Habitat Management Plan
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HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge MAY 2020 Habitat Management Plans (HMPs) are dynamic working documents that provide refuge managers with a decision-making process, a long-term vision for managing refuge habitats, and ensure continuity and consistency for habitat management on refuge lands. HMPs include goals, objectives, and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes and achieve the refuge long-term vision. These plans detail program levels that are sometimes above current budget and resource allocations. As such, HMPs are primarily for strategic planning and program prioritization purposes. HMPs do not constitute a commitment for staffing increases, operational and maintenance increases, or funding for future land acquisition. On an annual basis, refuge staff use the HMP to develop an Annual Habitat Work Plan that identifies the specific habitat management strategies and prescriptions, alongside the operational needs. Habitat Management Plan for the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge Approvals Action Signature/Name Date Prepared By: Coastal Delaware NWR Complex Supervisory Wildlife Biologist Submitted By: Coastal Delaware NWR Complex Project Leader Reviewed By: Division of Natural Resources and Conservation Planning Chief Reviewed By: Refuge Supervisor - South Approved By: Refuge Chief This page intentionally left blank. Habitat Management Plan for Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge (NWR, refuge) was first established in the 1937 when lands were purchased with Duck Stamp funds to allow for a resting and feeding area for migratory and wintering waterfowl. Today, the refuge is located along the Delaware Bay and encompasses 16,162 acres of coastal marsh habitat, forested, freshwater wetland, grassland, and shrubland communities. This Habitat Management Plan (HMP) provides a long-term vision and specific guidance on managing the refuge’s habitats over the next 15 years (2020 to 2035). Refuge forests, both upland and wetland, will be expanded through restoration, while existing mature forest will be managed to improve wildlife habitat conditions. The three large freshwater impoundments will continue to be seasonally managed for the benefit of migrating and wintering shorebirds and waterfowl, as well as other native wildlife. Additional small seasonally managed wetlands will be created, and existing natural freshwater wetlands will be preserved. Early successional habitat will be reduced in acreage, but improved in quality through proactive management. The refuge’s extensive tidal salt marsh and associated fringing pockets of beach habitat will continue to be mostly passively managed however, when feasible, the refuge will pursue restoration efforts to improve ecological integrity of these habitats. Refuge staff initiated development of this HMP in 2018 to resolve high priority habitat management issues, including the opportunity to increase forested habitat on the refuge, while also strategically managing early successional habitat. Additionally, this HMP will help inform related step-down habitat management plans. The HMP is intended to be revisited as needed or every 15 years, with management strategies informed by research investigations and inventory and monitoring activities. Executive Summary ES-i August 2020 Habitat Management Plan for Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge This page intentionally left blank. Executive Summary ES-ii August 2020 Habitat Management Plan for Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 1-1 Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge ......................................................................................... 1-1 Scope of Habitat Management Plan ................................................................................................. 1-2 Mission Mandates ........................................................................................................................... 1-2 1.3.1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service .......................................................................................... 1-2 National Wildlife Refuge System...................................................................................... 1-3 Coastal Delaware National Wildlife Refuge Complex ....................................................... 1-3 Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge .......................................................................... 1-4 Relationship to Other Plans and Guidance ....................................................................................... 1-4 Federal Policies and Guidance .......................................................................................... 1-4 Multi-stakeholder Conservation Initiatives and Regional Plans.......................................... 1-5 Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge-Specific Plans .................................................... 1-7 CHAPTER 2. EXISTING CONDITIONS .................................................................................................... 2-11 Landscape Setting ......................................................................................................................... 2-11 Land Management History ............................................................................................................ 2-14 Pre-Refuge Land Use ..................................................................................................... 2-15 USFWS Stewardship ...................................................................................................... 2-15 Climate ......................................................................................................................................... 2-20 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................... 2-20 General Description of Vegetative Communities ........................................................................... 2-20 Coastal Habitats ............................................................................................................. 2-26 Forested Habitats ........................................................................................................... 2-27 Freshwater Habitats ........................................................................................................ 2-28 Grassland and Shrubland Habitats .................................................................................. 2-29 Wildlife ........................................................................................................................................ 2-29 Birds .............................................................................................................................. 2-29 Mammals ....................................................................................................................... 2-31 Reptiles and Amphibians ................................................................................................ 2-31 Invertebrates .................................................................................................................. 2-31 Fish................................................................................................................................ 2-31 Special Status Species .................................................................................................... 2-32 Aquatic Resources / Water Quality ................................................................................................ 2-32 Geology ........................................................................................................................................ 2-32 Soils ............................................................................................................................................. 2-33 Threats to Management and Conservation ..................................................................................... 2-33 Threat Characterization .................................................................................................. 2-33 CHAPTER 3. RESOURCES OF CONCERN ................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Identification of Resources of Concern ............................................................................................ 3-1 Identification of Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health ...................................... 3-2 Defining Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health .................................. 3-2 Identifying BIDEH at Bombay Hook NWR ...................................................................... 3-2 Priority Resources of Concern ......................................................................................................... 3-9 Priority Resources of Concern Selection ........................................................................... 3-9 Bombay Hook NWR Priority ROC Species and Relation to Refuge BIDEH........................................................................................................................... 3-16 Priority Habitats ...........................................................................................................................