Cape May National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan
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Table of Contents Chapter 1. Introduction and Background The Purpose of and Need for Action ..........................................................................1 Cape May Refuge ........................................................................................1 Two Mile Beach Unit......................................................................................3 Purposes of Cape May Refuge...............................................................................3 Refuge Vision ...........................................................................................3 National and Regional Mandates.............................................................................5 Other Legal and Policy Mandates ............................................................................6 Relevant Ecosystem and Species Recovery Plans.................................................................8 Chapter 2. Planning Process The Comprehensive Conservation Planning Process .............................................................11 Planning Issues.........................................................................................13 Issues Outside the Scope of the CCP/EA ......................................................................17 Chapter 3. Summary Refuge and Resource Descriptions Cape May Refuge Physical Environment ................................................................................19 Biological Environment ...............................................................................20 Archaeological and Historical Environment ................................................................23 Socioeconomic Environment...........................................................................24 Two Mile Beach Unit Physical Environment ................................................................................24 Biological Environment ...............................................................................25 Archaeological and Historical Environment ................................................................26 Socioeconomic Environment...........................................................................26 Chapter 4. Management Direction Refuge Management Policies and Guidelines...................................................................27 The Comprehensive Conservation Plan Cape May Refuge ...................................................................................31 Goal 1. Protect and enhance Federal trust resources and other species and habitats of special concern. ....................................................................... 31 Goal 2. Maintain and/or restore natural ecological communities to promote healthy, functioning ecosystems.................................................................. 33 Goal 3. Establish a land protection program to support species, habitat and ecosystem goals................... 36 Goal 4. Provide opportunities for high-quality compatible, wildlife-dependent public use....................... 36 Two Mile Beach Unit.................................................................................39 Goal 1. Protect and enhance Federal trust resources and other species and habitats of special concern. ....................................................................... 40 Goal 2. Maintain and/or restore natural ecological communities to promote healthy, functioning ecosystems.................................................................. 40 Goal 3. Establish a land protection program to support species, habitat and ecosystem goals................... 41 Goal 4. Provide opportunities for high-quality compatible, wildlife-dependent public use....................... 41 Chapter 5. Implementation and Monitoring Funding and Staffing ..................................................................... 57 Step-down Management Plans.............................................................................58 Monitoring and Adaptive Management.......................................................................58 Plan Amendment and Revision .............................................................................59 Appendices Appendix A. Relevant Legal Mandates and Land Acquisition Legislation .............................................61 Appendix B. Summary of Public Comments Received on the Draft CCP/EA and Their Disposition...........................69 Appendix C. Summary of Public Comments Received on the Revised Draft CCP/EA and Their Disposition ....................73 Appendix D. Finding of No Significant Impact..................................................................81 Appendix E. Species and Communities of Special Emphasis in the New Jersey Coast Landscape ..........................83 Appendix F. Pre-acquisition Compatibility Determination........................................................105 Appendix G. Ecosystem Services and Functions...............................................................107 Appendix H. Refuge Operating Needs System (RONS) Project List .................................................109 Appendix I. Maintenance Management System (MMS) Project List ................................................113 Appendix J. Glossary...................................................................................117 Appendix K. Works Cited ................................................................................129 Appendix L. List of Preparers .............................................................................133 Appendix M. Land Protection Plan..........................................................................135 Maps Map 1. Cape May National Wildlife Refuge...................................................................2 Map 2. Two Mile Beach Unit of Cape May National Wildlife Refuge ................................................4 Map 3a. Refuge Expansion Areas. .........................................................................43 Map 3b. Refuge Expansion Areas. .........................................................................44 Map 4. Trapping. .....................................................................................45 Map 5a. Habitat Management.............................................................................46 Map 5b. Habitat Management.............................................................................47 Map 6a. Big Game Hunting. ............................................................................48 Map 6b. Big Game Hunting...............................................................................49 Map 7a. Upland Game Hunting............................................................................50 Map 7b. Upland Game Hunting............................................................................51 Map 8a. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. .....................................................................52 Map 8b. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. .....................................................................53 Map 9a. Wildlife Observation and Interpretation. ..............................................................54 Map 9b. Wildlife Observation and Interpretation. ..............................................................55 List of Figures and Tables Figure 1. The Comprehensive Conservation Planning Process and NEPA Compliance ...................................14 Table 1. Pre-acquisition Compatibility for Wildlife-dependent Recreational Activities at Cape May Refuge ...................28 Figure 2. Staffing Plan for Cape May Refuge...................................................................57 Chapter 1. Introduction and Background The Purpose of and Need for Action Development of a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) is vital to the future management of Cape May National Wildlife Refuge (Cape May Refuge) and it's new Two Mile Beach Unit. The purpose of the CCP is to provide strategic management direction over the next 15 years by: • Providing a clear statement of desired future conditions for habitat, wildlife, visitor services, and facilities; • Providing a clear understanding of the reasons for management actions; • Ensuring Refuge management reflects the policies and goals of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) and our other legal mandates; • Ensuring the compatibility of current and future public use; e. Providing long-term continuity and direction for Refuge management; f. Providing direction for staffing, operations, maintenance, and the development of budget requests. The need to develop a CCP is two-fold. First, the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Refuge Improvement Act) requires that all National Wildlife Refuges have a CCP in place within 15 years to help fulfill the new mission of the Refuge System. Second, there is currently no master plan establishing priorities and ensuring consistent and integrated management for Cape May Refuge. A vision statement and goals, objectives, and management strategies are needed to effectively manage natural resources. Persistent issues related to non-wildlife dependent public use, beach access, wilderness management, and management for threatened and endangered species must be resolved with public and partner involvement. Cape May Refuge Cape May Refuge is located in Cape May County, and includes the Delaware Bay Division, the Great Cedar Swamp Division, and the Two Mile Beach Unit. (See Map 1.) The Refuge was established in 1989. The approved acquisition