Great Dismal Swamp and Nansemond National Wildlife Refuges from March 13 to April 24, 2006
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and Nansemond National Wildlife Refuge Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan July 2006 Cover: American black bear Photo: Pat Cuffee This goose, designed by J.N. “Ding” Darling, has become the symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fi sh and wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefi t of the American people. The Service manages the 96-million acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprised of 544 national wildlife refuges and thousands of waterfowl production areas. It also operates 65 national fi sh hatcheries and 78 ecological services fi eld stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally signifi cant fi sheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, administers the Endangered Species Act, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid Program which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fi shing and hunting equipment to state wildlife agencies. Comprehensive Conservation Plans provide long-term guidance for management decisions and set forth goals, objectives, and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes and identify the Service’s best estimate of future needs. These plans detail program planning levels that are sometimes substantially above current budget allocations and, as such, are primarily for Service strategic planning and program prioritization purposes. The plans do not constitute a commitment for staffi ng increases, operational and maintenance increases, or funding for future land acquisition. ii Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge iii Comprehensive Conservation Plan iv Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan Guiding Principles of the National Wildlife Refuge System We are land stewards, guided by Aldo Leopold’s teachings that land is a community of life and that love and respect for the land is an extension of ethics. We seek to refl ect that land ethic in our stewardship and to instill it in others. Wildlands and the perpetuation of diverse and abundant wildlife are essential to the quality of the American life. We are public servants. We owe our employers, the American people, hard work, integrity, fairness, and a voice in the protection of their trust resources. Management strategies from preservation to active manipulation of habitats and populations is necessary to achieve the missions of the National Wildlife Refuge System and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wildlife-dependent uses involving hunting, fi shing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation, when compatible, are legitimate and appropriate uses of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Partnerships with those who want to help us meet our mission are welcome and indeed essential. Employees are our most valuable resource. They are to be respected. They deserve empowering and mentoring, and support through a caring work environment. We respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of our neighbors. vi Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan Table of Contents Signature Page........................................................................ i Finding of No Significant Impact.............................................. iii Table of Contents............................................................................................... vii Chapter 1:Purpose of and Need for Action.......................................... 1 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 3 The Planning Area......................................................................................................... 4 Purpose of and Need for Action..................................................................................... 4 Department of Interior................................................................................................... 6 Fish & Wildlife Service................................................................................................... 6 National Wildlife Refuge System.................................................................................... 7 Roanoke-Tar-Neuse-Cape Fear Ecosystem ................................................................... 8 Relationships with Federal, State, and Local Agencies................................................... 10 Legal Policy Content...................................................................................................... 13 Chapter 2: Comprehensive Conservation Plan................................... 15 Wilderness Assessment................................................................................................. 19 Key Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities -GDSNWR...................................................... 20 Key Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities -NNWR.......................................................... 28 Chapter 3:Refuge and Resource Descriptions.................................... 31 Introduction................................................................................................................... 32 Physical Environment Location and size............................................................................................... 35 Physiography and Topography........................................................................... 36 Geology............................................................................................................. 37 Soils................................................................................................................... 38 Climate.............................................................................................................. 40 Water Resources................................................................................................ 41 Air Quality.......................................................................................................... 45 Contaminants/Hazardous Materials.................................................................... 47 Aesthetics.......................................................................................................... 49 Biological Resources Refuge Habitats and Regional Context................................................................ 51 Fauna................................................................................................................. 51 Flora.................................................................................................................. 54 Rare Species...................................................................................................... 61 Noxious/Invasive Species................................................................................... 63 The Role of Fire............................................................................................ 64 Cultural Resources Prehistoric and Historic Native Americans........................................................... 67 Historic Period Euro-Americans and Afro-AmericansNative Americans............... 68 Socio-Economics Population.......................................................................................................... 70 Employment....................................................................................................... 71 Public Use.......................................................................................................... 71 Political Setting.................................................................................................. 73 Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge vii Comprehensive Conservation Plan Chapter 4:Management Direction.............................................................. 76 Refuge Goals, Programs, Objectives, and Strategies...................................................... 77 Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge Refuge Vision Statement................................................................................................ 78 Refuge Goals................................................................................................................. 79 Goal 1. Habitat............................................................................................................... 80 Goal 2. Trust Resources/Wildlife Species....................................................................... 88 Goal 3. Land Protection................................................................................................. 93 Goal 4. Public Use.......................................................................................................... 95 General Refuge Management......................................................................................... 109 Nansemond National Wildlife Refuge Goal 1............................................................................................................................ 111 Chapter 5: Refuge Administration.............................................................. 114 Refuge Staffing.............................................................................................................