Contents Summary ........................................................................................................................................................................... i Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Refuge Purpose.................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Refuge Vision ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose of and Need for the Plan ..................................................................................................................................... 3 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service .................................................................................................................................... 4 The National Wildlife Refuge System ............................................................................................................................... 4 The Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem..................................................................................................................................... 6 History of Refuge Establishment ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge .............................................................................................................................. 6 Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge........................................................................................................................ 7 West Sister Island National Wildlife Refuge ............................................................................................................ 7 Legal Context ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 2 The Planning Process ............................................................................................................................. 9 Summary of Issues, Concerns and Opportunities ........................................................................................................... 10 Habitat Management ............................................................................................................................................... 10 Upland Habitat .................................................................................................................................................. 10 Wetland Habitat ............................................................................................................................................... 10 Croplands .......................................................................................................................................................... 10 Land Acquisition ....................................................................................................................................................... 11 Migratory Bird Diversity ........................................................................................................................................... 11 Recreation and Environmental Education ................................................................................................................ 11 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................................................. 11 Vehicle Access .................................................................................................................................................. 12 Partnerships and Cooperative Relationships ........................................................................................................... 12 Chapter 3 The Refuge Environment ....................................................................................................................... 13 Introduction...................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Geographic Setting .......................................................................................................................................................... 13 Climate............................................................................................................................................................................. 13 Refuge Resources ............................................................................................................................................................ 14 Wetlands .................................................................................................................................................................. 14 Wildlife ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Birds .................................................................................................................................................................. 17 Mammals .......................................................................................................................................................... 19 Reptiles and Amphibians .................................................................................................................................. 19 Threatened and Endangered Species ............................................................................................................... 19 Fish .................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Fish, Wildlife and Plant Species of Management Concern............................................................................................. 20 Social and Economic Context .......................................................................................................................................... 24 Archaeological and Cultural Resources .......................................................................................................................... 24 Indian Tribal Interests ....................................................................................................................................... 25 Chapter 4 Management Direction ......................................................................................................................... 27 Current Refuge Programs ................................................................................................................................................ 27 Staffing and Budget......................................................................................................................................................... 27 Habitat Management ...................................................................................................................................................... 27 Upland Management................................................................................................................................................ 28 Wetland Management ............................................................................................................................................. 28 Invasive Plant Species.............................................................................................................................................. 29 Metzger Marsh – A Wetland Management Case Study ......................................................................................... 29 Private Lands ................................................................................................................................................................... 30 Fish and Wildlife Monitoring ........................................................................................................................................... 31 Waterfowl ................................................................................................................................................................ 31 Marsh Birds, Shorebirds and Wading Birds ............................................................................................................. 31 Passerine/Neotropical Migrants (Songbirds)........................................................................................................... 31 Raptors (Hawks, Owls and Eagles) .......................................................................................................................... 32 Fish ........................................................................................................................................................................... 32 Amphibian/Reptile Surveys.....................................................................................................................................