Farallon National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan Prepared By U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex 9500 Thornton Avenue Newark, CA 94560 Approved: ____________________________________________ Date: _____________________________ Regional Director, California and Nevada Region Implementation of this Comprehensive Conservation Plan and alternative management actions/programs have been assessed consistent with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 USC 4321 et seq.). Chapter 1. Introduction and Background 1 Need for this CCP..................................................................................................................................... 1 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Wildlife Refuge System............................... 2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service............................................................................................................ 2 The National Wildlife Refuge System ............................................................................................... 2 National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 ............................................................. 3 Appropriate Use and Compatibility Policy ........................................................................................... 4 Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health Policy ................................................... 5 Draft Wilderness Stewardship Policy Pursuant to the Wilderness Act of 1964.............................. 5 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.......................................................................................... 6 San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex....................................................................... 6 The Farallon National Wildlife Refuge ................................................................................................. 9 Location.................................................................................................................................................. 9 Historical Background....................................................................................................................... 10 Physical Setting .................................................................................................................................. 12 Refuge Purposes................................................................................................................................. 14 Ecosystem Context and Related Projects ...................................................................................... 15 Threats and Opportunities ................................................................................................................ 16 Conservation Priorities and Initiatives ........................................................................................... 17 Adaptive Management....................................................................................................................... 18 Chapter 2. The Comprehensive Conservation Planning Process 19 The Planning Process............................................................................................................................. 19 Preplanning ......................................................................................................................................... 19 Planning Hierarchy............................................................................................................................ 20 The Core Planning Team................................................................................................................... 20 The Extended Planning Team.......................................................................................................... 21 Public Involvement in Planning............................................................................................................ 21 Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities ............................................................................................... 21 Management Concerns ...................................................................................................................... 22 Development of Refuge Vision.............................................................................................................. 26 Development of Refuge Goals, Objectives and Strategies................................................................ 26 Goals ..................................................................................................................................................... 26 Objectives, Rationale, and Strategies.............................................................................................. 26 Development of Alternatives................................................................................................................. 27 Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from the Detailed Analysis ........................................ 27 Selection of the Refuge Proposed Action ............................................................................................ 30 Plan Implementation.............................................................................................................................. 30 Chapter 3. Refuge and Resource Description 31 Geographic/Ecosystem Setting............................................................................................................. 31 Physical Resources ................................................................................................................................. 31 Climate and Air Quality..................................................................................................................... 31 Topography ......................................................................................................................................... 32 Geology, Soils, and Hydrology.......................................................................................................... 33 Water Supply and Water Quality..................................................................................................... 36 Hazardous Materials and Contaminants......................................................................................... 36 Biological Resources............................................................................................................................... 37 Vegetation............................................................................................................................................ 37 Wildlife ................................................................................................................................................. 40 Cultural Resources ................................................................................................................................. 57 Social and Economic Environment ...................................................................................................... 60 Demographics ..................................................................................................................................... 60 Land Use.............................................................................................................................................. 60 Traffic and Public Access .................................................................................................................. 60 Recreation............................................................................................................................................ 60 Local Economy and Employment .................................................................................................... 61 Environmental Justice....................................................................................................................... 61 Chapter 4. Current Refuge Management and Programs 63 Land Management.................................................................................................................................. 63 Water Management................................................................................................................................ 63 Vegetation Management........................................................................................................................ 64 Wildlife and Habitat Management ....................................................................................................... 66 Other Management Activities........................................................................................................... 72 Threatened and Endangered Species Management ..................................................................... 73 Fire Prevention and Hazard Reduction .............................................................................................. 74 Wilderness Review ................................................................................................................................. 74 Law Enforcement and Resource Protection....................................................................................... 75 Cultural Resource Management........................................................................................................... 76 Facilities Maintenance