CENTRAL ARKANSAS NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE COMPLEX Bald Knob, Big Lake, Cache River, and Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuges DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Southeast Region Atlanta, Georgia July 2009 Central Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge Complex TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION A. DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1 Planning Process ..........................................................................................................................1 Alternatives ................................................................................................................................... 1 Selection of Alternative ................................................................................................................. 2 I. BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................. 3 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose and Need for Plan .......................................................................................................... 3 Fish and Wildlife Service .............................................................................................................. 4 National Wildlife Refuge System .................................................................................................. 4 Legal Policy Context ..................................................................................................................... 4 National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 ................................................4 North American Waterfowl Management Plan ....................................................................6 Partners In Flight Bird Conservation Plan ...........................................................................6 United States Shorebird Conservation Plan ........................................................................6 Fisheries Vision for the Future ............................................................................................7 American Woodcock Management Plan .............................................................................7 Northern American Waterbird Conservation Plan ...............................................................7 Relationship to State Wildlife Agency ........................................................................................... 8 II. REFUGE OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................ 9 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 9 Refuge History and Purpose ........................................................................................................ 9 Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge ....................................................................................9 Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge .....................................................................................11 Cache River National Wildlife Refuge ...............................................................................11 Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge ................................................................................12 Special Designations .................................................................................................................. 12 Ecosystem Context .....................................................................................................................13 Overview ........................................................................................................................... 13 Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem Priorities ................................................................... 13 Regional Conservation Plans and Initiatives ..............................................................................15 The Big Woods of Arkansas ..............................................................................................15 Arkansas Wildlife Action Plan ...........................................................................................15 Ecological Threats and Problems ............................................................................................... 15 Climate .............................................................................................................................. 16 Soils .................................................................................................................................. 17 Hydrology .......................................................................................................................... 17 Water Quality and Quantity ...............................................................................................22 Biological Resources .................................................................................................................. 23 Habitat ............................................................................................................................... 23 Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................................... 37 Socioeconomic Environment ...................................................................................................... 39 Refuge Administration and Management ...................................................................................40 Table of Contents i Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 40 Personnel, Operations, and Maintenance......................................................................... 51 III. PLAN DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................. 53 Summary of Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities ..................................................................... 53 IV. MANAGEMENT DIRECTION ....................................................................................................... 61 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 61 Vision ......................................................................................................................................... 61 Goals, Objectives, and Strategies .............................................................................................. 61 Bald Knob National wildlife refuge .............................................................................................. 62 Fish and Wildlife Population Management........................................................................ 62 Habitat Management......................................................................................................... 77 Resource Protection ......................................................................................................... 85 Visitor Services ................................................................................................................. 90 Refuge Administration .................................................................................................... 100 Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge ............................................................................................ 104 Fish and Wildlife Population Management...................................................................... 104 Habitat Management....................................................................................................... 112 Resource Protection ....................................................................................................... 117 Visitor Services ............................................................................................................... 121 Refuge Administration .................................................................................................... 130 Cache River National Wildlife Refuge ...................................................................................... 134 Fish and Wildlife Population Management...................................................................... 134 Habitat Management....................................................................................................... 153 Resource Protection ....................................................................................................... 165 Visitor Services ............................................................................................................... 174 Refuge Administration .................................................................................................... 183 Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge ....................................................................................... 187 Fish and Wildlife Population Management.....................................................................