REVIEW AND APPROVALS
OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
FOLKSTON, GEORGIA
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 2006
Refuge Manwger Date
Refuge Supervisor, Area III Date
CfiiefofRefuges X> Date TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION iii
HIGHLIGHTS iv
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS v
MONITORING AND STUDIES 1. l.a. Surveys and Censuses „ 1 l.b. Studies and Investigation 15
HABITAT RESTORATION ,17 2.a. Wetland Restoration: On-refuge , 17 2.b. Upland Restoration: On-refuge 17 2.c. Wetland Restoration: Off-refuge (Nothing to Report) 17 2.d. Upland Restoration: Off-refuge (Nothing to Report) 17
HABITAT MANAGEMENT 18 3.a. Wetland Management 20 3.b. Moist Soil Management , (Nothing to Report 23 3.c. ' Graze/Mow/Hay (Nothing to Report) 23 3.d. Farming (Nothing to Report) 23 3.e. Forest Management 23 3.f. Fire Management 29 3.g. Control Pest Plants 33
FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 34 4.a. Bird Banding 34 4.b. Disease Monitoring and Treatment 34 4.c. Reintroductions 34 4.d. Nest Structures 34 4.e. Pest, Predator and Exotic Animal Control 34
COORDINATION ACTIVITIES 35 5.a. Interagency Coordination 35 5.b. Tribal Coordination (Nothing to Report) 35 5.c. Private Land Activities (excluding restoration) (Nothing to Report) 35 5.d. Oil and Gas Activities (Nothing to Report) 35 5.e. Cooperative/Friends Organizations 35 RESOURCE PROTECTION 37 6.a. Law Enforcement : 37 6.b. Wildfire Preparedness 38 6.c. Permits & Economic Use Management 38 6.d. Contaminant Investigation and Cleanup (Nothing to Report) 38 6.e. Water Rights Management (Nothing to Report) 38 6.f. Cultural Resource Management (Nothing to Report) 38 6.g. Federal Facility Compliancy Act .-....(Nothing to Report) 39 6.h. Land Acquisition 39 6.i. Wilderness and Natural Areas : 39 6.j. Threats and Conflicts ' 39
ALASKA ONLY 40
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RECREATION 41 8.a. Provide Visitor Services 41 8.b. Outreach : 60
PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION 65 9.a. Comprehensive Management Planning 65 9.b. General Administration 65 9.c. • Training and Travel 69 9.d. Energy 75 9.e. Funding 76 9.f Safety , 77 9.g. Volunteers 78 9.h. Computers and Communication 82
u INTRODUCTION
The Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is situated in the southeastern Georgia counties of Ware, Charlton, and Clinch and northeastern Baker County in Florida. The refuge was established by Executive Order in 1937 and presently consists of 401,862 acres. The primary purpose of the refuge is to protect the ecological system of the 438,000-acre Okefenokee Swamp. Approximately 371,000 acres of the Okefenokee Swamp wetlands are incorporated into the refuge including 353,981 acres designated as wilderness by the Okefenokee Wilderness Act of 1974. hi 1986, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge received the designation as a Wetland of International Importance by the Wetlands Convention.
The natural beauty of the Okefenokee Swamp was first threatened in the 1890's, when attempts were made to drain the swamp to facilitate logging operations. The Suwannee Canal was dug 11.5 miles into the swamp from Camp Cornelia. After the failure of this project, known as "Jackson's Folly," other interests acquired the swamp and began removing timber in 1909, using a network of tram roads extending deep into the major timbered areas. When logging operations were halted in 1927, more than 423 million board feet of timber, mostly cypress, had been removed from the swamp.
The establishment of Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge on March 30, 1937, marked the culmination of a movement that had been initiated at least 25 years earlier by a group of scientists from Cornell University who recognized the educational, scientific, and recreational values of this unique area. The Okefenokee Preservation Society was formed in 1918 to promote nationwide interest in the swamp. With the support of state and local interests and numerous conservation and scientific organizations, the Federal Government acquired most of the swamp for re&ge purposes in 1936.
The Okefenokee Swamp is a vast peat bog filling a huge saucer-shaped sandy depression that was perhaps once part of the ocean floor. The upper margin of the swamp, or the "swamp line," ranges in elevation from 128 feet above sea level on the northeast side to 103 feet on the southwest side. The shallow, dark-stained waters of Okefenokee flow slowly but continuously across the swamp toward the two outlets, the famed Suwannee River on the west side and the historic St. Marys River on the southeast. The eight predominant habitat types on the refuge include prairies (freshwater marsh), scrub-shrub, mixed cypress forests, blackgum forests, bay forests, pure cypress forests, and managed upland pine forests.
Three primary entrances and two secondary entrances exist on the refuge. The Suwannee Canal, located 11 miles southwest of Folkston, GA serves as the primary access on the east side and is the location of the refuge headquarters managed solely by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Stephen C. Foster State Park is located at the refuge's west entrance, 18 miles northeast of Fargo, GA. This state park is operated on refuge lands under the provisions of a long-term agreement with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The Okefenokee Swamp Park, located about 13 miles south of Waycross, GA serves as the refuge's north entrance. This park is administered by a nonprofit organization on refuge and state forest lands. Kingfisher Landing located between Folkston and Waycross and the Suwannee River Sill on the west side are considered secondary entrances into the refuge.
111 HIGHLIGHTS
Refuge Biologist, Manager, and Interns assisted with surveys for ivory-billed woodpeckers. (Section l.a.)
By the end of the year water levels had dropped to 119 feet above mean sea level. (Section 3.a.)
- Electrical Worker Everette Sikes and Volunteer Terry Clark were recipients of the 2006 Regional Director's Award. (Section 8.a.)
Ranger Burkhart received the American Recreation Coalition Legends Award. (Section 8.a.)
Improvements were made to overnight canoe platforms and the Hopkins Cabin. (Section 8.a.)
Comprehensive Conservation Plan signed. (Section 9.a.)
IV CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
Climatic conditions are recorded at several locations throughout the refuge. The records of longest duration, dating back to 1945, are from a manual National Weather Service station located at Camp Cornelia at the east entrance to the refuge. Since 1999, the data from a Forestry Technology System (FTS) fire weather station has replaced the manual station readings. The refuge also uses weather data from an FTS weather station located on Jones Island. Additional FTS weather stations are located at Eddy Fire Tower and Waycross airport.
The following seven FTS water monitoring stations are currently being used:
Suwannee Canal Water level and water quality Jones Island Water level (addition to Fire Weather Station) Suwannee Creek Water level and precipitation Kingfisher Landing Water level and precipitation Gannet Lake Water level, precipitation, water quality, and fire weather/fuel moisture North Fork (Sill) Water level Cypress Creek Water level and precipitation
Precipitation during 2006 resulted in a total of 40.19 inches at Camp Cornelia on the east side of the refuge (Table 1). This is 12.44 inches below the 61-year average of 52.63 inches. The rainfall was near normal for the first six months of the year with February being wetter than average and March being dryer than average. Except for October, the monthly averages for the last six months of the year were below the average. With less precipitation, water levels dropped below average in May on the west side of the swamp and in July on the east side. It remained below average the rest of the year. Refer to Section 3.a. Water Monitoring.
Temperatures ranged from 26°F to a high of 101°F (Table 2) on the east side of the refuge.
v Table 1. Monthly precipitation (inches) for 2006 compared with the 61-year monthly average at Camp Cornelia. Month 2006 Average 1945-2005 January 3.30 3.38 February 5.51 3.52 March 0.54 4.26 April 3.86 3.30 May 3.79 3.65 June 5.23 . 5.97 July 3,53 7.53 August 5.71 7.31 September 2.86 5.37 October 3.49 3.25 November 0.72 2.17 December 1.65 2.92 TOTAL 40.19 52.63
Table 2. Mean and absolute: ium and maximum monthly temperatures (°F) for 2006 recorded at Camp Cornelia. Average Absolute Absolute Average Maximum Minimum Minimum Maximum Year 2006 90-05 2006 90-05 2006 90-05 2006 90-05 January 47 42 71 67 29 16 81 84 February 43 45 67 70 26 13 82 88 March 48 50 76 77 33 21 86 91 April 58 54 85 82 46 34 93 95 May 62 62 88 89 47 38 99 103 June 68 68 93 92 58 54 99 104 July 70 71 95 94 61 63 101 106 August 73 71 95 93 69 61 99 104 September 68 68 91 89 55 50 97 98 October 56 58 83 82 36 36 92 95 November 48 49 73 75 33 24 84 89 December 50 43 72 67 27 19 83 84
VI 1. MONITORING AND STUDIES
l.a. SURVEYS AND CENSUSES
Threatened and Endangered Species Bald Eagles
Midwinter bald eagle surveys from Georgia are not included in the overall population trend analysis. The refuge has- discontinued this formal survey since bald eagles have not historically been seen at the beginning of January. Incidental sightings will be reported if they fall within the survey target dates and survey status will be evaluated if sightings increase. Records are kept by biological staff of incidental sightings reported by staff and volunteers. However, no reports were received during 2006.
Red-cockaded Woodpeckers
Population Status
Refuge biological staff and interns conducted a complete survey of all Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) cavity trees within perimeter upland management compartments and interior islands prior to the 2006 breeding season. Most of the surveys were completed during day trips; however, the survey of clusters on the north and central sections of Honey Island required a wilderness overnight trip by four people to complete. Overall, the number of active clusters recorded was 37 (Figure 1). The upland management compartments contained 15 active and 30 inactive clusters (Table 3), and the six interior islands surveyed in 2006 contained 22 active and 20 inactive clusters (Table 4).
The refuge had a total of 87 clusters (45 perimeter, 42 islands) in 2006. Four hundred and fifty trees (288 perimeter, 162 islands) were checked this year. Refuge perimeter clusters had 187 cavity trees that were suitable for roosting/nesting, of which, fifty-one (27%) were active. Island clusters had a total of 84 suitable cavities with forty percent active. Three cavity trees on islands were dead as a result of 2005 prescribed fire activities.
Although long-term viability of fragmented RCW populations is still being analyzed, the natural condition of interior island clusters is of significant regional value. The suitability of the habitat, particularly with respect to availability of suitable cavities, is a critical element in determining, the limiting factors within these populations. Fire is the only management tool applied to these clusters and it is an essential element needed to maintain understory plant species and improve forage and nesting habitat quality for RCW groups. * 2006 Red-cockaded Woodpecker Populations Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
Cluster Status • Active • Inactive • Recruitment Perimeter Road Waterways Uplands Wilderness
NORTHWEST _
(Approx. 5 mile radius) «*,,
Billys Island CENTRAL Honey Island
Figure 1. Status of red-cockaded woodpecker clusters at Okefenokee NWR during 2006. Table 3. RCW clusters in upland management compartments in 2006. Artificial Clusters Inserts All Clusters Artificial Total Compartment Occupied This Installed This Clusters Clusters Active Inactive1 Year Year 2 0 A,B B 0 0 2
C, E, F3 2 Replaced 3 G-L,H,I, A,B,K J,K,L J,L 10 1 New J 4 0 A,B B 0 0 2 A, B, C, D, 5 0 E 0 0 5 E 6 0 ' A A 0 2 Replaced 1 7 0 A,C 0 0 3 Replaced 2 8 0 A,B B 0 4 Replaced 2 11 0 A A 0 1 New 1 12 0 A,B B 0 0 2 A, C, D, E, 13 B,D A, C, E, F D 0 6 F 14 A B A,B A 0 2 A-B, C, E, F, G, 15 E, F, G, H, I I 6 Replaced 10 D,J,I H,K 2 new 15 30 22 5 45 Totals 17 replaced
Table 4. RCW clusters on interior islands in 2006. Interior Island Active Inactive Total Clusters Billys Island A, D, G-H, I, J, -K-L, 0-P B, E, F, Q-R S 12 Blackjack A,E,F B, C, D, G 7 Bugaboo B, C A, D, E, F 6 Honey A, B, C, F, G, H D, E, I, J 10 Mitchell B,C,D,E A 5 Number One None A,B 2 Totals 22 20 42 Includes recruitment clusters. Population Monitoring and Translocations
Northwest Population
In the northwest population, four pairs nested in Compartment 15 during 2006. One cluster (15C) has failed to produce young since 2003 and appeared to be inactive at the end of the breeding season (Table 5). This cluster may have only had a single bird during June-July. A RCW nest with three chicks in cluster 15J was usurped by flying squirrels early in the season. The pair attempted to renest in a different cavity after two flying squirrels were removed from the cluster but the attempt was unsuccessful. Red-bellied woodpeckers nested in RCW cavities in clusters C and D and were observed harassing RCW's in cluster I; competition for cavities in these clusters may have been a factor involved in reduced productivity. Three of the natural cavities in cluster 15D were being used by other species; one by red-bellied woodpeckers, one by red-headed woodpeckers, and one by great-crested flycatchers. A yellow rat snake was observed hi a cavity in cluster 15D that had contained a red-bellied woodpecker nest the week before. During the beginning of the breeding season; two RCW's moved into available insert cavities. Five other flying squirrels were removed from clusters 15C, 15E, and 15J.
Five of the six RCW's that were translocated to Compartment 13 from Ft. Stewart in November 2004, remained hi the compartment. The pair that was released hi 13B remained in that cluster and successfully nested and raised two young to fledging age. The other active cluster (13D) had a male released hi 13 A and two females, one from 13 A and one from 13C. All three have been seen foraging together on numerous occasions and all three birds were together throughout the breeding season. This group successfully nested and raised a female to fledging age. The other male translocated in 2004 moved to cluster 14A and remained with a female from cluster 15D throughout the breeding season. This pah: was the last to nest and raised a male to fledging age.
Biological staff conducted another translocation of three pairs from Ft. Stewart in December 2006. One pair was released in cluster G in Compartment 15 and two pairs were released in Compartment 13 (clusters E and F). During 2007-08 additional work needs to be done in Compartments 12 and 11 to provide an adequate number of suitable cavities to attract dispersing birds and increase the number of breeding groups in the northwest.
East Population
Six of the seven active clusters hi the east population attempted to nest during the 2006 nesting season despite high competition for nest cavities from flying squirrels and red-bellied woodpeckers (Table 5). Cluster 3F had three chicks in May but the shape of the cavity chamber was such that none of the nestlings were able to be extracted for banding. The pair hi cluster 3H produced four eggs but none of the eggs hatched; the adults gave up incubating after about four weeks. Cluster 3C was active prior to the nesting season, inactive during the breeding period, and used by an unbanded RCW after the breeding season.
Fledging success was fairly low this year with only five young fledged compared to nine hi 2005 and 15 in 2004. Biological staff banded seven RCW nestlings in Compartment 3 during the 2006 breeding season (Table 5). Additionally, one unbanded female was captured and banded this year after the breeding season in cluster 3C. This bird is most likely one of the juveniles that was not banded during the nesting season in 3F. Visual observations during fledge checks indicate that all of the other adult RCW's in this compartment have been previously banded, although some have color bands that faded and need to be replaced. To provide an adequate number of suitable cavities in active clusters, two inserts were replaced and one new insert was installed during 2006 (Table 3). In addition, twelve flying squirrels were removed from four clusters prior to the 2006 breeding season (Figure 2).
Table 5. Nesting and reproduction in perimeter clusters during 2006. Cluster Clutch size No. Banded No. Fledged Sex Adults 3C No nesting — one active cavity late in breeding season 1 3E 3 3 1 1 male, 2 unk. 4 1 male, 1 female, 3F 3 0 2 3 1 unk. 3G-L 2 1 1 1 male, 1 female 3 3H 0 0 0 2 31 2 2 1 1 male, 1 female 3 3J 1 1 0 1 male 3 13B 2 2 1 1 male, 1 female 2 13D 1 1 1 1 female 2 14A 1 1 0 1 male 2 15A-B 2 2 2 2 males 3 15C 0 0 . 0 2 15D 2 2 0 2 unknown 2 15E Recruitment site - one active cavity but no nest 15F Recruitment site - no activity 15G Recruitment site - no activity 15H Recruitment site - no activity 151 1 1 0 1 male 3 15J 0 0 0 2
Central and South Populations
Billys, Blackjack, Honey, Mitchell, Bugaboo and Number One Island clusters were surveyed this year hi conjunction with RCW tree preparation and helispot maintenance. Seven clusters on Billys Island were active this year (Table 4); five had multiple active cavities while two had Figure 2. Intern Katrina Albanese with one of the flying squirrels removed from an RCW cavity in Compartment 3. single active cavities. Five other clusters on Billys Island were inactive. Blackjack Island had two active clusters with multiple cavities and one cluster with a single active cavity; four clusters were inactive. One of the active clusters on Blackjack Island had a nest with a single female chick that was ready to fledge. Three cavity trees, two of which were active, had burned during the prescribed burn in 2005 despite all three had been raked around prior to the burn. Honey Island was surveyed by two teams and required an overnight stay near the north helispot (Figure 3). Honey Island had six active clusters this year; three nest trees were found during the cavity assessment period in late April. Three new trees were found within the existing clusters on Honey Island this year; two of these were active. Mitchell Island had four active clusters this year. Two clusters had new active cavity trees and another had a new tree with active starts. Two clusters were active again this year on Bugaboo Island. Neither of the clusters on Number One Island were active this year; only one cavity in each cluster was considered suitable for use by RCW.
Artificial cavities in Compartments 5, 6, 7, and 8 inactive clusters and recruitment sites were maintained this year. Most were cleaned prior to the breeding season and nine inserts were replaced at the end of the year. Figure 3. Honey Island camp site; from left, wildlife biologist Dean Easton, refuge manager George Constantino and intern Katrina Albanese.
Habitat Management
Dormant season prescribed burning was conducted in active clusters (Table 6). Conditions were somewhat favorable this year for dormant and early growing season burns. However, the lack of significant rainfall during the spring and summer months severely reduced the potential for growing season burns. Mitchell Island was the only island with RCWs that was burned during the 2006 growing season.
Thinning of forest stands to improve RCW habitat continued on the south end of Chesser Island in Compartment 4 and thinning was completed in the eastern half of Compartment 1. Forestry staff also finished cruising stands in Compartment 2. Table 6 includes all growing and dormant season acres in RCW clusters that were burned during 2006.
7 Table 6. Prescribed burns in RCW clusters in 2006.* Burn Category Active Clusters Inactive Clusters Recruitment Stands C3-1 (209 acres) growing season Mitchell Island (1070 acres)
013-1,2,3 and 4 C4-2 (285- acres) dormant season (1167 acres) _ C3-2 (88 acres) * Refer to Section 3.f. prescribed burn area maps.
RCW Habitat Partnerships
The refuge maintains habitat management agreements, Memorandums of Understanding (MOU), with two adjacent landowners to manage forest stands for RCW foraging or nesting habitat Figure 4). Approximately 8,500 acres of upland forest habitat adjoining refuge forest compartments 1, 2, and 3 are included in these MOU's. The refuge's MOU with International Paper (IP) covers management of 6,782 acres of upland habitat along the eastern boundary of the refuge between Camp Cornelia and Cowhouse Island as foraging habitat for RCW's. Management of the property, which will be done by IP, will include longer harvest rotations of thirty years and greater, thinning stands at 10-year intervals, reduction in use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and replanting suitable areas with longleaf pine. The acreage covered in this MOU became part of Okefenokee NWR in November 2005; however, management of timber resources will remain with IP until 2081.
The second MOU with the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) includes 2,258 acres of Cowhouse Island on the Dixon Memorial State Forest (DMSF). Most of the MOU area consists of pine plantations less than 20 years old; but 263 acres are currently suitable foraging habitat containing 47 year old slash pines, almost all of which are old turpentine trees and still retain the catfaced scars on the trunks. Since 1997, GFC has replanted 82 acres of the MOU area with longleaf pine seedlings. The total pine acreage within the agreement area is 1,333 acres. This additional acreage will augment the 1,082 acres of refuge forest stands in Compartment 1 and provide nesting and foraging habitat in the future for approximately 12 RCW groups. Georgia Forestry Commission
OKEFENOKEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
RCW Clusters • Inactive • Active Uplands MOU Area B'__ ; Reluge Boundary
Figure 4. Map of MOU sites along the refuge boundaries that provide foraging (IP/Conservation Fund) or foraging/nesting (Georgia Forestry Commission) habitat for RCW. Recruitment Stands and Artificial Clusters
Two of the recruitment sites in Compartment 13 and one recruitment site in Compartment 15 were used for translocation during 2006. One recruitment site in Compartment 14 became activate in 2005 and remained active during 2006. At the end of 2006, there were 13 recruitment sites and 15 inactive clusters around the refuge with enough suitable cavities for pairs of RCW's to move into.
Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Working cooperatively with the state of Georgia, refuge biologists Sara Aicher and Dean Easton assisted with surveys for ivory-billed woodpeckers. They visited sites where historically these birds were seen. Initially, USFWS biologist Steve Holzman and GA DNR biologist Jim Ozier did an aerial reconnaissance of the habitat in the northwest portion of the swamp where most of the hardwood wetlands exist. Other areas explored on the ground included Minnies Island, Cravens Hammock, Hickory Hammock and the area near Compartment 9 and 10.
On April 5,2006, Dean Easton and Sara Aicher traveled to Minnies Island by helicopter and landed at the helispot on the north end of the island. Being on the island, one realizes what a small dot of land you are surveying in a sea of potential habitat. There is a lot of dead timber both on the island and in the adjacent wetlands which would have been ideal for ivory-billed woodpecker to take advantage of two years ago when insect populations were abundant.
The hammock at the south end of the southeastern lobe of the island was the best habitat on the island (Figure 5). The hammock consisted of live oaks, water oaks, red maples, sweet gum and loblolly pines. More sweet gum was present than other places in the swamp but the actual hammock seemed less than five acres. One of the loblolly pines measured 32" dbh. The live oak measured 26.8" dbh and a laural oak measured 37.8" dbh. A cavity in a sweet gum was approximately 5" across. It is slightly oval horizontally. There was a larger cavity in a dead live oak that a pileated woodpecker pair was using as a nest site. Great crested flycatchers and common yellowthroats were observed at the site. There was a small pool of water in the hammock. This site was visited in the evening and morning; a recording of ivory-billed woodpecker calls and knocks were played during the survey. This was the site where ivory- billed woodpeckers had been observed in the' past. The last search was done in 1963. It was a treat to be at this location, connecting with the many swamp explorers of the past; however, no evidence of ivory-billed woodpeckers was seen or heard.
On May 9, 2006, Sara Aicher, Dean Easton, intern Katrina Albanese, and Stacy Shelton (Atlanta Journal reporter) traveled to Forestry Compartment 13 and hiked in to Hickory Hammock. Water levels in the trail to Hickory Hammock were at the most just above knee high. Once on the hammock, the understory became sparse (Figure 6). It is well shaded and leaf covered. The tramline is very visible. Towards the south end of the hammock the understory becomes thicker and consists of wax myrtle, saw-toothed palmetto, and high bush blueberry. The overstory on the hammock consists of water oaks, live oaks, loblolly pine, bays and a few hickories. According to local knowledge, there was more hickory on the hammock in the early 1900s, but it was cut to make lye soap. Sweet gum. occurs on the edges of the hammock as it slopes
10 downward. There is no recently dead timber on the hammock. The actual hammock did not appear favorable for the ivory-billed woodpecker at this time. The edges may be more desirable with the presence of sweet gum. During the initial reconnaissance flight on March 27, 2006, some patches of large cypress were observed to the southeast towards Minnies Island that may also make the area more suitable.
To survey the western portion of the swamp for ivory-billed woodpecker activity and habitat suitability, Aicher and Easton traveled by truck to locations near the swamp's edge of upland management Compartment 9 and 10 and played the calls. These sites appeared less suitable since they were less remote, young timber, and/or recently disturbed.
, ...... ' \ if :'W* '-^V* '" I ^^^^MfC f • > -'• • '* l^r^ ^
Figure 5. Biologist Dean Easton plays ivory-billed woodpecker calls in the hammock at the south end of Minnies Island.
11 Figure 6. Sparse understory on Hickory Hammock.
American Alligator
No alligator surveys were conducted in 2006.
Other Wildlife
Waterfowl
No formal survey of waterfowl was conducted during 2006. In the past, this information was obtained during monthly airboat surveys. Future survey methods will be evaluated through the Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) step-down planning process.
Marsh and Water Birds
The colonial waterbird survey was conducted, in conjunction with the osprey nest survey, on May 19, 2006. One colony with approximately 87 nests was located near the north end of Cravens Hammock. Most of the birds in this colony were great egrets, but there were some little blue herons nests along the colony edge. Another colony north of Stephen C. Foster State Park (SFSP) that had nests in 2005 was inactive this year. Other historic colony locations near Chase
12 Prairie, Territory Prairie, Gum Slough, Big Water Lake, Floyds Prairie, and The Sill were visited, but no activity was found. -
An aerial survey for sandhill cranes was conducted on November 3. Fifty-nine cranes were observed within Chesser (11), Grand (22), Mizell (10), Chase (3), Durdin (3), Maul Hammock (5), and Sapling (5) Prairies. This national survey generally is too early to catch large flocks of the greater sandhill cranes. The birds counted are likely to be residents since most of the migrant population begins to arrive in mid to late November.
Raptors
A helicopter was used to conduct the annual osprey nesting survey on May 19. Two nests were located along the canal east of the Sill and both were in good condition. One nest had an osprey perched on a branch next to it. Two other nests that were in fair condition during 2005 could not be located and several other trees had remnants of nests.
Swallowtail kite sightings were common from March through July in upland management compartments and interior islands. They are commonly seen south of Folkston, GA near Traders Hill Recreation Area and St. George, GA. Single individuals were seen flying above trees near RCW clusters in Compartments 3,5, 15, and the Sill and a pair was seen in Compartment 13. An aerial nest survey was conducted by Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GA DNR) staff in 2006.
Other Birds
Breeding bird point counts were conducted from mid-May to mid-June at previously established upland habitat sites in Forestry Compartments 3 and 5 and along the wilderness canoe trails in Grand, Chesser, Durdin, and Carter Prairies. The number of species recorded this year was slightly more than in previous years. A total of 35 different species was identified this year compared to 36, 33, 30, 32, and 28 identified in 2000, 2001, 2003,2004, and 2005 respectively. Carolina wrens were the most common species present at 18 of the 19 survey sites.
The annual Christmas Bird Count was held on December 29 with ten participants. Eighty-eight species were recorded county wide with 57 species recorded within the refuge boundary. A total of 4,149 individual birds were observed during this year's survey, which was approximately seventy percent more than the total number recorded in 2005. American robin was the most abundant species (829 individuals), comprising more than half of the total number of individuals (1503) reported on the refuge.
Mammals
Round-tailedMuskrat — On the survey for ivory-billed woodpecker on Minnies Island, the huts of the round-tailed muskrats were found in the wetter areas north of the finger of swamp that divides the island into two lobes (Figure 7). Tunnels were also visible in this habitat.
13 Figure 7. Round-tailed muskrat habitat on Minnies Island.
White tailed Deer - The east entrance deer hunt in Compartments 3 and 4 was conducted on October 27 and 28. Chesser Island, designated as wheelchair-use only, has a quota of 10 hunters while the remaining area has a quota of 30. A total of fifteen deer (seven females and eight males) were harvested. Of the eight bucks harvested, one was an eight-point, three were six- points, one was a four-point, one was a spike, and two were antlerless.
The Cowhouse Island section (Forestry Compartment 1) of the refuge was open to deer hunting for the fifth year and administered by GA DNR in conjunction with hunts conducted on Dixon Memorial State Forest (DMSF). Refuge hunters were required to follow the 2006/2007 Georgia state regulation guide pertaining to the DMSF. Eighty-seven hunters signed in to hunt and GA DNR reported that only one doe was harvested on the Cowhouse unit. Small game hunting was open on Cowhouse in accordance with state seasons and regulations. There is no information currently available on the 2006 small game harvest.
The Pocket was opened for archery season for the fourth year. The season consisted of two either-sex hunts, one from September 9 to October 2 and the second from October 8 to October 19. Refuge hunters were required to follow the 2006/2007 Georgia state regulations. There were a total of 289 hunter visits, which was down from 362 hunter visits in 2005 and 652 hunter
14 Black Bear - Bear hunting is not allowed on refuge lands; however, during the 2005 season, a total of 51 bears were harvested in the five Georgia counties surrounding the refuge. Of the 51 bears harvested, 34 were male and 17 were females. One female black bear was harvested on DMSF.
Bear Bait Stations - Surveys of black bears visiting sardine bait stations were conducted from July 18-27. Bears visited 15 of the 33 sites for a total of 45 percent. Visits occurred at two stations on Moonshine Ridge, five stations on Fiddlers Island, two stations on Minis Island, five stations on Soldier Camp Island, and one station on the Pocket.
Fisheries
The refuge contributes to the Suwannee and St. Marys River fisheries, both of which originate within its boundary. The GA DNR conducted an electrofishing survey of the west side of Okefenokee NWR hi January 2005, and Panama City Fisheries Assistance Office conducted an electrofishing survey on the east side of the Okefenokee NWR. in December 2005. The next sample of refuge fisheries is planned for 2007.
Invertebrates
Fire ants were found on Minnies Island during the survey for ivory-billed woodpeckers. l.b. STUDIES & INVESTIGATIONS
Contaminants
Air Quality Monitoring - USFWS Air Quality Division, Denver, CO
Contractor Ron Phernetton operates the air quality station for the refuge. The station monitors air quality through the following programs: I • Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) • National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP) • Mercury Deposition Program (MDP)
Other Researchers
The following researchers obtained special use permits from the refuge to collect data for various studies:
• Chris Dowdy and Don Chappel with the Georgia Forestry Commission conducted and evaluated the Forest Inventory Analysis plots within the refuge. This year's sites were near Roddenberry Road, Soldier Camp, Chesser Prairie, and Mizell Prairie.
• Brett Albanese with GA DNR conducted fish surveys at Suwannee Canal, Kingfisher
15 Landing, and Billys Lake, targeting blackbanded sunfish for up-to-date occurrence information.
Alani Taylor, a student at University of Georgia, studied how invertebrates function varies among wetland types. Her study sites included Chesser Prairie and Mizell Prairie.
Historian Chris Trowell was given permission to visit Mixons Hammock to verify the condition of the highbush blueberries that have been noted in the literature.
Bill Hagopian from John Hopkins University studied whether measurable differences exist in the isotopic signature of the swamp water between areas of various vegetative cover due to evaporation and transpiration difference.
16 2 • HABITAT RESTORATION 2.a. WETLAND RESTORATION: ON-REFUGE
The acquisition of 6,782 acres along the refuge's northeast boundary in 2005 includes approximately, 3 85 acres of wetlands. Many of these wetlands have man-made channels linking them together and directing the water towards the swamp. Timber harvest operations have penetrated the edges of these wetlands as well. Although management of these lands does not transfer from International Paper, Inc. to the refuge until 2082, discussions are being initiated as to how these wetlands can be restored to more natural conditions.
In 1998, an Environmental Assessment (EA) of the Future Management of the Suwannee River Sill was completed. The preferred action proposed by the EA recommended removing the two existing concrete water control structures and breaching the 4.8 mile earthen levee in four places pending the results of hydrologic monitoring. Based on these findings, the refuge continues to pursue the preferred alternative. Approximately $5.1 million is needed to complete this wetland restoration project. The refuge is currently evaluating what staff can accomplish and what will need to be contracted. Natural hydrologic conditions will be partially restored by allowing water to pass freely through openings created by the removal of the water control structures and additional breaches. 2.b. UPLAND RESTORATION: ON-REFUGE
Refer to Section 3.e. Upland Forests. 2.c. WETLAND RESTORATION: OFF-REFUGE
Nothing to Report. 2.d. UPLAND RESTORATION: OFF-REFUGE
Nothing to Report.
17 3 HABITAT MANAGEMENT
General thoughts: Minnies Island is a low wet island that favors slash pine over longleaf pine. Fires burn intensely when conditions are extremely dry such as in 1989, 1999, and 2001. The current small slash pines on the island are vulnerable. It is recommended that this island be taken off the refuge's fire cycle list and let the existing timber become established.
The 401,862 acre refuge includes most of the 438,000-acre Okefenokee Swamp. To protect this sensitive ecosystem, the refuge has established a set of goals, objectives, and strategies through the Comprehensive Conservation Planning (CCP) process. The following goals and objectives for wildlife management, resource protection, and wilderness values guide habitat management at Okefenokee NWR:
Wildlife Management
Goal: Promote and provide high quality habitat and protection for endangered and threatened species and conserve the natural diversity, abundance, and ecological function of native flora and fauna on and off refuge lands.
Objective 1. Protect and maintain the threatened and endangered species populations, expanding their populations where possible, and enhancing the habitat on the refuge by working with adjacent landowners. Encourage other land managers in the area to promote appropriate habitat for threatened and endangered species to create a larger gene pool, increase opportunities for survival within the ecosystem, and restore a piece of the area's natural heritage.
Objective 2. Identify factors influencing declines in the Okefenokee NWR's fishery by examining water chemistry, groundwater withdrawals, water quality, pH levels, invertebrate populations, and the physical environment. Evaluate feasibility of restoring the fish population.
Objective 3. Determine the status, specific habitat requirements, and limiting factors of reptile species including those associated with the upland pine community. Evaluate feasibility of restoration.
Objective 4. Maintain, enhance, and promote upland linkages to ephemeral wetlands for the flatwoods salamander, striped newt, gopher frog, and other amphibians.
Objective 5. Understand and maintain the role of invertebrates in the structure and function of the Okefenokee ecosystem.
18 Objective 6. Understand the use patterns of select resident and migratory birds to identify critical habitat components and the impacts of management practices and natural events.
Objective 7. Continue to work with Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to monitor and manage the mammal populations within and around the refuge.
Objective 8. Examine wildlife population health and contaminant availability within the ecosystem.
Objective 9. Strive to maintain the natural diversity and abundance of wildlife species within the physiographic region of the Okefenokee Swamp by forming a network of agencies and organizations that would share data in a timely manner to influence management decisions and recognize problems within the system.
Resource Protection
Goal: Restore, maintain, protect, and promote native habitats and healthy natural systems where possible to imitate historic distribution, frequency, and quality on and off the refuge, and preserve the associated cultural sites and wilderness qualities.
Objective. 1. Restore, enhance, and promote the native upland communities and the associated wetlands to maintain the natural vegetation mosaic, diversity, and viability found prior to European settlement within the Greater Okefenokee Ecosystem while improving opportunities for RCW activity.
Objective 2. Maintain, enhance and promote the Greater Okefenokee Ecosystem's native wetland communities, their natural vegetation mosaic, diversity, viability, and dynamics, as found within the Okefenokee Swamp.
Objective 3. Conserve natural resources through partnerships, protection, and land acquisition from willing sellers within the "zones of influence."
Objective 4. Investigate presence of and reduce non-native invasive plants and animal populations to minimize negative effects to native flora and fauna.
Objective 5. Identify and protect the archeological and historical sites on the refuge from illegal take or damage in compliance with the established Acts.
Objective 6. Preserve the wilderness resource within the designated wilderness area.
Wilderness Values
Goal: Restore, preserve, and protect the primeval character and natural processes of the Okefenokee Wilderness, leaving it untrammeled by man while providing recreational solitude, education, scientific study, conservation ethics, and scenic vistas.
19 Objective 1. Preserve the primeval character of the Okefenokee Wilderness through management and re-establishment of ecological conditions that allow maximum use of natural processes.
Objective 2. Provide recreational opportunities in wilderness that emphasize solitude.
Objective 3. Provide educational enrichment related to wilderness.
Objective 4. Accommodate scientific study for the purpose of managing the area as wilderness and protecting the Okefenokee Ecosystem.
Objective 5. Promote conservation ethics in wilderness.
Objective 6. Provide scenic vistas in wilderness.
To meet these objectives, habitat management techniques include prescribed burning, wildfire, timber stand thinning, commercial timber harvest, planting, herbicide application, and trail cutting. The vastness, inaccessibility to most of the swamp, and wilderness designation places additional challenges on management practices.
The most intensive management occurs on the 33,602 acres of upland pine stands. These upland pine forests are managed primarily for the re-establishment of the native longleaf pine/wiregrass community and the red-cockaded woodpecker. A Habitat and Population Management Plan is currently being written as a step-down plan under the CCP.
3.a. WETLAND MANAGEMENT Water Monitoring
Wetlands comprise 371,000 acres within the refuge. Water levels influence prescribed burning on interior islands, travel and access into certain areas and the distribution of wildlife species. Seven Forestry Technology System (FTS) water monitoring stations were used in 2006 to record water levels. These were located at Suwannee Canal, Jones Island, Suwannee.Creek, Kingfisher Landing, Gannet Lake, North Fork Suwannee Paver, and Cypress Creek. Five of the seven stations are also equipped with a precipitation tipping bucket to monitor rainfall in key areas of the refuge. In addition, water quality samples at Suwannee Canal, Durdin Prairie, and Gannet Lake determine pH, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen.
Water levels were above the 15-year average for the first half of the year and then dropped below the average for the remainder of the year (Table 7 Figure 8). By the end of the year, water levels were 1.13 and 2.1 feet below the average on the east and west sides of the refuge.
20 Table 7. Water levels (msl) at Suwannee Canal Recreation Area (SCRA) and Stephen Foster State Park (SFSP) for 2006. SCRA SFSP 2006 Avg 91-05 2006 Avg 91-05 Jan 1 121.11 119.94 115.08 114.56i3 15 121.21 120.05 115.48 114.71i3 Feb 1 121.06 120.26 115.04 115.01i4 15 121.24 120.27 115.64 115.16i4 Mar 1 121.18 120.31 115.30 115.30i3 15 121.01 120.41 114.98 115.34i4 Apr 1 120.79 120.42 114.60 115.10i4 15 120.81 120.31 114.40 114.87i4 May 1 120.66 120.16 114.22 114.48 15 120.70 119.90 114.06 114.07 Jun 1 120.36 119.67 113.67 113.91 15 120.33 119.86 113.78 114.16 Jul 1 120.16 120.01 113.82 114.36 15 120.08 120.05 113.36 114.39 Aug 1 119.97 120.10 113.10 114.47 15 119.93 120.18 113.26 114.58 Sep 1 119.76 120.21 112.88 114.55 15 119.73 120.22 112.90 114.67i3 Oct 1 119.48 120.31 112.50 114.75 15 119.19 120.37 112.38 . 114.91i4 Nov 1 119.46 120.28 112.78 114.60i4 15 119.32 120.20 112.52 114.50 Dec 1 119.15 120.12 112.54 114.47 15 118.99 120.12 112.44 114.54
Subscripts indicate number of years included in the average due to missing data.
21 East
•2 1J600 a Stephen Foster State Park-West
Date
Figure 8. Water levels at Suwannee Canal Recreation Area and Stephen Foster State Park during 2006 compared with the 15-year averages.
123.00 -T
122.00
121.00 --
120.00
§> 119.00
c 118.00-
Figure 9. Water levels at Suwannee Canal from 1990-2006.
22 Water Control Structures
The Su.wann.ee River Sill contains two water control structures which remained open this year according to recommendations set forth in the 1998 Environmental Assessment. For more information, refer to Section 2. a. 3.b. MOIST SOIL MANAGEMENT
Nothing to Report.
3.c. GRAZE/MOW/HAY
Nothing to Report. 3.d. FARMING
Nothing to Report. 3.e. FOREST MANAGEMENT
Okefenokee NWR contains 353,913 acres of forested land, including 313,529 acres of wetland hardwoods, cypress, and brush lands. The remaining 40,384 acres are upland forest stands of longleaf, slash, loblolly, pond pine, and scattered upland hardwoods. The uplands also contain many bog-filled ponds containing mixed stands of pine, cypress, and hardwoods. Approximately half of the upland forest area, 17,444 acres, is located on islands within designated Wilderness. The remaining 22,940 acres of upland forest are in areas designated as habitat management compartments. Commercial harvesting is permitted in the compartments as a tool to accomplish habitat management goals. The Conservation Fund donated to the refuge approximately 6,000 acres of upland habitat on the east side of the refuge. This 6,000 acres is not included in the aforementioned upland acres due to the timber management rights remaining with International Paper through 2081.
Upland Forests
Goals for upland forests on the refuge include the restoration of the longleaf pine community, which historically covered most of the refuge upland, and maintenance of this habitat through replication of the natural processes. This habitat was reduced throughout the Southeast due to turn of the century logging practices and disruption of the natural, frequent fire regime. Open longleaf pine stands hosted a diverse understory of warm season grasses and many low shrubs and forbs maintained by frequent, low intensity fires. The old growth longleaf pine community was replaced by dense stands of more prolific, less fire dependent overstory and understory species normally restricted to wetter areas. Only remnant stands of longleaf pine remain, representing less than five percent of its former range. Many wildlife species associated with this habitat, including the red-cockaded woodpecker, are either endangered or threatened.
23 By the time Okefenokee NWR was established in 1936, the habitat on the refuge consisted of a few pure stands of longleaf pine confined to sandy ridges, a few predominately longleaf pine stands, and many mixed pine stands with a few relic longleaf pine trees abandoned by the logging operations of the 1920's. Because of the difficulty of re-establishing longleaf pine and continued exclusion of fire, native longleaf pine communities continued to decline in quality and quantity for many years. Understory conditions depreciated during this period, allowing dense hardwood shrubs to replace grasses, herbs and low shrubs common to this habitat. Table 8 lists the present distribution of longleaf pine and other species throughout the refuge uplands. Figure 10 shows the locations of the 16 habitat management compartments and the wilderness islands.
Table 8. Distribution of longleaf pine on upland forest stands. ACRES Habitat Management Wilderness Species Class Compartments Islands Total Mature Pine (> 9 " DBH) • Pure Longleaf Pine (>70%) 1,731 1,429 3,160 • Longleaf Dominant (>40%) 1,303 1,305 2,608 • Scattered Longleaf (<40%) 2,085 2,522 4,607 • Other Pine Species 9,471 8,976 18,447 Young Pine (< 9 " DBH) • Pure Longleaf Pine (>70%) 1,016 0* 1,016 • Longleaf Dominant (>40%) 182 0* 182 • Scattered Longleaf (<40%) 410 70* 480 • Other Pine Species 4,213 1,730 5,943 Upland Hardwoods 248 509 757 Bottomland Hardwoods 335 22 357 Bog Filled, Forested Ponds 1,894 820 2,714 Open and Administrative Areas 52 61 113 TOTALS 22,940 17,444 40,384
*While there are very few young longleaf pine stands on the -wilderness islands, small patches of longleaf regeneration, not constituting a stand, are scattered on some wilderness islands and some compartments. As more of these patches accumulate, they willform multi-aged stands.
24 A/ State Line /\ Perimeter Road | | Forestry Compartments/Islands \s ~ I Refuge Boundary
enokee National Wildlife Refug6
_ jSeprgia Florida
10 15 Miles
Figure 10. Habitat Management Compartments and Interior Islands.
25 Habitat management tools utilized to restore native longleaf pine communities include:
• Maintenance of'multi-aged pine stands. • Selective thinning on a 10-year cycle to favor longleaf pine. • Removal of undesired mid-story stems. • Dormant and growing season fire. • Several methods of stand conversion include patch regeneration, shelterwood regeneration, direct seeding, planting of containerized seedlings, and mounding.
Restoration activities for the understory component have been limited to dormant and growing season prescribed fire. Existing hardwood stands, openings and wetland areas within or adjacent to the longleaf pine community are included in pre-established burn units and allowed to seek a more natural condition under the influence of fire. These areas provide a variety of habitats to meet the needs of native wildlife and provide an aesthetically pleasing variety of forest lands. Only areas of special interest are excluded from fire.
Fire is the most effective tool available for habitat management on wilderness uplands. Fire may be used to thin young forest stands, remove midstory pines and hardwoods, reduce invading hardwood understory species, prepare seed beds for regeneration, and reduce slash pine and other unwanted pine seedlings. If used skillfully, fire can accomplish most of these tasks without damage to fire resistant longleaf seedlings. All distinguishable islands inside the refuge boundary receive periodic dormant or growing season prescribed fire. Other management activities conducted on the upland wilderness islands include RCW status surveys.
Habitat Management Planning
The Habitat and Population Management Plan, when completed, will be a comprehensive plan covering the management of uplands, wetlands, hydrology, wildlife, and other disciplines. This plan is part of the CCP as a step-down plan and evaluated through the NEPA process.
Forest Management Prescriptions
A forest inventory cruise in Forest Management Compartment 2 was completed in December of 2006. A Forest Management Prescription for Compartment 2 will be written in early 2007. After approval of this document, field work will start in the forms of timber marking, timber sale and harvest, etc. Also, a forest inventory will begin in 2007 in Forest Management Compartment 3. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Service and International Paper Company, Inc. is allowing longer rotations of pine timber on lands now Service-owned, but managed by IP on the east edge of the refuge. These acres will provide a vital corridor between RCW populations in Compartments 2 and 3.
Timber Marking
No trmber marking occurred during 2006. The cutter select method of timber harvesting is being used in Compartment 4, eliminating the need for forestry technicians to mark the area. Timber marking in Compartment 1 East was completed in December 2005.
26 Timber Harvesting
Timber harvests play a significant part in restoring the historical longleaf pine ecosystem. More importantly, these harvests help restore and maintain habitat for the threatened and endangered species associated with the longleaf pine ecosystem. Timber harvest in Compartment 4 SE and SW sale areas continued through 2006. An extension was granted on both sales through July 31, 2007, because of intermittent periods of wet ground conditions. Sealed timber bids were opened in February 2006, for the Compartment 1 East timber sale. The sale, awarded to Mullis Logging, began in July 2006 and was completed in September 2006. The 2006 forest product receipts are listed in Table 9 and a ten-year summary of forest management activity is provided in Table 10.
Table 9. Forest products receipts for 2006. Special Use Value/Ton 2006 Volume 2006 Permit # Permittee Area Product Harvested Receipts C.L. Crews Compartment 4 Pine Varied $ per 2,479 tons 05-027 $34,826.73 Timber • (southeast) Timber product (901 cords) M&G Compartment 4 Pine Varied $ per 1,630 tons 05-028 $22,563.04 Logging (southwest) Timber product (593 cords) Mullis Compartment 1 Pine $27.57 per 15,942 tons 06-018 $439,520.94 Logging (east) Timber Ton (5,797 cords) 20,051 tons TOTAL ALL PERMITS $496,910.71 (7,291 cords)
Table 10. Ten-year forest products removal summary. ALL TIMBER CY TONS TOTAL VALUE CATEGORIES CORDS 1997 283 778 $2,778 1998 1,356 3,739 $43,438 1999 2,937 8,077 $94,619 2000 7,603 20,908 $290,028 2001 5,001 13,753 $147,693 2002 3,690 10,148 $88,049 2003 2,499 6,873 $47,285 2004 5,144 14,146 $336,477 2005 1,176 3,234 $41,212 2006 7,291 20,251 $496,911 Status of Longleaf Pine Community Restoration
During the past 30 years, nearly 1,200 acres have been planted to longleaf pine. The majority of these plantings were on poorly drained, difficult to plant areas. The forestry staff has experimented with several methods of planting including direct seeding, bare root seedlings, and containerized seedlings. Site preparation has varied from clearing and harrowing, planting on natural rises, and mechanical mounding. In addition, seed stock from refuge stands has been collected to compare seedling growth with stock supplied by vendors. Although natural regeneration is preferred, hand planting containerized seedlings is being very successful and achieving desired results.
Minimal site preparation is used in order to save remnant fire dependent plant species within the understory. Open sites receive prescribed fire prior to planting while shrub understories are burned. Heavy shrub sites may require several treatments.
Prescribed fire is used within two years after planting to reduce understory competition, stimulate native ground cover, and remove volunteer slash pine. Significant results from dormant and growing season fire and longleaf pine management are beginning to surface. Patches of natural longleaf pine regeneration are appearing throughout the upland forest management compartments. Many components of the native longleaf pine community are beginning to appear where growing season fire has occurred. It is apparent through the use of selective thinning and prescribed fire that longleaf pine communities can be restored on refuge upland forest management compartments without clear cutting and planting operations.
Reforestation
Three thousand containerized longleaf pine seedlings were obtained from Meeks Farms in Kite, GA. The fire crew and local Boy Scouts of America planted seedlings in 36 sites throughout the newly acquired lands from the conservation funds (Table 11). Location and number of trees planted are recorded on compartment maps, and post site evaluations monitor the success of these restorations.
Table 11.' Longleaf pine planting sites for 2006. Newly acquire lands MGT NUMBER OF AREA from The REMARKS Conservation Fund UNIT SEEDLINGS (Acres)
Trees were planted in logging West of Swamp 1 3,000 8.16 deck areas west of Swamp Perimeter Rd Perimeter Rd
Note: Several boxes of Longleaf pine seedlings were donated in the community to help promote planting of longleaf pine trees.
28 Timber Stand Improvement
No timber stand improvement (TSI) was accomplished in 2006. Most of the TSI work completed in forest stands, particularly mid-story hardwood removal in RCW foraging stands, is achieved through the use of growing and dormant season prescribed fire.
Wetland Forest
Swamp forest areas include all refuge wetland forest inside the swamp edge and outside the perimeter of the interior islands. The wetland forest community is comprised of 313,529 acres which include:
• Scrub Shrub 230,187 acres • Mixed (Bay, Cypress, Pine) 55,359 acres • Broad Leaved Hardwoods 15,424 acres • Cypress 11,831 acres • Scrub Pine 728 acres
The basic goal of wetland management is to maintain the mosaic of wetland habitat types including wetland forest. Because most of the wetland area is located within national wilderness boundaries, habitat management activities are limited to Fire for Natural Resource Benefit (Fire Use), prescribed fire, habitat monitoring, and wildlife surveys. 3.f. FIRE MANAGEMENT
Traditional upland fire dependent communities are valuable to many species of native wildlife. This habitat has been drastically altered by changes in the fire regime. Understory fuel loads vary from moderate to extremely heavy and typically recover rapidly after fuel reduction fires. Although upland habitats are fire dependent, fire must be carefully managed to prevent destruction of valuable habitat while reducing unnatural understory fuels. Until upland fuel types are restored, mismanaged fire or wildland fire may destroy valuable habitat.
Within the swamp interior, fire management has a greater complexity. Intense fire is desirable and beneficial under proper conditions, but the probability of fire leaving the swamp and negatively impacting adjacent property is high. Growing involvement of adjacent landowners in the Greater Okefenokee Association of Landowners (GOAL) resulted in the success of the 124,110 acre Blackjack Bay Complex Fire in 2002/2003 and the continued cooperative ventures, such as relocation and maintenance of the Swamps Edge Break (SEB) and the establishment of 80 helicopter dip sites. These enhancements, along with, the cooperative spirit of GOAL members, allow greater flexibility in the use of prescribed and wildland fire for natural resource benefit in the maintenance of upland and wetland habitats with less negative impact on private property.
29 Prescribed Burning
During the past 33 years, dormant season fire has been used to reduce existing fuels. As understory woody shrub fuels are reduced, growing season fire has been applied to alter the fuel types from woody shrubs to warm season grasses and other ground cover associated with the longleaf pine community. As more acres in upland forest management compartments and wilderness islands are converted to growing season prescribed fire, natural wildland fires will benefit rather than harm the habitat.
In 2006, hazardous fuel reduction and resource objectives were accomplished early in the year while water levels were high with eight burns for a total of 5,172 acres (Table 12, Figure 11). Dormant season burns accounted for 3,893 acres while only 1,279 acres could be accomplished during the growing season before dry conditions stopped prescribed burning for the year.
Table 12. Summary and evaluation of burning activities for 2006. Dormant Growing Total Date Burn Unit Name Acres Acres Acres Burned C3-Misc. 5 75 75 12/12/2005 C3-Misc. 4&2 54 54 12/16/2005 C3-1 209 209 04/25/2006 C3-2 88 88 01/10/2006 C4-l,3 385 — 385 03/04/2006 C4-2a 285 285 01/27/2006 C13-l,2,3,4 1,167 — 1,167 03/03/2006 Floyds Island 1,205 — 1,205 01/11/2006 Mitchell Island — 1,070 1,070 04/27/2006 Rowells Island 763 ' 763 03/06/2006
TOTAL ACRES 4,022 1,279 5,301
Wildland Fire
Ten wildland fires occurred on the refuge beginning as early as May 2006 (Table 13, Figure 11). All were caused by lightning, except one that was ignited on Cowhouse Island, which burned 29 acres. The lightning fires were all extinguished naturally.
Off-Refuge Fire / Interagency Assignments
Refer to Section 9.c. Training and Travel.
30 Table 13. Wildfires reported on the Refuge in 2006. Fire Start Declared Total Location Name Landowner Cause Number Date Out Acres Lat/Long GA-1 305100 CJ3B 04/28/2006 04/28/2006 9 Private Lightning (Tatum Creek) 08236 12 310348 CJ4X Cowhouse Island 1 04/29/2006 05/31/2006 29 Refuge Incendiary 082 14 20 304132 CLA8 Natural Out #1 05/16/2006 05/16/2006 .1 Refuge Lightning 082 11 59 30 42 00 CMP8 Natural Out #2 05/25/2006 05/25/2006 .1 ' Refuge Lightning 082 29 00 30 46 50 CMT4 Natural Out #3 05/26/2006 05/26/2006 .1 Refuge Lightning 082 15 04 30 50 00 CM58 Natural Out #4 05/29/2006 05/29/2006 .1 Refuge 082 20 00 Lightning GA-2 CN7L 06/08/2006 06/08/2006 20 Private Lightning (Homeland) GA-3 CUS4 07/05/2006 07/05/2006 .25 Private Lightning (Gov't Loop) 305127 CV9U Natural Out #5 07/06/2006 07/06/2006 .1 Refuge Lightning 082 07 40 C3-6 30 44 26 CWX2 07/06/2006 07/06/2006 .1 Refuge Lightning (Skid Mark) 082 04 28 305734 CWX4 Natural Out #6 07/07/2006 07/07/2006 .1 Refuge Lightning 08208 13 GA-4 30 40 48 C2G3 07/17/2006 07/20/2006 6.2 Private Lightning (Toledo #1) 08207 15 GA-5 30 43 29 C2ED 07/29/2006 07/31/2006 36 Private Lightning (Toledo #2) 082 07 32 304830 Natural Out #7 08/07/2006 08/07/2006 .1 Refuge Lightning C25E 08222 18 GA-6 303544 C25G 08/08/2006 08/09/2006 32 Private Lightning (Huckleberry) 082 29 53 GA-7 310216 C72H 10/14/2006 10/20/2006 1 Private Equipment Use (Bear Pen Rd.) 082/20/19 3036 19 12/06/2006 12/06/2006 .1 Refuge Lightning C8ZG Natural Out #8 082 1630 GA-8 31 0401 C9AP 12/27/2006 12/28/2006 .3 State Incendiary (Leonard Rd.) 082 15 43
Swamps Edge Break (SEB)
The Okefenokee Swamp and surrounding upland forest depend on fire to preserve the condition and habitat supporting wildlife species native to the Okefenokee NWR. The difficulty of keeping prescribed and wildland fires within the swamp and the refuge boundary, to accomplish desired objectives, presents a difficult and sometimes costly fire management challenge.
31 The SEB was completed in 1993 to support a fuels management zone around the swamp. This zone allows indirect suppression actions during wildfires and greater use of prescribed fire to accomplish management objectives. The construction and maintenance of the fuels management zone is a cooperative venture between the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Florida Division of Forestry, the Service, and GOAL.
C9AP • Wildfires - 2006 Prescribed Fires CJ4X Dormant B Growing C72H Jljjl Unburned Uplands _ Refuge Boundary
CWX4
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge
CV9U
CM58
• CMT4 CWX2
»
CMP8 CLA8 C2ED
C2G3 1
• 'C8ZG C25G •Tt. A
Figure 11. Location of wildland and prescribed fires in 2006.
32 3.g. CONTROL OF PEST PLANTS
The trail cutter was in operation December 5, 2005, to February 15, 2006, cutting all major watercraft trails. Water levels ranged from 120.68 to 121.20 feet above mean sea level. The trail cutter was not put in during the winter of 2006-07 due to low water levels.
Growth of shrubs, greenbrier, and swamp loosestrife along boat and canoe trails is a continuous problem. AmeriCorps and volunteers performed maintenance throughout the year to clear the encroaching vegetation. In addition, volunteer Jackie Carter took a go-devil motorboat to Bluff Lake periodically to keep the channel open.
Pesticide Use Proposals (PUP) were submitted for Rodeo, Garlon 3 A, Amdro Granular Insecticide, PayBack Fire Ant Bait, D-Con, WeatherBlok, Recruit IV Termite Bait, Demand, and MaxForce Hydramethlynon Gel. Rodeo was used to kill swamp loosestrife around Monkey Lake shelter on Okefenokee and on water hyacinth at Banks Lake NWR (See Banks Lake narrative). All other pesticides used in 2006 were associated with the residences and public facilities.
33 4 FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 4.a. BIRD BANDING
Refer to Section l.a. Population Monitoring and Translocations. 4.b. DISEASE MONITORING AND TREATMENT
Concerns related to the West Nile Virus continue. Charlton County has continued a mosquito control program by spraying road side ditches and housing developments. No mosquito spraying is conducted on the refuge. 4.c. REINTRODUCTIONS
Refer to Section l.a. Population Monitoring and Translocations. 4.d. NEST STRUCTURES
No maintenance or installation of wood duck boxes was performed in 2006. For information pertaining to RCW insert installation, refer to Section l.a. Recruitment Stands and Artificial Clusters. The bat house along the Wildlife Drive was not used by any bats during 2006. A second bat house was built as part of an Eagle Scout project is scheduled to be erected in a clearing along SR 177 on the west side near Stephen Foster State Park in 2007. 4.e. PEST, PREDATOR AND EXOTIC ANIMAL CONTROL
No animals were relocated or dispatched during the year.
34 5 COORDINATION ACTIVITIES 5.a. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION
The Suwannee Basin Interagency Alliance continues to coordinate among its members on a periodic basis:
U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service University of Florida University of Georgia South Georgia Regional Development Center Suwannee River Water Management District U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Georgia Environmental Protection Division
5.b. TRIBAL COORDINATION
Nothing to Report. 5.c. PRIVATE LAND ACTIVITIES
Nothing to Report. 5.d. OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES
Nothing to Report. 5.e. COOPERATIVE/FRIENDS ORGANIZATIONS
The Okefenokee Wildlife League (OWL) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports education and research projects on the refuge. OWL provides a part time manager to operate the bookstore, fund special events (see On-site Special Events - Section 8), and supports the refuge with volunteer assistance. Bookstore sales generated by OWL are included in Table 14.
Owl donated more than $3,000 to help fund special events, Junior Ranger Camp, interpretive and environmental education programs. They also donated another $3,500 to purchase an antique wood burning cook stove for the Chesser Homestead.
35 A motor home, valued at $40,000, was donated to OWL by former Regional Director Noreen Clough. The motor home will be used to support firefighters during disaster relief such as hurricanes, wildfires, etc.
OWL President Parti Sandow, Refuge Liaison Gracie Gooch and Refuge Manager George Constantino attended the Regional Friends Conference held at Ding Darling NWR, October 27- 29, 2006.
On February 7, twelve St. Marks NWR volunteers enjoyed a tour of Okefenokee by OWL members.
Table 14. Owl bookstore sales for 2004-2006. 2006 2005 2004 January $1,970 $1,873 $3,020 February $3,490 $3,129 $3,919 March $5,750 $6,322 $6,300 April $6,124 $6,557 $6,848 May $3,920 $4,561 $3,424 June $2,865 $2,434 $2,365 July $1,421 $1,942 $2,603 August $1,318 $1,404 $1,089 September $2,038 $2,240 $937 October $2,674 $3,518 $3,572 November $2,485 $3,063 $3,547 December $2,787 $1,809 $1,899 Total $36,842 $38,852 $39,523
36 6 RESOURCE PROTECTION 6.a. LAW ENFORCEMENT
At the end of 2006, the refuge employed one Full-Time Law Enforcement Officer (FTLEO) and two Dual-Function Law Enforcement Officer's (DFLEO). James Shelton is currently the FTLEO and Deputy Project Leader Maury Bedford and Refuge Ranger Shawn Gillette fill the DFLEO positions. Officers made 37 Federal cases and 10 State/County cases this year (Table 15 and 16). FTLEO Shelton has taken on additional responsibilities as a Field Training Officer (FTO). Following 17 weeks of Basic Training, new officers spend 10 weeks in the FTO program.
Table 15. Refuge Violations Refuge Violations Number of Cases Violation of State Vehicle Laws (speeding, no driver's 12 license, etc.) Possession of a firearm on a NWR 5 Fishing on a NWR with no state fishing license 5 Violation of State Boating Regulations 5 Failure to pay Refuge Entrance Fee 3 Trespassing on a NWR 2 Use of an oversized outboard engine 1 Off road travel in a closed area 1 Failure to have dog on a leash 1 Violation of the NWR special fishing regulations 1 Releasing Wildlife in a NWR without a Permit 1 Total 37
37 Table 17. Violations written by GA DNR Officers and County Sheriffs Departments Violations Number of Cases Violation of State Vehicle Laws (speeding, no driver's 6 license, etc) Fishing without a state fishing license 2 Operation of a boat without PFD's 2 Total 10
Forty-one incident reports were written by refuge officers, ranging from illegal hunting on the refuge to vandalism problems on the board walk. In November, it was discovered one of the Farmer Home tracts was illegally logged. An estimated 30+ acres of hardwoods was harvested by the present landowner. The case is still open and will be carried into 2007, and is being investigated by Refuge Officers, Refuge Zone Officer and Office of Law Enforcement (OLE). In December, eight illegal aliens were apprehended by State Park Officers on refuge property harvesting palmetto berries without a permit. This is the second time in three years this has occurred. In the first case, all information on the case was forwarded to the OLE for further investigation as a possible Lacey Act violation. The current price for palmetto berries is 60 cents a pound. Typically when apprehended, the violators will have in excess of 300 to 500 pounds. Violations by illegal aliens on National Wildlife Refuges seem to be on the rise. This is due to the lack of prosecutions by the courts, lack of identification, and language/communication problems. 6.b. WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS
Refer to Section 3.f. 6.c. PERMITS AND ECONOMIC USE MANAGEMENT
Refer to Section l.b, 3.e. 6.d. CONTAMINANT INVESTIGATION AND CLEANUP
Nothing to Report. 6.e. WATER RIGHTS MANAGEMENT
Nothing to Report. 6.f. CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Nothing to Report.
38 6.g. FEDERAL FACILITY COMPLIANCE ACT
Nothing to Report. 6.h. LAND ACQUISITION
Nothing to Report. 6.L WILDERNESS AND NATURAL AREAS
The Minimum Requirement Decision Guide continues to be revised for the routine activities within the wilderness area.
During 2006, administrative trips into the Wilderness Area were documented.
6.J. THREATS AND CONFLICTS
Numerous proposed housing development sites in the area were cleared in preparation for building; however, none in the immediate area have gone beyond this point. Development within the area will place more demands on the water and pose recreational use and contaminant issues for the refuge.
39
8 PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RECREATION 8.a. PROVIDE VISITOR SERVICES
Visitor Service Highlights
2006 was a very busy year for the Refuge Visitor Services staff in practically every facet of the Public Use Program. Two awards were given to members of the Public Use Staff:
Refuge Electrical Worker Everette Sikes and volunteer Terry Clark received the 2006 Regional Director's Award.
Refuge Supervisory Ranger Burkhart received the American Recreation Coalition Legends Award (Figure 12).
Figure 12. Jim Burkhart and family attend his Legends Award ceremony.
41 Visitor Use Statistics
Visitors to Okefenokee NWR came from all 50 states and over 35 countries.
Table 17. Visitation by entrance from 2002-2006. Entrance 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 East 84,728 137,798 141,614 116,107 111,439 West 83,579 194,358 159,787 193,205 147,312 North 50,320 54,067 58,631 60,347 61,019 Total 218,627 386,223 360,032 369,659 319,770
Table 18. Day-use for 2006. Trail Number of Visits Homestead Trail 1,186 Deerstand Trail 1.932 Boardwalk ("Swamp Walk") 20,760 Upland Discovery Trail 2,413 Canal Diggers Trail 1,932 Swamp Island Drive (auto tour) 48,273 Ridley Island Trail 1,932 Phernetton, Long Leaf Pine Trail 1,932
Table 19. Visits to Interpretive Exhibits for 2005-2006. 2006 2005 Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center 46,243 33,3334 Chesser Island Homestead 24,517 44,620
Public Use Facility Improvements
• Maul Hammock canoe platform was rebuilt in October 2005, and Round Top canoe platform was rebuilt in January 2006 (Figure 13). • Bluff Lake toilet platform rebuilt. • A new after-Hours Information pull-off and covered kiosk were built on the Entrance Road, less than a quarter of a mile from Highway 121 (Figure 14).
42 An "Okefenokee NWR/Stephen C. Foster State Park" sign was erected at the west entrance. Suwannee Canal Recreational Area and Camp Cornelia water lines were connected. New docks were built at Billys Island and at Mixons Hammock. A new canoe launch dock was built at Suwannee Canal Recreation Area. New screen doors were installed in the Swamp Island Boardwalk restrooms. 850 feet of the Swamp Island Boardwalk was replaced. Canal Diggers Trail, Upland Discovery Trail, and Chesser Island Homestead entrance was re-barked by YCC and Stiner Jones. New tub/shower unit was installed at the Westside residence. New wall board was replaced after removing rotten sections. Water lines were installed to tie together the water system from Camp Cornelia pump house to the Visitor Center pump house. Hopkins Cabin had extensive work on the inside and outside including leveling of the floor, wiring cabin to code, rebuilding front and back porches, painted outside of cabin walls and window panes and sills, adding ac/heat pump and vents, new floor covering, new appliances, and bathroom and light fixtures. The project was completed by Everette Sikes, YCC students, and volunteers (Figure 15).
Figure 13. Round Top Shelter was rebuilt in January 2006
43 Figure 14. New Entrance Information Kiosk was placed near GA Highway 121/23
44 Figure 15. Everette Sikes, Restoration Specialist, completed restoration on Historic Hopkins Cabin.
Visitor Center Facility Improvements
This year the Visitor Center was extensively cleaned inside and out, and its exhibits were repaired or renovated. Electronics in the storyteller and jukebox were replaced, exhibit computers were debugged, and the carpet of the trembling earth exhibit was replaced. The movie screen was replaced and the VC video projector was repaired. The screen in the underwater scene was cleaned, and its mural was touched up with paint to hide signs of wear. With the repairs completed, the exhibits look almost new, and should last another five years.
Policy Changes
Entrance Fees
Entrance fees were collected at the West Entrance (Stephen Foster State Park) and the East Entrance concessions (Okefenokee Adventures).
Credit Card Purchases: In December a new method for paying entrance fees was implemented at the refuge. Visitors wishing to pre-pay for either a daily entrance fee to the Okefenokee NWR or one of several types of Federal annual passports, can pay by telephone with a valid credit card (MasterCard or Visa)
45 by calling (912) 496-7156 or toll free 1-866-The-Swamp (1-866-843-7926). Okefenokee Adventures, Inc., will process requests seven days per week, except Christmas Day. An additional $3 transaction fee will be charged to cover costs, and the original permit will be mailed to their residence.
Credit Card purchasers will be given a pass number that will serve as a temporary daily pass. This number and the owner's full name must be clearly written on a piece of blank paper and visibly displayed on the dashboard of the user's vehicle during their time visiting the refuge.
For visitors wishing to use the Kingfisher Unit of the refuge, Okefenokee Sportsman owner Mr. Fred Coley, (912) 496-7286, has agreed to accept and hold temporary passes for users, wishing to pay in advance.
Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (REA) In preparing for implementation of the 2007 REA Pass Program, Rangers Gillette and Burkhart drafted a Five Year Business Plan for the refuge entrance fee program, as required by REA regulations.
The new REA Pass Program will effectively replace the Golden Eaegle, Golden Age, and Golden Access passports with a new Federal Interagency Pass. The new pass program will go into effect in 2007.
Guiding
If an organization or individual charges a fee for tours of the refuge, whether a business or non- profit organization, they must abide by the refuge policy and obtain a Guide Permit. Guides must attend a one-day Refuge Guide training and a refresher every three years. In 2006, permits were issued to three Overnight Refuge Guides and seven Day-Use Refuge Guides. Current guidelines limit the number of Overnight Guides to 15 and Day-Use Guides to 100.
Wilderness Canoe Program
Pay. Gov In July, the refuge incorporated the Pay.Gov payment system into its canoe trail reservation system. Pay.Gov will allow the public to use credit cards when making camping reservations at the refuge.
Low water Levels Due to low water levels in 2006, several overnight canoe trails were closed. Several work groups comprised of AmeriCorps, volunteers, and College groups maintained more than 30 miles of Wilderness Canoe Trails. Their work made it possible to get the mechanized trail-cutter into locations which otherwise would have been inaccessible.
Overnight Shelter projects completed throughout the year: • Roundtop Shelter was rebuilt. • Picnic tables and cooking areas were built for all overnight platforms.
46 • New screens and toilet tissue holders were installed in compost toilets. • Fifty signs and posts were replaced on several overnight trails.
Interpretation
Refuge staff provided several programs and orientations for Elderhostel groups, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, church groups, primary and secondary school groups, and college classes. Refuge staff and volunteers spent tune roving on hiking trails, conducting bird hikes, presenting local craft workshops, creating temporary special exhibits for events and the Visitor Center, giving public programs about wildlife, and providing cultural interpretation at the Chesser Island Homestead. New interpretive programs were developed, including a Refuge Ramble bicycle tour and Second Helping Hike, a post holiday hike for those who overindulged. New seasonal interpretive information and photographs are being rotated at the Boardwalk Kiosk and Kingfisher Kiosk.
New interpretive signs warning of alligator hazards were installed in several locations at the east entrance.
A new Entrance Road information kiosk and pull-off were installed and temporary interpretive signs put in place. Future plans are to provide a permanent "Welcome" and orientation panel.
The new, revised Nocturnal Nature programs were presented to visitors by refuge staff and volunteers. This program is currently held the second Saturday of each month beginning in November and ending in May.
A Scavenger Hunt was created in lieu of Easter Egg hunting for Easter weekend. Several children searched for animals and their signs with Ranger Gentry on the Mizell Prairie Trail.
For the second year, the Cane Syrup Demonstration, which interprets the process of making cane syrup, was presented by Ranger Sallie Gentry and Chesser descendant/volunteer Sheila Carter at the Chesser Island Homestead. Visitors had the opportunity to participate in an old-fashioned cane grinding and learn another way families from this area lived off the land. They watched how the juice was boiled down into pure cane syrup. Volunteers assisted participants in stripping and cutting cane from the homestead garden. They could then put it through the grinder and sip the fresh-squeezed juice. Old and young alike enjoyed playing the Ring-n-Stick game throughout the day. The Roddenberry sisters cooked ham, sausage, and homemade biscuits on the woodstove. Attendance increased greatly over last year, with over 200 visitors.
Environmental Education
Planning and Scheduling
Ranger Blame Eckberg created additional web pages that were added to the Environmental Education Program section of the refuge website.- Area educators can create notebooks filled with curriculum-based educational activities printed from the website that their students can complete while at the refuge.
47 Interns
Stephen Jacqueman, a student from Ohio North University, interned at the refuge from May to August 2005. He assisted with environmental education and interpretive programs, including conducting tours of the Chesser Island Homestead. He also assisted with the Junior Ranger Summer Day Camp and the Banks Lake Fishing Derby. Some of the special projects Stephen completed included an educational fish identification game, a preserved Gopher tortoise display, and web pages about fishing for the refuge website.
Programs
Students from pre-school to college came from Georgia, Florida, and many other states to participate in staff-led state curriculum-based and other specialized education programs at the refuge, hi addition, staff and volunteers from the refuge presented off-site programs in surrounding counties to students, who were unable to visit the refuge.
Table 20. Environmental' education programs conducted on the refuge by refuge staff CY 2006 Visitor Type Number of Participants* Activity Hours (x 4)+ Student 1,548 6,192 Adult 709 2,836 * Actual number of participants in an EE program. + Average number of hour's participants spent at refuge in an EE program and other educational activities.
Table 21 Environmental education programs conducted off the refuge by refuge staff CY 2006 Visitor Type Number of Participants* Activity Hours (x 2)+ Student 2,334 4,668 Adult 88 176 * Actual number of participants in an EE program + Average number of hour's participants spent participating in an EE program and other educational activities. Note: Several thousand more students participated in environmental education programs presented by their own teachers and organizations such as GASW Elderhostel and Driftwood. Almost every school group visiting the refuge received a least a 10-15-minute orientation message about the refuge.
Junior Ranger Summer Day Camp
Sixteen children attended the first session, and eighteen children attended the second session of the three-day summer camps in June (Figure 16). The camps provided local children with an interdisciplinary experience integrating learning with fun. The campers participated in active learning sessions about the natural and cultural history of the refuge, and how refuge staff members work to protect habitat for wildlife and provide recreational opportunities for visitors. The campers also learned about the refuge system and the Big Six Priority Uses, and participated in activities demonstrating the Big Six. This year, each camper was given a disposable camera to take photographs during camp (Wildlife Photography). The campers also had a chance to learn about the fish that live in the Okefenokee, practice their casting, and go fishing (Fishing). The
48 campers learned how to observe wildlife on walks (Wildlife Observation) while participating in interpretive programs such as walks and demonstrations (Interpretation). Other activities included a boat ride into the Okefenokee Swamp, arts and crafts, and demonstrations by staff members about the jobs they perform and the equipment they use. At the end of each session, each camper received a certificate, goody bag, and a Jr. Ranger t-shirt. Okefenokee Wildlife League provided $191.98 in funding for the camps.
Figure 16. Junior Ranger Summer Camp participants and helpers - Second Week
Education Focus Meetings with Gateway Community Educators
Meetings were held this year with school officials and teachers from four counties surrounding the refuge (Charlton, Ware, Clinch, and Baker). The purpose of the meetings was to discuss how the staff of Okefenokee NWR can work together with educators from the local counties to improve the educational experience and performance of their students. The refuge will implement a Value-Added component to its Environmental Education Program that is specifically aimed at supporting area educators in achieving their education/assessment goals through the following:
49 1. Regular Environmental Education programming (established refuge programs for visiting school groups) that we can offer. 2. Work with educators to develop a personalized Environmental Education (EE) program, which ties in directly with what they are teaching in their classrooms. 3. A combination of "1" and "2".
The goal is to work with area educators from our Gateway communities to integrate what their students are learning in the classroom with the refuge EE goals and objectives established in the Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan. From these meetings, participants gained a greater understanding of the purpose and goals of the refuge educational program, and how they can take advantage of the refuge and its EE resources to augment their lesson plans.
Leave No Trace
On Monday, February 27th, Ranger Eckberg and Leave No Trace trainers North Moench and Ella Goodbrod presented programs on Leave No Trace to 200 students at St. George Elementary School, and 40 students at Fargo Charter School. On Tuesday, February 28th, the same programs were presented to 110 students at Folkston Elementary School, and 83 students at Bethune Elementary School (Figure 17). On the same day, 120 students at Charlton County High School participated in a special older student program on Leave No Trace ethics and techniques.
Figure 17. Leave No Trace Presentation at Bethune Elementary School
50 Teacher Tours
The "Discover the Okefenokee: Refuge Tour for Teachers," was started this year. These are teacher workshops that introduce local teachers to the facilities and programming offered at the east entrance (Folkston) to the refuge. The goal for these workshops is to have participants become more knowledgeable about the natural and cultural resources, and the educational opportunities available at the refuge. The tours also afforded the opportunity for teacher-input to increase cooperation between community educators and refuge staff in the development of environmental education programs at Okefenokee NWR. Two tours were held, in which twelve Charlton County elementary school teachers and six Ware County middle school teachers participated.
Project WILD and Project Learning Tree
On Thursday, March 2nd and Friday March-3rd, Rangers Eckberg and Gentry offered a special two-day course at the Okefenokee Education and Research Center, in which six teachers from Charlton County and one teacher from Clinch County participated. Project WILD and Project Learning Tree are supplementary environmental education programs emphasizing wildlife and natural resources. The workshop offered teaching ideas for use in science, language arts, social studies, math and more (Figure 18).
Figure 18. Looking for Critters at the Project WILD/Project Learning Tree Workshop
51 campers learned how to observe wildlife on walks (Wildlife Observation) while participating in interpretive programs such as walks and demonstrations (Interpretation). Other activities included a boat ride into the Okefenokee Swamp, arts and crafts, and demonstrations by staff members about the jobs they perform and the equipment they use. At the end of each session, each camper received a certificate, goody bag, and a Jr. Ranger t-shirt. Okefenokee Wildlife League provided $191.98 in funding for the camps.
&lm •KMM«B«WMM^^MMMB ' »- - ' ----- . -rf*»*-.-, .;,-<• sr^fi^s^JIPBfcT IV- , : _-T :• • . ._..«*<-v,'-i.-5"- riJBM Figure 16. Junior Ranger Summer Camp participants and helpers - Second Week
Education Focus Meetings with Gateway Community Educators
Meetings were held this year with school officials and teachers from four counties surrounding the refuge (Charlton, Ware, Clinch, and Baker). The purpose of the meetings was to discuss how the staff of Okefenokee NWR can work together with educators from the local counties to improve the educational experience and performance of their students. The refuge will implement a Value-Added component to its Environmental Education Program that is specifically aimed at supporting area educators in achieving their education/assessment goals through the following:
49 1. Regular Environmental Education programming (established refuge programs for visiting school groups) that we can offer. 2. Work with educators to develop a personalized Environmental Education (EE) program, which ties in directly with what they are teaching in their classrooms. 3. A combination of "1" and "2".
The goal is to work with area educators from our Gateway communities to integrate what their students are learning in the classroom with the refuge EE goals and objectives established in the Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan. From these meetings, participants gained a greater understanding of the purpose and goals of the refuge educational program, and how they can take advantage of the refuge and its EE resources to augment their lesson plans.
Leave No Trace
On Monday, February 27th, Ranger Eckberg and Leave No Trace trainers North Moench and Ella Goodbrod presented programs on Leave No Trace to 200 students at St. George Elementary School, and 40 students at Fargo Charter School. On Tuesday, February 28th, the same programs were presented to 110 students at Folkston Elementary School, and 83 students at Bethune Elementary School (Figure 17). On the same day, 120 students at Charlton County High School participated in a special older student program on Leave No Trace ethics and techniques.
Figure 17. Leave No Trace Presentation at Bethune Elementary School
50 Teacher Tours
The "Discover the Okefenokee: Refuge Tour for Teachers," was started this year. These are teacher workshops that introduce local teachers to the facilities and programming offered at the east entrance (Folkston) to the refuge. The goal for these workshops is to have participants become more knowledgeable about the natural and cultural resources, and the educational opportunities available at the refuge. The tours also afforded the opportunity for teacher-input to increase cooperation between community educators and refuge staff in the development of environmental education programs at Okefenokee NWR. Two tours were held, in which twelve Charlton County elementary school teachers and six Ware County middle school teachers participated.
Project WILD and Project Learning Tree
On Thursday, March 2nd and Friday March 3rd, Rangers Eckberg and Gentry offered a special two-day course at the Okefenokee Education and Research Center, in which six teachers from Charlton County and one teacher from Clinch County participated. Project WILD and Project Learning Tree are supplementary environmental education programs emphasizing wildlife and natural resources. The workshop offered teaching ideas for use in science, language arts, social studies, math and more (Figure 18).
Figure 18. Looking for Critters at the Project WILD/Project Learning Tree Workshop
51 GATOR Notes and FOREST Notes
GATOR (GeorgiA Teachers of the Okefenokee Region) Notes and FOREST (Florida's Okefenokee Refuge Environmental Science for Teachers) Notes are email notice services created and distributed by Ranger Eckberg at various times during the year. Their purpose is to inform educators about special events and training opportunities offered at Okefenokee and Banks Lake NWR's, and other educational opportunities that might be of interest to educators and/or their students. It is also used as a forum for educators to discuss innovative ways to educate children about the natural environment.
Environmental Education Volunteer Training
Two courses were offered to Okefenokee NWR Education Volunteers to increase their knowledge of the natural history of Okefenokee and educational techniques. Local naturalist Don Berryhill provided a field course on October 25th to 13 volunteers on the plants, animals, and ecology of Okefenokee. This training was designed to provide participants with a background of knowledge about refuge resources, to aid them when they present educational programs, and interact with the public.
A training course for volunteers in presenting environmental education programs was held November 1st at the refuge. Ranger Eckberg conducted the course, with assistance from Volunteer. Flor Constantino. The goal of the course was to train a cadre of volunteers in the basics of conducting environmental education programs, so they may lead and/or assist with education programs offered at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. By the end of the training, participants were able to explain the purpose for presenting EE programs, and effectively assist with presenting three refuge curriculum-based programs.
Environmental Education Classroom
The design of a new building that will house an environmental education classroom and a new concession facility at the Suwannee Canal Recreation Area was finalized this year. Architectural plans have been completed, and the contracts for construction and site preparation are being prepared at the Region 4 offices. The building will be located between the visitor center and the current concession building. The environmental education portion will consist of a classroom, storage room, and restrooms. Ranger Eckberg has created preliminary lists of equipment and materials needed to outfit the center, and drafted a Scope of Use policy for the room.
On-site Special Events
Great Merit Badge Midway and More
The refuge hosted over 130 Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and their Scout Masters on January 28th, during the "Great Merit Badge Midway and More" event (Figure 19). The event provided scouts from southeastern Georgia an opportunity to work toward merit badges hi a variety of BSA-approved subjects. By the end of the day, work on over 120 merit badges was started, with approximately 80% of these completed. In addition to the merit badge requirements, many of
52 the scouts took part in a five mile hike, or participated in a service project by planting over 600 longleaf pine seedlings. The event was coordinated by Fred Wetzel, Fire Management Officer at the Okefenokee NWR and assistant scout master of Troop 360, Folkston, GA.
Figure 19. Boy Scouts of America participated in the "Great Merit Badge Midway and More" event.
Wings Over the Swamp
The year kicked off with Okefenokee NWR's Wings over the Swamp celebration on February 11th. This special event celebrated birds and butterflies with a morning birders boat tour, bird and butterfly activities and crafts, and a guided morning bird walk The day capped off with an evening Nocturnal Nature Walk. About one hundred people visited throughout the day. It was decided among the Visitor Services staff to remove this event from future programs.
National Wildlife Week/Earth Day
The celebration kicked off with a new project called the "Grocery Bag Art Project." Area grocery stores in Folkston and St. George donated brown paper grocery bags, which were decorated with the "Discover Okefenokee" Earth Day theme by local school students. Over six hundred bags were decorated. The bags were then returned to the stores in time to be used by customers during the April 15th observation. Artwork from one bag was selected to be on the t-shirts given away during the refuge event. The bag was framed and presented to the student- artist at the local Big J Grocery store (Figure 20).
53 Figure 20. Quintez Walters, winning artist in the National Wildlife Week/Earth Day art project.
On Saturday, April 15th, the celebration continued with a litter pick-up by about 15 volunteers and refuge staff. The Georgia Department of Transportation Adopt-a-Highway Litter Pickup Program provided trash bags and gloves for the event, in which approximately 1,300 pounds of litter was picked up in two hours along Georgia Highway 121/23.
Approximately 300 people participated in the "Discover Okefenokee" Bicycle Tour. This annual event promotes alternative travel methods and refuge management strategies including biology, forestry/fire, public use, cultural preservation, and animal and plant diversity. Participants received a free t-shirt decorated with the selected Grocery Bag Art. Sanctuary on Sapelo provided a live bird demonstration and Greathouse Butterflies exhibited native butterflies in various stages of development. Approximately 40 bicyclists participated, down from 2005. Over 50 staff members and volunteers made this event a great success.
International Migratory Bird Day
On May 13th, over 100 visitors to the refuge learned about the importance of protecting migratory birds with a Birders Boat Tour and a Beginner's Bird Walk. Volunteers helped approximately 100 children and adults play the Bird ID Challenge on the VC patio. A special exhibit showcasing backyard birding, habitat, and conservation was displayed, and visitors received a free 2006 IMBD poster.
54 National Fishing Week
Refuge staff have developed and annually presented a very popular National Fishing Week program at Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge near Lakeland, Georgia. Refer to Banks Lake Narrative, section 8.a. for a summary of this Special Event.
National Public Lands Day/Paddle for Wilderness
On Saturday, September 30th, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) celebrated National Public Lands Day from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The event began at the historic Chesser Island Homestead, where 35 volunteers participated in a service project. Accomplishments included cleaning the historic house, trimming vegetation along the Homestead trail, raking and hoeing the yard, tilling and planting the flower beds, and splitting wood. Palmetto brooms were made to sale at the upcoming Chesser Island Open House. Equipment, gloves, cold drinks, and a cookout lunch at the Homestead were provided to participants. Volunteers included members of Okefenokee Wildlife League, Boy Scout Troop 360, and Family Community and Connection Leadership Association from Charlton County High School.
National Wildlife Refuge Week/Okefenokee Festival
The Okefenokee Festival was held on Saturday, October 14th. This event celebrates the natural and cultural heritage of the Okefenokee Region. The refuge portion of the event took place at the Chesser Island Homestead, where participants had a chance to learn about the ways of the old swamp culture. Approximately 1,200 visitors enjoyed the activities at the homestead, and over 50 volunteers helped out with the event. Visitors also encountered mules and chickens, and sampled boiled peanuts, soup, biscuits, and other items cooked on a wood-burning stove. • Volunteers demonstrated how settlers made lye soap, brooms, butter, quilts, baskets, and other everyday items. Visitors also learned how settlers washed clothes, smoked meat, collected turpentine, and survived in and around the swamp. The sounds of bluegrass music, stories, and four-note singing were enjoyed along with traditional games of musical chairs, wheelbarrow races, and more. Okefenokee Adventures also offered a sunset boat tour in the Okefenokee Swamp for an additional charge.
55 Figure 21. Stephen C. Foster State Park Ranger Kate Ruka demonstrated lye soap making.
In nearby Folkston, the town held a parade and had musical acts, food vendors, and arts & crafts booths. Refuge staff and volunteers constructed a parade float portraying this year's parade theme: "Legends of the Okefenokee". The refuge float won first place in the parade floats competition. Refuge staff and volunteers also staffed a Refuge exhibit booth in Folkston. An estimated 8,000 people attended the parade and craft fair.
Christmas on Chesser Island Program
Many visitors came to the refuge on December 9th to enjoy the holiday festivities on Chesser Island. The event began at 6:00 p.m. with hayrides along Swamp Island. Visitors admired a live Eastern Red Cedar Christmas tree that had been decorated with food for wildlife next to the Homestead. An artificial tree was later displayed at Okefenokee Education and Research Center as part of their Christmas tree contest, winning $50 in the "Most Unusual" category. Visitors made Pine Cone Bird Feeders to create a "Tree for Wildlife" at their own home. The historic Chesser Homestead was open for tours for visitors to enjoy its traditional holiday decorations. Luminaries provided a soft glow that illuminated both the yard and pathways leading to and from the parking area. At 7:00 p.m., a special swamp version of the classic holiday tale "'Twas the Night before Christmas'" was presented by refuge staff and volunteers. The Roddenberry Sisters, a Charlton County favorite, then performed traditional holiday songs. The public was invited to join in singing as they enjoyed free refreshments of homemade cookies, hot chocolate, and cider around a bonfire. The hayrides then resumed from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m. Approximately 100 visitors
56 enjoyed the holiday festivities and 32 volunteers helped with the event. The event was only advertised locally, in an attempt to keep it on a smaller scale.
Figure 22. The Roddenberry Sisters assisted with the skit 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Hunting
Meeting with Hunt Clubs
On Thursday evening, September 28, Jim Burkhart and Shawn Gillette met with Steve DuBose, Donald Blanton, and Tom Hatchett from International Paper and seven representatives from the following hunt clubs, which lease portions of the former DuPont lands that have been transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
• Doe Bay Hunt Club • Kingfisher Landing Hunt Club • Wolf Pond Hunt Club • Turkey Branch Hunt Club
Jim Shelton and Shawn Gillette represented FWS law enforcement and Gary Simmons of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources was present to represent state law enforcement.
57 Questions and comments ranged from complaints of log-truck drivers not securing gates behind them to clarification of refuge boundaries. There were several questions concerning the use of dogs, and ATV's on the property. The meeting was received enthusiastically, and all present agreed that it was needed and very beneficial.
Hunter Education Course
Retired Georgia DNR Ranger Mike Brooks conducted four sessions of the Georgia Hunter Education course at the refuge administrative office in 2006. Two-day, ten-hour sessions were held on August 12-13, and September 9-10, 2006. Two-hour CD self-study sessions were offered August 26 and September 23, 2006. A total of 50 completed these courses on hunting knowledge, safety and ethics.
Refuge Hunts
The annual quota hunt for deer and feral hogs at Suwannee Canal Recreation Area was held on October 27th and 28th. Thirty-two hunters and helpers participated on the first day and 20 on the second day for a total of 52. A total of 13 deer (six bucks, six does, and one yearling) were harvested. Ranger Gillette provided law enforcement, while Ranger Eckberg administered the hunt. Feedback from the participants in the hunt was overwhelmingly positive. Many hunters were from the local area, but some came from as far as St. Simon's Island, GA and Middleburg, FL.
The Cowhouse Unit of Okefenokee NWR was open for hunting in compliance with state regulations and season. Hunting was allowed for deer, turkey and small game including Bobwhite quail, rabbit, and squirrel throughout the fall season in conjunction with Dixon Memorial Wildlife Management Area. Out of 87 hunters who signed-in, one doe was reported harvested.
The Pocket Unit of Okefenokee NWR was open for archery hunting from September 9 through October 13. Hunters were required to register daily, with 289 hunt-visits recorded this year compared to 362 in 2005. A total of 8 deer (5 buck and 3 does) were harvested this season compared to 15 deer (10 bucks and 5 does) harvested in 2005.
Evaluate Kings Bay Naval Base Hunt Program
On December 2nd, Ranger Eckberg toured the Kings Bay Submarine Base hunt area with Game Warden Jack O'Brien. This tour was to gather information on how the Kings Bay hunts are held, and to gain ideas on how hunts at Okefenokee NWR can be enhanced.
58 Fishing
Table 22. On-refuge anglers. Refuge Access 2006 2005 2004 East Entrance 1,694 1,639 1,695 West Entrance 3,355 2,982 2,626 Kingfisher Landing 243 278 367 Suwannee River Sill 1,088 - 1,132 911 TOTAL 6,380 6,031 5,599
Camping
Table 23 shows Tent and RV camping and cabin rentals at the West Entrance in Stephen Foster State Park. (See Table 23)
Table 23. Campers at Stephen C. Foster State Park. Number of Visits Camp Site 2006 2005 2004 Tent/RV Campers 22,772 26,814 19,430 Cabin Users 8,252 18,490 8,060 Total 31,024 45,304 27,490
Concessions
The North Entrance, Okefenokee Swamp Park, contract was renewed in 1999 and is valid through 2008. Okefenokee Swamp Park offers visitors boat and canoe rentals, boat tours, food services and visitor services.
The West Entrance, Stephen C. Foster State Park, is operated by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. The state park offers camping, boat and canoe rentals, and visitor services.
The East Entrance, Okefenokee Adventures, celebrated their eighth year of operation in September. Refuge staff conducted monthly inspections and continue to meet with the owners ' regularly. Tour audits were conducted and most guides work well with the public. Major issues have been resolved and communication remains good. Okefenokee Adventures has been able to employ and retain several high-quality employees.
59 8.b. OUTREACH Partnerships
International Paper Company
The Refuge partnership with International Paper (IP) remained alive and viable during the year despite IP's sale of land assets nationwide. The Longleaf Pine Trail with its contingent of interpretive panels donated by IP continues to attract hiking interests. Refuge staff also entertained an IP representative (Gary Boyd) and a commercial photographer in developing a "coffee table" book of IP properties and their conservation achievements. The book is scheduled for release in 2007.
Georgia Wildlife Federation
The Georgia Wildlife Federation (GWF) withdrew from the management of the_Okefenokee Education and Research Center (OERC) during the Fall of 2005 . Refuge staff continues to work with GWF on a number of projects including: development of the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP); Georgia Department of Natural Resources Comprehensive Plan; collaborative management of the adjacent DuPont donated lands with the Conservation Fund (CF). -
Local Community Outreach
Refuge staff continues to participate in several community organizations, including the Okefenokee Chamber of Commerce, Better Hometown Program, Kiwanis Club and others. Staff also regularly attended meetings on the "Keep Charlton Beautiful" campaign.
Fire Outreach
Cowhouse Island #1 Wildfire
In April, Shawn Gillette responded to Forestry/Fire Management Officer Wetzel's request for incident information for the Cowhouse Island #1 Fire, which broke out on April 29. Fortunately, the fire was limited to just 29 acres in size and was quickly contained. Gillette drafted one press release and a GOAL website article on the fire.
Blackb cards Revenge Wildfire
In July, Shawn Gillette served as Incident Information Officer for the Blackboards Revenge Wildfire, which occurred at Blackbeard Island NWR, within the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex. Gillette conducted Incident Information operations at Harris Neck NWR. Gillette's handling of the information function was commented favorably upon by Savannah Coastal Refuge Complex Project Leader Jane Griess and Area III Deputy Refuge Supervisor Bernie Peterson.
60 Hurricane Relief/Recovery Outreach
In September, Ranger Gillette was name- requested to assume the Incident Information Officer function for Hurricane Ernesto, which was expected to hit coastal Florida and Georgia; however, Ernesto down- graded into a tropical storm, which missed Florida and Georgia.
North Florida Ecosystem Outreach
Nothing to Report
Other Outreach Initiatives
• In January, Burkhart coordinated three separate Gateway Community Trainings for Folkston, Waycross, and Fargo. • On January 21, Gillette coordinated the annual Kiwanis Family Fun Day event, in which 125 members of the community take part. Refuge Fire staff assisted with the event. • On March 6, Burkhart and Refuge Manager Constantino coordinate outreach meeting in Charlton County to discuss possible Panther Recovery Plan options at the Okefenokee NWR. • On March 18, Gillette presents a talk on "Refuge Management and Recreational Planning" to 15 students from Virginia Tech University (Joe Roggenbuck's class). • In April, Rangers Burkhart and Gillette coordinate a media event at the Suwannee River Access Area (Sill) in support of the search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the Okefenokee NWR. • In April, Ranger Burkhart coordinated a visit by the Georgia Department of Economic Development for 10 travel writers. • On September 15, Rangers Gillette and Burkhart presents "Refuge Economic Impact" illustrated talks to 15 members of the Leadership Charlton group. • On October 16, Ranger Gillette conducts a VIP tour of the East Entrance for Mr. Jose Badialli, who oversees restoration efforts for Brazil's Amazon River. The visit was in support of the refuge's partnership with the Jacksonville International Visitor Corps. • On December 12, Rangers Burkhart and Gooch conduct the Visitor Services/Public Use portion during a VIP tour for the C.A.R.E.S. group.
Georgia Nature-Based Tourism Association
Supervisory Refuge Ranger Jim Burkhart continues to be active with the Georgia Nature-Based Tourism Association, an organization consisting of outfitters, campground owners and other stakeholders. This group was initiated in response to the DuPont strip mining threat to convince small rural communities that nature-based tourism was a viable economic growth incentive that was just as valuable as large and small industry. After two years of sub-par funding and local membership the organization was expanded state wide in CY 2004.
One of the major projects taken on by this group has been the development of a waterway trail from the Atlantic Ocean, up the St. Marys River, through the Okefenokee NWR and down the Suwannee River to the Gulf of Mexico. This planning group hopes to enlist the cooperation,
61 financial, and political support of both Georgia and Florida in completion of this trail.
During FY06 this group encountered a severe drop in membership and overall decrease in interest from its support base. The future existence of this organization is questionable at this time.
Okefenokee Trail
Supervisory Refuge Ranger Jim Burkhart has met with representatives of local counties surrounding the refuge and members of Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism interested in developing an Okefenokee Trail designated and officially signed by the Georgia Department of Transportation. The Okefenokee Trail will promote all of the opportunities available to tourists that visit this area. The area to be popularized by the trail includes the •county assets east and west of the Okefenokee between Interstates 1-95 and 1-75.
During CY 06 this project obtained Georgia DOT legislative status and appropriate Okefenokee Tail-blazer type signs were installed along the identified corridor. Trial signs were installed eastward from 1-75 in Valdosta along US Highway 84 to Waycross; from Homerville thru Fargo and the West Entrance along GA Highway 94 to the Florida border; from Waycross along US Highway 1 to Folkston; from Folkston along GA Highway 121/23 to the East Entrance and then to St. George; from St. George along GA Highway 94 to Moniac and the Florida border; from Folkston to 1-95 at Kingsland along GA Highway 40. The area of FL Highway 2 along the southern end of the refuge remains to be designated by the Florida Legislature. The current "working group" of multi-county designates continue to organize its formal structure, seek 501- C6 status, attract membership support, and seek sources for funding.
Media Contacts/Events
Press Releases and Other Print Media
Visitor Services staff drafted and released 25 press releases in 2006, which covered a variety of topics ranging from special events to staff reductions as a result of Workforce Planning.
Ranger Gillette's article DuPont's Gift to the Nation appeared in the March/April 2006 (Vol. 3, No. 2) edition of Refuge Update Magazine.
Ranger's Burkhart and Gillette contributed to the article Cane Grinding and Turpentining in the Okefenokee, which appeared in the May/June 2006 (Vol. 3, No. 3) edition of Refuge Update Magazine.
Ranger Eckberg coordinated the 2006 Blue Goose Corner Column, which is carried in newspapers that serve all of the refuge's Gateway Communities (Tabel 24).
62 Table 24. 2006 Blue Goose Corner articles. Month Title Author January: Hollywood at the Swamp Chip Campbell February: Alligators - Monarchs of the Swamp Elaine Eckberg April: Paddling Across the Swamp Blaine Eckberg May: LongleafPine Forest Community Ron Phernetton June: Let 's Go Fishing Sallie Gentry Searching for the Lord-God Bird in the July: ' Shawn Gillette Okefenokee August: Keystone Species Blaine Eckberg September: No Child Left Inside Blaine Eckberg October: Invasives at Your Doorstep Blaine Eckberg and Sara Aicher November: A Few. Worked to Save the Okefenokee Blaine Eckberg and Chris Trowel December: Sights and Sounds of Winter Blaine Eckberg and Jim Burkhart
Visitor Services staff contributed 22 short refuge-related articles to the Service's Southeastern Region's E-Grits electronic newsletter. The following articles were selected to be the newsletter's leading article (frontpage) submissions: • DuPont's Land Donation by Shawn Gillette (January 2006) • Searchingfo r the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the Okefenokee by Shawn Gillette (April 2006)
Special Use Permits
Rangers Burkhart and Gillette coordinated six separate requests for Special Use Permits to film on the Okefenokee NWR. Some of the requests included the following: • BBC Natural History Unit: "Bill Oddie Presents America" (January) • Tentmakers Entertainment: "Hidden Treasures of Georgia" (March) • BBC Natural History Unit: "Ancient Swamps" (June) • International Paper: "Swamp & Uplands Scenes" (July)
Web Page
The refuge web page was updated. OWL maintains a separate web site and now has an email account for public access and to accept orders for bookstore items.
63 Off-refuge Special Events/Community Events/Support
Colonial Coast Birding Festival
The refuge served as a destination site for participants on field trips associated with the Colonial Coast Birding Festival held on October 13-14. Savannah NWR supported the event along with other refuge partners.
CoastFest
CoastFest was held on October 7 at the Brunswick Department of Natural Resources (DNR) office and sponsored by Georgia DNR. Ranger Gentry, dressed as the Blue Goose (Figure 23), and two volunteers co-hosted a FWS booth with the Brunswick Ecological Service Office. Approximately 7,000 people passed through during the event. Numerous environmental organizations sponsored booths at the event, including Georgia Forestry Commission, Sanctuary on Sapelo, Cumberland Island National Seashore, and Oatland Island Education Center.
Figure 23. Blue Goose entertains children at the 2006 Coastfest Event.
64 9. PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION 9.a. COMPREHENSIVE MANAGEMENT PLANNING
The final Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was signed on August 17, 2006! All the step-down plans have been initiated and will be finalized in the near future. 9.b. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Refuge Staff
The majority of the 31 staff is full time with a small number of career seasonal and temporary positions (Table 25). Table 26 lists refuge employees and current positions. Staff photos are included in Figure 22.
Table 25. A five-year comparison of Okefenokee's staffing pattern. Year Full-time Career-Seasonal Temporary Firefighters Firefighters FY2006 26 5 (3.55 FTE) 0 0 FY 2005 26 5 (3.55 FTE) 1 0 FY 2004 26 5 (3.55 FTE) 1 0 FY 2003 26 5 (3. 55 FTE) 1 0 FY 2002 26 5 (3.55 FTE) 0 0
65 Table 26. Okefenokee Refuge Staff for 2006. Name Title George M. Constantino (EOD 6/26/05) Refuge Manager (GS 14, PFT) *W. Shaw Davis (EOD 04/10/97) Deputy Refuge Manager (GS 13, PFT) Maury W. Bedford (EOD 10/1/06) Deputy Refuge Manager (GS 13, PFT) Thomas B. Bennett (EOD 6/11/06) Student Trainee (GS 5, TEMP) Dartha P. Campbell (EOD 12/06/76) Administrative Officer (GS 9, PFT) Beverly A. Derouin (EOD 03/05/95) Office Assistant (GS 6, PFT) Judy L. Drury (EOD 04/1 1/88) Office Assistant (GS 5, PFT) Sara Brown Aicher (EOD 03/10/91) Wildlife Biologist (GS 12, PFT) Dean E. Easton (EOD 03/09/03) Wildlife Biologist (GS 1 1, PFT) James N. Shelton (EOD 07/05/87) Park Ranger (Refuge) (LE) (GS 9, PFT) James A. Burkhart (EOD 06/1 1/78) Sup. Park Ranger (Refuge) (GS 12, PFT) Shawn G. Gillette (EOD 04/04/04) Park Ranger (Refuge) (GS 1 1, PFT) Gracie A. Gooch (EOD 05/29/84) Park Ranger (Refuge) (GS 7, PFT) Elaine D. Eckberg (EOD 10/19/03) Park Ranger (Refuge) (GS 1, PFT) Sallie D. Gentry (EOD 07/15/01) Park Ranger (Refuge) (GS 7, PFT) Everette Sikes (EOD 03/15/87) Electrical Worker (WG 8, PFT) Stiner Jones (EOD 09/19/83) Tractor Operator (WG 6, PFT) *FrederickE. Wetzel (EOD 05/03/92 Forester/FMO (GS 12, PFT) James R..Langford (EOD 04/06/03) Forester/AFMO (GS 11, PFT) Howard McCullough (EOD 01/05/87) Forestry Technician (GS 8, PFT) Reggie Porcine (EOD 07/23/95) Forestry Technician (GS 7, PFT) Richard B. Boatright (EOD 01/05/97) Fire Program Assistant (GS 5, PFT) Douglas E. Nuss (EOD 01/16/77) Sup. Engineering Equip. Oper. (WS 10, PFT) *TonyR. Gooch (EOD 08/18/80) Automotive Worker (WG 8, PFT) Rockwell M. Chesser (EOD 06/23/96) Engineering Equip. Oper. (WG 8, PFT) Toby Price (EOD 4/1 6/06) Engineering Equip. Oper. (WG 8, PFT) William E. Sikes (EOD 05/24/98) Forestry Technician (GS 5, PPT) *Heather A. Lee (EOD 1 1/13/05) Forestry Technician (GS 5, PPT) Cory R. Bryant (EOD 06/03/01) Engineering Equip. Oper. (WG 8, PFT) Danny Jack Willis (EOD 07/16/00) Forestry Technician (GS 5, PPT) Christopher M. Wright (EOD 1 1/13/05) Forestry Technician (GS 5, PPT) Robert R. Vernachio (EOD 11/27/05) Lead Forestry Technician (GS 6, PPT) *JaredR. Allsbrooks (EOD 06/01/03) Park Ranger (LE) GS 5, PFT * Davis transferred to Savannah Coastal Refuges. * Wetzel transferred to Washington DC. * Gooch retired. * Lee resigned. * Allsbrooks converted from Student Trainee to Park Ranger (LE).
66 Figure 24. Front Row (L-R): D. Easton, J. Drury, B. Derouin, D. Campbell, S. Aicher Back Row (L-R): G. Constantino, M. Bedford
Figure 25. Front Row (L-R): S. Gentry, G. Gooch, S. Gillette Back Row (L-R): E. Sikes, S. Jones, J. Burkhart, B. Eckberg 67 Figure 26. Front Row (L-R): R. Chesser, C. Bryant, R. Langford, R. Porcine Back Row (L-R): D. Nuss, W. Sikes, D. Willis, R. Vernachio, T. Price, C. Wright
Personnel Changes
April 16, 2006, Toby K. Price entered on duty as Engineering Equipment Operator.
May 4, 2006, Tared R. Allsbrooks entered LE training at FLETC.
June 11, 2006, W. Shaw Davis transferred to Savannah Coastal Refuges.
June 11, 2006, Thomas B. Bennett entered on duty as a STEP Student.
June 13, 2006, Gracie A. Gooch was promoted to FPL GS-9 Park Ranger.
June 16, 2006, Jared R. Allsbrooks converted to Park Ranger GS-5 (LE).
August 20, 2006, Frederick E. Wetzel transferred to Washington DC.
October 1, 2006, Tony R. Gooch retired.
October 1, 2006, Maury W. Bedford transferred to Okefenokee NWR from Tensas NWR.
68 November 26, 2006, James R. Langford temporarily promoted to GS-12 Forester/FMO.
November 26, 2006, Heather A. Lee resigned, accepted a Forestry Consultant position with private sector.
December 10, 2006, Jared R. Allsbrooks transferred to SE Louisiana Refuges after successfully completing all refuge Law Enforcement training requirements. 9.c. TRAINING AND TRAVEL
Employees attended several off-station training courses in 2006 (Table 27). Table 26 includes other travel performed by refuge employees.
Table 27. Training attended by permanent personnel in 2006. Dartha Campbell Ideas-PD Training Atlanta GA Jan 29-Feb 1 Beverly Derouin Fred Wetzel R4 FMO Workshop Lake Buena Vista FL Feb 6-9 James Langford Fire Management George Constantino Tucson AZ Feb5-10 Leadership Training Dartha Campbell Incident Procurement Phoenix AZ Feb 5-10 Beverly Derouin Training Heather Lee S-2 15 Fire & Urban Okeechobee FL Christopher Wright Interface Training Feb 13-18 NCTC Dartha Campbell Warrant Refresher Feb 21-24 Shepherdstown WV Arthur Carhart SaraAicher Las Vegas NV Wilderness Training Feb 26-Mar 3 M-580 Fire in Fred Wetzel Ecosystem Management Tucson AZ Feb 26-Mar 2
Chris Wright MOCC Training Savannah GA Rob Vernachio Mar 6-9 George Constantino S-580 Advanced Tucson AZ Mar 19-24 Fred Wetzel Wildland Fire Use NCTC Elaine Eckberg ED for Youth Schools Mar 20-22 Shepherdstown WV
69 George Constantino Old Growth Workshop Thomasville GA Mar30-Apr 1 Howard McCullough Dean Easton Old Growth Workshop Thomasville GA Mar 31 -Apr 1 James Shelton W. Shaw Davis Annual LE Refresher Quincy FL Apr 17-21 Shawn Gillette George Constantino Wilderness Training Missoula MT June 25-30 NCTC Applied Supervision May 7-12 Shawn Gillette Shepherdstown WV ICS Orientation I- 100JL-180S-130S-190 Toby Price Human Factors on LufkinTX May 15-22 Fire line, Basic FF/Intro to Fire Everette Sikes Airboat Training Crystal River FL May 17 S-399 Division Group James Langford Lufkin TX Supervisor .May 18-20 S-300 Extended Attack James Langford Luflcin TX 1C - ICT3 May 23 -24 Fred Wetzel M581 Fire Program Memphis TN James Langford Management June 4-9 Judy Drury I-Suite Training Knoxville TN June 6-8 James Langford Division/Group Support Wausau WI June 11-15 Rockwell Chess er Heavy Equip Safety Decatur AL June 11-1 6 Toby Price MOCC Training Slidell LA June 12-16 TEC 71 61 Digital NCTC Sallie Gentry imaging Fundamentals Shepherdstown WV June 25-28 Rob Vernachio Midcareer Seminar Atlanta GA June 26-28 George Constanino GA Bio-Energy Howard McCullough Conference Tifton GA July 31-Aug3 Carolina Sandhill Shawn Gillette Public Use Review Aug7-10 NWRSC Rockwell Chesser Hurricane Tractor Atlanta GA Chris Wright Trailer Training Sept 11-13
70 NCTC Sept 17-29 Tared Allsbrooks ROBS Training Shepherdstown WV
Public Use Review Vero Beach FL Sept 18-22 Shawn Gillette Archie Carr Conservation Management Issues Sara Aicher Affecting Amphibians in Palatka FL Oct 5-6 Dean Easton the SE: Frog, Toad, Salamander ID Jared Allsbrooks LE Training PeeDeeNWR SC Oct 5-Dec 7 Brantley Boatright Interagency Medical Orlando FL Oct 11-12 James Langford Qualification Training Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior, Dozer Toby Price Bastrop TX Oct 15-27 Ops, S-212 Wildland Power Saw S-130S-190 James Langford AmeriCorps Students I- Douglas GA Oct 22-27 Rob Vernachio 100L-180 Instructor SAMMS Refresher Rockwell Chesser Savannah GA Training Nov 5-8 George Constantino NCTC FMO Workshop James Langford Shepherdstown WV Nov 12-17 Reggie Porcine ACE Training San Antonio TX Nov 27-Dec 2 Reggie Porcine Helicopter Manager Chattanooga TN Rob Vernachio Workshop Dec 4-8 NCTC SAMMS NCTC Maury Bedford Dec 10-15 Training Shepherdstown WV
Table 28. Travel by permanent personnel in 2006. Heather Lee James Langford EufaulaNWRRxBurn Danny Jack Willis Assist Eufaula AL Jan 5- 8 Rockwell Chesser Robert Vernachio
71 Reggie Porcine Texas Wildland Fire Henderson TX Jan 7 - 22 Cory Bryant Assist Christopher Wright Hurricane After Plan Fred Wetzel Forsyth GA Jan 17 -18 Meeting Gulf Coast Hurricane Fred Wetzel Washington DC Jan 25 Recognition Ceremony New Concession W. Shaw Davis Atlanta GA Jan 30 -31 James Burkhart Building Drawings Eastern OK Fire Robert Vernachio Eastern OK Feb2-17 Severity Assist Texas Wildland Fire Will Sikes TX Feb 2 - 17 Assist Danny Jack Willis Piedmont NWR Rx Burn Hillsborough GA Reggie Porcine Assist Feb9-ll Gracie Gooch Volunteer Field Trip Atlanta GA Mar 7- 8 Mississippi Sandhill Heather Lee Crane NWR Wildland Gautier MS Mar 8 - 20 Will Sikes Fire Assist Chris Wright Fire Severity Assist Savannah GA Rob Vernachio Savannah Coastal NWR MarlO- 12 Cory Bryant Carolina Sandhills NWR Chris Wright McBee SC Wildland Fire Assist Mar 17 -19 Danny Jack Willis Fred Wetzel M581 Cadre Meeting Memphis TN James Langford Apr 4 - 5 Teaming w/Wildlife George Constantino Coyington GA Coalition Meeting Apr 6 - 7 Danny Jack Willis Piedmont NWR Rx Burn Hillsborough GA Rob Vernachio Assist Apr 6 - 8 Gracie Gooch Volunteer Field Trip Warm Springs GA Apr 17 -18 Doug Nuss Chris Wright Merritt Island NWR Titusville FL Apr 29 - May Heather Lee Wildland Fire Assist 13 Cory Bryant
72 Tared Allsbrooks Return to Duty FLETC Glynco GA May 3
Director's Awards Atlanta GA May8 William Staeger Ceremony Callaway Gardens George Constantino Project Leaders Meeting May 5 - 12 W. Shaw Davis GA Merritt Island NWR Fire Reggie Porcine Titusville FL May 20 - Jun 3 Severity Assist May 24 - Jun Will Sikes Merritt Island NWR Fire Titusville FL Danny Jack Willis Severity Assist 14 Merritt Island NWR May 24 - Jun Rob Vernachio Titusville FL Wildland Fire Assist 14 Osceola NF and Merritt May 3 1 - Jun Chris Wright Island NWR Wildland Titusville FL 12 Fire Assist Osceola NF and Merritt Heather Lee Island NWR Wildland Titusville FL Jun 1 - 12 Fire Assist American Recreation Jim Burkhart Coalition's Legends Wash DC Jun 12 - 13 Award Ceremony Pickup Donated Motor Everette Sikes Orlando FL Home for OWL Jun 19 James Langford Gracie Gooch AmeriCorps Graduation Charleston SC Jun 27 Everette Sikes Danny Jack Willis Florida Wildland Fire Rob Vernachio Tallahassee FL Assist Jul 6 - 21 Chris Wright
Reggie Porcine Savannah NWR Black Beard Island Wildland Fire Assist GA Jul 9 - 22
Shawn Gillette Savannah NWR Wildland Fire Assist Savannah GA Jul 11 - 16 Savannah NWR Black Beard Island Brantley Boatright Jul 12 - 25 Wildland Fire Assist GA Bond Swamp NWR Russ Langford Macon GA Biological Review Jul 19 -20
73 Heather Lee Wildland Fire Assist Phoenix AZ Jul 21 - Aug 5 Walla Whitman NF Baker City OR Jul27-Augl3 Danny Jack Willis Wildland Fire Assist Western Wildland Fire Wenatchee WA Aug 1-16 Rob Vernachio Assist Western Wildland Fire Reggie Porcine Libby MT Aug 8 - 23 Assist Godzilla — Cartersville . Toby Price Macon GA Aug 9- 10 Cory Bryant for Repairs Western Wildland Fire Garden Creek ID Aug 10 -25 Will Sikes Assist Area III Refuge George Constantino Mt Pleasant SC Aug 14 -16 Managers Meeting Western Wildland Fire Chris Wright Bozeman MT Aug 23 - Sep 7 Assist Transportation NCTC, Jim Burkhart Aug 28 -31 Conference Shepherdstown WV Monroe LA — Maury Bedford House Hunting Trip Sep 4 - 6 Kingsland GA Danny Jack Willis Western Wildland Fire Stanley ID Sep 5 - 21 Rob Vernachio Assist Brantley Boatright FICC Detail Tallahassee FL Sept 12 - 27 James Shelton Pickney Island LE Detail Pickney Island Sept 14 - 19 James Shelton Pickney Island LE Detail Pickney Island Sep 24 - 28 Monroe LA - Maury Bedford Relocation/Move Kingsland GA Sep 27 - 29 30 day Temporary Maury Bedford Kingsland GA Quarters Sep 29 - Oct 28 Peer Review Piedmont James Langford Gray GA NWR Rx Burn Plan Octl8-19 Will Sikes Savannah Coastal Savannah GA Cory Bryant Refuges Rx Burn Assist Oct 24 - 26 Savannah Coastal Reggie Porcine Savannah GA Oct 24 - 26 Refuges Rx Burn Assist
74 George Constantino SE Regional NWR Grade Gooch System Friends Sanibel FL Oct 26 - 29 Patti Sandow Workshop Joshua Frank 2006 Annual GA Rural Everette Sikes Helen GA Oct 29 - Nov 1 Water Conference 30 day Temporary Maury Bedford Kingsland, GA Oct 29 -30 Quarters Peer Review MS James Langford Sandhill Crane NWR Rx Gautier MS Oct 30 -31 Burn Plan Peer Review Noxubee James Langford Starkville MS Nov 1 - 3 NWR Rx Burn Plan Danny Jack Willis Wildland Fire Assist Olustee FL Nov 6 W Sikes OsceolaNF Sara Aicher Ron Phemetton Longleaf Alliance Tifton GA Heather Lee Regional Conference Nov 14 -16 Howard McCullough Sara Aicher RCW Foraging Matrix Eglin AFB Dean Easton Application Workshop Niceville FL Nov 27 - 28
9.d. ENERGY
In 2006, refuge usage showed an increase in electricity but a decrease in gasoline and diesel. A comparison of refuge usage from 2004-2006 is included in Table 29.
Table 29. Energy usage in CY 2006. CY2006 CY 2005 CY2004 Electricity (kwh) 265,285 256,504 251,529 Gasoline (gal) 14,225 24,708 31,970 Diesel (gal) 7,727 15,672 10,655
75 9.e. FUNDING
Funds allocated in 2006 were consistent with trends observed in previous years. A comparison of funds allocated for 2002-2006 are included in Table 30.
Table 30. Refuge fund allocations from 2002-2006. ACTIVITY 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 1260 1696.5 1383.1 1451.4 1270.4 1131.9 6860 45.0 65.0 60.0 60.0 60.0 9131/9251 540.5 652.7 742.5 741.9 875.0 9132 0.0 0.0 345.7 0.0 0.0 9263 392.6 217.3 236.5 180.0 99.3 9264 114.5 104.5 20.0 105.0 21.0 9265 60.5 31.0 23.6 0.0 0.0 1100 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 8.0 2111/2810/2821 960.2 1110.2 427.8 0.0 67.1 2977 578.6 1178.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 2982 60.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4753 150.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 8555 0.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 0.0 Federal Highway 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 435.0 TOTAL ALLOCATION 4599.3 4742.2 3307.5 2358.5 2697.3 2006 Includes SCEP (13.0), T-l Installation (10.3), Hopkins Cabin repair (48.0), replacement of 1978 Harvester Truck, 1978 motor grader and 1995 fire crew cab (235.0), EE facility startup (40.9), Concession facility repair/rehab (919.5), Fire and timber access roads repairs (578.6), Hurricane operations and recovery costs for 2005 (150.9), Supplies, NUS, etc. for hurricane response trailer (60.0), Cooperative Agreement with USFS andFLDOF to upgrade tower site 2005 Includes MMSprojects (113.5), YCC (25.6), Banks Lake hyacinth control (15.0), Congressional for concession facility including carryover (919.5), storm (1178.4) 2004 Includes MMS (240.0), YCC (25.1), contaminant (6.9), Banks Lake herbicide (3.5), Hurricane Isabel (24.8), SAMMS (60.0), Congressional for concession facility (427.8), helicopter contract (25.0), fire facility (345.7) 2003 Includes MMS projects (140.0), YCC (19.2), safety signs (1.2), helicopter contract (25.0) 2002 Includes MMS projects (135.0)), YCC (19.2), visitor center andrestroom renovations (67.1), helicopter contract (25.0), locker/shower facility (28.0), urban interface (Stephen C. Foster State Park (21.0), contaminant (8.0)
76 9.f. SAFETY
Safety meetings were held every month. Work hazard forms were completed and tailgate sessions were held before the beginning of each work project. Numerous topics including ethics, load securement, power tool safety, dangers of lights on Christmas trees, and heat related illnesses were discussed.
Permanent Employee Accidents
Stiner Jones — March 16, 2006
Jones was driving east on GA Highway 94 when he came to the intersection at GA Highway 441, he turned south but did not come to a complete stop and did not see Mr. Smith's vehicle that was going south on Highway 441. Jones ran into the side of Mr. Smith's vehicle causing moderate damage to the front and rear door. There were no injuries and no medical time lost.
Dean E. Easton - May 9, 2006
Easton was driving southbound on Swamp Road toward the refuge when a large feral hog ran from the ditch and into the passenger side of the Federal vehicle. The hog was not visible in time to avoid it. The hog hit the right side of the bumper, the right front quarter panel, and the passenger door. There were no injuries to persons and no medical time lost.
Howard McCiiIloiigh — July 11, 2006
McCullough was cruising timber in 95 degree weather for a period of six hours. He became weak with slurred speech and requested to go to the hospital. He was treated for heat exhaustion (dehydration) with IV fluids and released with a follow-up Doctor visit on July 20 and returned to regular duty.
Toby Price-August 31, 2006
Price was using a sledge hammer to install an 8x8 post while doing maintenance on a pole barn on the west side of the refuge. He had to beat on the post to plumb it. The palm of his hand became painful and was possibly bruised or fractured. He received medical treatment and was unable to use his right hand for four to six weeks. He was placed on restricted duty during this tune.
James N. Shelton - September 10, 2006
While observing hunters out on the pocket near Stephen Foster State Park, Shelton was possibly bitten by a spider. The following morning, he awoke with pain and swelling in the right underarm area. There was no lost time and no medical expense.
77 Christopher Wright - December 18, 2006
While putting culverts in at the Cowhouse unit, Wright received an unknown insect bite to right top of forearm which became red, swollen, and warm to the touch. He was advised by the Doctor to go to the Emergency Room where he was treated with oral medications. No medical time lost.
Firefighter Accidents
Nothing to report.
Intern Accidents
Nothing to report.
Volunteer Accidents
Nothing to report.
AmeriCorps Accidents
Nothing to report.
Youth Conservation Corp Accidents
Nothing to report. 9.g. VOLUNTEERS
The volunteer program continues to grow at the refuge. The Volunteer Coordinator devoted more time to recruiting volunteers and guiding them on various refuge projects. In 2006, more than 150 volunteers contributed 19,756 hours, equivalent to more than nine full time employees. Volunteers have become integral to maintaining the refuge, assisting the biology and forestry staff, performing duties in Visitor Services, and undertaking various other tasks in support of the refuge mission.
Volunteers are especially important to the Public Use program. Volunteers staff the visitor center, conduct interpretive programs, and assist with environmental education. Without then- support, the refuge would be seriously impacted in terms of the services it provides to visitors on a daily basis. Volunteers performed lawn maintenance and landscaping, maintained signs, cut and trimmed canoe and walking trails, surveyed wildlife, planted longleaf pine seedlings, administered the recycling program, staffed the refuge visitor center, served as hosts for the Chesser Island Homestead, constructed and renovated overnight canoe shelters, and represented the refuge at off-site events. In addition, many interpretive and environmental education programs were presented to educational groups and visitors that would not have been otherwise offered.
78 Projects accomplished:
• Outside wooden partition walls replaced and painted at boardwalk restrooms. • Ten miles of upland trails trimmed: • New water line installed to tie together fire building well to Camp Cornelia. • Buildings pressure washed. • Signs along Swamp Island Drive washed. • Twelve portable toilets improved with new screens, toilet tissue holders. • 50 signs routed, painted, and installed on new post in-and around the edge of the swamp. • Twenty miles of canoe trail trimmed. • Construction projects included replacing dock at Bluff Lake overnight shelter, Dinner Pond shelter repaired, Round Top overnight shelter replaced, 850' of deck and toe-rail replaced on boardwalk.
Four volunteers enjoyed .assisting Cumberland National Seashore with their annual horse count on March 18-20.
Volunteer Rossi Newton traveled to South Carolina to help with Ivory-billed Woodpecker survey.
Volunteer Recognition
The annual volunteer awards ceremony was held on May 5, 2006. The volunteers enjoyed dinner, which was immediately followed by the awards ceremony. Several volunteers received certificates and hour pins. Volunteer Sally Webb received the Take Pride in America Presidential Award for volunteering over 4,000 hours.
Volunteer Terry Clark received the Regional Director's Volunteer Honor Award.
Volunteers enjoyed several field trips throughout the year. They had the opportunity to visit all three entrances into the Okefenokee NWR to learn about the different ecosystems in the swamp. Quarterly sunset boat tours were offered, averaging over 30 volunteers each trip. The volunteers enjoyed a tour of the Regional Office and the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta Georgia. They also enjoyed a field trip to Warm Springs National Fish Hatchery and Callaway Gardens where the Friends Group gave an excellent tour of their facilities and a wonderful fellowship evening.
Interns
Katrina Albanese, Ohio Northern University, Akron OH, February - May, 2006 (Biology) Zachery Carter, Waycross College, Waycross GA, May — Jun (Biology) Stephen Jacquemin, Ohio Northern University, Akron OH, May — August, 2006 (Public Use)
Projects accomplished include the following:
• Directed YCC members on maintenance projects.
79 • Assisted with annual events including National Wildlife Week, International Migratory Bird Day, and National Fishing Day. - • Assisted with daily Visitor Center operations. • Participated in interpretation program at Chesser Island Homestead. • Assisted with Junior Ranger Camp. • Created an Environmental Education program called "The Fantastically Fishing Challenge". • Redesigned the wilderness canoe brochure. • Designed fishing page on website. • Preserved gopher tortoise and barred owl for display and program use. • Assisted with red-cockaded woodpecker surveys, banding, and cleaning nest boxes. • Marked timber and planted longleaf pine seedlings.
AmeriCorps
Three AmeriCorps teams were selected this year to assist the refuge with various projects. Projects included cutting more than 20 miles of motorboat and canoe trails, planting several thousand longleaf pine seedlings, assisting forestry/fire staff with prescribed burning, and assisting with environmental education and interpretive programs.
Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)
Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge had a total of 40 applications for the 2006 Youth Conservation Corp (YCC) program. Five males were selected for the Westside of the refuge. Two females applied but declined the positions, after being selected. Two males and three females were selected to the Eastside of the refuge. Of the employees, two 18 year olds were appointed as YCC youth leader's of the Westside and Eastside work groups. An adult YCC leader was hired and stationed at the Westside entrance to supervise the YCC group and transport them to work sites that required travel off refuge property.
Two major YCC projects were funded and accomplished; 1) purchase bark to resurface most of our upland trails and 2) build a dock at Okefenokee Adventures to be used by boaters. The YCC crew also conducted routine litter patrols on trails and roads; performed lawn maintenance; trimmed walking trails and rebarked the Canal Diggers Trail, Upland Discovery Trail, and the entrance into Chesser Island Homestead (Figure 27 and 28); maintained facilities; and assisted with rehabilitation work of a 1930's era cabin. Duties included work at the East and West entrances, Kingfisher Landing, and Banks Lake NWR. (see attached photos)
The YCC learned valuable lessons about work ethic, responsibility, and teamwork during then- service and gained knowledge about the refuge system. They were given educational and/or working field trips to the North, West, and East entrances to Okefenokee NWR, as well as Banks Lake NWR, and Cumberland Island NS.
Comments by various YCC members included: "I learned a lot," "It was a crash course in mowing, but I found out I liked mowing grass." YCC crew member Jennifer Hogan said, "I learned the value of keeping things clean so they are ready to use the next time." Many chimed in that they learned to delegate and control their tempers. Working as a team was essential and
80 has been proven to be highly sought after attribute in the modern job market. They stated, "Being part of YCC was an unforgettable experience."
The YCC attended two of our monthly Staff Safety Meetings to learn valuable lessons about safety in the workplace, and how to prepare for hurricanes. There were no accidents or injuries during the work period.
Figure 27. YCC enrollee Jennifer Hogan removing cut vegetation from the boardwalk.
81 #£•;.••:•:•• /J--;:, , '
Figure 28. YCC enrollees spreading bark on the Canal Diggers Trail.
9.h. COMPUTERS AND COMMUNICATION
All employees, interns, and volunteers have computer access on the refuge. A computer team reviews all employee concerns and requests before purchase of new equipment. These reviews ensure the following:
• Purchases are in compliance with FWS hardware and software specifications. • Orders are not duplicated. • Cost effective software packages are purchased. • Computers are purchased to meet employees' needs in their particular fields of work. • Priorities are determined before purchases are made.
The administrative office staff utilizes a Compaq Proliant DL Pentium III server. The upgrade to a fractional Tl line, which was started by the Branch of communication Technology, was completed in 2006.
82 REVIEW AND APPROVALS
BANKS LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
LAKELAND, GEORGIA
ANNUAL NARRATIVE REPORT
Calendar Year 2006
Refuge Manager Date
1/70/OJ Refuge Supervisor, Area III Date
Chief of Refuges/^Date TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION iii
HIGHLIGHTS iv
MONITORING AND STUDIES 1 l.a. Surveys and Censuses 1 l.b. Studies and Investigation 3
HABITAT RESTORATION 4 2.a. Wetland Restoration: On-Refuge (Nothing to Report) 4 2.b. Upland Restoration: On-Refuge (Nothing to Report) 4 2.c. Wetland Restoration: Off-Refuge (Nothing to Report) 4 2.d. Upland Restoration: Off-Refuge (Nothing to Report) 4
HABITAT MANAGEMENT 5 3.a. Water Level Management 5 3.b. Moist Soil Management (Nothing to Report) 5 3.c. Graze/Mow/Hay (Nothing to Report) 5 3.d. Farming (Nothing to Report) 5 3.e. Forest Management (Nothing to Report) 5 3.f. Fire Management (Nothing to Report) 5 3.g. Pest Plant Control 5
FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 6 4.a. Bird Banding (Nothing to Report) 6 4.b. Disease Monitoring and Treatment (Nothing to Report) 6 4.c. Reintroductions (Nothing to Report) 6 4.d. Nest Structures (Nothing to Report) 6 4.e. Pest, Predator, and Exotic Animal Control (Nothing to Report) 6
COORDINATION ACTIVITIES 7 5.a. hiteragency Coordination 7 5.b. Tribal Coordination (Nothing to Report) 7 5.c. Private Land Activities (Nothing to Report) 7 5.d. Oil and Gas Activities (Nothing to Report) 7 5.e. Cooperative/Friends Organizations (Nothing to Report) ,....7 RESOURCE PROTECTION 8 6.a. Law Enforcement 8 6.b. Wildfire Preparedness (Nothing to Report) 9 6.c. Permits and Economic Management 9 6.d. Contaminant Investigation and Cleanup 9 6.e. Water Rights Management (Nothing to Report) 9 6.f. Cultural Resource Management (Nothing to Report) 9 6.g. Federal Facility Compliance Act (Nothing to Report) 9 6.h. Land Acquisition (Nothing to Report) 9 6.i. Wilderness and Natural Areas (Nothing to Report) 9 6.j. Threats and Conflicts 9
ALASKA ONLY 11
PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RECREATION 12 8.a. Provide Visitor Services 12 8.b. Outreach 13 8.c Concession Operations 14 8.d. Public Use Maintenance Projects 14
PLANNING AM) ADMINISTRATION 16 9.a. Comprehensive Conservation Planning 16 9.b. General Administration 16 9.c. Training and Travel (Nothing to Report) 16 9.d. Energy (Nothing to Report) 16 9.e. Funding (Nothing to Report) 16 9.f. Safety (Nothing to Report) 16 9.g. Volunteers 17
11 INTRODUCTION
Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge (3,559 acres) is located in Lanier County near Lakeland, GA. The refuge contains a variety of habitat types including 1,459 acres of cypress swamp, 1,000 acres of marsh and 900 acres of open water. Scattered through these habitat types are hardwood swamp, pine forest and other upland areas. The refuge was established for the protection and conservation of a unique environment as well as migratory and resident wildlife (Figure 1).
On April 16, 1980, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service entered into a lease agreement with The Nature Conservancy to manage 3,559 acres of the Banks Lake/Grand Bay Wetlands complex, located in Lanier and Lowndes Counties in southeastern Georgia. The original intent of the lease was to establish a National Wildlife Refuge. Changes in the emphasis of the land acquisition program resulted in a lack of funds necessary to acquire the land. The area remained in a state of limbo during 1982 and 1983 with the Service maintaining a caretaker position over Banks Lake. In 1984, funds were added to the FY 1985 budget for the purchase at a value of $356,000. The refuge designation was authorized under the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 and funded through provisions of the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1955 with strong local support from the Lakeland community and the congressional delegation. The area became Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge on February 22, 1985.
Figure 1. Banks Lake at sunset.
111 Table 1. Banks Lake Electro fishing Summary Aug- June October Nov Nov Dec Nov Nov Feb Apr Dec Dec Species Sept 1992 1994 1995 1996 1997 1999 2001 2002 2002 2005 2006 2001 Pedal Time 7hrs 7hrs 4hrs 7hrs 6 hrs 7 hrs 7 hrs 3.25 hrs 7 hrs T3 Chain Pickerel 22 17 26 54 46 78 60 CD 33 32 CO Bluegill 197 399 681 403 110 269 84 ctoi 134 102 Largemouth •!-3l 107 215 141 131 92 105 95 w 52 83 Bass bfl Lake .3 59 65 202 3 22 358 62 104 72 Chubsucker *% Gar 51 27 43 39 6 55 20 t£dP 45 8 14 39 34 28 54 18 •I— ( 63 22 Warmouth 17 bfl Golden Shiner 43 461 6 5 7 36 20 Drawdown New Water Control Structure 30,000 largemouth bass fingerlings released l.b. STUDIES AND INVESTIGATIONS Linda Ham, EPD Watershed Protection Branch of Georgia Department of Natural Resources, began to assess the impact of air quality regulations that require reductions in mercury emissions in Georgia by monitoring the fisheries at Banks Lake and Billys Lake (Okefenokee NWR). Thirty large mouth bass were collected during electrofishing to be tested for mercury. This study will continue for at least 20 years. 2• HABITAT RESTORATION 2.a. WETLAND RESTORATION: ON-REFUGE Nothing to Report. 2.b. UPLAND RESTORATION: ON-REFUGE Nothing to Report. 2.c. WETLAND RESTORATION: OFF-REFUGE Nothing to Report. 2.d. UPLAND RESTORATION: OFF-REFUGE Nothing to Report. 3 HABITAT MANAGEMENT The 3,559 acre refuge is composed of several wetland types. Approximately 900 acres are classified as open water, 1,200 acres as marsh, and 1,459 acres as cypress swamp. 3.a. WATER LEVEL MANAGEMENT Water levels at Banks Lake were high at the beginning of 2006, but then decreased throughout the year. In February, water levels were up to 191.86 feet msl. They dropped to a low of 189.70 feet msl in October. 3.b. MOIST SOIL MANAGEMENT Nothing to Report. 3.c. GRAZE/MOW/HAY Nothing to Report. 3.d. FARMING Nothing to Report. 3.e. FOREST MANAGEMENT Nothing to Report. 3.f. FIRE MANAGEMENT Nothing to Report. 3.g. PEST PLANT CONTROL Refuge and Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) aquatic plant management staff sprayed approximately 210 acres of water hyacinth within Banks Lake NWR. One application was conducted hi late May - early June. This treatment killed approximately 80 percent of the water hyacinth plants sprayed. 4• FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 4.a. BIRD BANDING Nothing to Report. 4.b. DISEASE MONITORING AND TREATMENT Nothing to Report. 4.c. REINTRODUCTIONS Nothing to Report. 4.d. NEST STRUCTURES Nothing to Report. 4.e. PEST, PREDATOR, AND EXOTIC ANIMAL CONTROL Nothing to Report. 5 COORDINATION ACTIVITIES 5.a. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION The Grand Bay-Banks Lake Ecosystem (GBBL) team met several times during the year. Under the Department of Defense Legacy Program funds, Cecil Frost, a landscape Fire Ecologist from the University of North Carolina, mapped the original fire regimes and pre-settlement vegetation of the area. Also with this funding, Amy Squire, from the University of Georgia, examined vegetation changes using photos taken since 1944. The refuge reviewed the Draft "Base Closure and Realignment A/OA-10 Beddown Environmental Assessment for Moody Air Force Base, Georgia" and provided comments. 5.b. TRIBAL COORDINATION Nothing to Report. 5.c. PRIVATE LAND ACTIVITIES Nothing to Report. 5.d. OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES Nothing to Report. 5.e. COOPERATIVE/FRIENDS ORGANIZATIONS Okefenokee Wildlife League, Inc. continues to support programs at Banks Lake NWR, including the annual Fishing Derby. 7 6 RESOURCE PROTECTION 6.a. LAW ENFORCEMENT Law enforcement efforts were carried out by Refuge LE Officers from Okefenokee NWR. A kiosk with posted refuge regulations is at the boat ramp and informs refuge visitors about refuge regulations. Refuge law enforcement efforts produced 13 federal violations issued by refuge officers this year. Eighteen incident reports were written, mainly involving trash dumping and late night beer parties. There have also been reports of illegal drug use and sales on the refuge; however, no cases were made in 2006. The placement of resident volunteers has curtailed many incidents from occurring, especially after dark. A Banks Lake Outpost concession employee was physically assaulted on the refuge. The employee did not need an ambulance, but did suffer a black eye and some scratching to her face. The Lanier County Sheriffs Office apprehended the attacker and she later claimed she had assaulted the wrong person. The refuge boundary issue has finally been worked out with the courts concerning the fishing piers. The last pier was taken down this year and the decade long case has finally been closed. Table 2. Federal violations issued by Refuge Officers hi 2006. Refuge Violations Number of Cases Fishing on a NWR without a State License 4 Construction of an illegal dock on a NWR 3 Possession of a firearm on a NWR 2 Operation of a boat without the required floatation device 1 Operation of a boat with no running lights 1 Operation of a boat on a NWR with expired registration 1 Operation of a boat without the required floatation device 1 Total 13 6.b. WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS The Grand Bay-Banks Lake Ecosystem (GBBLE) continues to discuss the development of a Fire Management Plan for the greater Grand Bay area. There were no reported wildfires on or adjoining Refuge property. Cecil Frost from the University of North Carolina completed a report on pre-settlement vegetation and natural fire regimes of the Grand Bay/Banks Lake Natural Area in 2006. 6.c. PERMITS AND ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT See Section l.b. 6.d. CONTAMINANT INVESTIGATION AND CLEANUP The septic systems of residences on the north edge of Banks Lake continue to be a concern; however, no action was taken in 2006. 6.e. WATER RIGHTS MANAGEMENT Nothing to Report. 6.f. CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Nothing to Report. 6.g. FEDERAL FACILITY COMPLIANCE ACT Nothing to Report. 6.h. LAND ACQUISITION Nothing to Report. 6.1. WILDERNESS AND NATURAL AREAS Nothing to Report. 6.j. THREATS AND CONFLICTS The United States District Court, in the ruling issued in May of 2000, set the legal boundary along the north shore. All structures that were on federal property have been removed as of the end of 2006. However, the remaining structures that border the lake are not connected to the city sewer service and appear to have inadequate sewage and gray water treatment facilities. The land base on which these structures are built does not provide the adequate space needed for a septic tank and drain field. The Service has contacted, prior to 2006, Lanier County Health Department, Environmental Protection Agency, and Georgia Environmental Protection Division, requesting verification on wastewater treatment systems in compliance with all applicable county and state regulations or a response that includes the date by which a written plan would be developed and implemented to bring wastewater treatment systems into compliance. The issue has not been addressed by any of the organizations notified. 10 7. ALASKA ONLY 11 8 PUBLIC EDUCATION AND RECREATION 8.a. PROVIDE VISITOR SERVICES Facilities include a kiosk, concession operation, parking lot, fishing pier, and double-wide boat ramp. Information pertaining to visitation is not collected. Special Events On June 9th, approximately seventy children caught over twelve hundred fish in the sixth annual Banks Lake NWR Youth Fishing Derby in Lakeland, Georgia (Figure 2). Heavy rains caused the event to be postponed a week, but that didn't dampen the children's spirits or their fishing aptitude, making this year's catch a record. Participants fished, participated in a Casting Competition, grunted worms, painted art on t-shirts, took the Fish ID Challenge, and ate lots of hot dogs. Bowen's Mill Fish Hatchery stocked the city-owned Flatlander Lake last fall, under the agreement the city would take over feeding and care of the fingerlings and fry until the Fishing Derby. This popular event was made possible by the combined efforts of staff and volunteers from the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Okefenokee Wildlife League, City of Lakeland, Valdosta Bass Federation, Lanier County/Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, Diamond Eagle Marine, and many others. 12 Figure 2. Lines form in anticipation of seeing who caught the biggest fish. 8.b. Outreach Environmental Education The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided to increase its community involvement within the Lanier County area through development of Environmental Education (EE) initiatives that bring both Banks Lake NWR, Georgia DNR's Grand Bay Wetland Education Center (GBWEC), and the South Georgia Regional Development Center (SGRDC) into partnership. This partnership will have a two-fold effect. First, through the development of curriculum-based EE programs, volunteers and teachers can lead EE fieldtrips to Banks Lake NWR, which will relieve the overwhelming demand on the GBWEC. Second, the Lanier County School System can utilize Banks Lake NWR as an outdoor classroom instead of traveling to Lowndes County. With adequate funding, personnel could be trained at the GBWEC to lead EE trips at Banks Lake NWR, where the refuge will have appropriate equipment and supplies available to conduct on- site activities in an appropriate outdoor classroom setting. Meeting with Lanier County School Officials Staff members from Okefenokee NWR met with school officials from Lanier County Public Schools on May 1st to discuss the creation and direction of an environmental education program at Banks Lake NWR. The program will be developed by refuge staff in cooperation with educators from Grand Bay Wetlands Education Center and the Lanier County Public School 13 System. The program will be presented by teachers (train the trainer), and initially focus on students in grades K-8t from LanierCounty Public Schools. The lessons will correlate to Georgia State education standards, and use cooperative learning and writing instruction. Banks Lake EE Grant A grant request for $4,282 to fund a portion of the environmental education program was submitted to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) in October. As proposed in the grant application, the first unit of the curriculum will be an interdisciplinary science and social studies unit for eighth grade students. The unit will focus on the history and natural significance of Banks Lake NWR. A second unit will include the development of an informational brochure with a GIS generated map of the refuge. 8.c. Concession Operations The "Banks Lake Outpost," which is an ancillary operation of Okefenokee Adventures, Inc., continues to provide a sales outlet for retail items such as clothing, souvenirs, fishing equipment, live bait, and convenience items. In addition, the outpost provides services such as issuing state fishing licenses, canoe/ kayak rentals, and interpretive paddling excursions. 8.d. Public Use Maintenance Projects The following projects were completed in 2006: • Replaced roof supports and rotted beams on the concession building. • Rotted pier support for the long fishing pier was replaced. • Repositioned the refuge VIP trailer and installed a new electrical panel (Figure 3). • Okefenokee NWR Fire Crew removed several hazardous trees and tree debris from the parking area. 14 Figure 3. New covered shelter over volunteer trailer. 15 9 PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATION 9.a. COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAJVNING The process for developing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for Banks Lake NWR is scheduled to begin in 2008. 9.b. GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Banks Lake NWR is an untended, unstaffed station administered by the staff at Okefenokee NWR. Refuge staff provides some visitor services and upkeep of public facilities. An estimated 20,000 visitors use the refuge mainly for freshwater fishing, wildlife observation, and photography. 9.c. TRAINING AND TRAVEL Nothing to Report. 9.d. ENERGY TableS. CY 2006 CY 2005 CY2004 Electricity (kwh) 2,673 0 0 Gasoline (gal) 824 0 0 Diesel (gal) 120 0 0 9.e. FUNDING Nothing to Report. 9.f. SAFETY Volunteer Terry Clark was stung several times on the face by yellow jackets while picking up litter from a boat on the lake. No medical attention was needed. 16 9.g. VOLUNTEERS Banks Lake NWR hosted five volunteers who contributed more than 1300 hours. Workampers were required to volunteer 32 hours per person per week until January 2006, when our policy changed to 24 hours per person per week due to inflation cost. Due to our change in hours less volunteer hours were contributed. An advertisement for a volunteer position is posted on www.volunteer.gov and through Workamper magazine. Selected volunteers live on the refuge by the boat landing. Duties include general maintenance of grounds and facilities and public contact. Volunteers Don and Phyllis Maroney painted and installed forty posts to block off grassy areas and established new parking areas marked by painted lines and signs. 17 Okefenokee Swamp Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 to preserve the rare and beautiful Okefenokee This blue goose, Swamp. The refuge includes close to designed by J.N. 396,000 acres, (about 650 square Ding Darling, miles) almost 90 percent of which has become a have increased protection as a symbol of the National Wilderness Area. The National Wildlife swamp, which extends 38 miles north Refuge System. to south and 25 miles east to west, remains one of the most well preserved freshwater areas in America. Okefenokee is a vast bog inside a huge, saucer-shaped depression that was once part of the ocean floor. The word Okefenokee is a European rendition of the native American words meaning "land of the trembling earth." Peat deposits up to 15 feet thick cover much of the swamp floor. These deposits are so unstable in spots that one can cause trees and surrounding bushes to tremble by stomping the surface. The slow-moving waters of the Okefenokee are tea-colored due to the tannic acid released from decaying plants, which also makes swamp water about as acidic as cola. The main outlet of the swamp, the Suwannee River, begins in the heart Refuge is one of over 500 of the Okefenokee and drains southwest into the Gulf of Mexico. refuges in the National The St. Marys River, which forms the boundary between Georgia and Wildlife Refuge system, a Florida, drains the southeastern nettvork of U.S. lands and portion of the refuge. The swamp is not one continuous waters managed to benefit type of habitat - islands, lakes, cypress forests, scrub-shrub areas, wildlife and administered by and open wet "prairies" form a mosaic of habitats on which wildlife the Department of the depend. Fire and water define the swamp's habitats. Lakes and prairies Interior's U.S. Fish and are created after long droughts when fire burns out vegetation and top Wildlife Service. layers of peat. w/evl USFWS Photo Three Facets of Okefenokee There are three major entrances to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, each with its own facilities and special character. From the open, wet "prairies" of the east side to the forested cypress swamps on the west, Okefenokee is a mosaic of habitats, plants, and wildlife. Entrance fees are required at each entrance, inquire at the phone numbers below for more specific formation and regulations. Discover Okefenokee — one of your national wildlife refuges. East Entrance Main U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service entrance, located 11 miles southwest of Folkston, Georgia off Highway 121/23. Stop in the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center to plan your day. Walking trails, boardwalk and tower, boating trails, guided boat tours, motorboat and canoe rentals, and restored homestead. Call 912/496 7836 for visitor information, 912/496 7156 for concession information. West Entrance Stephen C. Foster State Park, located 17 miles east of Fargo, GA off Highway Spur 177. Boardwalk, boating trails, fishing, guided boat tours, motorboat and canoe rentals, camping, cabins, interpretive programs, and museum. Call 912/637 5274 for information, 1/800 864 7275 for cabin reservations. North Entrance Okefenokee Swamp Park, located eight miles south of Waycross, GA off U.S. 1. Interpretive displays, boardwalk and tower, boat tours, animal habitats, and lectures. 912/283 0583 w/ev w/ev I 99/179 99/1791 History Tribes of the Depford Culture, the Swift Creek Culture, and the Weeden Island Culture lived in the Okefenokee Swamp as early as 2500 B.C. The last tribe to seek sanctuary in the swamp, the Seminoles, conducted raids on settlers in surrounding areas. An armed militia led by General Charles R. Floyd drove the Seminoles into Florida by 1850. The Suwannee Canal Company purchased most of the Okefenokee Swamp from the and monitor, manage, and improve State of Georgia wildlife populations and habitat. in 1891. Their A special emphasis is placed on intent was to endangered species management, drain the land for especially red-cockaded woodpeckers, logging and to indigo snakes, and other inhabitants grow crops. of the longleaf pine community. Captain Henry Jackson and his crews spent 3 years digging the Visitor Services Suwannee Canal 11.5 miles into the National Wildlife swamp. Economic recessions led to Refuges are the company's bankruptcy, and the unique in the land was sold to the Hebard Cypress nation because Company in 1899. A railroad was these areas are built into the west edge of the swamp set aside to and logging operations began. Over protect wildlife 431 million board feet of timber, and their habitat. mainly cypress, were removed from You are welcome the Okefenokee by 1927, when to visit logging ceased. Okefenokee National Wildlife Wildlife Management Refuge to Refuge staff and volunteers work observe and to preserve the natural qualities of photograph the swamp, provide habitat for a wildlife, take a variety of wildlife, and provide guided tour, fish, recreational opportunities for join .in special visitors. They research everything events and from bacteria to black bears; conduct programs, and wildlife censuses, vegetative learn more about transects, and water level surveys; the plants and and administer hunts. They also animals that conduct prescribed burns in upland make up this areas; thin forests, create wildlife diverse openings, and plant longleaf pines; ecosystem. Guidelines vv- Help preserve the Okefenokee Swamp $$ and make your visit safe and enjoyable by following these guidelines. f Enjoy wildlife observation, \, and hiking throughout the year on marked trails. Camping Permitted only on overnight canoe .*' trips and at designated areas in f m Stephen C. Foster State Park. Fires Permitted in designated areas only. Canoeing and Permitted year round on marked Motorboating trails. Outboard motors are limited to 10 horsepower or less. Each boat occupant is required to have a Coast Guard approved life preserver. Georgia law requires children 10 and under to wear life jackets in boats. if;;^ -. .•£;.: Fishing Permitted year-round on marked trails in accordance with Georgia State fishing laws. Using live minnows or trot lines is prohibited. •==* Sivimming Prohibited in refuge waters. Firearms and Prohibited on the refuge except Other Weapons during designated hunts. Pets Must be kept on a 10-foot leash. Pets are not permitted in public buildings or boats. Plants or Animals Disturbing or collecting prohibited. Feeding or Prohibited. Feeding animals causes Harassing them to lose their fear of humans and Wildlife become aggressive. Aggressive animals must be relocated. Help keep animals in their natural habitat. Wilderness Permits are available for 2- to 5-day Canoeing trips through the Okefenokee. Make reservations no more than 2 months in advance by calling 912/496-3331 between 7 am and 10 am weekdays. June Chorus, green tree, pig, carpenter, and over a dozen other species of frogs are heard during the evenings. White water lilies and sweet-bay flowers bloom. Good bream fishing. July Young herons, egrets, and ibis, now fully fledged, leave the rookeries. Wood storks are observed feeding in the prairies. Red-headed woodpeckers and pine warblers are seen in pine forest uplands. Deer are best viewed in the early morning; the bucks are showing their new sets of velvet-covered antlers. August Small flocks of blue-winged teal arrive. Alligator nests hatch and the young alligators may be heard "clucking" to their mother. Nighthawks and chuck-will's widows frequent the evening sky, scooping insects from the air. September Fall migration begins as many different warblers move through the area. Fall fishing improves as daytime temperatures lower. October Black bears are active, feeding on acorns, nuts, and berries. Marsh hawks are seen gliding low over the prairies. November Robins and migrating greater sandhill cranes arrive with the cool weather. Watch for the occasional bald eagle, migrating through the swamp to Florida wintering sites. With cool weather comes the traditional fall color change. Cypress needles turn a golden brown and sweetgum leaves glow a reddish hue before tumbling to the ground. December Otters are seen swimming in the lakes and boat trails as alligators become less active and cease feeding. Many white ibis, egrets, and herons feed in shallow lakes and prairies. History Tribes of the Depford Culture, the Swift Creek Culture, and the Weeden Island Culture lived in the Okefenokee Swamp as early as 2500 B.C. The last tribe to seek sanctuary in the swamp, the Seminoles, conducted raids on settlers in surrounding areas. An armed militia led by General Charles R. Floyd drove the Seminoles into Florida by 1850. The Suwannee Canal Company purchased most of the Okefenokee Swamp from the and monitor, manage, and improve State of Georgia wildlife populations and habitat. in 1891. Their A special emphasis is placed on intent was to endangered species management, drain the land for especially red-cockaded woodpeckers, logging and to indigo snakes, and other inhabitants grow crops. of the longleaf pine community. Captain Henry Jackson and his crews spent 3 years digging the Visitor Services Suwannee Canal 11.5 miles into the National Wildlife swamp. Economic recessions led to Refuges are the company's bankruptcy, and the unique in the land was sold to the Hebard Cypress nation because Company in 1899. A railroad was these areas are built into the west edge of the swamp set aside to and logging operations began. Over protect wildlife 431 million board feet of timber, and their habitat. mainly cypress, were removed from You are welcome the Okefenokee by 1927, when to visit logging ceased. Okefenokee National Wildlife Wildlife Management Refuge to Refuge staff and volunteers work observe and to preserve the natural qualities of photograph the swamp, provide habitat for a wildlife, take a variety of wildlife, and provide guided tour, fish, recreational opportunities for join in special visitors. They research everything events and from bacteria to black bears; conduct programs, and wildlife censuses, vegetative learn more about transects, and water level surveys; the plants and and administer hunts. They also animals that conduct prescribed burns in upland make up this areas; thin forests, create wildlife diverse openings, and plant longleaf pines; ecosystem. Iw/ev w/ev I INOHd Three Facets of Okefenokee There are three major entrances to Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, each with its own facilities and special character. From the open, wet "prairies" of the east side to the forested cypress swamps on the west, Okefenokee is a mosaic of habitats, plants, and wildlife. Entrance fees are required at each entrance, inquire at the phone numbers below for more specific formation and regulations. Discover Okefenokee — one of your national wildlife refuges. East Entrance Main U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service entrance, located 11 miles southwest of Folkston, Georgia off Highway 121/23. Stop in the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center to plan your day. Walking trails, boardwalk and tower, boating trails, guided boat tours, motorboat and canoe rentals, and restored homestead. Call 912/496 7836 for visitor information, 912/496 7156 for concession information. West Entrance Stephen C. Foster State Park, located 17 miles east of Fargo, GA off Highway Spur 177. Boardwalk, boating trails, fishing, guided boat tours, motorboat and canoe rentals, camping, cabins, interpretive programs, and museum. Call 912/637 5274 for information, 1/800 864 7275 for cabin reservations. North Entrance Okefenokee Swamp Park, located eight miles south of Way cross, GA off U.S. 1. Interpretive displays, boardwalk and tower, boat tours, animal habitats, and lectures. 912/283 0583 Guidelines Help preserve the Okefenokee Swamp and make your visit safe and enjoyable by following these guidelines. Enjoy wildlife observation, photography, and hiking throughout the year on marked trails. Camping Permitted only on overnight canoe trips and at designated areas in Stephen C. Foster State Park. Fires Permitted in designated areas only. Canoeing and Permitted year round on marked Motorboating trails. Outboard motors are limited to 10 horsepower or less. Each boat occupant is required to have a Coast Guard approved life preserver. Georgia law requires children 10 and under to wear life jackets in boats. Fishing Permitted year-round on marked trails in accordance with Georgia State fishing laws. Using live minnows or trot lines is prohibited. Swimming Prohibited in refuge waters. Firearms and Prohibited on the refuge except Other Weapons during designated hunts. Pets Must be kept on a 10-foot leash. Pets are not permitted in public buildings or boats. Plants or Animals Disturbing or collecting prohibited. Feeding or Prohibited. Feeding animals causes Harassing them to lose their fear of humans and Wildlife become aggressive. Aggressive animals must be relocated. Help keep animals in their natural habitat. Wilderness Permits are available for 2- to 5-day Canoeing trips through the Okefenokee. Make reservations no more than 2 months in advance by calling 912/496-3331 between 7 am and 10 am weekdays. w/ev Wildlife Notes January Waterfowl: mallards, ring necked ducks, wood ducks, coots, green- winged teal, and hooded mergansers are seen in the prairies along with large numbers of greater sandhill cranes. February Ospreys begin nesting. Watch for aerial courtship displays of red-tailed hawks. Brown-headed nuthatches becoming active. Wild turkey seek mates during the latter part of the month. March Overwintering ducks, tree swallows, robins, phoebes, cedar waxwings, and greater sandhill cranes depart for northern nesting areas. Purple martins, parula warblers, and eastern kingbirds arrive. Watch for the courtship dances of resident Florida sandhill cranes. Wildflowers begin to bloom as the prairies fill with golden club and bladderworts. Alligators are seen sunning on the banks of the water trails. April Wading bird rookeries are active. Prothonotary warblers are common along the cypress-lined waterways. Sandhill crane chicks are hatching and ospreys are seen feeding their young in their high, bulky nests. Alligators begin territorial warnings as mating begins. Many orchids and the unusual insect-eating pitcher plants are blooming. Endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers are active around their nesting colonies. Florida soft-shell turtles are laying eggs, and raccoons are just as rapidly digging up and eating the eggs. Turkey poults are seen walking in lose procession behind their hen. Warmouth perch fishing is improving. Newborn fawns appear. Guidelines Help preserve the Okefenokee Swamp and make your visit safe and enjoyable by following these guidelines. Enjoy wildlife observation, photography, and hiking throughout the year on marked trails. Camping Permitted only on overnight canoe trips and at designated areas in Stephen C. Foster State Park. Fires Permitted in designated areas only. Canoeing and Permitted year round on marked Motorboating trails. Outboard motors are limited to 10 horsepower or less. Each boat occupant is required to have a Coast Guard approved life preserver. Georgia law requires children 10 and under to wear life jackets in boats. Fishing Permitted year-round on marked trails in accordance with Georgia State fishing laws. Using live minnows or trot lines is prohibited. Swimming Prohibited in refuge waters. Firearms and Prohibited on the refuge except Other Weapons during designated hunts. Pets Must be kept on a 10-foot leash. Pets are not permitted in public buildings or boats. Plants or Animals Disturbing or collecting prohibited. Feeding or Prohibited. Feeding animals causes Harassing them to lose their fear of humans and Wildlife become aggressive. Aggressive animals must be relocated. Help keep animals in their natural habitat. Wilderness Permits are available for 2- to 5-day Canoeing trips through the Okefenokee. Make reservations no more than 2 months in advance by calling 912/496-3331 between 7 am and 10 am weekdays. w/ev North Entrance Okefenokee (Okefenokee INational Wildlife Refuge Swamp Park) Refuge boundary f^ Overnight stops Red trail* — — Green trail* — — Brown trail* Blue trail* Orange trail* -— Purple trail* : Day use trail Day use shelter "Overnight trails, permit required FlagLaket Kingfisher r" MINNIE'S ISLAND A Q Big Water Shelter Landing i Entrance ' \ PRAIRIE CRAVENS TERRITORY ^JDurden Lake HAMMOCKt I PRAIRIE WjBluffLake To Folkston" 13 miles . \ m i West EntrancfMinniese "~ " ^ ^. " Half Moon Lake , Lake I" ISLAND i j (Stephen Foster i State Park) Canal Run Shelter I Round Top UShelter To Folkston 12 miles East Entrance / (Suwannee MIZELL ranai ™AI™ Recreation BUGABOO Area) /S/.4A/D Coffee Bay V Shelter GRAND CHESSER PRAIRIE ISLAND Suzzarrfs FLORIDA 1-^ /••«/ Okefenokee There are three major entrances to National Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, each Wildlife with its own facilities and special character. Refuge From the open, wet "prairies" of the east side to the forested cypress swamps on the west, Okefenokee is a mosaic of habitats, plants, and wildlife. Entrance fees are required at each entrance, inquire below for more specific information and regulations. Discover Okefenokee — one of your national wildlife refuges. East Main U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Entrance entrance, located 11 miles southwest of Folkston, GA off Highway 121/23. Stop in the Richard S. Bolt Visitor Center to plan your day. Walking trails, boardwalk and tower, interpretive and environmental education programs, boating trails, guided boat tours, motorboat and canoe rentals, and historic homestead. 912/496 7836 for visitor information. 912/496 7156, 1866TheSwamp, or www.okefenokeeadventures.com for tour and rental information. West Stephen C. Foster State Park, located 17 Entrance miles east of Fargo, GA on Highway 177. Boardwalk, boating trails, fishing, guided boat tours, motorboat and canoe rentals, camping, cabins, interpretive programs, and museum. 912/637 5274 for information, 1800/864 7275 for cabin reservations - www.gastateparks. org North Okefenokee Swamp Park, located 8 miles Entrance south of Waycross, GA off Highway 1. Guided boat tour packages, Okefenokee railroad, live wildlife shows daily, and native animals in their natural habitats. 912/283 0583 orwww.okeswamp.com Wilderness Call 912/496 3331 between 7 am and Canoeing 10 am Monday through Friday for information and reservations. For more Refuge Manager information Okefenokee NWR contact: Route 2, Box 3330 Folkston, Georgia 31537 912/496 7836 http://okefenokee.fws.gov U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge FRONT B4/B5 B4/B5 A3/A4 A3/A4 The The Refuge The Swamp Okefenokee National Wildlife Walk Refuge is one of 500 refuges Swamp Trail operated by the U.S. Fish and Guide Wildlife Service. It was established Walkis^^m ,+ • to protect the native wildlife of this .75mile^S * unique ecosystem. The wooden walkway before you wooden \ gently winds through cypress trees and open prairie marshlands. It extends 3/4 of a mile into Chesser Prairie, an area characterized by grasses and other that ] vegetation. These wet prairies make up about 20% leads to of the Okefenokee. 50-foot _ Along the way, you may encounter carnivorous plants, high such as pitcher plants and bladderworts, as well as observation tower cinnamon ferns, sphagnum moss and many other plants. overlooking Okefenokee As these plants partially decay, they accumulate in layers as peat on the sandy Swamp. To fully enjoy bottom of the swamp. By definition, part of the Okefenokee your journey, please Swamp is not a swamp at all. It is actually a bog, a peat-accumulating keep the following in wetland which receives most of its mind during your walk: water from rainfall. 1—Gator Holes Look before you at the alligator hole: Be prepared for biting an area in the swamp where alligators excavate the peat, causing flies, mosquitoes, and depressions. Gators make underwater tunnels through the thick ticks. vegetation, often linking with other gator holes. Their excavations keep ponds full of water and reduce vegetation Feeding wildlife is growth. In dry seasons, these areas may contain the only dangerous and water deep enough to sustain fish, turtles, and other aquatic forbidden. Do not throw life. Large turtles are known to live in this particular gator hole. If you items at or otherwise sit quietly, you may catch a glimpse of disturb any animal. a Florida softshell turtle. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Route 2, Box 3330 Folkston, Georgia 31537 Okefenokee 912/496 7836 voice/TDD http://okefenokee.fws.gov National Wildlife Refuge U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1800/344 WILD The Swamp Walk Trail August 2001 Guide 6—Prairies and Ponds completely white and have a black This shelter offers a view of a deep beak and yellow feet. Cattle egrets pond, as well as the prairie. Grasses are often found in more grassy and wildflowers are common, as well areas, as they are insect, rather as carnivorous bladderworts, which than fish, eaters. They have a yellow have tiny yellow flowers that bloom beak and during breeding season throughout the summer. Their may have a rusty hue. Wood storks wagon-wheel shaped root system have a black head and black on the snares aquatic insects. wings. Alligators nest near this area also. Walking along the Swamp Island Their mounds of peat and vegetation Boardwalk, the Okefenokee Swamp rise above the water level and reveals just a small glimpse of itself. may contain 30-50 eggs, The delights of the swamp unfold which are laid in June and with each step. Share the joy of July. As the vegetation nature and respect what it teaches. decays and releases heat, the With nature as your guide, eggs incubate and usually mysteries can become knowledge hatch in late August. The and a simple walk on a wooden young stay with their mother pathway can become an until they are over a year old. unforgettable venture into the Mother alligators are very Okefenokee Swamp. protective so, as with all wild animals, use extreme caution when viewing them. Feeding- wild animals may make them more aggressive toward humans and is very dangerous, as well as strictly forbidden. 7—Owl's Roost Tower Owl's Roost Tower looks over Seagrove Lake and Chesser Prairie. The base of the tower is ideal nesting habitat for prothonotary warblers, who normally seek cavities in trees to raise their young. These brilliant yellow birds are inquisitive and may fly near quiet visitors to inspect them. The tower is 50-feet For more Refuge Manager high and will take you to the information Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge tree tops for a bird's eye view on the refuge Route 2, Box 3330 of the swamp. contact Folkston, Georgia 31537 912/ 496-7836 voice/TDD Common sights from the http ://okefenokee .fws .gov tower are great egrets (large, white wading birds) and great blue herons. Although not as common, three other white wading birds may be observed from the tower. Snowy egrets are Listen carefully and you may hear usually raising only one of the two sounds from underneath the chicks that hatch. Migratory greater boardwalk. These are usually from sandhill cranes can be seen in winter frogs, snakes, and raccoons. Because months as they prepare for their the boardwalk blocks sunlight, flight north to spring nesting sites. plants do not grow there and many animals use this area as 4—Watch the birdies a pathway. On top of the If you choose to walk to this shelter, boardwalk, anole lizards may you may be able to spot parula be seen as they warm warblers as they fly in small groups. themselves on the sun- You are also likely to hear them as bleached boards. Because they nest in the Spanish moss in the anoles may change color they overhead canopy. are often mistaken for chameleons. Spanish moss is an abundant plant in the south that gets 2—Insect-eating Plants! its nutrients from rain water Down this pathway is a and the surface of the trees shelter which may offer on which it grows. It doesn't excellent photo opportunities. harm the trees, but it is home On the way to the shelter are to many irritating insects, small ponds with many such as chiggers and ticks. pitcher plants. Okefenokee is home to three species of these 5—Cypress Trees carnivorous plants: hooded, parrot, Look for dead cypress trees and trumpet. These cleverly rising out of the water. These designed plants have a system of particular trees were killed in trapping insects in the juices at the the last great wildfire of 1954-1955. bottom of their "pitchers", which are On the average, intense wildfires actually modified leaves. When the burn the swamp on 20-year cycles insect realizes its mistake, tiny following periods of drought. downward-pointing hairs prevent it from crawling out. The plant's juices The wood of cypress trees is valued then digest the insect, extracting for its durability. These majestic nitrogen from its body. trees are unusual among conifers ' because they are deciduous, 3—From Pond to Forest meaning they lose their Look at the pond that is filling leaves in the fall and grow in with thick vegetation. This • - • - .--, new ones in the spring. Live process is called swamp cypress trees are a favorite succession. As more and more scratching post for black vegetation encroaches on the bears. Look for signs of pond, it begins to fill in and where bears have sharpened may eventually support large their claws or scratched their trees. back. The bear population in Okefenokee is estimated at On your way to the next around 400 individuals and they shelter, Chesser Prairie is inhabit the entire swamp and its revealed through openings in islands. Okefenokee is one of the last the vegetation. Florida strongholds for black bears in the sandhill cranes have been southeast. spotted nesting in this area, FRONT B4/B5 B4/B5 A3/A4 A3/A4 The Swamp Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is Swamp Island Drive is a Island Drive one of 500 refuges operated by the U.S. Trail Guide Fish and Wildlife Service. It was 9-mile driving, biking, established in 1937 to protect the native and walking loop. This wildlife of this unique ecosystem. 1—Canal Digger's Trail guide corresponds to The 1/2 mile Canal Digger's Trail winds around the historic Suwannee Canal, which was built in 1891 in an numbered markers. attempt to drain the swamp. This unique trail takes you high on foot Please keep the following bridges, among upland pine forests, and low along the Suwannee Canal's in mind as you drive this flowing waters. An interpretive guide to this trail is available at the trailhead trail: and the Visitor Center. 2—Wildlife Openings The speed limit is 15 The small fields on either side of the drive are wildlife openings, which are mowed to encourage new plant growth m.p.h. Remember to for wildlife such as white-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, and wild watch for bicyclists and turkey. These openings also offer opportunities to view wildlife. elusive wildlife. . 3—Hardwood Plot Prepare for biting flies, A slight elevation change creates this forest of mixed mosquitos, and ticks. pine and hardwoods, rather than the more characteristic slash pine and saw-toothed palmetto. Biting fire ants build Water oak, wild grape, and persimmon provide conical mounds — avoid food for black them. bears, turkeys, and other Feeding wildlife is animals, while dangerous and forbidden. gopher tortoises and Do not throw items at or snakes use the otherwise disturb any dry sand for animal. burrows. w/ev I 199/179 99/1791 INOHrl National Wildlife Refuge Route 2, Box 3330 Okefenokee Fclkston, Georgia 31537 912/496 7836 voice/TDD http://okefenokee.fws.gov National Wildlife Refuge U.S. Fish & Wildlife Servicu The Swamp Island Drive 1800/344 WILD May 2001 Trail Guide Although sugar cane and cane syrup Seagrove were the family's cash crop, they Lake. Pig also hunted, kept livestock and bee frogs are hives, and had a substantial garden. perhaps the Swamp settlers were self-sufficient most vocal and industrious people and used animal along many of the plants growing in the the area. Saw-toothed palmettos were boardwalk, used for making woven fans and but are hats, and the stalks were lashed rarely seen. together to make brooms, as Birds such as seen on the porch. northern Turpentining was also parula and lucrative. The resin of slash prothonotary pines was collected until the warblers are tree could no longer be warm- tapped, when it then would be weather harvested for lumber. residents and may be seen 11—Slash Pine Stand and heard. Slash pines were planted here Sandhill in 1965. Refuge foresters are cranes may now thinning the trees to be spotted make better habitat for red- year-round, cockaded woodpeckers and other as can many animals. Staff also create openings, species of plant longleaf pine seedings and egrets and burn undergrowth to manage herons. uplands. For more Refuge Manager 12—Boardwalk and Observation Tower information on the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge The boardwalk winds through 3/4 of refuge, contact: Route 2, Box 3330 a mile of dense swamp growth, open Folkston, Georgia 31537 prairie, and ponds, before reaching 912/496-7836 voice/TDD the fifty-foot observation tower http://okefenokee.fws.gov overlooking Chesser Prairie and w/ev 4—The Pond diminish 'the amount of fuel a Alligators, kingfishers, kingbirds, wildfire may consume. Although fire and pileated woodpeckers are is a natural element and aids in the/ residents or visitors to the pond. Titi regeneration of the swamp, certain and wax myrtle plants can be seen areas need protection. Prescribed along the pond's edge. Remember: burns can also be an excellent tool to Please do notfeed-or disturb the improve habitat for animals, such as wildlife! the red-cockaded woodpecker. 5—-Upland Discovery Trail 8—Borrow Ditches Red-cockaded woodpeckers, an The long, narrow ponds stretching endangered species, may be found \g these trees. The birdsalon gJ the left side of the road are called "borrow ditches" and they are are identified by their large rich in aquatic and plant life. Most of white cheek patches •—• the Okefenokee's ditches have males have a red cockade, or carnivorous pitcher plants (both small mark, behind their hooded and parrot) and eyes. Red cockaded bladderworts, some ditches have woodpeckers often nest in cattails and water Hlies. These areas pine trees affected by "red offer excellent wildflower viewing heart", a fungus which soften areas year-round, with orchids, rose the tree's hard center. This pogonia, and iris. Borrow ditches are makes excavating nest sites also home to turtles, alligators, and easier. Fewer mature pines snakes. available for nesting is a major reason that the species 9—Chesser Island is endangered. Chesser Island begins where the road forks into a one-way drive and 6—Superior Tree was settled by the Chesser family in A white band and sign mark the 1858. Evidence suggests that the slash pine labelled "superior" in island was originally quality by the Georgia Forestry settled between 2500 Commission. When applied to a tree, and 1000 B.C. by the term "superior" means that it _Native Americans who has good form and growth rate. lived in the swamp. Periodically, the Commission will use Because there has live twigs from this tree to graft onto been so little small rooted slash pines in an -x. archeological research attempt to produce more trees with / " done in this section of superior genes. The seeds from this \w tree can then be y Georgia, much of their history and cultural cultivated for growing other development is unknown. Fragments trees. •> of their pottery and an Indian mound, which was probably built 7—Prescribed Burn between 200 and 900 A.D., can be Compare the amount of seen on the trail approaching the vegetation in each marked Chesser Island homestead. area. This region has one of the highest rates of h'ghtning 10—-Chesser Island Homestead strikes in the country, so care This homestead was built by the is taken to reduce wildfire Chesser family in 1927 and is an damage. Prescribed burns example of how swamp pioneers lived in this harsh environment. Okefenokee The Okefenokee swamp is covered Mammals National with cypress, blackgum, and bay Wildlife forests scattered throughout a flooded Refuge prairie made of grasses, sedges, and Virginia Opossum various aquatic plants. The peripheral (Didelphis virginiana pigna). Common on the swamp upland and the almost 70 islands within edge and the islands within the Swamp. A night prowler. the swamp are forested with pine "Pogo" is often seen by campers. interspersed with hardwood hammocks. Lakes of varying sizes and Southern Short-Tailed Shrew depths, and floating sections of the peat (Barina carolinensis). A specimen was found on Floyds bed, are also part of the Okefenokee Island June 12,1921. It kills its prey with poisonous terrain. saliva. People have left their mark on the Least Shrew swamp. A 12-mile long canal was dug (Cryptotus parva parva). Rarely seen but probably fairly into the eastern prairies in the 1890's in common. Specimens have been found on several of the a failed attempt to drain the swamp. islands, on the swamp edge, and in the pine woods During the early 1900's large amounts around the swamp. of timber were removed, so that very few areas of virgin forest remain. And Eastern Mole the effect of a sill which was built in the (Scalopus aquaticus australis). Generally distributed on early 1960's to control the water the upland adjacent to the swamp and has been found on flowing out of the Okefenokee into the some of the islands within the swamp. Suwannee River has yet to be fully analyzed. Star-Nosed Mole (Condylura cristata). Apparently rare. Nose surrounded The Okefenokee is a rainfall-dependent by finger like, fleshy projections. system, and when periods of drought occur, the area becomes susceptible to .Southeastern Myotis wildfire. A 20/30 year cycle of drought (Myotis austroriparius austroriparius). Species of bat and fire has allowed the Okefenokee to native to Southeast Georgia. exist as the unique wetland it is. These periods cause changes in the Eastern Pipistrelle abundance of certain plants (more (Pipistrellus subflavus subflavus). A fairly common grasses growing in exposed areas,) the species in the area. One of the smallest eastern bats. nesting success of certain wading birds (failure in extreme drought), and the Big Brown Bat location of some species of wildlife (fish (Eptesicus fuscus fuscus). An uncommon species in the migrate into deeper lakes and channels area. The fastest known bat with speeds of 40 mph. and are followed by predators.) Red Bat With its varied habitats, the (Lasiurus borealis borealis). An uncommon species in the Okefenokee has become an area known area. One of the few mammals in which males and for its abundance of plants and animals. females are different colors. There are 621 species of plants growing in the swamp. Animals include Seminole Bat 39 fish, 37 amphibian, 64 reptile, 234 (Lasiurus seminolus). A common bat of the Okefenokee bird, and 50 mammal species. Use the which is found hanging in Spanish Moss during the day. following list to help identify an Okefenokee inhabitant. "Indicates endangered or threatened efenokee National Wildlife Refuge Route 2, Box 3330 Folkston, Georgia 31537 912/496 7836 voice/TDD http://www.fws.gov/okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge S. Fish & Wildlife Service 500/344 WILD Amphibians, Fish> February 2007 Mammals and Reptiles List Hoary Bat _Fox Squirrel (Lasiurus cinereus cinereus). This yellowish-brown bat (Sciurus niger niger). Uncommon in the pine forests flies high in the air late at night and will hang in trees surrounding the swamp and along roads. Its head is when resting. It is the largest bat in the East and eats black with white on the ears and nose. mostly moths. Southern Flying Squirrel Northern Yellow Bat (Glaucomys volans querceti). This species is rarely seen (Lasiurus intermedius floridanus). Apparently a rare because of its nocturnal habits, but is probably fairly species in the area. It likes to feed in groups. common. Evening Bat Georgia Pocket Gopher (Nycticeius humeralis). Once the most common bat in the (Geomys pinetis pinetis). Uncommon on dry, sandy sites swamp, it is now uncommon due to the decreases in man- on the east side of the swamp. Rarely seen above ground. made structures which are common nursery sites. It flies lower as the night progresses. Southeastern Pocket Gopher (Geomys pinetis floridianus). An uncommon species of Rafinesque's Big-Eared Bat this area. (Plecotus rafinesquii). A rather uncommon species in the area. They can hover like butterflies to pick off insects Beaver and fold their ears when at rest. (Castor canadensis carolinensis). The first record of beavers in the swamp was in 1969. Their population, Brazilian Free-Tailed Bat never very high, varies from time to time, probably (Tadarida brasiliensis cynocephala). An uncommon because of alligators. species in this area. One of the highest flying bats. Marsh Rice Rat Armadillo (Oryzomys palustris palustris). A fairly common mammal (Dasypus novemcinctus mexicanus). This unusual throughout the swamp. "ground" mammal was first seen on the refuge in 1968. Since then it has become more numerous and is commonly seen along roadways and trails. Eastern Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys humilus humilus). Found in the prairies and in old fields near the swamp's edge. Marsh Rabbit (Sylvilagus palustria palustris). Fairly common on the swamp edge. Frequently takes to water to escape Oldfield Mouse enemies and often walks on its hind legs. Tail is gray (Peromyscus polionotus polionotus). Feeds on seeds and underneath. berries. Cotton Mouse Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus mallurus). Common around (Ochrotomys nuttalli aureolis). Common throughout the clearings and in the more sparse pine woods on the area. Found under palmetto scrub. Good tree climber and uplands surrounding the swamp and on some of the swimmer. islands. Females have territories and males may be seen in courtship dances at night. Golden Mouse (Ochrotomys nuttalli aureolis). This species is probably Gray Squirrel rare. It has been found in hammocks on the islands. It (Sciurus carolinensis carolinensis). Abundant in the uses its long tail for balance while running along high blackgum bay forests in the swamp and in the oak tree limbs. woodlands on the upland. Hispid Cotton Rat (Signodon hispidus hispiedus). A common mammal in the pine woods and old fields on the upland around the swamp. w/ev w/ev! 29/179 INOHd 'I Eastern Mud Turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum Sighting Notes subrubrum) Loggerhead Musk Turtle (Sternotherus minor Date minor) Time Stinkpot (Sternotherus odoratus) To Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Locality Florida Softshell (Trionyz ferox) Weather Note Observations of unusual species should be filed with Okefenokee Temperature National Wildlife Refuge. Other sightings are also welcomed. Please record numbers and locations. Wind The mission of the U.S. Fish and Sky Wildlife Service is, working with others, to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing Total Species benefit of the American people. The National Wildlife Refuge I System provides habitat for threatened and endangered species, Comments migratory birds, and some of the Nation's most important fishery resources. It is the only network of Federal lands devoted specifically to wildlife. The System offers outstanding wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities, including fishing, hunting, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation. Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platyrhinos) Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) Southern Hognose Snake (Heterodon simus) Rough Earth Snake (Virginia striatula) Mole Snake (Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata) Eastern Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia valeriae valeriae) Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus) Eastern Coral Snake (micrurus fuMus) Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides) Florida Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti) Eastern Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum flagellum) Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus) Florida Green Water Snake (Nerodia cyclopion floridana) Canebrake Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus atricaudatus) Yellow-bellied Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster erythrogaster) Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius bai'bouri) Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata fasciata) Turtles Florida Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata pictiventris) Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) Brown Water Snake (Nerodia taxispilota) Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macroclemys temmincki) Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus) Florida Red-bellied Turtle (Chrysemys nelsoni) Florida Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus mugitis) Eastern Chicken Turtle (Deirochelys reticularia Striped Swamp Snake (Regina alleni) reticularia) Florida Cooter (Pseudemys floridana floridana) Eastern Glossy Water Snake (Regina rigda rigida) Red-eared Pond Slider (Pseudemys scripta Pine Woods Snake (Rhadinaea flavilata) elegans) North Florida Black Swamp Snake (Seminatrix Yellow-bellied Pond Slider (Pseudemys scripta pygaea pygaea) scripta) Florida Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi victa) Florida Box Turtle (Terrapene Carolina bauri) Florida Red-bellied Snake (Storeria Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene Carolina Carolina) occipitomaculata obscura) Striped Mud Turtle (Kinosternon bauri Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus palmarum) sackeni) w/evi INOHd Eastern Woodrat .Long-Tailed Weasel (Neotoma floridana floridana). Fairly common throughout (Mustela frenata olivacea). This species is probably more the swamp and in the hammocks on the upland. Also known common than the few observations would indicate. locally as the Packrat because of its habit of building a huge Specimens have been found on Billy's Island and on pile of sticks for its nest, and for collecting shiny objects. Chesser Island. Woodland Vole Mink (Microtus pinetorum parvulus). Tunnels through leaf (Mustela vison mink). Very rarely seen in the mold and loose soil near the surface of the upland areas Okefenokee, this chiefly nocturnal animal is an excellent and eats bulbs, tubers, and seeds. swimmer. Round-Tailed Muskrat .Striped Skunk (Neofiber alleni exoristus). Occasionally seen in the (Mephitis mephitis elongata). This species is generally prairies where a bulky grass house is constructed over distributed on the upland surrounding the swamp and is the water along with a feeding platform. found occasionally on the islands. Black Rat River Otter (Rattus rattus rattus). This was the common barn rat (Lontra canadensis vaga). Occasionally observed along when farming was practiced on some of the islands the water courses, especially during the winter. within the swamp. It probably occurs now on farmsteads in the vicinity but not on the refuge. .Florida Panther* (Felis concolor coryi). Apparently this species was never Roof Rat more than of rare occurrence in the vicinity of the (Rattus rattus alexandrinus). It was a common barn rat swamp. when farming was practiced in the swamp but it probably occurs now only in the vicinity. Bobcat (Lynx rufus floridanus). Common throughout the swamp House Mouse and on the surrounding uplands. Occasionally seen along (Mus musculus musculus). Formerly common around Swamp Island Drive. habitations but now that few people live within the swamp, it has probably disappeared from the area. Very Wild Pig likely it is still common around human habitations in the (Sus scrofa). These feral pigs were introduced by the vicinity of the swamp. early settlers of the swamp. Gray Fox White-Tailed Deer (Urocyon cinereoargenteus floridanus). Fairly common on (Odocoileus virginianus). These deer can be found the upland around the swamp. Has the ability to climb trees. throughout the refuge even travelling across prairies from island to island. Red Fox (Vulpes fulva fulva). This species is rare but occurs Fish occasionally on the upland in the vicinity of the swamp. _ Florida Gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus) Black Bear _ Bowfin (Amia calva) (Ursus americanus floridianus). Bears range throughout the refuge. Look for them wherever berries and acorns American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) area abundant. _ Redfin Pickerel (Esox americanus americanus) . .Raccoon (Procyo'n lotor elucus). The most abundant large Chain Pickerel (Esox niger) mammal on the refuge. It is found in all habitats but is most numerous on the swamp edge. They are commonly Eastern Mudminnow (Umbra pygmaea) seen in areas and occasionally along boat trails. Lake Chubsucker (Erimyzon sucetta) Dollar Sunfish (Lepomis marginatus) Spotted Chubsucker (Minytrema melanops) Spotted Sunfish (lepomis punctatus) Yellow Bullhead (Ictalurus natalis) Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) Brown Bullhead (Ictalurus nebulosus) Black Crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) Scalyhead Darter (Etheostoma barratti) Tadpole Madtom (Noturus gyrinus) Swamp Darter (Etheostoma Fusiforme) Speckled Madtom (Noturus leptacanthus) Blackbanded Darter (Percina nigi-ofasciata) Pirate Perch (Aphredoderus sayanus) Toads and Frogs Golden Topminnow (Fundulus chrysotus) Oak Toad (Bufo quercicus) Southern Toad (Bufo terrestris) Banded Topminnow (Fundulus cingulatus) Florida Cricket Frog (Acris gryllus dorsalis) Lined Topminnow (Fundulus lineolatus) Starhead Topminnow (Fundulus notti) Gray Treefrog (Hyla chrysoscelis) Pygmy Killifish (Leptolucania ommata) Green Treefrog (Hyla cinerea cinerea) Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) Southern Spring Peeper (Hyla crucifer bartramiana) Least Killifish (Heterandria formosa) Pine Woods Treefrog (Hyla femoralis) Brook Silverside (Labidesthes sicculus) Barking Treefrog (Hyla gratiosa) Everglades Pygmy Sunfish (Elassoma everglade!) Squirrel Treefrog (Hyla squirella) Okefenokee Pygmy Sunfish (Elassoma okefenokee) Little Grass Frog (Limnaoedus ocularis) Mud Sunfish (Acantharchus pomotis) Southern Chorus Frog (Pseudacris nigrita nigrita) Flier (Centrarchus macropterus) Ornate Chorus Frog (Pseudacris ornata) Blackbanded Sunfish (Enneacanthus chaetodon) Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad (Gastrophryne carolinensis) Bluespotted Sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus) Eastern Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus holbrooki holbrooki) Banded Sunfish (Enneacanthus obesus) Redbreast Sunfish (Lepomis auritus) Florida Gopher Frog (Rana areolata aescpus) Warmouth (Lepomis gulosus) Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) Bronze Frog (Rana clamitans clamitans) Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) Pig Frog (Rana grylio) Lizards _ River Prog (Rana heckscheri) Eastern Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuates longicaudus) Southern Leopard Frog (Rana utricularia) Island Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus compressus) _ Carpenter Frog (Rana virgatipes) ) _ Eastern Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis) Salamanders Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis) Flatwoods Salamander (Ambystoma cingulatum) Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum). Southern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus undulatus) Mole Salamander (Ambystoma tallpoideum) Northern Mole Skink (Eumeces egregius) Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) _ Five-lined-Skink (Eumeces fasciatus) Two-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma means) Southern Five-lined Skink (Eumeces Southern Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus fuscus auriculatus) inexpectatus) Broad-headed Skink (Eumeces laticeps) Southern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea bislineatat cirriger) Ground Skink (Scincella laterale) _ Dwarf Salamander (Eurycea quadridigitatus) Six-lined Race Runner (Cnemidophorus sexhneatus sexlineatus) _ Slimy Salamander (Plethodon glutinosus glutinosus) Snakes Gulf Coast Mud Salamander (Pseudotriton montanus Floridanus) Northern Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea copei) _ Many-lined Salamander (Stereochilus marginatus) _ Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) Striped Newt (Notophthalamus perstriatus) Southern Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus punctatus) _ Central Newt (Notophthalamus viridescens louisianensis) Indigo Snake* (Drymarchon corais couperi) _ Drawf Siren (Pseudobranchus striatus spp.) Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata guftata) _ Eastern Lesser Siren (Siren intermedia _ Yellow Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata) intermedia) _. Gray Rat Snake (Elaphe obsoleta spiloides) Greater Siren (Siren lacertina) _ Eastern Mud Snake (Farancia abacura abacura) Crocodilians Rainbow Snake (Farancia erytrogramma) American Alligator* (Alligator mississippiensis) A canoe trip through the Leave No Trace Skills and Ethics Okefenokee Swamp is an experience There are specific techniques you that you will remember for a should know for minimizing your lifetime. Alligators glide through impact on the wilderness and on tea-stained water. Herons and fellow users. For more information, egrets wade through tall grasses check at the Visitor Center or visit our and water lilies. Bears meander website at http:7okefenokee.fws.gov through hammocks and islands. Okefenokee National Wildlife • Plan ahead and prepare. Make Refuge is a haven for these and sure your expectations and skill other animals - almost 400,000 acres match your destination. For of wet prairies, cypress forests, and example, at Okefenokee NWR pine uplands. Most of the refuge is a you are required to stay on trails nationally designated Wilderness and at designated campsites. If Area, which offers a solitary and you want an experience that primitive experience. Only seven allows you to roam unchecked overnight shelters are available in across the countryside, find a the swamp's interior. more appropriate location. Also, be prepared for weather Please read through this brochure extremes and emergencies. We carefully and be sure you can and will make every attempt understand all of the procedures and to rescue you in an emergency, regulations. Remember: it is your but rescues impact the responsibility to be prepared for a wilderness qualities of an area. wilderness experience which may include temperature extremes, • Concentrate your impact. Stay precipitation, high winds, high on designated trails and humidity, and other factors. campsites, leaving the remainder of the Okefenokee to the birds, What is Wilderness? alligators, bears, and other The open watery "prairies," cypress- creatures. Traveling in small lined lakes, and scrub-shrub thickets groups allows you more peace of the Okefenokee are within the and solitude in the wilderness. third largest National Wilderness Area in the Eastern United States. • Pack it in, pack it out. Do not A wilderness is a place "where the leave anything behind to show earth and its community of life are you have passed through an area. untrammeled (unfettered) by man, where man himself is a visitor who • Leave what you find. Only does not remain." Wilderness to the remove litter from other people of campers - leave trees, plants, A visit to a National Wilderness America is a artifacts, and animals as you Area is a special opportunity and spiritual found them. different from camping in a park or necessity, an campground. Do not expect antidote to the • Use fire responsibly. amenities. Do expect an unparalleled high pressure of Campstoves are required for opportunity for solitude, wildlife modern life, a overnight platforms. You may observation, and serenity. When you means of have a fire at Cravens visit a wilderness area, you have regaining Hammock, Floyds Island, and certain responsibilities for yourself, serenity and Canal Run. Use only downed your group and for the resource. equilibrium. and dead wood and make sure When you leave, there should be no Sigurd Olson. your fire is out and cold when evidence that you were ever here. you leave. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Route 2, Box 3330 Folkston, Georgia 31537 Okefenokee 912/496-7836 http://southeast.fws.gov http://0kefenokee.fws.gov National Wildlife Refuge U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Wilderness Canoe Guide 1800/344 WILD August 2000 How can I reserve a permit? • When we receive payment, we Camping overnight in the will mail the trail permit to you. Okefenokee Swamp is allowed only You must read the permit, sign with a permit. You can reserve a both copies, keep the white copy permit only within two months to the and immediately mail the yellow date your trip begins. (Example: if copy to the address below: you want to begin a trip on March 2, you may only call on or after Okefenokee National Wildlife January 2) Refuge, Route 2 Box 3330 Folkston GA, 31537 You can only reserve a permit by phone. You must call 912/496 3331 We must have the yellow copy before between 7 am and 10 am, Monday your trip begins. through Friday (excluding Federal holidays). After 10 am you may request information, but you may What are the Rules and Regulations? not make a reservation. The following rules and regulations are in place to provide for your Note: safety and enjoyment and the safety Your group will be limited to 20 and enjoyment of other groups on people. During March and April you the trail system. Your permit will will only be issued a permit for a contain these exact rules and maximum of two nights. The person regulations. You are required to sign who calls will be the designated the permit and state that you group leader and is responsible for understand and will abide by these the group. regulations. After your permit reservation is 1. The canoe permit must be taken: carried by the group leader, who is responsible for the party • You must send the knowing and following all nonrefundable fee of $10.00 per regulations. person per night (Example: 4 people x 2 nights x $10.00 = 2. You must complete any 3.00). additions or changes to your permit at least one week prior to You must send the fee so that it departure. is in our office within 16 calendar days of making your canoe 3. Your canoe permit fees include reservations. (Example: If you required entrance fees for the make a reservation on days of the trip. November 14th, we must have the fee in our office by 4. You may not lead guided trips November 30th.) without a Special Use Permit. Your cashier's, certified or 5. You must launch from each personal check or money order site before 10:00 am to ensure must be made payable to: U.S. that you reach the next Fish and Wildlife Service. overnight stop before dark. w/ev I 99/1791 INOHd 5 Day Trips Green Trail Trail 11 - Enter: Kingfisher Kingfisher Landing to Bluff Lake is First Night: Maul Hammock eight miles along a channel Second Night: Big Water originally cut for peat mining and Third Night: Floyds Island across open prairies full of pitcher Fourth Night: Bluff Lake plants. The next nine miles to Floyds Exit: Kingfisher Island takes you from Durdin Prairie to Territory and Chase Trail 12 - Enter: Kingfisher Prairies. Between are narrow First Night: Maul Hammock closed-sided channels that may be Second Night: Big Water difficult paddling during low water Third Night: Floyds Island levels. The overnight shelter on Fourth Night: Canal Run Floyds Island is a hunting cabin Exit: Suwannee Canal or Stephen built in the 1920s for the Hebard Foster family, who at the time owned most of the swamp. There is a portage What are the trails like? across the island. Floyds Island to Orange Trial Stephen Foster State Park is eight Follows the historic Suwannee miles of prairie and cypress forests Canal, which was dug in the late through Billys Lake to the state 1800s in an attempt to drain the park. swamp. Canal Run Shelter is ten miles from the east entrance, on the Brown Trail berm of the canal. Past Canal Run To reach Cravens Hammock, paddle Shelter are five miles of narrow, five miles through Billys Lake, the winding trail that leads to Billys Narrows, and to the Suwannee River Island. Follow Billys Lake two miles Sill. Follow the trail through five further to Stephen Foster State more miles of mixed cypress, bay, Park. Low water levels between and gum swamp to an oak-covered Canal Run and Billys Island often hammock. Trail condition varies with mean navigating stumps and peat water levels - there can be a strong blowups, and encroaching side current through the Narrows, which vegetation. may make the return trip difficult. Red Trail Purple Trail Kingfisher Landing to Maul The Purple Trail winds through Hammock is a long day of paddling Chase Prairie, leading to Round Top twelve miles through scrub-shrub, Shelter, which boasts a 360 degree prairie, and small lakes. The eleven view of the prairie. Windy days can miles between Maul Hammock and make paddling difficult, but the Big Water go through prairie, a shelter is worth the trip, especially narrow closed channel and into a when the moon is full. wider river channel surrounded by cypress. Both days can be long and Blue Trail difficult. Big Water Overnight The Blue Trail connects the Orange Shelter is at the north end of Floyds Trail with the Green Trail and skirts Prairie. The last nine miles go the edge of Chase Prairie through thought prairie, cypress forest, and deeper holes, which are good fishing Billys Lake. areas. It is used mainly as a route from the Orange Trail to Floyds Island. take it as an omen - they do it all the time!). Many species of hawks and What are the designated canoe trips? some waterfowl also reside in the 2 Day Trips swamp during the year. If you are a Trail 1 - Enter: Kingfisher birder and are interested in helping First Night: Bluff Lake us collect data, request a bird survey Exit: Kingfisher form when you make your reservation. Trail 2 - Enter: Suwannee Canal or Stephen Foster First Night: Canal Run How should I protect myself from Exit: Suwannee Canal or Stephen Foster animals? There is no need to fear snakes or Trail 3 - Enter: Stephen Foster alligators as long as you take normal First Night: Cravens Hammock precautions and do not disturb or Exit: Stephen Foster feed animals. Food attracts animals, so use good camp hygiene: pick up crumbs, secure food within raccoon- 3 Day Trips proof containers and/or hang away Trail 4 - Enter: Kingfisher from an animal's reach; do not wash First Night: Maul Hammock dishes in the water. If animals Second Night: Big Water Exit: Stephen Foster become too aggressive, they may have to be relocated. Help keep them in their home territory by Trail 5 - Enter: Kingfisher following these guidelines. First Night: Bluff Lake Second Night: Floyds Island Exit: Stephen Foster In general, mosquitoes are no problem except after dark; they are rarely encountered during the Trail 6 - Enter: Kingfisher daytime. Deerflies, although a biting First Night: Bluff Lake menace at times during the summer, Second Night: Round Top are not as numerous deep in the Exit: Suwannee Canal swamp. During May and June, biting yellow flies can make a trip Trail 7 - Enter: Suwannee Canal into the swamp unpleasant. First Night: Round Top Second Night: Floyds Island Exit: Suwannee Canal or Stephen Foster What if I'm a guide or outfitter? If you charge any fees for trips into Trail 8 - Enter: Stephen Foster the Okefenokee, you are required to First Night: Floyds Island have a permit. We issue permits Second Night: Canal Run photos: USFWS once Exit: Stephen Foster annually, in fall. You must 4 Day Trips apply ahead Trail 9 - Enter: Kingfisher of time. For First Night: Bluff Lake more Second Night: Floyds Island information, Third Night: Canal Run call 912/496 Exit: Suwannee Canal or Stephen Foster 3331. Trial 10 - Enter: Kingfisher First Night: Bluff Lake Second Night: Floyds Island Third Night: Round Top Exit: Suwrannee Canal w/ev w/evl INOUd 6. You and your party must 16. You must remain at the register when you enter and designated overnight area leave the swamp and at each between sunset and sunrise for overnight stop. only one night. 7. You are required to bring a 17. You may have open fires only at portable toilet with disposable Canal Run, Floyds Island, and bags for waste disposal and a Cravens Hammock. campstove and fuel for cooking. Note: You must follow exactly the You must display your parking route on your permit. You must placard in the windshield of any not stray from assigned trail. vehicle you leave parked overnight Only one party per stop is at any refuge entrance. Your permit allowed. number must be visible through the windshield. 9. Your licenses, permits, equipment and effects including What do I need to know to be vehicles and canoes, are subject prepared? to inspection by county, state A canoe trip through Okefenokee and federal officers. National Wildlife Refuge is a wilderness experience. You may or 10. You must obey all state, federal may not encounter other parties on and county laws regarding your trip. alcohol consumption. County regulations prohibit public It is your responsibility to be intoxication. prepared for a trip which may include temperature extremes, 11. You may not bring pets, swim, precipitation, high winds, high or wade in the swamp, due to humidity and other factors. While danger from alligators. you may choose to bring communication equipment (cell 12. You may not bring a motor of phones) on a trip, this is not a any kind on canoe trips. substitute for proper preparation. Cell phone coverage may be 13. Keep trails free from litter. inconsistent, batteries die, phones Please pack out any litter you get dropped. generate and any that you find. In the event of a true emergency, we 14. You may not bring firearms or will make every effort to reach your other weapons onto the refuge. party. Keep in mind that there are No hunting. few places helicopters can land in the Okefenokee and local trauma 15. All creatures, plants, and units cannot land after dark. All artifacts in the swamp are rescues will be accomplished by boat protected. Do not feed or harass and will likely take several hours any animals or pick plants. from the time we are notified. We will be accompanied by or transport victims directly to EMS personnel. In cases of wildfires, hurricanes or other events, we will determine across peat blowups or shallow whether to evacuate all or some water. Water levels in the canoe trails. In some cases, you may Okefenokee Swamp sometimes simply be rerouted. It is imperative become too low to paddle on certain that you keep on the trail specified trails; when this occurs we will make on your permit in case of serious every attempt to contact you before events. We use prescribed fire as a your trip. management tool - do not be alarmed if you see smoke. You will You must plan ahead if you choose a be contacted if your group is in any trail that does not return to the same danger from fire. ; landing. Highway distance between landings: Before your trip: \t out of your canoe and push • Check weather conditions, • Suwannee Canal Recreation especially during hurricane Area - Kingfisher: 20 miles. season and winter months. • Suwannee Canal Recreation • Know the limitations of your Area - Stephen Foster State group members. Discuss what Park: 85 miles. you may do in an emergency. • Stephen Foster State Park - • Identify strong paddlers who Kingfisher Landing: 95 miles. can go for help. What must I bring? What should I • Know first aid for hypothermia, bring? heat exhaustion, and other You must carry the following items, common ailments. Pack first aid for your safety: supplies. Coast Guard approved flotation During your trip: device for each person (children 10 • Use common sense. years and younger must wear at all • Stay on your designated trail. times) • In case of emergency - stay calm. • Know whom to call for help. Portable toilet with disposable bags Compass and map How should I plan my trip? Flashlight You are allowed to camp only at the Cookstove and fuel seven designated stops within the swamp; therefore, only seven We recommend you carry the following groups may be in the swamp on a items: given night. Consider the skill level Extra flashlights and batteries of individuals in your party before choosing a trail! The swamp terrain Trash bags is flat; there is no fast water and very little dry land. Your paddle will Rope for pulling canoe be used every inch of the way as you wind through cypress forests or cross open "prairies" exposed to the First-aid kit sun and wind. Paddling can be slow- going and strenuous on shallow and/ Food (plus enough for one extra day) or narrow trails. You may have to Foul weather gear INOHd Sleeping bag or blanket nearby shrub island without trees. Get away from the boat and stay low Map of canoe trails under the canopy. Insect repellent What about other boats on the trails? Only one canoe party is allowed on Duct tape for emergency repairs each trail at one time, although you may cross paths with other parties Spare paddle (tied to canoe/kayak) enroute to your stop. Of the 120 miles of boat trails in the swamp, 70 Waterproof bags are also open to day-use motorboats Paddling gloves under 10 horsepower. The motorboats will disturb you less if Free standing tent you pull to the side and allow them to pass. Bailer We occasionally use airboats to Sun protection (SPF 15+, wide brim maintain public facilities and hat, long sleeve shirt and pants) conduct wildlife and water level surveys. We want to disturb you as little as possible and you can help. Drinking water (2-6 quarts per As an airboat approaches, make person each day, depending on sure we see you, then move to the weather). We do not recommend side of the trail and stop so we can that you drink swamp water. pass safely. We will idle by and will Because of suspended organic not accelerate until we have matter, filtering is difficult. sufficient safe distance behind us. Airboats do not have any brakes and What kind of weather should I expect? they cannot back up. Do not look in Summer days are hot and humid the direction of the airboat when it with warm nights. Winter days is accelerating as strong wind range from the teens to 80 degrees, currents may blow small branches but mostly in the 50s and 60s. and leaves back. Nighttime temperatures can be near or below freezing and wind chills What animals might I see on my trip? have reached -22 degrees. Spring Wildlife abound in the Okefenokee and fall are unpredictable - be year round. Black bear move prepared for any weather extreme. throughout the swamp seeking food We recommend you check local on the islands. Otter are commonly forecasts before leaving. Be aware seen during cold weather, when that tropical storms in the Gulf of alligators are relatively inactive. Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean will Alligators are active in the summer often affect weather in the swamp. and are observed sunning on banks mostly during spring and fall. The rainy season is normally from June through September. Many Open prairies are good places to summer afternoons are concluded view wading birds such as egrets, with localized thunderstorms. herons, white ibis, wood storks, and Lightning is probably the most sandhill cranes, depending on the dangerous feature of an Okefenokee season. Warbler viewing is good in experience. If you are in an exposed the scrub-shrub areas. Turkey area, seek shelter immediately in a vultures often circle overhead (don't SP S F W How to use The bird checklist was designed to Loons your checklist be informative and simple to use. Common Loon The list is arranged in the order T r established by the American Grebes Ornithological Union. Symbols Pied-billed Grebe which appear in this checklist Horned Grebe represent the following: Pelicans and their Allies Seasonal Sp Spring, March - May Double-crested Cormorant o 0 0 appearance S Summer, June - August Anhinga;|: c c c F Fall, September - November W Winter, December - February Herons, Egrets and Allies American Bittern u u u Seasonal a. abundant Least Bittern* o o r abundance (a common species which is very Great Blue Heron* c c c c numerous) Great Egret* c c c c Snowy Egret* u u u 0 c. common Little Blue Heron* c c c c (certain to be seen in suitable Tricolored Heron* 0 0 0 0 habitat) Cattle Egret* c c c Green-backed Heron* c c c 0 u. uncommon Black-crowned Night-Heron* c o c c (present but not certain to be ^Yellow-crowned Night-Heron u u u u seen) Ibises, Spoonbill, Stork o. occasional _White Ibis* a c (seen only a few times during a Glossy Ibis r r season) Wood Stork* c o r. rare (seen at intervals of 2 to 5 Waterfowl years) Canada Goose 0 0 0 Wood Duck* c c c * known or suspected to have Green-winged Teal c c c nested on refuge or known to __American Black Duck 0 0 0 nest locally. Mallard c c c Northern Pintail u u u This checklist includes 234 species of Blue-winged Teal u u 0 birds and is based on observations Northern Shoveler u u u by refuge personnel and visiting Gadwall 0 0 0 ornithologists. If you should find an __American Wigeon u u u unlisted species, please let us know Canvasback r r r at Refuge Headquarters. We Redhead o 0 0 appreciate your help in updating our Ring-necked Duck c c c records. Lesser Scaup u u u Common Goldeneye r r r Bufflehead r r r Hooded Merganser* c c c Red-breasted Merganser r r r Ruddy Duck o o o Vultures, Hawks and Allies Black Vulture* _Turkey Vulture* 1 w/ev w/ev I U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Route 2, Box 3330 Folkston, Georgia 31537 912/496 7836 voice/TDD http://southeast.fws.gov National Wildlife Refuge http://0kefenokec.fws.go/ Bird List U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1800/344 WILD September 2000 SP F w Indigo Bunting u u Common Barn Owl Painted Bunting o Eurasian Wigeon Ivory-billed Woodpecker (formerly) Sparrows Greater Scaup Rufous-sided Towhee* c c c Common Merganser Bachman's Sparrow* c c c Vermilion Flycatcher Chipping Sparrow u u u Mississippi Kite Field Sparrow u u u Western Kingbird __Vesper Sparrow u u u Rough-Legged Hawk Savannah Sparrow u u u Gray Kingbird Grasshopper Sparrow o 0 0 Yellow Rail Henslow's Sparrow o 0 o Bachman's Warbler Fox Sparrow u u u Clapper Rail Song Sparrow c c c American Tree Sparrow Swamp Sparrow c c c Limpkin __White-throated Sparrow c c c Lark Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco r r Semipalmated Plover Le Conte's Sparrow Blackbirds, Crackles, Whimbrel Cowbirds and Orioles House Finch Bobolink r r Red-winged Blackbird* c c c c For Refuge Manager Eastern Meadowlark* c c c c additional Okefenokee National Wildlife Rusty Blackbird u u u information Refuge Route 2, Box 3330 Brewer's Blackbird 0 0 0 contact Folkston, Georgia 31537 Boat-tailed Crackle r r r 912/496 7836 (voice and TDD) Common Grackle* c c c c Brown-headed Cowbird 0 0 0 Ethics for Take care not to disturb nesting Orchard Oriole* u u u Bird/watching birds, exposing eggs and young to Northern Oriole r r r extreme temperatures and predation. Finches Disturb wintering wildlife as little as Purple Finch u u u possible, particularly during critical Pine Siskin r r r feeding and resting periods. They __American Goldfinch c c c need all of their energy reserves to withstand the stresses of harsh weather and migration. Weaver Finches House Sparrow* r Do not litter Many birds die when they become entangled in fishing lines, 6-pack The following American White Pelican rings and other trash, or when they species are of Laughing Gull mistake garbage for food. very rare or Brown Pelican accidental Arctic Tern occurence Roseate Spoonbill Forster's Tern Tundra Swan Rock Dove Snow Goose w/evtf m*H w/e 99/179 159/179 i GBkii^w i — :E — RAnfl ± iS&*@| 1 SP S F w SP S F W Osprey* u u r r Cuckoos American Swallow-tailed Black-billed Cuckoo r r Kite u u u __Yellow-billed Cuckoo* c c c Bald Eagle 0 0 0 Northern Harrier u u u Owls u Sharp-shinned Hawk o o 0 Eastern Screech-Owl* u u u Cooper's Hawk o r o 0 Great Horned Owl u u u u Red-shouldered Hawk* c c c c Barred Owl* c c c c Broad-wing•ed Hawk r r Red-tailed 3awk* u r u u Goatsuckers Golden Eagde r r r Common Nighthawk* c c c __American Kestrel* c o c c Chuck-will's-widow* c c c Merlin r r r Whip-poor-will 0 0 r r Peregrine I\\con r r Swifts, Hummingbirds Gallinaceous Birds Chimney Swift c c c (Quail, Turkey a id Allies) Ruby-throated Hummingbird* u u u Wild Turkey* cue u Northern E obwhite* c c c c Kingfishers Belted Kingfisher* c u c c Rails, Gallinules, Coots and Cranes King Rail* r r r r Woodpeckers Virginia Rail r r Red-headed Woodpecker* c u c u Sora r r Red-bellied Woodpecker* c c c c Purple Gallinule* u u u u __Yellow-bellied Sapsucker c c c Common Moorhen* u u u u Downy Woodpecker* c c c c American Coot u u u Hairy Woodpecker* c c c c Sandhill Crane* c c c c Red-cockaded Woodpecker* u u u u Northern Flicker* c c c c Shorebirds Pileated Woodpecker* c c c c Killdeer c c c Flycatchers Greater Yellowlegs u u 0 Eastern Wood-Pewee* c c c Lesser Yellowlegs u u 0 Solitary Sandpiper o o Acadian Flycatcher* u u u Willet r r Eastern Phoebe c c c Great Crested Flycatcher* c c c Spotted Sandpiper u u 0 Eastern Kingbird* c c c Sanderling o o 0 Semipalmated Sandpiper o o 0 Martins and Swallows Western Sandpiper r r r Purple Martin* r u c 0 Dunlin r r Tree Swallow c a c Short-billec 0 I Dowitcher o o Barn Swallow c u c Common Silipe c c c American "VVoodcock u r u u Jays and Crows Herring Gu11 r r r Blue Jay* c c c c Black Tern r r r American Crow* u u u u Fish Crow* c c c c Pigeons, Doves Mourning Dove* c c c c Common Ground-Dove* c c c c SP S F W ?P S F W Chickadees and Titmice Vireos Carolina Chickadee* u u u u __White-eyed Vireo* c c c u Tufted Titmouse* c c c c Solitary Vireo u u u _Yellow-throated Vireo* r r r Nuthatches Red-eyed Vireo* u u u Red-breasted Nuthatch r r White-breasted Nuthatch r r r r Warblers Brown-headed Nuthatch* c c c c Blue-winged Warbler r 0 Golden-winged Warbler 0 0 Creepers ( Orange-crowned Warbler u u u Brown Creeper 0 0 0 Northern Parula* c c c r / __Yellow Warbler u u Wrens Chestnut-sided Warbler r Carolina Wren* c c c c Magnolia Warbler r u Bewick's Wren r r r Cape May Warbler u u House Wren u u u Black-throated Blue Warbler u u Winter Wren u u u __Yellow-rumped Warbler a a a Sedge Wren u u u Black-throated Green Warbler r r Marsh Wren 0 0 0 Blackburnian Warbler u u __Yellow-throated Warbler* c c c c Kinglets and Gnatcatchers Pine Warbler* c u c c Golden-crowned Kinglet u u 0 Prairie Warbler u u 0 Ruby-crowned Kinglet a a a Palm Warbler c c c u u u 0 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher* Blackpoll Warbler u u Bluebirds, Thrushes and Robin Cerulean Warbler r r Eastern Bluebird* c c c c Black-and-white Warbler u o u 0 Veery u u _American Redstart c r c Gray-cheeked Thrush r r Prothonotary Warbler* c c c Swainson's Thrush r r Worm-eating Warbler u u r Hermit Thrush u u u Swainson's Warbler* r r r __Wood Thrush* u u u Ovenbird u u American Robin c a a Northern Waterthrush r r Louisiana Waterthrush o r 0 Thrashers Kentucky Warbler 0 0 Gray Catbird* c c c c Connecticut Warbler 0 r Northern Mockingbird* c c c c Common Yellowthroat* c u c c Brown Thrasher* c c c c ] Hooded Warbler* u u u Canada Warbler r r Starling Yellow-breasted Chat r r European Starling 0 0 0 0 Tanagers Waxwings Summer Tanager* u u u ___American Pipit 0 0 0 Scarlet Tanager r r Cedar Waxwing c u c New World Finches Shrike Northern Cardinal c c c c Loggerhead Shrike11 Rose-breasted Grosbeak r r Blue Grosbeak r r r Iw/ev INOdd U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Route 2. Box 3330 Folkston, Georgia 31537 312/496 7836 voice/TDD http://southeast.fws.gov tianal Wildlife Refuge http://0kefenokee.fws.gov Bird List U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1800/344 WILD September 2000