1.0........................................................................................................................ INTRODUCTION 9 1.1 ......................................................................................................Overview of Complex 9 1.2.............................................. Overview of Resource Management Planning Documents 10 2.0............................................................................................................. POLICY COMPLIANCE 12 2.1.......................................................................................Compliance with Service Policy 12 2.2............................................................................................................NEPA Compliance 12 2.3...........................................................................................................Authorities Citation 12 2.4............................................................................................ Other Regulatory Guidelines 13 3.0....................................................ENABLING LEGISLATION AND PURPOSE OF REFUGE 14 3.1 Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge.....................................................................14 3.2 Valentine National Wildlife Refuge ...........................................................................14 3.3 Seier National Wildlife Refuge...................................................................................15 4.0.............................................................LAND MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 16 4.1............................................................................. Ft. Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge 16 4.1.1..............................................................................................Purpose of Refuge 16 4.1.2....................................................Resource Management Goals and Objectives 20 4.1.3.................................................Designations and Management Considerations 21 4.1.4........................................................................................ Management Strategy 21 4.2................................................................................. Valentine National Wildlife Refuge 21 4.2.1...............................................................................................................Purpose 21 4.2.2.......................................................................................... Goals and objectives 21 4.2.3.................................................Designations and Management Considerations 29 4.2.4........................................................................................ Management Strategy 29 5.0...............................................REFUGE FIRE MANAGEMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 30 5.1..............................................................................................................................General 30 5.2...................................................................................................................Considerations 30 5.3.................................................................................... Complex Fire Management Goals 31 5.4............................................................................ Complex Fire Management Objectives 31 6.0.......................................................................................FIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES 32 6.1.................................................................................Appropriate Management Response 32 6.2................................................................................................... Programmatic Strategies 33 6.3....................................................................................Mechanical and Other Treatments 34 6.4................................................................................................................................ Limits 35 6.5............................................................................Impacts of Fire Management Activities 36 7.0........................................................................................FIRE HISTORY AND FIRE SEASON 38 7.1................................................................................ Historic and Ecological Role of Fire 38 7.2....................................................................................................... Complex Fire History 39 7.3......................................................................................................Refuge Fire Frequency 42 1 7.4 .......................................................................................................................Fire Season 42 8.0............................................................ FORT NIOBRARA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE 43 8.1.................................................................................. Description of Fort Niobrara NWR 43 8.1.1............................................................................................................. Location 43 8.1.2........................................................................................ Topography and Soils 45 8.1.3..................................................................................................................Water 45 8.1.4...............................................................................................................Climate 45 8.1.5.............................................................................................................. Wildlife 46 8.1.6..........................................................................................................Vegetation 46 8.1.6.1...........................................................................................Grasslands 46 8.1.6.2.......................................................................... Savannas and Forests 47 8.1.6.3 Tree Plantations .............................................................................48 8.1.6.4 Exotic Plants and Invasive Species................................................48 8.1.7........................................................................................... Endangered Species 48 8.1.8............................................................................................................ Land Use 48 8.1.9......................................Values and Improvements on and Adjacent to Station 48 8.1.10 Cultural Resources.....................................................................................49 8.1.11................................................... Intrinsic Values, Wilderness, Natural Areas 50 8.1.12............................................................................... Socio-Political-Economic 54 8.2........................................................................... Fire Management Units - Fort Niobrara 54 8.2.1.......................................................................................Upland Grassland Unit 54 8.2.1.1............................................................................ General Description 54 8.2.1.2 Fire Management Objectives .........................................................57 8.2.1.3 Unit Strategies................................................................................57 8.2.1.4 Unit Tactics....................................................................................57 8.2.1.5....................Habitat Type, Fuel Loading and Unusual Fire Behavior 57 8.2.1.6 Expected Fire Effects....................................................................58 8.2.1.7 Limits to Strategy and Tactics .......................................................58 8.2.2 .........................................................................................Niobrara Valley Unit 58 8.2.2.1............................................................................ General Description 58 8.2.2.2 Fire Management Objectives .........................................................58 8.2.2.3 Unit Strategies................................................................................59 8.2.2.4 Unit Tactics....................................................................................59 8.2.2.5 Habitat Type, Fuel Loading and Unusual Fire Behavior...............59 8.2.2.6 Expected Fire Effects....................................................................60 8.2.2.7 Limits to Strategy and Tactics .......................................................61 8.2.3 Wilderness and Research Natural Areas Unit...............................................61 ....................................................................................... 8.2.3.1 General Description 61 8.2.3.2 Fire Management Objectives .........................................................62 8.2.3.3 Unit Strategies................................................................................62 8.2.3.4 Unit Tactics....................................................................................62 8.2.3.5 Habitat Type, Fuel Loading and Unusual Fire Behavior...............62 8.2.3.6 Expected Fire Effects....................................................................63 8.2.3.7 Limits to Strategy and Tactics .......................................................64 2 8.2.4.................................................................................... Structural Interface Unit 64 8.2.4.1............................................................................ General Description 64 8.2.4.2 Fire Management