McNary and Umatilla National Wildlife Refuges Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment Prepared by: Mid-Columbia River National Wildlife Refuge Complex 3250 Port of Benton Boulevard Richland, Washington 99354 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Northwest Planning Team 911 NE 11th Avenue Portland, Oregon 97232 December 2006 Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction and Background 1.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Proposed Action.............................................................................................................1-1 1.3 Purpose and Need for Action.........................................................................................1-2 1.4 Content and Scope of Plan.............................................................................................1-3 1.5 Refuge System Laws and Directives .............................................................................1-3 1.6 Establishment and Purposes of McNary and Umatilla Refuges....................................1-7 1.7 Relationship to Previous and Future Refuge Plans......................................................1-13 1.8 Relationship to Other Ecosystem Planning Efforts .....................................................1-15 1.9 Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities............................................................................1-18 1.10 Refuge Vision ............................................................................................................1-19 1.11 Refuge Goals .............................................................................................................1-20 1.12 Planning Process........................................................................................................1-21 Chapter 2: Alternatives, Objectives, and Strategies 2.1 Considerations in Alternative Design............................................................................2-1 2.2 Alternatives Considered but Not Developed .................................................................2-1 2.3 Alternative Descriptions ................................................................................................2-2 2.4 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies ..................................................................................2-8 Chapter 3: Physical Environment 3.1 Climate...........................................................................................................................3-1 3.2 Hydrology......................................................................................................................3-3 3.3 Topography and Bathymetry .......................................................................................3-11 3.4 Geology........................................................................................................................3-12 3.5 Soils .............................................................................................................................3-13 3.6 Environmental Contaminants ......................................................................................3-14 3.7 Surrounding Land Uses ...............................................................................................3-15 Chapter 4: Refuge Biology and Habitat 4.1 Biological Integrity Analysis.........................................................................................4-1 4.2 Conservation Target Selection and Analysis.................................................................4-5 4.3 Shrub Steppe System .....................................................................................................4-7 4.4 Riparian System...........................................................................................................4-10 4.5 Wetlands and Deepwater Habitats...............................................................................4-13 4.6 Cliff/Rimrock and Outcroppings .................................................................................4-19 4.7 Islands ..........................................................................................................................4-21 4.8 Waterfowl ....................................................................................................................4-25 4.9 Shorebirds ....................................................................................................................4-30 4.10 Threatened and Endangered Species .........................................................................4-32 4.11 Current Wildlife and Habitat Research and Monitoring Efforts................................4-35 i Chapter 5: Refuge Facilities and Public Use Programs 5.1 Infrastructure and Administrative Facilities ..................................................................5-1 5.2 Recreation Overview .....................................................................................................5-6 5.3 Waterfowl Hunting ........................................................................................................5-9 5.4 Upland Bird/Small Game Hunting...............................................................................5-16 5.5 Big Game Hunting .......................................................................................................5-18 5.6 Fishing..........................................................................................................................5-20 5.7 Wildlife Viewing and Photography .............................................................................5-22 5.8 Environmental Education.............................................................................................5-24 5.9 Interpretation................................................................................................................5-26 5.10 Non-Wildlife Dependent Recreation .........................................................................5-27 5.11 Illegal Uses.................................................................................................................5-30 5.12 Area Outdoor Recreational Opportunities and Trends ..............................................5-30 Chapter 6: Special Designation Lands, Culture Resources, and Social/Economic Environment 6.1 Special Designation Lands ............................................................................................6-1 6.2 Archaeological and Cultural Resources.........................................................................6-2 6.3 Social/Economic Environment ......................................................................................6-9 Chapter 7: Environmental Effects 7.1 Summary of Effects .......................................................................................................7-1 7.2 Effects to Species and Habitats......................................................................................7-7 7.3 Effects to the Physical Environment............................................................................7-16 7.4 Social Effects...............................................................................................................7-19 7.5 Economic Effects.........................................................................................................7-30 7.6 Effects to Cultural and Historical Resources...............................................................7-32 7.7 Cumulative Effects ......................................................................................................7-35 Appendices Appendix A: Public Involvement ....................................................................................... A-1 Appendix B: Species Lists.................................................................................................. B-1 Appendix C: Compatibility Determinations ....................................................................... C-1 Appendix D: Implementation ............................................................................................. D-1 Appendix E: Wilderness Review ........................................................................................E-1 Appendix F: Condition Classes for Shrub-Steppe and Riparian Habitats ...........................F-1 Appendix G: Compliance ................................................................................................... G-1 Appendix H: Glossary......................................................................................................... H-1 Appendix I: Inventory, Monitoring, and Research Needs ....................................................I-1 Appendix J: CCP Team Members ....................................................................................... J-1 Appendix K: Appropriate Uses Determinations................................................................. K-1 Maps.....................................................................................................................After Page # Map 1 Comprehensive Conservation Planning Map ...........................................................1-2 Map 2A McNary Refuge Boundary and Land Status ..........................................................1-2 Map 2B Umatilla Refuge Boundary and Land Status ..........................................................1-2 ii Map 3 McNary Refuge Alternative 1 ...................................................................................2-8