Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region July 2010 Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN BLACK BAYOU LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE OUACHITA PARISH, LOUISIANA U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia July 2010 Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge TABLE OF CONTENTS COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN I. Background ...................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose and Need for the Plan ...................................................................................................... 3 Fish and Wildlife Service ................................................................................................................ 3 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................... 4 Legal and Policy Context ................................................................................................................ 6 National and International Conservation Plans and Initiatives ........................................................ 7 Relationship to State Wildlife Agency ............................................................................................. 8 II. Refuge Overview ............................................................................................................................ 11 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 11 Refuge History and Purpose .........................................................................................................11 Special Designations .................................................................................................................... 14 Ecosystem Context ....................................................................................................................... 14 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ................................................................................16 Ecological Threats and Problems ..................................................................................................... 17 Wildlife Management in an Urban Environment ...........................................................................17 Invasive or Nuisance Plants ......................................................................................................... 18 Climate Change ............................................................................................................................ 19 Physical Resources .......................................................................................................................... 19 Current Climate .............................................................................................................................19 Geology and Topography ............................................................................................................. 20 Soils .............................................................................................................................................. 20 Hydrology ...................................................................................................................................... 21 Hydrology ...................................................................................................................................... 22 Air Quality ..................................................................................................................................... 22 Water Quality and QuanTity ......................................................................................................... 22 Contaminants ................................................................................................................................ 24 Biological Resources ........................................................................................................................ 24 Habitat .......................................................................................................................................... 24 Wildlife .......................................................................................................................................... 31 Wildlife .......................................................................................................................................... 32 Birds .............................................................................................................................................. 32 Mammals ...................................................................................................................................... 34 Endangered/Threatened Species ................................................................................................. 36 Cultural Resources ........................................................................................................................... 37 Prehistoric background ................................................................................................................. 37 Historical Period (European contact) ............................................................................................ 37 Socioeconomic Environment ............................................................................................................ 39 Refuge Administration and Management .........................................................................................40 Land Protection and Conservation ............................................................................................... 40 Visitor Services ............................................................................................................................. 40 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance ....................................................................................46 Table of Contents i III. Plan Development ......................................................................................................................... 49 Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities ........................................................................... 49 Fish and Wildlife Population Management ................................................................................... 50 Habitat Management .................................................................................................................... 51 Resource Protection ..................................................................................................................... 52 Visitor Services ............................................................................................................................. 52 Refuge Administration .................................................................................................................. 53 Wilderness Review ....................................................................................................................... 54 IV. Management Direction ................................................................................................................. 55 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 55 Vision ............................................................................................................................................ 56 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies ................................................................................................ 56 Fish and Wildlife Population Management ................................................................................... 56 Habitat Management .................................................................................................................... 67 Resource Protection ..................................................................................................................... 71 Visitor Services ............................................................................................................................. 76 V. Plan Implementation .................................................................................................................... 85 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 85 Proposed Projects ............................................................................................................................ 85 Fish and Wildlife Population Management ................................................................................... 85 Habitat Management .................................................................................................................... 86 Resource Protection ..................................................................................................................... 87 Visitor Services ............................................................................................................................