U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge Complex Planning Update #1—Winter 2007

Humboldt Bay NWR Greetings from the Refuge Manager Complex Overview The Humboldt Bay National Wildlife the beginning of the planning process and Refuge Complex is about to embark information about attending our public Humboldt Bay National Wildlife on an important two-year process to scoping meetings. Refuge (NWR) Complex, develop a Comprehensive Conservation which includes Plan (CCP) for the Refuge Complex. We will Humboldt Bay This CCP will help guide overall refuge frequently National management for the next 15 years. refer to Wildlife Your ideas and comments will be an aspects Refuge important part of the process, so I’d like of the (HBNWR) to invite you to participate by providing background and Castle your suggestions for refuge complex materials Rock National management. provided Wildlife Refuge Aleutian in this Photo © Jamie Bettaso (CRNWR), is located cackling goose Before we begin the process, I’d like to planning Red-legged frog on the northwest provide background information about update coast. In 1971 the HBNWR was the Refuges’ history, operation, and goals. throughout the CCP process. established to conserve coastal habitats You’ll also find some information about Understanding the planning process will for a great diversity of animals and plants, the National Wildlife Refuge System help all of us start on the same page when especially migratory birds. In later years and how comprehensive conservation we begin our public scoping meetings. the refuge added the Lanphere and Ma- planning fits le’l Dunes Units, to help conserve the most into the overall Please contact me or David Bergendorf pristine remaining dune ecosystem on the picture of refuge if you have any questions. See page 7 to west coast of North America. management. learn about the CCP process and page 8 for our phone numbers and email addresses. The refuge complex also includes Castle Planning will Rock NWR, a 14-acre island located in Del officially begin Norte County, less than a mile northwest during the winter of Crescent City. This refuge hosts one of of 2006-07. This is the largest and most diverse colonies of our first planning Eric Nelson breeding seabirds on the Pacific coast and update describing Project Leader/Refuge Manager provides a roost for approximately 20,000 Humboldt Bay Owl’s Aleutian cackling geese during their Clover migration.

Contents Humboldt Bay NWRC P.O. Box 576 Overview...... 1 1020 Ranch Rd. Loleta, CA 95551-9633 About FWS and the Refuge System...... 2 Humboldt Bay NWR...... 3 Map/Approved Refuge Boundary...... 3 Humboldt Bay NWR Map...... 4 Ma-le’l Dunes...... 5 Castle Rock NWR...... 6 What is a CCP?...... 7 Help Us Plan...... 8 What is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? “Wild beasts The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The FWS enforces Federal wildlife laws, (FWS) is the principal federal agency administers the Endangered Species Act, and birds are responsible for conserving, protecting manages migratory bird populations, and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants restores nationally significant fisheries, by right not the and their habitats for the continuing conserves and restores wildlife habitat benefit of the American people. such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation property merely The Service manages the 95 million efforts. It also oversees the Federal acre National Wildlife Refuge System Assistance program that distributes of people who which encompasses 545 national wildlife hundreds of millions of dollars in excise refuges, thousands of small wetlands taxes on fishing and hunting equipment are alive today, and other special management areas. to state fish and wildlife agencies. The FWS also operates 66 national fish but the property hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices of unknown and 78 ecological services field stations. generations whose belongings we have no right to squander.”

—President Theodore Roosevelt Dunlin What’s in a name? Many people confuse state and federal What is the National Wildlife fish and wildlife agencies because their names are similar. The U.S. Fish and Refuge System? Wildlife Service (FWS) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of In 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt 20.6 million acres in the Refuge System Interior. The California Department of protected an island with nesting pelicans, are managed as wilderness under the Fish and Game (DFG) is a department herons, ibis, and roseate spoonbills in Wilderness Act of 1964. within the California Resources Agency. Florida’s Indian River from feather collectors decimating their colonies. In 1997 Congress passed the National Our names are similar and so are our He established Pelican Island as the Wildlife Refuge System Improvement missions: Both agencies are dedicated nation’s first bird sanctuary and went Act (Improvement Act), legislation to the conservation of wildlife for the on to establish many other sanctuaries which provides clear guidance for the benefit of present and future generations. for wildlife during his tenure. This small management of the Refuge System. The Our jurisdictions are different. The FWS network of sanctuaries continued to act included a new statutory mission is the lead agency responsible for federal expand, later becoming the National statement and directed the Service to Endangered Species Act listed plant Wildlife Refuge System. manage the Refuge System as a national and animal species and migratory birds, system of lands and waters devoted to whether they are located on federal, Today, over 100 years later, Humboldt conserving wildlife and maintaining state, or private lands. The DFG has Bay and Castle Rock National Wildlife biological integrity of ecosystems. primary responsibility for resident fish Refuges are two of more than 545 and wildlife on state and private lands, National Wildlife Refuges encompassing The Improvement Act requires the FWS and oversees California Endangered nearly 95 million acres nationwide. to develop a comprehensive conservation Species Act listed plant and animal The National Wildlife Refuge System plan for each refuge. It also stated that species and stream alteration issues (System) is the largest system of lands certain wildlife-dependent recreational throughout California. in the world dedicated primarily to the uses are priority public uses on refuges conservation of fish,wildlife and plants. and strengthened the compatibility Humboldt Bay NWR Complex is The System is spread across 50 states, determination process for assuring that managed by the FWS, which coordinates American Samoa, Puerto Rico, the Virgin these and other activities do not conflict with DFG on a variety of management Islands, Johnston Atoll, Midway Atoll, with refuge management purposes and issues. and several other Pacific Islands. About goals.

 Humboldt Bay NWR

Humboldt Bay NWR Project Location and Watershed Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge (HBNWR) is located in Humboldt County, California, with refuge units within and adjacent to Humboldt Bay and associated watersheds. The approved refuge boundary is roughly defined by Hookton Road on the South, Mad River County Park on the north, Highway 101 Arcata and Mad River Slough on the east, and the Pacific Ocean on the west (see map).

History of Humboldt Bay NWR In 1971, Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge was established to conserve habitat for the great diversity of birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, invertebrates, and plants that occur in the Humboldt Bay area. Between 1971 and 1988 the refuge acquired what are now the Jacoby Creek, Eureka Slough, Table Bluff, Hookton Slough and White Slough Units. When the refuge acquired Eureka the lands that are now the Salmon Creek Unit, there were two staff added and the original management plan was written. The northern dune units of the refuge were added more recently. In 1998, The Nature Conservancy donated the Lanphere Dunes Unit to the refuge and in 2006 the Ma-le’l Dunes Unit was added.

The refuge currently consists of 10 different units that total almost 4,000 Fields Landing acres and are managed by a permanent staff of six people along with many volunteers and cooperators.

Overview of Humboldt Bay NWRs Habitats and Resources The Refuge’s 10 units consist of a mosaic of mudflats, estuarine eelgrass meadows, saltmarsh, brackish marsh, grasslands, seasonally flooded freshwater wetlands, riparian wetlands, streams, coastal dunes, and forest. These habitats support staging area for over 60 percent of the Raptors (eagles, hawks, and owls) and over 316 species of birds, 40 species brant’s flyway population prior to their songbirds also make significant use of the of mammals, and include two globally return to arctic nesting grounds. habitats around the bay. threatened dune plant communities. The refuge also provides habitat for Other birds that depend heavily upon The main reasons for the waterbird approximately 100 species of fish and the Bay and surrounding habitats for concentrations are the bay’s location marine invertebrates, many of which food include waterfowl such as Aleutian on the Pacific Flyway and the eelgrass contribute to sport or commercial cackling geese, wigeon, green-winged beds and extensive mudflats; the Bay is fisheries, including steelhead, coho and teal, pintail, greater scaup, bufflehead, the largest “wetland complex” between Chinook salmon, and Dungeness crab. and surf scoters; shorebirds such as San Francisco Bay and Coos Bay and it willets, marbled godwits, long-billed contains the largest remaining eelgrass This refuge is one of the most important curlews, dunlin, least and western beds between Baja California and areas in the U.S. south of Alaska for sandpipers, and other waterbirds such Willapa Bay in Washington. These bay the black brant. This is especially true loons, grebes, cormorants, great and habitats also make the Bay an important during the spring when the Bay is a key snowy egrets, and great blue herons. (continued next page)

 spawning, nursery, and feeding area for and two plants: the Humboldt Bay located at the Salmon Creek Unit just fish and other marine life. wallflower and beach layia. north of the Hookton Road exit (#696) off Highway 101, on the west side of the Federally listed endangered and Visitor Services at Humboldt Bay NWR freeway and is open daily from 8 am threatened species that are present in The Richard J. Guadagno Headquarters to 5 pm. The Visitor Center has some and around the bay include the bald and Visitor Center was dedicated almost stunning interpretive exhibits and a eagle, brown pelican, western snowy five years ago in May, 2002. If you have beautiful observation room equipped plover, Chinook and coho salmon, not come out for a visit, we encourage with telescopes for viewing wildlife. steelhead, tidewater goby (a small fish), you to do so. The Visitor Center is There are exciting things to see and do

 Stone Lakes National Wildlife Refuge on the Refuge all year, with peak wildlife Dunes Unit there will be two miles viewing from November through March. of hiking trails in the forest. The 0.5 This is also the starting point for much mile railroad berm trail will extend of the wildlife dependent public use that through the forest alongside the Mad the refuge offers including: a hiking trail, River Slough. The trail will pass by a photoblind and wildlife viewing kiosk, freshwater wetland and culminates at the guided walks, environmental education saltmarsh on the bank of the Mad River and interpretation, and a managed Slough. The 2.5 mile forest loop trail will pass through the coastal coniferous forest and present an excellent view of the tree fall from the December 2005 windstorm. The Lanphere Dunes Unit has approximately 3.5 miles of hiking trails. The trails provide opportunities to view the diverse dune and saltmarsh ecosystems. A permit is needed to visit, but there are guided walks offered by Friends of the Dunes on the first and third Saturdays. Call 444-1397 for more info. The recently acquired Ma-le’l Dunes Wildlife viewing from a boat Unit is part of the Ma-le’l Dunes can be excellent. The refuge Cooperative Management Area which currently has one launch area is managed by both the U. S. Fish for non-motorized boats only. and Wildlife Service (FWS) and It is located at the Hookton the Bureau of Land Management Slough Unit, where a popular (BLM). The property was acquired Mad River Slough Photo © Gary Todoroff trip is to paddle around the with support from the State Coastal remnant dikes of Teal Island. Conservancy, which is also funding waterfowl hunting program. The total Another launch will be available later the access plan. The plan calls for number of refuge visitors currently this year adjacent to the planned parking improvement of existing forest trails, averages 15,000 to 17,000 per year. area at the Ma-le’l Dunes Unit. Boaters wheelchair accessibility along the should always be aware that tides, wind, existing railroad-berm trail, and an The southern portion of the refuge has and weather can change rapidly on interpretive theme based around the two interpretive trails. The Hookton Humboldt Bay, and to take the necessary rich history of the site. The Slough Trail is open seven days per week precautions. BLM portion is currently open for day during daylight hours. The Hookton use, however the FWS portion is not Slough Trail follows a tidal slough Waterfowl hunting is permitted on five yet fully open pending the completion 1.5 miles out along the south edge of of the ten units of the refuge during the of environmental planning and Humboldt Bay. The 3-mile distance regular waterfowl season (typically late compliance process. The Friends of the (round trip) passes along grasslands, October through late January). There is Dunes will be leading guided walks freshwater and brackish marsh, mudflats, a managed hunt offered on the 330-acre the first Sunday of each month on the and open water. Look for herons and hunt area of the Salmon Creek Unit. FWS portion until it is opened. The egrets, as well as shorebirds, waterfowl, Hunting is allowed on Tuesdays and projected opening date is the summer and harbor seals. Saturdays until 3 p.m., with 14 hunting of 2007. blinds/sites, a lottery draw, and a paid At the Salmon Creek Unit, the 1.75 permit process. Approximately 1,000 mile Shorebird Loop Trail is open hunters utilize the refuge annually. during refuge office hours (8am - 5pm) Hunting is also permitted on portions of and adjoins some of the refuge’s best the Jacoby Creek, Eureka Slough, South shorebird viewing areas, has a viewing Bay, and Table Bluff units. Hunters can kiosk along the way, and has a spur that refer to the refuge hunting brochure for leads to a photoblind. The trail affords further information. a good overview of the diverse seasonal wetlands. Both trails have interpretive Humboldt Bay and tidal sloughs are open panels that illustrate the refuge’s wildlife to state regulated fishing opportunities resources and habitat management year-round. Refuge areas that are practices. Look for shorebirds, separated from the Bay by land, such as waterfowl, raptors, songbirds, tree frogs, creeks and flooded areas behind levees, and river otters. are closed to fishing. The Hookton Slough Trail is open to shore fishing; access to Wiyot basket The hiking trails on the northern dune other areas is by boat. Photo © units are not yet open. At the Ma-le’l (continued next page)

 Recent and Ongoing Management Activities at Humboldt Bay NWR Castle Rock NWR Activities on the southern refuge units have focused on enhancement of seasonal wetlands, restoration of tidal wetlands, and since 2001, management of grasslands for Aleutiann geese and other wildlife. This has included repair and installation of water control structures and dikes and an ongoing project to increase tidal exchange at the mouth of Salmon Creek to improve fish passage, sediment transport and habitat. Emphasis has also been placed on improving opportunities for public use and repair or replacement of management facilities. Results of this include a new Visitor Center, hunting checkstation, photoblind, trails, workshop and bunkhouse since 2001.

The Lanphere and Ma-le’l Dunes Units, located at the upper end of the North Spit of Humboldt Bay and west of Mad River Slough, contain two Castle Rock NWR Project Location species of cormorants, pigeon guillemots, globally endangered plant communities. Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuge Cassin’s and rhinoceros auklets, Leach’s Management of the dune/slough (CRNWR) lies about eighty miles north and fork-tailed storm-petrels, and tufted units has centered on the restoration of Humboldt Bay and about a half mile puffins. Because many of these bird and conservation of these unique offshore from Crescent City, California. species nest in burrows and crevices resources, at the species, community, Castle Rock NWR is an island of 14 acres and are primarily nocturnal, they avoid and ecosystem levels. Restoration has in size. predation by western gulls that also nest focused on the removal of invasive on the island. Castle Rock NWR also plants and re-establishment of native History of Castle Rock NWR serves as an important haul out (resting plant communities and the animals Castle Rock was privately owned until site) for marine mammals, including they support. At the Lanphere Dunes, 1979. During the mid- and late-1970s, harbor seals, northern elephant seals ongoing restoration since 1992 has speculators were contemplating guano (both bear pups there), and California and resulted in successful restoration of mining, rock quarrying, and construction Steller sea lions. upland nearshore and forested dune of a tourist attraction on the island. In communities. This is one of the most 1979 the Service purchased Castle Rock Visitor Services at Castle Rock NWR successful dune restoration projects on from the Nature Conservancy to preserve Castle Rock Refuge is closed to all direct the west coast. The Ma-le’l Dunes, added habitat for magnificent seabird colonies public access because it is a very sensitive to the refuge in 2006, are in the process and marine mammals in perpetuity. area for nesting seabirds during the of being restored in the same manner. spring and summer, and for roosting Overview of Castle Rock NWR Aleutian cackling geese in the winter/ Salt marsh restoration in the Mad River Castle Rock NWR is critical to the spring. However, the public can view Slough was recently begun through survival of several hundred thousand Castle Rock’s wildlife from the shore. the removal of invasive dense-flowered seabirds each year. It is also a key The soils and vegetation are sensitive cordgrass. These newly developed dune roost site for up to 20,000 Aleutian to damage by trampling; including and wetland restoration techniques can cackling geese each winter and spring. damage to the burrows of burrow-nesting be implemented at other locations around This growing population appears to be seabirds. Additionally, landing on this the bay. Management also includes impacting the habitat suitability for vertical sea rock is quite treacherous. ongoing monitoring and recovery of seabird nesting. Castle Rock rises 335 feet There are also several species of marine rare and endangered plant and animal above sea level with a grassy slope, two mammals that use the island for rest and/ populations. large inlets, and cliffs that are important or breeding. Both marine mammals and to nesting seabirds in the summer. seabirds are protected from disturbance by federal law. Castle Rock is, in fact, known as one of the largest and most important nesting Management Activities at Castle Rock seabird colonies south of Alaska. The NWR estimated number of seabirds using Castle Rock Refuge’s resource values are Castle Rock has been as high as 150,000. maintained by natural processes. The cliffs provide nesting habitat for The refuge is monitored to ensure that one of the largest breeding populations these values have not been compromised. (>100,000) of common murres on Nesting seabird and Aleutian cackling the Pacific coast. Ten other species of goose activity is closely monitored on a seabirds also nest here, including three yearly basis.

 What is a CCP?

When Congress passed the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, it incorporated an underlying philosophy that “wildlife comes first” on refuges.

The act provides the FWS with guidance for managing refuges to ensure the long-term conservation of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. Two important principles of the Improvement Act are to maintain biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of the refuge and facilitate compatible wildlife- dependent recreation.

Every refuge must have a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) completed by 2012. The CCP will outline refuge goals, objectives, and management strategies. It is a flexible, “living” document that will be updated every 15 years.

The CCP: ■ Ensures that management of the refuge reflects the purposes of the refuge and the mission, policies, and goals of the National Wildlife Refuge System; ■ Provides the public with an understanding of the reasons for The CCP will provide broad management During February, 2007 we will hold our management actions on the refuge; direction and guidance for the refuge, first public scoping meetings to help ■ Provides a vision statement for the contingent upon future funding identify issues and gather information. refuge; and resources. The accompanying The key planning steps are listed above ■ Ensures the compatibility of current environmental document, required by the and will be listed in future updates so and future uses of the refuge with its National Environmental Policy Act, will you can track our progress through the purposes; describe the alternatives considered and planning process. ■ Provides long-term continuity in their environmental effects. You will have refuge management; and an opportunity to review and comment ■ Provides budget justification for on the draft CCP and environmental operation and maintenance and facility document. development requests.

Compatibility of refuge uses

Prior to allowing various public uses on Compatibility determinations are It is possible that compatibility the refuge, federal law requires that the used to help evaluate such uses and determinations for other proposed uses FWS first determine that these specific will be integrated as part of the CCP will be completed in the course of the uses are compatible. planning process. Many Compatibility CCP planning process. In addition, Determinations were completed for the Refuge currently has an approved A compatible use is a proposed or Humboldt Bay NWR between 1994 and sport hunting management plan and an existing use of a national wildlife refuge 2005. Compatibility Determinations were approved fisheries management plan to that, based on sound professional made for uses including: environmental guide hunting and fishing on the Refuge. judgment of the refuge manager, will not education and interpretation, outdoor materially interfere with or detract from recreation, research, wildlife observation, the fulfillment of the National Wildlife photography, grazing and haying, Refuge System mission or the purposes recreational boating/canoe/kayak of the refuge. landing/launching in navigable waters, and Tribal access and gathering.

 Help us plan the Please feel free CCP Schedule future of Humboldt to contact us! Fall 2006 Began preplanning Bay NWR Complex We are available to provide additional January 2007 Mail out the first information about the refuge history, Planning Update During winter 2007 interested goals, and accomplishments to date, individuals, agencies, tribes, and to answer any questions about the February 2007 Hold public scoping organizations, and other stakeholders planning process. Feel free to call, write, meetings, and begin will be invited to express their concerns e-mail, or come to see us. the CCP process and share their visions for the refuge. This will If you did not receive this newsletter be your through the mail and would like to be on opportunity our mailing list, please contact us. You Public Meeting Dates/ to help us can also find information at our website Locations identify issues http://pacific.fws.gov/planning/ and concerns, Tuesday, February 13, 2007 and for us to If you would like to be removed from the list or are receiving multiple copies of 6:00 - 8:30 pm answer any these notices, please let us know. Conference Room questions you Del Norte Family Resource Center may have. Your Eric Nelson, Refuge Manager 207 Price Mall comments and/ Crescent City CA 95531 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or participation Humboldt Bay NWRC will be critical Thursday, February 15, 2007 P.O. Box 576 to the success 1020 Ranch Rd. 5:30 - 8:00 pm of this planning Large Lakeside Room (Building #20 Loleta, CA 95551-9633 effort. Please in the cafeteria) (707) 733-5406 send your College of the Redwoods, Eureka [email protected] Campus initial written 7351 Tompkins Hill Road suggestions Office hours: Eureka CA 95501 for Refuge Monday-Friday Brown pelican management 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday, February 17, 2007 via mail, fax or 2:30 - 5:00 pm e-mail to David Bergendorf (contact David Bergendorf, Refuge Planner Conference Room information to the right) by February U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Humboldt Area Foundation 28, 2007. However, there will be CA/NV Refuge Planning Office 373 Indianola Road additional opportunities to comment 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832 Bayside CA 95524 once a draft CCP has been prepared. Sacramento, CA 95825 (916) 414-6503 phone (916) 414-6497 fax [email protected]