Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge ---.. Habitat Management Plan f 6/ji( ~ (1) Refuge Manager 421/z-rDate (2) Refuge£U~~Supervisor II()rfosDa e Mountain LongleafNWR Area 2 .~ C /t;; ~/~7dO.J A. z /7!~/iJ5 (3) ResourceManagement Date (41 a3ef - Divisionof Refuges ~ Southeast Region FJ.SR&~ SERVICE ~ -w . November 2005 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1 1.1 Planning Process-----------------------------------------------------------------------1 1.2 Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge-------------------------------------2 1.3 Refuge Vision--------------------------------------------------------------------------2 1.4 Longleaf Pine Restoration------------------------------------------------------------3 1.5 Habitat Management Plan------------------------------------------------------------5 2.0 Environmental Setting and Background-------------------------------------------------6 2.1 Location---------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 2.2 Management Units---------------------------------------------------------------------6 2.3 Physical Features-----------------------------------------------------------------------6 2.3.1 Geology ------------------------------------------------------------------------------6 2.3.2 Topography ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 2.3.3 Hydrology ---------------------------------------------------------------------------7 2.3.4 Soils ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------8 2.4 History of Refuge Lands--------------------------------------------------------------9 2.4.1 Prehistoric Land Use -------------------------------------------------------------10 2.4.2 Historic Land Use -----------------------------------------------------------------10 2.4.3 Fort McClellan ---------------------------------------------------------------------11 2.5 Regional Biological Features -------------------------------------------------------15 2.5.1 Physiographic Description--------------------------------------------------------15 2.5.2 Landscape and Local Connections-----------------------------------------------16 2.5.3 Biological Diversity----------------------------------------------------------------17 2.5.4 Habitat Fragmentation-------------------------------------------------------------18 2.5.5 Mountain Longleaf Pine Forest Region-----------------------------------------19 3.0 Resources of Concern -----------------------------------------------------------------------23 3.1 Refuge Natural Communities-------------------------------------------------------23 3.1.1 Upland Pine Forest Community -------------------------------------------------24 3.1.2 Upland Hardwood Forest Community ------------------------------------------31 3.1.3 Lowland Hardwood Forest Community ----------------------------------------32 3.1.4 Virginia Pine Community---------------------------------------------------------33 3.1.5 Hardwood Seep Community------------------------------------------------------34 3.1.6 Loblolly Pine-Disturbed Community--------------------------------------------36 3.2 Wildlife --------------------------------------------------------------------------------37 3.2.1 Reptiles and Amphibians----------------------------------------------------------37 3.2.2 Birds----------------------------------------------------------------------------------38 3.2.3 Mammals ---------------------------------------------------------------------------40 3.3 Endangered, Threatened and Rare Species----------------------------------------42 3.3.1 Federally Listed Species ----------------------------------------------------------42 3.3.2 Rare and Uncommon Species ---------------------------------------------------45 3.3.3 Significant Biological Areas------------------------------------------------------45 4.0 Habitat Management Goals----------------------------------------------------------------51 5.0 Habitat Management Strategies and Objectives---------------------------------------54 6.0 Management Strategy Resources and Constraints------------------------------------84 6.1 Necessary Resources-----------------------------------------------------------------84 6.2 Management Constraints------------------------------------------------------------84 6.3 Regulatory Compliance -------------------------------------------------------------85 7.0 Literature Cited------------------------------------------------------------------------------86 List of Tables Table 1 – Longleaf Pine Old-Growth Stands -------------------------------------------------96 Table 2 – High Quality Longleaf Pine Forests------------------------------------------------97 Table 3 – Plant Occurrence in Old-Growth Longleaf Pine Stands-------------------------98 Table 4 – Plant Indicators of Pristine Longleaf Pine Forest-------------------------------102 Table 5 – Longleaf Pine Stand Characteristics----------------------------------------------104 Table 6 – Potential Reptiles and Amphibians-----------------------------------------------108 Table 7 – Documented Reptiles and Amphibians------------------------------------------ 113 Table 8 – Potential Breeding Neotropical Migrant Songbirds---------------------------- 116 Table 9 – Breeding Bird Survey Results Large Forest Tracts-----------------------------119 Table 10 – Mammals Suspected or Documented------------------------------------------- 121 Table 11 – Rare and Uncommon Biota-------------------------------------------------------125 Table 12 – Significant Biological Areas------------------------------------------------------128 Table 13 – Management Strategy Costs------------------------------------------------------129 Table 14 – Schedule and Accomplishment Targets-----------------------------------------131 List of Figures Figure 1 – Refuge Location--------------------------------------------------------------------134 Figure 2 – Refuge Elevations------------------------------------------------------------------135 Figure 3 – Refuge Watersheds-----------------------------------------------------------------136 Figure 4 – Refuge Soils-------------------------------------------------------------------------137 Figure 5 – Reclaimed Borrow Pits------------------------------------------------------------138 Figure 6 – Refuge Management Access------------------------------------------------------139 Figure 7 – Mountain Longleaf Pine Distribution--------------------------------------------140 Figure 8 – General Longleaf Pine Stand Locations-----------------------------------------141 Figure 9 – Significant Biological Areas------------------------------------------------------142 Figure 10 – Prescribed Burn Units------------------------------------------------------------143 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Planning Process Habitat Management Plans (HMP) are dynamic working documents that provide refuge managers a decision making process; guidance for the management of refuge habitat; and long-term vision, continuity, and consistency for habitat management on refuge lands. Each plan incorporates the role of refuge habitat in international, national, regional, tribal, State, ecosystem, and refuge goals and objectives; guides analysis and selection of specific habitat management strategies to achieve those habitat goals and objectives; and utilizes key data, scientific literature, expert opinion, and staff expertise. The statutory authority for conducting habitat management planning on National Wildlife Refuges is derived from the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (Refuge Administration Act), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 1997 (Refuge Improvement Act), 16 U.S.C. 668dd - 668ee. Section 4(a)(3) of the Refuge Improvement Act states: "With respect to the System, it is the policy of the United States that -- (A) each refuge shall be managed to fulfill the mission of the System, as well as the specific purposes for which that refuge was established ..." and Section 4(a)(4) states: "In administering the System, the Secretary shall monitor the status and trends of fish, wildlife, and plants in each refuge." The Refuge Improvement Act provides the Service the authority to establish policies, regulations, and guidelines governing habitat management planning within the System. An HMP is a step-down management plan of the Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP). The CCP describes the desired future conditions of a refuge or planning unit and provides long-range guidance and management direction to achieve the purpose(s) of the refuge; helps fulfill the mission of the System; maintains and, where appropriate, restores the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of each refuge and the System; helps achieve the goals of the National Wilderness Preservation System, if appropriate; and meets other mandates. A CCP has not been accomplished on Mountain Longleaf National Wildlife Refuge and will not be complete for several years. At the time of CCP preparation, the HMP will be reexamined and appropriate information will be incorporated into the CCP. HMPs comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies governing the management of National Wildlife Refuge System. The lifespan of an HMP is 15 years and parallels that of refuge CCPs. HMPs are reviewed every 5 years utilizing peer review recommendations, as appropriate, in the HMP revision process or when