Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region October 2008 Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge LAKE WOODRUFF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia October 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN I. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Need for the Plan .................................................................................................... 1 Fish and Wildlife Service .............................................................................................................. 3 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................. 3 Legal and Policy Context .............................................................................................................. 5 Legal Mandates, Administrative and Policy Guidelines, and Other Special Considerations ......................................................................................5 Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental Health Policy ......................................... 6 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..................................................... 6 North American Bird Conservation Initiative .......................................................................6 North American Waterfowl Management Plan ....................................................................6 Partners-in-Flight Bird Conservation Plan ...........................................................................7 U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan ......................................................................................7 North American Waterbird Conservation Plan ....................................................................7 Relationship to State Wildlife Agency ........................................................................................... 7 II. REFUGE OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 9 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 9 Refuge History and Purposes .......................................................................................................9 Special Designations .................................................................................................................. 11 Research Natural Area ......................................................................................................11 Wilderness Area ................................................................................................................ 13 American Heritage River ...................................................................................................13 Ecosystem Context .....................................................................................................................13 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................16 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 18 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 18 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 19 Geology and Topography ..................................................................................................20 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 24 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 24 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 30 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 41 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 42 Demographics ................................................................................................................... 42 Refuge Administration and Management ...................................................................................44 Resource Protection ..........................................................................................................44 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 45 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance .........................................................................50 III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................. 53 Overview ..................................................................................................................................... 53 Public Involvement and Planning Process .................................................................................53 Table of Contents i Scoping of Issues and Concerns ................................................................................................ 54 Issues ......................................................................................................................................... 54 Wildlife and Habitat Management ..................................................................................... 54 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 57 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 57 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 58 IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ........................................................................................................ 59 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 59 Vision ......................................................................................................................................... 59 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 59 Wildlife and Habitat Management ..................................................................................... 60 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 95 Visitor Services ............................................................................................................... 100 Refuge Administration .................................................................................................... 109 V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ........................................................................................................... 113 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 113 Proposed Projects .................................................................................................................... 113 Wildlife and Habitat Management ................................................................................... 113 Resource Protection ....................................................................................................... 116 Visitor Services ............................................................................................................... 117 Funding and Personnel ............................................................................................................ 118 Partnership/Volunteers Opportunities ...................................................................................... 121 Step-down Management Plans ................................................................................................ 121 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ..................................................................................... 122 Plan Review and Revision........................................................................................................ 122 APPENDICES APPENDIX A. GLOSSARY AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................ 123 Glossary ................................................................................................................................... 123 Abbreviations ........................................................................................................................... 131 APPENDIX