Comprehensive Conservation Plan Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge December 2006 Prepared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge 702 E. Xavier Road Kirwin, KS 67644 785/543 6673 and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6 Division of Refuge Planning PO Box 25486 DFC Lakewood, CO 80225 303/236 4365 Approved by: __________________________________ ________________ J. Mitch King Date Regional Director, Region 6 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lakewood, CO Comprehensive Conservation Plan Approval Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge Submitted by: __________________________________ ________________ Craig Mowry Date Refuge Manager Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge Kirwin, KS Concurred with: __________________________________ ________________ David Wiseman Date Refuge Supervisor U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6 Lakewood, CO and __________________________________ ________________ Richard A. Coleman, Ph.D. Date Assistant Regional Director National Wildlife Refuge System U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6 Lakewood, CO Contents Summary...................................................................................................................................................................... ix 1 Purpose and Need....................................................................................................................................................1 Agency Guidance ........................................................................................................................................................1 Refuge Overview........................................................................................................................................................3 Purpose and Need for Action....................................................................................................................................3 2 Planning Process......................................................................................................................................................7 The Process .................................................................................................................................................................7 Planning Issues ...........................................................................................................................................................8 3 Refuge Description.................................................................................................................................................11 Physical Resources...................................................................................................................................................11 Habitat .......................................................................................................................................................................15 Wildlife .......................................................................................................................................................................22 Threatened and Endangered Species....................................................................................................................23 Cultural Resources...................................................................................................................................................23 Special Management Areas and Designations......................................................................................................24 Visitor Services.........................................................................................................................................................25 Socioeconomic Setting..............................................................................................................................................26 4 Management Direction .........................................................................................................................................29 Management Summary............................................................................................................................................29 Management Direction ............................................................................................................................................30 Monitoring and Evaluation......................................................................................................................................44 Personnel and Funding............................................................................................................................................44 Glossary ..........................................................................................................................................................................47 Appendix A⎯Key Legislation and Policies .............................................................................................................53 Appendix B⎯ Compatibility Determinations..........................................................................................................57 Appendix C⎯Memorandum of Agreement..............................................................................................................63 Appendix D⎯Landscape-level Goals and Objectives.............................................................................................67 Appendix E⎯List of Preparers, Consultation and Coordination .........................................................................69 Appendix F⎯Environmental Compliance ...............................................................................................................71 Appendix G⎯Public Involvement.............................................................................................................................73 Appendix H⎯Fire Management Program...............................................................................................................81 Appendix I⎯Species List ...........................................................................................................................................85 Appendix J⎯Graphs....................................................................................................................................................91 Appendix K⎯Section 7 Biological Evaluation.........................................................................................................97 Appendix L⎯Refuge Operations Needs System Projects ..................................................................................101 Appendix M⎯Maintenance Management System Projects ................................................................................103 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................................................105 List of Figures and Tables Figures 1. Vicinity map for Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge, Kansas...................................................................................2 2. Platte Kansas Rivers ecosystem................................................................................................................................6 3. Base map for Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge, Kansas ......................................................................................12 4. Kirwin Reservoir surface elevation, 1956–2003.....................................................................................................14 5. Existing habitat conditions at Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge, Kansas .........................................................16 6. Expected habitat conditions at Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge, Kansas........................................................31 7. Regional overview......................................................................................................................................................36 8. Public use at Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge, Kansas .......................................................................................39 Tables 1. Step-down Management Plans for Kirwin NWR ....................................................................................................8 2. Refuge Staffing...........................................................................................................................................................45 Summary This is a summary of the comprehensive The reservoir is fed by the North Fork of the conservation plan (CCP) for the Kirwin National Solomon River and Bow Creek. Both are Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Phillips County, Kansas. intermittent streams which means they may dry up This plan, approved in 2005, will guide management in periods of low precipitation. The reservoir water of the refuge for the next 15 years. levels fluctuate tremendously from year to year, depending upon rain and snow runoff. The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (Improvement Act) requires the U.S. CULTURAL RESOURCES Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to develop a comprehensive conservation plan by 2012 for each Historically, great herds of bison roamed the prairie national wildlife refuge in the National Wildlife grasslands, often followed by wolves that fed on Refuge System (Refuge System). weak and sick animals. Native Americans also resided in this area. Ducks and geese, now attracted to the