Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region November 2008 Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge ARCHIE CARR NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN Brevard and Indian River Counties, Florida U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia November 2008 Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge TABLE OF CONTENTS COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN .......................................................................................1 I. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Need for the Plan .................................................................................................... 9 Fish and Wildlife Service .............................................................................................................. 9 National Wildlife Refuge System ................................................................................................ 10 Legal and Policy Context ............................................................................................................ 12 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives ................................................... 13 Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative ............................................................13 North American Bird Conservation Initiative .....................................................................13 North American Waterfowl Management Plan ..................................................................13 Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan .........................................................................14 U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan ....................................................................................14 Northern American Waterbird Conservation Plan .............................................................14 NOAA’s Marine Debris Removal Program ........................................................................14 Relationship to State Wildlife Agency ......................................................................................... 15 II. REFUGE OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................................... 17 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 17 Refuge History and Purposes .....................................................................................................17 Special Designations .................................................................................................................. 18 Candidate Marine Protected Area .....................................................................................18 Coastal Barrier Resources System ...................................................................................18 Ecosystem Context .....................................................................................................................19 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................21 Recovery Plans ................................................................................................................. 21 State Wildlife Action Plan ..................................................................................................21 Surface Water Improvement and Management Plan ........................................................23 National Estuary Program .................................................................................................23 Save Our Coasts Program ................................................................................................23 Florida Natural Areas Inventory ........................................................................................23 Preservation 2000 ............................................................................................................. 24 Florida Forever Program ...................................................................................................24 Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program ........................................ 24 Indian River County Environmental Lands Program ......................................................... 24 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 25 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 25 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 25 Geology and Topography ..................................................................................................26 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 26 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................... 26 Air Quality ..........................................................................................................................27 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 27 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 27 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 39 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 52 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 52 Table of Contents i Refuge Administration and Management ................................................................................... 55 Land Protection and Conservation ................................................................................... 55 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 61 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance......................................................................... 68 III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................. 69 Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities ..................................................................... 69 Wildlife and Habitat Management ..................................................................................... 71 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 71 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 71 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 72 Wilderness Review ..................................................................................................................... 72 Public Review and Comment ..................................................................................................... 72 IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ....................................................................................................... 73 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 73 Vision ......................................................................................................................................... 73 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 74 Wildlife and Habitat Management ..................................................................................... 74 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 88 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 97 Refuge Administration .................................................................................................... 106 V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION .......................................................................................................... 109 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 109 Proposed Projects .................................................................................................................... 109 Wildlife and Habitat Management ................................................................................... 109 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................