Banks Lake National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region September 2009 COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN BANKS LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Lanier County, Georgia U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia September 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 1 I. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose and Need for the Plan .................................................................................................... 3 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ...................................................................................................... 3 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................. 4 Legal and Policy Context .............................................................................................................. 6 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..................................................... 7 Relationship to State Wildlife Agency ........................................................................................... 8 II. REFUGE OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 9 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 9 Refuge History and Purpose ........................................................................................................ 9 Special Designations .................................................................................................................. 11 Ecosystem Context .....................................................................................................................11 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................12 State Wildlife Action Plan ..................................................................................................12 The Grand Bay–Banks Lake Ecosystem Site Conservation Plan .....................................15 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 17 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 17 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 17 Geology and Topography ..................................................................................................19 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 19 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................... 20 Air Quality ..........................................................................................................................23 Water Quality and Quanity ................................................................................................23 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 24 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 24 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 27 Nonnative and Nuisance Species .....................................................................................31 Rare, Endangered and Threatened Species .....................................................................33 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 35 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 36 Human Population Growth and Associated Land Use Changes .......................................36 County Demographics and Economic Indicators .............................................................. 37 Statewide Wildlife-associated Activities ............................................................................38 Refuge Administration and Management ...................................................................................38 Land Protection and Conservation ....................................................................................38 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 39 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance .........................................................................43 Table of Contents i III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT ................................................................................................................. 45 Overview .................................................................................................................................... 45 Public Involvement and the Planning Process ........................................................................... 45 Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities ..................................................................... 46 Wildlife and Habitat Management ..................................................................................... 46 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 47 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 48 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 48 Wilderness Review ..................................................................................................................... 48 Public Review and Comment ..................................................................................................... 49 IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ........................................................................................................ 51 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 51 Vision ......................................................................................................................................... 52 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 52 Wildlife and Habitat Management ..................................................................................... 52 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 60 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 62 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 67 V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION ............................................................................................................. 69 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 69 Proposed Projects ...................................................................................................................... 69 Wildlife and Habitat Management ..................................................................................... 69 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 70 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 71 Refuge Administration ...................................................................................................... 72 Funding and Personnel .............................................................................................................. 72 Partnership and Volunteer Opportunities ................................................................................... 74 Step-down Management Plans .................................................................................................. 75 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ....................................................................................... 75 Plan Review and Revision.......................................................................................................... 75 Appendices ...............................................................................................................................