Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Comprehensive ConservationPlan Laguna CartagenaNationalWildlifeRefuge Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge Susan Silander, Project Leader Caribbean Islands NWR Complex P.O. Box 510 Boqueron, PR 00622 LagunaLaguna CartagenaCartagena Phone: 787/851 7258 Fax: 787/255 6725 NationalNational WildlifeWildlife RefugeRefuge E-mail: [email protected] ComprehensiveComprehensive ConservationConservation PlanPlan U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1 800/344 WILD http://www.fws.gov July 2011 Photo provided by Jim Abernethy’s Scuba Adventures Front Cover Photo Credits: Background/open water - David Bocanegra/USFWS Yellow crown night heron - Bryant Marcial/USFWS Whistling duck - Bryant Marcial/USFWS Orange bishop bird - Bryant Marcial/USFWS Photo blind structure - David Bocanegra/USFWS Observation tower - David Bocanegra/USFWS Common moorhen - Bryant Marcial/USFWS White-cheeked Pintail - Bryant Marcial/USFWS Whistling duck - Bryant Marcial/USFWS Refuge sign - David Bocanegra/USFWS Comprehensive Conservation Plans provide long-term guidance for management decisions; set forth goals, objectives, and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes; and identify the Fish and Wildlife Service’s best estimate of future needs. These plans detail program planning levels that are sometimes substantially above current budget allocations and, as such, are primarily for Service strategic planning and program prioritization purposes. The plans do not constitute a commitment for staffing increases, operational and maintenance increases, or funding for future land acquisition. Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region September 2011 Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN LAGUNA CARTAGENA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Lajas, Puerto Rico U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia September 2011 Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge TABLE OF CONTENTS COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 1 I. Background ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose And Need For The Plan ................................................................................................. 1 Fish and Wildlife Service .............................................................................................................. 1 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................. 2 Legal and Policy Context .............................................................................................................. 4 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..................................................... 5 Relationship To State Wildlife Agency ..........................................................................................6 II. Refuge Overview .............................................................................................................................. 7 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 7 Refuge History and Purpose ........................................................................................................ 7 Background Information ............................................................................................................... 7 Special Designations .................................................................................................................... 8 Ecosystem Context .....................................................................................................................11 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................12 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 12 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 13 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 13 Geology and Topography ..................................................................................................14 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 17 Hydrology and Water Quality ............................................................................................18 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 20 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 20 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 24 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 24 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 26 Refuge Administration and Management ...................................................................................27 Land Protection and Conservation ....................................................................................27 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 27 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance .........................................................................28 III. Plan Development ......................................................................................................................... 29 Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities .....................................................................29 Public Involvement and the Planning Process ..................................................................29 Summary of Meetings and Contacts .................................................................................29 IV. Management Direction ................................................................................................................ 33 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 33 Vision ................................................................................................................................ 33 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .....................................................................................33 Fish and Wildlife Population Management ........................................................................34 Habitat Management .........................................................................................................39 Table of Contents i Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 43 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 45 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 48 V. Plan Implementation .................................................................................................................... 53 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 53 Proposed Projects ...................................................................................................................... 53 Funding and Personnel .............................................................................................................. 57 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ....................................................................................... 58 Plan Review and Revision.......................................................................................................... 58 Partnership/Volunteers Opportunities ........................................................................................ 60 Step-Down Management Plans .................................................................................................. 60 Appendix A. Glossary ...................................................................................................................... 61 Appendix B. References and Literature Citations ......................................................................... 71 Appendix C. Relevant Legal Mandates and Executive Orders ..................................................... 77 Appendix D. Public Involvement ..................................................................................................... 91 Summary Of Public Scoping