U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Susan Silander, Project Leader Comprehensive ConservationPlan Cabo RojoNationalWildlifeRefuge Joseph Schwagerl, Refuge Manager Cabo Rojo NWR P.O. Box 510 Boqueron, PR 00622 Phone 787/851 7258 CaboCabo RojoRojo Fax: 787/255 6725 National Wildlife Refuge E-mail: [email protected] National Wildlife Refuge U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1 800/344 WILD ComprehensiveComprehensive ConservationConservation PlanPlan http://www.fws.gov September 2011 Photo provided by Jim Abernethy’s Scuba Adventures Front Cover Photo Credits: Background - David Bocanegra/USFWS Long Cactus - Al Woodson/Volunteer Salt Mound - David Bocanegra/USFWS Refuge Sign - David Bocanegra/USFWS Round Small Cactus - David Bocanegra/USFWS Visitors at Trail - David Bocanegra/USFWS Black-necked Stilt Bird - Bryant Marcial/ USFWS Shorebirds - Michael Morel Yellow-shouldered Blackbird - José Colón Wilson Plover - Rafy Rodríguez Comprehensive Conservation Plans provide long-term guidance for management decisions; set forth goals, objectives, and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes; and identify the Fish and Wildlife Service’s best estimate of future needs. These plans detail program planning levels that are sometimes substantially above current budget allocations and, as such, are primarily for Service strategic planning and program prioritization purposes. The plans do not constitute a commitment for staffing increases, operational and maintenance increases, or funding for future land acquisition. Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region September 2011 Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT CABO ROJO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia September 2011 Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge TABLE OF CONTENTS COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 1 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 .............................................................................................................. 3 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..................................................... 4 Relationship To State Wildlife Agency ..........................................................................................6 II. REFUGE OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 7 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 7 Special Designations .................................................................................................................... 8 Ecosystem Context .....................................................................................................................11 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................12 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 12 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 12 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 12 Hurricanes ......................................................................................................................... 13 Geology and Topography ..................................................................................................13 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 14 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................... 25 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 27 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 27 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 39 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 39 Refuge Administration and Management ...................................................................................39 Land Protection and Conservation ....................................................................................39 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 40 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance .........................................................................40 III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................. 41 Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities .....................................................................41 IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ........................................................................................................ 45 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 45 Vision .......................................................................................................................................... 45 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 45 Fish and Wildlife Population Management ........................................................................46 Habitat Management .........................................................................................................50 Resource Protection ..........................................................................................................53 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 55 Refuge Administration .......................................................................................................58 Climate Change ................................................................................................................ 61 Table of Contents i V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................................................ 63 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 63 Proposed Projects ...................................................................................................................... 63 Funding and Personnel .............................................................................................................. 67 Partnership/Volunteer Opportunities .......................................................................................... 69 Step-Down Management Plans .................................................................................................. 70 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ....................................................................................... 70 Plan Review and Revision.......................................................................................................... 70 APPENDICES APPENDIX A. GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................ 71 APPENDIX B. REFERENCES AND LITERATURE CITATIONS ...................................................... 81 APPENDIX C. RELEVANT LEGAL MANDATES AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS ............................... 87 APPENDIX D. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ......................................................................................... 101 Summary Of Public Scoping .................................................................................................... 101 APPENDIX E. APPROPRIATE USE DETERMINATIONS .............................................................. 109 APPENDIX F. COMPATIBILITY DETERMINATIONS ..................................................................... 121 APPENDIX G. INTRA-SERVICE SECTION 7 BIOLOGICAL EVALUATION .................................. 139 APPENDIX H. WILDERNESS REVIEW ..........................................................................................