Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region September 2007 COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN POCOSIN LAKES NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia 30345 November 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 1 I. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Need For The Plan .................................................................................................. 1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ...................................................................................................... 2 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................. 2 Legal Policy Context ..................................................................................................................... 3 National Conservation Plans and Initiatives .................................................................................3 Relationship To State Partners .....................................................................................................4 II. REFUGE OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 5 Location ............................................................................................................................... 5 Establishment ......................................................................................................................5 Refuge History and Purposes .......................................................................................................5 History ................................................................................................................................. 5 Purposes ............................................................................................................................. 7 Special Designations .................................................................................................................... 8 Ecosystem Context ....................................................................................................................... 9 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ................................................................................9 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 11 Forest and Fragmentation .................................................................................................11 Alterations To Hydrology ...................................................................................................13 Siltation of Aquatic Ecosystems ........................................................................................14 Proliferation of Invasive Aquatic Plants .............................................................................14 Conservation Priorities ......................................................................................................14 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 16 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 16 Geology ............................................................................................................................. 16 Subsurface Resources ......................................................................................................17 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 17 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................... 21 Water Quality .................................................................................................................... 22 Air Quality ..........................................................................................................................22 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 25 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 25 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 36 Invasive and/or Exotic Species .........................................................................................43 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 44 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 44 History of the Area ............................................................................................................ 44 Land Use in the Area ........................................................................................................46 Demographics In The Area ...............................................................................................47 Employment In The Area ..................................................................................................51 Forestry In The Area .........................................................................................................53 Comprehensive Conservation Plan i Outdoor Recreation In The Area ....................................................................................... 54 Outdoor Recreation Economics ........................................................................................ 54 Tourism In The Area ......................................................................................................... 55 Transportation ................................................................................................................... 56 Cultural Environment ........................................................................................................ 56 Refuge Administration and Management ................................................................................... 57 Land Protection and Conservation ................................................................................... 57 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance ........................................................................ 63 III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................. 65 Public Involvement and the Planning Process ........................................................................... 65 Summary Of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities .................................................................... 66 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................... 66 Fish and Wildlife Populations ............................................................................................ 66 Habitats ............................................................................................................................. 67 Wilderness Review ........................................................................................................... 68 Public Use ......................................................................................................................... 68 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 69 IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ........................................................................................................ 71 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 71 Vision ......................................................................................................................................... 71 Goals .......................................................................................................................................... 72 Objectives and Strategies .......................................................................................................... 72 Fish and Wildlife Populations ............................................................................................ 72 Habitat Management......................................................................................................... 76 Public Use ......................................................................................................................... 82