2. Background and location
The three national wildlife refuges of the Lower
Florida Keys are;
1. National Key Deer
2. Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)
3. Key West NWR
3. Background and location cont’d
County: Monroe County (Keys)
Size: 6688.04 acres
Latitude : 25.27083º Longitude: -80.32111º
Sections: 19,20,21,22,23,24,26,27,
Townships: 59 Range: 40
Managing Agency: United States Fish and Wildlife Service
4. Background and location cont’d
Located in Monroe County, Florida
Above refuges extend from East Bahia Honda Key west to Marquesas Keys.
5. Ownership
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
State of Florida
Federal Government
6. Philosophy
To protect wildlife of the Lower Florida Keys without imposing unnecessary
restrictions on boaters.
To curtail incompatible or illegal public use activities, such as camping on
refuge islands, through education and law enforcement efforts.
To prevent human disturbance at bald eagle nest sites, particularly at nests
near the edges of islands where interference by boaters has been documented.
7. Management Authority
Provided by congressional Acts
Congressional Acts include
Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929
Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of 1934
Bald and Golden Eagles Protection Act of 1940,
8. Environment
The climate of the Lower Florida Keys is tropical
(Jordan 1991)
1. The mean annual temperature is about 25 degrees C
2. The mean annual rainfall is 99.1 cm
9. Environment cont’d
The geology of the Lower Florida Keys
Two limestone formations
1. Miami oolite
2. Key Largo limestone
10. Predominant land uses of the lower Florida
keys
Recreational and commercial fishing
Scuba diving and snorkeling
Photography, bird watching
Sightseeing
11. Resources and products
Beaches on Woman, Marquesas, and Boca Grande
Keys
Wetlands include freshwater, salt ponds, Red mangrove
forests
12. Resources and products cont’d
Endangered and Threatened Species
Birds such as bald eagle, piping plover, and peregrine falcon.
Mammals such as Key deer, silver rice rat, Lower Keys marsh rabbit, West
Indian manatee, and sperm whale
Reptiles and amphibians such as Atlantic Ridley turtle, Atlantic loggerhead
turtle among others
13. Primary Management Problems cont’d
Human Disturbance of Wildlife:
1. Expanding development of coastal areas
2. Recreational activity increases
3. human interactions with wildlife
14. Law Enforcement problems
Camping on islands
Problem with camping
Campfires
Cutting of trees
Trash pits
15. Management actions
Specific law enforcement programs such fines
Camp guides
Tailored signs and remote sense monitoring
16. Management actions cont’d
Land conservation programs
Federal and state land conservation programs
Tax laws
Regulations for example, Endangered Species Act, Wetlands permits
17. Atsena Otie Key Island
Date Taken: 05/20/2010
Sensor: Aerial photography
Photographer:
Tom J Smith, III , U.S. Geological Survey
18. Southern Florida Keys
Date: 11/15/2000
Source: NASA/GSFC/JPL, MISR Team
Sensor:
Multi-angle imaging Spectro-radiometer
Description: The top image is composite of blue, green, and red band imagery. At
the bottom, the color is comprised of green, red, and near-infrared data.
19. Key West National Wildlife Refuge
Description: Mangrove islands in the Key West National Wildlife Refuge
provide valuable habitat for nesting birds and sea turtles.
Location: Key West, FL, USA
Date Taken: Jun 23 2010
Photographer by
Paul Nelson, U.S Geological Survey:
20. Florida Keys
Date: 12/02/2003
Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, NASA/GSFC
Sensor: MODIS
Description:
Turbid waters and the Florida Keys in this true-color Moderate Resolution
Imaging Spectroradiometer
21. Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
Date:
Sensor: Aerial photography
Photograph by Emory Kristoff
Description: Aerial photo
Showing marine protected
Areas of the refuge
23. Images and their uses in refuge
management
Images Use for refuge
management
Mangrove islands in the Key West used for
show forest extension
Used for monitoring climate changes
around refuge region
Aerial view of the refuge keys used for
24. Images and their uses in refuge
management cont’d
Images Use for refuge management
Used in monitoring water color changes as
well as aquatic animals
Can be used in locating and managing
marine protected Areas of the refuge
25. Images and their uses in refuge
management cont’d
Image Use for refuge management
NASA screen shot can be used to show
the Extension of a lagoon with the
refuge and where water areas connect
to the open sea. This gives management
the ability to focus on given parts of the
refuge.
26. Summary
The goals for this refuge is to protect wildlife. Most important parts of this
action includes nesting, feeding, roosting birds and access restrictions to the
public.
Many tools are used in managing Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges.
Among these tools include remote sensing, law enforcements, zone restrictions
among others.
27. References
FWS. (2012). Management Agreement. Retrieved from
http://floridakeys.noaa.gov/review/backcountryplan.pdf
FWS. (2012). Welcome to Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge Retrieved from
http://www.fws.gov/cedarkeys/
28. References
Randolph, J. (2011). Environmental Land Use Planning And Management. (2
ed.). NW, Washington: Island Press.
Campbell, J., & Randolph, W. (2011). Introduction to Remote Sensing. (5 ed.).
New York: A Division of Guilford Publication, Inc.
