DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT CABO ROJO NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia February 2011 Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A. DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN I. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose And Need For The Plan ................................................................................................. 1 Fish and Wildlife Service .............................................................................................................. 1 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................. 2 Legal and Policy Context .............................................................................................................. 3 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..................................................... 4 Relationship To State Wildlife Agency ..........................................................................................6 II. REFUGE OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 7 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 7 Special Designations .................................................................................................................... 8 Ecosystem Context .....................................................................................................................11 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................12 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 12 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 12 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 12 Hurricanes ......................................................................................................................... 13 Geology and Topography ..................................................................................................13 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 14 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................... 27 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 27 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 27 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 40 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 40 Refuge Administration and Management ...................................................................................40 Land Protection and Conservation ....................................................................................40 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 40 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance .........................................................................41 III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................. 43 Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities .....................................................................43 IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ........................................................................................................ 47 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 47 Vision .......................................................................................................................................... 47 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 47 Fish and Wildlife Population Management ........................................................................48 Habitat Management .........................................................................................................52 Resource Protection ..........................................................................................................55 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 57 Refuge Administration .......................................................................................................59 Climate Change ................................................................................................................ 61 Table of Contents i V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................................................ 63 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 63 Proposed Projects ...................................................................................................................... 63 Funding and Personnel .............................................................................................................. 67 Partnership/Volunteer Opportunities .......................................................................................... 69 Step-Down Management Plans .................................................................................................. 70 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ....................................................................................... 70 Plan Review and Revision.......................................................................................................... 70 SECTION B. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT I. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................... 71 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 71 Purpose and Need for Action ..................................................................................................... 71 Decision Framework................................................................................................................... 71 Planning Study Area .................................................................................................................. 72 Authority, Legal Compliance, and Compatibility ......................................................................... 72 Compatibility ..................................................................................................................... 72 Public Involvement and the Planning Process ........................................................................... 73 III. DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVES ............................................................................................. 77 Formulation of Alternatives......................................................................................................... 77 Description of Alternatives.......................................................................................................... 77 Alternative A – Current Management (No Action) ............................................................. 77 Alternative B – Resource Emphasis ................................................................................. 77 Alternative C – Habitat and Public Use Emphasis (Proposed Alternative) ....................... 77 Features Common to all Alternatives ......................................................................................... 77 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Further Analysis ................................................. 87 IV. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ....................................................................................... 89 Overview .................................................................................................................................... 89 Effects Common to All Alternatives ............................................................................................ 89 Environmental Justice ....................................................................................................... 89 Climate Change ................................................................................................................ 89 Other Management ..........................................................................................................