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Land Protection Plan for the Establishment of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area

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Land Protection Plan for the Establishment of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area EVERGLADES HEADWATERS CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIP: Land Protection Plan for the Establishment of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area Polk, Osceola, Okeechobee, and Highlands Counties, Florida U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia January 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE ...............................................................................................1 A. Project Description .............................................................................................................. 3 Conservation Area Overview ..............................................................................................6 Refuge Overview .................................................................................................................6 B. Refuge Purposes, Vision, and Goals ..................................................................................7 II. RESOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 9 A. Resources To Be Protected ................................................................................................9 Habitat and Wildlife Resources ...........................................................................................9 Threats to the Resources ..................................................................................................14 B. Relationship of Project to Landscape Conservation Goals and Objectives ...................... 14 Peninsular Florida Landscape Conservation Cooperative ................................................ 15 Conservation and Mitigation Banks ...................................................................................15 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives .......................................... 16 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives .....................................................................17 C. Partnership Efforts/Related Resources .............................................................................22 Relationship to State Wildlife Agency ...............................................................................23 Relationship to Tribal Governments ..................................................................................24 III. LAND PROTECTION STRATEGY ............................................................................................25 A. Action and Objectives .......................................................................................................25 Land Protection Area ........................................................................................................25 Land Use/Land Cover .......................................................................................................25 B. Land Protection Priorities ..................................................................................................26 Tier I Group ....................................................................................................................... 26 Tier II Group ...................................................................................................................... 26 Tier III Group ..................................................................................................................... 27 C. Land Protection Options ....................................................................................................27 Option 1. Management or Land Protection by Others .....................................................27 Option 2. Less-than-Fee-Title Acquisition by the service ................................................28 Option 3. Fee Title Acquisition by the service ..................................................................28 D. Land Protection Methods ..................................................................................................29 Purchase ........................................................................................................................... 29 Leases and Cooperative Agreements ...............................................................................30 Donation ............................................................................................................................ 30 Mitigation and Conservation Banks ...................................................................................30 Exchange .......................................................................................................................... 30 E. Fish and Wildlife Service Land Acquisition Policy .............................................................30 Conservation Partnership Area .........................................................................................30 Conservation Focal Area ...................................................................................................31 F. Funding ............................................................................................................................. 31 Ownership, Acquisition Method, and Acquisition Costs .................................................... 31 Financial Strategy – Annual Operating and Maintenance, Staffing, and Refuge Operating Needs Projects .............................................................................32 Table of Contents i IV. COORDINATION ....................................................................................................................... 37 Public Scoping ........................................................................................................................... 37 Public Review and Comment ..................................................................................................... 39 V. SOCIOECONOMIC AND CULTURAL IMPACTS ......................................................................... 41 ATTACHMENT 1. PARCEL TABLE AND MAPS .............................................................................. 43 APPENDICES APPENDIX A. CONCEPTUAL MANAGEMENT PLAN .................................................................... 85 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 85 Purpose of Conceptual Management Plan ................................................................................. 85 Mission of the Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System ............................................... 86 Fish and Wildlife Service .................................................................................................. 86 National Wildlife Refuge System ....................................................................................... 86 Background and Rationale for the Establishment of Everglades Headwaters NWR ................. 88 Laws Guiding the National Wildlife Refuge System ................................................................... 89 National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 ............................................. 89 National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 ............................................ 89 Endangered Species Act of 1973 (as amended) .............................................................. 89 Migratory Bird Treaty Act .................................................................................................. 90 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 ....................................................................... 90 Land and Water Conservation Act .................................................................................... 90 Migratory Bird Conservation Act ....................................................................................... 90 Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 ............................................................ 90 National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 ....................................................................... 90 Purpose of Establishment and Land Acquisition Authority ......................................................... 90 Vision for the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area .......... 91 Goals of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area ............ 92 Goal 1. Functional Conservation Landscape ................................................................... 92 Goal 2. Habitat for Fish and Wildlife ................................................................................ 93 Goal 3. Enhanced Water Quality, Quantity, and Storage. ............................................... 96 Goal 4. Wildlife-dependent Recreation and Education .................................................... 96 Administration ............................................................................................................................ 98 Facilities ............................................................................................................................ 99 Funding ........................................................................................................................... 100 Staffing ............................................................................................................................ 100 Partnerships ............................................................................................................................
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