Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region September 2012 Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN DESECHEO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Mayaguez, Puerto Rico U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia September 2012 Desecheo 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 ......................................................................................................2 National Wildlife Refuge System ..................................................................................................2 Legal and 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 Relationship to State and Commonwealth Wildlife Agencies .......................................................6 II. REFUGE OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................7 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................7 Refuge History and Purpose ........................................................................................................7 Special Designations ....................................................................................................................9 Ecosystem Context .......................................................................................................................9 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................10 Ecological Threats and Problems ...............................................................................................12 Physical Resources ....................................................................................................................15 Climate ..............................................................................................................................15 Geology and Topography ..................................................................................................16 Hydrology and Water resources ........................................................................................16 Air Quality ..........................................................................................................................16 Biological Resources ..................................................................................................................19 Habitat ...............................................................................................................................19 Wildlife ...............................................................................................................................20 Listed Species ...................................................................................................................23 Cultural Resources .....................................................................................................................24 Socioeconomic Environment ......................................................................................................24 Population .........................................................................................................................24 Political Setting ..................................................................................................................25 Employment ......................................................................................................................25 Refuge Administration and Management ...................................................................................25 Land Protection and Conservation ....................................................................................25 Visitor Services .................................................................................................................26 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance .........................................................................26 III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................27 Public Involvement and the Planning Process ...........................................................................27 Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities .....................................................................28 Fish and Wildlife Population Management ........................................................................28 Habitat Management .........................................................................................................28 Resource Protection ..........................................................................................................29 Table of Contents i Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 29 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 29 Wilderness Review ..................................................................................................................... 29 IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ....................................................................................................... 31 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 31 Vision ......................................................................................................................................... 32 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 32 Fish and Wildlife Population Management........................................................................ 32 Habitat Management......................................................................................................... 34 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 35 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 35 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 37 V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................................................ 39 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 39 Proposed Projects ...................................................................................................................... 39 Fish And Wildlife Population Management ....................................................................... 39 Habitat Management......................................................................................................... 40 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 40 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 41 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 41 Funding and Personnel .............................................................................................................. 42 Partnership and Volunteer Opportunities ................................................................................... 42 Step-down Management Plans .................................................................................................. 42 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ....................................................................................... 43 Plan Review and Revision.......................................................................................................... 43 APPENDICES APPENDIX A. GLOSSARY ................................................................................................................ 45 APPENDIX B. REFERENCES AND LITERATURE CITATIONS ...................................................... 55 APPENDIX C. RELEVANT LEGAL MANDATES AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS ............................... 57 APPENDIX D. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT ...........................................................................................