DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WOLF ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE McIntosh County, Georgia U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia June 2008 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 ...................................................................................................... 2 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................. 2 Legal Policy Context ..................................................................................................................... 4 Legal Mandates, Administrative and Policy Guidelines, and Other Special Considerations .......................................................................................................4 Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health Policy ......................................... 5 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..................................................... 5 II. REFUGE OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 9 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 9 Refuge History and Purpose ........................................................................................................ 9 Special Designations .................................................................................................................. 12 Wilderness ........................................................................................................................ 12 Class I Air Quality Area .....................................................................................................13 Ecosystem Context .....................................................................................................................13 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................14 Initiative for Watershed Excellence: Upper Altamaha Pilot Project ................................... 14 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 15 Beach Erosion and Accretion ............................................................................................15 Control of Nuisance Wildlife ..............................................................................................15 Protection of the Natural Functions of the Altamaha River System ..................................16 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 16 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 16 Geology and Topography ..................................................................................................17 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 18 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................... 18 Air Quality ..........................................................................................................................19 Water Quality and Quantity ...............................................................................................19 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 19 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 19 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 20 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 21 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 21 Refuge Administration and Management ...................................................................................23 Land Protection and Conservation ....................................................................................23 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 23 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance .........................................................................23 III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................. 25 Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 25 Public Involvement and the Planning Process ...........................................................................25 Table of Contents i Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities ..................................................................... 27 Fish and Wildlife Population Management........................................................................ 27 Habitat Management......................................................................................................... 32 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 34 Land Acquisition ............................................................................................................... 34 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 35 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 35 IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ......................................................................................................... 37 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 37 Vision ......................................................................................................................................... 38 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 38 Fish and Wildlife Population Management........................................................................ 38 Habitat Management......................................................................................................... 42 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 44 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 46 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 47 V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION .............................................................................................................. 49 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 49 Proposed Projects ...................................................................................................................... 49 Fish and Wildlife Population Management........................................................................ 49 Habitat Management......................................................................................................... 51 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 52 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 53 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 54 Funding and Personnel .............................................................................................................. 54 Partnership and Volunteer Opportunities ................................................................................... 55 Step-down Management Plans .................................................................................................. 56 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ....................................................................................... 56 Plan Review and Revision.......................................................................................................... 57 SECTION B. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT