LAKE WOODRUFF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia April 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A. DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN CHAPTER I. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Need for the Plan .................................................................................................... 1 Fish and Wildlife Service .............................................................................................................. 3 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................. 3 Legal and Policy Context .............................................................................................................. 5 Legal Mandates, Administrative and Policy Guidelines, and Other Special Considerations .............................................................................................5 Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health Policy ......................................... 6 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..................................................... 6 North American Bird Conservation Initiative .......................................................................6 North American Waterfowl Management Plan ....................................................................6 Partners-in-Flight Bird Conservation Plan ...........................................................................7 U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan ......................................................................................7 North American Waterbird Conservation Plan ....................................................................7 Relationship To State Wildlife Agency ..........................................................................................7 CHAPTER II. REFUGE OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................... 9 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 9 Refuge History and Purposes .......................................................................................................9 Special Designations .................................................................................................................. 11 Research Natural Area ......................................................................................................11 Wilderness Area ................................................................................................................ 13 American Heritage River ...................................................................................................13 Ecosystem Context .....................................................................................................................13 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................16 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 16 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 18 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 18 Geology and Topography ..................................................................................................20 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 23 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 23 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 30 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 41 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 42 Demographics ................................................................................................................... 42 Refuge Administration and Management ...................................................................................43 Resource Protection ..........................................................................................................43 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 46 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance .........................................................................50 Table of Contents i CHAPTER III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................ 53 Overview .................................................................................................................................... 53 Public Involvement and Planning Process ................................................................................. 53 Scoping of Issues and Concerns ................................................................................................ 54 Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 54 Wildlife and Habitat Management ..................................................................................... 54 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 57 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 57 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 58 CHAPTER IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ...................................................................................... 59 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 59 Vision ......................................................................................................................................... 59 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 59 Wildlife and Habitat Management ..................................................................................... 60 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 95 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 99 Refuge Administration .................................................................................................... 108 CHAPTER V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ......................................................................................... 113 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 113 Proposed Projects .................................................................................................................... 113 Wildlife and Habitat Management ................................................................................... 113 Resource Protection ....................................................................................................... 116 Visitor Services ............................................................................................................... 117 Funding and Personnel ............................................................................................................ 118 Partnership/Volunteers Opportunities ...................................................................................... 121 Step-down Management Plans ................................................................................................ 121 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ..................................................................................... 122 Plan Review and Revision........................................................................................................ 122 Section B. Environmental Assessment CHAPTER I. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................ 123 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 123 Purpose and Need for Action ................................................................................................... 124 Decision Framework................................................................................................................. 124 Planning Study Area ...............................................................................................................