U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge Planning Update #1/Fall 2010 Comprehensive Conservation Planning Begins Soon Greetings from the Refuge Manager

Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge process starts. We will hold an informal (refuge) is about to embark on an public scoping meeting in Elko on important multi-year process to develop November 3. More details are on the a Comprehensive Conservation Plan back cover. I hope you can make it. (CCP) for the refuge. This plan will help We will frequently refer to background guide overall refuge management for the materials provided in this planning update next 15 years. Your ideas and comments (Planning Update #1) throughout the will be an important part of the process, CCP process. Please try to read it before so I’d like to invite you to participate. our first meeting; this will help all of us Before we begin the process, I’d like to start on the same page, so to speak, when provide background about the refuge’s we begin our public scoping meetings. View of Ruby Marsh facing west / FWS history and current management. I hope you’ll feel free to contact me or You’ll also find some information about Mark Pelz, Refuge Planner, if you have the National Wildlife Refuge System any questions. See page 7 to learn about Table of Contents and how comprehensive conservation the CCP and page 8 for our phone planning fits into the overall picture of numbers and e-mail addresses. Greetings from the Refuge Manager...... 1 refuge management. What is the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Planning will officially begin in Guy Wagner Service?...... 1 November when our public scoping Guy Wagner, Refuge Manager What is the National Wildlife Refuge System?...... 2 What is the mission of the What is the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service? Refuge System?...... 2 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service governments with their wildlife and What’s in a name?...... 2 (FWS) is the principal federal agency habitat conservation efforts. Project location and watershed...... 3 responsible for conserving, protecting, The FWS also oversees the Federal and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants, and Refuge acquisition history...... 3 Assistance program that distributes their habitats for the continuing benefit hundreds of millions of dollars in excise Refuge purposes...... 4 of the American people. taxes on fishing and hunting equipment What activities can be enjoyed The FWS manages the 150-million acre to state fish and wildlife agencies. at refuges?...... 4 National Wildlife Refuge System, which Compatibility of refuge uses...... 4 encompasses more than 552 refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other Ruby Lake Refuge today...... 5 special management areas. What is a CCP?...... 7 It also operates 66 national fish What are the goals of this hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices, planning process?...... 7 and 78 ecological services field stations. CCP Schedule...... 7 The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, Public Meeting...... 8 administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, Help us plan the future...... 8 restores nationally significant fisheries, Please feel free to contact us!...... 8 conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign Tundra swans / FWS 2

What is the National Wildlife Refuge System? What’s in a name? Many people confuse state and federal In 1903 President Theodore Roosevelt 20.6 million acres in the Refuge System fish and wildlife agencies because their protected an island with nesting pelicans, are managed as wilderness under the names are similar. The U.S. Fish and herons, ibis, and roseate spoonbills in Wilderness Act of 1964. Wildlife Service (FWS) is a federal Florida’s Indian River from feather In 1997 Congress passed the National agency within the U.S. Department of collectors who were decimating their Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Interior. The Department of colonies. He established Pelican Island as Act (Act), legislation that provides clear Wildlife (NDOW) is a state agency. the nation’s first bird sanctuary and went guidance for the management of the Our names are similar and so are our on to establish many other sanctuaries Refuge System. The act includes a new missions: Both agencies are dedicated for wildlife during his tenure. This small statutory mission statement and directs to wildlife conservation for the benefit network of sanctuaries continued to the FWS to manage the Refuge Sys- of present and future generations. expand, later becoming the National tem as a national system of lands and Our jurisdictions are different. The Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System). waters devoted to conserving wildlife FWS is the lead agency responsible for Today, over 100 years later, Ruby Lake and maintaining the biological integrity federally-listed species and migratory Refuge is one of 552 National Wildlife of ecosystems. birds, whether they are located on Refuges encompassing more than 150 This law requires the FWS to develop a federal, state, or private lands. The million acres nationwide. The Refuge comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) NDOW has primary responsibility for System is the largest system of lands for each refuge. It also states that certain resident fish and wildlife on state and in the world primarily dedicated to the wildlife-dependent recreational uses private lands and oversees state-listed conservation of wildlife. It is spread are priority public uses on refuges and species. Ruby Lake Refuge is managed across 50 states, American Samoa, strengthens the compatibility determina- by the FWS, which coordinates Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, tion process for assuring that these and with NDOW on a variety of natural Johnston Atoll, Midway Atoll, and other activities do not conflict with refuge resource management issues. several other Pacific Islands. About management purposes and goals.

“Wild beasts and birds are by right not the What is the mission of property merely of people who are alive today, the Refuge System? but the property of unknown generations whose National Wildlife Refuges are places belongings we have no right to squander.” where “wildlife comes first.” “The mission of the National Wildlife President Theodore Roosevelt Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.” Lands within the Refuge System are managed first and foremost for the benefit of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. Our mission differs from other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service, which focuses on forest stewardship and sustainable forest uses; the Bureau of Land Management, which deals with the productivity and multiple use of the land; and the National Park Service, which conserves scenery, wildlife, and historic objects for people’s recreational enjoyment. Canvasbacks / FWS 3

end of the marsh were acquired. The first Refuge tract totaling 41 acres was acquired in 1941. In 1959, 80 acres of public domain acquisition history land were withdrawn for the Refuge by Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge Public Land Order (PLO) 1878. In 1965, was established by President Franklin 1,655 acres were acquired with funding D. Roosevelt in 1938 as a “...refuge and from the Migratory Bird Conservation breeding ground for migratory birds and Fund. In 1970, 440 more acres of public other wildlife.” The initial acquisition domain lands were withdrawn for the boundary included approximate 37,540 Refuge (PLO 4795). acres. In 1938, four tracts were acquired In 2002, the Refuge acquired an totaling 28,322 acres. That same year, an additional 1,655 acres through a land additional 6,058 acres were withdrawn exchange. In 2006, 645 acres of Bureau from the public domain. of Land Management public domain Between 1940 and 1970, a number of land were legislatively transferred to the tracts along the eastern edge of the Service to be managed as part of Ruby marsh and a large tract along the south Lake Refuge.

White-faced ibis / FWS

“[Ruby Lake] is one of the most important marsh areas in the desert country between Utah and California” D.H. Madsen, Superintendent Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, May 13, 1929

Project location and watershed Ruby Lake Refuge is located at the foot of the in northeastern Nevada, just over 60 miles south of Elko. The Refuge is located within the Ruby Valley watershed. The Refuge is bordered by Humboldt National Forest to the west, Bureau of Land Management lands to the south and east, and private lands to the north. Nevada Department of Wildlife-admin- istered Franklin Lake Wildlife Manage- ment Area is located approximately 1.5 miles north of the Refuge. 4

Refuge purposes Compatibility of What activities The purposes identified below for Ruby refuge uses can be enjoyed at Lake Refuge are defined by language within a number of acts of Congress Prior to allowing various public uses on refuges? which grant the FWS general authority a refuge, federal law requires that the to acquire land for National Wildlife FWS first determine that these specific There are laws and policies which guide Refuges: uses are compatible. management of public use on National Wildlife Refuges. Only those public uses A compatible use is a proposed or • ...for use as ... a refuge and breeding which are determined to be compatible existing use of a national wildlife refuge ground for migratory birds and other with the mission of the Refuge System that, based on sound professional wildlife. Executive Order 7923, July and the purposes of the Refuge are judgement of the refuge manager, will 2, 1938 allowed. The Refuge Improvement Act not materially interfere with or detract • ...for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or identified six wildlife dependent public from the fulfillment of the National for any other management purpose, uses as priority uses: Wildlife Refuge System mission or the for migratory birds. 16 U.S.C. § 715d purposes of the refuge. ■■ Environmental Education (Migratory Bird Conservation Act) Compatibility determinations are ■■ Wildlife Photography used to help evaluate such uses ■■ Environmental Interpretation and will be integrated as part of ■■ Hunting the CCP planning process. ■■ Wildlife Observation ■■ Fishing

Refuge Entrance Sign / FWS 5

North Marsh / FWS

waterfowl, waterbirds, songbirds, and as well as a variety of other water- Ruby Lake native wildlife. dependent birds such as coots, grebes, sandhill cranes, great blue herons, white- The refuge has been identified as one Refuge today faced ibis, black-necked stilts, avocets, of 500 Globally Important Bird Areas yellow-headed blackbirds, common Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge lies by the American Bird Conservancy. yellow-throats, and marsh wrens. at the southern end of the Ruby Valley in Over 220 species of birds regularly visit northeast Nevada. Located at an elevation the refuge. Providing nesting habitat Seven species of fish inhabit refuge of 6,000 feet and flanked on the west by for migratory birds is the primary waters. The relict dace is the only native the rugged and scenic Ruby Mountains, purpose of the refuge, and waterfowl species of fish on the refuge, and is it is one of the most remote refuges in the are the most conspicuous breeders. present in only a few other basins in lower 48 states. The refuge encompasses Canvasback and redhead ducks, among northeastern Nevada. A small number of 39,928 acres and consists of a marsh other waterfowl species, reproduce Lahontan speckled dace remain from a bordered by meadows, grasslands, and here. Ruby Lake Refuge is one of the transplant made in 1950. brush-covered uplands. The National most important waterfowl nesting areas Management Park Service designated the South Marsh in the and intermountain a National Natural Landmark because West. The South Marsh supports the Management programs focus on of the biological diversity and pristine largest population of nesting canvasback maintaining and restoring native condition of the habitat. ducks west of the Mississippi River habitats. The refuge encompasses a (outside Alaska), and holds the highest large variety of wetland and upland Wildlife concentration of nesting canvasbacks in vegetation types. Refuge wetlands Ruby Lake Refuge serves as a magnet North America. The once-endangered include permanently and seasonally for a wide diversity of wildlife species and trumpeter swan, originally transplanted flooded shallow marsh (a mosaic of open is strategically located along migration between 1947 and 1958 from Red Rocks water, bulrush stands, and islands) and corridors serving both the Pacific and Lake Refuge in Montana, is also found infrequently flooded alkali playas. Central Flyways. A pristine marsh, at Ruby Lake Refuge. Several pairs nest These habitats are critical to the meadows, grasslands, and shrub-steppe and raise young each year, and 40 or existence of many species of wildlife uplands provide essential habitat for more birds may winter here. In all, 15 because wetlands are rare in the thousands of nesting and migrating species of waterfowl nest on this refuge, Great Basin high desert. The islands 6 and bulrush provide nesting sites for prey. Over time, vegetation in meadows provide anglers with some of the best waterfowl, marsh bird, and songbird and grasslands becomes heavily matted fishing in northeast Nevada. Trout fishing species. Submerged marsh plants and nesting habitat is lost. Prescribed is best in early spring, fall, and winter. growing in open water areas provide fire is used to remove matted vegetation, Bass fishing peaks in summer. feeding sites for birds. Water elevations restoring nesting habitat. Cattle Seasonal hunting is allowed in designated in some marsh units are controlled to grazing and haying are used as habitat areas of the South Marsh for migratory provide nesting and feeding areas for management tools to provide feeding birds including ducks, geese, coots, waterfowl and other marsh birds. areas for birds. common moorhens, and common snipe. Vegetation in the meadows and Shrub-steppe upland habitat Reservations are not required, and there grasslands is managed to provide dominates the dryer sites on the is no fee. nesting cover and feeding areas for refuge. Sagebrush is the principal There are two boat launching areas in the wildlife. Transition areas between marsh shrub species on the west side of the South Marsh that provide public access and upland habitats are dominated marsh, and greasewood dominates to the marsh. These launch sites are by sedges, rushes, grasses, and forbs. the east side. Great Basin wild rye, a connected by over six miles of marked Meadows and grasslands are important prevalent grass species, is abundant in canoeing and boating channels. Boats are to migratory birds for feeding and the shrub-steppe and grassland plant not allowed on the refuge from January 1 nesting. Grasslands, which contain a communities. Migratory and resident to June 14. different complex of vegetation than bird species use shrub-steppe areas for The refuge is open year-round for wildlife meadows because grassland soils feeding and nesting. observation, birding, and photography. An are drier, provide nesting cover for auto tour route, which follows interior le- waterfowl and songbirds. Recreation vees through the marsh, provides excellent These areas also support large The refuge is open year-round for fishing, wildlife viewing opportunities. The refuge populations of small mammals, which the most popular recreational activity on is open to the public from one hour before are an important food source for birds of the refuge. Trout and largemouth bass sunrise until two hours after sunset.

Ruby Lake Refuge in spring. / FWS 7

Public What are the goals Public Initiate Study Input Input Preplanning of this planning Public Scoping & Review and process? Identify Issues Revise the CCP The goals of this planning process are to:

■■ Outline refuge management priorities for the next 10 to 15 years; CCP Develop Vision ■■ Describe significant refuge resources Implement CCP Statement & Goals and their importance; Andand MonitorMonitor Process ■■ Identify how the refuge can best protect these resources; ■■ Clarify what public uses are, and Develop are not, compatible with managing Develop Alternative Objectives significant resources; Final Alternatives CCP And Strategies ■■ Identify the refuge’s role within Prepare Draft the local community and as a CCP national resource. Public Input CCP Schedule

■■ Provides the public with an October 2010 What is a CCP? understanding of the reasons for Mail out background information When Congress passed the National management actions on the refuge; Wildlife Refuge System Improvement ■■ Provides a vision statement November 2010 Act of 1997, it incorporated an for the refuge; Hold public scoping meetings and underlying philosophy that “wildlife ■■ Ensures the compatibility of current begin the CCP process comes first” on refuges. and future uses of the refuge with The Act provides the FWS with its purposes; Late Spring 2012 guidance for managing refuges to ensure ■■ Provides long-term continuity in Draft CCP public review the long-term conservation of fish, refuge management; and wildlife, plants, and their habitats. Two important principles of the Act are to ■■ Provides budget justification for maintain biological integrity, diversity, operation and maintenance and and environmental health of the refuge, facility development requests. and facilitate compatible wildlife- The CCP will provide broad dependent recreation. management direction and guidance Every refuge is to have a Comprehensive for the refuge, contingent upon Conservation Plan (CCP) completed by future funding and resources. The 2012. The CCP will outline refuge goals, accompanying environmental document, objectives, and management strategies. required by the National Environmental It is a flexible, “living” document that will Policy Act, will describe the alternatives be updated every 15 years. considered and their environmental effects. You will have an opportunity to The CCP: review and comment on the draft CCP and environmental document. ■■ Ensures that management of the refuge reflects the purposes of the In November 2010 we will hold our public refuge and the mission, policies, scoping meeting to help identify issues and goals of the National Wildlife and gather information. The key planning Refuge System; steps are listed above and will be listed in future updates so you can track our progress through the planning process. Fishing at Ruby Marsh / Ol’ Florida Boy 8 Help us plan Please feel free Public Meeting the future to contact us! To begin developing the CCP, the U.S. Wednesday, November 3, 2010 We are available to provide additional Fish and Wildlife Service will hold a information about the refuge history, 6:30 - 8:30 PM public scoping meeting in the evening goals, and accomplishments to date, to help identify issues and gather and to answer any questions about Hilton Garden Inn information. Interested individuals, the planning process. Feel free to call, agencies, Tribes, organizations, and other write, e-mail, or visit us in person. 3650 E. Idaho Street stakeholders will be invited to express Elko NV 89801 their concerns and share their visions for If you did not receive this newsletter the refuge. This will be your opportunity through the mail and would like to be For more information, visit our to help us identify issues and concerns on our mailing list, please contact us. If website at: and receive answers to any questions you would like to be removed from the http://www.fws.gov/rubylake/ you may have. Your comments and/or list or are receiving multiple copies of participation will be critical to the success these notices, please let us know. of this planning effort. Guy Wagner, Refuge Manager Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge HC 60, Box 860 Ruby Valley, Nevada 89833-9802 775/779-2237 phone 775/779-2370 fax [email protected]

Mark Pelz, Refuge Planner U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service CA/NV Refuge Planning Office 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832 Sacramento, CA 95825 916/414-6504 phone 916/414-6497 fax [email protected] Ruby Lake NWR / FWS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Region Refuge Conservation Planning 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832 Sacramento, CA 95825