Project Overview

Full Title
Spatially-explicit Quantification of Water Quantity, Timing and Distribution on Southeast Region National Wildlife Refuges

Location
 Southeastern United States

Cooperating Agencies
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Project Chief
Loren Wehmeyer

Period of Project
2008-2010

Science Topic:
Aquatic Habitat Restoration
Support of Federal and State Programs

USGS IN YOUR STATE

USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.

Accounting for Water Needs of Southeast Region National Wildlife Refuges

Project Summary

J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
Credit: Susan White, USFWS

Background

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) owns and provides stewardship for 102 National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in the southeastern United States. Historically, little emphasis has been given to characterization of southeastern NWR hydrologic environments because of plentiful water supply and lack of perceived stress on refuge aquatic resources. However, recent severe droughts, floods, and increased competition for limited water resources have changed this paradigm. Understanding refuge water needs is critical for the USFWS to negotiate for water resources in an era of increasing demand.

Objectives

The objective of this project is to provide spatially-explicit documentation of water quantity, timing, and distribution of water on six NWRs in the Southeast that are considered high priority due to known or potential stressors such as population growth, hydrologic manipulation, ongoing litigation, and/or recent changes in state water law.

Approach

For this study, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in partnership with the USFWS, selected six NWRs in the Southeast (Fig. 1, Table 1): (1, 2) Cache River and White River NWRs, Arkansas; (3) Cahaba River NWR, Alabama; and (4, 5, 6) Lower Suwannee, Caloosahatchee, and J.N. “Ding” Darling NWRs, Florida. The assessment of each refuge includes a site-specific spatial database, regional streamgage station characteristics (Table 2), streamflow duration and trend analysis, hydrograph separation, hydrologic variability metrics, and an examination of anthropogenic and climate factors.

Table 1. Management priorities and environmental issues for selected National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in Region 4 of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, southeastern United States.
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Table 2. Station characteristics and streamflow metrics for U.S. Geological Survey gaging stations in the vicinity of six National Wildlife Refuges in the southeastern United States, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 4.
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