Appendix 1

Refuges in Southeastern Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have been forced to eliminate 68 permanent positions over the last three years in order to cover fixed costs and other operating increases during flat or declining budget times. All of these positions were viewed as essential positions, however our staffing levels were too high for our budget allocations. These losses were opportunistic as employees tranferred or retired and left gaps in critical refuge positions at certain refuges that have been felt throughout the Region. The additional loss of more critical positions as proposed in the Southeast Region Workforce Plan will cause additional declines in services to our visitors and productivity in meeting the Refuge mission that will be felt at each individual station.

The following information is to provide some specific examples of losses felt on NWRs in the Southeast Region. This information was provided by individual refuge managers who have experienced the losses associated with abolished positions over the last two to three years, and projected productivity losses with the proposed cuts in the Southeast Region Workforce Plan.

Refuge Managers
Since Paul Kroegel’s first efforts at Pelican Island, refuge managers and their staff, with very little money, have done an amazing job of getting the conservation mission accomplished on an ever-growing number of refuges with increasingly complex issues. Managers struggle every day to appropriately balance providing habitat with wildlife and offering wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities for people.

The rapid pace of change in how we manage information, and the increased expectation for rapid response to requests for information, are huge additional challenges. Even with this plan fully implemented we will be accomplishing less work on almost every station in the Region and will have to work primarily on the highest priority resource work.

Between 2002-2005, the Southeast Region abolished 16 refuge manager positions which diminished capabilities to provide for future conservation of priority federal trust responsibilities, including the following:
- Inability to follow through on coordination efforts with service partners, e.g., NASA, US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), State and local governments, and non-profit organization;
- Loss of five entry-level management positions, resulting in reduction in oversight capabilities on smaller, but important refuges which are now unstaffed. For example, Chickasaw NWR (TN) lost its only on-site manager, resulting in a decline in quality of hunting, moist soil management, and maintenance of facilities;
- Inability to coordinate with universities and other natural resource professionals on information needs, issues of mutual concern, and research needs; and
- Reduced management oversight capabilities for administrative requirements, operations and maintenance. For example, the Southeast Louisiana Refuge Complex lost three manager positions, resulting in a 50% reduction in management capabilities at three different refuges with increased illegal activity and decreased community awareness of the refuges.

This plan calls for further reductions of up to 25 refuge managers (17% of positions in the Region). This reduction will have the following results:
- Roanoke River NWR (NC) being complexed with the Alligator River NWR Complex leading to 50% reduction in involvement in Federal Energy Relicensing Commission agreement, coordination with the Corps on river flows issues;
- Catahoula NWR (LA) being complexed with Central Louisiana Refuge Complex, leading to a 50% reduction in ability to provide oversight for day-to-day management and contact with neighbors on long-standing issues; and
- Eufaula NWR (AL) losing its assistant manager position resulting in a 50% reduction of its day-to-day management oversight capability, affecting all program areas, including hunting, law enforcement, facilities maintenance, and administration.

This plan also calls for an increase of two refuge managers to ensure the highest priority mission activities over the next three years primarily at Focus Refuges.

Biologist and Biological Science Technicians
Using the best biological information available is critical to the success of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Sound science is required to plan management actions and evaluate effectiveness of these actions.

Prior to 2006, the Southeast Region abolished 17 biologists and biological science technicians which resulted in diminished capability to provide for the future conservation of priority federal trust responsibilities, including the following:
- Inability to interact and coordinate with university and other natural resource professionals on issues of mutual concern;
- Inability to promote recovery actions for threatened and endangered species dependent on refuges. For example, at Cape Romain NWR (SC) we have eliminated the Red Wolf breeding program and reduced capability for sea turtle monitoring of the largest population on the northern Atlantic coast;
- Inability to effectively incorporate the latest research results to improve management practices, while continuing to provide for nesting, roosting, and foraging habitats for migratory birds as much as possible. Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of management practices is all but non-existent on many refuges. For example, at Mattamuskeet NWR (NC), a reduction in biological positions has decreased forage available for waterfowl by 25% (i.e., by reducing moist soil management of 2,500 acres and experienced another 25% habitat loss due to reduced control of invasive plants); and
- Inability to effectively monitor habitat change and adjust management to prevent future degradation of habitat, which increases restoration costs at a later date. For example, at North Mississippi Refuge Complex the loss of a biologist has resulted in 75% reduction in monitoring of more than 100 conservation easements. This allows willow encroachment in wetlands, beaver damage to timber and water control structures, illegal trespass and dumping, and boundary encroachment.

This plan calls for further reductions of up to six biologists (7% of positions in the Region). This reduction will have the following results:
- Florida Keys Refuge Complex eliminating surveys for sea turtles and other marine resources on more than 400,000 acres within Great White Heron and Key West NWRs;
- A.R.M. Loxahatchee NWR (FL) reducing water quality monitoring and invasive control by 25%, effecting its ability to comply with legal obligations and consent decree mandates; and
- Mountain Longleaf NWR (AL) eliminating its entire biological program, which supports three national wildlife refuges and affects over 15 threatened and endangered species.

This plan also calls for an increase of eight biological professionals to ensure the highest priority mission activities over the next three years primarily at Focus Refuges.

Foresters and Forestry Technicians
Forest management within the National Wildlife Refuge System is unique due to the emphasis on wildlife. Economics is not a consideration other than in determining how to best apply commercial practices to accomplish future desired conditions based on the needs of priority wildlife. Active forest management is vital to improve upon or maintain existing conditions for endangered species, migratory birds, and other species of conservation concern.

Prior to 2006, the Southeast Region abolished three foresters and forestry technician positions diminishing capability to provide for the future conservation of priority Federal trust responsibilities, including the following:
- Inability to continue proper silviculture activities to benefit wildlife resources. For example, at the South Arkansas Refuge Complex, we have reduced silvicultural actions by 1/3 or 1,000 acres per year. This action will quickly impact recovery potential for red-cockaded woodpecker colonies by decreasing habitat quality;
- Inability to appropriately manage diminishing forest habitat in support of endangered species recovery. For example, at Carolina Sandhills NWR (SC) we have reduced forest management activities by 50% with significant impacts to the longleaf pine community and red-cockaded woodpecker recovery; and
- Inability to monitor and treat invasive Kudzu to maintain healthy forests. For example, at Piedmont NWR (GA) we have significantly reduced our ability to curb exotic species proliferations by reducing our ability to monitor commercial forestry activities.

This plan calls for further reductions of up to two foresters (10% of positions in the Region). This reduction will have the following results:
- Merritt Island NWR (FL) will eliminate its only forester and and therefore its implementation of needed recovery actions for endangered Florida scrub jay; and
- D’Arbonne NWR (LA) will eliminate all forest management affecting 15,000 acres of forested wetlands.

This plan also calls for an increase of three foresters to ensure the highest priority mission activities over the next three years primarily at Focus Refuges.

Law Enforcement
Refuge law enforcement officers protect visitors, wildlife and habitats, and Service assets. Our law enforcement officers are highly trained professionals whose work is essential for accomplishing the Service mission. These officers protect hundreds of thousands of visitors and are needed to provide the quality visitor experience expected by the public.

This plan calls for abolishing three refuge officer positions (6% of positions in the Region), but plans for an increase of six refuge officers to ensure the highest priority mission activities over the next three years at Focus Refuges. Adjustments in the deployment of refuge law enforcement officers are particularly important at this time due to reductions in the number of dual-function officers over the past five years. This reduction in dual-function officers resulted in a significant loss in our law enforcement capabilities adversely affecting resources, visitors, and facility protection problems at many of our refuges.

Visitor Services
Across the Southeast Region, refuges provide year-round visitor services at a variety of facilities which are designed to showcase the wildlife treasures within refuges in a manner compatible with the refuge’s establishing purpose. The Southeast Region supports the nation’s highest visitation with over 11 million visitors annually. Through the Comprehensive Conservation Planning (CCP) process, refuges involve local communities and citizens in decisions related to compatible public-use management because of the direct effects this use can have on the local economy.

Many refuges have moved from being wildlife sanctuaries to conservation showcases. The public has new expectations – more opportunities to hunt, fish, observe and photograph wildlife, and to receive environmental education and interpretation for them and their children.

Prior to 2006, the Southeast Region abolished eight public-use professionals diminishing capabilities to provide for compatible wildlife-dependant recreation including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education and interpretation. Examples of the effects of this staff reduction include the following:
- Visitor Center hours curtailed. For example, Pocosin Lakes NWR (NC) lost its only park ranger, resulting in a reduction of the hours of operation from 56 hours/week to just 24 hours/week at the Walter B. Jones, Sr. Center for the Sounds Visitor Center;
- Hunting programs reduced in numbers of days and locations. For example, Cape Romain NWR (SC) lost one of its park rangers, resulting in a 20% reduction in the hunt program and a 25% reduction in the volunteer program and coordination;
- Enviromental education programs reduced in numbers and locations. For example, Piedmont NWR (GA) lost its lead park ranger, resulting in a 60% reduction in outreach to the community and environmental education to school children; and
- Outreach opportunites, websites, brochures, and other forms of outreach diminished in number and quality. For example, Merritt Island NWR (FL) lost a park ranger, causing 7,500 visitors to gain less understanding of the unique wildlife legacy at this refuge.

This plan calls for further reductions of up to 12 public-use professionals (24% of positions in the Region). This reduction will have the following results:
- Pelican Island NWR (FL) losing its only public-use staff and eliminating all active outreach at the nation’s first national wildlife refuge;
- Cross Creeks NWR (TN) losing its only public-use staff causing a 90% reduction in environmental education programs (i.e., affecting over 2,000 local school children). The refuge could no longer host the Stewart County Earth Camp and will eliminate the number of lottery hunts offered each year;
- Okefenokee NWR (GA) losing two park rangers requiring the closure of the East Entrance for two days a week (i.e., resulting in a decline of 50,000 visits annually); and
- Ding Darling NWR (FL) losing two park rangers requiring the closure of the visitor center for two days a week and significantly reduce environmental education for 55,000 school children.
This plan also calls for an increase of two visitor services professionals to ensure the highest priority mission activities over the next three years primarily at Focus Refuges.

Maintenance
Maintenance staff provide the on-the-ground work that directly benefits wildlife and its habitat, in addition to benefiting the public that cherishes these natural resources. The talents, ingenuity, and common sense of these maintenance professionals create the economical and practical infrastructure that for many years epitomized the “doing more with less” ethic that allowed us to accomplish our mission.

The current wage grade staff maintains $4 billion in physical assets. They are responsible for addressing, through force account projects or contract oversights, more than $550 million in deferred maintenance backlog. New requirements to track all maintenance expenses, including time and materials, have added tremendous burden to this small core of dedicated maintenance staff.

Prior to 2006, the Southeast Region abolished 15 maintenance positions diminishing a station’s ability to address maintenance needs directly related to the support of the refuge functions, including the following:
- Reduced maintenance capability means shortened life of vehicles, equipment and facilities, with less frequent preventive maintenance. For example, Wheeler NWR (AL) lost two maintenance positions, resulting in a 50% increase in facility and equipment maintenance backlogs, increased equipment breakdowns, and shortened service life;
- Delays in corrective maintenance diminish our capability to manage habitat and provide adequate quality and quantities of public use infrastructure. For example, Pocosin Lakes NWR (NC) lost one maintenance position, resulting in a 50% reduction of road maintenance. More than 50 miles of roads have been closed to the driving public; and
- Delays in training adequate numbers of equipment operators and boat operators impacts all programs depending on these certified skills. For example, Catahoula NWR (LA) lost one maintenance worker who was also a trainer, resulting in a 50% reduction in maintenance of equipment, roads, trails, buildings, and boundary posting. The public is affected when management must close or curtail use of unkept or unsafe facilities, and effective law enforcement is compromised when boundaries cannot be legally identified in matters of trespass.

This plan calls for further reductions of up to 21 maintenance professionals (16% of positions in the Region). This reduction will have the following results:
- Ding Darling NWR (FL) losing one maintenance staff, results in the suspension of the YCC program, elimination of 12 miles of trail maintenance, 45 miles of boundary posting, and grounds maintenance. Loss of this skilled, certified heavy equipment operator with Commercial Drivers Licenses impacts our ability to move and operate equipment for fireline maintenance, which protects adjacent homeowners’ property and to maintain improved habitat from reinfestation from invasive plants; and
- Savannah Coastal Refuge Complex losing three additional maintenance staff, causes accelerated degradation of expensive, essential marine equipment, closure of a wildlife drive which receives 50,000 visitor a year, and suspension of wintering waterfowl impoundment management.

As funding allows, this plan also calls for an increase of four maintenance professionals to ensure the highest priority mission activities over the next three years primarily at Focus Refuges.

Administrative Support
Our administrative professionals not only help purchase everything we need, account for funds, property, and staff time, but they often provide our only communication with the public. This makes them an integral part of each refuge’s ability to accomplish the mission.

Prior to 2006, the Southeast Region abolished five administrative professionals diminishing capabilities to provide for future conservation of priority Federal trust responsibilities, including the following:
- Reduced office hours, diminishing the public’s ability to communicate with us. For example, Mattamuskeet NWR (NC) lost a part time clerk, resulting in a 25% decrease in public contact, including decreased service to hunters;
- Delays in providing critical data and reductions in the quality of information and data. For example, Merritt Island NWR (FL) lost one office assistant, resulting in delays in special use, commercial harvest, and recreational hunt permit processing, NASA security badge issuance, returning and directing calls, and processing of mail; and
- Delays and missed opportunities in procurement of goods and services for specific projects, operations, and maintenance needs. For example, Choctaw NWR (AL) lost its entire administrative staff, effecting all functions with the office now closed 50% of the time. No one is answering the phone or meeting the public on a consistent basis, and fiscal, personnel, and property accounting is being done at a remote location, causing delays in purchasing and taking time away from remaining on-site staff’s core responsibilities.

This plan calls for further reductions of up to 12 administrative professionals (20% of positions in the Region). This reduction will have the following results:
- Bayou Cocodrie NWR (LA), Santee NWR (SC), Catahoula NWR (LA), Roanoke River NWR (NC), St. Vincent NWR (FL), and Pelican Island NWR (FL) all losing onsite administrative support, resulting in closure of offices and visitor contact facilities at least 50% of the time. All administrative work will have to be absorbed by neighboring stations resulting in reductions in administrative support at each station;
- Southwest Louisiana Refuge Complex losing two administrative support staff, resulting in closure of one office and visitor contact facilities and significant delays in administrative functions;
- West Tennessee Refuge Complex and Savannah Coastal Refuge Complex each losing one administrative support staff, affecting the remaining administrative officer’s ability to provide timely and quality fiscal, personnel, and property management data. On a large complex this will effect more and more time of senior management staff as they assume some of these duties.

This plan also calls for an increase of one administrative professional to ensure the highest priority mission activities over the next three years primarily at Focus Refuges.

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