U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex 4009 Hill Road Tulelake, CA 96134 530/667-2231 Fax 530/667-8337 Klamath Marsh http://www.fws.gov/klamathbasinrefuges Oregon Telecommunications Relay Service National Wildlife Refuge Voice: 1 800/735-1232 TTY: 1 800/735-2900 Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan U.S. Fish & Willdife Service 1 800/344-WILD and Environmental Assessment http://www.fws.gov June 2010 June 2010 Klamath CCP Cover 2.indd 1 7/9/2010 4:11:22 PM Disclaimer CCPs provide long term guidance for management decisions and set forth goals, objectives, and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes and identify the 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. Klamath CCP Cover 2.indd 2 7/9/2010 4:11:22 PM Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment Prepared By: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Southwest Region Refuge Planning 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832 Sacramento, CA 95825 and Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex 4009 Hill Road Tulelake, CA 96134 June 2010 Contents Chapter 1. Introduction, Purpose and Need, and Planning Background.. 1 1.1 Introduction . 1 1.2 Need for this CCP . .1 1.3 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System. .3 1.3.1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) . .3 1.3.2 The National Wildlife Refuge System. 3 1.3.3 Legal and Policy Guidance. .3 1.4 Refuge Purposes and History of Establishment. 4 1.4.1 Refuge Purposes. .4 1.4.2 Regional History and Development . .4 1.4.3 Refuge Establishment and Land Acquisition . .6 1.4.4 Refuge Development. 7 1.5 Refuge Vision and Goals. 8 1.5.1 Refuge Vision Statement . .11 1.5.2 Refuge Goals. 11 1.6 Existing Partnerships. .12 Chapter 2. Comprehensive Conservation Plan Process. 13 2.1 Overview of the Process.. .13 2.2 Klamath Marsh NWR Planning Process . .13 2.2.1 The Planning Team. 13 2.2.2 Pre-Planning. 14 2.2.3 Public Involvement in Planning. 14 2.2.4 Public Outreach. .15 2.2.5 Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities . .15 2.2.6 Development of the Refuge Vision . .26 2.2.7 Determining the Refuge Goals, Objectives, and Strategies . 27 2.2.8 Development of the Refuge Management Alternatives. 27 2.2.9 Public Review of the Draft CCP/EA. 28 2.2.10 Selection of an Alternative for Implementation . 28 Chapter 3. Summary of Refuge Resources and Environment.. 29 3.1 Physical Environment. .29 3.1.1 Geographic/Ecosystem Setting. 29 3.1.2 Climate . 29 3.1.3 Air Quality. .30 3.1.4 Hydrology, Water Rights, & Water Quality. 31 3.1.5 Climate Change and Water Resources. 36 Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan June 2010 i 3.1.6 Geomorphology and Geology. 37 3.1.7 Soils. .38 3.1.8 Environmental Contaminants. .39 3.2 Vegetation and Habitat Resources. .40 3.2.1 Overview of Klamath Marsh Habitat Changes .. 40 3.2.2 Vegetation Mapping.. .42 3.2.3 Vegetation Communities. .45 3.3 Natural and Current Role of Fire. .51 3.3.1 Pre-Refuge Fire History . .51 3.3.2 Refuge Era Fire Management. .54 3.4 Fisheries . 55 3.5 Migratory Birds. 55 3.5.1 Waterfowl.. 56 3.5.2 Other Migratory Birds .. 58 3.6 Mammals. 66 3.7 Reptiles and Amphibians . 67 3.7.1 Amphibians . .67 3.7.2 Reptiles.. .67 3.8 Invertebrates . 67 3.8.1 Clearwinged Grasshopper.. 67 3.8.2 Mosquitoes.. .70 3.9 Federal Candidate Threatened and Endangered Species and Species of Concern . 70 3.9.1 Oregon Spotted Frog .. 71 3.9.2 Fisher.. .75 3.10 State Listed Species . 76 3.11 Invasive Species . .76 3.11.1 Invasive Plants. .76 3.11.2 Invasive Fish and Amphibians .. 76 3.11.3 Invasive Invertebrates.. .77 3.12 Wildlife Diseases. .77 3.12.1 Avian Botulism . .77 3.12.2 Avian Cholera. .77 3.12.3 West Nile Virus . .78 3.12.4 Avian Influenza. 78 3.13 Special Management Areas. .78 3.13.1 Important Bird Area. 78 3.13.2 Wilderness Status.. .79 3.13.3 Historical Significance trails/sites. .79 3.13.4 Blue Jay Research Natural Area.. 79 3.14 Visitor Services. .79 3.14.1 Public Access.. .80 ii June 2010 Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan 3.14.2 Wildlife-Dependent Recreation. .80 3.15 Cultural Resources . .82 3.15.1 Cultural Resources Defined. .82 3.15.2 Native American Cultural History and Landscape . .83 3.15.3 European-American Cultural History . 84 3.16 Tribal Subsistence Rights. 85 3.17 Reserved Rights and Privately Owned Mineral Estates . 87 3.18 Socioeconomics. .88 3.18.1 Socioeconomic Setting.. .88 3.18.2 Environmental Justice.. .88 3.18.3 Land Use.. 88 3.18.4 Refuge Management Economics. 89 3.18.5 Area Recreation Sector. 89 3.18.6 Agricultural Sector.. 89 3.19 Historic and Current Management and Monitoring Practices . .89 3.19.1 Water Management. 90 3.19.2 Fire Management . .98 3.19.3 Invasive Species Management. .99 3.19.4 Biological Monitoring and Surveys. 101 3.19.5 Forest Management. .103 3.19.6 Refuge Management Economic Activities. 106 Chapter 4. Management Direction.. 119 4.1 Introduction.. 119 4.2 Definitions of eyK Terms.. .119 4.3 Organization.. 120 4.4 Summary of Proposed Action. .120 4.5 Refuge Goals, Objectives, and Strategies. .123 Chapter 5. Implementation and Monitoring.. ..