[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 71 (Thursday, April 13, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22530-22693]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-06619]
[[Page 22529]]
Vol. 88
Thursday,
No. 71
April 13, 2023
Part II
Department of the Interior
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Fish and Wildlife Service
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50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical
Habitat for Rufa Red Knot; Proposed Rule
Federal Register / Vol. 88 , No. 71 / Thursday, April 13, 2023 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 22530]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
50 CFR Part 17
[Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032; FF09E21000 FXES1111090FEDR 234]
RIN 1018-BF87
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of
Critical Habitat for Rufa Red Knot
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Proposed rule; revisions and reopening of comment period.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
reopening of the comment period on our July 15, 2021, proposed rule
(hereinafter the ``2021 proposed rule'') to designate critical habitat
for the rufa red knot (Calidris canutus rufa) under the Endangered
Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). In this document, we present
revisions to the critical habitat designation we proposed for the
species in the 2021 proposed rule. As a result of the critical habitat
revisions, we now propose to designate a total of approximately 683,405
acres (276,564 hectares) as critical habitat for the rufa red knot
across 127 units (18 of which are further subdivided into 46 subunits)
in Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, and Texas. This amounts to an overall increase of 32,615
acres (13,199 hectares) in our proposed critical habitat designation
for the species. This revision includes seven new units in
Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Georgia; revised units in Massachusetts, New Jersey, South Carolina,
Georgia, and Texas; and corrections to reported acreages/hectares for
four other units and the total acreage in the 2021 proposed rule. We
are reopening the comment period to allow all interested parties the
opportunity to comment on the 2021 proposed rule, as well as the
revisions described in this document. Comments previously submitted
need not be resubmitted, as they will be fully considered in
preparation of the final rule. If the determination is finalized, the
final rule will include responses to the comments previously received
from the 2021 proposed rule and any comments received as part of this
document's reopening of comments.
DATES: The comment period for the 2021 proposed rule is reopened. So
that we can fully consider your comments in our final determination,
submit them on or before May 30, 2023. Comments submitted
electronically using the Federal eRulemaking Portal (see ADDRESSES,
below) must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the closing date.
ADDRESSES:
Document availability: You may obtain copies of the 2021 proposed
rule and associated documents on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032.
Written comments: You may submit written comments by one of the
following methods:
(1) Electronically: Go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the Search box, enter the docket number or RIN
for this rulemaking (presented above in the document headings). For
best results, do not copy and paste either number; instead, type the
docket number or RIN into the Search box using hyphens. Then, click on
the Search button. On the resulting page, in the panel on the left side
of the screen, under the Document Type heading, check the Proposed Rule
box to locate this document. You may submit a comment by clicking on
``Comment.''
(2) By hard copy: Submit by U.S. mail to: Public Comments
Processing, Attn: FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
MS: PRB/3W, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803.
We request that you send comments only by the methods described
above. We will post all comments on https://www.regulations.gov. This
generally means that we will post any personal information you provide
us (see Public Comments, below, for more information).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Schrading, Field Supervisor, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, New Jersey Ecological Services Field Office,
4 East Jimmie Leeds Road, Suite 4, Galloway, NJ 08205; telephone 609-
382-5272. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind,
hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or
TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals
outside the United States should use the relay services offered within
their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in
the United States.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Public Comments
We will accept written comments, information, and additional data
during this reopened comment period on our July 15, 2021, proposed rule
to designate critical habitat for the rufa red knot (86 FR 37410)
(hereinafter the ``2021 proposed rule''), the revisions to the proposed
critical habitat designation that are described in this document, and
our revised draft economic assessment (DEA) of the proposed critical
habitat designation. We will consider information and recommendations
from all interested parties. We are interested in comments concerning:
(1) The reasons why we should or should not designate habitat as
``critical habitat'' under section 4 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et
seq.), including information to inform the following factors that the
regulations identify as reasons why designation of critical habitat may
be not prudent:
(a) The species is threatened by taking or other human activity and
identification of critical habitat can be expected to increase the
degree of such threat to the species;
(b) The present or threatened destruction, modification, or
curtailment of a species' habitat or range is not a threat to the
species, or threats to the species' habitat stem solely from causes
that cannot be addressed through management actions resulting from
consultations under section 7(a)(2) of the Act;
(c) Areas within the jurisdiction of the United States provide no
more than negligible conservation value, if any, for a species
occurring primarily outside the jurisdiction of the United States; or
(d) No areas meet the definition of critical habitat.
(2) Specific information on:
(a) The amount and distribution of rufa red knot habitat;
(b) What areas, that were occupied at the time of listing
(specifically referring to January 12, 2015, which is the effective
date for the December 11, 2014, final listing rule (79 FR 73705)) and
that contain the physical or biological features essential to the
conservation of the species, should be included in the designation and
why;
(c) Special management considerations or protection that may be
needed in critical habitat areas we are proposing, including managing
for the potential effects of climate change; and
(d) What areas not occupied at the time of listing are essential
for the conservation of the species. We particularly seek comments
regarding:
(i) Whether occupied areas are adequate for the conservation of the
species; and
[[Page 22531]]
(ii) Specific information regarding whether or not unoccupied areas
would, with reasonable certainty, contribute to the conservation of the
species and contain at least one physical or biological feature
essential to the conservation of the species.
(3) Information on land ownership and land use designations and
current or planned activities in the subject areas and their possible
impacts on the proposed critical habitat.
(4) Information on the projected and reasonably likely impacts of
climate change on the rufa red knot's proposed critical habitat.
(5) Any probable economic, national security, or other relevant
impacts of designating any area that may be included in the final
designation, and the benefits of including or excluding specific areas.
(6) Information on the extent to which the description of probable
economic impacts in the draft economic analysis is a reasonable
estimate of the likely economic impacts.
(7) Whether any specific areas we are proposing for critical
habitat designation should be considered for exclusion under section
4(b)(2) of the Act, and whether the benefits of potentially excluding
any specific area outweigh the benefits of including that area under
section 4(b)(2) of the Act, in particular those based on a conservation
program or plan, and why. These may include Federal, Tribal, State,
county, local, or private lands with permitted conservation plans
covering the species in the area such as habitat conservation plans,
safe harbor agreements, or conservation easements, or non-permitted
conservation agreements and partnerships that would be encouraged by
designation of, or exclusion from, critical habitat. Detailed
information regarding these plans, agreements, easements, and
partnerships is also requested, including:
(a) The location and size of lands covered by the plan, agreement,
easement, or partnership;
(b) The duration of the plan, agreement, easement, or partnership;
(c) Who holds or manages the land;
(d) What management activities are conducted;
(e) What land uses are allowable; and
(f) If management activities are beneficial to the rufa red knot
and its habitat.
(8) Ongoing or proposed conservation efforts that could result in
direct or indirect ecological benefits to the associated habitat for
the rufa red knot; as such, those efforts would lend to the recovery of
the species and therefore areas covered may be considered for exclusion
from the final critical habitat designation.
(9) Whether we could improve our data or modify our approach to
designating critical habitat in any way to provide for greater public
participation and understanding, or to better accommodate public
concerns and comments or to better effectuate the purposes of the Act.
If you submitted comments or information on the 2021 proposed rule
or DEA during the comment period that was open from July 15, 2021, to
September 13, 2021, please do not resubmit them. Any such comments are
already part of the public record of this rulemaking proceeding, and we
will fully consider them in the preparation of our final determination.
Once the determination is finalized, the final rule will take into
consideration all written comments and any additional information we
receive during both comment periods. The final decision may differ from
this revised proposed rule, based on our review of all information we
receive during this rulemaking proceeding.
You may submit your comments and materials by one of the methods
listed in ADDRESSES. We request that you send comments only by the
methods described in ADDRESSES.
If you submit a comment via https://www.regulations.gov, your
entire comment--including any personal identifying information--will be
posted on the website. We will post all hardcopy comments on https://www.regulations.gov as well. If you submit a hardcopy comment that
includes personal identifying information, you may request at the top
of your document that we withhold this information from public review.
However, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Comments and materials we receive, as well as supporting
documentation we used in preparing the proposed rule and DEA, will be
available for public inspection on https://www.regulations.gov at
Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032, or by appointment, during normal
business hours, at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Jersey
Ecological Services Field Office (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
You may obtain copies of the proposed rule and the DEA on the internet
at https://www.regulations.gov at Docket No. FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032, or by
mail from the New Jersey Ecological Services Field Office.
Background
It is our intent to discuss in this document only those topics
directly relevant to these revisions of the proposed designation of
critical habitat. For more information on the species, its habitat, and
previous Federal actions concerning the rufa red knot, refer to the
2021 proposed rule. Proposed critical habitat for the rufa red knot
consists of the area described in the 2021 proposed rule, as modified
by the revisions explained in this document; both together constitute
the revised proposed designation of critical habitat.
On July 15, 2021, we published the 2021 proposed rule to designate
critical habitat for the federally threatened rufa red knot in 120
units (18 of which are further subdivided into 46 subunits)
encompassing approximately 649,066 ac (262,667 ha) in Massachusetts,
New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.
In addition, we announced the availability of a DEA of the proposed
critical habitat designation. We accepted comments on the proposed rule
and DEA for 60 days, ending September 13, 2021. We also received a
congressional request for additional time to review and comment on the
proposed rule. Based on information we received during the public
comment period and our reanalysis of the best available information, we
propose to revise the critical habitat designation and are, therefore,
reopening the comment period to allow the public additional time to
submit comments on both the 2021 proposed rule as well as the revisions
described in this document.
New Information and Revisions to Proposed Critical Habitat
During the public comment period, we received 92 comment letters,
59 of which contained substantive comments on the proposed critical
habitat designation. We became aware of some new information during
this time period, including some information based on comments received
(i.e., site-specific survey or observation data from multiple sources,
and flock count data across the range of the species from
bandedbirds.org). This new information and comments received during the
open comment period prompted us to reevaluate the best available
information across the range of the species. In some areas, this
resulted in the addition or revision of unit boundaries per the
methodology used to designate critical habitat (see https://www.regulations.gov, Docket No. FWS-
[[Page 22532]]
R5-ES-2021-0032, Supplementary Document FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032-0004). This
information has resulted in changes to six units described in the 2021
proposed rule's critical habitat designation, and the addition of seven
units based on areas that we found to meet the definition of critical
habitat. No new areas are being proposed beyond the coastal States and
counties already included in the 2021 proposed rule's critical habitat
designation. The revised and new units are described in this document.
In this document, we propose certain revisions to the critical
habitat designation we proposed for the rufa red knot in the 2021
proposed rule. Because of these revisions, the numbering for some of
the critical habitat units has changed from the 2021 proposed rule,
although the names and descriptions remain the same for these units/
subunits (with the exception of one unit in Georgia (GA-7) with a name
change). All revisions to unit numbers are described below and listed
in table 1.
Specifically, there are no changes within the States of Alabama,
Louisiana, and Mississippi. We corrected acreages, hectares, or both
for Unit DE-4 in Delaware, VA-14 in Virginia, GA-9 in Georgia, and FL-1
in Florida that were incorrectly reported in the 2021 proposed rule; no
other changes were made to these or other units in Delaware, Virginia,
and Florida. We propose the following unit revisions or unit additions
in the States of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas; all revisions or
additions are areas occupied by the rufa red knot at the time of
listing. Our regulations at 50 CFR 424.02 define the geographical area
occupied by the species as an area that may generally be delineated
around species' occurrences, as determined by the Secretary (i.e.,
range). Such areas may include those areas used throughout all or part
of the species' life cycle, even if not used on a regular basis (e.g.,
migratory corridors, seasonal habitats, and habitats used periodically,
but not solely, by vagrant individuals). Revisions are summarized here
and full descriptions and acreage changes follow in the ``Revised
Proposed Critical Habitat Designation'' section, below:
(1) Massachusetts: We are revising unit numbers because we are
adding one unit based on our review of comments received during the
previous open comment period. Specifically, this addition is based on
our reanalysis and consideration of observation data (Harrington et al.
2010, entire; Faherty 2021a, pers. comm.; Faherty 2021b, pers. comm.),
and consideration of flock count observations between 2010 and 2019
from bandedbirds.org (BandedBirds 2021, entire). The new Unit MA-1
(Nauset Marsh) occurs in the towns of Orleans and Eastham in Barnstable
County, to include the area of Salt Bay Pond, Nauset Bay, Nauset Spit,
and Coast Guard Beach. We are also revising Unit MA-2 (Pleasant Bay;
formerly Unit MA-1) based on our review of the same bandedbirds.org
flock count observations. This revised unit begins at the northeastern
end of Little Pleasant Bay and continues south along Nauset Beach South
and North Beach to North Beach Island, terminating at the natural
channel between North Beach Island and South Beach Island (Chatham).
(2) New York: We are revising unit numbers because we are adding
one unit based on our reanalysis of information in our files (i.e.,
past surveys by Virginia Tech conducted on Fire Island for the Service
between 2016 and 2018). In other words, during our reevaluation of the
best available information, we determined an error when applying the
methodology and this unit should have been included previously. The new
Unit NY-2 (Old Inlet) occurs in Suffolk County, surrounded by the
waters of Bellport Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Also, we corrected the
county name on the map for NY-1 to Suffolk County.
(3) New Jersey: We are revising the boundary of Unit NJ-1 to
reflect the development and growth of a new island east of Little Beach
Island. Little Beach Island is within the Edwin B. Forsythe National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The new island, located approximately 1,250 feet
(ft) (381 meters (m)) offshore of Little Beach, is State-owned land.
Prior to emerging as a full island in 2020, a smaller exposed shoal was
present in this area in 2017, and was known to support rufa red knots
during fall migration by 2019. Based on the high quality of this
habitat, the high level of use by rufa red knots, and its protection
from disturbance, we made a minor adjustment to the boundary of this
unit to include the entire island at its current size and
configuration. Due to the highly dynamic and shifting nature of this
new island, the expanded boundary also includes areas of open waters
surrounding the island in which shoaling was indicated in recent years.
These minor adjustments to the boundary of this unit were made by
referencing recent base maps that show the current extent of the
island.
(4) Virginia: We are revising some unit numbers because we are
adding two units based on rufa red knot occupancy and habitat use
information received by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and also
recommended by the State of Virginia (Virginia Department of Wildlife
Resources 2021, p. 1; TNC 2021, p. 2; Wilke 2021, pers. comm.). The new
Unit VA-12 (Ship Shoal Island) occurs in Northampton County, including
both Ship Shoal Island and the area known as Godwin Island. The new
unit VA-15 (Fisherman Island) occurs in Northampton County at the mouth
of the Chesapeake Bay and just south of the tip of the Eastern Shore
peninsula, surrounded by the waters of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic
Ocean. As noted above, we also corrected the acreage/hectares that were
incorrectly reported for Unit VA-14 (Smith Island; formerly VA-13) in
the 2021 proposed rule.
(5) North Carolina: We are revising some unit numbers because we
are adding one unit based on rufa red knot occupancy and habitat use
information received from Audubon North Carolina (Audubon North
Carolina 2021, p. 2; Addison 2021, pers. comm.). The new Unit NC-6
(Lea-Hutaff Island) occurs in Pender and New Hanover Counties,
stretching from the west side of New Topsail Inlet channel west across
the Rich Inlet channel to the northeast end of Figure Eight Island.
(6) South Carolina: We are revising some unit numbers because we
are adding one unit based on our review of comments received from the
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) (SCDNR 2021, p.
3). The new Unit SC-22 (Bay Point Beach) occurs east of Hilton Head
Island on the eastern side of Port Royal Sound in Beaufort County. We
are also revising and renaming Unit SC-21 (Fripp Island, Pritchards
Island, and Little Capers Island Beaches) and revising Unit SC-25
(Turtle Island and Tomkins Island Beaches; formerly Unit SC-24, Turtle
Island Beach) based on our review of comments received from the SCDNR
(SCDNR 2021, p. 3). Units SC-21 and SC-25 include both a change to the
unit name and the unit boundary. The revised Unit SC-21 begins at the
Fripp Inlet shoreline of Fripp Island, continues along the Atlantic
coast shoreline of Fripp Island, and now extends along the Atlantic
coast shoreline of Pritchards Island and Little Capers Island. The
revised Unit SC-25 begins at the Calibogue Sound shoreline of Turtle
Island and now includes all of Tompkins Island in Calibogue Sound east
of Turtle Island, although the adjusted boundary actually resulted in
an overall decrease of 27 ac (11 ha) in unit size compared to the 2021
proposed rule.
[[Page 22533]]
(7) Georgia: We are revising unit numbers because we are adding one
unit and revising two units based on our review of comments received
from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) (GADNR 2021,
p. 2; Smith 2021, pers. comm.). The new Unit GA-1 (Cockspur Island and
Daymark Island Beaches) occurs in the Savannah River adjacent to Tybee
Island in Chatham County. Units GA-5 and GA-10 include both a change to
the unit name and the unit boundary; we also renamed Unit GA-7 to St.
Catherine's Island Beach and St. Catherine's Island Bar (formerly St.
Catherine's Island Beach). The revised Unit GA-5 (Little Ogeechee River
Shoreline and Raccoon Key; formerly Raccoon Key) now begins at the
Green Island shoreline of the Little Ogeechee River, continues east
along the shorelines of Little Wassaw Island and Pine Island to the
Odingsell River entrance behind Wassaw Island. The revised Unit GA-10
(Queens Island, Wolf Island, Egg Island, Little Egg Island, and Little
Egg Bar; formerly Wolf Island, Egg Island, Little Egg Island, and
Little Egg Island Bar) now begins at the Black River shoreline of
Queens Island and extends south along the Wolf Island shoreline, which
includes Wolf Island Bar, to the eastern and southern shorelines of
Little Egg Island Bar Natural Area southwest to Egg Island in the
Altamaha Sound. As noted above, we also corrected the acreage/hectares
that were incorrectly reported for Unit GA-9 (Sapelo Island Beach;
formerly GA-8), and changed the name for Unit GA-7 to ``St. Catherine's
Island Beach and St. Catherine's Island Bar'' (formerly GA-6, St.
Catherine's Island Beach) in the 2021 proposed rule.
(8) Texas: We are revising two proposed units of critical habitat--
Units TX-1 (Rollover Pass to Bolivar Flats) and TX-11 (South Bay/Boca
Chica)--based on our reanalysis of the best available information,
including comments received during the open comment period. In our
review of the flock count observation data from bandedbirds.org
provided during the open comment period, we identified an error in the
proposed boundary of Unit TX-1, which occurs in Galveston County. Based
on eBird data and our assessment of habitat features, as described in
the 2021 proposed rule, unit description, Unit TX-1 should include
additional sand flats habitat on the bayside of Rollover Pass.
Additionally, due to an oversight, we are proposing including
additional adjacent habitat to the proposed Unit TX-11, which occurs in
Cameron County. This unit should be extended to the east of South Bay
to include important habitat features that should have been included
previously; although the boundary should change to incorporate adjacent
habitat features, the detailed unit description will not change.
Finally, when we conducted a reanalysis of the best available
information, we determined two incorrect total State acreages for rufa
red knot proposed critical habitat that affected the calculation for
the overall/total acreage of the proposed critical habitat designation.
In short, the total acreages calculated for the States of North
Carolina and Florida were incorrectly summed, resulting in the overall
proposed critical habitat acreage reported as 649,066 ac (262,668 ha).
With the corrected summed values for these two States, the total
acreage for the 2021 proposed rule should have been 650,791 ac (263,366
ha). When considering this corrected total acreage and the revisions,
additions, and corrections described herein, the revised proposed
critical habitat designation total is 683,405 ac (276,564 ha),
resulting in an overall increase in proposed critical habitat of 32,615
ac (13,199 ha).
All of the additional unit acreage in the above-described revised
and new units were occupied at the time of listing and are currently
occupied, contain one or more of the physical or biological features to
support life-history functions essential to the conservation of the
rufa red knot, and may require special management considerations or
protection from threats as described in the 2021 proposed rule. For
clarity, we also propose to add short textual descriptions of each
proposed unit in the regulatory text of the critical habitat
designation.
The Draft Economic Analysis (DEA) for the proposed critical habitat
designation, entitled: Draft Screening Analysis of the Likely Economic
Impacts of the Proposed Rule to Designate Critical habitat for the Rufa
Red Knot (IEc 2021a) has been revised to include additional information
for the counties containing the new units (MA-2, NY-2, VA-12, VA-15,
NC-6, SC-22, and GA-1) and revised units (Units NJ-1, SC-21, SC-25, GA-
5, GA-10, TX-1, and TX-11) (IEc 2021b). Based on consultation history
for the rufa red knot and with consideration of the areas added in this
revised proposed rule, the number of future consultations, including
technical assistances, is likely to be approximately 250 per year on
average. The additional administrative cost of addressing adverse
modification in these consultations is likely to be less than $550,000
per year. This represents a 15 percent increase in cost relative to the
April 2021 version of the DEA, which also likely overstates rather than
understates the impacts (IEc 2021b, p. 17).
Physical or Biological Features Essential to the Conservation of the
Species
For a full description of the physical or biological features
essential to the conservation of the rufa red knot, refer to the 2021
proposed rule. No changes were made to the physical or biological
features, which include:
(1) Beaches and tidal flats used for foraging;
(2) Upper beach areas used for roosting, preening, resting, or
sheltering;
(3) Ephemeral and/or dynamic coastal features used for foraging or
roosting;
(4) Ocean vegetation deposits or surf-cast wrack used for foraging
and roosting;
(5) Intertidal peat banks used for foraging and roosting;
(6) Features landward of the beach that support foraging or
roosting; and,
(7) Artificial habitat mimicking natural conditions or maintaining
the physical or biological features 1 to 6 (above).
Revised Proposed Critical Habitat Designation
In total, we now propose to designate approximately 683,405 ac
(276,564 ha) in 127 units (18 of which are further subdivided into 46
subunits) as critical habitat for rufa red knot in Massachusetts, New
York, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. The
proposed critical habitat areas described below constitute our best
assessment, at this time, of areas that meet the definition of critical
habitat, and all units were occupied at the time of listing and are
considered currently occupied by the species. Table 1, below, shows the
proposed unit or subunit names, land ownership, and approximate
acreage. Where appropriate, table 1 also notes the previous number for
units for which the numbering has changed.
As noted in the 2021 proposed rule, the land ownership values in
many (but not all) proposed critical habitat units also include a
category called ``uncategorized lands.'' For the purposes of this
analysis and proposed critical habitat designation, this category
refers to open water. Although open water is not rufa red knot habitat
per se, it is an integral part of the habitat mosaic that these birds
require. Rufa red knots use
[[Page 22534]]
the edges of certain coastal ponds, marsh blowouts, salt pannes, and
sand or mud flats that may be classified by some States as open water
if they are submerged during high tides. Additionally, open waters at
inlets are regularly reshaped by natural coastal processes that create
and maintain dynamic and ephemeral rufa red knot habitat features, such
as shoals and spits.
The areas we propose as critical habitat for the rufa red knot are
organized by State, north to south; thus, some units were renumbered
when new units were included in between other units that were presented
in the 2021 proposed rule's critical habitat designation. This document
presents brief descriptions of the revised and new units, including the
reasons why they meet the definition of critical habitat for the rufa
red knot. Also, many of the proposed units presented in the 2021
proposed rule (including some of the revised and new units presented in
this document) overlap in part or whole with existing critical habitat
designated for one or more other federally threatened species (i.e.,
the piping plover (Charadrius melodus), the loggerhead sea turtle
(Caretta caretta), the Gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi),
and the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus)), and one federally
endangered species (i.e., the aboriginal prickly-apple (Harrisia
aboriginum)). Table 2, below, shows the acreage of overlap between the
rufa red knot proposed critical habitat designation and the existing
critical habitat designated for these other federally listed species,
including notation of changes based on this revised proposed rule.
Additional considerations for the previously proposed units and the
revised or new units presented in this document include:
(1) Most of the units contain highly dynamic barrier beaches and
intertidal seashore areas that are covered at high tide and uncovered
at low tide. This area has the potential to vary year-to-year. In other
words, the precise location of the physical or biological features may
shift daily as a result of tides, but also may shift over time somewhat
because of the intrinsically dynamic nature of shorelines and due to
sea level rise. In general, the physical or biological features we
describe are the intertidal areas and sandy beaches up to the vegetated
or developed areas that do not contain the physical or biological
features.
(2) The availability of different habitats based on the tide cycle
may also cause rufa red knots to vary foraging or roosting locations
throughout a day and/or forage at night.
Table 1--Revised Proposed Critical Habitat Units for the Rufa Red Knot
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Critical habitat unit or Land ownership Approx. Proposed Previous unit
subunit name (State) by type Approx. acres hectares changes numbering
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Massachusetts
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MA-1 Nauset Marsh............ Federal........ 1,340 543 New Unit....... New Unit.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 136 55
Uncategorized.. 744 301
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Total......... 2,219 899
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MA-2 Pleasant Bay............ Federal........ 126 51 No Change...... Formerly MA-1.
State.......... 0 0 No Change......
Private/Other.. 2,005 812 +409 ac (166
ha).
Uncategorized.. 2,827 1,144 +193 ac (78 ha)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 4,959 2,007 +602 ac (244
ha).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MA-3 Monomoy and South Beach Federal........ 4,047 1,638 No Change...... Formerly MA-2.
Islands.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 1,045 423
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 5,093 2,061
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New York
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NY-1 Moriches Inlet.......... Federal........ 78 32 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 63 25
Private/Other.. 163 66
Uncategorized.. 697 282
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,001 405
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NY-2 Old Inlet............... Federal........ 1,481 599 New Unit....... New Unit.
State.......... 232 94
Private/Other.. 67 27
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,781 721
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NY-3 Jones Inlet............. Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... Formerly NY-2.
State.......... 710 287
Private/Other.. 1,111 450
[[Page 22535]]
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,821 737
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NY-4 Jamaica Bay............. Federal........ 5,458 2,209 No Change...... Formerly NY-3.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 5,458 2,209
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Jersey
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NJ-1 Brigantine and Little Federal........ 1,560 632 No Change...... No Change.
Egg Inlets.
State.......... 3,187 1,291 No Change......
Private/Other.. 10 4 No Change......
Uncategorized.. 5,194 2,101 +233 ac (95 ha)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 9,952 4,027 +233 ac (95 ha)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NJ-2 Seven Mile Beach........ Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 536 217
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 536 217
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NJ-3 Hereford Inlet.......... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 175 71
Private/Other.. 735 297
Uncategorized.. 721 292
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,631 660
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NJ-4 Two Mile Beach.......... Federal........ 128 52 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 128 52
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NJ-5 Cape May Bayshore....... Federal........ 133 54 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 44 18
Private/Other.. 167 67
Uncategorized.. 858 347
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,202 487
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NJ-6 Dennis Creek............ Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 279 113
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 279 113
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NJ-7 Heislerville............ Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 524 211
Private/Other.. 459 186
Uncategorized.. 127 52
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,110 449
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NJ-8 Egg Island.............. Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 1,908 773
Private/Other.. 32 13
Uncategorized.. 14 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,955 791
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NJ-9 Newport Neck............ Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 202 82
Private/Other.. 176 71
[[Page 22536]]
Uncategorized.. 93 38
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 472 191
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Delaware
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DE-1A St. Jones North........ Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 37 15
Private/Other.. 3 1
Uncategorized.. 3 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 43 18
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DE-1B St. Jones South........ Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 1 0.5
Private/Other.. 2 0.6
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 3 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DE-2A North Brokonbridge Gut. Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 2 1
Private/Other.. 91 37
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 93 37
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DE-2B South Brokonbridge Gut. Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 70 29
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 70 29
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DE-3A Main Harbor............ Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 32 13
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 29 12
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 61 25
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DE-3B Rawley Island Roost.... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 1,139 461
Private/Other.. 153 62
Uncategorized.. 6 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,298 525
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DE-3C Slaughter Beach........ Federal........ 1 0.25 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 59 24
Private/Other.. 2 1
Uncategorized.. 528 213
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 590 239
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DE-4 Prime Hook.............. Federal........ 482 195 +2 ac (0 ha); No Change.
correction.
State.......... 0 0 No Change......
Private/Other.. 6 2 No Change......
Uncategorized.. 14 6 -49 ac (19 ha);
correction.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 503 203 -46 ac (19 ha);
correction.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Virginia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-1 Assateague Island....... Federal........ 2,817 1,140 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 2,817 1,140
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-2A Wallops Island North... Federal........ 540 218 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
[[Page 22537]]
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 540 218
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-2B Wallops Island South... Federal........ 31 13 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 31 13
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-3 Assawoman Island........ Federal........ 633 256 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 633 256
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-4 Metompkin Island........ Federal........ 64 26 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 56 22
Private/Other.. 1,239 502
Uncategorized.. 110 44
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,468 594
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-5 Cedar Island............ Federal........ 203 82 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 77 31
Private/Other.. 920 372
Uncategorized.. 1,074 434
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 2,274 920
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-6 Parramore Island........ Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 5,631 2,280
Uncategorized.. 1,171 473
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 6,802 2,753
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-7 Chimney Pole Marsh...... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 1,224 496
Private/Other.. 285 116
Uncategorized.. 495 200
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 2,004 811
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-8 Hog Island.............. Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 16 7
Private/Other.. 2,966 1,201
Uncategorized.. 253 101
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 3,235 1,309
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-9 Cobb Island............. Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 16 7
Private/Other.. 1,778 720
Uncategorized.. 547 221
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 2,342 948
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-10 Little Cobb Island..... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 82 33
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 82 33
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-11 Wreck Island........... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 1,270 514
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 22538]]
Total......... 1,270 514
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-12 Ship Shoal Island...... Federal........ 0 0 New Unit....... New Unit.
State.......... 426 172
Private/Other.. 1,941 785
Uncategorized.. 60 24
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 2,426 982
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-13 Myrtle Island.......... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... Formerly VA-12.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 1,028 417
Uncategorized.. 388 156
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,416 573
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-14 Smith Island........... Federal........ 0 0 No Change to Formerly VA-13.
Unit But
Corrected
Acreage.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 3,258 1,319
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 3,258 1,319
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VA-15 Fisherman Island....... Federal........ 2,413 977 New Unit....... New Unit.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 2,413 977
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Carolina
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC-1A Hatteras Island and Federal........ 4,940 1,999 No Change...... No Change.
Shoals.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 814 329
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 5,754 2,329
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC-1B Ocracoke Island........ Federal........ 1,427 577 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 3,612 1,462
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 575 233
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 5,613 2,271
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC-2A North Core Banks....... Federal........ 6,534 2,644 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 1,654 669
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 8,187 3,313
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC-2B South Core Banks....... Federal........ 3,094 1,252 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 3,094 1,252
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC-3 Shackleford Island...... Federal........ 4,972 2,012 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 4,972 2,012
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC-4 Emerald Isle-Atlantic Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Beach.
State.......... 1,908 772
Private/Other.. 122 50
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 22539]]
Total......... 2,030 822
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC-5 New Topsail Inlet- Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Topsail Beach.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 1,612 652
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,612 652
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC-6 Lea-Hutaff Island....... Federal........ 0 0 New Unit....... New Unit.
State.......... 72 29
Private/Other.. 427 173
Uncategorized.. 586 237
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,085 439
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC-7 Cape Fear-Fort Fisher... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... Formerly NC-6.
State.......... 1,713 693
Private/Other.. 274 111
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,986 804
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC-8 Ocean Isle Beach........ Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... Formerly NC-7.
State.......... 182 73
Private/Other.. 116 47
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 298 120
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NC-9 Sunset Beach-Bird Island Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... Formerly NC-8.
State.......... 345 139
Private/Other.. 39 16
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 384 155
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Carolina
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-1 Garden City Beach....... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 267 108
Private/Other.. 349 141
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 616 249
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-2 Huntington Beach State Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Park-Litchfield Beach.
State.......... 80 32
Private/Other.. 1,554 629
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,634 661
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-3 Sand and South Island Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Beaches.
State.......... 7,843 3,174
Private/Other.. 129 52
Uncategorized.. 283 115
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 8,256 3,341
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-4 Murphy Island Beach..... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 8,312 3,364
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 8,312 3,364
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-5 North Cape Island Beach. Federal........ 775 313 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 495 200
[[Page 22540]]
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,270 514
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-6 South Cape and Federal........ 1,552 628 No Change...... No Change.
Lighthouse Island Beaches.
State.......... 485 196
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 2,037 824
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-7 Raccoon Key Complex and Federal........ 5,324 2,154 No Change...... No Change.
White Banks Beaches.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 5,324 2,154
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-8 Marsh Island............ Federal........ 415 168 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 415 168
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-9 Bulls Island Beach...... Federal........ 5,200 2,104 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 941 381
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 6,141 2,485
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-10 Capers Island Beach.... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 2,534 1,026
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 2,534 1,026
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-11 Dewees Island Beach.... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 265 107
Private/Other.. 1,547 626
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,812 733
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-12 Isle of Palms Beach.... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 754 305
Private/Other.. 3,363 1,361
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 4,117 1,666
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-13 Sullivan's Island Beach Federal........ 83 34 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 694 281
Private/Other.. 1,005 407
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,782 721
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-14 Folly Beach............ Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 1,989 805
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,989 805
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-15 Bird Key Stono......... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 294 119
[[Page 22541]]
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 294 119
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-16 Kiawah and Seabrook Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Island Beaches.
State.......... 1,399 566
Private/Other.. 9,850 3,986
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 11,250 4,553
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-17 Deveaux Bank........... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 1,328 538
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,328 538
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-18 Edisto Island Beaches.. Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 650 263
Private/Other.. 1,093 442
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,743 705
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-19 Pine and Otter Island Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Beaches.
State.......... 6,296 2,548
Private/Other.. 6 2
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 6,302 2,550
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-20 Harbor and Hunting Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Island Beaches.
State.......... 3,246 1,313
Private/Other.. 820 331
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 4,066 1,645
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-21 Fripp, Pritchards, and Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Little Capers Islands'
Beaches.
State.......... 4,055 1,641 +3,750 ac
(1,517 ha).
Private/Other.. 6,123 2,478 +5,694 ac
(2,304 ha).
Uncategorized.. 0 0 No Change......
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 10,178 4,119 +9,444 ac
(3,822 ha).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-22 Bay Point Island Beach. Federal........ 0 0 New Unit....... New Unit.
State.......... 553 224
Private/Other.. 1,145 464
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,698 687
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-23 Hilton Head Island Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... Formerly SC-22.
Beach.
State.......... 1,015 411
Private/Other.. 667 270
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,682 681
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-24 Daufuskie Island Beach. Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... Formerly SC-23.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 6,370 2,578
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 6,370 2,578
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 22542]]
SC-25 Turtle Island and Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... Formerly SC-
Tomkins Island Beaches. 24..
State.......... 1,771 717 -27 ac (11 ha).
Private/Other.. 0 0 No Change......
Uncategorized.. 0 0 No Change......
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,771 717 -27 ac (11 ha).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SC-26 Jones Island Beach..... Federal........ 785 318 No Change...... Formerly SC-25.
State.......... 2,240 907
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 3,025 1,225
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Georgia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-1 Cockspur Island and Federal........ 708 287 New Unit....... New Unit.
Daymark Island Beaches.
State.......... 94 38
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 802 325
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-2 Tybee Island Beach...... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... Formerly GA-1.
State.......... 6 2
Private/Other.. 1,721 697
Uncategorized.. 319 129
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 2,046 828
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-3 Little Tybee Island Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... Formerly GA-2.
Complex.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 8,265 3,345
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 8,265 3,345
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-4 Wassaw Island Beach..... Federal........ 3,001 1,215 No Change...... Formerly GA-3.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 274 111
Uncategorized.. 1,020 412
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 4,296 1,738
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-5 Little Ogeechee River Federal........ 3,136 1,267 +3,136 ac Formerly GA-4.
Shoreline and Raccoon Key. (1,267 ha).
State.......... 1,435 581 -164 ac (66 ha)
Private/Other.. 0 0 No Change......
Uncategorized.. 0 0 No Change......
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 4,571 1,850 +2,972 ac
(1,203 ha).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-6 Ossabaw Island Beach.... Federal........ 0 0 No Change to Formerly GA-5.
Unit But
Corrected
Hectares.
State.......... 28,621 11,582
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 3,736 1,512
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 32,357 13,095
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-7 St. Catherine's Island Federal........ 0 0 No Change to Formerly GA-6.
Beach and St. Catherine's Unit But
Island Bar. Corrected
Hectares.
State.......... 2,106 853
Private/Other.. 11,810 4,779
Uncategorized.. 2,046 828
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 15,962 6,460
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-8 Blackbeard Island Beach. Federal........ 4,954 2,006 No Change...... Formerly GA-7.
State.......... 80 32
[[Page 22543]]
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 1,287 519
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 6,321 2,557
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-9 Sapelo Island Beach..... Federal........ 0 0 Total Hectares Formerly GA-8.
Corrected.
State.......... 2,481 1,004
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 2,481 1,004
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-10 Queens Island, Wolf Federal........ 5,527 2,237 +2,552 ac Formerly GA-9.
Island, Egg Island, Little (1,033 ha).
Egg Island, and Little Egg
Island Bar.
State.......... 261 106 +21 ac (9 ha)..
Private/Other.. 1,865 755 +1,865 ac (755
ha).
Uncategorized.. 4,248 1,719 +2,155 ac (872
ha).
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 11,901 4,816 +6,593 ac
(2,668 ha).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-11 Little St. Simon's Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... Formerly GA-10.
Island Beach.
State.......... 113 46
Private/Other.. 7,462 3,022
Uncategorized.. 1,479 596
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 9,053 3,664
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-12 Sea and St. Simon's Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... Formerly GA-11.
Island Beaches.
State.......... 4 2
Private/Other.. 3,448 1,395
Uncategorized.. 581 235
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 4,033 1,631
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-13 Jekyll Island Beach.... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... Formerly GA-12.
State.......... 5,944 2,406
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 343 139
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 6,287 2,545
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GA-14 Little Cumberland and Federal........ 23,367 9,456 No Change to Formerly GA-13.
Cumberland Island Beaches. Unit But
Corrected
Hectares.
State.......... 1,685 682
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 3,085 1,248
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 28,137 11,387
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Florida
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-1 Nassau Sound-Fort George Federal........ 996 404 No Change to No Change.
Sound-Fort George Inlet Unit But
Complex. Corrected
Hectares.
State.......... 522 211
Private/Other.. 27 11
Uncategorized.. 2,779 1,125
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 4,324 1,750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-2 Ponce Inlet Complex..... Federal........ 16,660 6,742 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 3,005 1,216
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 18 7
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 19,683 7,965
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-3 Merritt Island National Federal........ 6,947 2,811 No Change...... No Change.
Wildlife Refuge Impoundments.
State.......... 0 0
[[Page 22544]]
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 6,947 2,811
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-4A Cape Romano Complex.... Federal........ 13,138 5,317 No Change to No Change.
Unit But
Corrected
Hectares.
State.......... 12,605 5,101
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 470 190
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 26,213 10,608
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-4B Marco Island........... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 408 165
Private/Other.. 8 3
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 416 168
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-5 Marco Bay Complex....... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 3,531 1,429
Private/Other.. 58 24
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 3,589 1,453
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-6A Cocohatchee Inlet Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Complex.
State.......... 9 4
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 9 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-6B Barefoot Beach......... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 18 7
Private/Other.. 21 9
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 39 16
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-7A Lovers Key............. Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 4 1
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 4 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-7B Estero Island.......... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 171 69
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 171 69
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-8 Bunche Beach............ Federal........ 23 9 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 264 107
Private/Other.. 47 19
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 334 135
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-9A J.N. ``Ding'' Darling Federal........ 3,451 1,397 No Change...... No Change.
National Wildlife Refuge.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 3,451 1,397
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-9B Sanibel Island......... Federal........ 307 124 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
[[Page 22545]]
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 307 124
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-10A Don Pedro............. Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 147 60
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 147 60
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-10B Stump Pass Beach State Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Park.
State.......... 11 4
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 11 4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-11 Siesta Key............. Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 53 21
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 53 21
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-12A Lido Key.............. Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 81 33
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 81 33
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-12B Longboat Key.......... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 369 149
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 369 149
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-13 North Anna Maria Island Federal........ 56 23 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 889 360
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 945 383
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-14 Egmont Key............. Federal........ 15 6 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 15 6
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-15A Fort De Soto County Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Park.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 427 173
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 427 173
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-15B Shell Key Preserve.... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 322 130
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 322 130
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-15C Saint Petersburg Beach Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 107 43
Private/Other.. 0 0
[[Page 22546]]
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 107 43
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-16 Indian Shores-Redington Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Beach.
State.......... 196 79
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 196 79
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-17 Belleair Beach......... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 123 50
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 123 50
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-18A Caladesi Island....... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 259 105
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 259 105
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-18B Honeymoon Island...... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 294 119
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 294 119
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-18C Three Rooker Bar...... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 335 136
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 335 136
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-19 Anclote Key............ Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 1,547 626
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,547 626
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-20 Cedar Keys Complex..... Federal........ 2,498 1,011 No Change to No Change.
Unit But
Corrected
Hectares.
State.......... 7,792 3,153
Private/Other.. 5,928 2,399
Uncategorized.. 19,407 7,854
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 35,626 14,417
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-21 St. Marks National Federal........ 2,074 839 No Change...... No Change.
Wildlife Refuge.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 2,074 839
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-22A Mashes Sands.......... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 262 106
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 262 106
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-22B Bald Point State Park. Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 439 178
[[Page 22547]]
Private/Other.. 6 2
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 445 180
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-22C Alligator Point....... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 722 292
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 722 292
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-23A Turkey Point Shoal.... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 531 215
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 531 215
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-23B Lanark Reef........... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 805 326
Private/Other.. 61 25
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 865 350
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-23C East Dog Island....... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 771 312
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 771 312
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-23D West Dog Island....... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 751 304
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 751 304
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-23E McKissack Beach, Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Carrabelle.
State.......... 114 46
Private/Other.. 3 1
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 117 47
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-23F East St. George Island Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State Park.
State.......... 978 396
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 978 396
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-23G St. George Island Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State Park and Bayshore
Shoals.
State.......... 162 65
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 162 65
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-24A Little St. George Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Island State Park-West.
State.......... 953 386
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 953 386
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 22548]]
FL-24B St. Vincent National Federal........ 742 300 No Change...... No Change.
Wildlife Refuge.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 742 300
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-24C Flagg Island Shoals... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 517 209
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 517 209
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-25A Cape San Blas to Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Indian Pass.
State.......... 133 54
Private/Other.. 486 197
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 620 251
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FL-25B St. Joseph Bay-Eastern Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Shore.
State.......... 761 308
Private/Other.. 66 27
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 827 335
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AL-1 Dauphin Island.......... Federal........ 484 196 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 848 343
Private/Other.. 3,834 1,552
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 5,167 2,091
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mississippi
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MS-1 Ship Island............. Federal........ 2,452 993 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 2,452 993
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MS-2 Cat Island.............. Federal........ 686 278 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 1,305 528
Private/Other.. 129 52
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 2,121 858
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Louisiana
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LA-1 Chandeleur Islands...... Federal........ 7,632 3,088 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 0 0
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 7,632 3,088
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LA-2 Barataria Barrier Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Islands and Headlands.
State.......... 126 51
Private/Other.. 7,669 3,104
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 7,795 3,155
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 22549]]
LA-3 Terrebonne Barrier Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Islands.
State.......... 2,900 1,173
Private/Other.. 2,172 879
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 5,072 2,052
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LA-4 Southwest Louisiana Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Beaches.
State.......... 1,497 606
Private/Other.. 4,633 1,875
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 6,130 2,481
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Texas
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TX-1 Rollover Pass to Bolivar Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Flats.
State.......... 482 195 +214 ac (87 ha)
Private/Other.. 996 403 No Change......
Uncategorized.. 0 0 No Change......
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,478 598 +214 ac (87 ha)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TX-2 West Galveston Island... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 307 124
Private/Other.. 282 114
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 590 239
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TX-3 Cedar Lake to Colorado Federal........ 0 0 No Change to No Change.
River. Unit But
Corrected
Hectares.
State.......... 1,075 435
Private/Other.. 128 52
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,204 487
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TX-4 Mustang Island.......... Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 395 160
Private/Other.. 253 102
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 648 262
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TX-5 Mollie Beattie Coastal Federal........ 0 0 No Change...... No Change.
Habitat.
State.......... 505 205
Private/Other.. 218 88
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 723 293
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TX-6 North Padre Island...... Federal........ 2,487 1,007 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 68 27
Private/Other.. 262 106
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 2,817 1,140
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TX-7 Upper Laguna Madre/ Federal........ 273 111 No Change...... No Change.
Nighthawk Bay.
State.......... 816 330
Private/Other.. 68 28
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 1,157 469
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TX-8 Dagger Hill-Yarborough Federal........ 9,731 3,938 No Change to No Change.
Pass-Nine Mile Hole. Unit But
Corrected
Hectares.
State.......... 23,042 9,325
Private/Other.. 0 0
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 22550]]
Total......... 32,773 13,263
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TX-9 Pintail Lake-Padre Federal........ 25,881 10,474 No Change to No Change.
Island-La Punta Larga. Unit But
Corrected
Hectares.
State.......... 34,165 13,826
Private/Other.. 34,125 13,810
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 94,171 38,110
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TX-10 Peyton's Bay-Arroyo Federal........ 8,145 3,296 No Change...... No Change.
Colorado-Three Islands-
Gabrielson Island.
State.......... 25,316 10,245
Private/Other.. 2,190 886
Uncategorized.. 0 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 35,651 14,427
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TX-11 South Bay-Boca Chica... Federal........ 5,536 2,242 No Change...... No Change.
State.......... 4,080 1,652 +157 ac (63 ha)
Private/Other.. 5,784 2,342 No Change......
Uncategorized.. 0 0 No Change......
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Total......... 15,400 6,236 +157 ac (63 ha)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Totals may not sum due to rounding. Rounding in some cases has been corrected/updated in this table.
Table 2--Co-Occurring Critical Habitat Designations That Overlap Proposed Critical Habitat for Rufa Red Knot
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Area of overlap with designated critical habitat in acres (ac)/hectares (ha) (# of proposed rufa Total overlap
red knot units or subunits overlapping) (combined) for
State ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- each state in
Loggerhead Sea West Indian Aboriginal acres (ac)/
Piping Plover Turtle Manatee Gulf Sturgeon Prickly-apple hectares (ha)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
North Carolina \1\.............. 11,495 ac/4,652 ha 3,438 ac/1,391 ha N/A............... N/A............... N/A............... 14,069 ac/5,693
(11). (4). ha.
South Carolina \1\.............. 5,615 ac/2,272 ha 6,007 ac/2,431 ha N/A............... N/A............... N/A............... 9,399 ac/3,804 ha.
(14). (14).
Georgia \1\..................... 15,877 ac/6,425 ha 10,903 ac/4,412 ha N/A............... N/A............... N/A............... 21,698 ac/8,781
(12). (7). ha.
Florida......................... 7,617 ac/3,082 ha 7,114 ac/2,879 ha 20,720 ac/8,385 ha 8,970 ac/3,630 ha 77 ac/31 ha (4)... 37,801 ac/15,297
(20). (17). (11). (11). ha.
Alabama......................... 2,381 ac/963 ha N/A............... N/A............... N/A............... N/A............... 2,381 ac/963 ha.
(1).
Mississippi..................... 4,538 ac/1,837 ha N/A............... N/A............... 1,866 ac/755 ha N/A............... 4,488 ac/1,816 ha.
(2). (2).
Louisiana....................... 17,154 ac/6,942 ha N/A............... N/A............... N/A............... N/A............... 17,154 ac/6,942
(4). ha.
Texas \1\....................... 154,097 ac/62,361 N/A............... N/A............... N/A............... N/A............... 154,097 ac/62,361
ha (11). ha.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total \2\................... 218,774 ac/88,537 27,463 ac/11,114 20,720 ac/8,385 ha 10,836 ac/4,385 ha 77 ac/31 ha (4)... 261,087 ac/105,659
ha (74). ha (40). (11). (13). ha.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The amount of rufa red knot proposed critical habitat overlapping with piping plover designated critical habitat increased by 852 ac (345 ha) in
North Carolina, 660 ac (267 ha) in South Carolina, 508 ac (205 ha) in Georgia, and 371 ac (150 ha) in Texas; this resulted in a total increase of
2,413 ac (976 ha) for piping plover compared to the July 15, 2021, proposed rule. The amount of rufa red knot proposed critical habitat overlapping
with loggerhead sea turtle designated critical habitat was corrected for North Carolina, to include adding acreage for the new NC-6 unit, to 3,438 ac
(1,391 ha); overlap also increased by 692 ac (280 ha) in South Carolina, resulting in a total increase of 608 ac (246 ha) for loggerhead compared to
the July 15, 2021, proposed rule.
\2\ Totals may not sum due to rounding.
The revised proposed critical habitat designation is defined by the
map or maps, as modified by any accompanying regulatory text, presented
at the end of this document under Proposed Regulation Promulgation. The
rule portion of this document depicts all the proposed critical habitat
units, including those originally proposed July 15, 2021, and unchanged
via this document. Because we are adding proposed critical habitat
units, the paragraph designations have changed, so we are setting forth
the entire proposed rule in this document instead
[[Page 22551]]
of just the new and revised proposed critical habitat units.
We include more detailed information on the boundaries of the
revised proposed critical habitat designation in the discussion of new
and revised proposed individual units below. For units for which we are
not proposing any changes from the July 15, 2021, proposed rule, please
refer to information at https://www.regulations.gov under Docket No.
FWS-R5-ES-2021-0032.
Unit MA-1: Nauset Marsh
Unit MA-1 consists of approximately 2,219 ac (899 ha) of highly
dynamic barrier beaches and intertidal (i.e., seashore that is covered
at high tide and uncovered at low tide) areas in the towns of Orleans
and Eastham in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The unit includes
exposed intertidal flats, shoals, mudflats, and intertidal salt marsh
pannes in Salt Pond Bay and Nauset Bay, and ephemeral tidal pools,
primary sand dunes, and beaches associated with Nauset Spit (Orleans
and Eastham) and Coast Guard Beach (Eastham). The southern end of the
unit begins at Nauset Spit north of Mill Pond where the peninsula is
bordered by bay and oceanside waters, and heads east following the
mainland shoreline past Woods Cove (but not including the cove) to the
shoreline of Fort Hill (Eastham). The unit then follows the shoreline
around Salt Pond Bay to the north end of Nauset Bay where the boundary
continues east across Coast Guard Beach to mean low low water (MLLW;
i.e., the lowest of the low tides per day averaged over a 19-year
period) on the ocean side. The eastern unit border continues south
crossing the inlet between Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Spit (Eastham)
following oceanside MLLW until the spit is no longer bordered by the
bay and ocean, at which point the boundary heads west. Lands within
this unit include approximately 1,340 ac (543 ha; 60 percent) in
Federal ownership, 136 ac (55 ha; 6 percent) in private/other
ownership, and 744 ac (301 ha; 34 percent) that are uncategorized.
General land use within this unit is primarily recreational, including
offshore and surf fishing, shellfish digging (both recreational and
commercial), boating, over-sand vehicle use, sunbathing, swimming, and
walking.
Unit MA-1 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. The unit contains a high concentration of rufa red knots
during the fall migration period, serving as an important southbound
stopover site in the New England portion of the subspecies' range.
Additionally, this location consistently supports large concentrations
of migrating rufa red knots annually due to the large intertidal areas
and beach habitat that provides multiple foraging and roosting habitat
areas for the birds to build energy resources for migration.
Threats identified within Unit MA-1 include disturbance of foraging
and roosting rufa red knots by humans and human activities including
but not limited to, pets and domestic animals, off-road vehicles
(ORVs), powered and unpowered boats, surf kites, and surf fishing,
predation (especially by migrating raptors and owls), possible
modification or loss of habitat (i.e., dredging), and natural or human-
caused disasters (i.e. hurricanes, oil spills). Special management
considerations or protection measures to reduce or alleviate the
threats may include managing access to rufa red knot foraging habitat
and adjacent saltmarsh and upland roosting habitat during migration
(through restrictions on timing, locations, and types of activities),
and addressing the impacts of potential oil spills through protective
spill response plans and training (see Special Management
Considerations or Protection in the 2021 proposed rule). The National
Park Service (NPS) lands within the unit (i.e., Cape Cod National
Seashore) are managed under a comprehensive shorebird management plan
(NPS 2018, entire).
Unit MA-2: Pleasant Bay
Unit MA-2 consists of approximately 4,959 ac (2,007 ha) of highly
dynamic barrier beaches and intertidal areas in the towns of Chatham
and Orleans in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The unit includes
exposed intertidal flats, shoals, mudflats, and intertidal salt marsh
pannes in Little Pleasant Bay and Pleasant Bay, and ephemeral tidal
pools, primary sand dunes, and beaches associated with Nauset Beach
South (Orleans), North Beach (Chatham), and North Beach Island
(Chatham). The unit begins at the northeastern end of Little Pleasant
Bay going east to the edge of the saltmarsh, continuing south on the
interior of Nauset Beach South approximately 1.7 mi (2.7 km) then east
to MLLW on the east side of Nauset Beach South, continuing south along
Nauset Beach South and North Beach to North Beach Island at MLLW and
terminating at the natural channel between North Beach Island and South
Beach Island (Chatham). The western side of the unit runs offshore of
the mainland, west of small islands in Pleasant and Little Pleasant
Bays (Little Sipson Island, Strong Island, and Tern Island) and east of
Hog Island and Sampson Island, incorporating intertidal lands
associated with the islands. Lands within this unit include
approximately 126 ac (51 ha; 3 percent) in Federal ownership, 2,005 ac
(812 ha; 40 percent) in private/other ownership, and 2,827 ac (1,144
ha; 57 percent) that are uncategorized. General land use within this
unit is primarily recreational, including offshore and surf fishing,
shellfish digging (both recreational and commercial), boating, over-
sand vehicle use, sunbathing, swimming, and walking.
Unit MA-2 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. The unit contains a high concentration of rufa red knots
during the spring and fall migration periods, serving as an important
northbound and southbound stopover site in the New England portion of
the subspecies' range. Additionally, this location consistently
supports a few thousand migrating rufa red knots due to the large
intertidal areas and beach habitat that provides multiple foraging and
roosting habitat areas for the birds to build energy resources for
migration.
Threats identified within Unit MA-2 include disturbance of foraging
and roosting rufa red knots by humans and human activities including
but not limited to, pets and domestic animals, ORVs, powered and
unpowered boats, surf kites, and surf fishing, predation (especially by
migrating raptors and owls), possible modification or loss of habitat
(e.g., dredging or mining of sand flats), and natural or human-caused
disasters (i.e., oil spills). Special management considerations or
protection measures to reduce or alleviate the threats may include
managing access to rufa red knot foraging habitat and adjacent
saltmarsh and upland roosting habitat during migration (through
restrictions on timing, locations, and types of activities), and
addressing the impacts of potential oil spills through protective spill
response plans and training (see Special Management Considerations or
Protection in the 2021 proposed rule). The National Park Service (NPS)
manages Cape Cod National Seashore under a comprehensive shorebird
management plan (NPS 2018, entire) (Shorebird Plan). However, due to
the small and isolated nature of NPS inholdings in this unit, these
areas are not actively managed under the Shorebird Plan.
[[Page 22552]]
Unit NY-2: Old Inlet
Unit NY-2 (Old Inlet) consists of 1,781 ac (721 ha) of highly
dynamic beach, sand flats, bay islands, back bay shoreline, intertidal
areas, and surface water within the town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County,
New York. The unit is irregularly shaped and bounded to the south by
the Atlantic Ocean, to the west by the Fire Island National Seashore's
Federal Otis G. Pike Wilderness Area, and to the east by the
continuation of the Federal wilderness area. Its northern boundary lies
approximately in the lower third of Bellport Bay. Additionally,
portions of the northern and southern areas of the unit are not
contiguous, as they are separated by a vegetated dune and washover
areas. Lands within this unit include approximately 1,481 ac (599 ha;
83 percent) in Federal ownership; 232 ac (94 ha; 13 percent) in State
ownership; and 67 ac (27 ha; 4 percent) in private/other ownership
(including the town of Brookhaven). General land use within this unit
is recreational activities (e.g., fishing, bird watching, boating, open
space use). Coastal engineering structures are absent, but beach
nourishment programs are implemented along the ocean beach to the east
by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Smith Point County Park (via
coordination and agreements with the State of New York and Suffolk
County).
Unit NY-2 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. This unit contains a high concentration of rufa red knots
during the fall migration period, serving as an important southbound
stopover site. The area has a relatively undeveloped character that
provides protection from intensive human uses. Episodic storm events
have also contributed to habitat creation, and, in turn, optimal rufa
red knot habitat conditions. The bay islands and associated wetlands
are managed for wildlife, which provides some limits to the amount of
disturbance that rufa red knots or their habitat may experience from
recreation and other human activities (e.g., commercial shell fishing,
dredging, and shoreline dock/pier projects).
Threats identified within Unit NY-2 include: (1) Sea level rise;
(2) coastal engineering activities (e.g., beach nourishment that could
remove habitat, preclude the formation of habitat such as exposed
shoals, and impact adjacent shoreline habitats by altering currents and
sediment transport/deposition patterns); (3) predation in nonbreeding
areas; and (4) human disturbance (e.g., recreational fishing and
driving, and motorized boat traffic or aircraft that create noise
disturbance). Special management considerations or protection measures
to reduce or alleviate the threats may include reducing disturbance
(e.g., humans, pets, vehicles, and watercraft), conducting predator
control, and implementing conservation measures that help reduce
modification or loss of habitat from soft beach stabilization efforts
(e.g., time-of-year restrictions for beach nourishment and dredging
activities, establishing temporary sanctuaries and management during
certain times of year to address erosion) (see Special Management
Considerations or Protection in the 2021 proposed rule).
The town of Brookhaven lands (both marine and estuarine habitats
within this unit) are managed in cooperation with the New York State
Wildlife Action Plan (New York State Department of Environmental
Conservation 2015, entire). Additionally, the designated South Shore
Estuary Reserve implements a Comprehensive Management Plan (South Shore
Estuary Reserve Council 2001, entire), which encompasses Units NY-1,
NY-2, and NY-3, and serves as a guidance document for municipalities
and private/public sectors to conserve or protect habitats and waters
within the Reserve. Unit NY-2 is within the boundaries of the Fire
Island National Seashore's Federal Otis G. Pike Wilderness Area. The
NPS prepared the ``Fire Island National Seashore Wilderness Breach
Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement'' to provide a thorough
evaluation to determine the potential benefits and consequences of
management strategies prior to making a decision on how to manage the
wilderness breach (NPS 2017, entire).
Unit NJ-1: Brigantine and Little Egg Inlets
Unit NJ-1 consists of 9,952 ac (4,027 ha) of beach, dune, shoals,
open water, and tidal marsh associated with two inlets (i.e., small
arms of the ocean) in Ocean and Atlantic Counties, New Jersey,
extending from the northern boundary of the Holgate Unit of Edwin B.
Forsythe (Forsythe) NWR, west to the ``Seven Islands'' portion of Great
Bay Boulevard Wildlife Management Area, and south nearly to 15th Street
North in Brigantine City. To the north, the unit encompasses the
Holgate Unit of the Forsythe NWR and includes several areas within the
Great Bay Boulevard Wildlife Management Area, owned by the State of New
Jersey (e.g., Seven Islands and other islands on either side of Great
Bay Boulevard south of Big Sheepshead Creek). The unit also includes
portions of Little Beach Island within the Forsythe NWR, and portions
of the North Brigantine Natural Area owned by the State of New Jersey.
This unit includes extensive areas of shoals and sand or mud flats
(such as the new island east of Little Beach Island that is within the
Edwin B. Forsythe NWR), which are generally owned by the State. Lands
within this unit include approximately 1,560 ac (632 ha; 16 percent) in
Federal ownership, 3,187 ac (1,291 ha; 32 percent) in State ownership,
10 ac (4 ha; less than 1 percent) in private/other ownership, and 5,194
ac (2,101 ha; 52 percent) that are uncategorized. General land use
within this unit is almost entirely undeveloped and managed for
wildlife and other natural resource values, as well as recreation.
Unit NJ-1 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. This unit contains a high concentration of rufa red knots
during the spring and fall migration periods, serving as an important
northbound and southbound stopover site. This unit has an undeveloped
character that provides protection from intensive human uses. The lack
of hard structures and other coastal engineering practices in this unit
allows optimal rufa red knot habitat conditions to be created and
maintained by natural coastal processes, which is a condition that is
rare in the mid-Atlantic. The Little Egg Inlet is the only unmodified
inlet in New Jersey and one of only two unmodified inlets between
Montauk, New York, and Chincoteague, Virginia, a shoreline distance of
nearly 350 mi (563 km) (Rice 2016, pp. 24-25). Nearly all the lands in
the unit are managed for wildlife, which limits disturbance of rufa red
knots from recreation and other human activities.
Threats identified within Unit NJ-1 include: (1) Sea level rise
that may accelerate faster than landforms can migrate through natural
coastal processes; (2) coastal engineering activities (e.g., ongoing
updrift beach nourishment; proposed enlargement of a terminal groin
immediately adjacent to the unit's northern limit; ongoing and proposed
dredging that could remove habitat (e.g., exposed shoals), preclude
habitat formation, and/or impact adjacent shoreline habitats by
altering sediment transport/deposition patterns); (3) aquaculture
leases; (4) predation in nonbreeding areas; and (5) human disturbance
(e.g., recreational fishing and driving in the fall, motorized boat
[[Page 22553]]
traffic and aircraft year round). Special management considerations or
protection measures to reduce or alleviate the threats may include
managing sources of disturbance (e.g., humans, pets, vehicles, and
watercraft), managing predator populations, and implementing
conservation measures to abate habitat impacts from coastal engineering
projects and from sea level rise (see Special Management Considerations
or Protection in the July 15, 2021, proposed rule). Federal lands in
this unit are managed under the Edwin B. Forsythe NWR Comprehensive
Conservation Plan (Service 2004a, entire). State lands within the North
Brigantine Natural Area are covered by a Beach Management Plan (Service
and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection 2019, entire).
Unit VA-12: Ship Shoal Island
This unit consists of a total of 2,426 ac (982 ha) in Northampton
County, Virginia, including both Ship Shoal Island and the area known
as Godwin Island. The north boundary is Red Drum Drain and New Inlet,
the south boundary is Ship Shoal Inlet, the west boundary is South Bay,
and the east boundary is the Atlantic Ocean. The boundary for the
island and marsh complex extends outward past the MLLW line and
includes the areas that are slightly inundated with less than 3 in (7.6
cm) of water. The unit is composed of 426 ac (172 ha; 18 percent) in
State ownership, 1,941 ac (785 ha; 80 percent) in private/other
ownership, and the remaining 60 ac (24 ha; 2 percent) is uncategorized.
The island is composed of extensive mud flats, low marsh, sandy
beaches, overwash areas, and tidal channels. General land use within
this unit is scientific research (e.g., surveys and monitoring for
nesting shorebirds); this area is closed to visitor use at all times
for scientific research and safety reasons (TNC 2017, p. 1).
Unit VA-12 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. This unit is essential to the conservation of the species
because it is used by rufa red knots in conjunction with other proposed
critical habitat units with large concentrations of rufa red knots
observed during the spring migration season and provides high-quality
habitat that is protected from disturbance. Additionally, rufa red
knots are known to move from island to island daily within the barrier
island chain; the whole chain of islands serves as important foraging
and roosting habitat for the rufa red knot. Therefore, inclusion of
unit VA-12 accurately captures how rufa red knots are using the
available habitat along Virginia's Eastern Shore.
The threats identified within Unit VA-12 include: (1) Natural
(e.g., hurricanes) or human-caused (e.g., oil spills) disasters, and
(2) erosional processes and accelerated loss of shoreline habitat in
response to climate change and sea level rise. Special management
considerations or protection measures to reduce or alleviate the
threats may include managing scientific research activity access to
rufa red knot foraging habitat and adjacent upland roosting habitat
during migration, and establishing temporary sanctuaries and management
during certain times of year to address erosion (see Special Management
Considerations or Protection in the 2021 proposed rule). The island is
owned and managed by TNC as part of the Virginia Coast Reserve,
management of which is identified in a Conservation Action Plan that
outlines priorities and strategies for conservation activities (Wilke
2020, pers. comm.).
Unit VA-15: Fisherman Island
This unit consists of a total of 2,413 ac (977 ha) in Northampton
County, Virginia. The unit is an oval-shaped island located at the
mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and is just south of the tip of the Eastern
Shore peninsula. The island is surrounded by the waters of the
Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. It is bisected by U.S. Route 13 and
the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel complex. The interior boundary is
along the dune line where the habitat changes from sandy beach with
little vegetation to densely vegetated dunes or marshland, as well as
densely vegetated forested or herbaceous vegetation landward of the
beach and primary dune. The unit extends seaward past the MLLW line and
includes areas that are slightly inundated with less than 3 in (7.6 cm)
of water. The unit is federally owned by the Service's Eastern Shore of
Virginia NWR. General land use within this unit includes low-impact
recreational day use (e.g., hiking, bird watching, photography) only
provided through guided tours from September through February. In
addition, scientific research (e.g., survey and monitoring of natural
resources, such as federally listed species) may occur year-round.
Unit VA-15 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. This unit is essential to the conservation of the species
because it is used by rufa red knots in conjunction with other proposed
critical habitat units with large concentrations of rufa red knots
observed during the spring migration season and provides high-quality
habitat that is protected from disturbance. Additionally, rufa red
knots are known to move from island-to-island daily within the barrier
island chain; the whole chain of islands serves as important foraging
and roosting habitat for the rufa red knot. Therefore, inclusion of
unit VA-15 accurately captures how rufa red knots are using the
available habitat along Virginia's Eastern Shore.
Threats identified within Unit VA-15 include: (1) Disturbance of
foraging and roosting rufa red knots by trespass recreational beach
use, (2) natural (e.g., hurricanes) or human-caused (e.g., oil spills)
disasters, and (3) accelerated loss of shoreline habitat from erosional
processes in response to sea level rise. Special management
considerations or protection measures to reduce or alleviate the
threats may include managing access to rufa red knot foraging habitat
and adjacent upland roosting habitat during migration (through
restrictions on timing, locations, and types of activities), and
establishing temporary sanctuaries and management during certain times
of year to address erosion (see Special Management Considerations or
Protection in the 2021 proposed rule). Currently, Eastern Shore of
Virginia and Fisherman Island NWRs address some of these threats in
their Comprehensive Conservation Plan (Service 2004b, entire) and
Habitat Management Plan (Service 2018, entire).
Unit NC-6: Lea-Hutaff Island
Unit NC-6 consists of approximately 1,085 ac (439 ha) of occupied
habitat including all of Lea-Hutaff Island in Pender and New Hanover
Counties consisting of shoreline habitat that stretches approximately
4.8 mi (7.7 km) from the west side of the New Topsail Inlet channel
west across the Rich Inlet channel to the toe of the primary dune or
dense vegetation line on the northeast end of Figure Eight Island. This
unit includes from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely
vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins and where the
physical or biological features no longer occur. This unit also
includes the emergent sand shoals within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal
deltas associated with the west side of the New Topsail Inlet channel,
and the emergent sand shoals within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal
deltas on the west side of Rich Inlet channel. Lands within this unit
include approximately 72 ac (29 ha; 7 percent) in State ownership, and
427 ac (173 ha; 39
[[Page 22554]]
percent) in private/other ownership, and 586 ac (237 ha; 54 percent)
that are uncategorized. State lands in this unit include parcels on the
northeast end of Lea-Hutaff Island. General land use within this unit
includes low-impact recreational day use (e.g., hiking, bird watching,
photography and shell collecting). Additionally, scientific research
(e.g., survey and monitoring of natural resources, such as federally
listed species) may occur year-round.
Unit NC-6 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. This unit contains a high concentration of rufa red knots
during the spring migration period, serving as an important northbound
stopover site. Approximately 852 ac (345 ha) of this unit overlap with
designated critical habitat for the federally threatened piping plover
(66 FR 36038, July 10, 2001) and 238 ac (96 ha) overlap with the
federally threatened loggerhead sea turtle (79 FR 39756, July 10,
2014).
Threats identified within Unit NC-6 include: (1) Depredation by
native and nonnative predators; (2) modification or loss of habitat or
both due to erosion and sea level rise; and (3) response to natural and
human-caused disasters (i.e., hurricanes, oil spills). Special
management considerations or protection measures to reduce or alleviate
the threats may include managing access to rufa red knot foraging
habitat and adjacent saltmarsh and upland roosting habitat during
migration (through restrictions on timing, locations, and types of
activities), conducting habitat management or restoration (e.g., living
shorelines, raising marsh elevations, facilitated shoreline migration),
managing predator populations, managing human activities that disturb
foraging rufa red knots, and managing sediment sources both within the
unit and adjacent Rich Inlet and New Topsail Inlet (see Special
Management Considerations or Protection in the 2021 proposed rule).
State lands within this unit are managed under the 2015 North Carolina
Wildlife Action Plan (NCWRC 2015, entire).
Unit SC-21: Fripp, Pritchards, and Little Capers Islands' Beaches
Unit SC-21 consists of 10,178 ac (4,119 ha) of Fripp Island,
Pritchards Island, and Little Capers Island, barrier islands off the
coast in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The unit boundary begins on
the shoreline of Fripp Island on the south side of Fripp Inlet and
extends southwest along the Atlantic Ocean shorelines of Fripp Island,
Pritchards Island, and Little Capers Island to the eastern side of
Trenchards Inlet where the boundary follows the southern shoreline of
the Story River. The unit includes all emergent land from MLLW to the
toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not used by the
red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy
intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals
(sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with
Fripp, Skull, and Trenchards Inlets as well as the unnamed inlets along
the Little Capers Island shoreline. Lands within this unit include
approximately 4,055 ac (1,641 ha; 40 percent) in State ownership and
6,123 ac (2,478 ha; 60 percent) in private/other ownership. General
land use within this unit includes residential development, tourism,
and outdoor recreational use (e.g., beachgoing, birdwatching, boating,
and fishing).
Unit SC-21 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. This unit contains a high concentration of rufa red knots
during the spring migration period, serving as an important northbound
stopover site. The majority of this unit, with the exception of Fripp
Island, has remote boat-only access and an undeveloped character that
provides protection from intensive human uses. Approximately 660 ac
(267 ha) of this unit overlap with designated critical habitat for the
federally threatened piping plover (66 FR 36038, July 10, 2001), and 97
ac (39 ha) of this unit overlap with designated critical habitat for
the federally threatened loggerhead sea turtle (79 FR 39756, July 10,
2014).
Threats identified within Unit SC-21 include: (1) Disturbance of
foraging and roosting red knots by humans and human activities (e.g.,
off-leash dogs, walking/running/biking through or too close to flocks
of red knots, powered boats); (2) depredation by native and nonnative
predators; (3) modification or loss of habitat or both due to
uncontrolled recreational access, erosion, and sea level rise; and (4)
disturbance associated with response to natural and human-caused
disasters (e.g., hurricanes, oil spills). Special management
considerations or protection measures to reduce or alleviate the
threats may include minimizing disturbance to wintering and migrating
red knots (e.g., managing recreational access to key rufa red knot
foraging and roosting habitat during migration through restrictions on
timing, locations, and types of activities) and managing the collection
of spawning horseshoe crabs for biomedical use (e.g., limiting location
and timing of collection) (see Special Management Considerations or
Protection in the 2021 proposed rule). Private/other lands within this
unit are managed under the 1992 Comprehensive Beach Management Plan of
Beaufort County (Beaufort County Planning Board 1992, entire) and the
2020 Fripp Island Beach Management Plan (Beaufort County 2020, entire).
Unit SC-22: Bay Point Island Beach
Unit SC-22 consists of 1,698 ac (687 ha) of Bay Point Island, a
barrier island off the coast in Beaufort County, South Carolina. The
unit boundary begins on the Trenchards Inlet shoreline at the entrance
to Morse Island Creek and follows the Atlantic Ocean shoreline to the
eastern shoreline of Port Royal Round to the western entrance to Morse
Island Creek. The unit includes all emergent land from MLLW to the toe
of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa
red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy
intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals
(sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with
Morse Creek and Trenchards Inlet within the unit boundary. Lands within
this unit include approximately 553 ac (224 ha; 33 percent) in State
ownership and 1,145 ac (464 ha; 67 percent) in private/other ownership.
General land use within this unit includes outdoor recreational use
(e.g., beachgoing, boating, birdwatching, and fishing).
Unit SC-22 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. This unit contains a high concentration of rufa red knots
during the spring migration period, serving as an important northbound
stopover site, particularly when horseshoe crabs are spawning. This
unit has remote boat-only access and an undeveloped character that
provides protection from intensive human uses. Approximately 595 ac
(241 ha) of this unit overlap with designated critical habitat for the
federally threatened loggerhead sea turtle (79 FR 39756, July 10,
2014).
Threats identified within Unit SC-22 include: (1) Disturbance of
foraging and roosting red knots by humans and human activities (e.g.,
off-leash dogs, walking too close to flocks of red knots,
[[Page 22555]]
powered boats); (2) depredation by native and nonnative predators; (3)
modification or loss of habitat or both due to uncontrolled
recreational access, erosion, and sea level rise; and (4) disturbance
associated with response to natural and human-caused disasters (e.g.,
hurricanes, oil spills). Special management considerations or
protection measures to reduce or alleviate the threats may include
minimizing disturbance to wintering and migrating red knots (e.g.,
managing recreational access to key rufa red knot foraging and roosting
habitat during migration through restrictions on timing, locations, and
types of activities) (see Special Management Considerations or
Protection in the July 15, 2021, proposed rule). Private/other lands
within this unit are managed under the 1992 Comprehensive Beach
Management Plan of Beaufort County (Beaufort County Planning Board
1992, entire).
Unit SC-25: Turtle Island and Tomkins Island Beaches
Unit SC-25 consists of 1,771 ac (717 ha) on Turtle Island (a sea
island) and Tompkins Island (a human-made island) in Calibogue Sound in
Jasper County, South Carolina. The unit boundary begins on the southern
shoreline of the New River and extends southwest along the Calibogue
Sound shoreline to the Wright River shoreline of Turtle Island. The
unit boundary also includes the entire Calibogue Sound shoreline of
Tompkins Island located east of Turtle Island. The unit includes all
emergent land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely
vegetated habitat (not used by the red knot) begins (i.e., the highly
dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at
high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also
includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-
tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the unnamed inlet in the
center of the Turtle Island shoreline. Lands within this unit are
entirely in State ownership as SCDNR's Turtle Island Wildlife
Management Area and a SCDNR seabird sanctuary. General land use within
this unit includes wildlife management and outdoor recreational use
(e.g., beachgoing, boating, birdwatching, and fishing).
Unit SC-25 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. This unit contains a high concentration of rufa red knots
during the spring migration period, serving as an important northbound
stopover site, particularly when horseshoe crabs are spawning. This
unit also has remote boat-only access and an undeveloped character that
provides protection from intensive human uses.
Threats identified within Unit SC-25 include: (1) Disturbance of
foraging and roosting red knots by humans and human activities (e.g.,
off-leash dogs, walking/running through or too close to flocks of red
knots, powered boats); (2) depredation by native and nonnative
predators; (3) modification or loss of habitat or both due to
uncontrolled recreational access, erosion, and sea level rise; and (4)
disturbance associated with response to natural and human-caused
disasters (e.g., hurricanes, oil spills). Special management
considerations or protection measures to reduce or alleviate the
threats may include minimizing disturbance to wintering and migrating
red knots (e.g., managing recreational access to key rufa red knot
foraging and roosting habitat during migration through restrictions on
timing, locations, and types of activities) and managing the collection
of spawning horseshoe crabs for biomedical use (e.g., limiting location
and timing of collection) (see Special Management Considerations or
Protection in the 2021 proposed rule). State lands and waters within
this unit are managed under the SCDNR's State Wildlife Action Plan
(SCDNR 2015, entire).
Unit GA-1: Cockspur Island and Daymark Island Beaches
Unit GA-1 consists of 802 ac (325 ha) of Cockspur and Daymark
Islands in the mouth of the Savannah River in Chatham County, Georgia.
The unit boundary includes the entire Savannah River and South Channel
of the Savannah River shorelines of Cockspur and Daymark Islands and
includes all emergent land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where
densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e.,
the highly dynamic shoreline and sandy intertidal zone that is covered
at high tide and uncovered at low tide). Lands within this unit include
approximately 708 ac (287 ha; 88 percent) in Federal ownership as part
of the U.S. Coast Guard's Station Tybee and NPS's Fort Pulaski National
Monument, and 94 ac (38 ha; 12 percent) in State ownership. General
land use within this unit includes a U.S. Coast Guard installation,
national monument visitation and recreational day uses (e.g., boating,
fishing, birdwatching).
Unit GA-1 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. This unit contains a high concentration of rufa red knots
during the spring migration period, serving as an important northbound
stopover site, particularly when horseshoe crabs are spawning.
Threats identified within Unit GA-1 include: (1) Disturbance of
foraging and roosting red knots by humans and human activities (e.g.,
off-leash dogs, running/walking/biking through or too close to flocks
of red knots, powered boats); (2) depredation by native and nonnative
predators; (3) modification or loss of habitat or both due to
uncontrolled recreational access, erosion, and sea level rise; and (4)
disturbance associated with the response to natural and human-caused
disasters (e.g., hurricanes, oil spills). Special management
considerations or protection measures to reduce or alleviate the
threats may include managing recreational access to key rufa red knot
foraging and roosting habitat during migration (through restrictions on
timing, locations, and types of activities) and limiting shoreline
stabilization project construction windows (e.g., outside of rufa red
knot migration windows) (see Special Management Considerations or
Protection in the 2021 proposed rule). Federal lands are managed under
the Fort Pulaski National Monument Final General Management Plan (NPS
2013, entire) and the U.S. Coast Guard's Environmental Planning
Implementation Procedures (U.S. Coast Guard 2020, entire).
Unit GA-5: Little Ogeechee River Shoreline and Raccoon Key
Unit GA-5 consists of 4,571 ac (1,850 ha) of the Little Ogeechee
River shoreline along Green Island, Little Wassaw Island, and Pine
Island and all of Raccoon Key in Ossabaw Sound in Chatham County,
Georgia. The unit boundary begins at the Green Island shoreline of the
Little Ogeechee River and continues east along the shorelines of Little
Wassaw Island and Pine Island to the Odingsell River entrance behind
Wassaw Island. The boundary continues north along the Pine Island and
Little Wassaw Island shoreline of the Odingsell River and follows the
Little Wassaw Island shoreline along Adams Creek through marshlands
south of Skidaway Island to Delegal Creek behind Green Island. The unit
includes all emergent land from MLLW to where densely vegetated habitat
(not used by the red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline
and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the
[[Page 22556]]
ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the Ossabaw entrance.
Lands within this unit include approximately 3,136 ac (1,267 ha; 69
percent) in Federal ownership and 1,435 ac (581 ha; 31 percent) in
State ownership. General land use within this unit includes wildlife
management as part of the Service's Wassaw Island NWR and outdoor
recreational use (e.g., beachgoing, boating, fishing, and
birdwatching).
Unit GA-5 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. This unit contains a high concentration of rufa red knots
during the spring migration period, serving as an important northbound
stopover site, particularly when horseshoe crabs are spawning. This
unit also has remote boat-only access and an undeveloped character that
provides protection from intensive human uses.
Threats identified within Unit GA-5 include: (1) Disturbance of
foraging and roosting red knots by humans and human activities (e.g.,
running/walking through or too close to flocks of red knots, powered
boats); (2) depredation by native and nonnative predators; (3)
modification or loss of habitat or both due to uncontrolled
recreational access, erosion, and sea level rise; and (4) disturbance
associated with the response to natural and human-caused disasters
(e.g., hurricanes, oil spills). Special management considerations or
protection measures to reduce or alleviate the threats may include
minimizing disturbance to wintering and migrating red knots (e.g.,
managing access to red knot foraging and roosting habitat during
migration, such as through restrictions on timing, locations, and types
of activities) (see Special Management Considerations or Protection in
the 2021 proposed rule). State lands within this unit are managed under
the GDNR State Wildlife Action Plan (GDNR 2015, entire), and Federal
lands are managed under the 2011 Savannah Coastal NWR Complex
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (Service 2011, entire).
Unit GA-10: Queens Island, Wolf Island, Egg Island, Little Egg Island,
and Little Egg Island Bar
Unit GA-10 consists of 11,901 ac (4,816 ha) of Queens Island, Wolf
Island, Egg Island, Little Egg Island, and Little Egg Island Bar at the
Altamaha Sound in McIntosh County, Georgia. The unit boundary begins at
the Black River shoreline of Queens Island and extends south along the
Wolf Island shoreline, which includes Wolf Island Bar, to the eastern
and southern shorelines of Little Egg Island Bar Natural Area southwest
to Egg Island in the Altamaha Sound. The boundary continues northwest
along the Altamaha River shoreline of Egg Island and north along the
Little Mud River shoreline of Wolf Island and Rockdedundy River
shoreline of Queens Island. The unit includes all emergent land from
MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not
used by the red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and
the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and uncovered
at low tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent
shoals (sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas
associated with the entrance to Altamaha Sound and Beacon Creek. Lands
within this unit include approximately 5,527 ac (2,237 ha; 46 percent)
in Federal ownership, 261 ac (106 ha; 2 percent) in State ownership,
1,865 ac (755 ha; 16 percent) in private/other ownership, and 4,248 ac
(1,719 ha; 36 percent) that are uncategorized. General land use within
this unit includes wildlife management and outdoor recreational use
(e.g., beachgoing, boating, fishing, and birdwatching). Federal land
use includes management of both Wolf and Egg Islands as part of Wolf
Island NWR. Additionally, Wolf Island is a Class I designated
wilderness area.
Unit GA-10 is occupied by the species and contains one or more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. This unit contains a high concentration of rufa red knots
during the spring and fall migration periods, serving as an important
northbound and southbound stopover site, particularly when horseshoe
crabs are spawning. Additionally, this unit contains a high
concentration of rufa red knots during the winter period, providing
important wintering habitat on the Southeastern U.S. portion of the
subspecies' range for foraging and roosting during a time of the year
when rufa red knots are seeking to build energy sources for migration.
This location serves as one of five units in Georgia that supports high
concentrations of rufa red knots throughout the entire nonbreeding
season, and is also important due to its low-level development, remote
boat-only access, and protection from intensive human uses.
Approximately 1,401 ac (567 ha) of this unit overlap with designated
critical habitat for the federally threatened piping plover (66 FR
36038, July 10, 2001).
Threats identified within Unit GA-10 include: (1) Disturbance of
foraging and roosting red knots by humans and human activities (e.g.,
walking/running through or too close to flocks of red knots, powered
boats); (2) depredation by native and nonnative predators; (3)
modification or loss of habitat or both due to erosion and sea level
rise; and (4) disturbance associated with response to natural and
human-caused disasters (e.g., hurricanes, oil spills). Special
management considerations or protection measures to reduce or alleviate
the threats may include minimizing disturbance to wintering and
migrating red knots (e.g., managing recreational access to key rufa red
knot foraging and roosting habitat during migration through
restrictions on timing, locations, and types of activities) (see
Special Management Considerations or Protection in the 2021 proposed
rule). Federal lands in this unit are managed under the 2011 Savannah
Coastal NWR Complex Comprehensive Conservation Plan (Service 2011,
entire), and State lands are managed under the GDNR State Wildlife
Action Plan (GDNR 2015, entire).
Unit TX-1: Rollover Pass to Bolivar Flats
Unit TX-1 consists of 1,478 ac (598 ha) in Galveston County, Texas.
This unit begins bayside of Rollover Pass and extends southwest along
the beach front ending at the north jetty on the Bolivar Peninsula. It
includes 17 mi (27 km) of Gulf shoreline. The landward boundary is the
line indicating the beginning of dense vegetation, and the gulf-side
boundary is the MLLW, including emergent lands and intertidal area
characterized as highly dynamic beach/seashore that is covered at high
tide and uncovered at low tide. The bayside of Rollover Pass and west
end of the unit includes lands known as wind tidal flats that are
infrequently inundated. Specific habitat types within this unit
include: estuarine (bayside) seagrass mud or sand flats that are
subtidal, seagrass flats that are nearly flat areas with rooted
vascular plants (seagrass) growing below the water surface in subtidal
mud or sand substrate; estuarine (bayside) sandy shore (beach/sandbar)
rarely exposed due to tidal fluctuation; estuarine (bayside) sandy
shore (beach/sandbar) that is irregularly or regularly, depending upon
the location, inundated by tides; and marine sandy coastline (beach)
irregularly or regularly inundated by tides, depending upon the
location (Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) 2013, pp. 11-13,
37). Lands within this unit include approximately 482 ac (195 ha; 33
percent) in State ownership and 996 ac
[[Page 22557]]
(403 ha; 67 percent) in private/other ownership. General land use
within this unit includes multiple human uses for recreation including
both pedestrian and vehicle activity, and ongoing beach maintenance/
nourishment activities. The west end of the unit is a well-known
birding site (Bolivar Flats) that is protected by the Houston Audubon
Society.
Unit TX-1 is occupied by the species and contains one of more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. This unit contains a high concentration of rufa red knots
during the winter period, providing an important wintering habitat
location on the northern Gulf coast U.S. portion of the rufa red knot
northern wintering range, especially for an area that also experiences
a low level of disturbance during this time period. The intertidal zone
and relatively undisturbed beach habitat provide multiple foraging and
roosting habitat areas during the time of year when rufa red knots are
seeking to build energy resources for migration. The west end portion
of the unit overlaps with 1,015 ac (411 ha) of designated critical
habitat for the federally threatened piping plover (66 FR 36038, July
10, 2001).
Threats identified within Unit TX-1 include: (1) Disturbance of
foraging and roosting rufa red knots and their habitat modification as
a result of humans, including recreational activities, domestic
animals, and vehicle disturbance (i.e., golf carts, cars, sport-utility
vehicles (SUVs), motorcycles, etc.); (2) modification or loss of
habitat due to residential and commercial development, beach
maintenance and nourishment activities, and sea level rise; (3)
predation (residential and migratory raptors); and (4) human-caused
disasters and response to natural and human-caused disasters (e.g.,
hurricanes, oil spills). Special management considerations or
protection measures to reduce or alleviate the threats may include
conducting public outreach and education, managing access to rufa red
knot foraging habitat and adjacent roosting habitat during migration
(through restrictions on timing, locations, and types of activities),
managing sediment sources to offset erosion and sea level rise, and
addressing the impacts of potential oil spills or gas drilling
activities through facility placement, as well as spill response plans
and training (see Special Management Considerations or Protection in
the 2021 proposed rule). The Texas General Land Office State lands are
managed under The Open Beaches Act, Texas Natural Resource Code Chapter
61, and The Dune Protection Act, Texas Natural Resource Code Chapter
63. The Audubon lands are managed under the Bolivar Flats Bird
Sanctuary Management Plan (Houston Audubon 2017, entire).
Unit TX-11: South Bay-Boca Chica
Unit TX-11 consists of 15,400 ac (6,236 ha) in Cameron County,
Texas. The Boca Chica gulf shoreline portion of this unit begins south
of the Brownsville Ship Channel and extends approximately 6.5 mi (10
km) to the south. Within the South Bay, the northern boundary is south
of Brownsville Ship Channel dredge spoil placement areas, and the
southern boundary is north of the Rio Grande River. The eastern
boundary is the bayside of the Boca Chica Beach (Gulf of Mexico) up to
where dense vegetation begins, and the western boundary is west of the
Loma islands up to where dense vegetation begins along the wind tidal
flats. The unit includes wind tidal flats and all seagrass beds that
are infrequently inundated and/or exposed at low tides and the tidal
flats within the area known as South Bay. Specific habitat types within
this unit include: estuarine (bayside) seagrass mud or sand flats that
are subtidal and are nearly flat areas with rooted vascular plants
(seagrass) growing below the water surface in subtidal mud or sand
substrate; estuarine (bayside) algal mud or sand flats regularly
inundated by tides and are nearly flat areas with a layer of algae
growing on a moist mud or sand substrate and are otherwise devoid of
vegetation; estuarine (bayside) algal mud or sand flats irregularly
inundated by tides; estuarine (bayside) sandy shore (beach/sandbar)
rarely exposed due to tidal fluctuation; estuarine (bayside) sandy
shore (beach/sandbar) irregularly or regularly inundated by tides,
depending upon the location; estuarine (bayside) sandy shore (beach/
sandbar), spoils irregularly inundated by tides; and marine sandy
coastline (beach) irregularly or regularly inundated by tides,
depending upon the location (FGDC 2013, pp. 11-13, 37). Lands within
this unit include approximately 5,536 ac (2,242 ha; 36 percent) in
Federal ownership, 4,080 ac (1,652 ha; 26 percent) in State ownership,
and 5,784 ac (2,342 ha; 38 percent) in private/other ownership. General
land use within this unit includes rocket and drone launches and
associated Space X space exploration development, and multiple
recreational/beachside activities by humans, to include both pedestrian
and vehicle activities. This unit is also managed for migratory bird
use by the Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR.
Unit TX-11 is occupied by the species and contains one of more of
the physical or biological features essential to the conservation of
the species. This unit contains a high concentration of rufa red knots
during the spring and fall migration periods, serving as an important
northbound and southbound stopover site on the northern Gulf coast.
Approximately 13,280 ac (5,374 ha)) of this unit overlap designated
critical habitat for the federally threatened piping plover (66 FR
36038, July 10, 2001).
Threats identified within Unit TX-11 include: (1) Disturbance of
foraging and roosting rufa red knots and their habitat modification as
a result of humans, including recreational activities, vehicle
disturbance (i.e., golf carts, cars, SUVs, motorcycles, etc.), fishing,
waterfowl hunting, and boating; (2) disturbance and habitat
modification/erosion resulting from wind energy development and sea
level rise; (3) predation (residential and migratory raptors); (4)
habitat modification resulting from space exploration development; and
(5) human-caused disasters and response to natural and human-caused
disasters (e.g., hurricanes, oil spills). Special management
considerations or protection measures to reduce or alleviate the
threats may include conducting public outreach and education, managing
access to rufa red knot foraging habitat and adjacent roosting habitat
during migration (through restrictions on timing, locations, and types
of activities), managing sediment sources to offset erosion and sea
level rise, and addressing the impacts of potential oil spills or gas
drilling activities through facility placement, as well as spill
response plans and training (see Special Management Considerations or
Protection in the 2021 proposed rule). Federal lands are managed in
accordance with the 1999 (reprinted) Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR land
protection plan (Service 1993, entire). The Texas General Land Office
State lands are managed under The Open Beaches Act, Texas Natural
Resource Code Chapter 61, and The Dune Protection Act, Texas Natural
Resource Code Chapter 63.
Required Determinations
All required determinations included in the 2021 proposed rule,
with the exception of the following, are unchanged and apply to this
revised proposed rule.
[[Page 22558]]
Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Orders 12866 and 13563)
Executive Order 12866 provides that the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in the Office of Management and Budget will
review all significant rules. OIRA has determined that this revised
proposed rule is significant.
Executive Order 13563 reaffirms the principles of Executive Order
12866 while calling for improvements in the nation's regulatory system
to promote predictability, to reduce uncertainty, and to use the best,
most innovative, and least burdensome tools for achieving regulatory
ends. The executive order directs agencies to consider regulatory
approaches that reduce burdens and maintain flexibility and freedom of
choice for the public where these approaches are relevant, feasible,
and consistent with regulatory objectives. Executive Order 13563
emphasizes further that regulations must be based on the best available
science and that the rulemaking process must allow for public
participation and an open exchange of ideas. We have developed this
revised proposed rule in a manner consistent with these requirements.
References Cited
A complete list of references cited in this document is available
on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov and upon request from
the New Jersey Ecological Services Field Office (see FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT).
Authors
The primary authors of this document are the staff members of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Species Assessment Team and New Jersey
Ecological Services Field Office.
List of Subjects in 50 CFR Part 17
Endangered and threatened species, Exports, Imports, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements, Transportation.
Proposed Regulation Promulgation
Accordingly, we propose to further amend part 17, subchapter B of
chapter I, title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as proposed to
be amended at 86 FR 37410 (July 15, 2021) as set forth below:
PART 17--ENDANGERED AND THREATENED WILDLIFE AND PLANTS
0
1. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1361-1407; 1531-1544; and 4201-4245, unless
otherwise noted.
0
2. Amend Sec. 17.95(b), the entry proposed at 86 FR 37410 for ``Knot,
rufa red (Calidris canutus rufa)'', by revising paragraphs (5) through
(125) and adding paragraphs (126) through (132) to read as follows:
Sec. 17.95 Critical habitat--fish and wildlife.
* * * * *
(b) Birds.
* * * * *
BILLING CODE 4333-15-P
Rufa Red Knot (Calidris canutus rufa)
(5) Note: Index map follows:
Figure 1 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (5)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.000
(6) Unit MA-1: Nauset Marsh, Massachusetts.
(i) This unit consists of approximately 2,219 ac (899 ha) of
occupied habitat in Barnstable County consisting of exposed intertidal
flats, shoals, mud flats, and
[[Page 22559]]
intertidal salt marsh pannes in Little Pleasant Bay and Pleasant Bay,
and ephemeral tidal pools, primary sand dunes, and beaches associated
with Nauset Beach South (Orleans), North Beach (Chatham), and North
Beach Island (Chatham). Lands within this unit include approximately
1,340 ac (543 ha) in Federal ownership (including Monomoy National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR)), 136 ac (55 ha) in private/other ownership, and
744 ac (301 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit MA-1 (Nauset Marsh) follows:
Figure 2 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (6)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.001
(7) Unit MA-2: Pleasant Bay, Massachusetts.
(i) Unit MA-2 consists of approximately 4,959 ac (2,007 ha) of
occupied habitat in Barnstable County consisting of exposed intertidal
sand and mud flats and shoals, ephemeral tidal pools, salt marsh,
primary sand
[[Page 22560]]
dunes, and beaches associated with North and South Monomoy Islands,
Monomoy Island, and the South Beach Island complex. Lands within this
unit include approximately 126 ac (51 ha) in Federal ownership
(including Cape Cod National Seashore), 2,005 ac (812) in private/other
ownership, and 2,827 ac (1,144 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit MA-2 is presented at paragraph (6)(ii) of this
entry.
(8) Unit MA-3: Monomoy and South Beach Islands, Massachusetts.
(i) Unit MA-3 consists of approximately 5,093 ac (2,061 ha) of
occupied habitat in Barnstable County consisting of exposed intertidal
sand and mud flats and shoals, ephemeral tidal pools, salt marsh,
primary sand dunes, and beaches associated with North and South Monomoy
Islands, Monomoy Island, and the South Beach Island complex. Lands
within this unit include approximately 4,047 ac (1,638 ha) in Federal
ownership (including Monomoy NWR) and 1,045 ac (423) in private/other
ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit MA-3 is presented at paragraph (6)(ii) of this
entry.
(9) Unit NY-1: Moriches Inlet, New York.
(i) Unit NY-1 consists of approximately 1,001 ac (405 ha) of
occupied habitat in Suffolk County consisting of highly dynamic beach,
sand flats, bay islands, back bay shoreline, intertidal areas, and
surface water within the towns of Brookhaven and Southampton. Lands
within this unit include approximately 78 ac (32 ha) in Federal
ownership, 63 ac (25 ha) in State ownership, 163 ac (66 ha) in private/
other (including the towns of Brookhaven and Southampton) ownership,
and 697 ac (282 ha) that are uncategorized. This area includes the
South Shore Estuary Reserve.
(ii) Map of Unit NY-1 follows:
Figure 3 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (9)(ii)
[[Page 22561]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.002
(10) Unit NY-2: Old Inlet, New York.
(i) Unit NY-2 consists of approximately 1,781 ac (721 ha) of
occupied habitat in Suffolk County consisting of highly dynamic beach,
sand flats, bay islands, back bay shoreline, intertidal areas, and
surface water within the town of Brookhaven. Lands within this unit
include approximately 1,481 ac (599 ha) in Federal ownership, 232 ac
(94 ha) in State ownership, and 67 ac (27 ha) in private/other
ownership (including the town of Brookhaven). This unit falls within
the Fire Island National Seashore's Federal Otis G. Pike Wilderness
Area.
(ii) Map of Unit NY-2 (Old Inlet) follows:
Figure 4 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (10)(ii)
[[Page 22562]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.003
(11) Unit NY-3: Jones Inlet, New York.
(i) Unit NY-3 consists of approximately 1,821 ac (737 ha) of
occupied habitat in Nassau County consisting of ocean beach habitat,
sand flats, bay islands, and small embayments. It is irregularly shaped
and is bounded to the south by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west by Point
Lookout, to the north by a line running in Hempstead Bay, and to the
east at the eastern extent of Zachs Bay. Lands within this unit include
approximately 710 ac (287 ha) in State ownership and 1,111 ac (450 ha)
that are under private/other ownership. This area includes the South
Shore Estuary Reserve.
(ii) Map of Unit NY-3 follows:
Figure 5 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (11)(ii)
[[Page 22563]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.004
(12) Unit NY-4: Jamaica Bay, New York.
(i) Unit NY-4 consists of approximately 5,458 ac (2,209 ha) of
occupied habitat in Queens County consisting of ocean beach habitat
that is primarily within the National Park Service's Jamaica Bay
Wildlife Refuge, Gateway National Recreation Area, and all under
Federal ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit NY-4 follows:
Figure 6 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (12)(ii)
[[Page 22564]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.005
(13) Unit NJ-1: Brigantine and Little Egg Inlets, New Jersey.
(i) Unit NJ-1 consists of approximately 9,952 ac (4,027 ha) of
occupied habitat in Ocean and Atlantic Counties consisting of beach,
dune, shoals, open water, and tidal marsh associated with two inlets
extending from the northern boundary of the Holgate Unit of Edwin B.
Forsythe NWR, west to the ``Seven Islands'' portion of Great Bay
Boulevard Wildlife Management Area, and south nearly to 15th Street
North in Brigantine City. Lands within this unit include approximately
1,560 ac (632 ha) in Federal ownership (Forsythe NWR), 3,187 ac (1,291
ha) in State ownership (including the North Brigantine Natural Area),
10 ac (4 ha) in private/other ownership, and 5,194 ac (2,101 ha) that
are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit NJ-1 follows:
Figure 7 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (13)(ii)
[[Page 22565]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.006
(14) Unit NJ-2: Seven Mile Beach, New Jersey.
(i) Unit NJ-2 consists of approximately 536 ac (217 ha) of occupied
habitat in Cape May County consisting of sandy oceanfront beach in
Avalon and Stone Harbor Boroughs, from the jetty at 8th Street in
Avalon near Townsends Inlet and extending south to 102nd Street in
Stone Harbor. All lands within this unit are in private/other
ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit NJ-2 follows:
Figure 8 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (14)(ii)
[[Page 22566]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.007
(15) Unit NJ-3: Hereford Inlet, New Jersey.
(i) Unit NJ-3 consists of approximately 1,631 ac (660 ha) of
occupied habitat in Cape May County consisting of sandy oceanfront
beaches, unstabilized barrier peninsula, undeveloped marsh islands, and
several areas of tidal flats and shoals extending along the ocean from
111th Street in Stone Harbor Borough south to 22nd Avenue in North
Wildwood City. The unit also includes areas behind the barrier island
in Middle Township, Stone Harbor, and North Wildwood extending from
Stone Harbor Boulevard south along Great Channel to Nummy Island and
the southern shoreline of Grassy Sound Channel. Lands within this unit
include approximately 175 ac (71 ha) in State ownership (including the
Cape May Coastal Wetlands Wildlife Management Area), 735 ac (297 ha) in
private/other ownership, and 721 ac (292 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit NJ-3 follows:
Figure 9 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (15)(ii)
[[Page 22567]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.008
(16) Unit NJ-4: Two Mile Beach, New Jersey.
(i) Unit NJ-4 consists of approximately 128 ac (52 ha) of occupied
habitat in Cape May County consisting of sandy oceanfront beach from
the northeastern boundary of the Two Mile Beach Unit of Cape May NWR
extending southwest to include all beach portions of the U.S. Coast
Guard Loran Support Unit, ending at the eastern jetty of the Cape May
Inlet. Lands within this unit are all under Federal ownership (Cape May
NWR and U.S. Coast Guard).
(ii) Map of Unit NJ-4 follows:
Figure 10 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (16)(ii)
[[Page 22568]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.009
(17) Unit NJ-5: Cape May Bayshore, New Jersey.
(i) Unit NJ-5 consists of approximately 1,202 ac (487 ha) of
occupied habitat in Cape May County consisting of Delaware Bay beaches,
flats, and shoals from approximately Cloverdale Avenue in Lower
Township to the jetty on the south shore of the mouth of Bidwell Creek
in Middle Township. Lands within this unit include approximately 133 ac
(54 ha) in Federal ownership (Cape May NWR), 44 ac (18 ha) in State
ownership, 167 ac (67 ha) in private/other ownership, and 858 ac (347
ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit NJ-5 follows:
Figure 11 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (17)(ii)
[[Page 22569]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.010
(18) Unit NJ-6: Dennis Creek, New Jersey.
(i) Unit NJ-6 consists of approximately 279 ac (113 ha) of occupied
habitat in Cape May County consisting of Delaware Bay beaches, flats,
and shoals from the northern shore of Bidwell Creek north to about 0.5
mi (0.8 km) north of Dennis Creek. Lands within this unit are all in
State ownership (Dennis Creek Wildlife Management Area).
(ii) Map of Unit NJ-6 follows:
Figure 12 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (18)(ii)
[[Page 22570]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.011
(19) Unit NJ-7: Heislerville, New Jersey.
(i) Unit NJ-7 consists of approximately 1,110 ac (449 ha) of
occupied habitat in Cape May and Cumberland Counties consisting of
Delaware Bay beaches, flats, shoals, tidal marsh, and open waters from
approximately 2,000 ft (0.6 km) east of West Creek in Dennis Township,
Cape May County, and extending west to the eastern end of Bay Avenue in
Maurice River Township, Cumberland County. The developed area along Bay
Avenue is excluded from the unit. West of Bay Avenue, Unit NJ-7
continues north to the mouth of Andrews Ditch in Maurice River
Township. Lands within this unit include approximately 524 ac (211 ha)
in State ownership (including the Heislerville Wildlife Management
Area), 459 ac (186 ha) in private/other ownership, and 127 ac (52 ha)
that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit NJ-7 follows:
Figure 13 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (19)(ii)
[[Page 22571]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.012
(20) Unit NJ-8: Egg Island, New Jersey.
(i) Unit NJ-8 consists of approximately 1,955 ac (791 ha) of
occupied habitat in Cumberland County consisting of Delaware Bay
beaches, flats, shoals, tidal marsh, and open waters from the mouth of
Oranoaken Creek extending south to Egg Island point, and then northwest
to about 850 ft (259 m) past Budney Avenue in the community of
Fortescue. Lands within this unit include approximately 1,908 ac (773
ha) in State ownership, 32 ac (13 ha) in private/other ownership, and
14 ac (5 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit NJ-8 follows:
Figure 14 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (20)(ii)
[[Page 22572]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.013
(21) Unit NJ-9: Newport Neck, New Jersey.
(i) Unit NJ-9 consists of approximately 472 ac (191 ha) of occupied
habitat in Cumberland County consisting of Delaware Bay beaches, flats,
shoals, and tidal marsh from the north bank of the mouth of Fortescue
Creek extending northwest to include both sides of the mouth of
Nantuxent Creek. Beaches adjacent to the developed community of Gandys
Beach are not included in this unit. Lands within this unit include
approximately 202 ac (82 ha) in State ownership (including the
Fortescue Wildlife Management Area), 176 ac (71 ha) in private/other
ownership, and 93 ac (38 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit NJ-9 follows:
Figure 15 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (21)(ii)
[[Page 22573]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.014
(22) Unit DE-1: St. Jones River, Delaware.
(i) Unit DE-1 consists of two subunits comprising 46 ac (19 ha) of
occupied habitat in the St. Jones River area in Kent County. This unit
consists of lands owned by the State of Delaware and private
landowners.
(ii) Map of Unit DE-1 follows:
Figure 16 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (22)(ii)
[[Page 22574]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.015
(iii) Subunit DE-1A (St. Jones North) consists of approximately 43
ac (18 ha) of occupied habitat in Kent County consisting of beach
shoreline at the north end from South Bay Drive in South Kitts Hummock
where there is a jetty into Delaware Bay, and continues to the south
where it meets the St. Jones River inlet. The eastern boundary is the
mean low low-water line (MLLW) of the Delaware Bay, and the western
boundary runs along the dune line where the habitat changes from
lightly vegetated, sandy beach to densely vegetated dunes or marsh.
Lands within this subunit are approximately 37 ac (15 ha) in State
ownership (including the Ted Harvey Wildlife Area), 3 ac (1 ha) of
undeveloped beach privately owned by Delaware Wildlands, a conservation
organization, and 3 ac (1 ha) that are uncategorized.
(iv) Map of Subunit DE-1A is presented at paragraph (22)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit DE-1B (St. Jones South) consists of approximately 3 ac
(1 ha) of occupied habitat in Kent County consisting of beach shoreline
at the south side of the inlet to the St. Jones River. The eastern
boundary is the MLLW of the Delaware Bay, and the western boundary is
where the sandy beach turns to marshy habitat. Lands
[[Page 22575]]
within this subunit include approximately 1 ac (0.5 ha) in State
ownership and approximately 2 ac (0.6 ha) in private/other ownership.
(vi) Map of Subunit DE-1B is presented at paragraph (22)(ii) of
this entry.
(23) Unit DE-2: Brokonbridge Gut, Delaware.
(i) Unit DE-2 consists of two subunits comprising 163 ac (66 ha) of
occupied habitat in the area where Brokonbridge Gut enters the Delaware
Bay in Kent County. This unit consists of lands owned by the State of
Delaware and private landowners.
(ii) Map of Unit DE-2 follows:
Figure 17 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (23)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.016
(iii) Subunit DE-2A (North Brokonbridge Gut) consists of
approximately 93 ac (37 ha) of occupied habitat in Kent County
consisting of beach shoreline between the north side of the
Brokonbridge Gut inlet to the south side of the Murderkill River inlet.
The eastern boundary is the MLLW of the Delaware Bay, and the western
[[Page 22576]]
boundary is where the sandy beach turns to marshy habitat. Lands within
this subunit are primarily in private/other ownership (91 ac (37 ha))
with a small portion (2 ac (1 ha)) owned by the State.
(iv) Map of Subunit DE-2A is presented at paragraph (23)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit DE-2B (South Brokonbridge Gut) consists of
approximately 70 ac (29 ha) of occupied habitat in Kent County
consisting of beach shoreline at the south side of the inlet to
Brokonbridge Gut. The eastern boundary is the MLLW of the Delaware Bay,
and the western boundary is where the sandy beach turns to marshy
habitat. Lands within this subunit are all in private/other ownership,
primarily owned and protected by a private conservation organization
(Delaware Wildlands; 52 ac (21 ha)), with the remaining approximately
18 ac (7 ha) as private, undeveloped land.
(vi) Map of Subunit DE-2B is presented at paragraph (23)(ii) of
this entry.
(24) Unit DE-3: Mispillion Harbor, Delaware.
(i) Unit DE-3 consists of three subunits comprising 1,949 ac (789
ha) of occupied habitat in the Mispillion Harbor area where the
Mispillion River and Cedar Creek enter the Delaware Bay in Kent and
Sussex Counties. This unit consists of lands owned primarily by the
State of Delaware, with minor ownership by Federal and private/other.
(ii) Map of Unit DE-3 follows:
Figure 18 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (24)(ii)
[[Page 22577]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.017
(iii) Subunit DE-3A (Main Harbor) consists of approximately 61 ac
(25 ha) of occupied habitat in Kent and Sussex Counties consisting of
beach shoreline at the south side of the inlet to Brokonbridge Gut. The
eastern boundary is the MLLW of the Delaware Bay, and the western
boundary is where the sandy beach turns to marshy habitat. Lands within
this subunit include approximately 32 ac (13 ha; 53 percent) in State
ownership and 29 ac (12 ha; 47 percent) that are uncategorized.
(iv) Map of Subunit DE-3A is presented at paragraph (24)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit DE-3B (Rawley Island Roost) consists of approximately
1,298 ac (525 ha) of occupied habitat in Kent County consisting of
beach shoreline and marsh on the north side of the Mispillion River,
extending north to Graco's Canal. The western boundary is Crooked Gut,
and the eastern boundary is the MLLW of the Delaware Bay. Lands within
this subunit include approximately 1,139 ac (461 ha) in State ownership
(Milford Neck Wildlife Area), 153 ac (62 ha) in private/other
ownership, and 6 ac (2 ha) that are uncategorized. Private lands are
owned by a combination of a private conservation organization--The
Nature
[[Page 22578]]
Conservancy (TNC; 148 ac (60 ha))--with a small area of private,
undeveloped land that has a conservation easement.
(vi) Map of Subunit DE-3B is presented at paragraph (24)(ii) of
this entry.
(vii) Subunit DE-3C (Slaughter Beach) consists of approximately 590
ac (239 ha) of occupied habitat in Sussex County consisting of beach
shoreline, marsh, and harbor structures extending from the eastern tip
of the dike that outlines the outer tip of the Mispillion Harbor, south
along the sandy beach of Slaughter Beach to the southern end of Isaacs
Shore Drive. The western boundary is where the lightly vegetated beach
becomes marsh in the northern portions of this subunit, or where
property parcels end in the southern portion of this subunit. The
eastern boundary is the MLLW of the Delaware Bay. Lands within this
subunit include approximately 1 ac (0.25 ha) in Federal ownership, 59
ac (24 ha) in State ownership, 2 ac (1 ha) in private/other ownership,
and 528 ac (213 ha) that are uncategorized.
(viii) Map of Subunit DE-3C is presented at paragraph (24)(ii) of
this entry.
(25) Unit DE-4: Prime Hook, Delaware.
(i) Unit DE-4 consists of approximately 503 ac (203 ha) of occupied
habitat in Sussex County consisting of beach shoreline and marsh from
about 1 mi (1.6 km) north of Fowler Beach Road south to the end of
South Bayshore Drive. The eastern boundary is the MLLW of the Delaware
Bay, and the western boundary in the northern portion of the unit runs
along the dune line where the habitat changes from lightly vegetated
sandy beach to densely vegetated dunes or marsh. The western boundary
of the central portion of this unit includes marsh and shallow open
water areas where birds can roost overnight and forage. The western
edge of the southern portion of the unit is where property parcels end
at the beach. Lands within this unit include approximately 482 ac (195
ha) in Federal ownership (Prime Hook NWR), 6 ac (2 ha) in private/other
ownership, and 14 ac (6 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit DE-4 follows:
Figure 19 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (25)(ii)
[[Page 22579]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.018
(26) Unit VA-1: Assateague Island, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-1 consists of approximately 2,817 ac (1,140 ha) of
occupied habitat in Accomack County consisting of beach shoreline from
the Virginia-Maryland State line south to the area known as ``The
Hook,'' a wide peninsula that curves northwest. The western boundary is
along the dune line where the habitat changes from sandy beach with
little vegetation to densely vegetated dunes or marshland, as well as
densely vegetated forested or herbaceous vegetation landward of the
beach and primary dune. The eastern boundary extends seaward past the
MLLW line, including dynamic intertidal areas that are covered at high
tide and uncovered at low tide, as well as shoaling areas that are
inundated with less than 3 in (7.6 cm) of water. All lands within this
unit are federally owned (Assateague Island National Seashore and
Chincoteague NWR).
(ii) Map of Unit VA-1 follows:
Figure 20 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (26)(ii)
[[Page 22580]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.019
(27) Unit VA-2: Wallops Island, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-2 comprises two subunits (totaling 571 ac (231 ha)) of
occupied habitat owned and managed by the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) as part of the Wallops Flight Facility
located in Accomack County.
(ii) Map of Unit VA-2 follows:
Figure 21 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (27)(ii)
[[Page 22581]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.020
(iii) Subunit VA-2A (Wallops Island North) consists of
approximately 540 ac (218 ha) of occupied habitat in Accomack County
consisting of beach shoreline and dynamic intertidal areas. The north
and east boundaries of the subunit are Chincoteague Inlet and seaward
past the MLLW line and shoaling areas that are inundated with less than
3 in (7.6 cm) of water. The western boundary is along the marsh line
where the habitat changes from lightly vegetated sandy beach and
exposed peat with little vegetation to densely vegetated marshland,
peat banks, or densely vegetated forested or herbaceous vegetation
landward of the beach and primary dune. The southern boundary tapers to
a point ending at the northern end of the facility's sea wall
structure; it extends past the MLLW line and includes the areas that
are slightly inundated with less than 3 in (7.6 cm) of water. All lands
within this subunit are federally owned by NASA.
(iv) Map of Subunit VA-2A is presented at paragraph (27)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit VA-2B (Wallops Island South) consists of approximately
31 ac (13 ha) of occupied habitat in Accomack County consisting of
beach shoreline and dynamic intertidal areas. The northern boundary is
the end of the road south of the old runway, the southern
[[Page 22582]]
boundary is Assawoman Creek, the western boundary is along the marsh
line where the habitat changes from lightly vegetated sandy beach and
exposed peat with little vegetation to densely vegetated marshland,
peat banks, or densely forested or herbaceous vegetation landward of
the beach and primary dune, and the eastern boundary extends seaward
past the MLLW line including dynamic intertidal areas that are covered
at high tide and uncovered at low tide, as well as shoaling areas that
are inundated with less than 3 in (7.6 cm) of water. All lands within
this subunit are federally owned by NASA.
(vi) Map of Subunit VA-2B is presented at paragraph (27)(ii) of
this entry.
(28) Unit VA-3: Assawoman Island, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-3 consists of approximately 633 ac (256 ha) of occupied
habitat in Accomack County consisting of beach shoreline and dynamic
intertidal areas. The unit is from Assawoman Creek in the north to
Kegotank Creek and Gargathy Inlet in the south, extending east past the
MLLW line including dynamic intertidal areas that are covered at high
tide and uncovered at low tide, as well as shoaling areas that are
inundated with less than 3 in (7.6 cm) of water). The western boundary
is formed by Houseboat Creek, a section of Egg Marsh, and Kegotank Bay.
All lands within this unit are federally owned by Chincoteague NWR.
(ii) Map of Unit VA-3 follows:
Figure 22 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (28)(ii)
[[Page 22583]]
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(29) Unit VA-4: Metompkin Island, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-4 consists of approximately 1,468 ac (594 ha) of
occupied habitat in Accomack County consisting of beach shoreline and
dynamic intertidal areas. The unit extends from Kegotank Creek and
Gargathy Inlet south to the mouth of Folly Creek. The western boundary
is formed by the Virginia Inside Passage of the Intracoastal Waterway
and Metompkin Bay and includes extensive areas of overwash and low
marsh areas along the western boundary. The eastern boundary extends
seaward past the MLLW line, including dynamic intertidal areas that are
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide, as well as shoaling
areas that are inundated with less than 3 in (7.6 cm) of water. Lands
within this unit include approximately 64 ac (26 ha) in Federal
ownership (Chincoteague NWR), 56 ac (22 ha) in State ownership, and
1,239 ac (502 ha) in private/other ownership (TNC), and 110 ac (44 ha)
that are uncategorized. This coastal area is part of the Virginia Coast
Reserve.
(ii) Map of Unit VA-4 follows:
Figure 23 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (29)(ii)
[[Page 22584]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.022
(30) Unit VA-5: Cedar Island, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-5 consists of approximately 2,274 ac (920 ha) of
occupied habitat in Accomack County consisting of beach shoreline and
dynamic intertidal areas. The unit extends from an inlet between Cedar
Island and the southern end of Metompkin Island south to Wachapreague
Inlet. The western boundary is along the marsh line where the habitat
changes from lightly vegetated sandy beach and exposed peat with little
vegetation to densely vegetated marshland, peat banks, or densely
vegetated forested or herbaceous vegetation landward of the beach and
primary dune, or open water including Burtons Bay. The eastern boundary
extends seaward past the MLLW line, including dynamic intertidal areas
that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide, as well as
shoaling areas that are inundated with less than 3 in (7.6 cm) of
water. Lands within this unit include approximately 203 ac (82 ha) in
Federal ownership, 77 ac (31 ha) in State ownership, 920 ac (372 ha) in
private/other ownership, and 1,074 ac (434 ha) that are uncategorized.
This coastal area is part of the Virginia Coast Reserve.
(ii) Map of Unit VA-5 follows:
Figure 24 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (30)(ii)
[[Page 22585]]
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(31) Unit VA-6: Parramore Island, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-6 consists of approximately 6,802 ac (2,753 ha) of
occupied habitat in Accomack County consisting of beach shoreline and
dynamic intertidal areas. The unit extends from Wachapreague Inlet
south to Quinby Inlet. The western boundary is Horseshoe Lead, Drawing
Channel, Swash Bay, and Revel Island Bay. The eastern boundary extends
seaward past the MLLW line, including dynamic intertidal areas that are
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide, as well as shoaling
areas that are inundated with less than 3 in (7.6 cm) of water. Lands
within this unit include approximately 5,631 ac (2,280 ha) in private/
other ownership (TNC) and 1,171 ac (473 ha) that are uncategorized.
This coastal area is part of the Virginia Coast Reserve.
(ii) Map of Unit VA-6 follows:
Figure 25 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (31)(ii)
[[Page 22586]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.024
(32) Unit VA-7: Chimney Pole Marsh, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-7 consists of approximately 2,004 ac (811 ha) of
occupied habitat in Chimney Pole Marsh and the southern portion of
Sandy Island in Accomack County consisting of mud flats, low marsh,
sandy beaches, overwash areas, and tidal channels. The boundary of the
marsh on all sides extends seaward past the MLLW line, including
dynamic intertidal areas that are covered at high tide and uncovered at
low tide, as well as shoaling areas that are inundated with less than 3
in (7.6 cm) of water. Lands within this unit include approximately
1,224 ac (496 ha) in State ownership, 285 ac (116 ha) in private/other
ownership (TNC), and 495 ac (200 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit VA-7 follows:
Figure 26 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (32)(ii)
[[Page 22587]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.025
(33) Unit VA-8: Hog Island, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-8 consists of approximately 3,235 ac (1,309 ha) of
occupied habitat in Northampton County consisting of shoreline habitat.
The unit is bounded by the Quinby Inlet to the north and Great
Machipongo Inlet to the south. The western boundary is along the marsh
line where the habitat changes from lightly vegetated sandy beach and
exposed peat with little vegetation to densely vegetated marshland,
peat banks, or densely vegetated forested or herbaceous vegetation
landward of the beach and primary dune, or open water including Hog
Island Bay. The eastern boundary extends seaward past the MLLW line,
including dynamic intertidal areas that are covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide, as well as shoaling areas that are inundated
with less than 3 in (7.6 cm) of water. Lands within this unit include
approximately 16 ac (7 ha) in State ownership, 2,966 ac (1,201 ha) in
private/other ownership, and 253 ac (101 ha) that is uncategorized.
This coastal area is part of the Virginia Coast Reserve.
(ii) Map of Unit VA-8 follows:
Figure 27 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (33)(ii)
[[Page 22588]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.026
(34) Unit VA-9: Cobb Island, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-9 consists of approximately 2,342 ac (948 ha) of
occupied habitat in Northampton County consisting of shoreline habitat.
The unit is bounded by Great Machipongo Inlet to the north and Sand
Shoal Inlet to the south. The western boundary is formed by Hog Island
Bay, Spidercrab Bay, and Cobb Bay. The eastern boundary extends seaward
past the MLLW line, including dynamic intertidal areas that are covered
at high tide and uncovered at low tide, as well as shoaling areas that
are inundated with less than 3 in (7.6 cm) of water. Lands within this
unit include approximately 16 ac (7 ha) in State ownership, 1,778 ac
(720 ha) in private/other ownership, and 547 ac (221 ha) that are
uncategorized. This coastal area is part of the Virginia Coast Reserve.
(ii) Map of Unit VA-9 follows:
Figure 28 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (34)(ii)
[[Page 22589]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.027
(35) Unit VA-10: Little Cobb Island, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-10 consists of approximately 82 ac (33 ha) of occupied
habitat in Northampton County consisting of shoreline habitat lying
just west of the southern end of Cobb Island and within the waters of
Cobb Bay. The boundary of this small island in all directions is the
waters of Cobb Bay and the extent of the boundary seaward past the MLLW
line, including dynamic intertidal areas that are covered at high tide
and uncovered at low tide, as well as shoaling areas that are inundated
with less than 3 in (7.6 cm) of water. All lands within this unit are
in private/other ownership (TNC) and are part of the Virginia Coast
Reserve.
(ii) Map of Unit VA-10 follows:
Figure 29 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (35)(ii)
[[Page 22590]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.028
(36) Unit VA-11: Wreck Island, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-11 consists of approximately 1,270 ac (514 ha) of
occupied habitat in Northampton County consisting of shoreline habitat
bounded to the north by Sand Shoal Inlet and Red Drum Drain and New
Inlet to the south. The western boundary is South Bay. The eastern
boundary extends seaward past the MLLW line, including dynamic
intertidal areas that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide, as well as shoaling areas that are inundated with less than 3 in
(7.6 cm) of water. All lands within this unit are State owned and
managed as Wreck Island Natural Area Preserve.
(ii) Map of Unit VA-11 follows:
Figure 30 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (36)(ii)
[[Page 22591]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.029
(37) VA-12: Ship Shoal Island, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-12 consists of approximately 2,426 ac (982 ha) of
occupied habitat in Northampton County, including both Ship Shoal
Island and the area known as Godwin Island. The north boundary is Red
Drum Drain and New Inlet, the south boundary is Ship Shoal Inlet, the
west boundary is South Bay, and the east boundary is the Atlantic
Ocean, including dynamic intertidal areas that are covered at high tide
and uncovered at low tide, as well as shoaling areas that are inundated
with less than 3 in (7.6 cm) of water. The majority of lands within
this unit are owned and managed by TNC as part of the Virginia Coast
Reserve. Lands within this unit include 426 ac (172 ha) in State
ownership, 1,941 ac (785 ha) in private/other ownership, and 60 ac (24
ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit VA-12 follows:
Figure 31 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (37)(ii)
[[Page 22592]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.030
(38) Unit VA-13: Myrtle Island, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-13 consists of approximately 1,416 ac (573 ha) of
occupied habitat in Northampton County consisting of extensive mud
flats, low marsh, sandy beaches, overwash areas, and tidal channels.
The north boundary is Ship Shoal Inlet, the south boundary is Little
Inlet, the west boundary is Main Ship Shoal Channel and Big Creek
Marsh, and the east boundary is the Atlantic Ocean. The boundary for
the island and marsh complex extends seaward past the MLLW line,
including dynamic intertidal areas that are covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide, as well as shoaling areas that are inundated
with less than 3 in (7.6 cm) of water. Lands within this unit include
1,028 ac (417 ha) that are in private/other ownership and 388 ac (156
ha) that are uncategorized. The island is owned and managed by TNC as
part of the Virginia Coast Reserve.
(ii) Map of Unit VA-13 follows:
Figure 32 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (38)(ii)
[[Page 22593]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.031
(39) Unit VA-14: Smith Island, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-14 consists of approximately 3,258 ac (1,319 ha) of
occupied habitat in Northampton County consisting of shoreline habitat
bounded to the north by Little Inlet, to the south by Smith Island
Inlet, and to the west along the dune line where the habitat changes
from sandy beach with little vegetation to densely vegetated dunes or
marshland, as well as densely vegetated forested or herbaceous
vegetation landward of the beach and primary dune, or open water
including Magothy Bay. The eastern boundary extends seaward past the
MLLW line, including dynamic intertidal areas that are covered at high
tide and uncovered at low tide, as well as shoaling areas that are
inundated with less than 3 in (7.6 cm) of water. All lands within this
unit are in private/other ownership (TNC). The island is owned and
managed by TNC as part of the Virginia Coast Reserve.
(ii) Map of Unit VA-14 follows:
Figure 33 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (39)(ii)
[[Page 22594]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.032
(40) Unit VA-15: Fisherman Island, Virginia.
(i) Unit VA-15 consists of approximately 2,413 ac (977 ha) of
occupied habitat in Northampton County. The unit is an oval-shaped
island located at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and just south of the
tip of the Eastern Shore peninsula. The island is surrounded by the
waters of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. It is bisected by U.S.
Route 13 and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel complex. The interior
boundary is along the dune line where the habitat changes from sandy
beach with little vegetation to densely vegetated dunes or marshland,
as well as densely vegetated forested or herbaceous vegetation landward
of the beach and primary dune. The unit extends seaward past the MLLW
line and includes areas that are slightly inundated with less than 3 in
(7.6 cm) of water. The unit is federally owned by the Service's Eastern
Shore of Virginia NWR.
(ii) Map of Unit VA-15 follows:
Figure 34 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (40)(ii)
[[Page 22595]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.033
(41) Unit NC-1: Outer Banks, North Carolina.
(i) Unit NC-1 consists of two subunits comprising 11,367 ac (4,600
ha) of occupied habitat in Dare and Hyde Counties. This unit consists
of Federal lands owned by the National Park Service (NPS) and Service,
and lands owned by the State of North Carolina.
(ii) Subunit NC-1A (Hatteras Island and Shoals) consists of
approximately 5,754 ac (2,329 ha) of occupied habitat in Dare County
consisting of beach shoreline from the southeast side of Oregon Inlet,
south along the ocean-facing side of the island (including Pea Island
NWR) to Cape Point in Cape Hatteras National Seashore. From Cape Point,
the subunit stretches along the ocean side of the island about 13.25 mi
(21 km) west to the east side of Hatteras Inlet. This subunit includes
from MLLW (i.e., the highly dynamic beach and emergent sand shoals that
are covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide, that are associated
with the northeast side of Hatteras Inlet's navigable channel) to the
toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat, not used by the
rufa red knot, begins. Lands within this subunit include approximately
4,940 ac (1,999 ha) in Federal ownership (Cape Hatteras National
Seashore) and 814 ac (329 ha) that are uncategorized.
(iii) Map of Subunit NC-1A follows:
[[Page 22596]]
Figure 35 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (41)(iii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.034
(iv) Subunit NC-1B (Ocracoke Island) consists of approximately
5,613 ac (2,271 ha) of occupied habitat in Hyde County consisting of
beach shoreline from the southwest side of Hatteras Inlet along the
ocean-facing side of the island to the northeast side of Ocracoke
Inlet. This subunit also encompasses shallow areas and mudflats within
Pamlico Sound on the west side of Ocracoke Island near Ocracoke
Village. This subunit includes from MLLW (i.e., the highly dynamic
beach and emergent sand shoals that are covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide) to the toe of the dunes or where densely
vegetated habitat, not used by the rufa red knot, begins, including the
flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the southwest side of
Hatteras Inlet and the northeast side of Ocracoke Inlet, and the
[[Page 22597]]
sand and mud islands identified in Pamlico Sound northeast of Ocracoke
Village. Lands within this subunit include approximately 1,427 ac (577
ha) in Federal ownership (i.e., the entire ocean-facing side of the
Ocracoke Island, which is part of Cape Hatteras National Seashore),
3,612 ac (1,462 ha) in State ownership, and 575 ac (233 ha) that are
uncategorized.
(v) Map of Subunit NC-1B follows:
Figure 36 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (41)(v)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.035
(42) Unit NC-2: Core Banks, North Carolina.
(i) Unit NC-2 consists of two subunits comprising 11,281 ac (4,565
ha) of occupied habitat in Carteret County. This unit consists of
Federal lands owned by the NPS (Cape Lookout National Seashore).
(ii) Subunit NC-2A (North Core Banks) consists of approximately
8,187 ac (3,313 ha) of occupied habitat in Carteret County consisting
of beach shoreline from the North Core Banks side of the Ocracoke Inlet
channel south to the North Core Banks side of the New
[[Page 22598]]
Drum Inlet channel. The west boundary is the toe of the primary dune or
dense vegetation line (where the physical or biological features do not
occur), and the east boundary is MLLW on the Atlantic Ocean (i.e., the
highly dynamic beach and emergent sand shoals that are covered at high
tide and uncovered at low tide). This subunit also includes MLLW on
Core Sound to the MLLW on the Atlantic Ocean in washover areas
associated with Old Drum Inlet, all emergent sand shoals within the
flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the North Core Banks
side of the Ocracoke Inlet channel, and the emergent sand shoals within
the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the North Core
Banks side of the New Drum Inlet channel. Lands within this subunit
include 6,534 ac (2,644 ha) that are in Federal ownership (Cape Lookout
National Seashore) and 1,654 ac (669 ha) that are uncategorized.
(iii) Map of Subunit NC-2A follows:
Figure 37 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (42)(iii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.036
[[Page 22599]]
(iv) Subunit NC-2B (South Core Banks) consists of approximately
3,094 ac (1,252 ha) of occupied habitat in Carteret County consisting
of beach shoreline from the South Core Banks side of the New Drum Inlet
Channel south to the Power Squadron Spit excluding the jetty. The west
boundary is at the toe of the primary dune or dense vegetation line
where the physical or biological features do not occur, and the east
boundary is MLLW on the Atlantic Ocean (i.e., the highly dynamic beach
and emergent sand shoals that are covered at high tide and uncovered at
low tide). This subunit also includes MLLW on Core Sound to the MLLW on
the Atlantic Ocean in emergent sand shoals within the flood-tidal and
ebb-tidal deltas associated with the South Core Banks side of the New
Drum Inlet channel, and all emergent sand shoals associated with Cape
Point. All of the lands within this subunit are under Federal ownership
(Cape Lookout National Seashore).
(v) Map of Subunit NC-2B follows:
Figure 38 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (42)(v)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.037
[[Page 22600]]
(43) Unit NC-3: Shackleford Island, North Carolina.
(i) Unit NC-3 consists of approximately 4,972 ac (2,012 ha) of
occupied habitat in Carteret County consisting of shoreline habitat
bounded to the north by the MLLW along Back Sound and Bald Hill,
Johnson, and Lighthouse Bays south to dense vegetation where the
physical or biological features do not occur. The east boundary is the
Shackleford Island side of Barden Inlet channel, the south boundary is
MLLW on the Atlantic Ocean, and the west boundary is the Shackleford
Island side of Beaufort Inlet Channel. This unit includes emergent sand
shoals within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the
Shackleford Island side of the Barden Inlet channel, and the emergent
sand shoals within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with
the west side of the Beaufort Inlet channel (i.e., the highly dynamic
beach and emergent sand shoals that are covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide). All lands within this unit are in Federal
ownership (Cape Lookout National Seashore).
(ii) Map of Unit NC-3 follows:
Figure 39 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (43)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.038
[[Page 22601]]
(44) Unit NC-4: Emerald Isle-Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.
(i) Unit NC-4 consists of approximately 2,030 ac (822 ha) of
occupied habitat in Carteret County consisting of shoreline habitat
that stretches about 23 mi (37 km) from the Beaufort Inlet channel and
Fort Macon State Park west to the eastern side of the Bogue Inlet
channel. Unit NC-4 includes from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where
densely vegetated habitat, not used by the rufa red knot, begins and
where the physical or biological features no longer occur. This unit
also includes the emergent sand shoals within the flood-tidal and ebb-
tidal deltas associated with the west side of the Beaufort Inlet
channel, not including the jetty, as well as the emergent sand shoals
within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas on the east side of the
Bogue Inlet channel. Lands within this unit include approximately 1,908
ac (772 ha) in State ownership and 122 ac (50 ha) in private/other
ownership (which includes 1 ac (0.5 ha) in local government ownership
and 121 ac (49 ha) in private ownership).
(ii) Map of Unit NC-4 follows:
Figure 40 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (44)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.039
[[Page 22602]]
(45) Unit NC-5: New Topsail Inlet-Topsail Beach, North Carolina.
(i) Unit NC-5 consists of approximately 1,612 ac (652 ha) of
occupied habitat in Onslow and Pender Counties consisting of shoreline
habitat that stretches about 23 mi (37 km) from the west side of the
New River Inlet channel west to the east side of the New Topsail Inlet
channel. This unit includes from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where
densely vegetated habitat, not used by the rufa red knot, begins and
where the physical or biological features no longer occur. This unit
also includes the emergent sand shoals within the flood-tidal and ebb-
tidal deltas associated with the west side of the New River Inlet
channel, as well as the emergent sand shoals within the flood-tidal and
ebb-tidal deltas on the east side of the New Topsail Inlet channel. All
lands within this unit are in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit NC-5 follows:
Figure 41 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (45)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.040
[[Page 22603]]
(46) Unit NC-6: Lea-Hutaff Island, North Carolina.
(i) Unit NC-6 consists of approximately 1,085 ac (439 ha) of
occupied habitat on Lea-Hutaff Island in Pender and New Hanover
Counties consisting of shoreline habitat that stretches about 4.8 mi
(7.7 km) from the west side of the New Topsail Inlet channel west
across the Rich Inlet channel to the toe of the primary dune or dense
vegetation line on the northeast end of Wrightsville Beach. This unit
includes from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated
habitat, not used by the rufa red knot, begins and where the physical
or biological features no longer occur. This unit also includes the
emergent sand shoals within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas
associated with the west side of the New Topsail Inlet channel, and the
emergent sand shoals within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas on the
west side of Rich Inlet channel. Lands within this unit include
approximately 72 ac (29 ha) in State ownership, 427 ac (173 ha) in
private/other ownership, and 586 ac (237 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit NC-6 follows:
Figure 42 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (46)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.041
[[Page 22604]]
(47) Unit NC-7: Cape Fear-Fort Fisher, North Carolina.
(i) Unit NC-7 consists of approximately 1,986 ac (804 ha) of
occupied coastal barrier island from Carolina Beach Inlet in New
Hanover County, North Carolina, to the mouth of the Cape Fear River in
Brunswick County, North Carolina. The north boundary of this unit is
the northeast tip of Pleasure Island south of Carolina Beach Inlet, and
the south boundary extends from the tip of Cape Fear west approximately
3.4 mi (5 km) to the mouth of the Cape Fear River. The west boundary is
the toe of the primary dune or where densely vegetated habitat, not
used by the rufa red knot, begins and where the physical or biological
features no longer occur. The east boundary is MLLW on the Atlantic
Ocean excluding groins and jetties. This unit also includes all
emergent sand shoals associated with the tip of Cape Fear, the Cape
Fear River south of Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, and the
emergent sand shoals within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas
associated with the southwest side of Carolina Beach Inlet channel and
the southwest tip of Bald Head Island. Lands within this unit include
approximately 1,713 ac (693 ha) in State ownership and 274 ac (111 ha)
in private/other ownership. State lands in this unit contain parts of
Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and Zeke's Island Estuarine Reserve.
(ii) Map of Unit NC-7 follows:
Figure 43 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (47)(ii)
[[Page 22605]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.042
(48) Unit NC-8: Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.
(i) Unit NC-8 consists of approximately 298 ac (120 ha) of occupied
coastal barrier island in Brunswick County, stretching about 6 mi (10
km) from the west side of Shallotte Inlet to the east side of Tubbs
Inlet. The east boundary of this unit is the west side of Shallotte
Inlet. The south boundary is the MLLW on the Atlantic Ocean, the west
boundary is the east side of Tubbs Inlet, and the north boundary is the
toe of the primary dune or where densely vegetated habitat, not used by
the rufa red knot, begins and where the physical or biological features
no longer occur. This unit also includes the emergent sand shoals
within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the west
side of the Shallotte Inlet channel, as well as the emergent sand
shoals within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas on the east side of
the Tubbs Inlet channel. Lands within this unit include approximately
182 ac (73 ha) in State ownership and 116 ac (47 ha) in private/other
(municipal) ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit NC-8 follows:
Figure 44 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (48)(ii)
[[Page 22606]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.043
(49) Unit NC-9: Sunset Beach-Bird Island, North Carolina.
(i) Unit NC-9 consists of approximately 384 ac (155 ha) of occupied
coastal barrier island in Brunswick County, stretching about 4.1 mi
(6.6 km) from the west side of Tubbs Inlet to the east side of Little
River Inlet. The east boundary of this unit is the west side of Tubbs
Inlet. The south boundary is the MLLW on the Atlantic Ocean, the west
boundary is the east side of Little River Inlet, and the north boundary
is the toe of the primary dune or where densely vegetated habitat, not
used by the rufa red knot, begins and where the physical or biological
features no longer occur. This unit also includes the emergent sand
shoals within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the
west side of the Tubbs Inlet channel, as well as the emergent sand
shoals within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas on the east side of
the Little River Inlet channel, excluding the jetty. Lands within this
unit include approximately 345 ac (139 ha) in State ownership (part of
the North Carolina Coastal Reserve) and 39 ac (16 ha) in private/other
ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit NC-9 follows:
Figure 45 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (49)(ii)
[[Page 22607]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.044
(50) Unit SC-1: Garden City Beach, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-1 consists of approximately 616 ac (249 ha) of occupied
coastal shoreline habitat in Georgetown and Horry Counties. The
northern boundary of the unit begins at the Garden City pier in Horry
County and extends southwest to the northern side of Murrells Inlet in
Georgetown County. The unit includes all emergent land from MLLW (which
includes the highly dynamic shoreline and sandy intertidal zone that is
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide) to the toe of the dunes
or where densely vegetated habitat, not used by the rufa red knot,
begins. This unit also includes the ephemeral, emergent shoals (sand
bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the
northeastern side of Murrells Inlet's navigable channel. Lands within
this unit include approximately 267 ac (108 ha) in State ownership and
349 ac (141 ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-1 follows:
Figure 46 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (50)(ii)
[[Page 22608]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.045
(51) Unit SC-2: Huntington Beach State Park-Litchfield Beach, South
Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-2 consists of approximately 1,634 ac (661 ha) of
occupied coastal shoreline habitat in Georgetown County. The unit
boundary begins on the southern side of Murrells Inlet southwest and
extends southwest to the northern side of Midway Inlet. The unit
includes all emergent land from MLLW (which includes the highly dynamic
shoreline and sandy intertidal zone that is covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide) to the toe of the dunes or where densely
vegetated habitat, not used by the rufa red knot, begins. This unit
also includes the ephemeral, emergent shoals (sand bars) within the
flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the southwestern side
of Murrells Inlet's navigable channel and the northeastern side of
Midway Inlet's navigable channel. Lands within this unit include
approximately 80 ac (32 ha) in State ownership, which includes
Huntington Beach State Park, and 1,554 ac (629 ha) in private/other
ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-2 follows:
Figure 47 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (51)(ii)
[[Page 22609]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.046
(52) Unit SC-3: Sand and South Island Beaches, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-3 consists of approximately 8,256 ac (3,341 ha) of
occupied coastal shoreline habitat on Sand and South Islands, barrier
islands off the coast of Georgetown County. The unit boundary begins on
the northeastern edge of South Island in North Inlet behind North
Island following the shoreline to include Sand Island and continuing
southwest to the southern tip of South Island. The unit includes all
emergent land from MLLW (which includes the highly dynamic shoreline
and sandy intertidal zone that is covered at high tide and uncovered at
low tide) to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat,
not used by the rufa red knot, begins. This unit also includes the
ephemeral, emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-
tidal deltas associated with the unnamed inlet between Sand and South
Islands and the northeastern side of North Santee River Inlet's
navigable channel. Lands within this unit include approximately 7,843
ac (3,174 ha) in State ownership (including the Tom Yawkey Wildlife
Center Heritage Preserve), 129 ac (52 ha) in private/other ownership,
and 283 ac (115 ha) that are uncategorized.
[[Page 22610]]
(ii) Map of Unit SC-3 follows:
Figure 48 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (52)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.047
(53) Unit SC-4: Murphy Island Beach, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-4 consists of approximately 8,312 ac (3,364 ha) of
occupied coastal shoreline habitat on all of Murphy Island, a barrier
island off the coast of Charleston County. The unit boundary begins on
the South Santee River shoreline of Murphy Island and extends to the
Alligator Creek shoreline. The unit includes all emergent land from
MLLW (which includes the highly dynamic shoreline and sandy intertidal
zone that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide) to the toe
of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat, not used by the rufa
red knot, begins. This unit also includes the ephemeral, emergent
shoals (sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas
associated with the unnamed
[[Page 22611]]
inlets along the shoreline of Murphy Island. Lands within this unit are
entirely in State ownership; the South Carolina Department of Natural
Resources manages Murphy Island as part of the Santee Coastal Reserve
Wildlife Management Area.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-4 follows:
Figure 49 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (53)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.048
(54) Unit SC-5: North Cape Island Beach, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-5 consists of approximately 1,270 ac (514 ha) of
occupied coastal shoreline habitat on the northern portion of Cape
Island, a barrier island off the coast of Charleston County. The unit
boundary begins on the Cape Romain Harbor shoreline of Cape Island and
extends south to the shoreline along the unnamed inlet between South
Cape Island and Lighthouse Island. The unit includes all emergent land
from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat
(not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic
shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone
[[Page 22612]]
that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic
habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within
the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the northern side
of the navigable channel of the unnamed inlet between South Cape Island
and Lighthouse Island. Lands within this unit include approximately 775
ac (313 ha) in Federal ownership (Cape Romain NWR) and 495 ac (200 ha)
in State ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-5 follows:
Figure 50 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (54)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.049
(55) Unit SC-6: South Cape and Lighthouse Island Beaches, South
Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-6 consists of approximately 2,037 ac (824 ha) of
occupied coastal shoreline habitat along the entire southern portion of
Cape Island and all of Lighthouse Island, barrier islands off the
coast, in Charleston County. The unit boundary begins at the unnamed
inlet between
[[Page 22613]]
South Cape Island and Lighthouse Island and extends to the western tip
of Lighthouse Island in Key Inlet. The unit includes all emergent land
from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat
(not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic
shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at high tide
and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the
ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-
tidal deltas associated with the southern side of the navigable channel
of the unnamed inlet between North Cape Island and South Cape Island
and the emergent sand shoals associated with Key Inlet. Lands within
this unit include approximately 1,552 ac (628 ha) in Federal ownership
(Cape Romain NWR) and 485 ac (196 ha) in State ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-6 is presented at paragraph (54)(ii) of this
entry.
(56) Unit SC-7: Raccoon Key Complex and White Banks Beaches, South
Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-7 consists of approximately 5,324 ac (2,154 ha) of
occupied coastal shoreline habitat along the entire Raccoon Key complex
and White Banks, islands off the coast, in Charleston County. The unit
boundary begins at the intersection of the Romain River and Key Inlet
side of Raccoon Key and extends to the western edge of White Banks in
Bulls Bay. The unit includes all emergent land from MLLW to the toe of
the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red
knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy
intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals
(sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with
the unnamed inlets in the Raccoon Key complex. Lands within this unit
are all in Federal ownership (Cape Romain NWR).
(ii) Map of Unit SC-7 follows:
Figure 51 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (56)(ii)
[[Page 22614]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.050
(57) Unit SC-8: Marsh Island, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-8 consists of approximately 415 ac (168 ha) of occupied
habitat across the entirety of Marsh Island, which is an island in
Bulls Bay, Charleston County. The unit includes all emergent land from
MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not
used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline
and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the
ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-
tidal deltas associated with Marsh Island. Lands within this unit are
all in Federal ownership (Cape Romain NWR).
(ii) Map of Unit SC-8 is presented at paragraph (56)(ii) of this
entry.
(58) Unit SC-9: Bulls Island Beach, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-9 consists of approximately 6,141 ac (2,485 ha) of
occupied habitat across the entirety of Bulls Island, which is a
barrier island along the coast of Charleston County. The unit boundary
begins on the Bulls Bay shoreline of Bulls Island and extends southwest
to the Price Inlet shoreline. The unit includes all
[[Page 22615]]
emergent land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely
vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the
highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered
at high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also
includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-
tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the northeastern side of
Price Inlet's navigable channel. Lands within this unit include
approximately 5,200 ac (2,104 ha) in Federal ownership (Cape Romain
NWR) and 941 ac (381 ha) in State ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-9 follows:
Figure 52 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (58)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.051
[[Page 22616]]
(59) Unit SC-10: Capers Island Beach, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-10 consists of approximately 2,534 ac (1,026 ha) of
occupied habitat across the entirety of Capers Island, which is a
barrier island off the coast of Charleston County. The unit boundary
begins on the Price Inlet shoreline of Capers Island and extends
southwest to the Capers Inlet shoreline. The unit includes all emergent
land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated
habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly
dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at
high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also
includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-
tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the southwestern side of
Price Inlet's navigable channel and the northeastern side of Capers
Inlet's navigable channel. Lands within this unit are entirely in State
ownership (Capers Island Natural Heritage Preserve).
(ii) Map of Unit SC-10 is presented at paragraph (58)(ii) of this
entry.
(60) Unit SC-11: Dewees Island Beach, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-11 consists of approximately 1,812 ac (733 ha) of
occupied habitat across the entirety of Dewees Island, which is a
barrier island off the coast of Charleston County. The unit boundary
begins on the Capers Inlet shoreline of Dewees Island and extends to
the Dewees Inlet shoreline. The unit includes all emergent land from
MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not
used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline
and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the
ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-
tidal deltas associated with the southwestern side of Capers Inlet's
navigable channel and the northeastern side of Dewees Inlet's navigable
channel. Lands within this unit include approximately 265 ac (107 ha)
in State ownership and 1,547 ac (626 ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-11 follows:
Figure 53 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (60)(ii)
[[Page 22617]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.052
(61) Unit SC-12: Isle of Palms Beach, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-12 consists of approximately 4,117 ac (1,666 ha) of
occupied habitat across the entirety of Isle of Palms, which is a
barrier island off the coast of Charleston County. The unit boundary
begins at the Dewees Inlet shoreline of the Isle of Palms and extends
southwest to the Breach Inlet shoreline. The unit includes all emergent
land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated
habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly
dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at
high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also
includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-
tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the southwestern side of
Dewees Inlet's navigable channel and the northeastern side of Breach
Inlet's navigable channel. Lands within this unit include approximately
754 ac (305 ha) in State ownership and 3,363 ac (1,361 ha) in private/
other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-12 is presented at paragraph (53)(ii) of this
entry.
[[Page 22618]]
(62) Unit SC-13: Sullivan's Island Beach, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-13 consists of approximately 1,782 ac (721 ha) of
occupied habitat across the entirety of Sullivan's Island, which is a
barrier island off the coast of Charleston County. The unit boundary
begins on the Breach Inlet shoreline of Sullivan's Island and extends
southwest to the Charleston Harbor shoreline. The unit includes all
emergent land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely
vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the
highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered
at high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also
includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-
tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the southwestern side of
Breach Inlet's navigable channel. Lands within this unit include
approximately 83 ac (34 ha) in Federal ownership (Ft. Moultrie, which
is part of Ft. Sumter National Monument), 694 ac (281 ha) in State
ownership, and 1,005 ac (407 ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-13 is presented at paragraph (53)(ii) of this
entry.
(63) Unit SC-14: Folly Beach, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-14 consists of approximately 1,989 ac (805 ha) of
occupied habitat across the entirety of Folly Beach, which is a barrier
island off the coast of Charleston County. The unit boundary begins on
the Lighthouse Inlet shoreline of Folly Beach and extends southwest to
the Folly River shoreline. The unit includes all emergent land from
MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not
used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline
and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the
ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-
tidal deltas associated with the southwestern side of Lighthouse
Inlet's navigable channel and the Folly Beach side of the Folly River
Inlet's navigable channel between Folly Beach and Bird Key. Lands
within this unit are entirely in private/other land ownership within
the city limits of the municipality of the City of Folly Beach.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-14 follows:
Figure 54 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (63)(ii)
[[Page 22619]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.053
(64) Unit SC-15: Bird Key Stono, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-15 consists of approximately 294 ac (119 ha) of
occupied habitat across the entirety of Bird Key Stono Heritage
Preserve, an island in the mouth of the Stono Inlet in Charleston
County. The unit includes all emergent land from MLLW to the toe of the
dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red
knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy
intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals
(sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with
the southwestern side of the Folly River Inlet. Lands within this unit
are entirely in State ownership (managed as a State Seabird Sanctuary).
(ii) Map of Unit SC-15 is presented at paragraph (63)(ii) of this
entry.
(65) Unit SC-16: Kiawah and Seabrook Island Beaches, South
Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-16 consists of approximately 11,250 ac (4,553 ha) of
occupied habitat across the entirety of Kiawah Island and a portion of
Seabrook Island, which are barrier islands off the coast of Charleston
[[Page 22620]]
County. The unit boundary begins on the Stono Inlet shoreline of Kiawah
Island and extends southwest to the tip of the Seabrook Island
shoreline in the North Edisto River. The unit includes all emergent
land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated
habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly
dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at
high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also
includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-
tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the western side of the
Stono Inlet and all of Captain Sam's Inlet. Lands within this unit
include approximately 1,399 ac (566 ha) in State ownership and 9,850 ac
(3,986 ha) in private/other ownership within the Town limits of the
Town of Kiawah Island and the Town of Seabrook Island.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-16 follows:
Figure 55 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (65)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.054
[[Page 22621]]
(66) Unit SC-17: Deveaux Bank, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-17 consists of approximately 1,328 ac (538 ha) of
occupied habitat across the entirety of Deveaux Bank, an island in the
mouth of the North Edisto River in Charleston County. The unit includes
all emergent land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely
vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the
highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered
at high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also
includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-
tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the mouth of the North
Edisto River. Lands within this unit are entirely in State ownership
(managed as a Seabird Sanctuary).
(ii) Map of Unit SC-17 follows:
Figure 56 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (66)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.055
[[Page 22622]]
(67) Unit SC-18: Edisto Island Beaches, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-18 consists of approximately 1,743 ac (705 ha) of
occupied beach habitat on Edisto Island, a barrier island off the coast
of Charleston and Colleton Counties. The unit includes all of Botany
Bay Island, Botany Bay Plantation, Interlude Beach, and Edingsville
Beach, and a portion of Edisto Beach State Park. The unit boundary
begins on the North Edisto River shoreline of Botany Bay Island and
extends southwest to the undeveloped eastern half of the beachfront
portion of Edisto Beach State Park southwest of Jeremy Inlet. The unit
includes all emergent land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where
densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e.,
the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat
also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the
flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with Frampton and Jeremy
Inlets and the unnamed inlet separating Interlude Beach and Botany Bay
Plantation. Lands within this unit include approximately 650 ac (263
ha) in State ownership (including Edisto Beach State Park and Botany
Bay Heritage Preserve/Wildlife Management Area) and 1,093 ac (442 ha)
in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-18 is presented at paragraph (66)(ii) of this
entry.
(68) Unit SC-19: Pine and Otter Island Beaches, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-19 consists of approximately 6,302 ac (2,550 ha) of
occupied habitat across the entirety of Pine and Otter Islands, both of
which are sea islands in St. Helena Sound in Colleton County. The unit
includes all emergent land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where
densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e.,
the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat
also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the
flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with Fish Creek Inlet.
Lands within this unit include approximately 6,296 ac (2,548 ha) in
State ownership (including the Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto Basin Preserve/
Wildlife Management Area and the St. Helena Sound Heritage Preserve/
Wildlife Management Area) and 6 ac (2 ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-19 follows:
Figure 57 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (68)(ii)
[[Page 22623]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.056
(69) Unit SC-20: Harbor and Hunting Island Beaches, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-20 consists of approximately 4,066 ac (1,645 ha) of
occupied habitat on Harbor and Hunting Islands, both of which are
barrier islands off the coast of Beaufort County. The unit boundary
begins on the Harbor River shoreline of Harbor Island and extends
southwest to the Fripp Inlet shoreline of Hunting Island. The unit
includes all emergent land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where
densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e.,
the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat
also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the
flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with Johnson Creek Inlet.
Lands within this unit include approximately 3,246 ac (1,313 ha) in
State ownership (including Hunting Island State Park) and 820 ac (331
ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-20 follows:
Figure 58 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (69)(ii)
[[Page 22624]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.057
(70) Unit SC-21: Fripp, Pritchards, and Little Capers Islands'
Beaches, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-21 consists of approximately 10,178 ac (4,119 ha) of
occupied habitat on Fripp Island, Pritchards Island, and Little Capers
Island, barrier islands off the coast in Beaufort County. The unit
boundary begins on the shoreline of Fripp Island on the south side of
Fripp Inlet and extends southwest along the Atlantic Ocean shorelines
of Fripp Island, Pritchards Island, and Little Capers Island to the
eastern side of Trenchards Inlet where the boundary follows the
southern shoreline of the Story River. The unit includes all emergent
land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated
habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly
dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at
high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also
includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-
tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with Fripp, Skull, and Trenchards
Inlets as well as the unnamed inlets along the Little Capers Island
shoreline. Lands within this unit include approximately 4,055 ac (1,641
[[Page 22625]]
ha) in State ownership and 6,123 ac (2,478 ha) in private/other
ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-21 is presented at paragraph (69)(ii) of this
entry.
(71) Unit SC-22: Bay Point Island Beach, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-22 consists of approximately 1,698 ac (687 ha) of
occupied habitat on Bay Point Island, a barrier island off the coast in
Beaufort County. The unit boundary begins on the Trenchards Inlet
shoreline at the entrance to Morse Island Creek and follows the
Atlantic Ocean shoreline to the eastern shoreline of Port Royal Round
to the western entrance to Morse Island Creek. The unit includes all
emergent land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely
vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the
highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered
at high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also
includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-
tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with Morse Creek and Trenchards
Inlet within the unit boundary. Lands within this unit include
approximately 553 ac (224 ha) in State ownership and 1,145 ac (464 ha)
in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-22 follows:
Figure 59 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (71)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.058
[[Page 22626]]
(72) Unit SC-23: Hilton Head Island Beach, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-23 consists of approximately 1,682 ac (681 ha) of
occupied habitat on the heel of Hilton Head Island, a barrier island
off the coast, in Beaufort County. The unit boundary begins on the Port
Royal Sound shoreline beginning at Oyster Shell Lane, continues
southeast then turns southwest along the Atlantic Ocean shoreline, and
continues to the undeveloped portion of Singleton Beach southwest of
the Folly Beach. The unit includes all emergent land from MLLW to the
toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not used by the
rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy
intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals
(sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with
Fish Haul Creek and unnamed inlets within the unit boundary. Lands
within this unit include approximately 1,015 ac (411 ha) in State
ownership and 667 ac (270 ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-23 follows:
Figure 60 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (72)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.059
[[Page 22627]]
(73) Unit SC-24: Daufuskie Island Beach, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-24 consists of approximately 6,370 ac (2,578 ha) of
occupied habitat across the entirety of Daufuskie Island, a sea island
in Calibogue Sound, in Beaufort County. The unit boundary begins on the
Calibogue Sound shoreline of Daufuskie Island and extends southwest to
the Mungen Creek shoreline. The unit includes all emergent land from
MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not
used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline
and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the
ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the unit boundary. All
lands within this unit are in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-24 follows:
Figure 61 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (73)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.060
[[Page 22628]]
(74) Unit SC-25: Turtle Island and Tomkins Island Beaches, South
Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-25 consists of approximately 1,771 ac (717 ha) on
Turtle Island (a sea island), and Tompkins Island (a human-made island)
in Calibogue Sound in Jasper County. The unit boundary begins on the
southern shoreline of the New River and extends southwest along the
Calibogue Sound shoreline to the Wright River shoreline of Turtle
Island. The unit boundary also includes the entire Calibogue Sound
shoreline of Tompkins Island located east of Turtle Island. The unit
includes all emergent land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where
densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e.,
the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat
also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the
flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the unnamed inlet in
the center of the Turtle Island shoreline. Lands within this unit are
entirely in State ownership as the South Carolina Department of Natural
Resources (SCDNR) Turtle Island Wildlife Management Area and an SCDNR
seabird sanctuary.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-25 is presented at paragraph (73)(ii) of this
entry.
(75) Unit SC-26: Jones Island Beach, South Carolina.
(i) Unit SC-26 consists of approximately 3,025 ac (1,225 ha) of
occupied habitat across the entirety of Jones Island, a sea island
along the Savannah River and Calibogue Sound, in Jasper County. The
unit boundary begins on the Wright River shoreline of Jones Island to
the Savannah River shoreline. The unit includes all emergent land from
MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not
used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline
and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the
ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-
tidal deltas associated with Wright River Inlet. Lands within this unit
include approximately 785 ac (318 ha) in Federal ownership (Tybee
Island NWR) and 2,240 ac (907 ha; 74 percent) in State ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit SC-26 is presented at paragraph (73)(ii) of this
entry.
(76) Unit GA-1: Cockspur Island and Daymark Island Beaches,
Georgia.
(i) Unit GA-1 consists of approximately 802 ac (325 ha) of occupied
habitat on Cockspur and Daymark Islands in the mouth of the Savannah
River in Chatham County. The unit boundary includes the entire Savannah
River and South Channel of the Savannah River shorelines of Cockspur
and Daymark Islands and includes all emergent land from MLLW to the toe
of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa
red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and sandy
intertidal zone that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide). Lands within this unit include approximately 708 ac (287) in
Federal ownership as part of the U.S. Coast Guard's Station Tybee and
NPS's Fort Pulaski National Monument, and 94 ac (38) in State
ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit GA-1 follows:
Figure 62 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (76)(ii)
[[Page 22629]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.061
(77) Unit GA-2: Tybee Island Beach, Georgia.
(i) Unit GA-2 consists of approximately 2,046 ac (828 ha) of
occupied habitat on Tybee Island (north, mid, and south beaches), a
barrier island off the coast in Chatham County. The northern boundary
of the unit begins at the Savannah River shoreline of Tybee Island and
extends south to Tybee Creek Inlet, which separates Tybee Island from
Little Tybee Island, and includes all emergent land from MLLW to the
toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not used by the
rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and sandy
intertidal zone that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals
(sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with
the eastern side of Tybee Inlet's navigable channel. Lands within this
unit include approximately 6 ac (2 ha) in State ownership, 1,721 ac
(697 ha) in private/other ownership, and 319 ac (129 ha) that are
uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit GA-2 follows:
Figure 63 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (77)(ii)
[[Page 22630]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.062
(78) Unit GA-3: Little Tybee Island Complex, Georgia.
(i) Unit GA-3 consists of approximately 8,265 ac (3,345 ha) of
occupied habitat across the entirety of Little Tybee Island complex, a
series of barrier islands off the coast of Chatham County. The unit
boundary begins on the western side of Tybee Creek Inlet and extends
southwest to Wassaw Sound and includes Little Tybee Island, Williamson
Island, and all emergent land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or
where densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins
(i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that
are covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic
habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within
the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with the western side
of Tybee Inlet's navigable channel, Little Tybee Slough, and Little
Tybee Creek. All lands within this unit are in State ownership (Little
Tybee Island State Heritage Preserve).
(ii) Map of Unit GA-3 is presented at paragraph (77)(ii) of this
entry.
(79) Unit GA-4: Wassaw Island Beach, Georgia.
(i) Unit GA-4 consists of approximately 4,296 ac (1,738 ha) of
[[Page 22631]]
occupied habitat on Wassaw Island, a barrier island off the coast in
Chatham County. The unit boundary begins on the southwestern side of
Wassaw Sound off the northern tip of Wassaw Island and extends
southwest to Ossabaw Sound shoreline. The unit includes all emergent
land from MLLW (which includes the highly dynamic shoreline and sandy
intertidal zone that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide)
to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat, not used by
the rufa red knot, begins. This unit also includes the ephemeral,
emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas
associated with the southwestern side of Wassaw Sound off the northern
tip of Wassaw Island. Lands within this unit include approximately
3,001 ac (1,215 ha) in Federal ownership (Wassaw Island NWR), 274 ac
(111 ha) in private/other ownership, and 1,020 ac (412 ha) that are
uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit GA-4 follows:
Figure 64 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (79)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.063
[[Page 22632]]
(80) Unit GA-5: Little Ogeechee River Shoreline and Raccoon Key,
Georgia.
(i) Unit GA-5 consists of approximately 4,571 ac (1,850 ha) of
occupied habitat of the Little Ogeechee River shoreline along Green
Island, Little Wassaw Island, and Pine Island and all of Raccoon Key in
Ossabaw Sound in Chatham County. The unit boundary begins at the Green
Island shoreline of the Little Ogeechee River and continues east along
the shorelines of Little Wassaw Island and Pine Island to the Odingsell
River entrance behind Wassaw Island. The boundary continues north along
the Pine Island and Little Wassaw Island shoreline of the Odingsell
River and follows the Little Wassaw Island shoreline along Adams Creek
through marshlands south of Skidaway Island to Delegal Creek behind
Green Island. The unit includes all emergent land from MLLW to where
densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e.,
the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat
also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the
Ossabaw entrance. Lands within this unit include approximately 3,136 ac
(1,267 ha) in Federal ownership and 1,435 ac (581 ha) in State
ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit GA-5 is presented at paragraph (79)(ii) of this
entry.
(81) Unit GA-6: Ossabaw Island Beach, Georgia.
(i) Unit GA-6 consists of approximately 32,357 ac (13,095 ha) of
occupied habitat on Ossabaw Island, a barrier island off the coast in
Chatham County. The unit boundary begins at the Ogeechee River
shoreline of Ossabaw Island and extends southwest to the St.
Catherine's Sound shoreline. The unit includes all emergent land from
MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not
used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline
and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the
ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-
tidal deltas associated with Ossabaw Sound off the northeastern tip of
the island and St. Catherine's Sound off the southwestern tip of the
island. Lands within this unit include approximately 28,621 ac (11,582
ha) in State ownership and 3,736 ac (1,512 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit GA-6 follows:
Figure 65 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (81)(ii)
[[Page 22633]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.064
(82) Unit GA-7: St. Catherine's Island Beach and St. Catherine's
Island Bar, Georgia.
(i) Unit GA-7 consists of approximately 15,962 ac (6,460 ha) of
occupied habitat on St. Catherine's Island, a barrier island off the
coast in Liberty County. The unit boundary begins at the St.
Catherine's Sound shoreline of St. Catherine's Island and extends
southwest to the Sapelo Sound shoreline. The unit includes all emergent
land from MLLW to the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated
habitat (not used by the rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly
dynamic shoreline and the sandy intertidal zone that are covered at
high tide and uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also
includes the ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-
tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with St. Catherine's Sound
entrance off the northern tip of the island, McQueen Inlet, and Sapelo
Sound entrance off the southern tip of the island. Lands within this
unit include approximately 2,106 ac (853 ha) in State ownership, 11,810
ac (4,779 ha) in private/other ownership, and 2,046 ac (828 ha) that
are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit GA-7 follows:
Figure 66 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (82)(ii)
[[Page 22634]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.065
(83) Unit GA-8: Blackbeard Island Beach, Georgia.
(i) Unit GA-8 consists of approximately 6,321 ac (2,557 ha) of
occupied habitat on Blackbeard Island, a barrier island off the coast
in McIntosh County. The unit boundary begins at the Sapelo Sound
shoreline of Blackbeard Island and extends southwest to the Cabretta
Inlet shoreline. The unit includes all emergent land from MLLW to the
toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not used by the
rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy
intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals
(sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with
the Sapelo Sound entrance off the northern tip of the island and the
northeastern side of Cabretta Inlet's navigable channel. Lands within
this unit include approximately 4,954 ac (2,006 ha) in Federal
ownership (Blackbeard Island NWR), 80 ac (32 ha) in State ownership,
and 1,287 ac (519 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit GA-8 follows:
Figure 67 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (83)(ii)
[[Page 22635]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.066
(84) Unit GA-9: Sapelo Island Beach, Georgia.
(i) Unit GA-9 consists of approximately 2,481 ac (1,004 ha) of
occupied habitat on Sapelo Island, a barrier island off the coast in
McIntosh County. The unit boundary begins at the Cabretta Inlet
shoreline of Sapelo Island and extends southwest to the Doboy Sound
shoreline. The unit includes all emergent land from MLLW to the toe of
the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red
knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy
intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals
(sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with
the southwestern side of Cabretta Inlet's navigable channel. The lands
within this unit are State-owned and comprise the Sapelo Island
Wildlife Management Area and Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research
Reserve (NERR).
(ii) Map of Unit GA-9 is presented at paragraph (83)(ii) of this
entry.
(85) Unit GA-10: Queens Island, Wolf Island, Egg Island, Little Egg
Island, and Little Egg Island Bar, Georgia.
(i) Unit GA-10 consists of approximately 11,901 ac (4,816 ha) of
[[Page 22636]]
occupied habitat on Queens Island, Wolf Island, Egg Island, Little Egg
Island, and Little Egg Island Bar at the Altamaha Sound in McIntosh
County. The unit boundary begins at the Black River shoreline of Queens
Island and extends south along the Wolf Island shoreline, which
includes Wolf Island Bar, to the eastern and southern shorelines of
Little Egg Island Bar Natural Area southwest to Egg Island in the
Altamaha Sound. The boundary continues northwest along the Altamaha
River shoreline of Egg Island and north along the Little Mud River
shoreline of Wolf Island and Rockdedundy River shoreline of Queens
Island. The unit includes all emergent land from MLLW to the toe of the
dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red
knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy
intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals
(sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with
the entrance to Altamaha Sound and Beacon Creek. Lands within this unit
include approximately 5,527 ac (2,237 ha) in Federal ownership (Wolf
Island NWR, which is also a designated wilderness area), 261 ac (106
ha) in State ownership, 1,865 ac (755 ha) in private/other ownership,
and 4,248 ac (1,719 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit GA-10 follows:
Figure 68 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (85)(ii)
[[Page 22637]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.067
(86) Unit GA-11: Little St. Simon's Island Beach, Georgia.
(i) Unit GA-11 consists of approximately 9,053 ac (3,664 ha) of
occupied habitat on Little St. Simon's Island off the coast of Glynn
County. The unit boundary begins at the Altamaha Sound shoreline of
Little St. Simon's Island and extends south to the Hampton River
shoreline. The unit includes all emergent land from MLLW to the toe of
the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red
knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy
intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals
(sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with
the Altamaha Sound off the northeastern tip of the island, Mosquito
Creek, and the northern side of Hampton River Inlet's navigable
channel. Lands within this unit include approximately 113 ac (46 ha) in
State ownership, 7,462 ac (3,022 ha) in private/other ownership (TNC-
owned preserve lands), and 1,479 ac (596 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit GA-11 follows:
[[Page 22638]]
Figure 69 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (86)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.068
(87) Unit GA-12: Sea and St. Simon's Island Beaches, Georgia.
(i) Unit GA-12 consists of approximately 4,033 ac (1,631 ha) of
occupied habitat across the entirety of Sea Island and a portion of St.
Simon's Island, both of which are barrier islands off the coast of
Glynn County. The unit boundary begins at the Hampton River shoreline
of Sea Island and extends southwest to the St. Simon's Sound shoreline
of St. Simon's Island. The unit includes all emergent land from MLLW to
the toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not used by
the red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy
intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and
[[Page 22639]]
uncovered at low tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the
ephemeral emergent shoals (sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-
tidal deltas associated with Gould's Inlet. Lands within this unit
include approximately 4 ac (2 ha) in State ownership, 3,448 ac (1,395
ha) in private/other ownership, and 581 ac (235 ha) that are
uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit GA-12 is presented at paragraph (86)(ii) of this
entry.
(88) Unit GA-13: Jekyll Island Beach, Georgia.
(i) Unit GA-13 consists of approximately 6,287 ac (2,545 ha) of
occupied habitat on Jekyll Island, a barrier island off the coast of
Glynn County. The unit boundary begins at the St. Simon's Sound
shoreline of Jekyll Island and extends south to St. Andrew Sound
shoreline. The unit includes all emergent land from MLLW to the toe of
the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not used by the rufa red
knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy
intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals
(sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with
the southern side of St. Simon's Sound off the northern tip of the
island. Lands within this unit include approximately 5,944 ac (2,406
ha) in State ownership (including Jekyll Island State Park) and 343 ac
(139 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit GA-13 follows:
Figure 70 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (88)(ii)
[[Page 22640]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.069
(89) Unit GA-14: Little Cumberland and Cumberland Island Beaches,
Georgia.
(i) Unit GA-14 consists of approximately 28,137 ac (11,387 ha) of
occupied habitat on Little Cumberland Island and Cumberland Island, a
barrier island complex off the coast in Camden County. The unit
boundary begins at the St. Andrew Sound shoreline of Little Cumberland
Island and extends west across the Cumberland River and marsh to the
East River and continues south to the St. Mary's River shoreline of
Cumberland Island. The unit includes all emergent land from MLLW to the
toe of the dunes or where densely vegetated habitat (not used by the
rufa red knot) begins (i.e., the highly dynamic shoreline and the sandy
intertidal zone that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide). This dynamic habitat also includes the ephemeral emergent shoals
(sand bars) within the flood-tidal and ebb-tidal deltas associated with
St. Andrew Sound off the northern tip of Little Cumberland Island and
Christmas Creek Inlet between Little Cumberland and Cumberland Islands.
Lands within this unit include approximately 23,367 ac (9,456 ha) in
Federal ownership (Cumberland Island National Seashore, which is also a
designated wilderness area), 1,685 ac (682 ha) in State
[[Page 22641]]
ownership, and 3,085 ac (1,248 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit GA-14 follows:
Figure 71 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (89)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.070
(90) Unit FL-1: Nassau Sound-Fort George Sound-Fort George Inlet
Complex, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-1 consists of approximately 4,324 ac (1,750 ha) of
occupied habitat consisting of beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats
in Nassau and Duval Counties. The unit extends from the north shore of
Nassau Sound in Nassau County south to the north shore of the St. Johns
River at Huguenot Memorial Park in Duval County. The landward boundary
is the line indicating the beginning of dense vegetation or hardened
structures,
[[Page 22642]]
including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is covered at high
tide and uncovered at low tide. The majority of this unit is within the
Talbot Islands State Parks Complex and Huguenot Memorial Park, which is
a Federal and State-owned parcel leased to the City of Jacksonville.
Lands within this unit include approximately 996 ac (404 ha) in Federal
ownership, 522 ac (211 ha) in State ownership, 27 ac (11 ha) in
private/other ownership, and 2,779 ac (1,125 ha) that are
uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-1 follows:
Figure 72 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (90)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.071
(91) Unit FL-2: Ponce Inlet Complex, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-2 consists of approximately 19,683 ac (7,965 ha) of
occupied habitat consisting of beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats
in Volusia and Brevard Counties. The unit extends from approximately
Ocean Edge Drive
[[Page 22643]]
in Ormond Beach south to the south end of Merritt Island NWR along the
Atlantic Ocean. The landward boundary is the line indicating the
beginning of dense vegetation or hardened structures, including
emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide. Lands within this unit include approximately
16,660 ac (6,742 ha) in Federal ownership (Merritt Island NWR), 3,005
ac (1,216 ha) in State ownership (Smyrna Dunes State Park), and 18 ac
(7 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-2 follows:
Figure 73 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (91)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.072
(92) Unit FL-3: Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
Impoundments, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-3 consists of approximately 6,947 ac (2,811 ha) of
occupied and managed impoundment and intertidal mudflats in Brevard
County. The landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning of
dense vegetation or hardened structures, including emergent, dynamic
shoreline
[[Page 22644]]
to MLLW that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. This
unit consists of Federal lands (Merritt Island NWR).
(ii) Map of Unit FL-3 follows:
Figure 74 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (92)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.073
(93) Unit FL-4: Cape Romano and Marco Island, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-4 consists of two subunits comprising 26,629 ac (10,776
ha) of occupied habitat in Collier County. This unit consists of
Federal (Ten Thousand Islands NWR), State, and private landowners.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-4 follows:
Figure 75 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (93)(ii)
[[Page 22645]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.074
(iii) Subunit FL-4A (Cape Romano Complex) consists of approximately
26,213 ac (10,608 ha) of occupied beach and intertidal sandflats
habitat in Collier County, in the wetland complex south of Marco Island
and the community of Goodland. The landward boundary is the line
indicating the beginning of dense vegetation, including emergent,
dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is covered at high tide and uncovered at
low tide. Lands within this subunit include approximately 13,138 ac
(5,317 ha) in Federal ownership (Ten Thousand Islands NWR), 12,605 ac
(5,101 ha) in State ownership (Rookery Bay NERR), and 470 ac (190 ha)
that are uncategorized.
(iv) Map of Subunit FL-4A is presented at paragraph (93)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit FL-4B (Marco Island) consists of approximately 416 ac
(168 ha) of occupied habitat beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats in
Collier County. The subunit extends from the south side of the inlet
north of Marco Island south along the Gulf of Mexico approximately 4 mi
(6.5 km). The landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning of
dense vegetation or hardened structures, including emergent, dynamic
shoreline
[[Page 22646]]
to MLLW that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands
within this subunit include approximately 408 ac (165 ha) in State
ownership (Rookery Bay NERR) and 8 ac (3 ha) in private/other
ownership.
(vi) Map of Subunit FL-4B is presented at paragraph (93)(ii) of
this entry.
(94) Unit FL-5: Marco Bay Complex, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-5 consists of approximately 3,589 ac (1,453 ha) of
occupied beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats habitat in Collier
County, from the north side of the inlet north of Marco Island north
along the Gulf of Mexico approximately 3.7 mi (6 km) and inclusive of
the wetland complex inland to the east side of Rookery Bay. The
landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning of dense
vegetation, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this unit
include approximately 3,531 ac (1,429 ha) in State ownership (Rookery
Bay NERR) and 58 ac (24 ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-5 is presented at paragraph (93)(ii) of this
entry.
(95) Unit FL-6: Cocohatchee Inlet Complex and Barefoot Beach,
Florida.
(i) Unit FL-6 consists of two subunits comprising 48 ac (20 ha) of
occupied habitat in Collier County. This unit consists of Delnor-
Wiggins Pass State Park and private landowners.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-6 follows:
Figure 76 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (95)(ii)
[[Page 22647]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.075
(iii) Subunit FL-6A (Cocohatchee Inlet Complex) consists of
approximately 9 ac (4 ha) of occupied beach, inlet, and intertidal
sandflats habitat in Collier County, from the south side of the
Cocohatchee Inlet south along the Gulf of Mexico approximately 3,281 ft
(1 km). The landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning of
dense vegetation, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this
subunit are entirely under State ownership (Delnor-Wiggins Pass State
Park).
(iv) Map of Subunit FL-6A is presented at paragraph (95)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit FL-6B (Barefoot Beach) consists of approximately 39 ac
(16 ha) of occupied beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats habitat in
Collier County, from the north side of the Cocohatchee Inlet north
along the Gulf of Mexico approximately 3.1 mi (5 km). The landward
boundary is the line indicating the beginning of dense vegetation or
hardened structures, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that
is covered at high tide
[[Page 22648]]
and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this subunit include
approximately 18 ac (7 ha) in State ownership and 21 ac (9 ha) in
private/other ownership.
(vi) Map of Subunit FL-6B is presented at paragraph (95)(ii) of
this entry.
(96) Unit FL-7: Lovers Key and Estero Island, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-7 consists of two subunits comprising 175 ac (70 ha) of
occupied habitat in Lee County. This unit consists of portions of
Lovers Key State Park and Estero Island.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-7 follows:
Figure 77 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (96)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.076
(iii) Subunit FL-7A (Lovers Key) consists of approximately 4 ac (1
ha) of occupied beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats habitat in Lee
County, at the north point of Lovers Key. The landward boundary is the
line indicating the beginning of dense vegetation or hardened
structures, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within
[[Page 22649]]
this subunit are entirely State owned (Lovers Key State Park).
(iv) Map of Subunit FL-7A is presented at paragraph (96)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit FL-7B (Estero Island) consists of approximately 171 ac
(69 ha) of occupied beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats habitat in
Lee County, from Key West Court on Fort Myers Beach south along the
Gulf of Mexico to the southern point of the island. The landward
boundary is the line indicating the beginning of dense vegetation or
hardened structures, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that
is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this
subunit are entirely in State ownership.
(vi) Map of Subunit FL-7B is presented at paragraph (96)(ii) of
this entry.
(97) Unit FL-8: Bunche Beach, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-8 consists of approximately 334 ac (135 ha) of occupied
beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats habitat in Lee County, in San
Carlos Bay south of the Sanibel Causeway in Fort Myers. The landward
boundary is the line indicating the beginning of dense vegetation or
hardened structures, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that
is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this
unit include approximately 23 ac (9 ha) in Federal ownership (Matlacha
Pass NWR), 264 ac (107 ha) in State ownership (Bunche Beach Preserve),
and 47 ac (19 ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-8 follows:
Figure 78 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (97)(ii)
[[Page 22650]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.077
(98) Unit FL-9: Sanibel Island Complex, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-9 consists of two subunits comprising 3,759 ac (1,521
ha) of occupied habitat in Lee County. This unit consists of Federal
lands that are part of the J.N. ``Ding'' Darling NWR and Sanibel
Island.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-9 follows:
Figure 79 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (98)(ii)
[[Page 22651]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.078
(iii) Subunit FL-9A (J.N. ``Ding'' Darling National Wildlife
Refuge) consists of approximately 3,451 ac (1,397 ha) of occupied
beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats habitat, as well as managed
impoundments in Lee County on Sanibel Island. The landward boundary is
the line indicating the beginning of dense vegetation or hardened
structures, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this
subunit are entirely in Federal ownership (J.N. ``Ding'' Darling NWR).
(iv) Map of Subunit FL-9A is presented at paragraph (98)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit FL-9B (Sanibel Island) consists of approximately 307 ac
(124 ha) of occupied beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats habitat in
Lee County on Sanibel Island. The landward boundary is the line
indicating the beginning of dense vegetation or hardened structures,
including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is covered at high
tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this subunit are entirely
in State ownership.
(vi) Map of Subunit FL-9B is presented at paragraph (98)(ii) of
this entry.
(99) Unit FL-10: Don Pedro Complex, Florida.
[[Page 22652]]
(i) Unit FL-10 consists of two subunits comprising 158 ac (64 ha)
of occupied habitat in Charlotte County. This unit consists of State
lands, a portion of which are part of the Don Pedro Island State Park
and Stump Pass Beach State Park.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-10 follows:
Figure 80 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (99)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.079
(iii) Subunit FL-10A (Don Pedro) consists of approximately 147 ac
(60 ha) of occupied beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats habitat in
Charlotte County on Don Pedro Island. The landward boundary is the line
indicating the beginning of dense vegetation or hardened structures,
including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is covered at high
tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this subunit are entirely
in State ownership, a portion of which includes Don Pedro Island State
Park.
(iv) Map of Subunit FL-10A is presented at paragraph (99)(ii) of
this entry.
[[Page 22653]]
(v) Subunit FL-10B (Stump Pass Beach State Park) consists of
approximately 11 ac (4 ha) of occupied beach, inlet, and intertidal
sandflats habitat in Charlotte County at the southern point of Manasota
Key. The landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning of
dense vegetation, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this
subunit are entirely in State ownership (Stump Pass Beach State Park).
(vi) Map of Subunit FL-10B is presented at paragraph (99)(ii) of
this entry.
(100) Unit FL-11: Siesta Key, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-11 consists of approximately 53 ac (21 ha) of occupied
beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats habitat in Sarasota County on
Siesta Key, from Avenida Messina (road) south to Avenida del Mare. The
landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning of dense
vegetation, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this unit
are entirely in State ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-11 follows:
Figure 81 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (100)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.080
[[Page 22654]]
(101) Unit FL-12: Lido-Longboat Keys Complex, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-12 consists of two subunits comprising 450 ac (182 ha)
of occupied habitat in Sarasota County. This unit consists of State
lands.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-12 follows:
Figure 82 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (101)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.081
(iii) Subunit FL-12A (Lido Key) consists of approximately 81 ac (33
ha) of occupied beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats habitat in
Sarasota County on Lido Key. The landward boundary is the line
indicating the beginning of dense vegetation, including emergent,
dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is covered at high tide and uncovered at
low tide. Lands within this subunit are entirely in State ownership.
(iv) Map of Subunit FL-12A is presented at paragraph (101)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit FL-12B (Longboat Key) consists of approximately 369 ac
(149 ha) of occupied beach, inlet, and
[[Page 22655]]
intertidal sandflats habitat in Sarasota County on Longboat Key. The
landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning of dense
vegetation or hardened structures, including emergent, dynamic
shoreline to MLLW that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide. Lands within this subunit are entirely in State ownership.
(vi) Map of Subunit FL-12B is presented at paragraph (101)(ii) of
this entry.
(102) Unit FL-13: North Anna Maria Island, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-13 consists of approximately 945 ac (383 ha) of
occupied beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats habitat in Manatee
County, from the north point of Anna Maria Island south to Cortez Road
West. The landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning of
dense vegetation, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this unit
include approximately 56 ac (23 ha) in Federal ownership (Passage Key
NWR) and 889 ac (360 ha) in State ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-13 follows:
Figure 83 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (102)(ii)
[[Page 22656]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.082
(103) Unit FL-14: Egmont Key, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-14 consists of approximately 15 ac (6 ha) of occupied
beach and intertidal sandflats habitat in Manatee County, on the south
end of Egmont Key at the mouth of Tampa Bay. The landward boundary is
the line indicating the beginning of dense vegetation, including
emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide. Lands within this unit are entirely under
Federal ownership (Egmont Key NWR).
(ii) Map of Unit FL-14 is presented at paragraph (102)(ii) of this
entry.
(104) Unit FL-15: Fort De Soto Complex, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-15 consists of three subunits comprising 856 ac (346
ha) of occupied habitat in Pinellas County. This unit consists of State
lands and private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-15 follows:
Figure 84 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (104)(ii)
[[Page 22657]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.083
(iii) Subunit FL-15A (Fort De Soto County Park) consists of
approximately 427 ac (173 ha) of occupied beach, inlet, and intertidal
sandflats habitat in Pinellas County, from North Beach south along the
Gulf of Mexico to the Fort De Soto Fishing Pier at the mouth of Tampa
Bay. The landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning of
dense vegetation or hardened structures, including emergent, dynamic
shoreline to MLLW that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide. Lands within this subunit are entirely in county ownership (which
is captured under the private/other category) within Fort De Soto
County Park.
(iv) Map of Subunit FL-15A is presented at paragraph (104)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit FL-15B (Shell Key Preserve) consists of approximately
322 ac (130 ha) of occupied beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats
habitat in Pinellas County on Shell Key. The landward boundary is the
line indicating the beginning of dense vegetation, including emergent,
dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is covered at high tide and uncovered at
low tide. Lands within this subunit are entirely in State/county
ownership (Shell Key Preserve).
[[Page 22658]]
(vi) Map of Subunit FL-15B is presented at paragraph (104)(ii) of
this entry.
(vii) Subunit FL-15C (Saint Petersburg Beach) consists of
approximately 107 ac (43 ha) of occupied beach, inlet, and intertidal
sandflats habitat in Pinellas County on Saint Petersburg Beach from
46th Avenue south to 1st Avenue inclusive of the inlet. The landward
boundary is the line indicating the beginning of dense vegetation,
including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is covered at high
tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this subunit are entirely
in State ownership.
(viii) Map of Subunit FL-15C is presented at paragraph (104)(ii) of
this entry.
(105) Unit FL-16: Indian Shores-Redington Beach, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-16 consists of approximately 196 ac (79 ha) of occupied
beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats habitat in Pinellas County, from
the Indian Shores Florida Coastal Range Monument R-086 at the north end
of the unit to the Redington Beach Long Pier at the south end of the
unit. The landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning of
dense vegetation, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this unit
are entirely in State ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-16 follows:
Figure 85 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (105)(ii)
[[Page 22659]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.084
(106) Unit FL-17: Belleair Beach, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-17 consists of approximately 123 ac (50 ha) of occupied
beach, inlet, and intertidal sandflats habitat in Pinellas County, on
Belleair Beach from the north point (Sand Key) south to 19th Street.
The landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning of dense
vegetation, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this unit
are entirely in State ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-17 is presented at paragraph (105)(ii) of this
entry.
(107) Unit FL-18: Saint Joseph Sound Complex, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-18 consists of three subunits comprising 888 ac (360
ha) of occupied habitat in Pinellas County. This unit consists of
State-owned lands.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-18 follows:
Figure 86 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (107)(ii)
[[Page 22660]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.085
(iii) Subunit FL-18A (Caladesi Island) consists of approximately
259 ac (105 ha) of occupied beach and intertidal sandflats habitat in
Pinellas County. This subunit includes shoreline from the southern
boundary of Caladesi Island State Park to Dunedin Pass. The landward
boundary is the line indicating the beginning of dense vegetation,
including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is covered at high
tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands in this subunit are entirely in
State ownership (Caladesi Island State Park).
(iv) Map of Subunit FL-18A is presented at paragraph (107)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit FL-18B (Honeymoon Island) consists of approximately 294
ac (119 ha) of occupied beach and intertidal sandflats habitat in
Pinellas County. This subunit includes the Gulf of Mexico shoreline in
Honeymoon Island State Park from Dunedin Pass to Hurricane Pass. The
landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning of dense
vegetation, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands in this subunit
are entirely in State ownership (Honeymoon Island State Park).
(vi) Map of Subunit FL-18B is presented at paragraph (107)(ii) of
this entry.
[[Page 22661]]
(vii) Subunit FL-18C (Three Rooker Bar) consists of approximately
335 ac (136 ha) of occupied beach and intertidal sandflats habitat on
Three Rooker Island in Pinellas County. Three Rooker Island includes
shoreline from Hurricane Pass to the northern tip of Three Rooker
Island. The landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning of
dense vegetation, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that is
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands in this subunit
are entirely in State ownership (Three Rooker Bar Wildlife Management
Area).
(viii) Map of Subunit FL-18C is presented at paragraph (107)(ii) of
this entry.
(108) Unit FL-19: Anclote Key, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-19 consists of approximately 1,547 ac (626 ha) of
occupied beach and intertidal sandflats habitat in Pasco County on
Anclote Key. The landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning
of dense vegetation, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that
is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this
unit are entirely in State ownership (Anclote Key Preserve State Park).
(ii) Map of Unit FL-19 follows:
Figure 87 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (108)(ii)
[[Page 22662]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.086
(109) Unit FL-20: Cedar Keys Complex, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-20 consists of approximately 35,626 ac (14,417 ha) of
occupied beach and intertidal sandflats habitat in Levy County on Cedar
Key, including the complex of sandbars and flats seaward. The landward
boundary is the line indicating the beginning of dense vegetation or
hardened structures, including emergent, dynamic shoreline to MLLW that
is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. Lands within this
unit include approximately 2,498 ac (1,011 ha) in Federal ownership
(Cedar Keys NWR), 7,792 ac (3,153 ha) in State ownership (Waccasassa
Preserve State Park), 5,928 ac (2,399 ha) in private/other ownership,
and 19,407 ac (7,854 ha) that are uncategorized.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-20 follows:
Figure 88 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (109)(ii)
[[Page 22663]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.087
(110) Unit FL-21: St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-21 consists of approximately 2,074 ac (839 ha) of
occupied beach, inlets, shoals, intertidal mud, mud flats, and
impoundments habitat in Wakulla County. The unit extends from the
eastern boundary of Big Cove inlet west to the inlet west of Lighthouse
Pool and includes areas to the north up to 1.25 mi (2 km) into East
River Pool. This unit includes from the base of the berm road to the
lowest water level and areas up to 4 in (10 cm) of water depth within
Lighthouse Pool, Picnic Pond, Tower Pond, Headquarters Pond, Mounds
Pools 1 and 2, Stoney Bayou Pool 1, and within the open water and
emergent marsh portion of East River Pool and all shoals and shoreline
habitats within Sand Cove and Minnie Cove. Areas to the east of
Lighthouse Road between Lighthouse Pool and Picnic Pond, and areas to
the east of Picnic and Tower Ponds that have the physical or biological
features, are also included. This unit includes lands from MLLW to the
landward limit of the physical or biological features and any ephemeral
pools or natural brackish ponds and any emergent sand shoals in
Apalachee Bay appearing near shore within 3 mi (4.8 km) of the critical
habitat boundary found along the southernmost portion of Lighthouse
Road and Lighthouse Levee Trail that
[[Page 22664]]
parallels Apalachee Bay. Lands within this unit are entirely in Federal
ownership (St. Marks NWR).
(ii) Map of Unit FL-21 follows:
Figure 89 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (110)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.088
(111) Unit FL-22: Eastern Franklin County Complex, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-22 consists of three subunits comprising 1,429 ac (578
ha) of occupied habitat in Wakulla and Franklin Counties. This unit
consists of beaches within the areas of Apalachee Bay, Dickson Bay,
Ochlockonee Bay, and Alligator Point.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-22 follows:
Figure 90 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (111)(ii)
[[Page 22665]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.089
(iii) Subunit FL-22A (Mashes Sands) consists of approximately 262
ac (106 ha) of occupied beach, inlet, shoals, and intertidal sandflats
at Mashes Sands Park beach, and the inlet and shoals of Apalachee Bay,
Dickson Bay, and Ochlockonee Bay in Wakulla County, from near
Ochlockonee Point in Ochlockonee Bay north towards Dickson Bay. This
subunit includes lands from MLLW (i.e., highly dynamic beach and
intertidal seashore that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide) to the landward boundary indicated by the beginning of dense
vegetation or hardened structures. This area includes any ephemeral
pools, lagoons, or natural brackish ponds and any adjacent or near-
shore emergent sand shoals. Lands within this subunit are all in State
ownership but leased and managed by Wakulla County.
(iv) Map of Subunit FL-22A is presented at paragraph (111)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit FL-22B (Bald Point State Park) consists of
approximately 445 ac (180 ha) of occupied beaches and shoals habitat in
Franklin County, from a dirt road 0.35 mi (0.56 km) north of Marlin
Street to the north near Bald Point, and including shoals within
Ochlockonee Bay approximately 0.9 mi (1.4 km) north
[[Page 22666]]
of Bald Point. This subunit includes lands from MLLW (i.e., highly
dynamic beach and intertidal seashore that is covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide) to the landward boundary indicated by the
beginning of dense vegetation or hardened structures. It includes any
ephemeral pools, lagoons, or natural brackish ponds and any adjacent or
near-shore emergent sand shoals. Lands within this subunit include
approximately 439 ac (178 ha) in State ownership (Bald Point State
Park) and 6 ac (2 ha) in private/other ownership.
(vi) Map of Subunit FL-22B is presented at paragraph (111)(ii) of
this entry.
(vii) Subunit FL-22C (Alligator Point) consists of approximately
722 ac (292 ha) of occupied beaches at Alligator Point and John S.
Phipps Preserve, and shoals in Franklin County, from 0.07 mi (0.11 km)
east of Florida Coastal Range Monument 210 west to the shoals
associated with the northwestern end of the point. This subunit
includes lands from MLLW (i.e., highly dynamic beach and intertidal
seashore that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide) to the
landward boundary indicated by the beginning of dense vegetation or
hardened structures. It includes any ephemeral pools, lagoons, or
natural brackish ponds and any adjacent or near-shore emergent sand
shoals. Lands within this subunit are entirely in private/other
ownership (John S. Phipps Preserve, managed by the TNC).
(viii) Map of Subunit FL-22C is presented at paragraph (111)(ii) of
this entry.
(112) Unit FL-23: Central Franklin County Complex, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-23 consists of seven subunits comprising 4,175 ac
(1,689 ha) of occupied habitat in Franklin County. This unit consists
of beaches and barrier island areas of St. George Sound shoreline, the
Carrabelle River outlet, Boggy Jordan Bayou outlet, Dog Island, and St.
George Island.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-23 follows:
Figure 91 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (112)(ii)
[[Page 22667]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.090
(iii) Subunit FL-23A (Turkey Point Shoal) consists of approximately
531 ac (215 ha) of occupied habitat, including emergent, isolated shoal
habitat within the Gulf of Mexico and St. George Sound, Franklin
County. This subunit includes emergent shoals approximately 1 mi (1.5
km) south of Turkey Point. This subunit includes lands from MLLW (i.e.,
highly dynamic beach and intertidal seashore that is covered at high
tide and uncovered at low tide) to the landward limit of the physical
or biological features, including any ephemeral pools, lagoons, and
emergent sand shoals adjacent to the island or reef. All lands within
this subunit are in State ownership.
(iv) Map of Subunit FL-23A is presented at paragraph (112)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit FL-23B (Lanark Reef) consists of approximately 865 ac
(350 ha) of occupied beach and intertidal shoreline habitat of Lanark
Reef in St. George Sound off the coast of Franklin County. This subunit
includes lands from MLLW (i.e., highly dynamic beach and intertidal
seashore that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide) to the
landward limit of the physical or biological features, including any
ephemeral pools, lagoons, and emergent sand shoals within 3 mi (4.8 km)
of the island or reef. Lands within this subunit include 805 ac (326
ha) in State
[[Page 22668]]
ownership and 61 ac (25 ha) in private/other ownership.
(vi) Map of Subunit FL-23B is presented at paragraph (112)(ii) of
this entry.
(vii) Subunit FL-23C (East Dog Island) consists of approximately
771 ac (312 ha) of occupied beach shoreline and shoals on East Dog
Island off the coast of Franklin County. The subunit is from midway
between Florida Coastal Range Monuments 168 and 169 east to the tip of
the island and extending around the tip to include St. George Sound
shoreline and shoals approximately horizontal to Florida Coastal Range
Monument 190. This subunit includes lands from MLLW (i.e., highly
dynamic beach and intertidal seashore that is covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide) to the landward boundary indicated by the
beginning of dense vegetation or hardened structures, and also includes
ephemeral pools, lagoons, natural brackish ponds, and any adjacent or
near-shore emergent sand shoals. Lands within this subunit are entirely
private/other ownership (including the Jeff Lewis Wilderness Preserve,
which is owned/managed by the TNC).
(viii) Map of Subunit FL-23C is presented at paragraph (112)(ii) of
this entry.
(ix) Subunit FL-23D (West Dog Island) consists of approximately 751
ac (304 ha) of occupied habitat on West Dog Island in Franklin County.
This subunit includes the entirety of this island from the eastern
boundary at the Gulf of Mexico shoreline midway between Florida Coastal
Range Monuments 168 and 169 and west 3.1 mi (5 km) to East Pass. This
subunit includes lands from MLLW (i.e., highly dynamic beach and
intertidal seashore that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide) to the landward boundary indicated by the beginning of dense
vegetation or hardened structures, as well as ephemeral and emergent
sand shoals appearing in the near shore. Lands within this subunit are
entirely in private/other ownership, including the Jeff Lewis
Wilderness Preserve that is owned/managed by the TNC.
(x) Map of Subunit FL-23D is presented at paragraph (112)(ii) of
this entry.
(xi) Subunit FL-23E (McKissack Beach, Carrabelle) consists of
approximately 117 ac (47 ha) of occupied habitat along McKissack Beach
and Marsh in Carrabelle and associated shoals in Franklin County, from
0.18 mi (0.30 km) east of the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and Cape
Street east to the cove that forms the outlet of Boggy Jordan Bayou.
This subunit includes lands from MLLW (i.e., highly dynamic beach and
intertidal seashore that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide) to the landward boundary indicated by the beginning of dense
vegetation or hardened structures, as well as any ephemeral and
emergent sand shoals appearing in the near shore. Lands within this
subunit include 114 ac (46 ha) in State ownership (the Florida Trustees
of the Internal Improvement Fund, although the City of Carrabelle
retains a lease on McKissack Beach and Marsh), and 3 ac (1 ha) in
private/other ownership.
(xii) Map of Subunit FL-23E is presented at paragraph (112)(ii) of
this entry.
(xiii) Subunit FL-23F (East St. George Island State Park) consists
of approximately 978 ac (396 ha) of occupied habitat within Dr. Julian
G. Bruce St. George Island State Park Beach in Franklin County, from
Florida Coastal Range Monument 105 to the eastern tip of the island at
East Pass. This subunit includes lands from MLLW (i.e., highly dynamic
beach and intertidal seashore that is covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide) to the landward boundary indicated by the
beginning of dense vegetation or hardened structures. All lands within
this subunit are in State ownership (East St. George Island State
Park).
(xiv) Map of Subunit FL-23F is presented at paragraph (112)(ii) of
this entry.
(xv) Subunit FL-23G (St. George Island State Park and Bayshore
Shoals) consists of approximately 162 ac (65 ha) of occupied habitat on
Goose Island and associated shoals in Franklin County. This subunit
includes lands from MLLW (i.e., highly dynamic beach and intertidal
seashore that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide) to the
landward limit of the physical and biological features, including
ephemeral pools, lagoons, and any emergent sand shoals adjacent to the
island. All lands within this subunit are in State ownership (St.
George Island State Park).
(xvi) Map of Subunit FL-23G is presented at paragraph (112)(ii) of
this entry.
(113) Unit FL-24: St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge Complex,
Florida.
(i) Unit FL-24 consists of three subunits comprising 2,212 ac (895
ha) of occupied habitat in Franklin and Gulf Counties. This unit
consists of beaches of Apalachicola Bay, St. Vincent Sound, Indian
Pass, St. Vincent Island, and Flagg Island.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-24 follows:
Figure 92 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (113)(ii)
[[Page 22669]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.091
(iii) Subunit FL-24A (Little St. George Island State Park-West)
consists of approximately 953 ac (386 ha) of occupied habitat on Little
St. George Island beach and shoals in Franklin County, from West Pass
east to Florida Coastal Range Monument 25 and including bayside beach
from West Pass east to the point at the Marshall Dock. This subunit
includes lands from MLLW (i.e., highly dynamic beach and intertidal
seashore that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide) to the
landward boundary indicated by the beginning of dense vegetation or
hardened structures, and includes ephemeral pools, natural brackish
ponds, and emergent sand shoals appearing in the near shore of the Gulf
or Apalachicola Bay. All lands within this subunit are in State
ownership (Little St. George Island State Park).
(iv) Map of Subunit FL-24A is presented at paragraph (113)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit FL-24B (St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge) consists
of approximately 742 ac (300 ha) of occupied beach and shoals habitat
on the St. Vincent NWR in Franklin and Gulf Counties, from the Refuge
boat house at the confluence of St. Vincent Sound and Indian Pass east
to 0.60 mi
[[Page 22670]]
(0.96 km) north of Shell Road. This subunit includes lands from MLLW
(i.e., highly dynamic beach and intertidal seashore that is covered at
high tide and uncovered at low tide) to the landward boundary indicated
by the beginning of dense vegetation or hardened structures, including
ephemeral pools, natural brackish ponds, and emergent sand shoals
appearing in the near shore of the Gulf. Lands within this subunit are
all in Federal ownership (St. Vincent NWR).
(vi) Map of Subunit FL-24B is presented at paragraph (113)(ii) of
this entry.
(vii) Subunit FL-24C (Flagg Island Shoals) consists of
approximately 517 ac (209 ha) of occupied habitat that encompasses the
entire ebb-tidal delta referred to as Flagg Island off the southernmost
tip of St. Vincent Island (near Oyster Pond outfall) in Franklin
County. This subunit includes lands from MLLW (i.e., highly dynamic
beach and intertidal seashore that is covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide) to the landward limit of the physical or
biological features, including ephemeral pools, natural brackish ponds,
and emergent sand shoals. All lands within this subunit (which
constantly change in size and shape due to the dynamic nature of the
area) are in State ownership.
(viii) Map of Subunit FL-24C is presented at paragraph (113)(ii) of
this entry.
(114) Unit FL-25: Gulf County Complex, Florida.
(i) Unit FL-25 consists of two subunits comprising 1,520 ac (616
ha) of occupied habitat in Gulf County. This unit consists of beaches
of Cape San Blas, Money, and Indian Pass, and the southeastern portion
of St. Joseph Bay.
(ii) Map of Unit FL-25 follows:
Figure 93 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (114)(ii)
[[Page 22671]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.092
(iii) Subunit FL-25A (Cape San Blas to Indian Pass) consists of
approximately 620 ac (251 ha) of occupied beach habitat at Cape San
Blas, Money Bayou, and Indian Pass beaches in Gulf County, from the
southwestern point of Cape San Blas to 0.11 mi (0.18 km) northeast of
the Indian Pass Beach Boat Ramp. This subunit includes lands from MLLW
(i.e., highly dynamic beach and intertidal seashore that is covered at
high tide and uncovered at low tide) to the landward limit of the
physical or biological features, including ephemeral pools, natural
brackish ponds, and emergent sand shoals in the near shore. Lands
within this subunit include 133 ac (54 ha) in State ownership and 486
ac (197 ha) in private/other ownership. Adjacent Federal lands under
Eglin Air Force Base jurisdiction are exempt under section 4(a)(3) of
the Act, but the shoal and any emergent shoal formations that appear
along the shoreline are considered part of this unit, starting from the
MLLW south and up 0.5 mi (0.81 km) from Eglin Air Force Base lands on
the southernmost side of Cape San Blas.
(iv) Map of Subunit FL-25A is presented at paragraph (114)(ii) of
this entry.
(v) Subunit FL-25B (St. Joseph Bay-Eastern Shore) consists of
approximately 827 ac (335 ha) of
[[Page 22672]]
occupied beaches and shoals within the southeastern portion of St.
Joseph Bay in Gulf County, from 0.09 mi (0.14 km) east of the
intersection of County Road 30A and Cape San Blas Road to the west 0.66
mi (1.1 km) and to the north 2.4 mi (3.8 km). This subunit includes
lands from MLLW (i.e., highly dynamic beach and intertidal seashore
that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide) to the landward
limit of the physical or biological features, including ephemeral
pools, natural brackish ponds, lagoons, and emergent sand shoals in the
near shore. Lands within this subunit include 761 ac (308 ha) in State
ownership (St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve) and 66 ac (27 ha) in
private/other ownership.
(vi) Map of Subunit FL-25B is presented at paragraph (114)(ii) of
this entry.
(115) Unit AL-1: Dauphin Island, Alabama.
(i) Unit AL-1 consists of approximately 5,167 ac (2,091 ha) of
occupied habitat on Dauphin Island, a barrier island south of Mobile
Bay in Mobile County. The unit includes all of Dauphin Island from the
historic 19th Century Fort Gaines site on the eastern side of the
island, continuing approximately 16 mi (26 km) west to the MLLW on the
westernmost tip, and all of Little Dauphin Island (which is
uninhabited) to MLLW. Lands within this unit include approximately 484
ac (196 ha) in Federal ownership (Bon Secour NWR), 848 ac (343 ha) in
State ownership (Shell Mound Park or Indian Mound Park, and a newly
acquired habitat conservation area on the west end of the island), and
3,834 ac (1,552 ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit AL-1 follows:
Figure 94 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (115)(ii)
[[Page 22673]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.093
(116) Unit MS-1: Ship Island, Mississippi.
(i) Unit MS-1 consists of approximately 2,452 ac (993 ha) of
occupied habitat on Ship Island in Harrison County. The unit consists
of emergent lands and intertidal area to MLLW on the island and its
adjacent sand shoals (i.e., highly dynamic beaches and intertidal
seashore that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide). This
unit is all under Federal ownership (Gulf Islands National Seashore).
(ii) Map of Unit MS-1 follows:
Figure 95 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (116)(ii)
[[Page 22674]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.094
(117) Unit MS-2: Cat Island, Mississippi.
(i) Unit MS-2 consists of approximately 2,121 ac (858 ha) of
occupied habitat on Cat Island in Harrison County. This unit consists
of emergent lands and intertidal area to MLLW on Cat Island and its
adjacent sand shoals (i.e., highly dynamic beaches and intertidal
seashore that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide). Lands
within this unit include approximately 686 ac (278 ha) in Federal
ownership (Gulf Islands National Seashore), 1,305 ac (528 ha) in State
ownership, and 129 ac (52 ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit MS-2 is presented at paragraph (116)(ii) of this
entry.
(118) Unit LA-1: Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana.
(i) Unit LA-1 consists of approximately 7,632 ac (3,088 ha) of
occupied habitat in St. Bernard Parish. The unit includes all emergent
lands to MLLW on the Chandeleur Islands and their adjacent sand shoals
(i.e., highly dynamic beaches and intertidal seashore that is covered
at high tide and uncovered at low tide). All lands in this unit are
federally owned (Breton NWR, and designated wilderness area created as
a refuge and breeding ground for resident and migratory birds).
(ii) Map of Unit LA-1 follows:
[[Page 22675]]
Figure 96 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (118)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.095
(119) Unit LA-2: Barataria Barrier Islands and Headlands,
Louisiana.
(i) Unit LA-2 consists of approximately 7,795 ac (3,155 ha) of
occupied habitat within Plaquemines, Jefferson, and Lafourche Parishes,
including emergent lands and/or sand shoals to MLLW (i.e., highly
dynamic beaches and intertidal seashore that is covered at high tide
and uncovered at low tide). This unit includes: Emergent lands of
Lanaux and Shell Islands to MLLW in Plaquemines Parish; emergent sand
shoals of Grand Bayou Pass in Plaquemines Parish; the Gulf of Mexico
shoreline to MLLW between Grand Bayou Pass and Quatre Bayou Pass (known
as the Chaland Headland and Chenier Ronquille); emergent sand shoals of
Bastian Bay, Bay Joe Wise, Chaland Pass, and Bayou Cheniere Ronquille
in Plaquemines Parish; all emergent lands of the Grand Terre Islands
and adjacent unnamed island to
[[Page 22676]]
MLLW between Quatre Bayou Pass and Barataria Pass in Plaquemines and
Jefferson Parishes; the Gulf of Mexico shoreline of Grand Isle from the
toe of the Gulf-side hurricane protection levee to MLLW in Jefferson
Parish; the west side of the Caminada Pass shoreline and the Gulf of
Mexico shoreline to MLLW beginning just north of Louisiana Highway 1 in
Caminada Pass extending approximately 15 mi (24 km) westward to the
east side of Belle Pass (known as the Caminada Headland, which includes
the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries' Elmer's Island
Wildlife Refuge) in Jefferson and Lafourche Parishes; and all emergent
lands of the West Belle Pass peninsula to the MLLW. Lands within this
unit include approximately 126 ac (51 ha) in State ownership (Grand
Isle State Park and Elmer's Island Wildlife Refuge) and 7,669 ac (3,104
ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit LA-2 follows:
Figure 97 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (119)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.096
[[Page 22677]]
(120) Unit LA-3: Terrebonne Barrier Islands, Louisiana.
(i) Unit LA-3 consists of approximately 5,072 ac (2,052 ha) of
occupied habitat within Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes, including
emergent lands and/or sand shoals to MLLW (i.e., highly dynamic beaches
and intertidal seashore that is covered at high tide and uncovered at
low tide). This unit includes: Emergent lands on East Timbalier Island
in Lafourche Parish; emergent sand shoals at Little Pass Timbalier in
Jefferson Parish; emergent lands of Timbalier Island (also known as Big
or West Timbalier Island) in Terrebonne Parish; and emergent lands and
associated sand shoals on East, Trinity, Whiskey, and Raccoon Islands
(known as the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Isles
Dernieres Barrier Islands Refuge) in Terrebonne Parish. Lands within
this unit include approximately 2,900 ac (1,173 ha) in State ownership
(Isles Dernieres Barrier Islands Refuge) and 2,172 ac (879 ha) in
private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit LA-3 follows:
Figure 98 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (120)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.097
[[Page 22678]]
(121) Unit LA-4: Southwest Louisiana Beaches, Louisiana.
(i) Unit LA-4 consists of approximately 6,130 ac (2,481 ha) of
occupied habitat within Cameron and Vermillion Parishes. The unit
includes land along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline to the MLLW (i.e.,
highly dynamic intertidal seashore that is covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide) from the eastern Vermilion Parish line starting
at the eastern boundary of the Audubon Society's Paul J. Rainey
Wildlife Sanctuary, extending approximately 128 mi (206 km) westward
and terminating at Louisiana Point, and also including its associated
sand/mud shoals on the east side of Sabine Pass in Cameron Parish.
Along its entire length, the unit includes the shoreline beach from the
MLLW line landward to the edge of where dense vegetation begins. Lands
within this unit include approximately 1,497 ac (606 ha) in State
ownership (Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge) and 4,633 ac (1,875 ha) in
private/other ownership (including the Paul J. Rainey Wildlife
Sanctuary, managed by the Audubon Society).
(ii) Map of Unit LA-4 follows:
Figure 99 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (121)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.098
[[Page 22679]]
(122) Unit TX-1: Rollover Pass to Bolivar Flats, Texas.
(i) Unit TX-1 consists of approximately 1,478 ac (598 ha) of
occupied habitat in Galveston County. This unit begins bayside of
Rollover Pass and extends southwest along the beachfront ending at the
north jetty on the Bolivar Peninsula. It includes 17 mi (27 km) of Gulf
shoreline. The landward boundary is the line indicating the beginning
of dense vegetation, and the gulfside boundary is the MLLW, including
emergent lands and intertidal area characterized as highly dynamic
beach/seashore that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide.
The bayside of Rollover Pass and west end of the unit includes lands
known as wind tidal flats that are infrequently inundated. Specific
habitat types within this unit include: estuarine (bayside) seagrass
mud or sand flats that are subtidal, seagrass flats that are nearly
flat areas with rooted vascular plants (seagrass) growing below the
water surface in subtidal mud or sand substrate; estuarine (bayside)
sandy shore (beach/sandbar) rarely exposed due to tidal fluctuation;
estuarine (bayside) sandy shore (beach/sandbar) that is irregularly or
regularly, depending upon the location, inundated by tides; and marine
sandy coastline (beach) irregularly or regularly inundated by tides,
depending upon the location. Lands within this unit include
approximately 482 ac (195 ha) in State ownership and 996 ac (403 ha) in
private/other ownership (includes the Bolivar Flats Bird Sanctuary).
(ii) Map of Unit TX-1 follows:
Figure 100 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (122)(ii)
[[Page 22680]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.099
(123) Unit TX-2: West Galveston Island, Texas.
(i) Unit TX-2 consists of approximately 590 ac (239 ha) of occupied
habitat in Galveston County. The unit is along the gulf with boundaries
from the MLLW up to the vegetation line, including emergent lands and
intertidal area characterized as highly dynamic beach/seashore that is
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. The northeastern
boundary is the end of the Seawall Boulevard (end of the seawall), and
the southwestern boundary is San Luis Pass. Specific habitat types
within this unit include marine sandy coastline beach that is
irregularly or regularly inundated by tides, depending upon the
location. Lands within this unit include approximately 307 ac (124 ha)
in State ownership and 282 ac (114 ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit TX-2 follows:
Figure 101 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (123)(ii)
[[Page 22681]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.100
(124) Unit TX-3: Cedar Lake to Colorado River, Texas.
(i) Unit TX-3 consists of approximately 1,204 ac (487 ha) of
occupied habitat in Matagorda County. The unit is along the gulf with
boundaries from the MLLW up to the vegetation line, including emergent
lands and intertidal area characterized as highly dynamic beach/
seashore that is covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. The
northeastern boundary is the south side of Cedar Lake Cut, and the
southwestern boundary is near the Colorado River. Specific habitat
types within this unit include marine sandy coastline beach that is
irregularly or regularly inundated by tides, depending upon the
location. Lands within this unit include 1,075 ac (435 ha) in State
ownership and 128 ac (52 ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit TX-3 follows:
Figure 102 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (124)(ii)
[[Page 22682]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.101
(125) Unit TX-4: Mustang Island, Texas.
(i) Unit TX-4 consists of approximately 648 ac (262 ha) of occupied
habitat in Nueces County. The unit is along the gulf with boundaries
from the MLLW up to the vegetation line, including emergent lands and
intertidal area characterized as highly dynamic beach/seashore that is
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide. The northern boundary
is the south jetty at Port Aransas, and the southern boundary is the
north jetty of Packery Channel. Specific habitat types within this unit
include marine sandy coastline beach that is irregularly or regularly
inundated by tides, depending upon the location. Lands within this unit
include approximately 395 ac (160 ha) in State ownership and 253 ac
(102 ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit TX-4 follows:
Figure 103 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (125)(ii)
[[Page 22683]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.102
(126) Unit TX-5: Mollie Beattie Coastal Habitat, Texas.
(i) Unit TX-5 consists of approximately 723 ac (293 ha) of occupied
habitat in Nueces County. This unit is located north of Packery Channel
and extends along the bayside west of Sylvan Beach Park west of Texas
State Highway 361. The northern boundary is the Corpus Christi Pass
with the southern boundary approximately 2 mi (3.2 km) south of Corpus
Christi Pass. The eastern boundary is where the dense vegetation
begins, and the western boundary is the MLLW (i.e., the highly dynamic
beach and intertidal seashore that is covered at high tide and
uncovered at low tide). This unit includes two hurricane washover
passes known as Newport and Corpus Christi Passes in areas where wind
tidal flats are infrequently inundated, bayside flats are exposed
during low tide regimes, and wind tidal flats are infrequently
inundated. The unit does not include densely vegetated habitat within
these boundaries, but it includes all seagrass beds exposed at low
tides. Specific habitat types within this unit include: estuarine
(bayside) sandy shore/beach/sandbar that is irregularly or regularly,
depending upon the location, inundated by tides; and
[[Page 22684]]
estuarine (bayside) sandy shore (beach/sandbar) and spoils irregularly
inundated by tides. Lands within this unit include approximately 505 ac
(205 ha) in State ownership and 218 ac (88 ha) in private/other
ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit TX-5 follows:
Figure 104 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (126)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.103
(127) Unit TX-6: North Padre Island, Texas.
(i) Unit TX-6 consists of approximately 2,817 ac (1,140 ha) of
occupied habitat in Nueces, Kleberg, Kenedy, and Willacy Counties. The
unit is along the gulf with boundaries from the MLLW up to the
vegetation line, to include emergent lands and intertidal area
characterized as highly dynamic beach/seashore that is covered at high
tide and uncovered at low tide. The northern boundary is the south side
of Packery Channel extending along the Gulf shoreline to Port Mansfield
East Cut. Specific habitat types within this unit include marine sandy
coastline beach that is irregularly or regularly
[[Page 22685]]
inundated by tides, depending upon the location. Lands within this unit
include approximately 2,487 ac (1,007 ha) in Federal ownership (Padre
Island National Seashore), 68 ac (27 ha) in State ownership, and 262 ac
(106 ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit TX-6 follows:
Figure 105 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (127)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.104
(128) Unit TX-7: Upper Laguna Madre-Nighthawk Bay, Texas.
(i) Unit TX-7 consists of approximately 1,157 ac (469 ha) of
occupied habitat in Kleberg County. The unit is along the bayside of
Texas Park Road 22. The northeastern boundary is the northern edge of
the Kleberg County line in Nighthawk Bay, and the southwestern boundary
ends bayside of Bird Island Basin Road. This unit includes a series of
small flats along the
[[Page 22686]]
bayside of Padre Island in the Upper Laguna Madre. The unit includes
bayside flats and seagrass beds that are exposed during low tide
regimes and wind tidal flats that are infrequently inundated. Specific
habitat types within this unit include: estuarine (bayside) seagrass
mud or sand flats that are subtidal, seagrass flats that are nearly
flat areas with rooted vascular plants (seagrass) growing below the
water surface in subtidal mud or sand substrate; estuarine (bayside)
sandy shore (beach/sandbar) rarely exposed due to tidal fluctuation;
and estuarine (bayside) sandy shore (beach/sandbar) that is irregularly
or regularly inundated by tide, depending upon the location. Lands
within this unit include approximately 273 ac (111 ha) in Federal
ownership (Padre Island National Seashore), 816 ac (330 ha) in State
ownership, and 68 ac (28 ha) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit TX-7 follows:
Figure 106 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (128)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.105
[[Page 22687]]
(129) Unit TX-8: Dagger Hill-Yarborough Pass-Nine Mile Hole, Texas.
(i) Unit TX-8 consists of approximately 32,773 ac (13,263 ha) of
occupied habitat in Kleberg and Kenedy Counties. The unit is located
bayside along and within the Laguna Madre adjacent to the west side of
the Padre Island National Seashore. The northern boundary of the unit
is Dagger Hill, and the southern boundary is approximately 6 mi (9.7
km) south of the land cut at Nine Mile Hole. The eastern boundary of
this unit is the dense vegetation line on the bayside of the Padre
Island National Seashore. The western boundary extends toward the Gulf
Intracoastal Waterway to the MLLW (i.e., the highly dynamic beach and
emergent sand shoals that are covered at high tide and uncovered at low
tide). The southern portion of this unit extends across the Gulf
Intracoastal Waterway dredge spoil islands. The unit includes bayside
flats and all seagrass beds that are exposed during low tide regimes
and wind tidal flats that are infrequently inundated. Specific habitat
types within this unit include: estuarine (bayside) seagrass mud or
sand flats that are subtidal and are nearly flat areas with rooted
vascular plants (seagrass) growing below the water surface in subtidal
mud or sand substrate; estuarine (bayside) sandy shore (beach/sandbar)
that is irregularly or regularly inundated by tides, depending upon the
location; and estuarine (bayside) sandy shore (beach/sandbar) and
spoils irregularly inundated by tides. Lands within this unit include
approximately 9,731 ac (3,938 ha) in Federal ownership (Padre Island
National Seashore) and 23,042 ac (9,325 ha) in State ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit TX-8 follows:
Figure 107 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (129)(ii)
[[Page 22688]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.106
(130) Unit TX-9: Pintail Lake-Padre Island-La Punta Larga, Texas.
(i) Unit TX-9 consists of approximately 94,171 ac (38,110 ha) of
occupied habitat in Kenedy, Willacy, and Cameron Counties. The northern
boundary is Pintail Cut, extending south along the bay side of North
Padre and South Padre Islands, with the southern boundary being Andy
Bowie County Park. The center of the unit is approximately at Port
Mansfield East Cut. North of the East Cut the western boundary is the
MLLW (i.e., the highly dynamic beach and emergent sand shoals that are
covered at high tide and uncovered at low tide), and the eastern
boundary is where dense vegetation begins. South of East Cut the
western boundary is the MLLW, and the eastern boundary includes the
beach side Gulf of Mexico out to the MLLW. The unit includes bayside
flats and seagrass beds that are exposed during low tide regimes, and
wind tidal flats that are infrequently inundated. Specific habitat
types within this unit include: estuarine
[[Page 22689]]
(bayside) algal mud or sand flats irregularly inundated by tides;
estuarine (bayside) sandy shore (beach/sandbar) regularly inundated by
tides; and estuarine (bayside) sandy shore (beach/sandbar); and marine
sandy coastline beach (irregularly or regularly inundated by tides,
depending upon the location). Lands within this unit include
approximately 25,881 ac (10,474 ha) in Federal ownership (Laguna
Atascosa NWR), 34,165 ac (13,826 ha) in State ownership, and 34,125 ac
(13,810 ha; 36 percent) in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit TX-9 follows:
Figure 108 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (130)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.107
(131) Unit TX-10: Peyton's Bay-Arroyo Colorado-Three Island-
Gabrielson Island, Texas.
(i) Unit TX-10 consists of approximately 35,651 ac (14,427 ha) of
occupied habitat in Willacy and Cameron Counties. The northern boundary
of this unit is approximately 11 mi (18 km) north of the Arroyo
[[Page 22690]]
Colorado Cutoff and encompasses Peyton's Bay (north being Chubby
Island), and the southern boundary is approximately 9 mi (14 km) south
of the Arroyo Colorado Cutoff encompassing Rattlesnake Bay (south edge
near Gabrielson Island). The eastern boundary is the western side of
the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway dredge spoil islands, and the western
boundary is where dense vegetation begins. The unit includes bayside
flats and seagrass beds that are exposed during low tide regimes and
wind tidal flats that are infrequently inundated, and does not include
densely vegetated habitat within these boundaries. Specific habitat
types within this unit include: estuarine (bayside) seagrass mud or
sand flats that are subtidal and are nearly flat areas with rooted
vascular plants (seagrass) growing below the water surface in subtidal
mud or sand substrate; estuarine (bayside) algal mud or sand flats
regularly inundated by tides and that are nearly flat areas with a
layer of algae growing on a moist mud or sand substrate and are
otherwise devoid of vegetation; estuarine (bayside) algal mud or sand
flats irregularly inundated by tides; estuarine (bayside) sandy shore
(beach/sandbar) rarely exposed due to tidal fluctuation; estuarine
(bayside) sandy shore (beach/sandbar) areas that are irregularly or
regularly inundated by tides, depending upon the location; and
estuarine (bayside) sandy shore (beach/sandbar), to include spoils
irregularly inundated by tides. Lands within this unit include
approximately 8,145 ac (3,296 ha) in Federal ownership (Laguna Atascosa
NWR), 25,316 ac (10,245 ha) in State ownership, and 2,190 ac (886 ha)
in private/other ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit TX-10 follows:
Figure 109 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (131)(ii)
[[Page 22691]]
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.108
(132) Unit TX-11: South Bay-Boca Chica.
(i) Unit TX-11 consists of approximately 15,400 ac (6,236 ha) of
occupied habitat in Cameron County. The Boca Chica gulf shoreline
portion of this unit begins south of the Brownsville Ship Channel and
extends approximately 6.5 mi (10 km) to the south. Within the South
Bay, the northern boundary is south of Brownsville Ship Channel dredge
spoil placement areas, and the southern boundary is north of the Rio
Grande River. The eastern boundary is the bayside of the Boca Chica
Beach (Gulf of Mexico) up to where dense vegetation begins, and the
western boundary is west of the Loma islands up to where dense
vegetation begins along the wind tidal flats. The unit includes wind
tidal flats and all seagrass beds that are infrequently inundated and/
or exposed at low tides, and the tidal flats within the area known as
South Bay. Specific habitat types within this unit include: estuarine
(bayside) seagrass mud or sand flats that are subtidal and are nearly
flat areas with rooted vascular plants (seagrass) growing below the
water surface in subtidal mud or sand substrate; estuarine (bayside)
algal mud or sand flats regularly inundated by
[[Page 22692]]
tides and that are nearly flat areas with a layer of algae growing on a
moist mud or sand substrate and are otherwise devoid of vegetation;
estuarine (bayside) algal mud or sand flats irregularly inundated by
tides; estuarine (bayside) sandy shore (beach/sandbar) rarely exposed
due to tidal fluctuation; estuarine (bayside) sandy shore (beach/
sandbar) irregularly or regularly inundated by tides, depending upon
the location; estuarine (bayside) sandy shore (beach/sandbar) spoils
irregularly inundated by tides; and marine sandy coastline (beach)
irregularly or regularly inundated by tides, depending upon the
location. Lands within this unit include approximately 5,536 ac (2,242
ha) in Federal ownership (Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR), 4,080 ac (1,652
ha) in State ownership, and 5,784 ac (2,342 ha) in private/other
ownership.
(ii) Map of Unit TX-11 follows:
Figure 110 to Rufa Red Knot paragraph (132)(ii)
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP13AP23.109
[[Page 22693]]
* * * * *
Martha Williams,
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-06619 Filed 4-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4333-15-C