Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan December 2009 Front cover: Rappahannock River and Cat Point Creek Brian Watts/The College of William and Mary Dickcissel John Drummond/USFWS Wilna Tract grassland flowers USFWS Wilna Tract Pond USFWS Bald eagle Steve Hillebrand/USFWS Back cover: Rappahannock River and Cat Point Creek Brian Watts/The College of William and Mary This blue 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, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefi t of the American people. The Service manages the 150-million acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprised of more than 550 national wildlife refuges and thousands of waterfowl production areas. It also operates 70 national fi sh hatcheries and 81 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 Assistance 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. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlfe Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan December 2009 Submitted by: ___________________________________________________ __________________________ Joseph McCauley Date Project Leader Eastern Virginia Rivers Refuge Complex Concurrence by: ___________________________________________________ __________________________ Daryle Lons Date Refuge Supervisor, South National Wildlife Refuge System ___________________________________________________ __________________________ Anthony D. Legér Date Assistant Regional Director National Wildlife Refuge System Approved by: ___________________________________________________ __________________________ Marvin E. Moriarty Date Regional Director, Region 5 Abstract Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan December 2009 Abstract Type of action: Administrative U.S. Department of Interior Lead agency: Fish and Wildlife Service Responsible official: Marvin Moriarty, Regional Director, Region 5 For further information: Project Leader Eastern Virginia Rivers Refuge Complex P. O. Box 1030 336 Wilna Road Warsaw, VA 22572-1030 Phone: 804/333-1470 FAX: 804/333-3396 Email: [email protected] Web: www.fws.gov/northeast/rappahannock This Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the 7,711 acre Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge is the culmination of a planning effort involving several Virginia state agencies, local partners, refuge neighbors, private landowners, the Rappahannock Wildlife Refuge Friends Group, and the local community. This CCP establishes 15-year management goals and objectives for wildlife and habitats, public use, and administration and facilities. Under this plan, we make improvements to our biological and public use programs. We prioritize our management activities for wildlife and habitats and the visitor services we provide in order to be more effective and efficient with our resources. We will improve our outreach and visibility on the refuge and in nearby communities through new or enhanced partnerships. We will also continue to work hard with our land conservation partners to help identify and protect valuable wildlife habitats. Finally, we will employ an adaptive management approach that includes adjusting our activities as results from management actions become better understood. This flexibility is especially important as we face ecological uncertainties, such as the predicted impacts of climate change. Abstract i U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan Refuge Vision “On the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, birds will raise Statement their young in native habitats of fi eld, forest, and marsh. They will fi nd rest and nourishment during migration and a haven in winter. We will manage refuge lands and waters with an emphasis on species whose populations have declined, assisting them on the road to recovery. “In partnership with others, we will contribute to the communities where we exist, helping renew the health and vitality of the Rappahannock River and the Chesapeake Bay. We will complement the rich traditions of hunting, fi shing, forestry and agriculture on Virginia’s Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. “The refuge will serve as an outdoor classroom, where students of all ages will study nature’s complexity, contributing to our understanding and appreciation of the natural world and the National Wildlife Refuge System. All those who visit will fi nd enjoyment in the presence of healthy and abundant fi sh, wildlife, and plants, and will leave with a renewed personal commitment to land conservation and stewardship.” iii Table of Contents Chapters Abstract . i Refuge Vision Statement . iii Chapter 1 Purpose of and Need For Action Introduction . 1-1 The Purpose of and Need for the Proposed Action . 1-3 The Service and the Refuge System: Policies and Mandates Guiding Planning . 1-4 The National Wildlife Refuge System and its Mission and Policies . 1-6 Conservation Plans and Initiatives Guiding the Proposed Action . 1-11 Refuge Establishing Purposes and Land Acquisition History . 1-19 Refuge Administration . 1-20 Refuge Operational Plans (“Step-down” Plans). 1-20 Refuge Vision Statement . 1-22 Refuge Goals . 1-22 Chapter 2 The Planning Process The Comprehensive Conservation Planning Process . 2-1 Leading Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities . 2-4 Chapter 3 Existing Environment Introduction . 3-1 The Physical Landscape . 3-1 The Cultural Landscape Setting and Land Use History . 3-6 Current Climate . 3-8 Air Quality. 3-9 Water Quality . 3-10 The Regional Socio-Economic Setting . 3-15 Refuge Administration . 3-16 Special Use Permits, including Research . 3-21 Refuge Natural Resources . 3-23 Refuge Biological Resources . 3-39 Refuge Visitor Services Program . 3-58 Archaeological and Historical Resources . 3-61 Chapter 4 Management Direction and Implementation Introduction . 4-1 Summary by Major Program Area . 4-1 General Refuge Management . 4-9 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies . 4-30 Chapter 5 Consultation and Coordination Introduction . 5-1 Planning to Protect Land and Resources . 5-1 Partners Involved in Refuge Planning . 5-3 Contact Information . 5-4 Planning Team. 5-4 Other Service Program Involvement . 5-5 Other Involvement . 5-6 Table of Contents v Table of Contents Chapters (cont.) Glossary (including list of acronyms) Glossary. .Glos-1 Acronyms . Glos-23 Bibliography Bibliography . Bibl-1 Appendixes Appendix A Species Known or Suspected on the Refuge, Including Species of Conservation Concern Table A.1. Birds of Conservation Concern for Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge . .A-1 Table A.2. Species List for Rappahannock River Valley Area . .A-5 Table A.3. Conservation List and Agency, Tier Categories, and Definition . A-30 Appendix B Findings of Appropriateness and Compatibility Determinations Findings of Appropriateness and Compatibility Determinations Compatibility Determinations for Priority Public Uses: Environmental Education, Wildlife Observation, Interpretation and Photography. B-1 Public Deer Hunting . B-21 Recreational Fishing. B-29 Findings of Appropriateness and Compatibility Determinations for Other Uses: Cooperative Farming . B-41 Firewood Cutting . B-59 Research . B-67 Retrieval of Hunting Dogs . B-85 Uses Found to be “Not Appropriate”: Bicycling Off-road . B-97 Camping. B-101 Dog Training and Field Trials . B-105 Horseback Riding. B-109 Jogging Off-road . B-113 Pets on Refuge Roads and Trails . B-117 Picnicking. B-121 Swimming / Sunbathing . B-125 Use of All-terrain Vehicles . B-129 Use of Pursuit Dogs for Hunting . B-133 Appendix C Staffing Chart Staffing Charts . .C-1 vi Table of Contents Table of Contents Appendixes (cont.) Appendix D Refuge Operations Needs (RONS) and Service Asset Maintenance Management Systems (SAMMS) Refuge Operations Needs (RONS) and Service Asset Maintenance Management Systems (SAMMS) . ..