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Culebra National Wildlife Refuge Culebra, Puerto Rico

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Culebra National Wildlife Refuge Culebra, Puerto Rico Culebra National Wildlife Refuge Culebra, Puerto Rico DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia May 2012 Culebra National Wildlife Refuge TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A. DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN 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 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 9 Refuge History and Purpose ...............................................................................................9 Special Designations ...........................................................................................................9 Ecosystem Context ...........................................................................................................12 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives .....................................................................12 Ecological Threats and Problems .....................................................................................13 Climate Change ................................................................................................................ 16 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 16 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 16 Geology and Topography ..................................................................................................17 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 18 Hydrology and Water Resources ......................................................................................20 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 22 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 22 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 28 Birds ........................................................................................................................................... 28 Land Birds ......................................................................................................................... 28 Wading Birds, Shorebirds, and Marsh Birds .....................................................................28 Waterfowl .......................................................................................................................... 29 Seabirds ............................................................................................................................ 29 Reptiles and Amphibians ............................................................................................................ 29 Mammals .................................................................................................................................... 29 Endangered Species .........................................................................................................30 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 33 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 34 Population ......................................................................................................................... 34 Political Setting ..................................................................................................................35 III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................. 37 Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities .....................................................................37 Fish and Wildlife Population Management ........................................................................38 Habitat Management .........................................................................................................38 Resource Protection ..........................................................................................................38 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 38 Refuge Administration .......................................................................................................38 Wilderness Review ..................................................................................................................... 39 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 41 Table of Contents i Vision ......................................................................................................................................... 43 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 43 Fish and Wildlife Population Management........................................................................ 43 Habitat Management......................................................................................................... 46 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 48 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 49 V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................................................ 55 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 55 Proposed Projects ...................................................................................................................... 55 Fish And Wildlife Population Management ....................................................................... 55 Partnership/Volunteer Opportunities .......................................................................................... 61 Step-Down Management Plans .................................................................................................. 61 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ....................................................................................... 62 Plan Review and Revision.......................................................................................................... 62 SECTION B. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT I. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................... 63 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 63 Purpose and Need for Action ............................................................................................ 63 Decision Framework ......................................................................................................... 64 Planning Study Area ......................................................................................................... 64 Authority, Legal Compliance, and Compatibility ............................................................... 64 Compatibility ..................................................................................................................... 64 Public Involvement and the Planning Process ........................................................................... 65 III. DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................. 69 Formulation of Alternatives......................................................................................................... 69 Description of Alternatives.......................................................................................................... 69 Alternative A - (Current Management - No Action) ........................................................... 69 Alternative B - Wildlife
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