swamp interior, fire management has a greater complexity. Intense fire is desirable and beneficial under proper conditions, but the probability of fire leaving the swamp and negatively impacting adjacent property is high. Growing involvement of adjacent landowners in the Greater Okefenokee Association of Landowners (GOAL) resulted in continued cooperative ventures, such as relocation and maintenance of the Swamps Edge Break (SEB) and the establishment of 87 helicopter dip sites. These enhancements, along with the cooperative spirit of GOAL members, allow greater flexibility in the use of prescribed and wildland fire for natural resource benefit in the maintenance of upland and wetland habitats with less negative impact on private property.
Prescribed Burning
During the past 34 years, dormant season fire has been used to reduce existing fuels. As understory woody shrub fuels are reduced, growing season fire has been applied to alter the fuel types from woody shrubs to warm season grasses and other ground cover associated with the longleaf pine community. As more acres in upland forest management compartments and wilderness islands are converted to growing season prescribed fire, natural wildland fires will benefit rather than harm the habitat.
Rainfall deficits in the later months of 2006 and the early months of 2007 contributed to no acres being prescribed burned. Ironically, the wildfires of 2007 and subsequent burn out operations moved across almost all refuge upland acres with minimal resource damage and net positive results.
Wildland Fire
The 2007 fire season started early and grew with a vengeance throughout the spring and summer months. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, in a June 14, 2007 press release
38 stated: "This was the driest spring on record for Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. May 2007 was the driest on record for Georgia." On April 16th, a downed power line started the Sweat Farm Road Fire 12 miles west of the Okefenokee. On April 19th, this fire spread across the Okefenokee's northwestern boundary. After entering the refuge, this fixe became known as the Big Turnaround Fire and over the course of the next few months, joined with three lightning caused fires within the refuge interior. This became the Big Turnaround Fire Complex that spread across 560,000+ acres in and around the Okefenokee Swamp (Table 12). Teams basically corralled the fire until 4.74 inches of rain fell on June 2 and 3, extinguishing the majority of the hot spots. It was declared out on December 12, 2007, eight months after it started. Figure 26 shows the daily progression of this fire. Included with this narrative is the "60-day General Chronology - Big Turnaround Fire and Related Events - 2007" document.
Table 12. Acres burned during the Big Turnaround Complex Fire. State Owner Fire Sweat North Big Bugaboo Total Farm Road Fargo Turnaround Scrub GA State and Private 68,361 2,444 34,459 11,037 116,301 GA Okefenokee NWR 157,014 169,501 326,515 FL Okefenokee NWR 3,436 3,436 FL OsceolaNF 73,538 73,538 FL State and Private 45,771 45,771 Total 68,361 2,444 191,473 303,283 565,561
39 It-^^rxl7^^
arm Rd Fire
|~ I Refuge Boundary /\/ Perimeter Road April 19, 2007 BB APril 2° 2007 April 23. 2007 Bl April 24. 2007 I 25.2007 April 26. 2007 April 27, 2007 April 28. 2007 April 29, 2007 April 30. 2007 May 1,2007 May 2, 2007 May 3, 2007 May 4, 2007 May 5, 2007 May 6, 2007 May 7. 2007- 12:00 May 7. 2007 - 22:00 May 8. 2007 - 22:00 May 9, 2007 - 22:00 May 10, 2007-21:00 May 11,2007-21:00 S May 12, 2007-19:3C May 13,2007- 14:00 May 15, 2007 May 16, 2007 May 17, 2007-14:00 May 18, 2007 May 19, 2007-17:00 May 20, 2007- 18:00 May 21, 2007- 17:00 May 22, 2007- 17:00 ,2007-21:00 May 24. 2007-21:00 ,2007-21:00 y 26, 2007 - 22:00 BB] May 27, 2007- 17:00 May 28, 2007-21:00 May 29, 2007-19:00 BB May 30, 2007- 18:00 BBI May 31. 2007-24:00 June 1,2007-18:00 •• i June 3. 2007 - 20:00 BBI June 4. 2007 - 22:00 BB] June 7, 2007 - 19:45 • Junes, 2007-21-no
Figure 26. Progression of the Big Turnaround Complex Fires of 2007.
40 A massive influx of firefighting resources moved into the southeast Georgia/jiortheast Florida area during the fires. The area fires and the resources that were used to battle them were managed by numerous National and State Incident Management Teams and one National Wildland Fire Use Team. Combined suppression costs of federal and state agencies topped $90,000,000.
Some private and commercial landowners adjacent to the Okefenokee were negatively impacted with the loss of homes, structures, and valuable timber. However, the upland and wetland ecosystems within the Okefenokee are maintained by fire and although 81 percent of the refuge burned, the overall effects of fire on the refuge were positive. As mentioned previously, over the past 34 years, consistent use of prescribed fire on refuge uplands has reduced hazardous fuel levels and helped maintain the unique characteristics of the longleaf pine ecosystem. Also, wildfire will continue to play an important role in maintaining the unique characteristics of the wetland ecosystems. See Table 13 for a list of all fires reported by the refuge for 2007.
This fire was driven by strong variable winds. On April 29th, it made a run through Maul Hammock and Carter Prairies, an area that had not seen fire for 75 years. This basin within the northeast section of the swamp, generally retains water longer. The scrub shrub has gradually become taller and thicker throughout the past 20 years; however, strong winds were still necessary to carry the fire through this area. Trees were killed and the shrubs were burned to the ground opening this area to be more appealing to wading birds. This was generally a quiet part of the swamp during past bird surveys with a few flocks of ibis and a few Florida sandhill cranes. The fire skipped across the prairies burning tree islands. Maul Hammock canoe shelter was destroyed. It slowed as it reached Gum Slough. The bays and black gum have been recognized as a habitat that retards fire. The fire crept around this area and stayed west of Carter Prairie, meandering around the edges of Carter, Redbird, and Floyds Island Prairies and the edges of Big Water even with the strong winds of May 7th when the lightning strike just to the northwest of Bugaboo took off for the Florida border. The habitat was not conducive to an even consumption of fuels. Fire moved sporadically through the shrubs, bays, prairies, and riverine habitats creating a mosaic. As fire moved around Gum Slough, crews on the ground became nervous and began stringing fire down the east edge of the swamp. Once begun, they carried it to Suwannee Canal Recreation Area. The Big Turnaround.Fire was relatively quiet for the next week. Sea breezes then began to push fingers westward. The eastern prairies (Durdin, Mizell, and Chase) held the fires that were ignited by the fire crews on the eastern edge. The fire creeping within the center of the swamp near Big Water found favorable fuels of shrubs between patches of loblolly bay to the west and burned the same finger as it had done during the Hickory Island Fire in 1999. Once through this zone, strong winds again spurred it on to the south and north as it consumed shrub habitat. Winds again pushed it into the loblolly bay, blackgum, and cypress habitats where it slowed. Fire found its way around the barrier of black gum, bay, cypress, and shrub near ' Compartment 15 and took the fire off the refuge, destroying slash pine plantations on Rayonier and private property. Another finger took off across the Suwannee River Sill and burned the swamp north of the Pasture, Compartment 9, and Rowells Island. As this fire hit the hardwood wetlands, it moved slowly through the duff underneath the trees. These trees toppled over but were not burned leaving an area looking like a huge game of pickup sticks. It is here where the fire stopped at the beginning of June. The duff and peat around" the Sill smouldered for the next six months as hot ambers found pockets of dry fuels.
41 The south half of the refuge burned mostly on May 7l .when strong winds carried the fire to the Florida line from Bugaboo Island, blackening the large expanses of scrub-shrub. The area just north of Blackjack Island burned clean just five years before during the Blackjack 02 Fire. The Bugaboo Scrub Fire left Georgia on May 8th and burned the Pinhook Swamp and a large percentage of Osceola National Forest. Spread was moderate from this point on. The threat of fire escaping along the ridge that separates the St Marys River drainage to the east was recognized and the Coward Lake area of the swamp was aerially burned on May 21st. Crews then strung fire south to the River Styx and north to Suwannee Canal Recreation Area to try to blacken everything within the refuge boundary.
The swamp vegetation began to recover fast with ferns making their first appearance in the blackened area within a month. Once water settled into small pools, the bright green of duck weed was prominent, taking advantage of the flush of nutrients. The hardwood wetlands in the northwest portion of the swamp that toppled will be the most interesting to see it recover. It will most likely be a complete stand replacement. The understory prior to the fire was sparse and it is unknown what seed source remained after the duff burned. The cypress remained standing. It is thought that at one time this area actually was a cypress forest and-may return to that. Dr. Cohen also visualized that this area may be similar to the situation that lies below the peat in Grand Prairie. His probings in Grand Prairie repeatedly hit logs. A similar fire may have moved slowly through this area, toppled the trees and then gradually filled in with peat before conditions were right for it to burn. There is enough dead and down timber, not only in the northwest portion of the swamp, but throughout the swamp to fuel another large fire in the near future if dry conditions return. However, without the trees to absorb the water, areas of the swamp will have more water than the recent past. Some large cypress trees were lost around the Sill area and probably between Minnies Island and Hickory Hammock. These large cypress were hollow and . formed chimneys for the fire to move upward. These would be the type of old cypress used by bears for denning sites.
The upland pine forests generally faired well in stark contrast to the blackened commercial slash pine plantations outside the refuge's boundary. The native species and community structure that the refuge management promotes withstood the fires. Only a few areas in Compartment 2, 7, 9, 12, 13, and 16 were salvaged or completely destroyed totaling approximately 1,077 acres. The commercial plantations were young, dense stands of the less fire-tolerant slash pine. The refuge did lose some of the largest longleaf pines within the upland management units. It is thought that the duff under these large canopied trees was thicker due to greater needle cast and as this layer dried, fire was able to penetrate deeper around the roots. This damaged the tree enough to cause it to die. To check the damage to red-cockaded woodpecker trees on the islands within the swamp, biological staff visited Blackjack Island which had intense fire sweep across it. Figure. 27 shows the 1000 hour fuels that were consumed during the fire and Figure 28 shows how the island looked two months later. A full survey of the red-cockaded woodpecker clusters on islands will be conducted in 2008. Aerial flights over the islands have shown good recovery of the understory and scorched trees.
42 Figure 27. 1000 hour fuels were consumed on Blackjack Island during 2007 fires.
Figure 28. Blackjack Island two months after the fire passed over the area.
43 The greatest mortality of the vegetation including trees occurred in the wetland strands that divide the upland compartments and the depressional wetlands. Prescribed fire has not entered into these areas due to the increased moisture at the time of burning. However, during the 2007 fires, conditions were extremely dry allowing fire to move into these areas and burn with a vengeance. Roots of trees are generally shallow as surface moisture increases and thus, the roots of the vegetation were vulnerable. High mortality of all the vegetation occurred leaving behind trees that gradually fall into a thick network of heavy fuels. White ibis, great egrets, wood storks, and great blue herons flocked to these areas as water returned. These birds found fish and invertebrates within the nutrient rich wetlands. Despite the mortality, the refuge does not consider this to be bad; it is a renewal process.
Another habitat that burned as a result of an escaped burnout was the hammock adjacent to the Chesser Island Homestead. Fire has been kept out of this hammock for at least the past 30 years and possibly for over a century. This hammock was described by Wright and Wright in "The habitats and composition of the vegetation of Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia." Its unique structure of old Magnolia grandiflora, Quercus virginiana, Lyoniaferruginea, and Quercus laurifolia added diversity to the landscape. Having been used by Native Americans through the recent inhabitants of Chesser Island, it is also important in cultural context. It was recommended that fire be kept out of this site for these reasons.
Besides the private timber that was burned outside the refuge, the next largest impact on the landscape was due to aggressive suppression actions. In an attempt to widen roads and firebreaks to stop the fire, a great number of trees were plowed over. This was most evident along the Swamps Edge Break and the Perimeter Road on the east side of the refuge. Drainages were altered with large berms created on the outside edge of the Swamps Edge Break and Perimeter Road. Dozers were taken into drainages such as the St Marys River as it exits the swamp, Suwannee Creek, and Cane Creek. Other natural creek flows were blocked by the large piles of debris. Attempts were made to correct the problems along the northeastern portion of the refuge. Trees were pulled out of the berms and mulched or salvaged. The Swamps Edge Break was widened from 30 feet to over 100 feet in some areas. This break was never expected to stop a fire, but to provide a working zone. A buffer area between the Swamps Edge Break and the Perimeter Road with maintained low understory was the most effective means to gaining control of fires. However, the urgency of the situation and convincing the public that all attempts were being made to protect their interests led to more irreparable environmental damage than using valuable information from previous fire behavior and common sense to make environmentally sound decisions.
44 Table 13. Wildfires reported on the Refuge in 2007. Fire Start Declared Total Location Name Landowner Cause Number Date Out Acres Lat/Long GA-1 303212 C9UP 02/28/2007 03/01/2007 1,200 Private Incendiary (St. George) 082 04 19 GA-2 304742 C9UY 02/28/2007 03/02/2007 8 Private Lightning (Spray field) 082 01 02 GA-3 304605 C90M 03/06/2007 03/07/2007 .1 State Vehicle (121) 082 03 47 GA-4 305241 DAK6 03/08/2007 03/09/2007 .5 Private Escaped Rx (May Bluff) 082 55 54 GA-5 30 44 25 DAS9 03/10/2007 03/11/2007 3 Private Escaped Rx (Pastimes) 082 04 09 303927 DA4A Natural Out #1 03/21/2007 04/01/2007 .1 Refuge Lightning 082 11 19 Refuge - 31 0348 DA4D Cowhouse 07-1 03/21/2007 04/30/2007 887 Incendiary State 082 14 10 GA-6 304308 DBW8 04/04/2007 04/05/2007 .5 Private Escaped Rx (Hamp Chesser) 082 05 54 GA-7 303053 DB31 04/10/2007 05/30/2007 850 Private Incendiary (Moniac) 082 10 58 305055 DCGO Natural Out #2 04/15/2007 04/20/2007 .1 Refuge Lightning 082 15 16 3052 16 DCG1 GA-8 04/15/2007 04/16/2007 3 Private Incendiary 082 01 22 GA-9 30 53 09 DCG2 (U.S. 301 04/15/2007 04/16/2007 .1 Private Incendiary 082 00 56 Homeland) GA-10 30 1939 DCG5 04/15/2007 04/16/2007 .1 Private Powerline (Hay Bale) 082 04 20 GA-11 30 59 22 DCG6 04/15/007 04/15/2007 .1 Private Lightning (Big John) 082 07 25 GA-1 2 31 0954 DCG7 04/16/2007 07/15/2007 68,361 Private Powerline (Sweat Farm Rd.) 082 27 28 GA-1 3 31 0247 DCG9 04/17/2007 04/18/2007 .5 Private Incendiary (Mile Marker 3) 082 09 49 304810 DCL7 Big Turnaround 04/17/2007 12/12/2007 191,474 Refuge Powerline 082 1621 GA-14 30 43 52 DCV2 04/17/2007 06/15/2007 2,485 Private Railroad (North Fargo) 082 33 46 GA-1 5 30 24 56 DC21 04/18/2007 05/18/2007 85 Private Incendiary (Moniac Grade) 082 08 52 Refuge- Big Turnaround 304810 Lightning & DDE9 04/25/2007 12/12/2007 496,757 Private- Complex 082 1621 Powerline USFS Floyds Island 305239 DET9 05/05/2007 08/01/2007 1,954 Refuge Lightning Prairie 082 17 33
45 Bugaboo Island 07- 30 45 25 DEUO 05/05/2007 08/01/2007 82 Refuge Lightning 1 082 16 16 Refuge- 304627 DEU1 Bugaboo Scrub 05/05/2007 12/12/2007 305,283 USFS- Lightning 082 1628 Private GA-16 305431 DEU2 05/05/2007 05/06/2007 .1 Private Lightning (Chicken Farm Rd.) 082 06 14 GA-17 303757 DEV4 05/06/2007 05/07/2007 .1 Private Lightning (Turkey Nest) 082 28 42 GA-18 304646 DEV5 05/06/2007 05/07/2007 2 Private Lightning (Gator Rd.) 082 29 48 FL-1 303045 DEW2 05/06/2007 05/10/2007 100 Private Lightning (Highway 6) 082 41 55 GA-19 30 47 05 DEOV 05/07/2007 05/10/2007 40 Private Lightning (Tatum Creek) 0823521 GA-20 305931 DGF6 05/27/2007 06/15/2007 100 Private Incendiary (Little Okefenokee) 082 04 23 GA-21 310345 Equipment DH6V 06/06/2007 06/07/2007 .5 Private (Feller Buncher) 0821230 Use GA-22 Support ' DH6W 06/06/2007 06/07/2007 Private (NW Fargo) Action GA-23 30 43 59 DH6X 06/09/2007 06/10/2007 1 Private Lightning (Harpers Hammock) 082 27 00 GA-24 303958 DH6Y 06/09/2007 06/10/2007 .5 Private Lightning (Cornhouse Creek) 082 05 01 GA-25 303459 DH6Z 06/09/2007 06/10/2007 .5 Private Lightning (Stokes Rd.) 082 05 31 GA-26 31 1800 DH60 (Double Branches 06/13/2007 06/14/2007 3 Private Lightning 082 17 56 Rd.) GA-27 30 45 43 DP8K 07/01/2007 07/02/2007 .2 Private Lightning (Rodgers Rd.) 082 07 45 303557 DP8L Sapp Prairie 07/11/2007 08/01/2007 .1 Refuge Lightning 082 23 03 GA-28 304658 DP8M (Prospect Church 07/11/2007 07/12/2007 2 Private Lightning 082 04 00 Rd.)
46 Figure 29. Location of wildland and prescribed fires in 2007.
47 Figure 30. The Big Turnaround Fire making a four mile run to the southeast from Okefenokee Swamp Park on the north end of the refuge to Gum Slough on the northeastern edge of the refuge. This fire spread occurred in fuels that had not burned since the 1932 wildfires (75 rough).
48 Figure 31. Favorable easterly winds contributed to this successful burnout operation alon£ Okefenokee's eastern boundary on refuge and Toledo Manufacturing Company lands.
Figure 32. Fire in the background is the Bugaboo Scrub Fire moving out of the swamp onto Compartment 8 (The Pocket). Fire in the foreground is a burnout operation along the southeast edge of Ga. Hwy. 177.
49 Figure 33. Massive smoke plume along the western flank of the Bugaboo Scrub Fire as the head of the fire moved rapidly out of the Okefenokee Swamp, crossing the state line into Florida.
Figure 34. Like a hurricane off the coast waiting to make landfall, the movement of the Big Turnaround Fire this day was in a westerly direction, back towards the refuge interior and the Double Lakes area.
50 Off-Refuge Fire / Interagency Assignments
Refer to Section 9.c. Training and Travel.
Swamps Edge Break (SEB)
The Okefenokee Swamp and surrounding upland forest depend on fire to preserve the condition and habitat supporting wildlife species native to the Okefenokee NWR. The difficulty of keeping prescribed and wildland fires within the swamp and the refuge boundary, to accomplish desired objectives, presents a difficult and sometimes costly fire management challenge.
The SEB was completed in 1993 to support a fuels management zone around the swamp. Ideally the zone between the SEB and the Perimeter Road should be burned regularly to keep the understory fuels low, thus creating a buffer from fires approaching the swamp and those that are coming out of the swamp. This zone allows indirect suppression actions during wildfires and greater use of prescribed fire to accomplish management objectives. The construction and maintenance of the fuels'management zone is a cooperative venture between the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Florida Division of Forestry, the Service", and GOAL that should be done annually.
During 2007, the SEB was widened during suppression actions from 30 feet to over 100 feet in some areas (Figure 34). Trees and brush were pushed to the upland side of the break creating large berms. Rehab work was done along the eastern edge of the swamp to try to eliminate the berm and salvage some of the timber. Timber was pulled out of the debris, chipped and spread across the SEB. Many landowners are wanting to maintain the wider width of the SEB; however, this decreases their timbered acreage, opens areas up for more trespass, and continues to change the hydrology of the area. Water will flow more rapidly through these areas, shortening the hydroperiod of the uplands as well as the wetlands.
51 Figure 35. Rehab on the SEB after widening it for suppression purposes.
3.g. CONTROL OF PEST PLANTS
The trail cutter was not put the water during the winter of 2006-07 due to low water levels. After water levels rose to near normal levels between October and November, the trail cutter was put in the water on November 15th at Suwannee Canal boat house. The trails through Chesser, Grand, Territory Prairies and the Suwannee Canal were cut. Up to 10 passes were needed in some areas; however, most sections were completed with 4 passes. The head between Chase and Territory Prairies was trimmed by a refuge crew as they scouted the trail ahead of the trail cutter. On December 19th, the trail cutter entered the swamp at Kingfisher Landing. The trails were cut to Bluff Lake and to the four mile marker in Carter Prairie on the way to Maul Hammock by the end of the year.
Growth of shrubs, greenbrier, and swamp loosestrife along boat and canoe trails is a continuous problem especially when water levels are low for awhile limiting access. Volunteers cleared encroaching vegetation at the beginning and towards the end of the year when access was allowed. In addition, volunteer Jackie Carter took a go-devil motorboat to Bluff Lake periodically to keep the channel open.
52 Pesticide Use Proposals (PUP) were submitted for Rodeo, Garlon 3A, Amdro Granular Insecticide, PayBack Fire Ant Bait, D-Con, WeatherBlok, Recruit IV Termite Bait, Demand CS, and MaxForce Hydramethlynon Gel. Rodeo was used to kill water hyacinth at Banks Lake NWR (See Banks Lake narrative). One application was placed around the shop buildings at Camp Cornelia to keep weeds down. All other pesticides used in 2007 were associated with the residences and public facilities.
Proposals for Arsenal, Amdro, Maxforce Granular Insect Bait, Demand CS, Rodeo, Garlon 3A, and Recruit IV were submitted for use in 2008.
53 4. FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 4.a. BIRD BANDING
Refer to Section l.a. Population Monitoring and Translocations.
4.b. DISEASE MONITORING AND TREATMENT
Concerns related to the West Nile Virus continue. Charlton County continued a mosquito • control program by spraying road side ditches and housing development; however, spraying seemed to be less frequently. No mosquito spraying is conducted en the refuge.
4.c. REINTRODUCTIONS
No translocations of red-cockaded woodpeckers occurred in 2007. t 4.d. NEST STRUCTURES
No maintenance or installation of wood duck boxes was performed in 2007. For information pertaining to RCW insert installation, refer to Section l.a. Recruitment Stands and Artificial Clusters. The bat house along the Wildlife Drive was not used by any bats during 2007.
4.e. PEST, PREDATOR AND EXOTIC ANIMAL CONTROL
Hogs were causing damage at Suwannee Canal Recreation Area and along the wildlife drive. By the end of the year, plans to trap and dispatch hogs were being made.
54 5 COORDINATION ACTIVITIES 5.a. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION
The Suwannee Basin Meragency Alliance consisting of the following members did not meet during 2007.
U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of Agriculture — Agricultural Research Service University of Florida University of Georgia South Georgia Regional Development Center Suwannee River Water Management District U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Georgia Environmental Protection Division
5.b. TRIBAL COORDINATION
Nothing to Report. 5.c. PRIVATE LAND ACTIVITIES
Private timber lands and state forests surrounding the refuge were severely burned in the fires of 2007. This was in stark contrast to the forests of the refuge that are managed for native habitat. The most acres burned occurred on the northwest side of the refuge where the Sweat Farm Road Fire moved towards the refuge. There were additional losses with the occasional escape from the edge of the swamp. The timber lost was dense stands of young slash pines. Salvage crews clearcut much of the area and some blackened timber still stands at the end of the year. The Regional Development Center set up incentives for small landowners that wanted to plant the more fire tolerant longleaf pine on their lands. The refuge is encouraging adjacent landowners to consider planting longleaf pine along the edge of the swamp as a buffer against future fires.
As more lands are cleared, landowners are considering planting blueberries. This has become the most popular crop and is changing the landscape from forest to high maintenance monotypic habitat.
55 5.d. OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES
Nothing to Report. 5.e. COOPERATIVE/FRIENDS ORGANIZATIONS
The Okefenokee Wildlife League (OWL) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports education and research projects on the refuge. OWL provides a part time manager to operate the bookstore, fund special events (see On-site Special Events - Section 8), and supports the refuge with volunteer assistance. Bookstore sales generated by OWL are included in Table 14.
Owl donated more than $3,000 to help fund special events, Junior Ranger Camp, interpretive, and environmental education'programs.
A motor home, valued at $40,000, and donated to OWL by former Regional Director Noreen Clough was sold.
Table 14. OWL bookstore sales for 2005-2007. 2007 2006 2005 January $2177 . $1,970 $1,873 February $2874 $3,490 $3,129 March $4948 $5,750 $6,322 April $5890 $6,124 $6,557 May $1480 $3,920 $4,561 June $3381 $2,865 $2,434 July $3455 $1,421 $1,942 August $1238 $1,318 $1,404 September $1366 $2,038 $2,240 October $3322 $2,674 $3,518 November $2840 $2,485 $3,063 December $1625 $2,787 $1,809 Total $34,596 $36,842 $38,852
56 6 RESOURCE PROTECTION 6.a. LAW ENFORCEMENT
At the end of 2007, the refuge employed one Full-Time Law Enforcement Officer (FTLEO) and one Dual-Function Law Enforcement Officer's (DFLEO). James Shelton is currently the FTLEO and Deputy Project Leader Maury Bedford fills the DFLEO position. Officers made 22 Federal cases and six State/County cases this year (Table 15 and 16). FTLEO Shelton has taken on additional responsibilities as a Field Training Officer (FTO). Following 17 weeks of Basic Training, new officers spend 10 weeks in the FTO program. FTLEO Shelton spent 90% of his time from November to December assisting with the Banks Lake NWR draw-down.
Table 15. Refuge Violations Refuge Violations Number of Cases Violation of State Vehicle Laws (speeding, no driver's 6 license, etc.) Possession of a firearm on a NWR 5
Possession of a Controlled Substance on a NWR 5
Trespassing on a NWR • 2
Fishing on a NWR with no state fishing license 1
Trespassing on a NWR 1
Introduction of Wildlife on to a NWR 1
Feeding wildlife on a NWR 1
Total 22
57 Table 16. Violations written by GA DNR Officers and County Sheriff Departments Violations Number of Cases Violation of State Vehicle Laws (speeding, no driver's 3 license, etc) Possession of a Controlled Substance on aNWR 3 .
Total 6
Thirty-one incident reports were written by refuge officers, ranging from illegal artifact hunting on the refuge to vandalism problems on the boardwalk. In November 2006, it was discovered that one of the Farmer Home tracts was illegally logged. An estimated 30+ acres of hardwoods was harvested by the present landowner. The case is still open and is being investigated by Refuge Officers, Refuge Zone Officers and OLE. The massive South Georgia wildfires occurred this spring, which led to .almost 75% of the refuge being burned. This caused a huge Law . Enforcement problem with the number of firefighters and fire personnel (local individuals) working around the refuge. The problems ranged from sexual harassment to illegal drug use. The refuge had a 30hp outboard motor stolen during this time and the Fire Team had three water pumps missing as well. A small cannabis garden of 125 plants was found near the refuge during the fire. The area in which the plants were found was closed to the public due to the fire danger; therefore, the growers could not water them properly causing the plants to dry up. A large number of the refuge gates were damaged during the fire as well, leading to a trespass problem. The refuge is still getting information that the Cannabis growers are again moving onto remote areas of the refuge to grow their illegal crop. Recon patrols in the area are planned for this spring. 6.b. WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS
Refer to Section 3.f.
6.c. PERMITS AND ECONOMIC USE MANAGEMENT
Refer to Section l.b, 3.e.
6.d. CONTAMINANT INVESTIGATION AND CLEANUP
Nothing to Report. 6.e. WATER RIGHTS MANAGEMENT
Nothing to Report.
58 6.f. CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Aerial flights over the northeastern portions of the swamp after this year's fires revealed old tramline tracks that were never salvaged. These extended out of Kingfisher Landing and another section was discovered above Double Lakes (Figure 36).
Another historical site was uncovered at the end of Mill Road near Compartment 13. This was the site of McLeods Mill (Figure 37).
^ e
»••-•••'• .-.'i '• -£*..>-•. .' ' •• .^j*?•-'••
"•'•' ''
Figure 36. Old tramline rails remaining in the swamp were revealed after areas burned.
59 Figure 37. Cultural site discovered after the area burned.
6.g. FEDERAL FACILITY COMPLIANCE ACT
Nothing to Report.
6.h. LAND ACQUISITION
Discussions with Rayonier and Forestry Investment Association were initiated to assess the possibility of the refuge acquiring adjacent lands that were burned and may be managed in the future to provide a buffer against fires originating within the swamp.
6.i. WILDERNESS AND NATURAL AREAS
The Minimum Requirement Decision Guide continues to be revised for the routine activities within the wilderness area.
Although access was limited during 2007, administrative trips into the Wilderness Area were documented except during the wildland fire operations.
60 6.j. THREATS AND CONFLICTS
Most housing development plans were halted during 2007 as the housing market went down. Although these areas are not developed, they do remain open and reduce the available wildlife habitat supporting the local fauna. Some areas are being converted to blueberry farms instead of continued timber production, reducing the habitat diversity and increasing the potential for increased use of pesticides and highly manipulated environments.
Chesser Island Road Landfill, Inc. proposed a 246-acre expansion to its current site in 2007. The purpose of the expansion is to provide Georgia and Florida with a necessary component of ilrfrastructiure by providing additional waste disposal capacity for materials generated by growth in the area.
61 7. ALASKA ONLY
62 8 PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RECREATION 8.a. PROVIDE VISITOR SERVICES
Visitor Use Statistics
Visitors to Okefenokee NWR came from all 50 states and over 35 countries.
Table 17. Visitation by entrance from 2003-2007. Entrance • 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 East 75,789 84,728 137,798 141,614 116,107 West 75,166 83,579 194,358 159,787 193,205 North 33,341 50,320 54,067 58,631 60,347 Total 184,296 218,627 386,223 360,032 369,659
Table 18. Day-use for 2007. Trail Number of Visits Homestead Trail 684 Deerstand Trail 1,483 Boardwalk ("Swamp Walk") 18,291 Upland Discovery Trail 1,854 Canal Diggers Trail 1,483 Swamp Island Drive (auto tour) • 37,069 Ridley Island Trail 1,483 Phemetton, Long Leaf Pine Trail 1,483
63 Table 19. Visits to Interpretive Exhibits for 2006-2007. 2007 2006 Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center 33,365 46,243 Chesser Island Homestead 13,687 24,517
Public Use Facility Improvements
• New lights were installed inside Kingfisher Landing Boathouse. • Burned boardwalk sections on the Ridleys Island Trail and Boardwalk, which were burnt during the fires, were replaced. • Electrical panels were updated to run generators on Chesser Island in case of emergency.
Visitor Center Facility Improvements
Again this year the Visitor Center was cleaned inside and out, and its exhibits were repaired or renovated. The controls on the storyteller were repaired.; exhibit computers were debugged, and the carpet of the trembling earth exhibit was replaced. With the repairs completed, the exhibits look very good. However, planning should begin soon to install new exhibits since they are now over seven years old, it can take three to five years to obtain funds, plan, and construct new exhibits, and the average life expectancy for exhibits is around ten years. During the year, Ranger Eckberg designed temporary exhibits for the visitor center about Sandhill Cranes, Wetlands, and Wildland Fire.
Policy Changes
Entrance Fees
Entrance fees were collected at the West Entrance (Stephen Foster State Park) and the East Entrance concessions (Okefenokee Adventures).
Credit Card Purchases:
A new method for paying entrance fees was implemented at the refuge. Visitors wishing to pre- pay for either a daily entrance fee to the Okefenokee NWR or one of several types of Federal annual passports, can pay by telephone with a valid credit card (MasterCard or Visa) by calling (912) 496-7156 or toll free 1-866-The-Swamp (1-866-843-7926). Okefenokee Adventures, Inc., will process requests seven days per week, except Christmas Day. An additional $3 transaction fee will be charged to cover costs, and the original permit will be mailed to their residence.
Credit Card purchasers will be given a pass number that will serve as a temporary daily pass. This number and the owner's full name must be clearly written on a piece of blank paper and visibly displayed on the dashboard of the user's vehicle during their time visiting the refuge.
64 For visitors wishing to use the Kingfisher Unit of the refuge, Okefenokee Sportsman owner Mr. Fred Coley, (912) 496-7286, has agreed to accept and hold temporary passes for users, wishing to pay in advance.
Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA)
The new REA Pass Program effectively replaced the Golden Eaegle, Golden Age, and Golden Access passports with a new Federal Interagency Pass.
Guiding
If an organization or individual charges a fee for tours on the refuge, whether a business or non- profit organization, they must abide by the refuge policy and obtain a Guide Permit. Guides must attend a one-day Refuge Guide training and a refresher every three years, hi 2007, permits were issued to five Day-Use/Overnight Refuge Guides and six Day-Use Refuge Guides.
Wilderness Canoe Program
Pay. Gov
Pay.Gov (incorporated in July 2006) has allowed the Refuge to accept credit cards from canoeist when making camping reservations. This not only makes it easier for the public, but has also made processing the payment easier for refuge staff.
Low water Levels
Several day use and overnight boat trails were closed April — December due to the largest wildfire in Georgia history. Hundreds of down trees were caused by the wildfire burning away ' the tree roots and root mat and the generation of high winds within the fire system to blow trees down. Three wilderness canoe shelters (Big Water, Maul Hammock, and Dinner Pond) and three wilderness toilets (Big Water, Maul Hammock, and Coffee Bay) were burned completely. Several miles of day use boat/canoe trail and overnight wilderness canoe trails were closed. Several work groups comprised of fire staff, volunteers and college groups worked very hard from July to December to reopen more than 30 miles of wilderness canoe trails. Their work made it possible to get the mechanized trail-cutter into locations which otherwise would have been inaccessible.
Overnight Shelter projects completed throughout the year'. • Coffee Bay Shelter was rebuilt. • Coffee Bay Toilet was replaced (Old one burned during fire). • The day-use toilet platform two miles down Suwannee Canal was rebuilt and new toilet installed.
65 Interpretation
Refuge staff provided several programs and orientations for Elderhostel groups, Boy Scouts,-Cub Scouts, church groups, primary and secondary school groups, and college classes. Refuge staff and volunteers spent time roving on hiking trails, conducting bird hikes, presenting local craft workshops, creating temporary special exhibits for events and the Visitor Center, giving public programs about wildlife, and providing cultural interpretation at the Chesser Island Homestead. Seasonal interpretive information and photographs are being rotated at the Boardwalk Kiosk and Kingfisher Kiosk.
For the third year, the Cane Syrup Demonstration, which interprets the process of making cane syrup, was presented by Chesser descendants/volunteers Sheila Carter, Fay and Larry McMillan, and Ranger Blaine Eckberg at the Chesser Island Homestead. Visitors had the opportunity to participate in an old-fashioned cane grinding and learn another way families from this area lived off the land (Figure). They watched how the juice was boiled down into pure cane syrup. Volunteers assisted participants in stripping and cutting cane from the homestead garden. They could then put it through the grinder and sip the fresh-squeezed juice. Old and young alike enjoyed playing the Ring-n-Stick game throughout the day. The Roddenberry sisters cooked ham, sausage, and homemade biscuits on the woodstove. Attendance was average, with over 100 visitors.
66 Figure 38. Visitors enjoying fresh squeezed cane juice.
Environmental Education
Planning and Scheduling
Starting in November 2007, Ranger Blaine Eckberg and Ranger Sallie Gentry switched some major duties, with Ranger Eckberg taking over the refuge Interpretation and Special Events Program and Ranger Gentry assuming the coordination of the refuge Environmental Education (EE) Program.
The wildland fires on the refuge decreased the number of participants attending Environmental Education programs substantially, since the refuge reduction of services and closure from mid- April to late June occurred during the busiest time of the year for the refuge EE Program.
Ranger Blaine Eckberg created additional web pages that were added to the Environmental Education Program section of the refuge website. Now teachers can create notebooks filled with educational activities printed from the website that their students can complete while at the
67 refuge. Students can also obtain more research information about the refuge using the additional web pages.
Programs
Students from pre-school to college came from Georgia, Florida, and many other states to participate in staff-led state curriculum-based and other specialized education programs at the refuge. In addition, staff and volunteers from the refuge presented off-site programs in surrounding counties to students who were unable to visit the refuge. Refuge staff members continue to work with Okefenokee Adventures and other organizations in planning and implementing quality environmental and cultural education programs both on and off the refuge.
Figure 39. Student observing tiny swamp life during a wetlands educational program
68 Table 20. On-site Environmental Education programs conducted by refuge staff CY 2007 Visitor Type Number of Participants* Activity Hours (x 4)+ Student 881 3524 Adult 156 624 * Actual number of participants in an EE program. + Average number of hour's participants spent at refuge in an EE program and other educational activities.
Table 21. Off-site Environmental Education programs conducted by refuge staff CY 2007 . Visitor Type Number of Participants* Activity Hours (x 2)+ Student 210 420 Adult 9 18 * Actual number of participants in an EE program + Average number of hour's participants spent participating in an EE program and other educational activities. Note: Several thousand more students participated in environmental education programs presented by their own teachers and organizations such as GASW Elderhostel and Driftwood. Almost every school group visiting the refuge received a least a 10-15-minute orientation message about the refuge.
A special offsite program for third graders at Folkston Elementary "School was conducted October 3rd. This is an in-school field trip that is known as "Wild Things of the Okefenokee Swamp." The students rotate through six 30-minute sessions that include "Animals of the Okefenokee," "Adaptations," A Very Special Habitat" (the longleaf pine habitat), "Endangered Species," "Monitoring Our World," and "Enjoying Our World." This is the fourth year that this program has been taken into the school as a result of local schools eliminating field trips. Refuge Biologist Sara Aicher initiated this program and has drawn excellent presenters from retired foresters, environmental educators, and school teachers that live in the area. Sara was Region 4's nomination for the Sense of Wonder Award this year (Figure 40).
* 69 Figure 40. Biologist Sara Aicher was Region 4's nomination for the Sense of Wonder Award.
Junior Ranger Summer Day Camp
Sixteen children attended this two-day summer camp in June (Figure 41). Due to the fires on the refuge, the camp was held at Traders Hill Recreational Area instead of the refuge. The camp provided local children with an interdisciplinary experience integrating learning with fun. The campers were active participants in learning about the natural and cultural history of the refuge, and how refuge staff members work to protect habitat for wildlife and provide recreational opportunities for visitors. The campers also learned about the refuge system and the Big Six Priority Uses, and participated in activities demonstrating the Big Six. This year, each camper was given a disposable camera to take photographs during camp (Wildlife Photography). Campers also had a chance to learn about the fish that live in the Okefenokee, practice their casting, and go fishing (Fishing). Campers learned how to observe wildlife on walks (Wildlife Observation) while participating in interpretive programs such as walks and demonstrations (Interpretation). Other activities included a boat ride into the Okefenokee Swamp, arts and crafts, and demonstrations by staff members about the jobs they perform and the equipment that they use. At the end of each session, each camper received a certificate, goody bag, and a Junior Ranger t-shirt. Ranger Eckberg planned and presented the camps, with assistance from staff member Sallie Gentry, and volunteers Regina Mahoney, Don Berryhill, Everette Sikes, Abby Fuhlendorf, and Jennifer Hogan. Okefenokee Wildlife League provided $106.15 in funding for the camp.
70 Figure 41. 2007 Junior Ranger Summer Camp participants.
Teacher Meetings
Ranger Eckberg met with Folkston Elementary School third and fourth grade teachers on September 10th and fifth and sixth grade teachers on September 24th to inform them about what the Refuge EE Program has to offer, and to discuss what they could do with their students both at the refuge and in their classrooms to learn more about the Okefenokee and the environment. Ranger Eckberg also gave a presentation about the Refuge EE Program to the Charlton County Retired Teachers Association on October 1st.
Leave No Trace
Ranger Gentry presented a program on how children can leave no trace in the outdoors to 15 Cub Scouts. These programs help build awareness, respect, and appreciation for America's wildland by promoting the seven principles for ethical recreational use.
Project WILD and Project Learning Tree
In April, Rangers Eckberg and Gentry offered a special two-day course at the Okefenokee RESA Center in Waycross GA, in which 28 teachers from six counties in southeast Georgia participated, even though many of their schools were closed due to the smoke from the fires south of Waycross. Project WILD and Project Learning Tree are supplementary environmental
71 education programs emphasizing wildlife and natural resources. The workshop offered exciting teaching ideas for use in science, language arts, social studies, math and more. This training is excellent for teachers, rangers and other educators, who learn how to plan and present to their students activities found in three activity guides. The large participation by teachers in the training even during a fire event demonstrates that there is great demand for refuge staff to continue these programs.
GATOR Notes
Ranger Eckberg continued to send out GATOR (GeorgiA Teachers of the Okefenokee Region) NOTES to local teachers, expanding the number to 90 teachers and administrators who receive these updates. GATOR NOTES are email notice services created and distributed to inform educators about special events and training opportunities offered at Okefenokee and Banks Lake NWR's, and other educational opportunities that might be of interest to educators and/or their students. • It is also used as a forum for educators to discuss innovative ways to educate children about the natural environment.
Environmental Education Volunteer Training
This training was designed to provide participants with a background of knowledge about refuge resources, to aid them when they present educational programs and interact with the public. Several more volunteers were trained in presenting programs at the refuge and at offsite locations.
72 Figure 42. Volunteer Don Berryhill and students from Spaulding Middle School searching for macro-invertebrates.
Environmental Education Center
Site preparation began in November for construction of the new building that will house an environmental education center and a new concession facility at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area. The building will be located between the visitor center and the current concession building, and should be completed by September 2008. The environmental education portion will consist of a classroom, storage room, and restrooms.
73 On-site Special Events
Wings Over the Swamp
This event has been cancelled due to current staffing levels.
National Wildlife Week/Earth Day
The celebration kicked off again with the "Grocery Bag Art Project." Area grocery stores in Folkston and St. George donated brown paper grocery bags, which were decorated with the "Connecting People with Nature" Earth Day theme, by local school students. Nearly one thousand bags were decorated! The bags were then returned to the stores in time to be used by customers during the April 21st observation. Artwork from one bag was selected to be on the t-shirts given away during the refuge event. The bag was framed and presented to the student- artist at the local Big J Grocery store.
On Saturday, April 21st, the celebration continued with a litter pick-up by about 35 volunteers and refuge staff. The Georgia Department of Transportation Adop"t-a-Highway Litter Pickup Program provided trash bags and gloves for the event: Litter was picked up during a two-hour period along Georgia Highway 121/23.
Approximately 100 people participated in the "Discover Okefenokee" Bicycle Tour. This annual event promotes alternative travel methods and refuge management strategies including biology, forestry/fire, public use, cultural preservation, and animal and plant diversity. Participants received a free t-shirt decorated with the selected Grocery Bag Art. Sanctuary on Sapelo provided a live bird demonstration and Greathouse Butterflies exhibited native butterflies in various stages of development. Approximately 60 bicyclists participated, up from 2006.
International Migratory Bird Day
The event was cancelled due to fire proximity.
National Fishing Week
Refuge staff have developed and annually presented a very popular National Fishing Week program at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Lakeland, Georgia. Refer to Banks Lake Narrative, section 8.a. for a summary of this Special Event.
National Public Lands Pay/Paddle for Wilderness
On Saturday, September 29th, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) celebrated National Public Lands Day from 8:00 a.m. — 12:00 p.m. The event began at the historic Chesser Island Homestead, where 50 volunteers participated in a service project. Accomplishments included cleaning the historic house, trimming vegetation along the Homestead trail, raking and hoeing the yard, tilling and planting the flower beds, and splitting wood. Palmetto brooms were made to sale at the upcoming Chesser Island Open House held during the Okefenokee Festival.
74 Equipment, gloves, cold drinks, and a cookout lunch at the Homestead were provided to participants. Volunteers included members of Okefenokee Wildlife League, Charlton County High School football team, Charlton County High School Student Council, GA Southern University Recreation/Wildlife Resource program, and a Girl Scout Troop from Perry, GA.
This year, the Okefenokee Wildlife League was selected by the National Public Lands Day organization to be the recipient of a check for $1,000. Each year, the organization donates grant money to select participating sites to assist in preparation of the upcoming event. A ceremony was held at the Charlton County High School (Figure 43).
Figure 43. Check received from the National Public Lands Day organization.
National Wildlife Refuge Week/Okefenokee Festival
The Okefenokee Festival was held on Saturday, October 13. This event celebrates the natural and cultural heritage of the Okefenokee Region. The refuge portion of the event took place at the Chesser Island Homestead, where participants had a chance to learn about the ways of the old swamp culture. Approximately 700 visitors enjoyed the activities at the homestead, and over 50 volunteers helped with the event. Visitors encountered mules and chickens, and sampled boiled peanuts, soup, biscuits, and other items cooked on a wood-burning stove. Volunteers demonstrated how settlers made lye soap, brooms, butter, quilts, baskets, and other everyday items. Visitors also learned how settlers washed clothes, smoked meat, collected turpentine, and survived in and around the swamp. The sounds of bluegrass music, stories, and four-note singing were enjoyed along with traditional games of musical chairs, wheelbarrow races, and
75 more. Okefenokee Adventures also offered a sunset boat tour in the Okefenokee Swamp for an additional charge.
In nearby Folkston, the town held a parade and had musical acts, food vendors, and arts & crafts booths. Refuge staff and volunteers constructed a parade float portraying this year's parade * theme: "Legends of the Okefenokee". The refuge float won first place in the parade floats competition. Refuge staff and volunteers also staffed a Refuge exhibit booth in Folkston. An estimated 7,000 people attended the parade and craft fair.
Christmas on Chesser Island Program
Many visitors came to the refuge on December 8th to enjoy the holiday festivities on Chesser Island. The event began at 6:00 p.m. with hayrides along the Swamp Island Drive on Chesser Island. Visitors made Pine Cone Bird Feeders to create a "Tree for Wildlife" at their own home. The historic Chesser-Homestead was open for tours for visitors to enjoy its traditional holiday decorations. Luminaries provided a soft glow that illuminated both the yard and pathways leading to and from the parking area. At 7:00 p.m., Ms. Kate provided singing and musical accompaniment for all attendees. The Roddenberry Sisters, a Charlton County favorite, then performed traditional holiday songs. The public was invited to join in singing as they enjoyed free refreshments of homemade cookies, hot chocolate, and cider around a bonfire. The hayrides then resumed from 7:30 to 8:00 pan. Approximately 200 visitors enjoyed the holiday festivities and 10 volunteers helped with the event. The event was only advertised locally, in an attempt to keep it on a smaller scale.
Hunting
Cowhouse Unit Hunt Environmental Assessment
Ranger Shawn Gillette completed a revised Environmental Assessment of the Cowhouse Small Game Hunt to comply with a court order for certain refuges. The Fund for Animals vs. Hall (Wildlife Refuge Hunting) had challenged the procedures used to open the Cowhouse Small Game Hunt and other hunts in certain refuges since 1997.
Suwannee Canal Hunt
The annual quota hunt for deer and feral hogs at Suwannee Canal Recreation Area was held on October 26th and 27th, with 26 hunter participating (17 hunters on the first day and 18 on the second day). A total of 13 deer (six bucks, six does, and one yearling) were harvested. Assistant Refuge Manager Bedford provided law enforcement while Ranger Eckberg administered the hunt. One instructor and two students from Swainsboro Technical College and one instructor and two students from Okefenokee Technical College helped with the hunt on Friday, pulling jaws and measuring the antlers of the largest deer taken. Biologist Sara Aicher and Ranger Eckberg provided a 45 minute program for them on careers in the FWS. The largest deer harvested was a 3 Vz year old eight point buck, weighing 153 pounds, with a Boone and Crockett antler score of 75 3/8 points. The location of where the deer were harvested was marked on a map for further study. Records for the hunt are in a binder at the refuge Visitor Center. We
76 received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the participants in the hunt. Many were locals, but some came as far as Blairsville, GA and Middleburg, FL. There were no negative incidents or injuries reported. The only common suggestion from hunters was to extend the hunt an additional day or two.
Figure 44. Swainsboro Tech instructor and students pulling jaw of harvested deer.
Cowhouse Unit Hunt
The Cowhouse Unit of Okefenokee NWR was open for hunting in compliance with state regulations and season after the proper paperwork was submitted to resume the hunt. Hunting was allowed for deer, turkey and small game including Bobwhite quail, rabbit and squirrel throughout the fall season in conjunction with Dixon Memorial Wildlife Management Area.
77 Pocket Hunt
The Pocket Unit of Okefenokee NWR was open for archery hunting from September 8 through October 12, 2007. Hunters were required to register daily, with 316 hunt-visits recorded this year compared to 289 in 2006. A total of 14 deer (six buck and eight does) were harvested this season compared to eight deer (five bucks and three does) harvested in 2006.
Hunter Safety Education Courses
Retired Georgia DNR Ranger Mike Brooks conducted four sessions of the Georgia Hunter Education course at the refuge administrative office in 2007. A two-day, ten-hour session was held on August 25-26, 2007. Two-hour CD self-study sessions were offered March 3, July 28 and August 11, 2007. A total of 30 participants completed these courses on hunting knowledge, safety, and ethics.
Fishing
Table 22. On-refuge anglers. Refuge Access 2007 2006 2005 East Entrance 418 1,694 1,639 West Entrance 2038 3,355 2,982 Kingfisher Landing 145 243 278 Suwannee River Sill . 786 1,088 1,132 TOTAL 3387 6,380 6,031
Camping
Table 23 shows Tent and RV camping and cabin rentals at the West Entrance in Stephen Foster State Park.
Table 23. Campers at Stephen C. Foster State Park. Number of Visits Camp Site 2007 2006 2005 Tent/RV Campers 18,570 22,772 26,814 Cabin Users 6,116 8,252 18,490 Total 24,686 31,024 45,304
78 Concessions
The North Entrance, Okefenokee Swamp Park, contract was renewed in 1999 and is valid through 2008. Okefenokee Swamp Park offers visitors boat and canoe rentals, boat tours, food services, and visitor services.
The West Entrance, Stephen C. Foster State Park, is operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The state park offers camping, boat and canoe rentals, and visitor services.
The East Entrance, Okefenokee Adventures, celebrated their eighth year of operation in September. Refuge staff conducted monthly inspections and continue to meet with the owners regularly. Tour audits were conducted and most guides work well with the public. Major issues have been resolved and communication remains good. Okefenokee Adventures has been able to employ and retain several high-quality employees. 8.b. OUTREACH
Partnerships
Georgia Wildlife Federation
Refuge staff continues to work with GWF on a number of projects including: development of the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP); Georgia Department of Natural Resources Comprehensive Plan; collaborative management of the adjacent DuPont donated lands with the Conservation Fund (CF) and Forest Investment Associates
Local Community Outreach
Refuge staff continues to participate in several community events, but have had to curtail participation in organizations such as the Okefenokee Chamber of Commerce, Better Hometown Program, Kiwanis Club and others, due to staffing cutbacks accompanying workforce re- alignment priorities.
Fire Outreach
The Wildfires of 2007 resulted in a massive outreach effort both with local and regional communities as a direct result of the fires. Locally, both Waycross and Fargo/Homerville suffered through days and days of smoke as well as active fire. The Waycross area lost numerous residences to active fore before the main fire actually moved onto refuge property. The nearby community of Folkston was threatened by fire as it marched its way southward along the eastern edge of the refuge. The Bugaboo fire, which erupted in May, escaped the refuge boundary very quickly in spite of efforts of containment and in the process threatened homes as well as the communities of St. George, Georgia and Lake City, Florida before it was halted. The Outreach efforts were a combined approach utilizing Georgia Forestry specialists, Fire Management Team members, refuge staff, and news media. Newspaper and television coverage was a constant source of information daily for the duration of the fire. Team members utilized participation in
79 Joint Information Centers (JIC's), Emergency Management Centers (EMC's), as well as numerous called public information meetings in various communities to get accurate fire information and fire prevention messages to the public. It was a massive effort that is documented as a highly effective and well accepted outreach campaign.
Hurricane RelieiTRecovery Outreach
Nothing to Report.
North Florida Ecosystem Outreach
Nothing to Report
Other Outreach Initiatives
• In January, Refuge Manager Constantino and Refuge Ranger Burkhart attended the • Okefenokee Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet. • ha January and February, Ranger Burkhart delivered informational programs to groups visiting with the Kingsland Convention and Visitors Bureau. • hi February, refuge staff and volunteers installed an outreach exhibit at the Jacksonville International Airport for a six month period of time. The exhibit case was located at the baggage claim area. The information was very well received by both visitors as well as information specialists from the Jacksonville Convention and Visitors Bureau. • In March, ABC news, Jason Potts, firmed a program on the refuge for national viewing. • hi March, Ranger Gillette presented a talk on "Refuge Management and Recreational Planning" to 15 students from Virginia Tech University (Joe Roggenbuck's class). • In April, numerous outreach messages were produced daily as result of the Big Turnaround Fire. • hi May, refuge staff attended numerous daily as well as evening public informational meetings to present accurate fire information. • hi June, Refuge staff planned and participated in a first day of issue Okefenokee Postage Stamp Ceremony with the local Folkston and National Washington, D.C. Postal Service Offices (Figure 45). • 'In July, the refuge and Okefenokee Chamber of Commerce hosted an informational meeting on local tourism effects for Ken Stewart, Department of Economic Development. • Ranger Burkhart represented the refuge at the Georgia Wildlife Federation Fundraiser at the Alcovy Visitor Center, Covington, Georgia in August. • hi September, Ranger Burkhart continued his deliberations with David Farmeri, Mary Elmer and the Brazilian State of Parnumbuco on a possible International Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). • hi October, Biologist Sara Aicher began work on a World Heritage Nomination for the Okefenokee. • Refuge staff planned and participated in the Annual Okefenokee Festival in Folkston as well as at the Chesser island Homestead.
80 Twelve members of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) visited the refuge in October for a tour and discussion of the wildfire. Red Team Incident Management Team member Bobby Kitchens, led the discussion for an After Action Review (AAR) of the refuge staffs participation in and handling of the Big Turnaround Fire. Refuge Staff along with numerous members of state and national fire teams participated in an After Action Review of Georgia Bay Fire Complex. Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new Concession/Environmental Education Classroom building was held at the end of November. Refuge Annual Christmas on Chesser Island Program held in December. Ranger Burkhart attended a Region 4 Public Use meeting in December. In October, volunteer Jack Webb built a traveling exhibit case to be used for exhibits about Okefenokee that are loaned out to various venues for limited lengths of time. Part of the "Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge: Wildness Close By" exhibit was used to showcase Okefenokee at the new Kingsland Visitor Center.
Figure 45. International Postage Stamp commemorating Okefenokee NWR.
Georgia Nature-Based Tourism Association
Supervisory Refuge Ranger Jim Burkhart continues to be active with the Georgia Nature-Based Tourism Association, an organization consisting of outfitters, campground owners and other
81 stakeholders. This group was initiated in response to the DuPont strip mining threat to convince small rural communities that nature-based tourism was a viable economic growth incentive that was just as valuable as large and small industry. After two years of sub-par funding and local membership the organization was expanded state wide in CY 2004.
One of the major projects taken on by this group has been the development of a waterway trail from the Atlantic Ocean, up the St. Marys River, through the Okefenokee NWR. and down the Suwannee River to the Gulf of Mexico. This planning group hopes to enlist the cooperation, financial, and political support of both Georgia and Florida in completion of this trail. (Due to the fires of 2007, this initiative was not dealt with.)
Okefenokee Trail
Supervisory Refuge Ranger Jim Burkhart has met with representatives of local counties surrounding the refuge and members of Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism interested in developing an Okefenokee Trail designated and officially signed by the Georgia Department of Transportation. The Okefenokee Trail will promote all of the opportunities available to tourists that visit this area. The area to be popularized "by the trail includes the county assets east and west of the Okefenokee between Laterstates 1-95 and 1-75.
During CY 07 the group concentrated on setting up fundraising activities to help with signing and Public Relations.
Media Contacts/Events
Press Releases and Other Print Media
Visitor Services staff drafted and released 56 press announcements and E-grits articles in 2007, which covered a variety of topics ranging from special events to wildfire.
Ranger Gentry and Eckberg coordinated the 2007 Blue Goose Corner Column, which is carried in newspapers that serve all of the refuge's Gateway Communities (Table 24).
82 Table 24. 2007 Blue Goose Corner articles. Month Title Author Okefenokee Swamp Waters Hide More January Shawn Gillette Than Wildlife The Okefenokee - Wetland of February Sallie Gentry International Importance Spring Has Arrived at Okefenokee and March Blaine Eckberg So Should You April Firewise Means Planning for the Future Shawn Gillette May Rediscovering Your Sense of Wonder Blaine Eckberg June hi Okefenokee Fire is a Benefit Blaine Eckberg Fire Burns More Than Just Timber in July Shawn Gillette the Okefenokee Swamp Endangered Species: The True August Blaine Eckberg Survivors Connecting People With Nature - It's a September Blaine Eckberg and Jim Burkhart Challenge for Us All! November Bald Eagle Success Story Sallie Gentry December Out of the Ashes, Pases the Phoenix Sallie Gentry
Special Use Permits
Rangers Burkhart and Gillette coordinated eight separate requests for Special Use Permits for films and other interpretive activities on the Okefenokee and Banks Lake NWR. These requests included the following:
• Jason Potts ABC news spot story for "Good Morning America". • Lucy Haken pioneer TV -documentary for the History Channel. • Brandon Arnold, GA Public Broadcasting "Georgia Outdoors" for Banks Lake and Okefenokee roles in the Suwannee River Drainage. Sirrocus Barnes, Valdosta/Lowndes Rec. Depts. Use of Banks Lake NWR as a rest stop for the Second Annual Honey Bee Metric County Bike Ride. • Southern Bass Busters for three club tournaments on various dates. • Tina Register, Lanier County Health, Benefit Bass Tournament (fund raiser).
Web Page
Website was updated monthly. During the Big Turnaround Complex Fire and Bugaboo Fire, fire information supporting Meragency Teams and Joint Information Center were posted daily. News releases, emergency evacuation and routes, and maps were posted. Daily updates were posted on the day-use and overnight wilderness trails.
83 OWL maintains a separate web site and now has an email account for public access and to accept orders for bookstore items.
Off-refuge Special Events/Community Events/Support
Colonial Coast Birding Festival
The refuge served as a destination site for participants on field trips associated with the Colonial Coast Birding Festival held on October 13-14. Savannah NWR supported the event along with other refuge partners.
CoastFest
The Refuge was unable to participate in this activity due to staffing cuts and workforce re- alignment.
84 9 PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION 9.a. COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLANNING
The final Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was signed on August 17, 2006! The step-down plans have not been finalized. 9.b. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Refuge Staff
The majority of the 28 staff is full time with a small number of career seasonal and temporary positions (Table 25). Table 26 lists refuge employees and current positions. Staff photos are included in Figure 22.
Table 25. A five-year comparison of Okefenokee's staffing pattern. Year Full-time Career-Seasonal Temporary Firefighters Firefighters FY 2007 28 5 (3.55 FTE) 0 0 FY 2006 26 5 (3.55 FTE) 0 0 FY2005 26 5 (3. 55 FTE) 1 0 FY 2004 26 5. (3. 55 FTE) 1 0 FY 2003 26 5 (3. 55 FTE) 1 0
85 Table 26. Okefenokee Refuge Staff for 2007. Name Title George M. Constantino (EOD 6/26/05) Refuge Manager (GS 14, PFT) Maury W. Bedford (EOD 10/1/06) Deputy Refuge Manager (GS 1 3 , PFT) DarthaP. Campbell (EOD 12/06/76) Administrative Officer (GS 9, PFT) Beverly A. Derouin (EOD 03/05/95) Office Assistant (GS 6, PFT) Judy L. Drury (EOD 04/1 1/88) Office Assistant (GS 5, PFT) Sara Brown Aicher (EOD 03/10/91) Wildlife Biologist (GS 12, PFT) Dean E. Easton (EOD 03/09/03) Wildlife Biologist (GS 1 1, PFT) James N. Shelton (EOD 07/05/87) Park Ranger (Refuge) (LE) (GS 9, PFT) James A. Burkhart (EOD 06/11/78) Sup. Park Ranger (Refuge) (GS 12, PFT) 'Shawn G. Gillette (EOD 04/04/04) Park Ranger (Refuge) (GS 11, PFT) Gracie A. Gooch (EOD 05/29/84) Park Ranger (Refuge) (GS 7, PFT) Elaine D. Eckberg (EOD 10/19/03) Park Ranger (Refuge) (GS 7, PFT) SallieD. Gentry (EOD 07/15/01) Park Ranger (Refuge) (GS 7, PFT) • JEverette Sikes (EOD 03/15/87) Electrical Worker (WG 8, PFT) Stiner Jones (EOD 09/19/83) Tractor Operator (WG 6, PFT) 4Michael W. Housh (EOD 07/08/07 Forester/FMO (GS 12, PFT) JJames R. Langford (EOD 04/06/03) Forester/AFMO (GS 11, PFT) Howard McCullough (EOD 01/05/87) Forestry Technician (GS 8, PFT) Reggie Porcine (EOD 07/23/95) Forestry Technician (GS 7, PFT) Richard B. Boatright (EOD 01/05/97) Fire Program Assistant (GS 5, PFT) Douglas E. Nuss (EOD 01/16/77) Sup. Engineering Equip. Oper. (WS 10, PFT) 4Frank G. Enright (EOD 1 1/1 1/07) Automotive Worker (WG 8, PFT) Rockwell M. Chesser (EOD 06/23/96) Engineering Equip. Oper. (WG 8, PFT) 2Toby Price (EOD 4/16/06) Engineering Equip. Oper. (WG 8, PFT) William E. Sikes (EOD 05/24/98) Forestry Technician (GS 5, PPT) 'Robert A. Heisey (EOD 09/02/07) Forestry Technician (GS 5, PPT)- Cory R. Bryant (EOD 06/03/01) Engineering Equip. Oper. (WG 8, PFT) 'Danny Jack Willis (EOD 07/16/00) Forestry Technician (GS 5, PPT) ^JosephR. Sharbaugh (EOD 08/19/07 Forestry Technician (GS 5, PPT) Christopher M. Wright (EOD 11/13/05) Forestry Technician (GS 5, PPT) Robert R. Vernachio (EOD 11/27/05) Lead Forestry Technician (GS 6, PPT)
86 Figure 46. (L-R): S. Gentry, G. Gooch, S. Gillette, J. Burkhart, S. Jones, E. Sikes, B. Eckberg
Figure 47. (L-R): C. Wright, R. Chesser, J. Sharbaugh, D. Easton, S. Aicher, W. Sikes, B. Boatright, R. Porcine
87 Figure 43. (L-R): M. Bedford, D. Campbell, G. Constantino, B. Derouin, J. Drury, J. Shelton
Personnel Changes
'Danny Jack Willis, Career Seasonal Forestry Technician, resigned March 18, 2007.
2Toby Price, Engineering Equipment Operator, transferred to Piedmont NWR effective March 18, 2007. This position was part of the workforce planning.
3Willie E. Sikes, Electrical Worker, retired June 1, 2007.
4Mike W. Housh from Carolina Sandhills NWR accepted our Fire Management Officer (FMO) position vice Frederick E. Wetzel, EOD July 8, 2007.
5Joseph R. Sharbaugh was hired as a Career Seasonal Forestry Technician vice Heather Lee EOD August 19,2007.
6Robert A. Heisey was hired as a Career Seasonal Forestry Technician vice Danny Jack Willis EOD September 2, 2007.
88 7James R. Langford, Assistant FMO, transferred to Sherburne NWR, Zimmerman MN September 16, 2007.
o Shawn G. Gillette, Refuge Ranger, transferred to Bosque del Apache NWR, Socorro NM October 14, 2007. This position was part of the workforce planning.
9Frank G. Enright was accepted as the Automotive Worker vice Tony Gooch, EOD November 11, 2007. Frank is currently serving active duty with the Air National Guard in Jacksonville FL; his tentative return date is July 2008.
9.c. TRAINING AND TRAVEL
Employees attended several off-station training courses in 2007 (Table 23). Table 24 includes other travel performed by refuge employees.
Table 27. Training attended by permanent personnel in 2007. Howard McCullough Red Bay Symposium Jekyll Island GA Jan 18 -19 Gracie Gooch Rob Vernachio Russ Langford Carhart Wilderness Howard McCullough Fargo GA Feb 5 - 9 Training Maury Bedford Reggie Porcine Elaine Eckberg George Constantino Charlton Forward Atlanta GA Feb 18 - 19 Sallie Gentry Leadership Class Reggie Porcine DOI Aviation Training Phoenix AZ Feb 25 -Mar 2 Low Impact Development Practices George Constantino St. Augustine FL Feb 26 for Florida Stormwater Course Dartha Campbell Reimbursable Training St. Simons Island GA Feb 27 -Marl Beverly Derouin Gracie Gooch Friends Conference and Washington DC Mar2-6 George Constantino Training
Jim Shelton Annual LE In-Service Jackson MS Mar 6 -16
Shawn Gillette Annual LE In-Service Jackson MS Mar 12 - 16 Maury Bedford
89 Dartha Campbell FFS Training Atlanta GA Beverly Derouin Mar 12 -16 Fire Management Maury Bedford Tucson AZ Leadership Training Mar 25 - 30 Russ Langford FWS FMO Workshop Lake Buena Vista FL Apr 1 - 3 FS & FWS Incident Beverly Derouin Business Management Lake Buena Vista FL Apr 2 - 6 Training Jim Burkhart Contracting Officers Rep Atlanta GA Reggie Porcine Training Apr 22 -27 Advanced Wildland Fire Maury Bedford Tucson AZ Apr 22 -27 Application George Constantino South Atlantic Coastal Russ Langford Plain Habitat Goals & Savannah GA" Apr 24 -25 SaraAicher Objectives Workshop L380 Fire Management Russ Langford Crossnor NC May 8 -11 Leadership Selections ConlOO - Shaping Smart Dartha Campbell Huntsville AL May 20 -25 Beverly Derouin Business Arrangements
Law Enforcement Atlanta GA June 25 - 27 Jim Shelton Retirement Training CON1 10 Mission Dartha Campbell Huntsville AL M7-13 Support Planning Bushmaster Armorer Jim Shelton School (Carabine) Moyock NC Jull8-20 Training OUT8 106 Powerful Sally Gentry Presentation Tools & Shepherdstown WV Jul30-Aug8 Techniques OUTS 114 Volunteer Blaine Eckberg Recruitment & Shepherdstown WV Aug5-16 Management Training Texas Fire Academy S-234; S-330; EVOC; Sep 10-24 Will Sikes L-280 Bastrop TX Texas Fire Academy SeplO-26 Andy Heisey S-234; S-290; S-214 Bastrop TX
90 Chris Wright Behave; S-330; S-270; Texas Fire Academy L-280 Bastrop TX Sep 11-24 Texas Fire Academy Joe Sharbaugh S-271; S-214 Sep 11-26 Bastrop TX Dartha Campbell CON1 1 1 - Mission Auburn AL Beverly Derouin Strategy Execution Sep 15 -19 Dean Easton Refuge Academy Shepherdstown WV Octl4-Nov2 2007 Agency George Constantino Administrators Orlando FL Maury Bedford Nov 4-6 Workshop S-491 Intermediate Reggie Porcine National Fire Danger Atlanta GA Brantley Boatright Dec 2 - 7 Rating System Course Rocky Chesser Contracting Officer's Atlanta GA Dec 2-7 Chris Wright Rep Training S-420 Command and George Constantino Bastrop TX Dec 5 - 7 General Staff
Table 28. Travel by permanent personnel in 2007. Road Work Assist Doug Nuss Chieftan FL Jan 16 -18 Lower Suwannee NWR Rocky Chesser Chris Wright Prescribe Burn Assist Rob Vernachio Eufaula AL Jan 16 -19 Cory Bryant EufaulaNWR Will Sikes Reggie Porcine Reggie Porcine Rocky Chesser Prescribe Burn Assist • Rob Vernachio Eufaula AL Jan 29 -31 EufaulaNWR Chris Wright Cory Bryant Prescribe Burn Assist Will Sikes Hillsborough GA Jan 29 -31 Piedmont NWR Prescribe Burn Assist Rob Vernachio Hillsborough GA Feb 16 - 17 Will Sikes Piedmont NWR
91 Wildland Fire Assist Will Sikes Lake City FL Osceola NF Feb25-Mar4 Fire Information Officer Shawn Gillette Boise ID Detail Apr 3 -13 Black Beard Island & Elaine Eckberg Wassaw NWR Visitor Savannah GA Apr 17 - 19 Services Review Apr 30 -May Gracie Gooch AmeriCorps Graduation Charleston SC 1 Director's Volunteer Judy Drury Atlanta GA May 1 Award Ceremony Harris Neck NWR Shawn Gillette Savannah GA May 15 -17 Public Use Review Maury Bedford Town Hall Meeting Mount Pleasant SC May 16 -18 Fire Briefing RO and George Constantino Conservation Atlanta GA Jun 27-28 Organizations FMO Detail Florida Russ Langford Naples FL Jul 23 - 27 Panther NWR Fire Assist Wassaw Judy Drury Savannah GA Jul 29 - Aug 4 NWR George Constantino Project Leaders Meeting Auburn AL Jul30-Aug3 Maury Bedford RO Cost Fire Review George Constantino Atlanta GA Aug 5 - 7 Mike Housh with Sam Hamilton Sallie Gentry Assist Santee NWR Summerton SC Aug 12 -17
Sara Aicher RCW Translocation Tallahassee FL Aug 14 -15 Dean Easton Meeting
Western Wildland Fire Butte MT Augl7-Sep 1 Will Sikes Assist
Western Wildland Fire Missoula MT Augl7-Sep 1 Rob Vemachio Assist
Pine Beetle Detail Hillsborough GA Aug 19 -24 Dean Easton Piedmont NWR
92 George Constantino Smoke Management Mike Housh Byron GA Meeting Aug30-31 Russ Langford Prescribe Burn Assist Rob Vernachio Titusville FL Merritt Island NWR Sep 10-17 Okefenokee Timber George Constantino Lease Acquisition Atlanta GA Sep 24 - 25 Briefing FIA Mtg Regarding Cooperative Land George Constantino Atlanta GA Octll - 12 Management with Forest Investment Associates Mike Housh FMO Mtg Oxford AL Oct29-30 SaraAicher NIA Conference Wichita KS - Nov 6 - 9 Wings Over the Water Sallie Gentry Manteo NC Nov 6 -11 Detail Prescribe Burn Assist Rob Vernachio Santee NWR & Santee SC Andy Heisey Nov 7-12 Savannah Coastal Savannah GA Joe Sharbaugh Refuges George Constantino After Action Fire Beverly Derouin Waycross GA Nov 14 Sallie. Gentry Review Judy Drury Detail to Regional George Constantino Atlanta GA Nov 18 -23 Office Biological Review Mike Housh ' Hillsborough GA Nov 26 -30 Piedmont NWR Visitor Services Jim Burkhart Leadership Team Cartersville GA Dec 17 -20 Meeting GA Forestry Commission After George Constantino Norcross GA Dec 17 -18 Action Fire Review GA Bay Complex
93 9.d. ENERGY
In 2007, refuge usage showed an increase in electricity, gasoline, and diesel due to the Big Turnaround Fire which started April 17 thru December 12. The reason for the increase was the Big Turnaround Fire. A comparison of refuge usage from 2005-2007 is included in Table 29.
Table 29. Energy usage in CY 2007.
% CY 2007 CY 2006 CY 2005 Electricity (kwh) 310,231 265,285 256,504 Gasoline (gal) 42,553 14,225 24,708 Diesel (gal) 22,937 7,727 15,672
94 9.e. FUNDING
Funds allocated in 2007 were consistent with trends observed in previous years. A comparison of funds allocated for 2003-2007 are included in Table 30.
Table 30. Refuge fund allocations from 2003-2007. ACTIVITY 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 1260 2758.9 1696.5 1383.1 1451.4 1270.4 6860 65.0 45.0 65,0 60.0 60.0 9131/9251 760.1 540.5 652.7 742.5 741.9 9132 0.0 0.0 0.0 345.7 0.0 9263 369.7 392.6 217.3 236.5 180.0 9264 147.5 114.5 104.5 20.0 105.0 9265 0.0 60.5 31.0 23.6 0.0 1100 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2111/2810/2821 952.0 960.2 1110.2 427.8 0.0 2977 3.5 578.6 1178.4 0.0 0.0 2982 0.0 60.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4753 150.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 8555 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 TOTAL ALLOCATION 5056.7 4599.3 4742.2 3307.5 2358.5 2007 Includes avian influenza set aside (17.8), Replace day and night canoe shelters (38.5), Disaster response trailer storage facility (526.6), Acquire administration office building (505.0), Site improvements for EE building (53.1), Replace airboat (27.3) and 1999 vehicle (20.1), Repair/rehabilitation of concession facility, replace 1982 D6K dozer and purchase ofconver-a-blade(30.0), and Purchase of rollback truck (130.0) 2006 Includes SCEP (13.0), T-1 Installation (10.3), Hopkins Cabin repair (48.0), replacement of 1978 Harvester Truck, 1978 motor grader and 1995 fire crew cab (235.0), EE facility startup (40.9), Concession facility repair/rehab (919.5), Fire and timber access roads repairs (578.6), Hurricane operations and recovery costs for 2005 (150.9), Supplies, NUS, etc. for hurricane response trailer (60.0), Cooperative Agreement -with USFS and FLDOF to upgrade tower site 2005 Includes MMSprojects (113.5), YCC (25.6), Banks Lake hyacinth control (15.0), Congressional for concession facility including carryover (919.5), storm (1178.4) 2004 Includes MMS (240.0), YCC (25.1), contaminant (6.9), Banks Lake herbicide (3.5), Hurricane Isabel (24.8), SAMMS (60.0), Congressional for concession facility (427.8), helicopter contract (25.0), fire facility (345.7) 2003 Includes MMS projects (140.0), YCC (19.2), safety signs (1.2), helicopter contract (25.0)
95 9.f. SAFETY
Safety meetings were held every month, but due to the Big Turnaround Fire, several meetings were cancelled during that time period. Work hazard forms were completed and tailgate sessions were held before the beginning of each work project. Topics such as Ethics, Defensive Driving, AED/First Aid, Health and Nutrition, Drug Related video and information, Workplace Harassment, Wellness and Fitness, Environmental Management, Fire Extinguisher Safety and Operation were discussed in the monthly staff meetings. Two Blood Drives were held in 2007. Four were scheduled, but due to the fire in April and not enough interest in July, two of the blood drives had to be cancelled.
Permanent Employee Accidents
Danny Jack Willis — January 16, 2007
The AmeriCorps student van was stuck. Willis was assisting them by jumping on the back bumper to try and free the van. Once the van was free, Willis jumped off the back of the van bumper and fell to the ground injuring his left knee, which he had surgery on two years prior. Willis went to the doctor, had an x-ray done, and was diagnosed with a sprain. He was directed to be on light duty for one week.
James N. Shelton — January 25, 2007
Shelton was driving to Homerville GA when a deer ran out in front of the government vehicle. The deer struck the left side front of GOV near tire. The vehicle ran over the deer and sustained minor damage estimated at about $100. There were no injuries to persons and no medical time lost.
HowardMcCullough-April 13, 2007
While driving through the Refuge on perimeter road, a vehicle (4x4 Ford truck) driven by Howard McCullough passed over a downed tree limb. As he passed over the limb it raised and hit the driver's side mirror breaking it. There were no injuries to persons and medical time lost. Mirror was replaced.
William A. Sikes - April 19, 2007
On the passenger side of the fire engine, the front bin door was left open in the upright position. Will Sikes unaware of this drove the engine forward from the garage when he heard the bin door hit the top of the garage. The bin door was bent, but it was repaired. No other damage and no injuries.
Stiner Jones — April 23, 2007
Stiner was performing routine maintenance of mower when dust or chemical debris got into his left eye. Mr. Jones went to the emergency room and then to his regular eye doctor. He was given prescription eye drops and released.
96 Firefighter Accidents
On May 3, 2007, Fire Engine Oke #42 was traveling to the northwest side of the swamp to a wildland fire to conduct fire suppression activities. While enroute, a rock was thrown by the tire of a vehicle ahead of Oke #42; the rock struck the windshield of Oke #42 causing it to crack.
Intern Accidents
ClemencePascale William— February27, 2007
Miss William stepped down from the back of a pickup truck after securing ladders and stepped on an oak stump twisting/spraining her right ankle. She went to the doctor and was advised to do moderate standing from February 28 - March 8.
Volunteer Accidents
Carl Harvey-October 13,2007
Volunteer Carl was driving back to the east side shop area to drop off the GOV truck and trailer after cleanup at the Homestead for Okefenokee Festival. As he was driving past the fee booth area a deer ran into the path of the 2001 Dodge Dakota damaging the front bumper, grill, and hood. The vehicle was sent to the shop for repairs, estimated cost $2,500. There were no ' injuries to persons.
AmeriCorps Accidents
On April 2, 2007, an AmeriCorps member was backing up to the west side refuge house and collided with a long leaf pine tree. The Suburban driver side door was impacted by the collision. The mirror on the driver side also came unattached as a result of the collision. No personal injuries.
Youth Conservation Corp Accidents
Cody A. Welch - July 11, 2007
Cody was walking over to get a weedeater to trim along a walking trail when he misplaced his footing and tripped over a cypress knee. Cody twisted his left ankle. He was taken to the Clinch Memorial Hospital where they took an x-ray of his ankle. It was badly sprained and was unable to return to work until July 13. 9.g. VOLUNTEERS
The volunteer program continues to grow at the refuge. The Vojunteer Coordinator devoted more time to recruiting volunteers and guiding them on various refuge projects. In 2007, more than 150 volunteers contributed 19,756 hours, equivalent to more than nine full time employees. Volunteers have become integral to maintaining the refuge, assisting the biology and forestry
97 staff, performing duties in Visitor Services, and -undertaking various other tasks in support of the refuge mission.
Volunteers are especially important to the Public Use program. Volunteers staff the visitor center, conduct interpretive programs, and assist with environmental education. Without their support, the refuge would be seriously impacted in terms of the services it provides to visitors on a daily basis. Volunteers performed lawn maintenance and landscaping, maintained signs, cut and trimmed canoe and walking trails, surveyed wildlife, planted longleaf pine seedlings, administered the recycling program, staffed the refuge visitor center, served as hosts for the Chesser Island Homestead, constructed and renovated overnight canoe shelters, and represented the refuge at off-site events, hi addition, many interpretive and environmental education programs were presented to educational groups and visitors that would not have been otherwise offered.
Projects accomplished:
• Ten miles of upland trails trimmed. • New water line installed to tie together fire building well to Camp Cornelia. • Buildings pressure washed. • Signs along Swamp Island Drive washed. • Twelve portable toilets improved with new screens, toilet tissue holders. • 50 signs routed, painted, and installed on new post in and around the edge of the swamp. • Twenty miles of canoe trail trimmed. • Construction projects included replacing deck at Coffee Bay day-use shelter.
Volunteer Recognition
The annual volunteer awards ceremony was held on May 4, 2007. The volunteers enjoyed dinner, which was immediately followed by the awards ceremony. Several volunteers received certificates and hour pins.
The Roddenberry Sisters (Betty Owens, Doris Lloyd, Katherine Lett, Debbie Todd, Latrelle McDowell, Judy Drury, and Sheila Carter) travelled to Atlanta to receive the Regional Director's Volunteer Honor Award.
Volunteers enjoyed several field trips throughout the year. They had the opportunity to visit all three entrances into the Okefenokee NWR to learn about the different ecosystems in the swamp. Quarterly sunset boat tours were offered, averaging over 30 volunteers each trip. Interns
Clemence Pascale William, University, February - March, 2007
Projects accomplished include the following:
• Directed YCC members on maintenance projects.
98 • Assisted with annual events including National Wildlife Week, International Migratory Bird Day, and National Fishing Day. • Assisted with daily Visitor Center operations. • Participated in interpretation program at Chesser Island Homestead. • Assisted with Junior Ranger Camp. • Created an Environmental Education program called "The Fantastically Fishing Challenge". • Redesigned the wilderness canoe brochure. • Designed fishing page on website. • Preserved gopher tortoise and barred owl for display and program use. • Assisted with red-cockaded woodpecker surveys, banding, and cleaning nest boxes. • Marked timber and planted longleaf pine seedlings.
AmeriCorps
Three AmeriCorps teams were selected this year to assist the refuge with various projects. Projects included cutting more than 20 miles of motorboat and canoe trails, planting several thousand longleaf pine seedlings, assisting forestry/fire staff with prescribed burning, and assisting with environmental education and interpretive programs.
Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge had a total of 40 applications for the 2007 Youth Conservation Corp (YCC) program. Five males were selected for the Westside of the refuge. Two females applied but declined the positions, after being selected. Three males and two females were selected to the Eastside of the refuge. Of the employees, two 18 year olds were appointed as YCC youth leader's of the Westside and Eastside work groups. An adult YCC leader was hired and stationed at the Westside entrance to supervise the YCC group and transport them to work sites that required travel off refuge property.
The YCC crew conducted routine litter patrols on trails and roads; performed lawn maintenance; trimmed walking trails; and maintained facilities. Duties included work at the East and West entrances, Kingfisher Landing, and Banks Lake NWR.
The YCC learned valuable lessons about work ethic, responsibility, and teamwork during their service and gained knowledge about the refuge system. They were given educational and/or working field trips to the North, West, and East entrances to Okefenokee NWR, as well as Banks Lake NWR, and Cumberland Island NS.
• The YCC attended two of our monthly Staff Safety Meetings to learn valuable lessons about safety in the workplace, and how to prepare for hurricanes. There was only one injury during the work period. - 9.h. COMPUTERS AND COMMUNICATION
All employees, interns, and volunteers have computer access on the refuge. A computer team reviews all employee concerns and requests before purchase of new equipment. These reviews
99 ensure the following:
• Purchases are in compliance with FWS hardware and software specifications. • Orders are not duplicated. • Cost effective software packages are purchased. • Computers are purchased to meet employees' needs in their particular fields of work. • Priorities are determined before purchases are made.
The server at the administration office was upgraded to a Dell PowerEdge 2950 with Windows 2003 Server Edition and 700GB of disk space. The Visitor Center dial-up was upgraded to DSL, giving them much faster internet and email access. The shop will be changed to DSL in 2008.
100 60- DAY GENERAL CHRONOLOGY Big Turnaround Fire and Related Events - 2007
April 16th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire is started at 1:30 p.m. by a downed power line on private land west of Waycross, Georgia. The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) conducts initial attack, with assistance from staff of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). One airtanker is dispatched. Homes are evacuated; two homes, five outbuildings, and several cars and tractors are burned. Strong northwest winds and spotting enhances spread of the. fire, which is occurring in record drought conditions. The fire makes a 9-mile run, crosses U.S. Highway 84, and is about 13 miles from the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. Highway 84 and numerous county roads are closed. Resources threatened include private timber plantations, threatened and endangered species and habitat, wilderness, and high-value commercial-ready timber.
April 17th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire increases dramatically to an estimated 20,000 acres - over 30 square miles. About 800 homes have been evacuated. Highway 122 is closed and Highway 84 remains closed. The fire makes another significant run and reaches the edge of the designated swamp within the Dixon Memorial State Forest. Okefenokee Swamp Park, a private concessionaire on the Forest and on Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, is closed. The Refuge provides two dozer crews to improve fireline north of Okefenokee Swamp Park at the swamp edge break between the wetlands and long-leaf pine forest uplands. The Refuge provides a contract helicopter serve as a lookout to ensure firefighter safety; provide periodic intelligence on fire location, size, direction, behavior, etc.; and map the fire perimeter using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. The fire is reported to be about % mile northwest of the northern boundary of the Refuge.
A Type 2 Incident Management Team from the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) and led by Troy Floyd is ordered by GFC and establishes its Incident Command Post at Jess'up, Georgia, A Type 2 Incident Command Team is ordered by the Refuge, due to an erroneous report that the fire has crossed onto Refuge lands south of Waycross. Federal Disaster Designation funding is provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help Waycross response to the needs of people affected by the fire.
Meanwhile, the North Fargo Fire is ignited west of the Refuge at 4 p.m. by a welding accident on CXS railroad land under fire protection by the state. Refuge staff assist with initial attack. The fire crosses Highway 441, and comes within a mile of the Refuge's west boundary. Stephen C. Foster State Park is closed. Smoke is expected to become an issue on local and regional roads during the evening. The Jacksonville, Florida news media issue smoke advisories for highway visibility from Jacksonville to St. Augustine. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology 2
April 18th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire grows to 22,000 acres and 15 more homes are burned. The Floyd Team assumes command, with support of a National Incident Management Organization (NTMO). Ware County schools are closed. Refuge staff assist the Floyd Team with aerial reconnaissance and fire mapping. While the fire was confirmed to have not yet reached the Refuge boundary, Wilderness Overnight Canoe Trails at Kingfisher Landing Unit are closed.
The Refuge Manager approves a decision to suppress the North Fargo Fire using direct attack, to keep the size at less than 3500 acres and the cost under $380,000. The WFSA decision document is consistent with a Memorandum of Understanding with Georgia Forestry Commission and the Okefenokee NWR Fire Management Plan, as well as the goals of the Greater Okefenokee Association of Landowners (GOAL), of which FWS is a participant. While the fire is not an immediate threat to homes in the community of Fargo, but voluntary evacuations occur. Multiple other fire starts within the GFC/FWS mutual response zone are exhibiting extreme fire behavior, taxing fire response resources, and escalating the risk to life and property.
April 19th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire grows to 25,000 acres. Winds from Tropical Storm Andrea contribute to spread of the fire into the Refuge across its northern boundary. The fire threatens the City of Waycross and a CXS railroad yard with large diesel tanks and hazardous chemicals. An estimated 2,000 additional homes are being evacuated in Waycross and Ware County due to fire and smoke. Numerous spot fires are occurring.
At 7:00 a.m., the Refuge Manager delegates command of the North Fargo Fire to a Southern Area Type 2 Team led by Tony Wilder. The fire is an estimated 2,300 acres and is not posing an immediate threat to homes or commercial timber lands. The Wilder Team sends some firefighting resources to assist with the Sweat Farm Road Fire.
Due to unusually dry weather conditions and increasing fire risk, the Refuge requests 30 days of severity funding (from April 23 - May 22) to hire additional fire staff. The request is submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Fire Management Branch. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology 2
April 20th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire nearly doubles to 40,000 acres, burning over 60 square miles. Northeast winds cause the fixe to escape containment lines and make significant runs to the southwest. Tractor plows and helicopters working to contain the fire are diverted several times to protect threatened homes. The fire now threatens 2,700 homes in Waycross and the community of Manor; voluntary evacuations occur for Manor. Dixon State Memorial Forest is closed.
The North Fargo Fire is 90 percent contained at 2,500 acres. Private industry assists with suppression efforts. The West entrance to Okefenokee Refuge and Georgia Highway 177 is closed and a Georgia Department of Transportation Strike Team is mobilized.
April 21st
Another home is reported destroyed by the Sweat Farm Road Fire, bringing the total number of homes lost to 18. The fire makes a run in heavy timber towards Manor. There are voluntary evacuations of scattered homes outside of Manor. Structure protection and protection of caged animals is initiated at Okefenokee Swamp Park. Smoke remains a problem in Waycross and parts of southeast Georgia.
The Sweat Farm Road Fire is divided into two once it crosses the swamp Perimeter Road, with the portion burning on the Refuge to be managed as a separate incident named the Big Turnaround Fire. The Refuge Manager amends his original decision document for the North Fargo Fire to include the Big Turnaround Fire, jointly referred to as the Big Turnaround Complex.
Command of this newly designated Big Turnaround Fire is assumed by the Wilder Team, which provides management at and above the Division Supervisor level; the Georgia Team temporarily provides tactical resources until ordered resources arrive.
By the end of the day, the Sweat Farm Road Fire is an estimated 55,619 acres, mostly due to burnout operations; and the Big Turnaround Fire is an estimated 6,500 acres. The North Fargo Fire is fully contained, with smoldering and creeping fire within the perimeter. Crews from the Big Turnaround Fire are assisting the Georgia State Forestry Commission with mop-up operations on the North Fargo Fire.
Continued next page... Big Turnaround Fire Chronology 4
April 22nd
Intense fire behavior, bordering on extreme, occurs on the Sweat Farm Road Fire with flames lengths reaching up to 100 feet. Multiple spot fires occur outside the fire line. One log trailer is destroyed on a loading deck, along with harvested trees waiting to be loaded. The fire continues to burn to the southwest. Meanwhile, east winds slow activity on the Big Turnaround Fire, allowing crews to build enough line to reach 80 percent containment. Partners from the Greater Okefenokee Association of Landowners (GOAL) assist with reinforcing fireline. The Wilderness Overnight Canoe Trails remain closed. Smoke remains an issue. With North Fargo Fire contained, Stephen C. Foster State Park and the west entrance of the Refuge are opened.
April 23rd
Intense fire behavior, bordering on extreme, continues on the Sweat Farm Road Fire, with numerous spot fires due to low humidities and dry fuels. Schools are now closed in Atkinson County and remain closed in Ware County. The fire is now 50 percent contained. Evacuations are lifted for an area no longer threatened by the fire. The estimated size of the Sweat Farm Road Fire is adjusted to 46, 140 acres due to better measuring using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and subtraction of acres now being managed as the Big Turnaround Fire.
Extreme fire behavior is forecasted for the Big Turnaround Fire, as crews continue to strengthen line around the swamp edge break and the Refuge's Perimeter Road. The Okefenokee Swamp Park, hunting camps, and various structures are threatened; structure protection and aerial retardant drops are provided.
April 24th
The fire activity decreases and is moderate on the Sweat Farm Road Fire, which is now 70 percent contained at 46,316 acres. Fire spread is anticipated to the northeast. Limited access is provided to Wilderness Overnight Canoe Trails on the Refuge. Okefenokee Swamp Park is opened, with structure protection remaining in place.
A temperature inversion causes morning fog and smoke prevalent around the Big Turnaround Fire perimeter, now estimated at 7,320 acres. Smoke is a major concern for Ware County. Voluntary evacuations occur due to health problems caused by smoke. Despite advanced preparations to contain Big Turnaround Fire within the swamp edge break, southwest winds cause significant fire spread to the northeast into uplands on the Dixon Memorial State Forest. Fire threatens the Sweat Farm Road Incident Command Post, the communities of Waycross and Manor, and the northwest area of the Refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Regional Director approves a new decision to suppress the fire using indirect attack, keeping the size under 12,000 acres and the cost under $2,200,000. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology 5
April 25th
Fire behavior on the Sweat Farm Road Fire is intense overnight and by morning is threatening to cross Route 177, Swamp Park Road. U.S. Highway 1 is closed overnight and reopened in the early morning. CXS railroad along U.S. Highway 1 closed for 3 hours. Okefenokee Swamp Park is again closed and structure protection remains in place. Laura S. Walker State Park, including a golf course, is closed. One structure is saved from direct threat of the fire. Southwest winds are moving fire to the northeast.
The fireline on the southern perimeter of the Sweat Farm Road Fire burns into the Big Turnaround fire perimeter. Management of this new area is assumed by the Georgia Team managing the Sweat Farm Road Fire (now 46,500 acres and 40 percent contained).
The federal Type 2 team managing the Big Turnaround Fire conducted a burnout in cooperation with crews from Sweat Farm Road Fire. Georgia Route 177 south of U.S. Highway 1 is closed. Big Turnaround Fire has now grown to 10,498 acres, significantly increasing the fire perimeter; the fire is now only 40 percent contained. Extreme fire behavior is expected for the next 48 hours. The Team also continues to assist with mop- up of the North Fargo Fire, providing resources including a half dozen staffed engines.
April 26th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire activity is intense, making a mile run through heavy timber in an hour. Winds in excess of 20 miles per hour carry embers up to 1A mile, creating spot fires across U.S. Highway 1. Closures occur for the highway, the CXS rail line, and temporary evacuation of the Incident Command Post at Waycross due to heavy smoke and fire activity. Crews build additional fireline to reach 50 percent containment.
Evacuations occur north of Highway 1, including Laura S. Walker State Park and the communities of Josephine Park, Astoria, and Ayaock. The fire is also a moderate threat to the communities of Slatterville, Fort Mudge, and Hoboken. Numerous new fires are causing reassignment of critical resources to conduct initial attack in surrounding counties.
The Big Turnaround Fire continues to make significant runs to the northeast. The fire size has now grown to 14,746 acres. Evacuations are in progress along Highway 1 and a town meeting in Waycross is cancelled.
Continued next page... Big Turnaround Fire Chronology 6
April 27th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire has now grown to 49,489 acres. The CXS rail line is reopened. The wind shifts to the northwest and causes new spot fires. Brantley County schools are closed.
The Big Turnaround Fire has grown to 16,424 acres. Structural protection is still in place for the Okefenokee Swamp Park and its historical structures, which are now highly threatened. Canoe camping platforms on the Refuge are also threatened. Crews continue to strengthen fire line along the swamp edge break.
The fire receives one tenth of an inch of rain. The Wilder Team continues to share common responsibilities with the Floyd Team. Evacuations are lifted for Astoria but remain in place for parts of Laura S. Walker State Park.
April 28th
The Wilder Team assists the Floyd Team with major burnout operations on the Sweat Farm Road Fire, in part to protect structures in the Okefenokee Swamp Park. The fire size is now 52,405 acres and is 70 percent contained. Fire behavior is extreme, with torching of trees and crown fires in the forest canopy. Smoke columns extend to the Atlantic Ocean. Crews are continually diverted from building fireline to attack spot fires create by the main fire, and to conduct initial attack on other new fire starts in the area.
The Big Turnaround Fire size is reassessed with better mapping tools and revised to 16,079 acres. Dry northwest winds cause the fire to make a run in the afternoon, with flame lengths of up to 160 feet and spotting up to one-third of a mile ahead of the fire.
Crews continue to strengthen fireline to keep the fire from crossing U.S. Highway 1, which has not been crossed, and to widen the swamp edge break. Road closures are lifted except Highway 1 and State Route 177.
April 29th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire grows slightly to 52,705 acres. Crews work to stop a major run to the southeast and to suppress spot fires throughout the day coming from within the Refuge. Low relative humidity and thick vegetation cause the Big Turnaround Fire to also make another major run to the southeast, increasing the fire size significantly to 26,182 acres. Crews continue to build line along the swamp edge break, to suppress spot fires along the swamp edge break and Perimeter Road, and to mop-up at Okefenokee Swamp Park. Threatened communities along Highway 1 include Racepond, Homeland, and Folkston. Evacuations are hi progress for parts of Charlton County north of Folkston along Highway 1 and U.S. Highway 301. Canoe frails and remote camping platforms on the Refuge remain threatened as well. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology . 7
April 30th
Fire continues to progress to the southeast. The Sweat Farm Road Fire increases to 53,172 acres. Racepond, Kingfisher Landing, Homeland, the City of Folkston, CXS rail line, and communications facilities are threatened. Charlton County schools are closed. U.S. Highway 1 and State Route 177 remain closed. Georgia Forestry Commission responds to other new fire starts in nearby Brantley, Wayne, Charlton, and Atkinson Counties.
Big Turnaround Fire is now 33,900 acres. The fire is progressing southeast directly ahead of the Sweat Farm Road Fire front. Refuge canoe trails and historic structures are threatened. Low relative humidities continue. Crews anticipate initial attack on new fire starts within the Refuge.
May 1st
Low relative humidity and high fire danger continues. Spanish Creek is added to the list of communities threatened by the fires. The Sweat Farm Road Fire is now 53,202 acres and 75 percent contained. Fire repeatedly jumps containment lines.
The Big Turnaround Fire grows to 36,274 acres. A canoe camping platform on the Refuge is lost at a replacement value of'almost $60,000. Canoe trails and structures remain threatened. Historic cabin on Floyd's Island is protected.
May 2nd
The Sweat Farm Road Fire grows slightly to 53,899 acres. Reburning occurs in peat and dried out brush, with erratic winds causing fire whorls and flames up to 100 feet high. Charlton County schools are opened.
The Big Turnaround Fire grows to 39,367 acres. Numerous communities and facilities remain threatened. Four homes and 8 outbuildings are threatened, including some rural homes close to where fire escapes the line. Mandatory evacuations and fire advisories are in effect for numerous areas. Residents of Waycross, Jacksonville and nearby areas with respiratory illness are advised to stay indoors due to heavy smoke. Ware County schools are closed today. A town meeting in Folkston educates residents about Firewise standards, which outline steps to reduce the risk of losing homes to fire.
A Type 1 Incident Command Team led by Mark Ruggiero arrives to assume command of the growing Complex, beginning a transition phase with the Wilder Team. Other fires occurring in Georgia include the 5,000-acre Roundabout Swamp Fire in Atkinson County; along with the 1,400-acre Kneeknocker, 950-acre Fort Mudge, and the 100-acre Racetrack Fires in Brantley County, hi Coffee County, public schools and South Georgia College in Douglas were closed due to heavy smoke and poor visibility. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology
May 3rd
There is no significant change on the Sweat Farm Road Fire. Charlton County issues a countrywide ban on outdoor burning with $1000 fine for violation.
The Ruggiero Team assumes command of the Big Turnaround Fire, which grows steadily to 42,557 acres. To date, over 85 miles of swamp edge break and 14 miles of dozer line along the Perimeter Road have been built or reinforced. The fire -continues to advance into the Refuge on several fronts.
Communities and facilities remain threatened. Some evacuation have been lifted. Ware County schools are reopened. Two public meetings are held in Folkston today to establish an Emergency Operations Center and organize volunteers by areas of need. Highway 1 and Route 177 remain closed from Waycross to Folkston, except for local residents.
May 4th
The Big Turnaround Fire size is remapped and reconciled with the Sweat Farm Road Fire to correct duplication in reporting of acreage burned. The Big Turnaround is now calculated at 42,384 acres and is 45 percent contained. rn addition to command of the Big Turnaround., the Ruggiero Team assumes command over operations, including structure protection, on portions of Sweat Farm Road Fire east of Okefenokee Swamp Park Road and west of Highway 1. The Sweat Farm Road Fire is now 80 percent contained. Reburning and hotspots continue on the interior. The fires continue to have a significant effect on local communities.
May 5th
There is no change on the Sweat Farm Road Fire. A Type 2 Incident Management team led by Paul Hannemann arrives to work with the Floyd Team; a transition in command is scheduled for May 8th. The Ruggiero Team continues to manage over 6,000 acres previously included as part of the Sweat Farm Road fire.
Big Turnaround Fire grows to 44,509 acres, with 24,806 acres burned on the Refuge to date. Lightning starts three new fires near the center of the Refuge on Floyds Island Prairie, Bugaboo Island, and in the Bugaboo Scrub. Initial attack is conducted.
Continued next page... Bie Turnaround Fire Chronology
May 6th
Big Turnaround Fire grows to 46,522 acres. The Ruggiero Team managing the Complex receives operational support from private timber companies with land adjacent to the Refuge. Other large fires continue to burn in Atkinson and Brantley Counties.
May 7th
North winds and low humidities cause extreme fire behavior, moving the Big Turnaround Fire to the south at a high rate of spread. Fire continues to advance into refuge on several fronts. Line reinforcement, burnout operations, helicopter bucket drops, and other firefighting tactics continue. Fire size is recalculated to be 46,416 acres.
The new fire starts from May 5th grow in size; the Bugaboo Scrub Fire runs over 9 miles and is mapped using GPS technology at 16,434 acres. A town meeting is held by the Ruggiero Team and Refuge to provide fire information to Folkston community members.
May 8th
The Hannemann Team officially assumed command of the Sweat Farm Road Fire, which remains at 53,899 acres and 80 percent contained. Strong winds cause previously burned ' areas inside the fire perimeter to reburn in peat and dried out brush. Three staff members from U.S. Congressman Jack Kingston's office tour the fire with the Georgia Forestry Commission interim director. Crews from this fire and the Big Turnaround Fire are diverted to respond to the Ten-Mile Bay Fire in Berrien County and a 10-acre fire in Charlton County. Long travel distances for initial and extended attack of new fires strain resources, as other fires in southeast Georgia continue to burn.
The Big Turnaround Fire grows to 53,466 acres and threatens 19 residences, 2 commercial properties, and 20 outbuildings, including the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge offices and the Okefenokee Adventures concessionaire building. For the first time since the start of the fires, the Refuge and its headquarters office are closed. A mandatory evacuation is ordered for 20 homes in the Davis Subdivision west of Folkston and also remains in effect in the Race Pond area.
The Bugaboo Scrub Fire exhibits extreme fire behavior overnight, absorbing the Bugaboo Island fire start and spreading rapidly south to the Florida state line. Crews from the Big Turnaround Fire and U.S. Forest Service crews respond, as the fire moves into Florida and Osceola National Forest, and then across Florida State Highway 2. The community of Taylor (300 residents) is evacuated. The fire grows to 40,139 acres, an area of over 60 square miles. Florida Highway 2, Georgia Highway 94 and Georgia State Route 185 are all closed. Smoke limits visibility on Interstate 10. The Floyd's Island Prairie Fire, midway between the Bugaboo Scrub Fire and the Big Turnaround Fire, grows to 547 acres within the Refuge. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology 10
May 9th
Activity on Sweat Farm Road Fire remains unchanged. A staff member for U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss tours the fire with leaders of the Georgia Forestry Commission.
Bugaboo Scrub Fire gains almost 30,000 acres, becoming the largest active fire in the Southeast at 68,650 acres. The incident is managed by Ruggiero, along with Big Turnaround Fire at 62,583 acres. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director approves a decision to confine the new Big Turnaround Fire within the Swamp Edge Break at a size less than 250,000 acres and a cost of under $20,000,000.
Stephen C. Foster State Park is threatened, including a boat-house, gift shop, museum, 16 outbuildings, and 18 homes. A mandatory evacuation is put into effect for the park, Moccasin Creek (35-40 homes), and Moniac (300 homes and about 1,000 people). Fargo, Taylor, Council, and Edith, as well as Baxter, Florida are also threatened. Precautionary evacuations occur for other areas in Folkston. and Homeland. Canoe trails and structures on the Refuge remain threatened. A public meeting in Folkston provides fire information.
Florida Highway 2 and Georgia Highways 94 and 185 remain closed. Multiple U.S. and state highways are closed in Charlton and Ware counties. Davis remains evacuated. Smoke advisories are issued for several U.S. and State highways. A Type 1 Incident Management Team led by Mike Quesinberry arrives to manage the part of the Bugaboo Scrub Fire south of Highway 2 as a separate incident named the Florida Bugaboo Fire.
May 10th
The perimeter of Sweat Farm Road Fire remains unchanged. U.S. Highway 1 and Charlton County schools reopen. Hannemann's Team and Georgia Forestry Commission attend a meeting with public officials and private land owners in Fargo. A public meeting is also held in Fargo to provide fire information to other members of the community.
The Big Turnaround Fire runs to 63,636 acres, with occasional spotting. Crews from this fire and private landowners also continue to respond to the uncontained Bugaboo Scrub Fire, which spreads rapidly to 88,252 acres with no.other resources are available. Additional FEMA funds are approved to assist with protecting private lands from spread of the Bugaboo Scrub Fire. The Ruggiero Team also monitors the uncontained Floyd's Island Prairie Fire, an estimated 1,231 acres. A mandatory evacuation is issued for parts of Charlton County. The communities of Davis and Moniac remain evacuated.
The U.S. Forest Service approves a Wild Fire Situation Analysis for the Florida Bugaboo. Quesinberry's Team assumes command under Unified Command with the Florida Division of Forestry. This fire is estimated at 45,000 acres and threatens the communities of Taylor, Moccasin Circle, Five Points and Deep Creek, which is evacuated. A Red Cross shelter is opened in Glen St. Mary's in Baker County, Florida. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology ' 11
May 11th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire remains unchanged at 80 percent containment. A public information meeting is held in Fargo. The Okefenokee Swamp Park entrance is opened.
The Big Turnaround Fire grows to 69,865 acres - with 48,582 acres within the Refuge — and merges with the Floyd's Island Prairie Fire at 2,020 acres. Burnout operations are conducted to remove hazardous vegetation around the Incident Command Post and Refuge buildings. The evacuation of the Davis community is lifted.
Crews from Big Turnaround continue to also respond to the Bugaboo Scrub Fire, now 111,042 acres and completely uncontained. The fire is very active, with flames lengths reaching 75-100.feet. An RV camper and outbuilding were destroyed overnight in the Moccasin Creek area, which remains evacuated. Reeve's Landing is also evacuated, while the mandatory evacuation of Moniac becomes voluntary. The Ruggiero Team receives assistance from Georgia Forestry Commission and private industry crews. Private timber plantation's outside the Refuge are threatened by possible spread of the Bugaboo Scrub Fire outside the Refuge boundary.
Resources begin to arrive for the Florida Bugaboo Fire, grown rapidly to 85,000 acres with rapid fire runs and spotting ahead of the main fire. Infrastructure on the Osceola National Forest is threatened. The fire is 6 % miles from crossing Interstate 10 and is 2 miles east of U.S. Highway 441. The Quesinberry Team holds a news conference near the intersection of 1-10 and Hwy 441. Taylor residents are allowed back into their homes after a 3-day evacuation.
May 12th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire size is adjusted significantly to 46,264 acres after ground reconnaissance of the burn area. The fire remains 80 percent contained. A knuckleboom loader is destroyed by fire. Georgia State Representative Mark Williams tours the fire area. A smoke alert is issued for air quality and visibility in Atlanta and central Georgia due to the wildfires.
Moderate to extreme fire behavior occurs as the Big Turnaround Fire grows to 75,901 acres and remains 45 percent contained. The uncontained Bugaboo Scrub Fire increases to 129,090 acres. Moccasin Creek remains evacuated. Dozers build fire breaks around Fargo and defensible space for homes at Reeves Landing. The Bugaboo Scrub Fire is now burning off the Refuge and spreads onto private and timber industry lands; the Georgia Forestry Commission assigns command of this 2,628-acre area to the Hannemann Team to be managed as a separate incident called the Bugaboo Scrub n Fire.
The Florida Bugaboo Fire exhibits extreme fire behavior, growing to 102,000 acres. The fire is 10 percent contained. Interstate 10 and Interstate 75 are closed. Numerous other roads remain closed. Deep Creek and Reeve's Landing remain evacuated. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology 12
May 13th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire remains unchanged. Multiple significant reburns occur, requiring response of tractor plows and helicopters. All National Guard helicopters were diverted today to a search and rescue mission and were unavailable for incident use.
The Big Turnaround Fire grows to 84,150 acres with continued moderate to extreme fire behavior. Crews in Fargo implement a community protection plan. A precautionary evacuation is in place for the Refuge headquarters area. The still uncontained Bugaboo Scrub Fire makes several runs and grows to 137,185 acres. The Bugaboo Scrub II Fire on state-protected land has not grown, but remains uncontained; fire line is planned along the western edge to defend against predicted winds.
Activity on the Florida Bugaboo Fire slows, allowing crews to build additional line and conduct burnout operations to reach 30 percent containment. Structure protection is in place for the community'of Taylor, parts of which remain evacuated. Interstate 75, Interstate 10, and Florida Highway 2 are reopened.
May 14th
Crews from the Sweat Farm Road Fire assist with initial attack of three new fires ignited by lightning about 14 miles west of Fargo. These fires are contained at less than 2 acres each.
The Big Turnaround Fire, now at 90,042 acres, continues to grow on edges of the fire without containment lines. Acreage calculations on the Bugaboo Scrub Fire are adjusted slightly to 136,565 acres; this fire is now 15 percent contained. A half-inch of rain overnight dampens fire activity slightly. Some local roads are closed due to a danger of falling burned trees. Reeves Landing residents are allowed back into their homes.
Moderate to extreme fire behavior is reported.on the Bugaboo Scrub E, with medium to long-range spotting; the fire size remains unchanged and there is as yet no fireline constructed.
Crews on the Florida Bugaboo Fire are making progress building fire line. The fire is 30 .percent contained and grows slightly to 109,000 acres as it jumps containment lines. A new fire in the area, suspected to be caused by arson, is contained. Mandatory evacuations are expanded in Florida, impacting an additional 1,000 people. Columbia County schools are closed due to forecasted increased winds and an evacuation is begun for the Five Points community. A public meeting is held in Lake City, Florida to provide fire information the community. Osceola National Forest is closed north of Interstate 10. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology 13
May 15th
Additional fire line is constructed on the Sweat Farm Road Fire, now 81 percent contained, with multiple reburns. George State Representative Mark Williams makes a second visit to the incident.
The Big Turnaround Fire and Bugaboo Scrub Fire continue to burn in the interior, but the fire perimeters remain unchanged. The Bugaboo Scrub II Fire has increased slightly in size to 3,787 acres, with high to extreme fire behavior reported; this fire is 5 percent contained.
The Florida Bugaboo Fire grows to 110,500 acres. Extreme fire behavior is observed, with torching and long-distance spotting. Numerous communities remain threatened.
May 16th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire is now 82 percent contained and reburns continue.
Fire activity picks up on the Big Turnaround Fire, with running surface fire spreading to 100,878 acres. The Bugaboo Scrub Fire also grows to 140,821 acres. Crews are burning out hazardous fuels in an area adjacent to Stephen C. Foster State Park and around the Moccasin Creek area.
Progress was made on the Bugaboo Scrub II, now 30 percent contained; acreage was recalculated to 3,768 acres due to an infrared mapping flight.
The Florida Bugaboo Fire grows to 119,501 acres and now 65 percent contained. The fire perimeter is about 120 miles long. Fire jumping the line is again contained. Resources being protected include the Big Swamp Wilderness Area and infrastructure on Osceola National Forest. Structural protection remains in place for threatened homes. Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp and a delegation of state legislators tour the fire.
Winds from the south are blowing smoke as far north as Atlanta.
Continued next page... Big Turnaround Fire Chronology . 14
May 17th
A town meeting is held in Fargo to provide fire information to the community.
The Big Turnaround grows to 105,418 acres. During the night, 1200 feet of boardwalk including two bridges are destroyed by fire reburning at Okefenokee Swamp Park, a private concessionaire that reopened for business on May 11th. A new Type 1 Incident Management Team (Oltrogge) arrives to relieve the Ruggiero Team. The Bugaboo Scrub Fire gains another 15,000 acres to total 156,455 acres; The Oltrogge Team will assume command of the complex (Big Turnaround and Bugaboo Scrub).
The Bugaboo Scrub n Fire on state-protected land is now 50 percent contained.
The Florida Bugaboo Fire is now 120,515 acres, the largest fire in the state's history. The fire is 70 percent contained, with lines holding on the perimeter and continued extreme fire behavior on the interior. An estimated 730 homes and 2100 people have been affected by mandatory evacuations.
Florida Division of Forest fire crews conduct initial attack of a new 11-acre fire off State Route 6 west of Highway 441.
May 18th
Low relative humidity is forecast for the Sweat Farm Road Fire, which received some rain that helped reduce fire activity. Infrared imaging shows intense heat remaining on the interior of the fire. Crews are implementing a community protection plan in Fargo; a town meeting is also held here to provide updated fire information.
The perimeter of Big Turnaround Fire remains unchanged, while the fire continues to burn the interior south toward the Bugaboo Scrub Fire. The eastern flank has progressed from the interior to within 2.5 miles of the Refuge boundary and adjacent commercial timber land. There is currently no threat to containment lines. Activity has increased in the "pocket," the northern part of the Bugaboo Scrub Fire, which is now at 159,473. Five new handcrews arrive to support mop-up operations.
The Bugaboo Scrub II Fife makes significant and sustained runs in pine plantations with, extreme fire behavior. The fire is 50 percent contained and recalculated at 5,585 acres.
The Florida Bugaboo Fire, now 80 percent contained, has grown slightly to 121,319 acres. Rain overnight helped moderate fire behavior. Some Florida evacuations are lifted.
Continued next page... Big Turnaround Fire Chronology 15
May 19th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire is now 85 percent contained. Fire size is remapped to be 55,527 acres. Fire activity is minimal.
The Oltrogge Team assumes command of the Big Turnaround Fire, now at 110,767 acres, along with the Bugaboo-Scrub Fire, at 160,727 acres. The Big Turnaround is burning hot and creating heavy smoke columns. Two spot fires are contained near Stephen C. Foster State Park and near Highway 84. Bucket drops slow the progress of the fire, which continues to burn south towards the Bugaboo Scrub, now 160,727 acres.
More line is built around the Bugaboo Scrub II fire, with a slight increase in containment to 52 percent. Communication between managers of the Bugaboo Scrub and Bugaboo Scrub II fires clarifies areas of responsibilities and corrects double reporting of acreage.
The Florida Bugaboo grows to 121,350 acres and is 90 percent contained. All Florida evacuations have now been lifted.
May 20th
Low humidities increase fire activity. Crews from the Sweat Farm Road Fire successfully suppress fire moving off the Refuge from the western edge of the Big Turnaround Fire, protecting high value pine plantations. A temperature inversion traps smoke close to the ground and reduces visibility.
The Big Turnaround Fire and the Bugaboo Scrub Fire merge into one fire now totaling 279,143 acres. This combined fire will be reported as the Big Turnaround Complex.
Bugaboo Scrub n Fire perimeter remains unchanged and containment is now 55 percent. The Florida Bugaboo has grown slightly to 121,401 acres and remains 90 percent contained.
May 21st
The Hannemann Team prepares to be relieved of managing the Sweat Farm Road Fire and Bugaboo Scrub n Fire by another Type 2 Incident Management Team led by Reed Hildreth. Embers from the Big Turnaround Fire blow west onto private lands. Crews from the Bugaboo Scrub II fire are sent to assist with initial attack of spot fires.
The Big Turnaround Fire is very active with extreme fire behavior on the interior, growing to 282,250 acres. The record for no significant rainfall has now reached 80 days. Air operations assisted the Georgia Forestry Commission on extended attack of a long- burning fire near St. George called the St. George Break Fire. A meeting involving all area stakeholders is held to reach consensus on a proposed burnout operations on the southeast flank. The Florida Bugaboo Fire grows slightly to 122,643 acres. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology 16
May 22nd
The Hannemann Team continues transitioning with the Hildreth Team on the Sweat Farm Road and Bugaboo Scrub II Fires. Burnout operations totaling nearly 10,000 acres are accomplished on the Big Turnaround Complex using aerial ignition, with containment at 45 percent. Mop-up and holding containment lines continue on the St. George Break Fire, 800 acres in size. The Oltrogge Team holds a public meeting in Folkston; 60 people are in attendance. Reports for several days refer to these fires collectively as the Georgia Bay Wildfires.
A Type 1 National Incident Management Organization .(NTMO) led by Joe Ferguson and a Type 2 Incident Management Team led by Gary Beauchamp arrive to assume unified command of the Florida Bugaboo Fire. The U.S. Forest Service bans open fires in the Apalachicola, Osceola, and Ocala National Forests.
May 23rd
The Hildreth Team assumes command of the Sweat Farm Road and Bugaboo Scrub II Fires on state-protected land. Spot fires from the Big Turnaround Complex made significant runs to the west, but are contained and become part of the Sweat Farm Road Fire now at 56,527 acres. The Big Turnaround Complex grows to 311,490 acres, in large part due to burnout operations the previous day, and containment increases to 50 percent. Stormy weather moving across the area causes erratic winds and fire behavior, with very active fire on the entire eastern side of the fire. Low humidities continue. Georgia Highways 94 and 185 are reopened. The Ferguson-Beauchamp Team assumes command of the Florida Bugaboo Fire, which is remapped at 123,183 acres.
May 24th
The previous days' spot fires west of the Refuge jump containment lines and continue to move rapidly to the west, threatening 15-20 structures. An area west of the Refuge and south of the Sweat Farm Road Fire is evacuated. The Bugaboo Scrub II Fire is now 60 percent contained; resources are moved to assist with the growing Sweat Farm Road Fire. Intense fire behavior is observed.
Burnout operations continue on the Big Turnaround Complex, now at 327,985 acres. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director approves a new decision to keep the Big turnaround Fire (Complex) confined within the Swamp Edge Break at a size less than 425,000 acres and a cost of under $43,000,000. Damage is discovered to 60 acres of endangered Red-Cockaded Woodpecker habitat, due to fire suppression operations. The incident is under investigation by law enforcement. Biologists will monitor the area to assess the viability of 25-30 long-leaf pine nesting trees, the roots of which were cut by tractor plow blades building fireline.
Ware County bans all fireworks. No change is reported on the Florida Bugaboo Fire. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology 17
May 25•th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire is now 70,544 acres and 65 percent contained, burning in various-aged pine plantations. Suppression efforts continue. Bugaboo Scrub II Fire is now 80 percent contained. Burnout operations continue on the Big Turnaround Complex, now at 344,213 acres. Several reburns were suppressed in the northern part of the Big Turnaround before reaching commercial'timber property. The Refuge headquarters office opens; the Refuge remains closed to the public.
May 26th
High winds cause the Sweat Farm Road Fire to make a run to the northeast, increasing fixe size to 76,958 acres. The fire is 75 percent contained. Some mandatory evacuations were lifted. Initial attack occurred for 2 new fires 40 miles west of Waycross; one was contained and one remains active. The Bugaboo Scrub n Fire remains unchanged.
The Big Turnaround Complex grows to 361,859 acres as needle cast from scorched pines create carpets on hot soil that ignite four-foot flames. Rain from the previous day helped firefighters make progress with suppressing active fire and this reburn activity. Georgia Emergency Management Agency and Charlton County assisted with suppression efforts. Smoke was very thick in the town of Fargo, due to a temperature inversion. The Georgia Forestry Commission forms a Mop-Up Command comprising 6 task forces working throughout southeast Georgia on various fires.
The Florida Bugaboo Fire causes significant smoke in the Lake City area. Timber salvage operations begin on the fire. The fire area was remapped and the size recalculated to 122,704 acres. Several counties in Florida now have burn bans in place.
The Sweat Farm Road, Big Turnaround, Bugaboo Scrub, Bugaboo Scrub E, and Florida Bugaboo fires have all burned together, making the combined fire of 537,950 acres one of the largest in modern history in the lower 48 states.
May 27th
Spread of the Sweat Farm Road Fire slows and size is currently 80,023 acres and 80 percent contained. Several spot fires were caught and contained. The Big Turnaround Complex grows to 373,517 acres as burnout and suppression operations continue. Big Turnaround crews assist Georgia Forestry Commission and local fire departments with response to the Oker Rock Fire of more than 100 acres northwest of Folkston; that fire is a potential threat to the Incident Command Post. The perimeter of the Florida Bugaboo Fire remains unchanged. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology • 18
May 28th
Minimal spread occurs on the Sweat Farm Road Fire at 80,023 acres, which remains 80 percent contained. A few small spots were contained The lack of engines is hampering control and mop-up efforts on Sweat Farm Road and Bugaboo Scrub II Fires.
Reburn continues on the interior of the Big Turnaround Complex, now at 376,618 acres. Burnout operations also continue. Georgia Forestry Commission Mop-Up Command, continues to assist with control efforts on several fires.
The Florida Bugaboo Fire destroys 12 acres of commercial timber property. This increases the total fire size to 122,716 acres.
May 29th
All evacuations have been lifted for the Sweat Farm Road Fire, now at 81,209 acres with increased containment to 85 percent. Fire again spreads from inside the Refuge boundary, making a significant run to northwest and adding to the acreage burned on the Sweat Farm Road Fire. No change is reported on the Bugaboo Scrub E Fire.
Burnouts continue on the Big Turnaround Complex and merge into the main fire, which makes several runs and spreads to 385,521 acres. There are several active areas of fire with smoke columns on the interior.
The Florida Bugaboo Fire grows as dried out areas burn and is now 124,584 acres. The combined fire in Georgia and Florida covers an area greater than Rhode Island.
May 3 Oth
The Sweat Farm Road Fire grows to 81,994 acres, due to uncontained fire from the western boundary of the Refuge. Overnight burnout operations help reinforce containment lines. Break-outs from previous days remain contained. The Big Turnaround Complex burns actively on the interior and makes several runs toward control line's, reaching 392,390 acres. Burnouts fired off the control line help keep runs from escaping the fire perimeter. No change is reported on the Florida Bugaboo Fire.
May 31th
The Sweat Farm Road Fire grows slightly to 82,049 acres due to spotting from the Bugaboo Scrub n Fire, but overall containment increases to 90 percent contained. The 'Big Turnaround Complex is now 399,178 acres and 60 percent contained. A second canoe camping platfonn is discovered burned on the Refuge. Burnout operations continue off control lines. The Ruggiero Team returns to resume command of the Complex. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology 19
June 1st
The Sweat Farm-Road Fire makes a few short runs in unburned pockets to reach 82,199 acres, with significantly less spread than previous days. The Ruggiero Team officially resumes command of the Big Turnaround Complex, which grows to 402,490 acres. Burnouts continue, including around Chesser Island, the Swamp Boardwalk Tower, and c along Swamp Island Drive. Containment increases to 65 percent. The Florida Bugaboo Fire size is recalculated to 108,754 acres, due to subtraction of misreported acres north of Florida Highway 2.
June 2nd
The Sweat Farm Road Fire grows slightly to 82,216 acres and Bugaboo Scrub E remains at 5,585 acres, with both fixes now 98 percent contained. Tropical Storm Barry causes 3-6 inches of rain throughout the area of the fires. The Big Turnaround Complex is now 405,638 acres and 70 percent contained. Firefighters are put on alert for potential hurricane response.
June 3rd
Aerial reconnaissance of the Sweat Farm Road Fire identifies several remaining hot spots within the fire perimeter. Emergency stabilization begins on the Big Turnaround Complex to mitigate damage caused by suppression operations. Containment increases to 80 percent. Planning also begins for additional landscape rehabilitation.
The Florida Bugaboo Fire is fully contained. The Ferguson N1MO Team turns over its operational role in unified command to a smaller NTMO Team led by George Custer, but remains on site to monitor the fire activity.
June 4th
Fire advisories for all communities in Georgia and Florida have now been lifted. Crews on the Sweat Farm Road and Bugaboo Scrub n Fires focus on mop-up, road repair, and clearing roads of fallen trees. Crews on the Big Turnaround Complex proceed with holding, patrolling, monitoring, and mop-up operations, while emergency stabilization continues.
The Beauchamp Team turns over its role in unified command on the Florida Bugaboo Fire to a Type 3 Incident Management Team led by Joey Brady to oversee mop-up operations and rehabilitation efforts. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology 20
June 5th
Mop-up and stabilization work continues on all fires. The Big Turnaround Complex receives Vi -inch of rain, while the Florida Bugaboo Fire has received over 4 inches of rain over the last 2 days. Stephen C. Foster State Park is opened for day use only.
June 6th
The Floyd Team resumes command of the Sweat Farm Road Fire from the Hildreth Team. The Big Turnaround Complex is now at 405,893 acres. Protective wrap is removed from historic structures on the Refuge. The Florida Bugaboo Fire managers plan to downsize their operations.
June 7th
The Floyd Team turns over command of a portion of the fully contained Bugaboo Scrub n Fire on the west side of the Refuge; the Ruggerio Team will now manage all fire within the Perimeter Road as part of the Big Turnaround Complex. A burnout is planned for the next day on the west side of the Complex, in cooperation with crews assigned to the Bugaboo Scrub n Fire, now calculated at 1,467 acres. Rehabilitation is underway of fireline constructed with dozers to avoid excessive soil erosion and restore natural surface water flow.
Fourteen people attend a public meeting in the community of Argyle in connection with the Sweat Farm Road Fire. Forty people attend a public meeting with the Ruggiero Team and Refuge staff in Folkston concerning the Big Turnaround Complex. Stephen C. Foster State Park is now fully opened and all roads are now open in Georgia and Florida.
A Type 3 Incident Management team led by Steve Rippley assumes command of the Florida Bugaboo Fire.
June 8th
Burnout of uplands primarily within the Refuge is successfully accomplished to support containment on the west side of the Big Turnaround Complex. There are still uncontained areas of the fire on the west and southeast flanks. The Charlton County Emergency Operations Center closes. Big Turnaround Fire Chronology 21
June 9th
Higher temperatures and continued drying will increase the risk of areas burning again in all fires, despite recent rain. Acreage for the Big Turnaround Complex is adjusted to 386,772 to eliminate duplicate reporting of acres for the Sweat Farm Road Fire. On the * Big Turnaround Complex, crews are searching for hot spots, reburns, and any new lightning starts. They also began removing equipment from areas of the fire where mop- up has been fully completed and no threat of reburn exists. Local resources assume responsibility for the Bugaboo Scrub II Fire.
June 10th
Several fires caused by lightning on the Sweat Farm Road Fire are caught and contained. The Sweat Farm Road Fire Crew reports a 10-acre fire in Atkinson County caused by logging equipment that was quickly suppressed.
June 11th
Reconnaissance flight occurs today on the Sweat Farm Road Fire; monitoring and mop- up continues. Mop-up and suppression of reburns continues on the Big Turnaround Complex Fire, which is now 85 percent contained. Firefighters fell hazard trees that are a threat to public safety. Crews are prepared for initial attack on new fires if needed.
June 12th
The Big Turnaround Complex received 1-2 inches of rain. The chosen strategy is succeeding and expected to continue to success as long as the current seasonal weather patterns, which have now resumed, continue. The Ruggerio Team is transitioning with a national Fire Use Management Team (FUMT) led by Jay Perkins. The total suppression cost to date is $24,599,778, less than $100 per acre. The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge announces that the refuge will begin reopening portions of the Refuge to the public on beginning Saturday, June 16.
June 13th
The Perkins Team assumes command of the Big Turnaround Complex, which is now 90 percent contained. Staffing is being significantly downsized.
June 14th
Mop-up operations continue on the Big Turnaround Complex. The southern half of the fire received a %-inch. of rain. The potential for additional lightning-caused fires in southeastern Georgia and northern Florida remains. The fire is expected continue to burn on the interior for several more months or until a hurricane event occurs. REVIEW AND APPROVALS
BANKS LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
LAKELAND, GEORGIA
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 2007
Refuge Manager Date
Refuge Supervisor, Area III Date
Chief of Refuges Date / TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION iii
HIGHLIGHTS iv
MONITORING AND STUDIES 1 l.a. Surveys and Censuses 1 1 l.b. Studies and Investigation 2
HABITAT RESTORATION 3 2.a. Wetland Restoration: On-Refuge (Nothing to Report) 3 2.b. Upland Restoration: On-Refuge (Nothing to Report) 3 2.c. Wetland Restoration: Off-Refuge (Nothing to Report) 3 2.d. Upland Restoration: Off-Refuge (Nothing to Report) 3
HABITAT MANAGEMENT 4 3.a. Water Level Management 4 3.b. Moist Soil Management (Nothing to Report) 6 3.c. Graze/Mow/Hay (Nothing to Report) 6 3.d. Farming (Nothing to Report) 6 3.e. Forest Management (Nothing to Report) 6 3.f. Fire Management (Nothing to Report) 6 3.g. Pest Plant Control 6
FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 8 4.a. Bird Banding (Nothing to Report) 8 4.b. Disease Monitoring and Treatment (Nothing to Report) 8 4.c. Reintroductions (Nothing to Report) 8 4.d. Nest Structures (Nothing to Report) 8 4.e. Pest, Predator, and Exotic Animal Control (Nothing to Report) 8
COORDINATION ACTIVITIES 9 5.a. Lateragency Coordination 9 5.b. Tribal Coordination (Nothing to Report) 9 5.c. Private Land Activities (Nothing to Report) 9 5.d. Oil and Gas Activities (Nothing to Report) 9 5.e. Cooperative/Friends Organizations (Nothing to Report) 9 RESOURCE PROTECTION 10 6.a. Law Enforcement 10 6.b. Wildfire Preparedness (Nothing to Report) 11 6.c. Permits and Economic Management 11 6.d. Contaminant Investigation and Cleanup 11 6.e. Water Rights Management (Nothing to Report) 11 6.f. Cultural Resource Management (Nothing to Report) 12 6.g. Federal Facility Compliance Act (Nothing to Report) 12 6.h. Land Acquisition (Nothing to Report) 12 6.i. Wilderness and Natural Areas (Nothing to Report) 12 6.j. Threats and Conflicts 12
ALASKA ONLY 14
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RECREATION 15 8.a. Provide Visitor Services 15 8.b. Outreach 15 8.c Concession Operations 16 8.d, Public Use Maintenance Projects 16
PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION 17 9.a. Comprehensive Conservation Planning 17 9.b. General Administration 17 9.c. Training and Travel.: (Nothing to Report) 17 9.d. Energy (Nothing to Report) 17 9.e. Funding (Nothing to Report) 17 9.f. Safety (Nothing to Report) 18 9.g. Volunteers 18
11 INTRODUCTION
Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge (3,559 acres) is located in Lanier County near Lakeland, GA. The refuge contains a variety of habitat types including 1,459 acres of cypress swamp, 1,000 acres of marsh and 900 acres of open water. Scattered through these habitat types are hardwood swamp, pine forest and other upland areas. The refuge was established for the protection and conservation of a unique environment as well as migratory and resident wildlife (Figure 1).
On April 16, 1980, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service entered into a lease agreement with The Nature Conservancy to manage 3,559 acres of the Banks Lake/Grand Bay Wetlands complex, located in Lanier and Lowndes Counties in southeastern Georgia. The original intent of the lease was to establish a National Wildlife Refuge. Changes in the emphasis of the land acquisition program resulted in a lack of funds necessary to acquire the land. The area remained in a state of limbo during 1982 and 1983 with the Service maintaining a caretaker position over Banks Lake. In 1984, funds were added to the FY 1985 budget for the purchase at a value of $356,000. The refuge designation was authorized under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 and funded through provisions of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1955 with strong local support from the Lakeland community and the congressional delegation. The area became Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge on February 22, 1985.
Figure 1. Banks Lake wetland.
111 HIGHLIGHTS
• Banks Lake Comprehensive Conservation Plan was initiated in 2007.
• Visitor Services and Biological Reviews were conducted.
• Water level drawdown began in November.
IV 1. MONITORING AND STUDIES l.a. SURVEYS AND CENSUSES
Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is one of the largest freshwater swamp ecosystems in the coastal plain of Georgia. Its unique habitat provides for a diversity of wildlife species that migrate through the area as well as a number of resident species. Incidental sightings from staff and volunteers working in the area add to our knowledge of this satellite refuge.
Endangered and Threatened Species
Nothing to Report.
Wildlife
Waterfowl
Wood ducks are the most common waterfowl species at Banks Lake. Nest boxes, were installed by the State of Georgia in Grand Bay and by staff from the Okefenokee NWR in "Old Field", have increased the number of nest cavities available. However, the wood duck boxes have not been maintained since 2002.
Fisheries
The Banks Lake NWR fishery was surveyed in September prior to the drawdown. Seven transects were surveyed for a total of 401 minutes. The results of this survey compared to past electrofishing efforts are presented in Table 1. Table 1. Banks Lake Electrofishing Summary
| o IT— ( (D 1 «1 '5V § (D g 11 s— > •s io f2 33 S ctf % i 1 J-! o 1 ^o Chubsucke r | Lak e n P-t z2> o £ ffl J PQ O Warmout h §1 PQ 0 PQ o H June 7 22 197 107 59 51 17 43 0 5 42 543 1992 Oct 7 17 399 215 65 27 14 461 0 15 97 1310 1994 Nov 4 26 681 .141 202 43 39 6 87 108 35 1368 1995 Nov 7 54 403 131 3 39 34 5 4 23 48 744 1996 Dec 6 46 110 92 22 6 28 7 11 11 4 337 1997 Nov 7 78 269 105 358 55 54 36 11 33 46 1045 1999 Aug- 7 60 84 95 62 20 18 20 0 3 18 380 Sept 2001 Nov Drawdown — New Water Control Structure 2001 Feb 421,000 bluegill fingerlings released 2002 Apr 30,000 largemouth bass fingerlings released 2002 Dec 3.25 33 134 52 104 45 63 22 124 107 48 732 2005- Dec 7 32 102 83 72 8 22 1 18 40 20 398 2006 • Sept 7 44 145 117 36 41 16 8 3 12 20 442 2007
l.b. STUDIES AND INVESTIGATIONS
Linda Ham, EPD Watershed Protection Branch of Georgia Department of Natural Resources, began to assess the impact of air quality regulations that require reductions in mercury emissions in Georgia by monitoring the fisheries at Banks Lake and Billys Lake (Okefenokee NWR). Large mouth bass were collected during electrofishing to be tested for mercury. 2. HABITAT RESTORATION 2.a. WETLAND RESTORATION: ON-REFUGE
Nothing to Report. 2.b. UPLAND RESTORATION: ON-REFUGE
Nothing to Report. 2.c. WETLAND RESTORATION: OFF-REFUGE
Nothing to Report. 2.d. UPLAND RESTORATION: OFF-REFUGE
Nothing to Report. 3 HABITAT MANAGEMENT
The 3,559 acre refuge is composed of several wetland types. Approximately 900 acres are classified as open water, 1,200 acres as marsh, and 1,459 acres as cypress swamp. 3.a. WATER LEVEL MANAGEMENT
Water levels at Banks Lake were at approximately 190.89 feet msl at the beginning of 2007 and remained near this level through April. May through August water levels dropped and reached a, low of 189.5 in July. With the rains in August, water levels jumped to 192.2 at the end of August.
Beginning November 1, boards on the new structure were removed gradually to drawdown the water level of Banks Lake for submerged aquatic plant control. The water level was at 191.06 ft msl on November 1 and by year's end, it was at 189.55, a 1.47 ft drop. Water level was dropped cautiously due to the capacity of the water control structure behind the hospital and at Lake Erma. It was also the first time the boards were removed from the refuge's structure since it was built. Visitors were able to continue to boat and fish during this time.
There was concern from the local public that the drawdown would affect the wells in the area and if sufficient rain did not come to fill the lake, then some people may be without water. To address this concern, Charles A. Lagoueyte, Soil Scientist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, installed four sets of piezometers on two hydro-sequences for a total of eight monitoring wells (Figures 2 and 3). Deep piezometers were installed to a depth where consistent water bearing strata was encountered and soils displayed water saturation. The north eastern side displayed a hydro-sequence of Fuquay and Clarendon soils whereas the south eastern site displayed a hydro-sequence of Pelham and Leefield soils. The deep wells were set at a depth between!67.5 and 242.5 inches and the shallow wells were placed at a depth between 28.5 and 35 inches.
Due to the nature of the clay and its consistent display of soil moisture, or lack of, it is suspected that this clay layer acts to perch water. Furthermore, we can hypothesize that if this type material is at the near surface of the bottom of the lake, it will act in the same way to perch water in the lake unless there are fractures in the subsurface layers of the lake.
During the months of November and December, water levels within the deep wells dropped between 8.5 and 11.25 inches versus a drop in the lake water level of 17.64 inches. The water level in the wells actually increased 4-8 inches during mid-December while the lake level continued to decrease. Coordinates: stop 1: W083 OS1 43.9" N3102' 05.81 Stop 2: W083 05' ++.9" N31 02' 04.6' !top3: W083 05' 15.3" N31 01' 31.6" Stop 4: WOS3 OS1 15.1" N3101' 30.3"
Utm Coordinates: Stop 1:17R0300000 3435362 Stop 2:17R 0299974 3435324 Stop 3:17R 0300740 3434294 ops 1 and 2 inside Stop 4:17R0300742 3434254 Refuge
Figure 2. Location of piezometers at Banks Lake NWR.
Figure 3. Jim Shelton measures the water depth within wells near Banks Lake during the drawdown. 3.b. MOIST SOIL MANAGEMENT
Nothing to Report. 3.c. GRAZE/MOW/HAY
Nothing to Report.
3.d. FARMING
Nothing to Report.
3.e. FOREST MANAGEMENT
Nothing to Report.
3.f. FIRE MANAGEMENT
Nothing to Report.
3.g. PEST PLANT CONTROL
Okefenokee and EufaulaNWR staff biologist sprayed approximately 100 acres of water hyacinth within Banks Lake NWR. One application was sprayed by airboat in March. This treatment killed approximately 90 percent of the water hyacinth plants sprayed; however, pockets were still present in mid-June (Figure 4). Figure 4. Water hyacinth remains a problem at Banks Lake NWR. 4• FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 4.a. BIRD BANDING
Nothing to Report. 4.b. DISEASE MONITORING AND TREATMENT
Nothing to Report.
4.c. REINTRODUCTIONS
Nothing to Report. 4.d. NEST STRUCTURES
Nothing to Report. 4.e. PEST, PREDATOR, AND EXOTIC ANIMAL CONTROL
Nothing to Report. 5 COORDINATION ACTIVITIES 5.a. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION
The Grand Bay-Banks Lake Ecosystem (GBBL) team met several times during the year. Many of the members of the council were involved in the biological review and the interagency CCP meeting. 5.b. TRIBAL COORDINATION
Nothing to Report.
5.c. PRIVATE LAND ACTIVITIES
Private landowners along the north edge of the lake continue to improve their properties. 5.d. OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES
Nothing to Report.
5.e. COOPERATIVE/FRIENDS ORGANIZATIONS
Okefenokee Wildlife League, Inc. continues to support programs at Banks Lake NWR, including the annual Fishing Derby. 6. RESOURCE PROTECTION 6.a. LAW ENFORCEMENT
Law enforcement efforts were carried out by Refuge LE Officers from Okefenokee NWR. A kiosk with posted refuge regulations is at the boat ramp and informs refuge visitors about refuge regulations.
Refuge LE efforts produced 13 federal violations issued by refuge officers this year. Fifteen incident reports were written, mainly involving trash dumping and late night beer parties. There have also been reports of illegal drug use and sales on the refuge; however, no cases were made • in 2007. A complaint was received by refuge officers that a farmer was illegally withdrawing water to irrigate his corn crop. At this time the matter is under investigation and a title search looking into water rights is under way. The lake draw-down was very tame as compared to previous years, no significant increase in violations were noted. The placement of resident volunteers has curtailed many incidents from occurring, especially after dark
Table 2. Federal violations issued by refuge officers in 2007. Refuge Violations Number of Cases Fishing on a NWR without a State License. - 4
Possession of a firearm on a NWR. 2
Operation of a boat with no running lights. 2
Operation of a boat without the required floatation device. 1
Operation of a boat on a NWR with expired registration. 1
Use of a illegal fishing device on a NWR 1
Abandon Property on a NWR 1
Disturbing Wildlife on a NWR 1
Total 13
10 6.b. WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS
The Grand Bay-Banks Lake Ecosystem (GBBLE) continues to discuss the development of a Fire Management Plan for the greater Grand Bay area. This was also discussed during CCP scoping meetings. There were no reported wildfires on or adjoining Refuge property.
6.c. PERMITS AND ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT
See Section l.b. 6.d. CONTAMINANT INVESTIGATION AND CLEANUP
The septic systems of residences on the north edge of Banks Lake continue to be a concern; however, no action was taken in 2007. 6.e. WATER RIGHTS MANAGEMENT
The Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge was acquired by the United States from the Nature Conservancy in 1985. At the time of acquisition, there were several pre-existing structures (houses and docks) that appeared to be adjacent to, but outside of, the refuge. A subsequent Fish and Wildlife (Service) survey revealed that some of these pre-1985 structures were within the refuge boundary. After acquisition, several of the adjacent landowners erected numerous other houses and docks within the refuge boundary. All of these structures, located along State Highway No. 122 on the northern shore of Banks Lake were in land lots 520 and 521, and involved land that was totally inundated by the waters of Banks Lake.
In 1994, the Service filed a quiet title action in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia to determine the boundary of B-anks Lake within land lots 520 and 521. The Service argued that the United States owned title to all of the land beneath the waters of the Lake up to the 1848 historic high water mark, which was essentially as it existed in 2002 when the Service filed its action. The Service also argued that it owned all associated water rights. The defendant landowners argued that the boundary of the Lake had been artificially raised, and the true high water mark extended approximately 90 horizontal feet down into the Lake.
To determine the correct boundary, the court appointed a Special Master to examine the records. Contrary to the Service's position, the Special Master determined that the high water mark of Banks Lake was as it existed in 1925, as depicted on a 1953 survey conducted by Henry Wiggs. Additionally, the Special Master found that four individuals had established title to their property by adverse possession. The Court- adopted the Special Master's report in its entirety finding that the Federal government "had no claim of title, rights of possession to, or any interest in any of the lands lying between the "1925 High Water Mark ... and the Southern right of way of State Route 122." hi response to this ruling, the Service sought clarification on the government's property rights with respect to lands above the 1925 water mark, hi April 2002, the court amended its Order by clarifying that the government retains an interest in the lands inasmuch as the government "has
11 the right to flood and overflow lands adjacent to Banks Lake by reason of a dam or dams on said Lake and contiguous waters in Grand Bay, which right also includes normal and natural overflow rights resulting from rains and other natural causes, together with riparian, littoral, flowage and water rights connected therewith." In 2002, the Service marked its boundary within land lots 520 and 521.
Recent Developments
During a routine inspection of the refuge, the Service discovered that Mr. Burt Simpson has installed a irrigation pump on submerged lands, and is using the pump to divert water from Banks Lake for agricultural irrigation. Mr. Simpson advised Refuge Law Enforcement Officers that he believed he had the right to withdraw water from Banks Lake due to his ownership of both submerged lands within Banks Lake and uplands adjacent to the Lake.
The matter was referred to Delores Young, Solicitor's Office, who contacted Mr. Simpson's attorney, Daniel Studstill. Mr. Studstill provided Ms. Young with a copy of Mr. Simpson's deed and property survey. The Simpson survey was done in 1963, and appears to include a significant portion of Banks Lake. Ms. Young recommended that the Service conduct a professional title search to determine the Service's property rights around the entire circumference of the Lake, considering all abutting landowners and then survey the boundary to establish the extent of the submerged lands owned by the Service. This issue was not resolved by the end of the year, but contracts have been issued by the regional office for the title work and a boundary survey of the southeast section of the refuge. 6.f. CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Nothing to Report. 6.g. FEDERAL FACILITY COMPLIANCE ACT
Nothing to Report. 6.h. LAND ACQUISITION
Nothing to Report. 6.1. WILDERNESS AND NATURAL AREAS
Nothing to Report. 6.j. THREATS AND CONFLICTS
See Section 6.e. Water Rights Management.
The structures that border the lake on the north shore are not connected to the city sewer service
12 and appear to have inadequate sewage and gray water treatment facilities. The land base on which these structures are built does not provide the adequate space needed for a septic tank and drain field. The Service has contacted Lanier County Health Department, Environmental Protection Agency, and Georgia Environmental Protection Division, requesting verification on , wastewater treatment systems in compliance with all applicable county and state regulations or a response-.that includes the date by which a written plan would be developed and implemented to bring wastewater treatment systems into compliance. The issue has not been addressed by any of the organizations notified.
13 7. ALASKA ONLY
14 8 PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RECREATION 8.a. PROVIDE VISITOR SERVICES
Facilities include a kiosk, concession operation, parking lot, fishing pier, and double-wide boat ramp. Information pertaining to visitation is collected by volunteers at prearranged times during the week and weekend.
Special Events
On June 9th, approximately seventy children caught over twelve hundred fish in the sixth annual Banks Lake NWR Youth Fishing Derby in Lakeland, Georgia (Figure 4). Heavy rains caused the event to be postponed a week, but that didn't dampen the children's spirits or their fishing aptitude, making this year's catch a record. Participants fished, participated in a Casting Competition, grunted worms, painted art on t-shirts, took the Fish ID Challenge, and ate lots of hot dogs. Bowen's Mill Fish Hatchery stocked the city-owned Flatlander Lake last fall, under the agreement the city would take over feeding and care of the fingerlings and fry until the Fishing Derby. This popular event was made possible by the combined efforts of staff and volunteers from the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Okefenokee Wildlife League, City of Lakeland, ValdostaBass Federation, Lanier County/Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, Diamond Eagle Marine, and many others. 8.b. Outreach
Environmental Education
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided to increase its community involvement within the Lanier County area through development of Environmental Education (BE) initiatives that bring both Banks Lake NWR, Georgia DNR's Grand Bay Wetland Education Center (GBWEC), and the South Georgia Regional Development Center (SGRDC) into partnership. This partnership will have a two-fold effect: First, through the development of curriculum-based EE programs, volunteers and teachers can lead EE fieldtrips to Banks Lake NWR, which will relieve the overwhelming demand on the GBWEC. Second, the Lanier County School System can utilize Banks Lake NWR as an outdoor classroom instead of traveling to Lowndes County. With adequate funding, personnel could be trained at the GBWEC to lead EE trips at Banks Lake NWR, where the refuge will have appropriate equipment and supplies available to conduct on- site activities in an appropriate outdoor classroom setting.
15 Currently no formal environmental education programs are being offered on a consistent basis at Banks Lake NWR. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approached administrators with the Lanier County School System in 2006 to develop Environmental Education (EE) initiatives that would provide educational programs at the refuge. The objective is for Lanier County and other school system students to utilize Banks Lake NWR as an outdoor classroom. This would allow more students to learn about a key resource, Banks Lake, in their community, and lessen the strain on environmental education facilities such as the Grand Bay Wetlands Center. The students will participate in professionally-created curriculum-based EE programs conducted by local educators and volunteers. So far beyond the grant activity mentioned below, no further progress has been accomplished while the Lanier County School System is in crisis due to the possible loss of accreditation.
Banks Lake EE Grant
A grant request of $4,282 to initially fund a portion of the environmental education program was awarded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to the South Georgia Regional Development Center (SGRDC). Rangers Burkhart and Eckberg met with members from SGRDC to discuss the program on May 2nd. SGRDC selected two teachers, Rhonne McBride and Brian Buffington from Valdosta Middle School, to develop the curriculum. Ranger Eckberg met with the teachers in July and also kept in contact by email. They created an interdisciplinary science and social studies unit for eighth grade students to learn and experience the history and natural significance of Banks Lake NWR. An extension of the unit was the development of an informational brochure including a GIS generated map of the refuge and the cultural and natural resources available there. A website,-http://www.sgrdc.com/EnvironPlan/BanksLake/ was also developed to provide easy access to the lessons.
Hunting
Hunting is not allowed on the refuge at this time. 8.c. Concession Operations
The "Banks Lake Outpost," which is an ancillary operation of Okefenokee Adventures, Inc., continues to provide a sales outlet for retail items such as clothing, souvenirs, fishing equipment, live bait, and convenience items. In addition, the outpost provides services such as issuing state fishing licenses, canoe/ kayak rentals, and interpretive paddling excursions. The contractor continues to struggle due to low visitation and is faced with temporary closure during a proposed lake level drawdown during October-February. 8.d. Public Use Maintenance Projects
The following projects were completed in 2007:
• Built new information kiosk and installed three-panels • Built benches for dock
16 9 PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION 9.a. COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLANNING
The process for developing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for Banks Lake NWR began in 2007 with the hiring of Regional Planner Laura Housh. Laura is stationed at Okefenokee NWR. Dynamic Corporation from Cape Canaveral, Florida has been contracted to complete the Banks Lake CCP. Completion of the plan is set for December 2008. 9.b. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Banks Lake NWR is an untended, unstaffed station administered by the staff at Okefenokee NWR. Refuge staff provides some visitor services and upkeep of public facilities. An estimated 20,000 visitors use the refuge mainly for freshwater fishing, wildlife observation, and photography. 9.c. TRAINING AND TRAVEL
Nothing to Report. 9.d. ENERGY
Table 3. CY 2007 CY 2006 CY2005
Electricity (kwh) 29632 2,673 0
Gasoline (gal) 1280 824 0
Diesel (gal) 10 120 0
9.e. FUNDING
Nothing to Report.
17 9.f. SAFETY
Phyllis Maroney - February 10, 2007
Volunteer Phyllis and her husband Don were clearing brush from walking trail to better serve the public. Phyllis found an embedded tick. As she was removing the tick, the body broke off and the head was still embedded. She went to the emergency room where they removed the tick and gave her antibiotics. 9.g. VOLUNTEERS
Banks Lake NWR hosted twenty volunteers who contributed more than 1200 hours. Workampers stayed on site year round. An advertisement for a volunteer position is posted on www.volunteer.gov and through Workamper magazine. Selected volunteers live on the refuge by the boat landing. Duties include general maintenance of grounds and facilities and public contact.
18