Ernest F. Hollings Ace Basin National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region September 2009 Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN ERNEST F. HOLLINGS ACE BASIN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Beaufort, Charleston, Colleton, and Hampton Counties, South Carolina U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia September 2009 Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge TABLE OF CONTENTS COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN I. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Need for the Plan .................................................................................................... 1 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ...................................................................................................... 1 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................. 2 Legal and Policy Context .............................................................................................................. 4 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..................................................... 5 Relationship to State Wildlife Agency ........................................................................................... 6 II. REFUGE OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... 9 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 9 Refuge History and Purpose ........................................................................................................ 9 Special Designations .................................................................................................................. 12 Ecosystem Context ..................................................................................................................... 13 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives .............................................................................. 14 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 14 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 14 Geology and Topography .................................................................................................. 15 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 15 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................... 15 Air Quality .......................................................................................................................... 16 Water Quality and Quanity ................................................................................................ 16 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 16 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 16 Wildlife - Threatened and Endangered Species ................................................................ 18 Waterfowl .......................................................................................................................... 19 Wading Birds and Shorebirds ........................................................................................... 19 Landbirds .......................................................................................................................... 19 Mammals ........................................................................................................................... 22 Reptiles and Amphibians .................................................................................................. 22 Fish ................................................................................................................................... 23 Nuisance Wildlife ............................................................................................................... 24 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 24 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 25 Fishing ............................................................................................................................... 29 Hunting .............................................................................................................................. 30 Wildlife Watching Activities ............................................................................................... 30 Refuge Administration and Management ................................................................................... 31 Land Protection and Conservation .................................................................................... 31 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 32 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance ......................................................................... 32 III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................................. 33 Public Involvement and the Planning Process ........................................................................... 33 Table of Contents i Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities ..................................................................... 33 Wildlife and Habitat Management ..................................................................................... 34 Resource Protection .......................................................................................................... 34 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 35 Refuge Administration ....................................................................................................... 35 Wilderness Review ..................................................................................................................... 35 IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ........................................................................................................ 37 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 37 Vision .......................................................................................................................................... 38 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 38 Wildlife and Habitat Management ..................................................................................... 39 Resource Protection .......................................................................................................... 62 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 63 Refuge Administration ....................................................................................................... 68 V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................................................ 73 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 73 Proposed Projects ...................................................................................................................... 73 Fish and Wildlife Population Management ........................................................................ 73 Habitat Management ......................................................................................................... 74 Resource Protection .......................................................................................................... 74 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 74 Refuge Administration ....................................................................................................... 75 Funding and Personnel .............................................................................................................. 75 Partnership and Volunteer Opportunities ................................................................................... 79 Step-down Management Plans .................................................................................................. 79 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ......................................................................................