Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region February 2006 CROCODILE LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region 1875 Century Boulevard Atlanta, Georgia 30345 February 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A. COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN I. BACKGROUND ..................................................................................................................................1 Introduction...................................................................................................................................1 Purpose and Need for Plan ..........................................................................................................2 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ......................................................................................................2 National Wildlife Refuge System ..................................................................................................3 Legal Policy Context.....................................................................................................................3 Relationship to State Partners......................................................................................................4 Ecosystem Context.......................................................................................................................5 Ecological Threats and Problems.................................................................................................5 Exotics.................................................................................................................................5 Public Use...........................................................................................................................5 Wetland Protection..............................................................................................................6 Water Quality ......................................................................................................................6 Contaminants ......................................................................................................................6 Habitat Loss ........................................................................................................................6 Coastal Impacts ..................................................................................................................6 Lack of Knowledge..............................................................................................................7 Air Quality............................................................................................................................7 Land Use.............................................................................................................................7 Law Enforcement ................................................................................................................7 Conservation Priorities .................................................................................................................7 II. REFUGE DESCRIPTION...................................................................................................................9 Introduction...................................................................................................................................9 Refuge Location ...........................................................................................................................9 Refuge Purposes..........................................................................................................................9 Role of Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge........................................................................11 Refuge Environment...................................................................................................................11 Fish and Wildlife Populations, Including Federally Listed Species ...................................11 Topography.......................................................................................................................12 Geology.............................................................................................................................12 Soils ..................................................................................................................................12 Minerals.............................................................................................................................12 Hydrology ..........................................................................................................................12 Air and Water Quality ........................................................................................................13 Habitats.............................................................................................................................13 Invasive Species ...............................................................................................................16 Cultural Resources............................................................................................................16 Partnerships and Coordination ...................................................................................................17 Recreational and Commercial Use on the Refuge .....................................................................17 Current Management Practices..................................................................................................17 Facilities and Structures .............................................................................................................18 Wilderness Review .....................................................................................................................19 i III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT ..................................................................................................................21 Public Involvement and the Planning Process ...........................................................................21 Issues and Concerns .................................................................................................................21 Wildlife and Habitat Conservation.....................................................................................22 Land Protection and Conservation ...................................................................................22 Education and Visitor Services .........................................................................................22 Refuge Administration ......................................................................................................22 IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION.........................................................................................................23 Introduction ................................................................................................................................23 Vision .........................................................................................................................................23 Management Plan Summary......................................................................................................23 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies..............................................................................................24 Goal 1 ...............................................................................................................................24 Goal 2 ...............................................................................................................................34 Goal 3 ...............................................................................................................................36 V. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION .............................................................................................................37 Introduction ................................................................................................................................37 Proposed Projects......................................................................................................................37 Project 1: Invasive Exotic Plant Control...........................................................................37 Project 2: Invasive Exotic Pest Control............................................................................37 Project 3: Feral And Free-Roaming Cat Control..............................................................37 Project 4: Crocodile Nesting Berm Replenishment..........................................................38 Project 5: Habitat Restoration..........................................................................................38 Project 6: Woodrat Artificial Nest Sites ............................................................................38 Project 7: Schaus Swallowtail Butterfly Plants.................................................................38 Project 8: Monitoring and Population Surveys.................................................................38 Project 9: Land Acquisition ..............................................................................................38 Project 10: Volunteer program.........................................................................................39