Comprehensive Conservation Plan Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex South Dakota December 2012 Approved by Noreen Walsh, Regional Director Date U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6 Lakewood, Colorado Prepared by Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex 38672 291st Street Lake Andes, South Dakota 57356 605 /487 7603 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6, Mountain–Prairie Region Division of Refuge Planning 134 Union Boulevard, Suite 300 Lakewood, Colorado 80228 303 /236 8145 CITATION for this document: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2012. Comprehensive Conservation Plan, Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex, South Dakota. Lakewood, CO: U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 218 p. Comprehensive Conservation Plan Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex South Dakota Submitted by Concurred with by Michael J. Bryant Date Bernie Peterson. Date Project Leader Refuge Supervisor, Region 6 Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lake Andes, South Dakota Lakewood, Colorado Matt Hogan Date Assistant Regional Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6 National Wildlife Refuge System Lakewood, Colorado Contents Summary ....................................................................................................................................... XI Abbreviations .................................................................................................................................. XVII CHAPTER 1–Introduction ...................................................................... 1 1.1 Purpose and Need for the Plan ............................................................. 1 1.2 North American Model of Wildlife Conservation ............................................. 3 1.3 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Refuge System..................................... 4 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ................................................................... 4 Service Activities in South Dakota ................................................................ 4 National Wildlife Refuge System ................................................................ 5 People and the Refuge System................................................................... 5 1.4 National and Regional Mandates .......................................................... 6 1.5 Refuge Contributions to National and Regional Plans ......................................... 6 Fulfilling the Promise .......................................................................... 6 Bird Conservation ............................................................................ 6 Recovery Plans for Federally Listed Threatened or Endangered Species ..................................... 8 State Comprehensive Conservation Wildlife Strategy .................................................. 8 1.6 Strategic Habitat Conservation ............................................................. 9 A Broader Vision ............................................................................. 9 Climate Change ............................................................................. 10 1.7 Planning Process ......................................................................... 10 Public involvement ........................................................................... 11 State Coordination ........................................................................... 11 Tribal Coordination ........................................................................... 11 Results of Scoping ........................................................................... 11 Draft Plan .................................................................................. 13 Final Plan .................................................................................. 13 CHAPTER 2–The Refuge Complex.............................................................. 15 2.1 Establishment, Acquisition, Management History, and Use .................................... 15 Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge .............................................................. 15 Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge ............................................................ 15 Lake Andes Wetland Management District .......................................................... 18 2.2 Special Values of the Refuge Complex ...................................................... 18 2.3 Purposes ................................................................................ 18 Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge .............................................................. 27 Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge ............................................................ 27 Lake Andes Wetland Management District .......................................................... 27 2.4 Visions .................................................................................. 27 Vision Statement for the Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge ........................................... 27 Vision Statement for the Karl E. Mundt National Wildlife Refuge.......................................... 27 Vision Statement for the Lake Andes Wetland Management District ....................................... 28 VI Comprehensive Conservation Plan, Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge Complex, South Dakota 2.5 Goals ................................................................................... 28 Wetland Habitat Goal ........................................................................ 28 Riparian Habitat Goal ........................................................................ 28 Upland Habitat Goal ......................................................................... 28 Visitor Services Goal ......................................................................... 28 Operations Goal ............................................................................ 28 2.6 Planning Issues ......................................................................... 28 Lake Andes Water Quality and Fishery ............................................................ 28 Invasive Plant Control ........................................................................ 29 Monitoring and Research...................................................................... 29 Prairie Restoration .......................................................................... 29 Public Access and Opportunities for Wildlife-Dependent Recreation. 29 Money, Infrastructure, and Partnerships ........................................................... 29 CHAPTER 3–Refuge Complex Resources and Description ..................................... 31 3.1 Physical Environment .................................................................... 31 Geology and Topography ...................................................................... 31 Soils..................................................................................... 32 Climate. 32 3.2 Water Resources ........................................................................ 32 Surface Water ............................................................................. 32 Ground water .............................................................................. 33 Wetlands ................................................................................. 33 Water Rights .............................................................................. 33 3.3 Vegetation Communities .................................................................. 33 Wetlands and Associated Vegetation Communities................................................... 33 Uplands and Associated Vegetation Communities .................................................... 38 Riparian Areas and Associated Vegetation Communities ............................................... 40 3.4 Wildlife................................................................................. 40 Mammals ................................................................................. 40 Birds .................................................................................... 41 Fish ..................................................................................... 41 Threatened and Endangered Species ............................................................. 41 3.5 Visitor Services ......................................................................... 41 Hunting .................................................................................. 41 Fishing ................................................................................... 41 Environmental Education and Interpretation ........................................................ 42 Wildlife Observation and Photography ............................................................ 42 3.6 Socioeconomics ......................................................................... 42 3.7 Operations .............................................................................. 42 Infrastructure and Staff ....................................................................... 43 Cultural Resources .......................................................................... 43 Partnerships ............................................................................... 46 Law Enforcement ........................................................................... 46 Fire and Grazing History and Management ......................................................... 46 CHAPTER 4–Management Direction