DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT NORTH MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPLEX GRENADA, MISSISSIPPI U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Regional Office 1875 Century Boulevard Atlanta, Georgia 30345 May 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A. DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN I. Background...............................................................................................................................1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Need for Plan .................................................................................................1 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ......................................................................................2 The National Wildlife Refuge System ..................................................................................2 North Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge Complex Comprehensive Conservation Plan ..4 Legal Policy Context............................................................................................................4 Relationship to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks .....................5 Assistance to Private Landowners ......................................................................................5 Lower Mississippi River Valley Ecosystem..........................................................................7 Overview ....................................................................................................................7 Ecological Threats and Problems ..............................................................................7 Conservation Priorities and Initiatives ......................................................................11 II. The Complex..........................................................................................................................15 Introduction and History.....................................................................................................15 Purpose and Ecosystem Context ......................................................................................15 Wintering Habitat for Waterfowl ...............................................................................15 Habitat for Forest-Dependent Birds .........................................................................20 Scrub-Shrub Habitat.................................................................................................22 Grassland Habitat ....................................................................................................23 Habitat for Migrating Shorebirds ..............................................................................24 Habitat for Marshbirds and Colonial Waterbirds/Wading Birds ................................25 Monitoring Raptors...................................................................................................25 Replicating Historic Forest Conditions .....................................................................25 Legal Policy .......................................................................................................................26 Resource and Management Descriptions .........................................................................26 Coldwater River National Wildlife Refuge ................................................................26 Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge ..........................................................................28 Tallahatchie National Wildlife Refuge ......................................................................28 Climate .....................................................................................................................28 Physiography, Geography, and Soils.......................................................................31 Hydrology .................................................................................................................31 Water Quality ...........................................................................................................32 Flora.........................................................................................................................33 Fauna.......................................................................................................................34 Threatened and Endangered Species .....................................................................36 Cultural Resources...................................................................................................37 Recreation and Visitor Services ...............................................................................39 Socioeconomic Environment .............................................................................................40 Outdoor Recreation Economics ...............................................................................41 Tourism ....................................................................................................................41 III. Plan Development.................................................................................................................45 i Overview............................................................................................................................45 Planning Process and Public Involvement ........................................................................45 Issues and Current Conditions ..........................................................................................47 Fish and Wildlife Populations ...................................................................................48 Habitats....................................................................................................................52 Ecological Integrity ...................................................................................................55 Recreation and Visitor Services ...............................................................................56 Cultural Resources Management.............................................................................59 Private Lands and Forest Fragmentation.................................................................60 General Administration.............................................................................................60 IV. Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan .............................................................................63 Introduction........................................................................................................................63 Vision.................................................................................................................................63 Comprehensive Conservation Plan ...................................................................................64 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies............................................................................64 V. Plan Implementation............................................................................................................111 Funding............................................................................................................................111 Refuge Operating Needs – Tier 1 (Highest Priority)........................................................111 Future Staffing Requirements..........................................................................................117 Step-down Management Plans .......................................................................................120 Monitoring and Evaluation ...............................................................................................120 Plan Review and Revision...............................................................................................120 Partnership Opportunities................................................................................................120 SECTION B. DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT I. Background...........................................................................................................................123 Purpose and Need for Action ..........................................................................................123 Decision Framework........................................................................................................125 Planning Study Area........................................................................................................125 Authority, Legal Compliance, and Compatibility ..............................................................126 The Planning Process and Associated Issues ................................................................126 Issues and Concerns.......................................................................................................127 II. Affected Environment...........................................................................................................129 Coldwater River National Wildlife Refuge........................................................................129 Dahomey National Wildlife Refuge..................................................................................130 Tallahatchie National Wildlife Refuge..............................................................................130 Lower Mississippi River Alluvial Valley............................................................................131