U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge San Joaquin River National Wildlife Plan Conservation Comprehensive Final San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge San Luis NWR Complex San Joaquin River 947-C West Pacheco Blvd. Los Banos, CA 93635 Telephone: 209/826-3508 National Wildlife Refuge Fax: 209/826-1445 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1 (800) 344-WILD Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan June 2007 Photo: USFWS/L. Eastman SJFCCP-cover_final.indd 1 5/22/2007 9:38:02 AM This page is intentionally left blank. Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................1 Background ..................................................................................................................................2 Purpose and Need for a Plan .....................................................................................................3 Refuge Purpose and Authority .................................................................................................4 Refuge Vision Statement ...........................................................................................................4 Location and Size of the Refuge ...............................................................................................4 Ownership ....................................................................................................................................5 Refuge Acquisition History .......................................................................................................5 Fee Title Lands ...........................................................................................................................9 Easement Lands .........................................................................................................................9 Refuge Management and Monitoring History ......................................................................11 2 The Comprehensive Conservation Planning Process ........................15 The Planning Process ...............................................................................................................15 The Planning Team ...................................................................................................................16 Public Involvement in Planning ..............................................................................................16 Overview of Public Scoping Comments and Discussions ....................................................16 Development of Alternatives ...................................................................................................17 3 Refuge Setting ...........................................................................................19 Flyway Setting ..........................................................................................................................19 Ecoregion ...................................................................................................................................19 Historic Refuge Environment .................................................................................................20 Special Status Lands and Wilderness ....................................................................................21 Climate .......................................................................................................................................21 Soils and Geology ......................................................................................................................22 Topography and River Geomorphology .................................................................................22 Drainage .....................................................................................................................................23 Flood Management ...................................................................................................................24 Water Quality .............................................................................................................................24 Vegetation ...................................................................................................................................25 Wildlife ........................................................................................................................................29 Historical and Cultural Resources .........................................................................................34 Refuge Facilities ........................................................................................................................35 Current Management Activities .............................................................................................37 4 Opportunities and Problems ...................................................................47 Water Quantity and Quality .....................................................................................................47 Water Rights and Other Rights ..............................................................................................48 Floodplain and Riparian Restoration .....................................................................................49 Grassland Communities ...........................................................................................................49 Invasive Weeds & Other Exotic Species ................................................................................49 Threatened and Endangered Species ....................................................................................50 Fire ..............................................................................................................................................52 San Joaquin River NWR Comprehensive Conservation Plan i Mosquito Abatement ................................................................................................................52 Public Use Programs ................................................................................................................52 Law Enforcement .....................................................................................................................53 Cultural Resources ...................................................................................................................53 Refuge Farming Program ........................................................................................................53 Partnerships ...............................................................................................................................54 5 Management Goals, Objectives, and Strategies ................................59 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................59 Prior Management Activities at the Refuge ..........................................................................59 Goals, Objectives and Strategies to Support the Proposed Management Action ............59 6 Management Plan Implementation .......................................................83 Funding & Staffing ....................................................................................................................83 Step-Down Management Plans ...............................................................................................83 Compliance Requirements .......................................................................................................86 Adaptive Management & Monitoring .....................................................................................86 Plan Amendment and Revision ...............................................................................................87 Figures 1. Watershed Ecosystem Map .......................................................................................................6 2. Location Map ...............................................................................................................................7 3. Land Status ..................................................................................................................................8 4. The Comprehensive Conservation Planning Process ..........................................................16 5. Land Cover Map .......................................................................................................................26 6. Refuge Roads and Facilities ....................................................................................................36 7. Wetland Units ............................................................................................................................38 8. Management Units ...................................................................................................................40 9. Proposed Habitat Management for San Joaquin River NWR ...........................................61 Tables 1. Existing Habitat Cover Types .................................................................................................27 2. Estimated Initial Capital Outlay to Implement the CCP ....................................................84 3. Estimated Annual Cost to Implement the CCP ...................................................................85 Appendices ......................................................................................................89