# Potential Impacts

of Natural Disasters on South Texas Refuges

Bryan R. Winton, Refuge Manager Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge South Texas Refuge Complex

July 24, 2007 Good Neighbor Environmental Board Meeting Brownsville, Texas

### “To administer a national network of lands

and waters for the conservation and management of the fish, wildlife, and plant

resources and their habitats of the United

States for the benefit of present and future generations ” U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service



### Mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System

# National Wildlife Refuge System

### South Texas Refuge Complex1981 Satellite Image of the Valley

Santa Ana NWR

### South Texas Refuge Complex Priorities

Land Acquisition

Habitat Restoration

(Tamaulipan Brushland; 11 Biotic Communities)

Wetland Management

Public Use

Including wildlife watching, hunting, fishing, photography, interpretation and education

Fish & Wildlife Management/ResearchSanta Ana NWR

Tropical Influence Gulf Coast Influence Great Plains

Influence

Desert InfluenceChihuahuan Thorn Forest

Loma Tidal Flats

Sabal Palm

Coastal Habitat Riparian Woodlands La Sal Del Ray

Woodland Pothole

## Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge

 Established in
1943 as a migratory bird sanctuary

 2,088 acres;
150,000 visitors

a year

 The “Jewel” of the Refuge SystemSanta Ana NWRPlain

ChachalacaGreen JayAltamira Oriole

## Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

 Established in 1946

 130,000 visitors per
year

 Endangered species monitoring

 Wetland and waterfowl management

 Currently 95,000 acres of 150,000Redhead DuckKemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle

Green Sea Turtle Loggerhead Sea TurtleAplomado Falcon

## Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge

 Established in 1979

 Protects habitat between

Falcon Dam and Boca Chica (4 counties)

 Provides for protection of endangered species and migratory birds

 Currently 88,000 acres (132,500 approved)

### South Texas Refuge ComplexWhite

- tailed

DeerKemp’s Ridley Sea TurtleTexas TortoiseHooded WarblerTexas Horned Lizard13

- Lined Ground SquirrelInsects: Dragonflies, Butterflies, Moths

### Natural Disasters

 

### Flood

 

### Fire

 

### Hurricane

 

### Tornado

 

### Disease

# Flooding

 

### Refuge habitats along the Rio Grande River evolved under dynamic
circumstances. Much more stable now.

 

### Periodic inundation is important to maintain specific plant associations (i.e., Riparian Flood Forest at Santa Ana NWR) important to certain wildlife species.

 

### Can be detrimental/devastating now.Flood

- adapted Forests need periodic inundation which now, unfortunately comes only in

the form of a HurricaneNew Arroyo near Rio Grande City

# Fire Management

 Prescribed Fire and Wildfire

 Wildfires are suppressed immediately.

 Prescribed Fires are carefully planned intentionally

- lit fires with a purpose of promoting plant succession, discouraging

non

- native plants, preparing the soil for a habitat restoration project.

 RGV is not necessarily a fire

- adapted ecosystem. Recent grass introductions and subsequent infestations can increase the impacts of fire to native plants.Prescribed Fire for Marsh Management

BEFOREPrescribed Fire for Marsh Management AFTER (During)Prescribed Fires remove dead and dying plant matter, set back succession, and benefit natural systems by promoting Regeneration

-- by removing weak, sick, and unproductive individuals within a species (plants and animals).Wildfires Threaten Life, Property, and Resources The Refuge Complex maintains Mutual Aid Agreements: Authorizes USFWS to support as needed/requested.

# Hurricane Preparedness

 

### Refuge Property (Data, Files, Fuel, Vehicles, Computers) stored at

Moore Airfield.

 

### Fire Management Program to assist EOC (Emergency Operations Center) with mandatory evacuation (4

- county).

 

### Agency to detail assistance post

storm as done w/Katrina & Rita.

# Tornado Preparedness

 

### Mandatory evacuation (too little notice to proceed as we would with Hurricane warning)

 

### Safeguard people and property as best as possible considering the time element (typically little/no notice)

 

### Agency would assist local communities as needed/requested following a tornado event.

## OTHER ISSUES CONCERNING

THE REFUGEOther Potential Disasters could occur on the refuge from

resource contamination and habitat/wildlife loss related to the petroleum industry.Disease represents a form of “disaster” that concerns ranchers, wildlife managers, and government officials involved in fever tick eradication.

USDA Tick Eradication Program OTHERS:

West Nile Virus

Avian Influenza

Mad Cow Disease

### Human Encroachment

Development Pressure Illegal Trespass Dumping



### ..... All represent a form of Disaster for the Wildlife on the RefugeWater Quality Water QuantityEnd 

## U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

South Texas Refuge Complex

Rt. 2 Box 202 A Alamo, Texas 78516 Phone (956)784

- 7500