U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR PIEDMONT NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Jones and Jasper Counties, Georgia Southeast Region TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapters 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 Environmental Setting and Background 5 3.0 Resources of Concern 17 4.0 Habitat Management Goals and Objectives 27 5.0 Habitat Management Strategies 43 6.0 Literature Cited 65 Appendices 1.0 Species Lists 79 2.0 Process to Determine Resources of Concern 95 3.0 Forest Inventory 111 4.0 Silviculture and Hazardous Fuels 123 5.0 Silvicultural Prescriptions 143 6.0 Timber Sales Administration 145 7.0 Environmental Action Statement 183 1.0 INTRODUCTION The purpose of the Habitat Management Plan (HMP) is to provide specific direction and long- term management guidance for the refuge. An HMP is a step-down management plan of the Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP). A CCP is a strategic plan that guides the direction of the refuge. The CCP for Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was finalized in 2010 (USFWS 2010). HMPs comply with all applicable laws, regulations, and policies governing the management of National Wildlife Refuge System. The lifespan of an HMP is 15 years and parallels that of the refuge CCP. HMPs are reviewed every 5 years utilizing peer review recommendations, as appropriate, in the HMP revision process or when initiating refuge CCPs. 1.1 Legal Mandates The purposes shown here are based upon land acquisition documents and authorities. The unit purposes may also include purposes included as deed restrictions, management agreements with primary land managers and congressional established wilderness designations which were not part of the acquisition documents and authorities. “... as a refuge and breeding ground for birds and other wildlife: ...” Executive Order 8037, dated Jan. 18, 1939 “... for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds.” 16 U.S.C. 715d (Migratory Bird Conservation Act). “... conservation, management, and restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans...” 16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)(2) (National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act). From http://www.fws.gov/refuges/databases/ 1.2 Relation to Other Plans A Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy for Georgia (Georgia Department of Natural Resources 2005) Supported by the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program, Georgia's CWCS (also known as the State Wildlife Action Plan) identifies the challenges facing Georgia's diverse wildlife species and devises strategies to conserve those "species with the greatest conservation need," and their habitats. Georgia ranks sixth in the nation in overall species diversity based on numbers of vascular plants, vertebrate animals, and selected invertebrates. The state currently has 223 species that are protected by state or federal laws and hundreds of additional animal and plant species in need of conservation. The CWCS is a guide to conserving the species of fish and wildlife that have immediate conservation needs or are key indicators of the diversity and health of the state’s wildlife. The CWCS emphasizes a cooperative, proactive approach to conservation, inviting local governments, businesses, and 1 conservation-minded organizations and individuals to join in the task of maintaining the fish and wildlife resources The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) Recovery Plan (USFWS 2003) The ultimate recovery goal is red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis) viability. Once this goal is met, the size, number, and distribution of populations will be sufficient to counteract threats of demographic, environmental, genetic, and catastrophic stochastic events, thereby maintaining long-term viability for the species as defined by current understanding of these processes. Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan (Rich et. al. 2004) The Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan (hereafter Plan) provides a continental synthesis of priorities and objectives that will guide landbird conservation actions at national and international scales. The scope for this Plan is the 448 species of native landbirds that regularly breed in the U.S. and Canada. Fully 100 of these species warrant inclusion on the PIF Watch List, due to a combination of threats to their habitats, declining populations, small population sizes, or limited distributions. Of these, 28 species require immediate action to protect small remaining populations, and 44 more are in need of management to reverse long-term declines. This Plan also highlights the need for stewardship of the species and landscapes characteristic of each portion of the continent, identifying 158 species (including 66 on the Watch List) that are particularly representative of large avifaunal biomes, and whose needs should be considered in conservation planning. Taken together, the pool of Watch List and Stewardship Species represent the landbirds of greatest continental importance for conservation action. Although the recommended actions may vary from region to region, no area in North America is without a conservation need for landbirds. NBCI – National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (National Bobwhite Technical Committee 2011) The NBCI charged with meeting the conservation and management needs of the northern bobwhite quail and facilitate integration with other bird management plans. The goal is to restore bobwhites to the density they enjoyed during the baseline year 1980. Forest habitat objectives are to enhance habitats in pinelands and mixed pine-hardwood forests through silvicultural treatments such as thinning and prescribed burning. North American Waterfowl Management Plan (North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Plan Committee 2004) The North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) was developed and signed in 1986 in response to declining waterfowl populations. This plan lays out a strategy between the United States, Canadian and Mexican (after 1994) governments to restore wetlands. Recovery of these shared resources is implemented through habitat protection, restoration, 2 and enhancement through regionally-based self-directed partnerships known as joint ventures. The original plan was updated in 1994, 1998 and 2004. 3 4 2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND BACKGROUND 2.1 Location Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge is 34,949 acres, in Jones (28,552 acres) and Jasper (6,397 acres) Counties, Georgia. Atlanta is approximately 60 miles to the northwest; Macon is approximately 20 miles to the south. 5 2.2 Management Units The refuge is divided into 34 compartments of varying sizes. Compartment 1 is the smallest, at 486 acres; compartment 18 is the largest, at 1,975 acres. 6 2.3 Physical Elements The refuge's topography is typical of the region, with open low hills interspersed with small streams. Twenty to 50 percent of the area is gently sloping; the majority of the slope is on uplands. Elevations range from 360 to 640 feet above sea level. Major streams flow in a southwesterly direction. The northern portion of the refuge is drained by Little Falling Creek, Allison Creek, Caney Creek, Stalkinghead Creek, and Rocky Branch. These creeks drain into Falling Creek, which empties into the Ocmulgee River three miles from the refuge boundary. The refuge's southern portion is drained by Hurricane Creek and Butler’s Creek, which also empty into the Ocmulgee River. There are intermittent streams scattered throughout the refuge. Soils directly influence the kind and amount of vegetation and the amount of water available; in this way they indirectly influence the kind of wildlife that can live in an area. The soils found on the refuge can be classified into three soil orders – ultisols, alfisols and inceptisols (Payne 1976). Within these orders are nine soil series. The series Davidson, Vance, Cecil and Gwinnett are found in the order ultisols. These soils are acidic and are characterized by an argillic or clay deposition horizon. Soils in the Davidson, Vance and Cecil series occupy 78 percent of the refuge. This series, along with soils in the series Vance and Cecil are found on interstream ridgetops and slopes (2 to 25 percent) adjacent to drainages. Most of these soils are classed as eroded; in some areas erosion has removed all or nearly the entire original surface layer. Soils in the Gwinnett series occur on steep slopes (15 to 35 percent) adjacent to drainages. Two soil series in the order alfisols occur on the refuge – Enon and Wilkes. These soils are similar to the ultisols in that they have an agrillic horizon as the identifying horizon; however, alfisols have a higher pH than ultisols. Enon and Wilkes soils occur on the uplands and on slopes adjacent to drainages. They occupy 12 percent of the refuge. Inceptisols are young soils with no distinct horizons. Within this order are found the soil series Chewacla, Starr, and Congaree. These soils are found along the stream bottoms. They occupy 10 percent of the refuge. Various degrees of erosion are found on all these soils. On 20 percent of the area the topsoil is completely gone. An additional 70 percent retains only a thin layer of topsoil. Gullies are numerous throughout the forest. 2.4 Weather The refuge is located near the geographical center of Georgia so it has a blend of maritime and continental climates. The area experiences all four seasons. Summers typically consist of long spells of warm and humid weather. Average afternoon high temperatures are in the upper 80s to around 90. Readings of 90 or higher can be expected on 30 to 60 days. Overnight lows usually range from the middle 60s to lower 70s. Temperatures during winter months are more variable. Stretches of mild weather alternate with cold spells. Winter high temperatures average in the 7 50s, while lows average in the 30s. Lows of 32 degrees or below can be expected on 50 to 70 days. Spring and autumn seasons are characterized by daily and annual variability. The average dates of first freeze in the autumn range from late October to mid-November.