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Environmental Conservation and ManagementBotany, Ecology, and Taxonomy StudiesRangeland and Wildlife ManagementIowa Wetland Management DistrictU.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 (Midwest Region) Division of Conservation Planning; Bloomington, MNU.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceThe mission of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. Comprehensive Conservation Plans provide long-term guidance for management decisions; set forth goals, objectives and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes; and, identify the Fish and Wildlife Service's best estimate of future needs. These plans detail program planning levels that are sometimes substantially above current budget allocations and, as such, are primarily for Service strategic planning and program prioritization purposes. The plans do not constitute a commitment for staffing increases, operational and maintenance increases, or funding for future land acquisition.FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 5600 American Blvd. West, Suite 990 Bloomington, MN 55437-1458Monday, August 19 th, 2013 Dear Reader: We are pleased to provide you with this Environmental Assessment and Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (EA/CCP) for the Iowa Wetland Management District (WMD, district). The Iowa WMD encompasses 35 counties in north-central and northwest Iowa following the southern range of the poorly drained Prairie Pothole Region. The primary purposes of the district are production areas for waterfowl and habitat for migratory birds. Together with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provides wetland habitat with adjacent upland grassland habitat across the district. This EA/CCP identifies and evaluates a range of alternatives for managing the Iowa WMD. Four alternatives are described, compared, and assessed, including a No Action Alternative (Alternative A) as required by the National Environmental Policy Act regulations. The final version of this plan will guide management of the district over the next 15 years. It will also help the district meet its purposes and contribute to the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System as well as provide both broad and specific guidance for management of the district’s physical, biological, socio-economic, and cultural resources. Public involvement in the planning process is essential for development of a quality plan. We invite you to review the document and submit comments to ensure that the final CCP is both visionary and practical. We will host open houses where you will be able to ask questions and voice concerns and suggestions. Meeting dates and locations will be announced through local media outlets and by other means. Please submit your comments to the Service during the 30-day public review period so they can be taken into consideration during the preparation of the final CCP. Address comments to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Iowa WMD, Attention: CCP Comment, 1710-360 th Street, Titonka, Iowa, 50480; fax comments to "District Manager” at 515-928-2230; and e-mail comments to r3planning@fws.gov (include “Iowa WMD CCP Comment” in the subject line). Please review and provide comment on the plan’s content by Tuesday, September 17 th, 2013. All comments received from the public will become part of the Service’s planning record. We look forward to continuing the dialogue about the future of the district, and thank you for your continued interest in keeping the district a special place for both wildlife and people. Sincerely,Tom Larson Chief, Division of Conservation PlanningIowa WMD / Environmental Assessment and Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan iIowa Wetland Management DistrictTable of ContentsExecutive Summary................................................................................................................. 1 Chapter 1: Purpose of and Need for the Proposed Action.................................................... 1 The Process and the Plan ...................................................................................................................... 1 The Chapter............................................................................................................................................ 2 The District.............................................................................................................................................. 2 Easements ....................................................................................................................................... 2 Proposed Action ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Purpose of and Need for the Proposed Action....................................................................................... 5 Decisions to be Made ............................................................................................................................. 6 Chapter 2: District Planning Context...................................................................................... 7 Refuge System Planning Guidance........................................................................................................ 7 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service .................................................................................................. 7 FWS Mission.............................................................................................................................. 7 The National Wildlife Refuge System .............................................................................................. 7 NWRS Mission........................................................................................................................... 8 NWRS Goals ............................................................................................................................. 8 NWRS Guiding Principles.......................................................................................................... 8 Ecological Integrity ........................................................................................................................... 9 Cooperative Farming......................................................................................................................10 Legal and Policy Compliance.........................................................................................................11 Wilderness Review.........................................................................................................................11 District Management Guidance ............................................................................................................11 Brief History of District Establishment and Acquisition ..................................................................12 District Purposes ............................................................................................................................14 District Vision Statement................................................................................................................17 District Goals..................................................................................................................................17 Relationship to Other Conservation Initiatives .....................................................................................17 Migratory Bird Conservation Initiatives ..........................................................................................17 Strategic Habitat Conservation ......................................................................................................18 SHC Guiding Principles ...........................................................................................................20 Plains and Prairie Pothole Landscape Conservation Cooperative ................................................20 Region 3 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Priorities........................................................................21 Climate Change Planning ..............................................................................................................21 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service .................................................................................................21 State of Iowa............................................................................................................................22 Iowa’s State Wildlife Action Plan....................................................................................................24 Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program ..........................................................................................24 Iowa DNR Private Lands Program.................................................................................................26Iowa WMD / Environmental Assessment and Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan iiBird Conservation Areas ................................................................................................................26Important Bird Areas ......................................................................................................................26Wetland Reserve Program.............................................................................................................27Conservation Reserve Program.....................................................................................................27Other Conservation Lands in the Area...........................................................................................29The Planning Process ..........................................................................................................................29Public Involvement.........................................................................................................................29Inventory, Monitoring, and Research.............................................................................................31Plan Review and Revision .............................................................................................................32Planning Issues..............................................................................................................................32Issues that Drive an Alternative...............................................................................................32Wildlife...............................................................................................................................32Habitat...............................................................................................................................32People ...............................................................................................................................34Issues that Do Not Drive an Alternative ..................................................................................34Public Use .........................................................................................................................34Inventory, Monitoring, Research.......................................................................................35The Partnership.................................................................................................................36Land Acquisition................................................................................................................36Management Tools ...........................................................................................................36Wildlife...............................................................................................................................37Chapter 3: Management Alternatives ....................................................................................38Development of the Management Alternatives ....................................................................................38Selecting the Preferred Alternative.......................................................................................................41Elements Common to All Alternatives ..................................................................................................41Summary of the Alternatives ................................................................................................................42Alternative A: Current Management (No Action)..................................................................................45Alternative B: Breeding Waterfowl........................................................................................................46Alternative C: Migrating Waterfowl .......................................................................................................46Alternative D: Preferred Alternative – Breeding Waterfowl ..................................................................47Alternatives Considered but not Analyzed in Detail .............................................................................48Solutions Considered but Eliminated.............................................................................................48Alternatives Considered but Eliminated.........................................................................................49Summary of Environmental Consequences .........................................................................................49Chapter 4: District Environment, Current Management, and EnvironmentalConsequences ........................................................................................................................52Physical Environment ...........................................................................................................................52Geographic Setting ........................................................................................................................52Current Management...............................................................................................................52Effects......................................................................................................................................52Ecosystem Setting .........................................................................................................................53Current Management...............................................................................................................53Effects......................................................................................................................................53Topography and Geology ..............................................................................................................54Current Management...............................................................................................................56Effects......................................................................................................................................56Climate ...........................................................................................................................................56Predicted Change....................................................................................................................57Effects......................................................................................................................................59The Soil Resource..........................................................................................................................60Current Management...............................................................................................................61Effects......................................................................................................................................61Water Resources ...........................................................................................................................62Current Management...............................................................................................................69Effects......................................................................................................................................69Air Quality.......................................................................................................................................71Iowa WMD / Environmental Assessment and Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan iiiCurrent Management...............................................................................................................71Effects......................................................................................................................................72Habitat ..................................................................................................................................................73Wetlands ........................................................................................................................................78Current Management...............................................................................................................79Native Grasslands..........................................................................................................................80Current Management...............................................................................................................81Non-Native Grasslands ..................................................................................................................82Current Management...............................................................................................................82Other Habitats ................................................................................................................................83Current Management...............................................................................................................84Effects for all Habitats ....................................................................................................................84Wildlife ..................................................................................................................................................85Resident Wildlife ............................................................................................................................85Plants.......................................................................................................................................85Mammals .................................................................................................................................86Fish and Mussels.....................................................................................................................86Reptiles and Amphibians.........................................................................................................86Insects .....................................................................................................................................87Threatened and Endangered Species ...........................................................................................87Least Tern – Endangered (Sterna antillarum).........................................................................87Current Management ........................................................................................................88Topeka Shiner – Endangered (Notropis topeka).....................................................................88Current Management ........................................................................................................88Indiana Bat – Endangered (Myotis sodalis).............................................................................88Current Management ........................................................................................................88Prairie Bush Clover – Threatened (Lespedeza leptostachya).................................................89Current Management ........................................................................................................89Western Prairie Fringed Orchid – Threatened (Platanthera praeclara) ..................................89Current Management ........................................................................................................89Poweshiek Skipperling – Candidate Species (Oarisma poweshiek).......................................91Current Management ........................................................................................................91Dakota Skipper – Candidate Species (Hesperia dacotae)......................................................91Current Management ........................................................................................................92Migratory Birds ...............................................................................................................................92Waterfowl.................................................................................................................................92Current Management ........................................................................................................93Shorebirds ...............................................................................................................................93Current Management ........................................................................................................94Waterbirds ...............................................................................................................................95Current Management ........................................................................................................95Grassland Birds .......................................................................................................................95Current Management ........................................................................................................96Invasive Species ............................................................................................................................96Current Management...............................................................................................................97Effects for all Wildlife......................................................................................................................97People.................................................................................................................................................102Socioeconomic Setting.................................................................................................................103Current Situation....................................................................................................................103Demographics .................................................................................................................103Agriculture, Commodity Prices and Land Valuation .......................................................103Environmental Justice.....................................................................................................104Land Use Patterns ..........................................................................................................104Effects....................................................................................................................................106Visitor Services ............................................................................................................................108Current Management.............................................................................................................108Iowa WMD / Environmental Assessment and Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan ivEffects....................................................................................................................................109Historic and Cultural Resources ..................................................................................................111Native American History and Early Settlement .....................................................................111Cultural Resource Management............................................................................................112Effects....................................................................................................................................113District Administration ..................................................................................................................113Current Situation....................................................................................................................113District Support.............................................................................................................................114Current Situation....................................................................................................................114Appendix A: Implementation of the Preferred Alternative .................................................115Objectives and Strategies...................................................................................................................115Goal 1: Wildlife .............................................................................................................................115Issue 1-1: Focal species group and life cycle........................................................................115Goal 2: Habitat .............................................................................................................................118Issue 2-1: Prolonged decline of grassland-dependent bird populations due to the decline ofgrassland habitat ...................................................................................................................118Issue 2-2: Upland habitat quality ...........................................................................................120Issue 2-3: Focal wetland type................................................................................................123Issue 2-4: Wetland quality .....................................................................................................126Issue 2-5: Food plot use ........................................................................................................129Strategic Land Protection.............................................................................................................131Issues 2-6 and 2-7: Decreasing purchasing power of existing funds and priority areas foracquisition..............................................................................................................................131Goal 3: People .............................................................................................................................133Issue 3-1: District awareness and understanding .................................................................133Issue 3-2: Appropriate recreational opportunities..................................................................135Appendix B: Species Lists ...................................................................................................140Plants..................................................................................................................................................140Mammals ............................................................................................................................................146Birds....................................................................................................................................................148Fish and Mussels................................................................................................................................158Reptiles and Amphibians....................................................................................................................164Appendix C: Abbreviations and Glossary...........................................................................166Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................................166Glossary..............................................................................................................................................167Appendix D: Legal and Policy Guidance.............................................................................178Appendix E: Literature Cited................................................................................................191Appendix F: Appropriate Use Designations........................................................................199Appendix G: Draft Compatibility Determinations ...............................................................202Appendix H: List of Preparers and Contributors ................................................................250Appendix I: Communications...............................................................................................252U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ............................................................................................................252Tribes..................................................................................................................................................252Individuals...........................................................................................................................................252Media ..................................................................................................................................................252Congressional Officials.......................................................................................................................253Appendix J: Memorandum of Understanding with Iowa Department of Natural Resources...............................................................................................................................................257Iowa WMD / Environmental Assessment and Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan vList of FiguresFigure 1-1: The Iowa WMD........................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 1-2: The Prairie Pothole Region ........................................................................................................ 4 Figure 1-3: Farm Service Agency Conservation Easements (black dots) and Area of Responsibility (gray shading) Managed by the Iowa WMD........................................................................................................... 4 Figure 2-1: Significant Events in the Establishment of the Iowa WMD.......................................................13 Figure 2-2: WMDs Established Under the Small Wetlands Program .........................................................14 Figure 2-3: Priority Wetland Complexes for Acquisition and Restoration in the Iowa WMD ......................15 Figure 2-4: Existing Basins in the Iowa WMD for Potential Wetland Restoration (Example).....................16 Figure 2-5: Conservation Initiatives Relevant to the Iowa WMD ................................................................19 Figure 2-6: Protected* Land in Iowa ...........................................................................................................28 Figure 4-1: Bailey’s Ecoregional Provinces, Sections, and Subsections for the Iowa WMD......................55 Figure 4-2: The Landforms of Iowa.............................................................................................................56 Figure 4-3: Soils of the Iowa WMD .............................................................................................................63 Figure 4-4: Historic and Existing Wetland Comparison of the Iowa WMD .................................................65 Figure 4-5: Watersheds, Rivers, and Lakes of the Iowa WMD...................................................................67 Figure 4-6: Iowa’s Remaining Tallgrass Prairie Remnants.........................................................................74 Figure 4-7: Potential Natural Vegetation of the Iowa WMD ........................................................................75 Figure 4-8: National Land Cover (2006) of the Iowa WMD.........................................................................76 Figure 4-9: Vegetative Cover for Spring Run Waterfowl Production Area in the Iowa WMD.....................77 Figure 4-10: National Wetlands Inventory of the Iowa WMD......................................................................80 Figure 4-11: Topeka Shiner Critical Habitat in Iowa ...................................................................................90List of TablesTable 2-1: Past Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Projects within the Iowa WMD ............................25 Table 2-2: Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Projects within the Iowa WMD Recorded in HabITS* .26 Table 2-3: Step-Down Management Plan Completion Schedule for the Iowa WMD .................................31 Table 3-1: Alternative-driving Issues and all “Solutions” Considered for the Iowa WMD ...........................39 Table 3-2: Management Alternatives Initially Considered for the Iowa WMD ............................................40 Table 3-3: Management Alternatives Considered in Detail for the Iowa WMD ..........................................42 Table 3-4: Objectives for All Management Alternatives Considered in Detail for the Iowa WMD ..............43 Table 3-5: Solutions to Issues Initially Considered but Eliminated for the Iowa WMD ...............................48 Table 3-6: Summary of Environmental Consequences by Alternative for the Iowa WMD .........................51 Table 4-1: Iowa WMD Vegetative Cover Type Classifications as of Summer 2011...................................74 Table 4-2: National Wetlands Inventory Water Regime for the Iowa WMD’s Wet Acres ...........................79Iowa WMD / Environmental Assessment and Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan ES-1
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PublishedAug 13, 2013
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