Breton National Wildlife Refuge Louisiana

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92d Congress, 1st Session - - - - - House Document No. 92-102

BRETON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE LOUISIANA

COMMUNICATION FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TRANSMITTING

FOURTEEN PROPOSALS TO ADD TO THE NATIONAL WILDERNESS SYSTEM

PART 6

APRIL 29, 1971.-Referred to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and ordered to be printed with illustrations

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1971 LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

THE WHITE HOUSE

WAS H I NGTON

April 28, 1971

Dear Mr. Speaker:

The Wilderness Act of September 3, 1964, declared it to be the policy of the Congress to secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness, and for that purpose the act established a National Wilderness Preservation System. In my special message on the environment of February 8, 1971, I stressed the importance of wilderness areas as part of a comprehensive open space system. In these un- spoiled lands, contemporary man can encounter the character and beauty of primitive America — and learn, through the encounter, the vital lesson of human interdependence with the natural environment.

Today, I am pleased to transmit fourteen proposals which would add to the National Wilderness System vast areas where nature still predominates. These areas are briefly described below. (1) Simeonof National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska -- 25,140 acres of a unique wildlife environment: the bio- logically productive lands and waters of Simeonof Island off the coast of Alaska.

(2) North Cascades National Park, Washington — 515,880 acres in two areas in North Cascades Park and Ross Lake and Lake Chelan National Recreation Areas. This nearly impenetrable wilderness includes rugged alpine mountains whose glaciers feed lakes and streams in the virgin forests below. (3) Isle Royale National Park, Michigan — 120,588 acres of island wilderness in Lake Superior. Isle Royale is one of the few remaining areas where the North American timberwolf can be found along with other relatively rare species including the moose, beaver, mink and lynx. (4) Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, California — 721,970 acres. With its abundant wildlife and groves of giant sequoia trees this area of the Sierra Nevada Mountains is an important site for scientific research concerning natural areas. (5) Shenandoah National Park, Virginia — 73,280 acres. The scenic grandeur of the Shenandoah's Blue Ridge is well known. This area is one of the few remaining examples of the vast mountain wildernesses that long ago stood as an obstacle before pioneers pushing westward. (6) Breton National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana — 4,420 acres. The Chandeleur and Breton Islands of the northern Gulf of Mexico, which comprise this wilderness, are an important habitat for nesting shore birds, sea turtles and wintering waterfowl. (7) Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuge — 4,740 acres. Tropical vegetation, rare bird species, and Key deer native to this area are unique within the United States. (8) West Sister National Wildlife Refuge, Ohio — 85 acres. Located just nine miles east of Toledo, this island refuge serves as an important nesting area for egrets, herons, swallows, warblers and a host of other birds. The refuge is an exceptionally primitive landscape compared to the intensive land uses found along most of the Lake Erie shore. (9) Chamisso National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska — 455 acres. Located in Kotzebue Sound, this island group contains the largest marine bird nesting colony in northwestern Alaska. During annual migrations, the birds raised in this refuge contribute significantly to the abundance and variety of bird life along the coasts of Alaska, Washington, Oregon and California. (10) Farallon National Wildlife Refuge, California — 141 acres. These islands comprise an important sea bird rookery, hosting some 150,000 to 200,000 birds each summer — including the largest colony complex of cormorants in California. Sea lions also inhabit the area. (11) Izembek National Wildlife Range and Aleutian Islands National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska — 301,451 acres. The tremendous natural biological productivity of this area supports a diverse array of wildlife; it is best known for its use by millions of waterbirds, its unique mammalian fauna and its outstanding salmon spawning waters. iii (12) Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah — 4,370 acres. Situated on the high Markagunt Plateau of southern Utah, this monument includes a gigantic eroded natural amphitheater whose steep walls time has carved into fan- tastic shapes of many colors. Subalpine meadows and forests also add to the beauty of the area. (13) Capitol Reef National Monument, Utah — 23,054 acres. This monument provides a striking example of the Waterspocket Fold, a great doubling up of the earth's crust. Its spectacular features include a great cliff of brilliantly colored rock layers and dome-like peaks of gray and white sandstone. (14) Arches National Monument, Utah — 15,703 acres. Carved from the Jurassic sandstones of the Colorado Plateau, the monument exhibits many notable examples of towers, fins, and deep canyons, and 89 natural rock arches. In addition to these new proposals, I will also recommend an expansion of the still unenacted Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge wilderness proposal from 319,000 acres to approximately 347,000 acres. This vast swampland, located in Georgia, was originally proposed to the 90th Congress. Its designation as a wilderness area would augur well for the continued existence of the nearly 400 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish that frequent this valuable ecosystem. In reviewing roadless areas of 5,000 acres or more, the Secretary of the Interior has concluded that two areas which he reviewed are not suitable for preservation as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. These are Chaco Canyon National Monument, New Mexico and Laguna Atascosa, Texas. Enclosed are a letter and a report from the Secretary in support of these two negative recommendations as well as of the fourteen new wilderness proposals. I concur with the recommendation of the Secretary of the Interior on these sixteen areas. I urge the Congress to give early and favorable consideration to this package of significant conservation proposals. Honorable Carl Albert Sincerely, Speaker of the House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Enclosures £/ ~' ^ /

iv United States Department of the Interior OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240

MARCH 4, 1971 Dear Mr. President:

I am pleased to recommend that a portion of the Breton National Wild- life Refuge, Louisiana, be designated as a unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

The proposed Breton Wilderness is located in the Gulf of Mexico and is in St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana. The refuge is a crescent chain of islands which extend for about kO miles along coastal Louisiana. They include the Chandeleur Island group and the two parts of Breton Island. These wave-swept, low-lying islands with their sparkling sand beaches and low dunes have been the favorite haunts of fishermen for many years. The islands are also extremely important to nesting shore birds and sea turtles. The waters around the refuge islands abound with marine life and aquatic plants, making the area especially attractive to wintering waterfowl. These wild and remote islands may be the only such areas that remain undeveloped in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The bird rookeries and turtle nesting sites, the unpolluted waters where numerous marine species spawn, and the solitude offered to man on Breton Refuge make this area worthy of preservation for future generations of man and wildlife.

In accordance with the requirements of the Wilderness Act of Septem- ber 3, 19&k (78 Stat. 890), a public notice was issued on August 23, 1969, concerning the proposed Breton Wilderness. A public hearing was held in Chalmette, Louisiana, on November 12, 1969. The hearing record was held open until December 27, 19&9? in order to provide an opportunity for the submission of written expressions for the record by interested individuals. All interested local, State, and Federal agencies and officials, and the Congressional delegation from the State of Louisiana were notified of the proposed hearings. The communications presented at the hearing by all interested parties are summarized in the enclosed synopsis of the proposal. Eighteen statements were presented at the public hearing and 315 written communications were received before, during and after the public hearing.

No surface minerals of commercial value are known in the area, although the entire area is considered to be valuable for oil and gas. Sub- surface deposits of oil and gas can be exploited by directional drilling making it possible to remove these products with little impact on the environment. A complete record has been compiled for this proposal. It includes written statements and oral testimony. This record is, of course, available for inspection. These islands are eminently qualified for designation as wilderness, and I recommend submission to the Congress of the enclosed draft legislation to incorporate about acres into the National Wilderness Preservation System. Respectfully,

Secrtary of the Interior

The President The White House Washington, D.C,

Enclosures DRAFT OF TRANSMITTAL LETTER TO THE HOUSE

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In keeping with the policy of this Administration and the Congress that we shall make every effort to improve the total environment and v to insure that pristine land will be preserved for tomorrow, it is my pleasure to recommend to the Congress another area for wilderness designation.

This proposal to designate a portion of the Breton National Wildlife

Refuge, Louisiana, as wilderness further confirms our determination that such pristine area.s be preserved for generations to come. The Chandeleur and Breton Islands of the northern Gulf, which comprise ^ this wilderness, are vitally important to nesting shore birds and sea turtles as well as to wintering waterfowl. They, like other ^/" islands and estuaries, are being subjected to pressures that, if left unchecked, will eventually destroy the natural landscape.

In support of the enclosed bill, I am transmitting a report from the

Secretary of the Interior recommending the establishment of the

Breton wilderness area.

I urge the Congress to give favorable consideration to this important proposal for the preservation of our natural environment.

Sincerely yours, Hon. Carl Albert Speaker of the House of Representatives Washington, D.C.

Enclosures vii DRAFT OF TRANSMITTAL LETTER TO THE SENATE

Dear Mr. President:

In keeping with the policy of this Administration and the Congress that we shall make every effort to improve the total environment and to insure that pristine land will be preserved for tomorrow, it is my pleasure to recommend to the Congress another area for wilderness designation.

This proposal to designate a portion of the Breton National Wildlife

Refuge, Louisiana, as wilderness further confirms our determination that such pristine areas be preserved for generations, to come. The

Chandeleur and Breton Islands of the northern Gulf, which comprise this wilderness, are vitally important to nesting shore birds and sea turtles as well as to wintering waterfowl. They, like other islands and estuaries, are being subjected to pressures that, if left unchecked, will eventually destroy the natural landscape.

In support of the enclosed bill, I am transmitting a report from the

Secretary of the Interior recommending the establishment of the Breton wilderness area.

I urge the Congress to give favorable consideration to this important proposal for the preservation of our natural environment. Sincerely yours,

Hon. Spiro T. Agnew President of the Senate Washington, D.C. Enclosures viii A BILL

To designate certain land in the Breton National Wildlife Refuge, St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana, as wilderness.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, in accordance

with section 3(c) of the Wilderness Act of September 3, 196U (78 Stat.

890, 892; 16 U.S.C. 1132 (c)), certain lands in the Breton National

Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana, which comprise about h}k20 acres and

which are depicted on a map entitled "Breton Wilderness - Proposed"

and dated December 1970, are hereby designated as wilderness. The

map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the

office of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Department of

the Interior.

Sec. 2. The area designated by this Act as wilderness shall be

known as the "Breton Wilderness" and shall be administered by the

Secretary of the Interior in accordance with the applicable provisions

of the Wilderness Act.

Sec. 3- As soon as practicable after this Act takes effect, a

map of the wilderness area and a definition of its boundaries shall

be filed with the Interior and Insular Affairs Committees of the

United States Senate and House of Representatives, and such map and

definition have the same force and effect as if included in this Act:

IX 60-049 O-71-pt. 6 2 Provided, however, That correction of clerical and typographical errors in such map and definition may "be made. Sec. h. Wilderness areas designated by or pursuant to this Act shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of the Wilderness Act governing areas designated by that Act as wilderness areas, except that any reference in such provisions to the effective date of the Wilderness Act shall be deemed to be a reference to the effective date of this Act, and any reference to the Secretary of Agriculture shall be deemed to be a reference to the Secretary who has administrative jurisdiction over the area. SYNOPSIS OF BRETON WILDERNESS PROPOSAL Breton National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana

A. BACKGROUND The Breton National Wildlife Refuge is located in St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana. It was established as the second national wildlife refuge in 190^ and later enlarged by Executive order in 1938. The Breton Refuge consists of the long chain of the Chandeleur Islands and the two parts of Breton Island. Prior to Hurricane Camille in August 1969? the total ]and area was 9*0^7 acres. The hurricane destroyed a sizable acreage of the Chandeleurs and small portions of Breton Island. Remapping of Breton and the Chandeleur Islands was undertaken by the Coast and Geodetic Survey after Hurricane Camille. Recently published nautical charts and chartlets reveal that only U,50? acres remain above the high tide mark. Therefore, only this amount may be considered for wilderness designation.

The primary refuge objective is to retain the refuge islands in a natural condition for nesting shore birds, sea turtles, and other wildlife. The refuge beaches are famous for the many thousands of nesting birds. Black skimmers, laughing gulls, .and royal, Caspian, and Sandwich terns nest in abundance. The Eastern brown pelican, a species that has caused concern because of its rapid decline, at one time nested near the Chandeleurs. The refuge could play an important part in the reintroduction of the pelican to this part of its former range. Aside from the primary objectives, other refuge goals are to retain the islands and surrounding waters in an unpolluted condition for future recreational, scenic, scientific and historical uses and to preserve the sound side marshes for wintering waterfowl.

B. DESCRIPTION The Breton Wilderness is a chain of barrier islands in the Gulf of Mexico about 12 miles offshore from the Mississippi River Delta. The islands are bounded on the Gulf side by clear water of the Gulf of Mexico and on the Chandeleur Sound side by a maze of ponds, inlets, and marshes. The average elevation is four feet above mean low water. The Chandeleur Islands, which are about 35 miles long and average less than a half-mile in width, make up the greater part of the refuge. The islands have not been drastically altered by man and are among the few coastal barrier islands that remain in a near-natural condition in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Vegetation is sparse and consists mostly of a low growth of mangrove.

C. MANAGEMENT REQUIREMENT The Breton National Wildlife Refuge has been managed as a natural area since its establishment. The only visible improvement is the U.S. Coast Guard Lighthouse located on the northernmost island of the Chandeleur chain. This beacon still operates by means of a self- contained light which requires only periodic servicing. There are no plans for future developments on Breton Refuge. Facilities for visitor use or administrative purpose are not feasible on the wave-swept islands and would not be compatible with refuge and wilderness objectives. Public use of Breton Refuge will continue to be permitted throughout the year except on areas that must be seasonally closed to prevent disturbance to nesting birds. Shell collecting, beachcombing, bird- watching, photography, and fishing would be permitted. Primitive camping within the proposed wilderness is planned. However, no organized campgrounds or permanent facilities will be provided. Numerous oil and gas wells are located in the Chandeleur Sound near Breton Island. A 1^3.5-acre oil and gas lease to Kerr-McGee Oil Industries as operator is presently the only lease in effect. The lease covers the northern tip of the southernmost Breton Island and the entire northern Breton Island. After Hurricane Camille, only 86 acres remain above mean high tide within this lease area. This acreage is on north Breton Island and is separated from the remainder of the refuge islands by water. Two pipelines cross the1 ChandeTeur Island under the authority of right-of-way grants. The lines are underground and do not detract from the natural landscape. Except for the oil and gas underneath the islands, no other known minerals of commercial value are found in the sandy soils of the refuge. D. WILDERNESS HEARING RECORD

In accordance with section 3(d)(l)(B) of the Wilderness Act, a public hearing was held at Chalmette, Louisiana, on November 12, 1969. The Public Hearing Notice was published in the Federal Register on August 19, 1969, announcing the public hearing for the Breton Wilderness proposal. A form letter, a copy of the Regional Director's public hearing announcement and a brochure describing the wilderness proposal were mailed from Atlanta, Georgia, on September 12, 1969. This package was sent to individuals, organizations, and State and local officials. The Governor of the State of Louisiana, Federal Department heads, and the Congressional delegation were sent letters explaining the proposal and the Regional Director's public hearing notice and copies of the wilderness brochure. Local newspapers and radio and television stations were also provided with the announcement package. The public hearing was held in the St. Bernard Parish Courthouse in Chalmette, Louisiana, on November 12, 1969, commencing at 9 a.m. The hearing was conducted by Mr. Daniel H. Janzen, former Director of the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Mr. W. L. Towns, Deputy Regional Director, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Atlanta, Georgia, presented the Bureau statement. Communications received before and after the hearing from citizens, organizations, elected officials, State agencies, and Federal agencies totaled 305 statements in the form of letters, notes, and cards. 1. The Public Hearing A total of 39 individuals registered at the public hearing. They represented various agencies, organizations, or themselves. Statements were presented by representatives of 13 organizations. Of these, 12 favored the wilderness-proposal as presented and one indicated support for wilderness designation of only the Chandeleur Island portion of the refuge. Four individuals presented statements in favor of the wilderness proposal. One Federal agency—the National Park Service,U.S. Department of the Interior—presented a statement in support of the proposal. Arguments favoring wilderness status were generally in one or more of the following categories: a. The islands are extremely important as a nesting area for shore birds and sea turtles and should be preserved in a wild condition for such use. b. Wilderness status would assure the retention of the beaches, marsh, and mangrove for primitive recreation- ' al pursuits for all time to come. c. Present refuge status is not sufficient to protect the islands from future developments such as oil drilling, communication and power facilities, and other man-made structures. d. The wilderness will help satisfy the national need • for additional areas needed for man's inspiration and research. e. The area will act as a buffer against further pollution of the environment and estuary. f. Preservation of the refuge in a natural condition is important to the many sport fishermen who use the area. g. The wilderness would enhance the Gulf Islands Seashore that is now under consideration. Arguments opposing the wilderness were few and those were concerned primarily with the Breton Island portion of the wilderness under consideration: a. The Kerr-McGee Corporation argued that the Breton Island should be excluded from the proposal since its inclusion in the wilderness would diminish or erode the vested rights of Kerr-McGee Corporation to explore and drill for oil and gas. b. The Chandeleur-Ho Fishing Association suggested that the northern island of the Breton group be set aside for primitive camping and docking facilities to facili- tate visits to the remainder of the islands. Aside from arguments for and against the proposal as submitted, it was suggested that the North Islands (State of Louisiana property) be included in the proposed wilderness. 1 In addition to the oral statements made at the hearing, one 1 telegram was received during the public hearing. The telegram l was in support of the Breton Wilderness proposal. 2. Communications from elected public officials

No elected public officials from the State of Louisiana submitted statements before, during, or after the public hearing. Mr. R. H. Cory, Representative, State of Texas, submitted a letter supporting the proposal and Mr. George W. Linguist, Mayor, City of Dixon, Illinois, also supported the proposal by means of a letter.

3. Communications from State and local officials, and State Departments and Agencies

The Louisiana Wild Life and Fisheries Commission by resolution dated October 28, 19&9* favored wilderness status for Breton Refuge. Their resolution emphasized that sport fishing and overnight camping should be permitted.

k. Communications from Organizations

A total of 29 communications were received from organizations. All supported the wilderness proposal for essentially the same reasons as stated in item 1 above. 5. Communications from Citizens

Citizens submitted 270 statements in the form of letters, notes, telegrams, and cards. All communications favored the inclusion of the Breton Refuge in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Reasons given for supporting the proposal generally fell under the categories listed in item 1 above.

6. Communications from Federal officials, Departments and Agencies

The National Park Service, Southeast Region, endorsed the proposal in a statement at the public hearing.

The Chief, Branch of Mineral Classification, Conservation Division, U.S. Geological Survey, indicated no objection to the proposal. While stressing the oil and gas potential in the area, the U.S.G.S. also stated that directional drilling would permit lessees to exploit this resource. The Director, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, endorsed the proposal by letter for the record. The U.S. Coast Guard supported the proposal by a letter prior to the hearing and indicated that wilderness designation would not affect periodic servicing of the Chandeleur Lighthouse. The Director, Bureau of Mines, supported the proposal by a letter in which he indicated that wilderness designation of the Federal lands would not interfere with off-shore drilling for oil and gas. [BRETON NWR]

^^^^^m

VICINITY MAP

LOCATION

Breton National Wildlife Refuge is located in St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parishes, Louisiana, offshore from the Mississippi River Delta. New Orleans, Louisiana, and Mobile, Alabama, are located to the northwest and northeast respectively and within 100 miles of the refuge. Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi, are about 25 miles from the northern tip of the refuge island chain. PREFACE

The Wilderness Act of September 3, 1964 (Public Law 88-577), requires that the Secre- tary of the Interior review every roadless area of 5,000 contiguous acres or more and every roadless island, regardless of size, within the National Wildlife Refuge System within ten years after the effective date of the Act, and report to the President of the United States his recommendations as to the suitability or nonsuitability of each such area or island for preservation as wilderness. A recommendation of the President for designation as wilderness does not become effective unless provided by an Act of Congress. In defining wilderness, the Act also included areas of less than 5,000 acres that are of sufficient size to make preservation and use in an unimpaired condition practicable. Sections 4 (a) and (b) of the Wilderness Act provide that: (1) The Act is to be within and supplemental to the purposes for which National Wildlife Refuges are established; and (2) Wilderness areas shall be administered so as to preserve their wilderness character and shall be devoted to the public purposes of recreational, scenic, scientific, educational, conservation, and historical use insofar as primary refuge objectives permit. Wilderness designation does not remove or alter an area's status as a National Wildlife Refuge. This brochure concerns a national wildlife refuge that has been studied by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife at the direction of the Secretary of the Interior. Its purpose is to summarize the wilderness study in sufficient detail to enable the reader to form an opinion regarding study conclusions concerning the suitability and desirability of including all or part of the refuge within the National Wilderness Preservation System.

The Refuge System is a National network of lands and waters managed and safeguarded for preservation and enhancement of the human benefits associated with wildlife and their environments. It presently consists of over 320 units, embracing nearly 30 million acres in 46 states. About 90 refuges containing 25 million acres in over 30 States qualify for study under the Wilderness Act. 8 INTRODUCTION

Breton National Wildlife Refuge, administered as a satellite of the Delta-Gulf Islands National Wildlife Refuges Complex, includes a number of roadless islands that qualify as a wilderness study area. With headquarters off the refuge proper in Gretna, Louisiana, Breton includes the long chain of Chandeleur Islands and the Breton Island group in Louisiana. The refuge contains a total of 4,507 acres with ownership extending to the mean high water mark. These barrier islands are located about 15 miles offshore from the Mississippi River Delta and 25 miles from the Mississippi mainland. The islands are characterized by long stretches of beaches of fine white sand, crystal blue waters, and marshes that have not been altered by human encroachment or development. The undisturbed shorelines of these islands guarantee that many thousands of shorebirds will have a place to nest and rear their young and many waterfowl will have a place to spend the winter. The refuge further insures that the scenic and wild shore values, which have disappeared along a good portion of the Gulf Coast, will be preserved for future generations of people and wildlife.

HISTORY

The Mississippi Sound and River were extensively used by early explorers to the new world. Ponfilo de Narvaez, a Spanish explorer, is believed to have seen the river and sound in 1519. In 1539, Desoto explored from Pensacola Bay west to the delta of the Mississippi River and probably saw some of the refuge islands. Indian usage of the islands proper was apparently not very extensive and is believed to have been limited to short visits while they fished the waters of the Chandeleur Sound. Early literature on Breton and the Chandeleur Islands mentions trees and a much higher elevation than exist today. In 1915, Breton Island had several families and a school on it. Prior to the hurricane of that year, the island was evacuated. The hurricane destroyed the settlement and it was never rebuilt. President Theodore Roosevelt established Breton by Executive Order as the second National Wildlife Refuge in 1904. Other island refuges in the Gulf of Mexico include Petit Bois and Horn Island which were established in 1913 and 1958 respectively. BRETON ISLAND

DESCRIPTION

Breton and Chandeleur Islands are barrier landforms representative of the dynamic processes of continental accretion which has been in progress along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts since the Cretaceous Period. The chain of islands are generally low lying and subject to constant change from wave action, winds, and frequent storms. The force of these storms was well defined in August 1969 as Hurricane Camille ripped through the refuge causing a reduction in above mean high tide acreage from 9,432 acres to the current 4,507 acres. The refuge contains the two parts of Breton Island as well as the entire chain of the Chan- deleur Islands from Stake Island north to the Coast Guard lighthouse at the tip of the Chandeleurs. The U.S. Coast Guard still maintains the light although the lighthouse is no longer manned. The tract is administered as part of the refuge. These islands are never more than three-quarters of a mile wide and extend over a 48-mile arc. Elevations average about four feet above mean low water. The crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico bathe the endless miles of wild shores of sugar-white sand, contrasting sharply with the man-made beaches and oftentimes muddy waters near the mainland. On the Chandeleur Sound side, many of the islands are bounded by a maze of ponds, inlets, and marshes. The bay waters support good stands of turtle grass, shoalgrass, and many marine organisms. Low dunes parallel many of the Gulf beaches. The principal plant species on the islands are low-growing black mangrove and black rush. The Chandeleurs are the lowest lying within the study area and they are frequently awash during extremely high tides. The sea is constantly changing the shape and profile of these islands, producing new cuts and filling in old ones.

CHANDELEUR ISLAND CHAIN

10 ROYAL TERNS NEST ON THE REFUGE ISLANDS

SOOTY TERN

WILDLIFE

The wild shores of the Breton Refuge are distinctive for their teaming colonies of nesting shorebirds and wintering waterfowl. A variety of gulls, terns, egrets, and herons can be seen throughout the year, but are more abundant during the summer. Twenty-three different species of water and shorebirds are frequent users of the refuge and thirteen species nest on the various islands. The most abundant nesters are black skimmers, laughing gulls, and royal, Caspian, and Sandwich terns. Waterfowl winter near the refuge islands using the adjacent shallows, marshes, and sounds for feeding and for protection during inclement weather. Redheads and scaup account for the majority of use but many other species including goldeneyes, bufflehead, American widgeon, and black duck are also present during the winter. The American osprey and the Eastern brown pelican are sometimes seen within the refuge. These two species are of considerable concern because of their rapid decline in recent years. The Eastern brown pelican did, at one time, nest near the Chandeleurs; however, since 1960, when a small colony used an island just off the refuge, these birds have virtually disappeared from the Mississippi-Louisiana coast. The Chandeleurs could play an important part in the re-introduction of the pelican to this part of its former range. Other wildlife found on the refuge include nutria, rabbits, and raccoons. The undeveloped shores of these islands are also important to loggerhead sea turtles which annually return to the beaches to lay eggs. Developments along other beaches have reduced the nesting territory of the loggerhead making retention of Breton's beaches in a natural scale even more important to this species.

II BRETON WILDERNESS PROPOSAL PRELIMINARY-SUBJECT TO CHANGE 89 MO'

MARTIN ISLAND

^HOLMES ISLAND

BRETON NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE •tICOT ISLAND PLAQUEMINES AND ST. BERNARD PARISHES, LOUISIANA REFUGE BOUNDARY , REFUGE LANDS AND LAND SUITABLE 1 FOR WILDERNESS CONSIDERATION OTHER REFUGE LANDS

SEPTEMBER 1969, REVISED DECEMBER 1970 CURLEW N V 1

GRAND . COSIER ISLANDS

BRETON

ISLANDS

12 MANAGEMENT

Breton Refuge has been managed as a natural area since establishment. No developments are present on refuge land, except the Coast Guard lighthouse at the northern end of the Chandeleurs. Only periodic maintenance of the light is required. The refuge is managed primarily for use by nesting shorebirds and will continue to be preserved for this purpose. No developments are planned. Limited opportunity exists for recreational use on the refuge due to the isolation of the area. Day use of the beaches may be permitted during the late summer and early fall when shorebird nesting is complete. Hunting of waterfowl in season in the Chandeleur Sound may be possible if the area is retained in a natural condition. The retention of the lighthouse as a historical landmark is also planned.

13 BEACHCOMBING AND SURF FISHING ARE THE MAIN

RECREATIONAL USES

RELATIONSHIP TO SURROUNDING AREA

The Breton Refuge is a considerable distance from the mainland and access is difficult. Rough seas often prevail in the Chandeleur Sound making travel via small boat difficult. The closest launching sites for boats are in Gulfport, Mississippi, twenty-five miles away from the extreme northern tip of the Chandeleurs. North, Freemason, Grand Cosier, and Curlew Islands are adjacent to the refuge in Chandeleur Sound. These State-owned areas are not developed as of yet and for the most part they complement the management program within the refuge. A great many fishermen travel to the area by small planes. A Gulf Islands National Seashore now under consideration will bring civilization some- what closer to the refuge. Islands within the proposed Seashore would include Cat, Ship, Horn, and Petit Bois. The closest of these is Ship Island which is ten miles from the northern boundary of Breton Refuge. Approximately 21,250 acres are included in the Seashore proposal. Projected visits to the Seashore are estimated at 3.5 million during the fifth year after establishment. Retention of Breton Refuge in a wild state will become increasingly more important to the wildlife resources and also as an area where the scenic wild shore values are preserved in the northern Gulf Region. Little social or economic impact on the surrounding communities is expected if Breton Refuge is included in the National Wilderness Preservation System. Rather a wilderness area in close proximity to a National Seashore will enhance the value of the seashore itself. Oil exploration and production flourish in the Chandeleur Sound. Producing wells are located near the refuge islands and in the State-owned water bottoms. Northern Breton Island, which totals 86 acres above high mean tide, is the only refuge land under oil production lease, and this area is not included in the Breton Wilderness Proposal. The leasing of additional refuge lands for oil production is not in keeping with the primary objective of the refuge and will not be considered. 14 SUMMARY

The Breton Refuge embraces a number of barrier islands that contain valuable wildlife habitat and wild shore recreational values that soon will not be found elsewhere along the northern Gulf of Mexico. These islands constitute a wildlife habitat complex of undisturbed mangrove, natural beaches, marshes, and bays so vital to shorebirds, waterfowl, and sea turtles. The islands and the surrounding water areas are an intricate ecological system important to man, fish, birds, and other wildlife. Of the 4,507 acres included in the refuge, only the 86 acre northern Breton Island, which is under oil lease, does not appear to qualify for wilderness consideration. The main goal of the refuge has been the preservation and protection of natural condi- tions. No development has been carried out and none is planned. The primary goals will remain the same in the future. These goals will be strengthened by wilderness designation.

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INSPECTION

Anyone concerned about this proposal is urged to inspect personally the Breton Refuge. Additional information may be obtained from the Refuge Manager, Delta-Gulf Islands National Wildlife Refuge, 1216 Amelia Street, Gretna, Louisiana 70053, or the Regional Director, Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Peachtree-Seventh Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30323. o