Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region September 2007 COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN CATAHOULA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE LASALLE AND CATAHOULA PARISHES, LOUISIANA U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia September 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 1 I. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................. 3 Fish and Wildlife Service .............................................................................................................. 3 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................. 4 Legal Policy Context ..................................................................................................................... 5 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..................................................... 5 North American Bird Conservation Initiative .......................................................................5 North American Waterfowl Management Plan ....................................................................6 Partners-in-Flight Bird Conservation Plan ...........................................................................6 U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan ......................................................................................6 Northern American Waterbird Conservation Plan ...............................................................6 U.S. Woodcock Plan ...........................................................................................................6 Relationship To State Wildlife Agency ..........................................................................................7 II. REFUGE OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 9 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 9 Refuge History and Purpose ........................................................................................................ 9 Special Designations .................................................................................................................. 13 Oil and Gas Activities ........................................................................................................ 13 Partnerships ...................................................................................................................... 13 Globally Important Bird Area .............................................................................................16 Ramsar Designation of Catahoula Lake ...........................................................................16 Ecosystem Context .....................................................................................................................17 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................17 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 20 Forest Loss and Fragmentation ........................................................................................21 Alterations to Hydrology ....................................................................................................23 Siltation of Aquatic Ecosystems ........................................................................................23 Proliferation of Invasive Aquatic Plants .............................................................................23 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 24 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 24 Geology and Topography ..................................................................................................24 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 24 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................... 25 Air Quality ..........................................................................................................................25 Water Quality and Quantity ...............................................................................................27 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 27 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 27 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 34 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 39 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 41 Refuge Administration and Management ...................................................................................42 Land Protection and Conservation ....................................................................................42 Table of Contents i Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 42 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance......................................................................... 46 III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................. 49 Public Involvement and the Planning Process ........................................................................... 49 Summary of Issues, Concerns and Opportunities ...................................................................... 49 Fish and Wildlife Population Management........................................................................ 51 Habitat Management......................................................................................................... 52 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 53 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 54 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 55 IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ........................................................................................................ 57 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 57 Vision ......................................................................................................................................... 59 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 59 Fish and Wildlife Population Management........................................................................ 62 Habitat Management......................................................................................................... 72 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 74 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 80 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 83 V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................................................ 87 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 87 Proposed Projects ...................................................................................................................... 87 Fish And Wildlife Population Management ....................................................................... 87 Habitat Management......................................................................................................... 88 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 89 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 90 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 91 Funding and Personnel .............................................................................................................. 92 Volunteers .................................................................................................................................