Assabet River NWR Final CCP - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Chapter 4: Management Direction
Strategy 9: Within 10 years, survey small mammals using small live box
traps, snap traps, and pitfall traps. We will arrange traps in a grid
throughout the refuge and trapping will be done during the spring,
summer, or fall. If any threatened or endangered species are found, we
may initiate mark/recapture studies to develop a population estimate.
Objective 2: Manage aquatic and upland habitat to maintain habitat
and species diversity.
We will determine resources of concern, including focus species or speciesgroups
and their habitat needs. Focus species and habitats are most likely
to be selected based on a combination of factors such as: endangerment
(federal and state-listed species); priority, national and regional Service
plans (such as the NAWMP, the PIF, etc); Service policies/regulations such
as those related to HMPs and maintenance of ecological integrity; the
purpose for which the refuge was established (its value for the conservation
of migratory bird species); current/historical species and habitat presence;
and recommendations from MassWildlife or other partners.
Strategy 1: Continue with the status quo of our old field, grassland,
upland and wetland habitat management, until our management
plans are completed. Some areas that are currently being mowed
may eventually be allowed to revert to forest or may be managed as
early successional habitat. Until final decisions are made about
each parcel, based on the HMP, current management techniques
will be allowed to continue.
Strategy 2: Within 3 years, develop a long-range HMP. We will
include information for all habitats and species on the refuge, with a
focus on resources of regional and national concern (based on
regional and Service plans). We will provide quantitative and
measurable objectives and strategies for habitat management to
enhance resources of concern.
Strategy 3: Within 5 years, complete a HWIMP. We will include an
on-going monitoring component designed to measure progress
toward those objectives outlined in the HMP, and to allow mid-
Wetland habitat: Photo by John Grabill course corrections or alterations as they may be needed. We will
develop any additional step-down plans that may be required,
depending on specific habitat management techniques or practices that
may be recommended in the plans including chemical, mechanical or fire.
We will develop protocol in this plan to be statistically sound and peer
reviewed.
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Strategy 4: Continue to seek opportunities to develop cooperative
management agreements with neighboring conservation organizations and
individuals. We will work with our conservation partners and, where our
Assabet River NWR