U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge HC 14, Box 67 Valentine, Nebraska 69201 FORT NIOBRARA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE River Recreation Management Plan January 2005 FORT NIOBRARA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE River Recreation Management Plan Approval U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6 _______________________ ________________ r e b u H e c y o RDate Refuge Manager Fort Niobrara/Valentine/Seier NWR Complex ______________________________ ____________________ Dave Wiseman Date Refuge Supervisor ______________________________ ____________________ e p u h S n oR Date Regional Chief 2 Table of Contents SUMMARY...................................................................................................................... 6 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 8 1.1. Purpose of Plan..............................................................................................................................................8 1.2. Need for Plan .................................................................................................................................................8 1.3. Legal and Policy Guidance ...........................................................................................................................9 National Wildlife Refuge System ...........................................................................................................................9 Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge .............................................................................................................10 Relevant Policy......................................................................................................................................................12 1.4. Refuge Mission, Goals and Objectives.......................................................................................................12 CHAPTER 2. PLANNING PROCESS.......................................................................... 14 2.1. Description of Planning Process.................................................................................................................14 2.2. Comprehensive Conservation Plan............................................................................................................14 2.3. Research and Other Information...............................................................................................................14 Standards of Quality for River Use within the Fort Niobrara Wilderness Area ............................................15 Management Guidance to Address Unacceptable Recreation Impacts on the Niobrara National Scenic River within the Fort Niobrara Wilderness, Nebraska .....................................................................................15 Impacts of River Recreation on Birds at Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge: 2000-2002.....................15 Visitor Use Trends on the Niobrara National Scenic River: 1993-2001...........................................................16 Mixing metaphors: a community based vision for the Niobrara National Scenic River ................................18 Other Information ................................................................................................................................................18 2.4. Public Involvement......................................................................................................................................19 2.5. Issues.............................................................................................................................................................20 Refuge Purposes / Responsibilities ......................................................................................................................20 Visitor Experience.................................................................................................................................................20 Commercial Outfitting .........................................................................................................................................20 User Fee .................................................................................................................................................................20 Facilities/Access.....................................................................................................................................................20 Regulations ............................................................................................................................................................21 Economic and Environmental Consequences.....................................................................................................21 Planning Process & Future Management ...........................................................................................................21 CHAPTER 3. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT ................................................................ 22 3.1 Geographic/Ecosystem Setting ...................................................................................................................22 3.2 Natural Resources .......................................................................................................................................22 Topography/Geology/Soils ...................................................................................................................................22 3 Water Resources ...................................................................................................................................................23 Plants......................................................................................................................................................................23 Wildlife...................................................................................................................................................................24 Threatened and Endangered Species ..................................................................................................................26 3.3. Special Designations ....................................................................................................................................26 Fort Niobrara Wilderness Area...........................................................................................................................26 Niobrara National Scenic River...........................................................................................................................27 3.4 Cultural and Paleontological Resources....................................................................................................27 3.5 Public Use.....................................................................................................................................................28 General...................................................................................................................................................................28 Wildlife-Dependent River Recreation.................................................................................................................28 3.6 Socio-Economics ..........................................................................................................................................33 CHAPTER 4. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ................................................................. 35 4.1. Refuge Purposes / Responsibilities.............................................................................................................35 River Stretch Open to Recreational Use .............................................................................................................35 Annual and Daily River Recreational Use Levels ..............................................................................................35 Specified Times of Day for Wildlife and/or Recreation.....................................................................................36 Minimize Impact to Wildlife, Plants, and Habitats............................................................................................36 Monitoring and Research.....................................................................................................................................36 4.2 Visitor Experience ......................................................................................................................................36 Allocation of Annual Use between Private Floaters and Outfitters..................................................................36 Spectrum of Opportunities (Wilderness Solitude to Recreational) ..................................................................36 Vessel Type and Group Size.................................................................................................................................37 Interpretation and Environmental Education....................................................................................................37 4.3. Commercial Outfitting................................................................................................................................37 River Outfitting Opportunity, Requirements and Selection .............................................................................37 Special Use Permit ................................................................................................................................................38