DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT BANKS LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Lanier County, Georgia U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia May 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A. DRAFT 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 ........................................................................................................................ 7 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 7 Refuge History and Purpose ........................................................................................................ 7 Special Designations .................................................................................................................... 9 Ecosystem Context .......................................................................................................................9 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................10 State Wildlife Action Plan ..................................................................................................10 The Grand Bay–Banks Lake Ecosystem Site Conservation Plan .....................................13 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 15 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 15 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 15 Geology and Topography ..................................................................................................17 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 17 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................... 18 Air Quality ..........................................................................................................................21 Water Quality and Quanity ................................................................................................21 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 22 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 22 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 24 Nonnative and Nuisance Species .....................................................................................29 Rare, Endangered and Threatened Species .....................................................................31 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 33 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 34 Human Population Growth and Associated Land Use Changes .......................................34 County Demographics and Economic Indicators .............................................................. 35 Statewide Wildlife-associated Activities ............................................................................36 Refuge Administration and Management ...................................................................................36 Land Protection and Conservation ....................................................................................36 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 36 Personnel, Operations and Maintenance ..........................................................................40 III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................................. 43 Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 43 Public Involvement and the Planning Process ...........................................................................43 Summary of Issues, Concerns and Opportunities ......................................................................44 Wildlife and Habitat Management .....................................................................................44 Table of Contents i Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 45 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 46 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 46 Wilderness Review ..................................................................................................................... 46 IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ........................................................................................................ 47 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 47 Vision ......................................................................................................................................... 48 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 48 Wildlife and Habitat Management ..................................................................................... 48 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 56 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 58 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 63 V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................................................. 65 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 65 Proposed Projects ...................................................................................................................... 65 Wildlife and Habitat Management ..................................................................................... 65 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 66 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 67 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 68 Funding and Personnel .............................................................................................................. 69 Partnership and Volunteer Opportunities ................................................................................... 70 Step-down Management Plans .................................................................................................. 70 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ....................................................................................... 71 Plan Review and Revision.......................................................................................................... 71 SECTION B. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT I. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................... 73 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 73 Purpose and Need for Action ..................................................................................................... 73 Decision Framework..................................................................................................................