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Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge Natalie Angers EVSP 413 October 2015

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Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

Natalie AngersEVSP 413

October 2015

Contents• About the Area• About the Refuge• Wetlands Protection and

Management• Wildlife Habitat Fundamentals• Management Plan Overview• Management Philosophy• Primary Management Issues• Key Issues• Limits of Acceptable Change• Refuge Visitors• Environmental Education

• Key Issues• Refuge Wildlife• Refuge Waterfowl Habitat• Black Duck Habitat• Primary Management Problems• Erie Canal• Invasive Species• Products Extracted/Used• Evaluation of Management Plan• Areas of Improvement• Future Considerations• References

About the Area• Montezuma is located in

central New York State (NYS) • Prior to the 1900s the area

held over 40,000 acres of wetlands1

– Most was drained to support commerce and transportation, largely for the Erie Canal

– Up to 70% of the wetlands was lost

Image courtesy of USFWS

About the Refuge• The Montezuma National

Wildlife Refuge was established in 1938 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife1

• The refuge is part of a 50,000 acre wetlands complex that is important for bird staging due to it falling within the Atlantic Flyway2 Image courtesy of NY DEC2

Wetlands Protection and Management

• Wetlands are defined as areas of high water saturation that contain known wetland-type plants1

• Types of wetlands include2

– Freshwater marshes– Prairie potholes– Bogs– Mangrove forests

Image courtesy of dreamstime.com

Wildlife Habitat Fundamentals

• A habitat is the specific food, water, shelter, and space requirements within an area that a species requires1

• Different species require different habitats, but many of these habitats are similar enough to allow cohabitation2

Management Plan Overview

• The Montezuma Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) sets out broad goals and lays out the future plans for the refuge1

• Key points include:2

– Monitoring and controlling invasive species– Land allocation and purchase– Responding to climate change– Protecting wildlife

Management Philosophy

• Montezuma Wildlife Refuge management philosophy is to protect the wetland primarily for waterfowl and to enable visitors to enjoy viewing the wildlife1

Image courtesy of USFWS

Primary Management Issues

• The CCP lists 16 key issues1

• Issues range from questions regarding public use of the refuge to maintaining biological diversity2

Key Issues

• How will the refuge provide quality wildlife observation and photography opportunities for the public?1

– One of the most popular activities at the refuge is the wide range of photography and observation chances2

• A three mile long Wildlife Drive• Photography blind• Almost four miles of walking trails• A floating boat dock• Several observation areas• Annual photography contest

Limits of Acceptable Change

• The Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) theory determines how much an area can be altered while maintaining its natural state1

• Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP) is the LAC theory applied to national parks2

Refuge Visitors• Between 2006-2010,

the refuge averaged almost 150,000 visitors per year1

• Visitors are able to observe and photograph wildlife, fish, hunt, and learn about the environment2

Image courtesy of USFWS

Environmental Education

• Environmental Education was identified as a key resource in need of improvement at the refuge1

• Currently not an area of emphasis2

• Staff and volunteers can accommodate groups that request educational programs when time permits3

• Currently utilizes the Guide by Cell cellphone tour4

Key Issues• How will the refuge provide

quality hunting and fishing opportunities for the public?1

– A popular activity for visitors is hunting opportunities2

• Guided by 2005 Hunting Plan; updated annually

• Limited to white-tailed deer and waterfowl

• Seasons and limits set by refuge– Fishing is limited but allowed3

Image courtesy of USFWS

Key Issues

• How will the impacts of habitat fragmentation be addressed?1

– The refuge is currently fragmented by roads, canals, powerlines, farmlands, and has a major state highway as one boundary. Land acquisition is currently being utilized as a method of promoting connectivity, but other methods are being looked at as well, including reforestation and flooding cycles(2,3)

Image courtesy of USFWS

Key Issues

• How will the refuge address the impacts of altered hydrology?1 – While the Erie Canal temporarily boosted the area’s

economy, it wreaked havoc on the area’s hydrology. Farmland ditching and highways have also altered the area hydrology2

– The CCP lays out a plan to flood areas in a cyclical nature; by flooding areas prior to known bird migration timelines, they hope to maximize the habitat while minimizing negative effects3

Key Issues

• How will the refuge be managed with respect to biological diversity?1

– Biological diversity is the variety of life and processes that keep an area functioning successfully2

– The CCP recognizes that invasive species threatens biodiversity and seeks to limit invasions and eradicate infestations3

– Hunting is allowed within the confines of NYS law and with respect to maintaining biodiversity4

Refuge Wildlife

• Due to it’s location within a key migration route, Montezuma Wildlife Refuge provides a safe habitat for migrating birds1

Image courtesy of USFWS

Refuge Waterfowl Habitat

• Waterfowl are a prominent refuge inhabitant1

• The black duck is a common sight at the refuge2

– Black ducks may starve rather than find alternate habitats

– Montezuma Wildlife Refuge provides a key migratory and wintering zone for the black duck

Image courtesy of USFWS

Black Duck Habitat

• The American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) requires a wetland habitat, including:1

– Marshes– Bays– Ponds– Rivers– Coastal Estuaries

Image courtesy of USFWS

Image courtesy of USFWS

Primary Management Problems

• Water loss due to Erie Canal construction1 – The canal went through the wetlands, causing

massive drainage into the canal and Seneca River• Pest management/Invasive Species2

– Pest management program under construction; tolerable levels will be determined and implemented

Erie Canal

• The portion of the Erie Canal that ran through what is now the refuge was constructed in the mid-1800s1

• The canal system caused major draining of the surrounding marshes2

Image courtesy of TheErieCanal.com

Invasive Species

• An invasive species is a nonnative species that causes damage to an ecosystem1

• Several invasive plants have been found within the refuge and are in the process of being controlled, including:2

– Autumn olive– Japanese knotweed– Tree of heaven

Autumn OliveImage courtesy of NPS

Products Extracted/Used

• Special Use Permits (SUPs) are issued for use of the refuge beyond the scope of public access for research1

• Much of the refuge is utilized by farmers for agriculture, planting crops including corn, onions, beans, and potatoes2

Evaluation of Management Plan

• Overall, I think the management plan will be successful

• Several key areas of improvement have already been noted in the CCP

• CCP acknowledges desires of the public while also focusing on conservation goals

Areas of Improvement

• Key areas of improvement include making the refuge more visitor-friendly– Regular guided tours– Knowledgeable staff

• Community involvement– Largely a rural farming community; outreach to

neighbors necessary for long term success

Areas of Improvement

• With the focus of the refuge appearing to be on waterfowl and migrating birds, the refuge should advertise itself as such in a broader market; most people haven’t heard of Montezuma, NY, let alone the wildlife refuge

Future Considerations• A key issue facing many areas is

global climate change• The CCP has developed a three-

prong approach to address global climate change1

– Adaptation: by using scientific advances they hope to minimize the impact of climate change

– Mitigation: reducing emissions– Engagement: by cooperative effort

they hope to find solutions to the challenges posed by global climate change to fish and wildlife conservation

Image courtesy of Kate Antonlades

Image courtesy of Bill Banaszewski

References*Each slide reference is located in the respective slide notes

Antonlades, K. (2009, August 23). Kate Antonlades. Retrieved November 01, 2015, from Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rediscoveringrochester/3856870975/in/album-72157622020151863/

Jr., F. E. (2015). Images of the Erie Canal between Rochester and Syracuse. Retrieved November 01, 2015, from The Erie Canal: http://www.eriecanal.org/westcentral-1.html#Seneca

Kaufman, K. (n.d.). American Black Duck. Retrieved November 01, 2015, from Audubon.org: https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/american-black-duck

National Park Service. (2010, November 11). Autumn Olive. Retrieved November 01, 2015, from National Park Service: http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/elum.htm

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. (2015). Northern Montezuma Wildlife Management Area. Retrieved November 01, 2015, from NYS DEC: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/31112.html

Randolph, J. (2012). Environmental Land Use Planning and Management. Washington, DC: Island Press.

US Fish and Wildlife Service. (2013). Chapter 1: Purpose of, and Need for, Action. Seneca Falls, NY: US Fish and Wildlife Service.

US Fish and Wildlife Service. (2013). Chapter 2: Planning Process. Seneca Falls, NY: US Fish and Wildlife Service.

US Fish and Wildlife Service. (2013). Chapter 3: Existing Environment. Seneca Falls, NY: US Fish and Wildlife Service.

US Fish and Wildlife Service. (2013). Chapter 4: Management Direction and Implementation. Seneca Falls, NY: US Fish and Wildlife Service.

US Fish and Wildlife Service. (2013). Montezuma Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan. Seneca Falls, NY: US Fish and Wildlife Service.

US Fish and Wildlife Service. (n.d.). American Black Duck Facts. US Fish and Wildlife Service.

US Forest Service. (2015, April 29). Invasive Species. Retrieved November 01, 2015, from US Forest Service: http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/invasives/