COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PINE ISLAND, MATLACHA PASS, ISLAND BAY, AND CALOOSAHATCHEE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES Charlotte and Lee Counties, Florida U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia May 2010 Pine Island, Matlacha Pass, Island Bay, and Caloosahatchee National Wildlife Refuges TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A. DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN ...................................................1 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 American Oystercatcher Conservation Plan .......................................................................8 National Wetlands Priority Conservation Plan ....................................................................8 Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management .........................................................9 Relationship to State Wildlife Agency ........................................................................................... 9 II. REFUGE OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................... 11 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 11 Pine Island NWR ............................................................................................................... 12 Matlacha Pass NWR .........................................................................................................12 Caloosahatchee NWR .......................................................................................................15 Refuges’ History and Purposes .................................................................................................. 18 History ............................................................................................................................... 18 Purposes ........................................................................................................................... 19 Special Designations .................................................................................................................. 20 Wilderness Area ................................................................................................................ 20 Marine Protected Area ......................................................................................................21 Outstanding Florida Waters ..............................................................................................21 State Aquatic Preserves and State Park ...........................................................................21 Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program ..................................................................... 21 Ecosystem Context .....................................................................................................................23 Peninsular Florida Landscape Conservation Cooperative ................................................ 23 South Florida Ecosystem ..................................................................................................25 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................33 Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program and Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan .............................................................................................................34 South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan ......................................................................34 South Florida Ecosystem Plan ..........................................................................................35 Gulf of Mexico Program ....................................................................................................35 Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan ..................................................................35 Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program ..................................................36 State Wildlife Action Plan ..................................................................................................37 Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Management and Conservation Plan .... 38 Florida Natural Areas Inventory ........................................................................................38 Surface Water Improvement and Management Programs ................................................38 Table of Contents i State Aquatic Preserves ................................................................................................... 39 Wild and Scenic Rivers ..................................................................................................... 40 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 41 Water Quality, Quantity, and Timing ................................................................................. 41 Exotic, Invasive, and Nuisance Species ........................................................................... 43 Potential Effects of Climate Change ................................................................................. 44 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 45 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 45 Climate Change and Global Warming .............................................................................. 48 Geology and Topography ................................................................................................. 50 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 54 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................... 55 Air Quality ......................................................................................................................... 58 Water Quality and Quantity ............................................................................................... 59 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 64 Habitat .............................................................................................................................. 64 Wildlife .............................................................................................................................. 74 Exotic, Invasive, and Nuisance Species ........................................................................... 78 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 79 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 81 Regional Demographics and Economy............................................................................. 81 Recreation and Tourism.................................................................................................... 84 Refuge Administration and Management ................................................................................... 86 Land Protection and Conservation ................................................................................... 86 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 87 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance......................................................................... 87 III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................. 89 Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities ..................................................................... 89 Wildlife and Habitat Management ....................................................................................