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Farallon National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan

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Farallon National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan Farallon National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan Prepared By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex 9500 Thornton Avenue Newark, CA 94560 Approved: ____________________________________________ Date: _____________________________ Regional Director, California and Nevada Region Implementation of this Comprehensive Conservation Plan and alternative management actions/programs have been assessed consistent with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 USC 4321 et seq.). Chapter 1. Introduction and Background 1 Need for this CCP..................................................................................................................................... 1 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System............................... 2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service............................................................................................................ 2 The National Wildlife Refuge System ............................................................................................... 2 National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 ............................................................. 3 Appropriate Use and Compatibility Policy ........................................................................................... 4 Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health Policy ................................................... 5 Draft Wilderness Stewardship Policy Pursuant to the Wilderness Act of 1964.............................. 5 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.......................................................................................... 6 San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex....................................................................... 6 The Farallon National Wildlife Refuge ................................................................................................. 9 Location.................................................................................................................................................. 9 Historical Background....................................................................................................................... 10 Physical Setting .................................................................................................................................. 12 Refuge Purposes................................................................................................................................. 14 Ecosystem Context and Related Projects ...................................................................................... 15 Threats and Opportunities ................................................................................................................ 16 Conservation Priorities and Initiatives ........................................................................................... 17 Adaptive Management....................................................................................................................... 18 Chapter 2. The Comprehensive Conservation Planning Process 19 The Planning Process............................................................................................................................. 19 Preplanning ......................................................................................................................................... 19 Planning Hierarchy............................................................................................................................ 20 The Core Planning Team................................................................................................................... 20 The Extended Planning Team.......................................................................................................... 21 Public Involvement in Planning............................................................................................................ 21 Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities ............................................................................................... 21 Management Concerns ...................................................................................................................... 22 Development of Refuge Vision.............................................................................................................. 26 Development of Refuge Goals, Objectives and Strategies................................................................ 26 Goals ..................................................................................................................................................... 26 Objectives, Rationale, and Strategies.............................................................................................. 26 Development of Alternatives................................................................................................................. 27 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from the Detailed Analysis ........................................ 27 Selection of the Refuge Proposed Action ............................................................................................ 30 Plan Implementation.............................................................................................................................. 30 Chapter 3. Refuge and Resource Description 31 Geographic/Ecosystem Setting............................................................................................................. 31 Physical Resources ................................................................................................................................. 31 Climate and Air Quality..................................................................................................................... 31 Topography ......................................................................................................................................... 32 Geology, Soils, and Hydrology.......................................................................................................... 33 Water Supply and Water Quality..................................................................................................... 36 Hazardous Materials and Contaminants......................................................................................... 36 Biological Resources............................................................................................................................... 37 Vegetation............................................................................................................................................ 37 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................................. 40 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................................. 57 Social and Economic Environment ...................................................................................................... 60 Demographics ..................................................................................................................................... 60 Land Use.............................................................................................................................................. 60 Traffic and Public Access .................................................................................................................. 60 Recreation............................................................................................................................................ 60 Local Economy and Employment .................................................................................................... 61 Environmental Justice....................................................................................................................... 61 Chapter 4. Current Refuge Management and Programs 63 Land Management.................................................................................................................................. 63 Water Management................................................................................................................................ 63 Vegetation Management........................................................................................................................ 64 Wildlife and Habitat Management ....................................................................................................... 66 Other Management Activities........................................................................................................... 72 Threatened and Endangered Species Management ..................................................................... 73 Fire Prevention and Hazard Reduction .............................................................................................. 74 Wilderness Review ................................................................................................................................. 74 Law Enforcement and Resource Protection....................................................................................... 75 Cultural Resource Management........................................................................................................... 76 Facilities Maintenance
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