DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT LAGUNA CARTAGENA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Lajas, Puerto Rico U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia February 2011 Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A. DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN I. Background ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose And Need For The Plan ................................................................................................. 1 Fish and Wildlife Service .............................................................................................................. 1 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................. 2 Legal and Policy Context .............................................................................................................. 3 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..................................................... 4 Relationship To State Wildlife Agency ..........................................................................................6 II. Refuge Overview .............................................................................................................................. 7 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 7 Refuge History and Purpose ........................................................................................................ 7 Background Information ............................................................................................................... 7 Special Designations .................................................................................................................... 8 Ecosystem Context .....................................................................................................................11 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................12 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 12 Physical Resources .................................................................................................................... 13 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 13 Geology and Topography ..................................................................................................14 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 17 Hydrology and Water Quality ............................................................................................18 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 20 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 20 Wildlife ............................................................................................................................... 26 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 27 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 27 Refuge Administration and Management ...................................................................................28 Land Protection and Conservation ....................................................................................28 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 28 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance .........................................................................29 III. Plan Development ......................................................................................................................... 31 Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities .....................................................................31 IV. Management Direction ................................................................................................................ 35 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 35 Vision .......................................................................................................................................... 35 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 35 Fish and Wildlife Population Management ........................................................................36 Habitat Management .........................................................................................................41 Resource Protection ..........................................................................................................45 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 47 Refuge Administration .......................................................................................................50 Table of Contents i V. Plan Implementation .................................................................................................................... 55 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 55 Proposed Projects ...................................................................................................................... 55 Funding and Personnel .............................................................................................................. 59 Partnership/Volunteers Opportunities ........................................................................................ 60 Step-Down Management Plans .................................................................................................. 60 Monitoring and Adaptive Management ....................................................................................... 62 Plan Review and Revision.......................................................................................................... 62 SECTION B. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT I. Background ..................................................................................................................................... 63 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 63 Purpose and Need for Action ..................................................................................................... 63 Decision Framework................................................................................................................... 64 Planning Study Area .................................................................................................................. 64 Authority, Legal Compliance, and Compatibility ......................................................................... 64 Compatibility ..................................................................................................................... 65 Public Involvement and the Planning Process ........................................................................... 65 Formulation of Alternatives......................................................................................................... 69 Description of Alternatives.......................................................................................................... 69 Alternative A – (Current Management - No Action) .......................................................... 69 Alternative B – Wildlife Diversity and Habitat Restoration (proposed alternative) ............ 69 Alternative C – Wetland Restoration Emphasis ................................................................ 69 Features Common to all Alternatives ......................................................................................... 69 Comparison of the Alternatives by Issue .................................................................................... 71 Alternatives Considered But Eliminated From Further Analysis ................................................. 95 IV. Environmental Consequences .................................................................................................... 97 Overview .................................................................................................................................... 97 Effects Common to All Alternatives ............................................................................................ 97 Environmental Justice ....................................................................................................... 97 Climate Change ...............................................................................................................