Final Draft
U.
S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Version
2.5
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
I. Introduction...................................................................................................1
A. Ecosystem Description....................................................................1
B. Fish and Wildlife Service Field Stations in the Lower
C. Ecosystem Approach Process........................................................
II. Ecosystem Team Goals...............................................................................
III. Strategic Plan.............................................................................................
Appendix A.
Procedures.......................................................................................................
Appendix B.
Appendix C.
and Interested Parties...................................................................................
Appendix D. Team Activity Guidance for Fiscal Year 2003 .......................
Appendix E. Team Accomplishment Report for Fiscal Year 2002....
I. INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this plan is to guide U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service efforts to enhance, restore, and conserve the natural functional processes and habitat types of the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem unit while maintaining the economic productivity and recreational opportunities of the region.
A. ECOSYSTEM DESCRIPTION
The dominant land forms of the
Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem (LMRE) are the alluvial plain of the
The
To migratory birds, the area was
and is of hemispheric importance, serving as the primary wintering grounds for
mid-continent waterfowl populations and breeding habitat for neotropical migratory birds. The alluvial valley likely supported the most
productive freshwater fishery in
Two forces have radically
changed the LMRE, navigation and agriculture.
Since the 1930's the lower
Prior to agricultural development, almost all of the Mississippi Delta was covered with flood plain forests. Today, only about 23 percent remains in forest, and the remaining forest is highly fragmented. The flood plain forests are primarily oak-gum-cypress cover type with co-dominant species of overcup, willow, Nuttall, water, swamp chestnut, and cherrybark oaks, as well as sweetgum, water tupelo, water hickory, willow, cottonwood, sycamore, sugarberry, red maple, box elder, baldcypress, and green ash. Cotton, soybeans, and rice are the most widespread crops but winter wheat, corn, sorghum, and sugar cane are also commonly cultivated. Although cleared of natural vegetation, flooded agricultural fields can provide important wildlife habitat.
The massive navigation and flood control works have essentially stopped the natural processes of the river. The river is now stabilized, fixed in place, unable to move and function as the dynamic system that both created and destroyed a wide variety fish and wildlife habitats such as riffles, oxbows, sand bars, willow banks, and side channels. Equally damaging, the river and its tributaries and distributaries are now denied access to the flood plain. The physical and biological interaction between the rivers and the flood plain is crucial. Flooding into the enormous alluvial plain provided fish spawning sites, nutrient and sediment exchange, and a wealth of varied aquatic and wetland habitats. That kind of river/flood plain functional unit no longer exists.
Headwater flooding from the
Natural patterns of erosion and sedimentation are greatly altered. Erosion rates are increased on both upland and alluvial soils. Sedimentation is increased in swamps, brakes, oxbow lakes, and other depressional areas. Sediment loading in streams and rivers is increased, disrupting natural patterns of aggravation and degradation.
The altered hydrology and sedimentation
have disrupted natural geomorphic processes.
Land and lake formation associated with river meandering and
sedimentation is no longer occurring, restricting the formation of new oxbow
lakes, meander lakes, and sloughs.
Sediment transport from the
The ability of the
river/floodplain ecosystem to transport and assimilate nutrients and chemicals
has been impaired to the point that state and federal water quality standards
are not met in many water bodies. The effects of this degradation even extends into the
B. Fish and Wildlife Service
Field Stations in the
A listing of the Fish and Wildlife Service field stations in the LMRE is provided below.
Felsenthal NWR
Wapanocca NWR
White River NWR
Greers Ferry National Fish Hatchery (NFH)
Mammoth Spring NFH
Little Rock LE
Bald Knob NWR
Overflow NWR
Big
Reelfoot NWR
Bayou Cocodrie NWR
Cameron Prairie NWR
Catahoula NWR
Lacassine NWR
Red River NWR
Sabine NWR
Baton Rouge LE
Louisiana Wetland Management District
St Catherine Creek NWR
Mississippi Wetland Management District
Jackson Wildlife and Habitat Management Office
Jackson Project Development Office
Mingo NWR
Reelfoot NWR Complex
Mississippi Valley District Forester
C. Ecosystem Approach Process
The Lower Mississippi River
Ecosystem team operating procedures were finalized in a
II. Ecosystem Team Goals
RESOURCE GOALS -- The first five goals address the primary living natural resources and their habitats of concern to the Fish and Wildlife Service in the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem.
GOAL 1 Conserve, enhance, protect, and monitor migratory bird populations and their habitats in the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem.
GOAL 2 Protect, restore, and manage the wetlands of the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem.
class=Section3>GOAL 3 Protect and/or restore imperiled habitats and viable populations of all endangered, threatened, and candidate species and species of concern in the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem.
GOAL 4 Protect, restore, and manage the fisheries and other aquatic resources historically associated with the wetlands and waters of the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem.
GOAL 5 Restore, manage, and protect National Wildlife Refuges and National Fish Hatcheries.
SUPPORT GOALS -- The following goals support the accomplishment of all five goals listed above: wetlands, migratory birds, endangered species, fisheries, and Service lands. The support goals are essential to the overall accomplishment of our mission, but do not fit entirely within any one of the five resource goals.
GOAL 6 Increase public awareness and support for Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem resources and their management.
GOAL 7 Enforce natural resource laws.
GOAL 8 Protect, restore, and enhance water and air quality throughout the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem.
III. Strategic Plan
RESOURCE GOALS
GOAL 1 Conserve, enhance, protect, and monitor migratory bird populations and their habitats in the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem.
Objective 1.1 - Existing Goals: Take actions to achieve existing population and habitat goals for all migratory birds. Existing goals are contained in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley Migratory Bird Plan, in plans of the Joint Venture, and in plans from other organizations.
Strategy 1.1.1 - Coordinate migratory bird management programs on federal, state, and private lands to promote shared stewardship between private landowners and public land managers.
Strategy 1.1.2 - Manage National Wildlife Refuges (NWR’s) to meet the needs of migratory birds. Using the stepped down goals of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley Migratory Bird Plan each refuge should identify and fulfill its role. Coastal refuges should refer to the initiative plans of the Gulf Coast Joint Venture of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Other national, regional, and flyway plans, such as the Snow Goose Management Plan and Partners In Flight bird conservation plans, should also be used for guidance.
Strategy 1.1.3 - On public and private lands work to implement the recommendations of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley Migratory Bird Plan to provide habitat for 4.3 million wintering ducks, 1.0 million wintering geese, 500,000 south migrating shorebirds, and to protect/restore 101 forest patches (Appendix B) for breeding forest birds. Each refuge and Ecological Services field office can contribute to this through land management, planning, and the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program.
Strategy 1.1.4 - Develop and implement partnership projects to protect and/or restore at least 10 acres per year of chenier and other coastal forest. Coastal stations should seek opportunities to accomplish this strategy.
Objective 1.2 - New Goals: Establish and achieve numerical goals for all species of migratory birds and/or their habitats.
Strategy 1.2.1 - Build on existing plans to set quantified goals for all species of migratory birds either in terms of number of birds, number of populations, or amount of habitat. This must be a cooperative planning process with a wide range of partners.
Strategy 1.2.2 - After numerical goals are established, precede with on-the- ground actions to achieve the goals.
Objective 1.3 - Monitor population
trends of migratory birds through breeding, production, and harvest surveys;
point counts; and other methods.
Strategy 1.3.1 - NWR’s should meet banding goals and establish breeding and wintering bird point count routes.
Strategy 1.3.2 - Monitor wading bird populations by supporting existing periodic counts of breeding colonies in Mississippi, (the Mississippi Colonial Waterbird Count), Louisiana, Illinois, and other states. All stations should count and report known colonies to the compiling authorities. Cooperation with Wildlife Services (U.S. Department of Agriculture) is important.
Strategy 1.3.3 - Continue midwinter waterfowl surveys, dove coo counts, woodcock counts, Christmas Bird Counts, wing bees, and other organized monitoring activities. Migratory Birds and State Programs should take the lead in this.
GOAL 2 Protect, restore, and manage the wetlands of the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem.
Objective 2.1 - General Wetland Conservation Measures: Implement wetland protection and restoration projects and management measures through watershed planning efforts and other avenues.
Strategy 2.1.1 - Implement and monitor
wetland protection and restoration projects through watershed planning and
implementation efforts such as the Barataria-Terrebonne
National Estuary Program, the Tensas River Basin Initiative, the
Strategy 2.1.2 - Assist private landowners to plan, design, and implement projects that maintain, restore, and enhance wetlands, including streams, through the Wetland Reserve Program, Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, and other landowner assistance and incentive programs. Science-based biological planning models should be used to establish priority areas.
Strategy 2.1.3 - Through regulatory processes (e.g., Section 10/404) recommend that significant wetland and stream losses be avoided or fully mitigated.
Strategy 2.1.4 - Participate in water resource development project planning and recommend measures to protect, enhance, and restore wetlands and streams.
Objective 2.2 - Coastal
Wetlands: Sustain and restore the ecological value and economic
productivity of the
Strategy 2.2.1 - Participate actively in the Louisiana
Coastal Area Feasibility Study program and on the associated Coast 2050 Co-Location Team, Regional
Planning Teams and Framework Development Team to help develop and implement an
updated comprehensive plan for sustaining the
Strategy 2.2.2 - Work with the Louisiana Coastal Wetlands Conservation and Restoration Task Force to plan, select, and implement wetland restoration projects funded by the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act and other sources.
Strategy 2.2.3 - Work with the North American Waterfowl Management
Plan Gulf Coast Joint Venture Board, and
the associated Chenier Plain and Mississippi Coastal
Wetlands Initiative. Teams to fund and implement projects
that protect and restore coastal wetlands and associated habitats for the
benefit of migratory birds and other wetland dependent fish and wildlife in
coastal
Objective 2.3 - Forested Wetlands: Protect and restore bottomland hardwood forest habitat values and functions to support trust species.
Strategy 2.3.1 - Implement the
recommendations of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley Migratory Bird Conservation
Plan to restore 101 forest patches (Appendix B) for breeding forest birds. Each refuge and Ecological Services field
office can contribute to this through land management, planning, and the
Partners for Fish and Wildlife program.
Strategy 2.3.2 - Maintain, restore,
manage, and connect forest patches to support viable populations of
Objective 2.4 - Seasonal Ponding of Rainfall: Restore and manage seasonal ponding of rainfall and pumped water to provide wetland and water quality functions.
Strategy 2.4.1 - Follow the stepped-down recommendations of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley Migratory Bird Plan as a guide to restore and manage wetland hydrology and to provide food/forage on forested, moist soil, and cropped wetlands on public and private lands to provide habitat for migratory waterfowl, wading birds, and shorebirds.
GOAL 3 Protect and/or restore imperiled habitats and viable populations of all endangered, threatened, and candidate species and species of concern in the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem. (Species of concern can be identified from lists prepared by states, The Nature Conservancy, natural heritage programs, Partners In Flight, and other authoritative sources.)
Objective 3.1 - Implement actions to preclude the need for listing and to facilitate the recovery of listed species.
Strategy 3.1.1 - Work cooperatively with all partners to recover listed species. This especially includes well organized groups such as the Black Bear Conservation Committee and Pallid Sturgeon Recovery Team. Preparing and implementing coordinated recovery plans is an important step in this process.
Strategy 3.1.2 - Determine biannually the status of all listed species and develop monitoring protocols for listed species and species of concern. Ecological Services field offices should take the lead in planning this effort.
Strategy 3.1.3 - Assist private
landowners to develop and implement Habitat Conservation Plans,
Strategy 3.1.4 - Encourage Section 7 consultations on all federal actions impacting listed species. Ecological Services field offices should accomplish this.
Strategy 3.1.5 - Use federal fish hatcheries for captive propagation and for restoration of listed aquatic species.
Strategy 3.1.6 - Monitor species of concern and take any actions required to prevent the need to list these species.
Objective 3.2 - Prevent damages to the LMRE’s ecological functions and trust resources caused by nonindigenous flora and fauna.
Strategy 3.2.1 - Identify exotic species problems and jointly plan and carry out efforts to prevent introductions of and damages from unwanted non-native species.
Strategy 3.2.2 - Coordinate and/or carry out activities to monitor the distribution and effects of non-native species on native biota.
Strategy 3.2.3 - Protect native species from the effects of non-native encroachments by establishing refugia populations.
GOAL 4 Protect, restore, and manage the fisheries and other aquatic resources historically associated with the wetlands and waters of the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem.
Objective 4.1 - Restore and manage native aquatic species.
Strategy 4.1.1 - Through the Lower
Mississippi River Conservation Committee
implement the Lower Mississippi Aquatic Resources Management Plan for the lower
Strategy 4.1.2 - Identify, protect, and enhance important LMRE aquatic habitat areas that warrant special attention, including acquisition of aquatic resource areas under the National Wildlife Refuge system and cooperation with partners in stream restoration projects.
Strategy 4.1.3 - In cooperation with partners, work to protect, restore, or enhance aquatic, riparian, and floodplain habitats.
Strategy 4.1.4 - Identify and implement opportunities for aquatic species management and restoration on Service lands.
Strategy 4.1.5 - Participate in developing data management systems and interagency data sharing for aquatic resources.
Objective 4.2 - Stabilize and restore anadromous fishes and other depleted
Strategy 4.2.1 - Cooperate with states,
tribes, and other partners to protect, restore, and enhance anadromous
fish habitats,
Strategy 4.2.2 - Participate in developing data management systems and interagency data sharing for coastal aquatic resources.
Strategy 4.2.3 - Ensure that all propagation programs contributing to fisheries and aquatic resources are supported by distinct management objectives and that criteria have been established to evaluate stocking and determine that objectives are achieved.
Objective 4.3 - Protect and restore the ecological functions of smaller coastal plain river drainages.
Strategy 4.3.1 - Use regulatory processes and partnerships to protect and restore coastal rivers.
GOAL 5 Restore, manage, and
protect National Wildlife Refuges and National Fish Hatcheries.
Objective 5.1 - Protect, manage, and restore Service lands to sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations.
Strategy 5.1.1 - Develop and implement comprehensive conservation plans to manage and restore Service lands.
Strategy 5.1.2 - Identify staff, equipment, and maintenance needs to adequately manage habitats on Service lands.
Strategy 5.1.3 - Maintain all Service facilities and equipment at or above Service standards in order to prevent decline or degradation of current Service stations.
Strategy 5.1.4 - Ensure the compatibility of all "uses" on refuges and hatcheries by modifying or eliminating those uses incompatible with Service goals and unit objectives.
Objective 5.2 - Identify biological needs on refuges.
Strategy 5.2.1 - Obtain baseline data and monitor species and their habitats on refuges. Share these data with all partners in order to contribute to landscape level biological data bases and to properly carry out the requirements of the Refuge Improvement Act.
Strategy 5.2.2 - Provide needed biological expertise on each refuge to meet Refuge Improvement Act, GPRA, and Ecosystem Plan monitoring and research requirements.
Strategy 5.2.3 - Conduct survey and monitoring programs for trust species on Service lands, to include baseline data and key indicator species. Coordinate with other federal, state, and local agencies and private organizations to standardize survey and monitoring protocols. Refuges should meet banding goals and establish breeding and winter bird point counts.
Objective 5.3 - Support existing, and expand where appropriate, fish and wildlife dependant recreational opportunities and environmental education on Service lands.
Strategy 5.3.1 - Initiate and expand refuge and hatchery facilities that support local and regional economic opportunities, such as habitat and fish restoration, recreation, and education.
Strategy 5.3.2 - Promote public awareness about Service lands and provide compatible fish/wildlife/wildland-dependant recreation to instill a natural resource conservation and stewardship ethic.
class=Section7>Strategy 5.3.3 - Maintain and enhance opportunities for hunting, fishing, trapping, and non-consumptive wildlife-oriented recreation on Service lands.
Objective 5.4 - Protect refuges, trust species, and visitors.
Strategy 5.4.1 - Identify and prioritize Law Enforcement actions needed to protect refuges, including preventative methods such as signs and brochures.
Strategy 5.4.2 - Create and staff properly equipped Law Enforcement positions on refuges to protect refuges. Enforce regulations that protect trust resources, essential habitats, and the public.
Strategy 5.4.3 - Coordinate activities, enforcement actions, and programs with other Law Enforcement agencies/organizations to ensure an optimal, proactive enforcement program.
Objective 5.5 - Protect, restore, and manage water quality, quantity, and deliveries to mimic natural hydrological conditions on refuge lands and to ensure quality water supplies for production efforts at hatcheries.
Strategy 5.5.1 - Identify threshold limits for nutrients and contaminants and evaluate extent/effect of water quality problems on refuge and hatchery lands.
Strategy 5.5.2 - Modify, as needed, water delivery systems and regulation schedules that affect refuge lands and hatchery production.
Strategy 5.5.3 - Establish close working relationships with the Corps of Engineers, water management districts, and other governmental agencies to monitor water quality, quantity, and deliveries on and to refuge lands and hatcheries.
Objective 5.6 - Reduce and/or eliminate bio-invasive species from refuge and hatchery lands.
Strategy 5.6.1 - Identify exotic species problems and issues on refuge and hatchery lands.
Strategy 5.6.2 - Increase management efforts to eradicate and/or prevent the presence of exotics and invasives on hatchery and refuge lands.
Strategy 5.6.3 - Monitor treatments to evaluate success of eradication efforts.
Objective 5.7 - Identify and seek acquisition of suitable habitats to meet LMRE habitat objectives.
Strategy 5.7.1 - Identify and make science-based recommendations for the acquisition of suitable habitats as refuge lands.
SUPPORT GOALS
GOAL 6 Increase public awareness and support for Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem resources and their management.
Objective 6.1 - Increase Public Awareness: Promote increased stewardship of ecosystem resources through environmental education, interpretation, and other outreach methods.
Strategy 6.1.1 - The LMRE Outreach Committee should develop and implement a coordinated public outreach plan for the ecosystem, to include to the extent possible, station-specific actions. All field stations will have responsibility for implementation.
Strategy 6.1.2 - Routinely involve interested publics in resource planning efforts. This especially applies to Ecological Services field offices and refuges preparing Comprehensive Conservation Plans.
Strategy 6.1.3.- Establish and maintain an LMRE website.
Objective 6.2 - Improve outreach capabilities on Service lands.
Strategy 6.2.1 - Operate visitor centers and visitor contact stations/points to provide the public with current information concerning refuge and hatchery lands and resources as well as compatible recreational uses available on those lands.
Strategy 6.2.2 - Identify personnel and information needs to meet environmental education objectives on refuges and hatcheries.
GOAL 7 Enforce natural resource laws.
Objective 7.1 - Law Enforcement: Support maintenance of viable fish and wildlife populations through law enforcement actions.
Strategy 7.1.1 - Investigate illegal/incidental take of listed species and migratory birds.
Strategy 7.1.2 - When requested provide law enforcement assistance to state agencies and other partners on habitats and species not traditionally considered Fish and Wildlife Service responsibilities.
Strategy 7.1.3 - Protect the species composition of the ecosystem and reduce listed species losses by making port-of-entry inspections/investigations and enforcing the Lacey Act.
Strategy 7.1.4 Coordinate with state, federal, and other law enforcement agents in efforts to halt unwanted non-native species introduction and spread.
Strategy 7.1.5 - Conduct criminal investigations of suspected contaminant violations which impact trust resources.
GOAL 8 Protect, restore, and enhance water and air quality throughout the Lower Mississippi River Ecosystem.
Objective 8.1 - Reduce point source and non-point source discharges.
.
Strategy 8.1.1 - Work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and State water quality agencies to implement the 2001 Clean Water Act (CWA) Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) regarding enhanced coordination between USEPA, FWS, and National Marine Fisheries Service under the CWA and Endangered Species Act.
Strategy 8.1.2 - Work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and State water quality agencies to prioritize waterbodies in the LMRE for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDLs) development and standardize modeling and implementation procedures utilized in each of the States within the LMRE to protect fish and wildlife resources.
Strategy 8.1.3 - Work with state and federal agencies to strengthen water and air quality standards, discharge limits, monitoring, and use designations to foster protection and recovery of fish and wildlife populations
Strategy 8.1.4 - Work with agricultural
interests, private land owners, and state and federal agencies to promote Best
Management Practices and partnership projects that reduce soil, nutrient,
pesticide, herbicide, and crop residue runoff. Areas of special interest
include the Barataria-Terrebonne basin, the Mennentau basin,
Objective 8.2 - Contaminants: At problem contaminant sites, advocate cleanup and restoration of fish and wildlife habitat values.
Strategy 8.2.1 - Work with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and State emergency response agencies to implement the 2001 Memorandum of Agreement regarding oil spill planning and response activities under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act’s National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingency Plan (NCP) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Strategy 8.2.2 - Investigate oil and hazardous material spills and recommend cleanup and restorative measures to protect trust species.
Strategy 8.2.3 - Investigate potentially contaminated sites (superfund sites, new and existing Service lands, other areas with evidence of contamination) and recommend and, where appropriate, implement cleanup and restorative measures..
Objective 8.3 - Reduce the
Strategy 8.3.1 - Evaluate, promote, and
support public works projects and land owner incentive programs that reduce
nutrient discharge from the LMRE into the northern
Appendix A.
I. Team Organization
A. Membership - The Team shall consist of all field Project Leaders having operational responsibilities within the LMR Ecosystem and whose immediate supervisor and performance rating official is located in the Regional Office, and shall also include, as non-voting members, the assigned ARD and Deputy ARD. A current mailing list of Team members is to be maintained by the Team Leader and distributed to all Team members.
B. Team Leadership - The Team shall select a Team Leader, by majority vote, to serve for a term of 2 years. Individuals can serve as Team Leader for more than one term.
C. Committees - The Team will select, by majority vote of its members present at a full Team meeting, a Steering Committee comprised of 8 members to serve staggered 3-year terms; the Team Leader will serve as an additional (9th) member of the Steering Committee. Members may be elected to serve consecutive terms, and should include representatives from all Program areas .
Nominations will be obtained from the Team prior to meetings at which elections are held; those who nominate members for the Steering Committee or Team Leader will obtain prior concurrence from the potential nominee. Voting shall be conducted by ballot, as opposed to a show of hands.
Because the Service has decided to retain strong program identities, membership on the Steering Committee shall be distributed across program lines as follows:
Program No. of Members
Refuges 2
Law Enforcement 2
Ecological Services 2
Fisheries 1
At Large 1
All 8 members of the Steering Committee will be elected at the first Team meeting held under these operating procedures. For that first election only, three members will be selected for a 1 -year term, three members for a 2-year term, and three members for a 3-year term. The distribution among programs will be as follows:
1 -Year Term 2-Year Term 3-Year Term
Law Enf. Law Enforcement .
Refuges Refuges Ecological Services
At Large Ecological Svcs. Fisheries
In all subsequent elections, only the three members whose term is expiring will be replaced.
The Steering Committee, with input from the Team, may also designate other committees to facilitate operational efficiency and foster greater involvement. Membership (not required to be a project leader) will be solicited from the Team; the Steering Committee will appoint members to other committees, with open and unlimited participation allowed (except on the Private Lands Committee). Only designated members of committees will have voting rights on those committees. The purposes of the various committees will be prescribed and approved by the Steering Committee.
D. Work Groups - Biological Advisory Committee - A multi-discipline committee will be established to participate with partners and partnerships to develop, implement, and monitor landscape level biological plans that benefit trust resources. As a minimum, membership should have cross-program representation similar to that listed for the Steering Committee. Ecosystem Team approval or endorsement of any programs, decisions, recommendations developed by this committee or further subdivisions of this committee must be made by the Ecosystem Team or, when appropriate, the Steering Committee.
II. Meetings
A. Frequency - Team meetings shall be held at least semi-annually. Steering Committee meetings shall be held at least semi-annually (more frequently, if needed). Meeting frequency of other committees and work groups will be up to those entities, except when directed by the Team, Team Leader, or Steering Committee.
B. Notification - All team members will be notified in writing, at least 30 days in advance, of any Team meeting and 15 days in advance of a committee meeting.
C. Management - Team and Steering Committee meetings will be chaired by the Team Leader or his/her designee; other committee and work group meetings will be chaired by their respective chairperson/group leader. Any team member or their designee can attend steering committee meetings.
Every effort will be made to reach consensus on key decisions made at Team and Steering committee meetings; when necessary, however, decisions will be made by majority vote of the members present. Persons designated by team members to represent them in their absence are eligible to vote.
D. Meeting Summaries - A written summary of key discussions, decisions, and action items will be provided to all Team members no more than 10 days after those meetings.
III. Responsibilities
A. Team Leader - The Team Leader is authorized to conduct the day-to-day business of Team management, including the items listed below, and requests for budget information having a very short due date (1 to 2 days). The steering committee will use polling via email as a means of getting full-team input on decisions. If a poll for input or voting is sent out, a Receipt Request tag should be put on the email message. Responses/votes that do not meet deadline requests are not to be considered. It is the individual team member’s responsibility to keep up with what is happening. Team Leader duties include:
1. Serve as point of contact for the ARDs, Regional Ecosystem Coordinator, and other entities. This includes coordinating responses to requests by those entities for information on budget matters and team accomplishments. The Team Leader will designate an acting from among the Steering Committee in his/her absence. The Regional Office will be notified.
2. Coordinate preparation of Team Activity
Guidance documents.
3. Schedule and chair Team and Steering Committee meetings;
provide notification and proposed meeting agenda (see item II. B.).
4. Distribute Team and Steering Committee meeting reports and
other key information to the Team.
5. Coordinate revision of ecosystem plan.
6. Facilitate/foster overall Team cohesiveness and cross-program
coordination.
B. Steering Committee - The Steering Committee is authorized to work in concert with the Team Leader to accomplish the day-to-day business of the Team, such as Team Activity Guidance development, accomplishment reporting, submittal of funding proposals, reviewing and approving recommendations of committees, providing cross program budget allocation recommendations, fostering cross-program cooperation, and recommending procedural and organizational changes to the team.
Except when time clearly does not permit, the Steering Committee and Team leader will provide opportunity for input by all Team members prior to making recommendations regarding budget and flexible funding allocation, re-programming, and special funding requests to the Regional Office. Funding recommendations within individual programs are the responsibility of the appropriate program Steering Committee representatives in concert with the Team Leader after seeking and obtaining input from the individual program field team members.
C. Biological Advisory Committee - This is a multi-discipline group that will be responsible for participating with partners and partnerships to develop, implement, and monitor landscape level biological plans that benefit trust resources. Specifically, the Committee will work with partners at a landscape scale to:
1.) develop, review, and approve plans and programs that will affect trust resources;
2.) develop, review, set, and approve population and habitat objectives and survey protocols that affect trust resources; and.
3.) develop and review annual status/accomplishment reports and assess progress made toward achieving associated population/habitat objectives.
It
may be most effective for this committee, at its discretion, to establish
subcommittees that address specific species, species groups, or habitat
planning and implementation efforts.
Example: subcommittees could be established to address coastal marsh
restoration, forest management,
The Biological Advisory Committee represents the LMR Ecosystem Team, but is not delegated the authority to endorse or approve any program or plan developed by the committee or its partners without a favorable majority vote from the full Team or, when appropriate, the Steering Committee.
D. Other Committees - These
committees are authorized and directed to
fulfill the missions prescribed
to them by the Team. Committee chairpersons will be selected by their members for terms
established by those Committees. Committee chairpersons will be responsible
for notifying all Team members regarding the dates and agenda for all committee
meetings, and for keeping the Team informed on Committee activities and recommendations.
When appropriate, the committees will need to make special efforts to allow Team member input in the formulation and review of committee recommendations. An example is the development of project funding recommendations by the Private Lands Committee. As noted in item II.B. above, the Steering Committee and Team leader will provide opportunity for input by all Team members prior to making recommendations regarding budget and flexible funding allocations, re-programming, and special funding requests to the Regional Office, except when time clearly does not permit.
Decisions requiring approval of the Steering Committee include recommendations by the committees (e.g., Private Lands) involving funding allocation, staffing, or policy changes.
D. Team Members - Team members shall:
1. Provide accurate/timely responses to requests for information/input associated with the operation and management of the LMR Ecosystem Team.
2. Foster/promote team unity in accomplishing the goals and objectives of the LMR Ecosystem Team.
E. Non-Delegated items - Actions requiring the approval of the full Team include:
1. Revisions to the LMR Ecosystem Plan.
2. Selection of the Team Leader and Steering Committee.
3. Changes to the Team Operating Procedures.
4. Any other items for which the Team has not specifically delegated authority to the Team Leader and/or Steering Committee.
IV. Communication
Open and frequent communication among Team members is crucial to Team effectiveness and vitality. Team-related concerns, including those dealing with information flow, recommendations and actions of committees and/or the Team Leader, operating procedures, Team Activity Guidance, and other issues should be brought to the attention of the Team Leader, Steering Committee, and or the Team membership, as appropriate, for resolution within the Team. Elevating Team-related concerns by Team members to higher authority (e.g., to the Regional Office) for resolution should be viewed as an avenue of last resort.
Team
Leaders and committees should keep
Team members informed on pertinent issues, proposed actions, and other Team-related issues in a timely
manner.
Appendix B. Mississippi Alluvial Valley Bird Conservation Areas
This is a simplistic representation of forest patch goals as conceived by the Mississippi Alluvial Valley Migratory Bird Conservation Plan to meet forest breeding bird goals. The shape and continuity of each forest patch may dictate the need for additional forest in patches that superficially appear to meet forest size goals. The “forest core” of each forest patch is the critical measure of the suitability of each forest patch for breeding birds. All areas in the Bird Conservation Areas (BCA) are presented in hectares.
|
NAME |
SIZE OF BCA |
EXISTING
|
TARGET
|
TARGET MET? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ashbrook |
16,708 |
13,191 |
8,000 |
Yes |
|
Bayou DeView |
7,303 |
3,464 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Bayou Meto |
34,481 |
21,208 |
8,000 |
Yes |
|
Big Ditch |
6,497 |
4,345 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Big
|
14,316 |
9,455 |
8,000 |
No |
|
|
27,703 |
16,106 |
8,000 & 4,000 |
No |
|
Boeuf Farms |
3,740 |
465 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
10,956 |
5,528 |
8,000 |
No |
|
Cut-off Creek |
13,620 |
6,922 |
8,000 |
No |
|
Dermot |
5,713 |
1,582 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Island 65 |
7,099 |
4.131 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Overflow |
9.370 |
4.758 |
8,000 |
No |
|
|
10,015 |
5,370 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Rainy Brake |
15,795 |
6,883 |
8,000 |
No |
|
|
15,409 |
6,693 |
8,000 & 4,000 |
No |
|
Sunken Lands |
31,736 |
13,521 |
8,000 |
No |
|
White River North |
194,516 |
70,634 |
40,000; 8,000; & 4,000 |
No |
|
White River South |
173,944 |
129,421 |
40,000 & 40,000 |
Yes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,410 |
4,749 |
8,000 |
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ballard |
13,670 |
5,555 |
8,000 |
No |
|
Obion |
7,171 |
3,077 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
5,450 |
2,174 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Westvaco |
3,569 |
1,375 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Rivers |
114,611 |
69,776 |
40,000 |
No |
|
|
220,925 |
154,090 |
40,000 |
Yes |
|
|
44,318 |
21,906 |
4,000; 4,000; 4,000; & 4,000 |
No |
|
|
30,547 |
18,916 |
8,000 |
Yes |
|
Maurepas |
137,868 |
95,963 |
40,000 |
Yes |
|
Bayou Boeuf |
53,030 |
22,950 |
40,000 |
No |
|
Bayou Cocodrie |
24,404 |
10,301 |
8,000 |
No |
|
Bayou
|
12,079 |
2,514 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Boggy Bayou |
10,226 |
5,561 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Buckhorn |
23,490 |
8,979 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
1`5,268 |
10,413 |
8,000 |
No |
|
Concordia |
8,001 |
5,651 |
4,000 |
Yes |
|
|
16,737 |
9,668 |
8,000 |
No |
|
D’Arbonne |
9,139 |
3,724 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
32,787 |
20,224 |
4,000 & 4,000 |
No |
|
Deltic Lands |
11,407 |
3,300 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Des Allemandes |
186,936 |
93,048 |
40,000 |
No |
|
Fletcher’s
|
4,980 |
2,250 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
249,691 |
201,792 |
40,000 |
Yes |
|
Glade Woods |
13,184 |
6,099 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
11,184 |
7,549 |
8,000 |
No |
|
Morganza Floodway |
22,399 |
15,024 |
8,000 & 4,000 |
No |
|
Palmetto |
26,008 |
12,105 |
8,000 |
No |
|
|
15,287 |
10,600 |
8,000 |
Yes |
|
Russell Sage |
31,489 |
16,004 |
8,000 & 4,000 |
No |
|
Saline |
51,559 |
36,823 |
8,000 |
Yes |
|
Short Bayou |
10,179 |
4,113 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
77,499 |
39,753 |
40,000 |
No |
|
Thistlewaite |
25,444 |
12,225 |
8,000 |
No |
|
|
3,488 |
1,642 |
8,000 |
No |
|
West False River |
14,292 |
10,057 |
8,000 |
No |
|
|
62,772 |
26,589 |
8,000; 8,000; & 4,000 |
No |
|
|
9,881 |
6,313 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Big Oak Tree |
5,965 |
2,557 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
11,174 |
5,132 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Mingo |
14,432 |
7,927 |
8,000 |
No |
|
New
|
8,263 |
3,400 |
4,000 |
No |
|
River |
8,936 |
3,735 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Ten Mile |
7,109 |
960 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
6,764 |
1,666 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| class=Section14>
|
|
|
|
|
|
Belzoni |
23,761 |
8,630 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Big Black |
12,085 |
9,122 |
8,000 |
Yes |
|
|
7,295 |
4,940 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Coahoma |
29,841 |
19,510 |
8,000 |
Yes |
|
Coldwater Creek |
21,191 |
2,081 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Dahomy |
7,989 |
3,394 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
125,248 |
57932 |
40,000 |
No |
|
|
8,508 |
6,474 |
4,000 |
Yes |
|
|
9,765 |
6,836 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Homochitto |
24,302 |
14,696 |
8,000 |
Yes |
|
Mahannah |
113,295 |
61,540 |
40,000 |
No |
|
Malmaison |
34,387 |
13,375 |
8,000 |
No |
|
Mathews Brake |
10,881 |
2,591 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Morgan Brake |
8,192 |
3,985 |
4,000 |
No |
|
O’Keefe |
33,029 |
6,164 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
8,477 |
5,570 |
4,000 |
Yes |
|
|
9,703 |
4,386 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Tribble |
10,189 |
2,915 |
4,000 |
No |
|
Tunica |
25,978 |
16,411 |
8,000 |
Yes |
|
Whittington |
38,267 |
26,077 |
8,000 & 4,000 |
Yes |
|
|
10,706 |
4,488 |
4,000 |
No |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chickasaw |
59,408 |
24,954 |
40,000 |
No |
|
Meeman Shelby |
8,518 |
5,061 |
4,000 |
Yes |
|
Reelfoot |
23,313 |
8,504 |
8,000 |
No |
|
Total |
2,955,271 |
1,649,397 |
|
|
Appendix C.
TEAM LEADER
George Chandler, Project Leader
11372 Hwy.143
Phone 318 726-4222, Fax 318 726-4667
Cell phone 318 366-1192
george_chandler@fws.gov
STEERING COMMITTEE
Andrew Hammonds
Catahoula NWR
andrew_hammonds@fws.gov
Mike Esters, Refuge Manager
Bayou Cocodrie NWR
mike_esters@fws.gov
Randy Cook, Refuge Manager
Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge Complex
731-287-0650
731-286-0468
randy_cook@fws.gov
Melvin Tobin
Ecological Services
501-513-4473
501-513-4480
melvin_tobin@fws.gov
Karen Kilpatrick, Project Leader
615 Highway #1 South
318-352-5324
318-352-8082
karen_kilpatrick@fws.gov
Steve Alexander
Ecological Services
931-528-6481, ext. 210
931-528-7075
steven_alexander@fws.gov
Robert Strader
Division of Migratory Birds
601-965-4903
601-965-4010
bob_strader@fws.gov
TEAM MEMBERS
DIVISION of
ECOLOGICAL SERVICES
Allan Mueller, Field Supervisor
501-513-4475
501-513-4480 (fax)
allan_mueller@fws.gov
Lee A. Barclay, Field Supervisor
Doug Winford, Assistant Supervisor
931-528-6481, ext. 212
931-528-7075 (fax)
lee_barclay@fws.gov
douglas_winford@fws.gov
Ray Aycock, Field Supervisor
601-965-4900, ext. 122
601-965-4340 (fax)
ray_aycock@fws.gov
David Fruge, Field Supervisor
337-291-3100, ext. 3115
337-291-3139 (fax)
david_fruge@fws.gov
DIVISION of FISHERIES
Sherri McCants
Greers Ferry NFH
501-362-3615
501-362-4007 (fax)
Douglas J. Fruge
Gulf Cost Fisheries Resource Coordination
Office
228-875-9387
228-875-6604 (fax)
doug_fruge@fws.gov
James R. Nassar
Coordination Office
601-629-6602
ron_nassar@fws.gov
Richard L. Shelton
Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery
870-625-3912
870-625-3904 (fax)
richard_shelton@fws.gov
Kenneth W. Boyles
1414 Highway 177 South
870-499-5255
870-499-7755 (fax)
ken_boyles@fws.gov
Richard C. Campbell
Private John Allen NFH
601-842-1341
601-842-1341 (fax)
richard_campbell@fws.gov
DIVISION of
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Kevin Wood and Ronald Parker
81 Post Office Building
501-324-5643
501-324-6493 (fax)
kevin_wood@fws.gov
Phillip Siragusa
825 Kaliste Saloom
Building 2, #102
318-262-6662
318-262-6663 (fax)
phillip_siragusa@fws.gov
William Ferguson
2210
318-437-7214
318-437-7214 (fax)
504-589-4956
504-589-4939 (fax)
Kash Schriefer
318-325-1735
318-366-7858 (fax)
kash_schriefer@fws.gov
Mark Johnson
601-227-9043
601-227-8488 (fax)
Robert T. Oliveri
601-965-4699
601-965-5693 (fax)
bob_oliveri@fws.gov
Sidney Key
601-442-0025
601-445-5736 (fax)
sidney_key@fws.gov
Zack Green
South Campus
901-766-7618
901-327-8001 (fax)
zack_green@fws.gov
Steve Middleton
150 Metrocenter
615-736-5532
615-736-2053 (fax)
steve_middleton@fws.gov
DIVISION of REFUGES
Robert (Bill) Alexander
Bald Knob NWR
Route
2,
870-347-2614
870-347-2908 (fax)
robertw_alexander@fws.gov
Jerome E. Ford
Rt.2,
jerome_ford@fws.gov
Dennis J. Widner, Refuge Manager
Cache River NWR
Route
2,
870-347-2614
870-347-2908 (fax)
dennis_widner@fws.gov
Paul M. Yakupzack
504-853-1078
Virginia Rettig
225-635-4753
225-635-3596 (fax)
Jim C. Johnson, Refuge Manager
Felsenthall NWR
870-364-3167
870-364-3757 (fax)
jimc_johnson@fws.gov
Mike Chouinard
Project Leader
318.253.4238
Marvin L. Nichols, Refuge Manager
4172 Highway 76 South
731-772-0501
731-772-7839 (fax)
marvin_nichols@fws.gov
M. Bruce Blihovde
Holla Bend NWR
Roue 1,
479-229-4300
479-229-4302 (fax)
bruce_blihovde@fws.gov
Vicki C. Grafe
Lacassine NWR
318-774-5923
318-774-9913 (fax)
vicki_grafe@fws.gov
James (Kelby) Ouchley
D’Arbonne and
Route
2,
318-726-4222
318-726-4667 (fax)
kelby_ouchley@fws.gov
Edward Rodriquez
731-738-2296
731-738-2296 (fax)
edward_rodriquez@fws.gov
Stephen W. Gard
Mississippi Wetland Management District
16736 Highway 8 West
601-226-8286
601-226-8488 (fax)
stephen_gard@fws.gov
W. F. Stevens
Panther Swamp NWR
601-746-5060
601-839-2619 (fax)
wf_stevens@fws.gov
Sabine NWR
Highway 27 South
318-762-3816
318-762-3780 (fax)
Elizabeth Souheaver
985-646-7555
985-646-7588 (fax)
elizabeth_souheaver@fws.gov
601-442-6696
601-446-8990 (fax)
Glen R. Miller
Wapanocca NWR
870-343-2595
870-343-2416 (fax)
glen_miller@fws.gov
Larry E. Mallard
White River NWR
870-946-1468
870-946-2591 (fax)
larry_mallard@fws.gov
Timothy M. Wilkins, Refuge Manager
Route
1,
662-839-2638
662-839-2619 (fax)
tim_wilkins@fws.gov
DIVISION of MIGRATORY BIRDS
Thomas Edwards
Division of Migratory Birds
870-255-3812
870-255-3784 (fax)
tom_edwards@fws.gov
Charles K. Baxter
Division of Migratory Birds
Joint Venture Coordinator
601-629-6600
601-636-9541 (fax)
charles_baxter@fws.gov
Don H. Orr
Division of Migratory Birds
South Campus
901-327-7631
901-327-8001 (fax)
don_orr@fws.gov
Robert
(Mike)
Project Development Office
601-965-4903
601-965-4010 (fax)
mike_dawson@fws.gov
OTHERS
Mike Gantt
Special Assistant to Regional Director
919-856-4627
919-856-4635
(fax)
Appendix D.
Team Activity Guidance for Current Fiscal Year
(To be developed and added annually)
Appendix E.
Team Accomplishment Report for Prior Fiscal Year
(To be developed and added annually)