Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region September 2012 COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN CHASSAHOWITZKA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Citrus and Hernando Counties, Florida U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia September 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................. 1 I. Background ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 5 Purpose and Need for the Plan .................................................................................................... 5 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ...................................................................................................... 9 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................. 9 Legal and Policy Context ............................................................................................................ 10 Legal Mandates and Administrative and Policy Guidelines .............................................. 10 Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health Policy ....................................... 11 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives ................................................... 11 Florida Manatee Recovery Plan ........................................................................................11 Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative ............................................................12 North American Bird Conservation Initiative .....................................................................12 National Fish Habitat Action Plan ......................................................................................14 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Removal Program ............................................................................................................................ 14 Climate Science Centers ...................................................................................................15 Relationship to State Wildlife and Habitat Protection Agencies .................................................15 II. Refuge Overview ............................................................................................................................ 17 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 17 Refuge Description, History of Establishment, and Purposes .................................................... 17 Special Designations .................................................................................................................. 18 Outstanding Florida Waters Designation ..........................................................................18 Marine Protected Areas ....................................................................................................18 Important Bird Area ........................................................................................................... 18 Federal Wilderness Designation and Stewardship ...........................................................18 Ecosystem Context .....................................................................................................................21 Landscape Context .....................................................................................................................21 Strategic Habitat Conservation .........................................................................................22 National Network of Landscape Conservation Cooperatives ............................................ 22 Peninsular Florida Landscape Conservation Cooperative ................................................ 25 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................26 Recovery Plans ................................................................................................................. 26 Southeastern Coastal Plain Colonial Waterbird Conservation Plan ..................................26 Southeastern Coastal Plain and Caribbean Region Shorebird Conservation Plan ...... 26 State and Local Conservation Plans and Initiatives ...................................................................27 Florida Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy ....................................................27 Florida Natural Areas Inventory ........................................................................................27 Florida Forever Program ...................................................................................................27 Critical Lands and Waters Identification Project and the Cooperative Conservation Blueprint ......................................................................................................28 St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve Management Plan ...................................................28 Table of Contents i Crystal River Preserve State Park Unit Management Plan ............................................... 29 Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area Plan ............................................................ 29 Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps ................................................................... 29 Withlacoochee State Forest .............................................................................................. 30 Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail ............................................................................. 30 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 30 Potential Impacts Associated with Climate Change .......................................................... 30 Exotic, Invasive, and Nuisance Species ........................................................................... 32 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 32 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 32 Geology and Topography ................................................................................................. 32 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 33 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................... 36 Air Quality ......................................................................................................................... 36 Water Quality and Quantity ............................................................................................... 41 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 43 Habitat .............................................................................................................................. 43 Wildlife .............................................................................................................................. 47 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 57 Historical Period ................................................................................................................ 59 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 60 Demographic Data ............................................................................................................ 60 Economy, Recreation, and Tourism ........................................................................................... 63 Refuge Administration and Management ................................................................................... 64 Land Protection and Conservation ................................................................................... 64 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 67 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance......................................................................... 69 III. Plan Development ......................................................................................................................... 71 Priority Resource Issues ............................................................................................................ 72 Fish and Wildlife Population Management........................................................................ 72 Habitat Management......................................................................................................... 73 Resource Protection ........................................................................................................