Anne
Morkill
Refuge Manager
(Managed as a Satellite of
National Key Deer Refuge)
179 Key Deer Blvd.,
Big Pine Key Plaza
Big Pine Key, FL 33043-0510
(305) 872-2239
FAX: (305) 872-2154
E-mail: keydeer@fws.gov
Directions
to Refuge
Fact
Sheet
Friends
Group
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 Refuge
Facts:
- Established: 1938.
- Acres: 123,980 owned (1,900
are designated Wilderness), 186,287 acres of marine waters managed
with the state of Florida.
- Located in Monroe County,
FL.
- The uplands portion of GWHNWR
are all on unpopulated islands, on the north side of the lower Florida
Keys bordering the Gulf of Mexico, in an area called “the Backcountry.”
It stretches from north of Marathon (90 miles SW of Miami) to north
of Key West, FL (130 miles SW of Miami).
- Accessible only by boat.
- Administered by National
Key Deer Refuge.
Natural History:
- Refuge includes mostly mangrove
islands and wetlands, with a few sandy beaches and dunes that are critical
nesting habitat for endangered sea turtles.
- Refuge, along with the Key
West NWR, represents the last of the off-shore (and raccoon free) islands
in the Lower Florida Keys available as critical nesting, roosting, wading,
and loafing habitat for over 250 avian species — particularily wading
birds.
- The area managed is overwhelmingly
(96 percent) marine environment including large sand flats surrounding
the islands that are used extensively by foraging wading birds, significant
seagrass meadows, patch coral reefs, and coastal mangrove communities.
Financial Impact
of Refuge:
- Refuge has no dedicated
personnel. It is managed as a satellite of NKDR.
- Analyses of generated income
for the Florida Keys Refuges only take into account the number of people
that visit the headquarters on Big Pine Key — a fraction of the people
that cross into the boundaries of all four refuges. Current estimate
is: resident and non-resident visitors generated $2.1 million in expenditures
in FY 94.
- No quantitive data is available
for public use on the refuge. It is estimated that 12,000 people use
the managed waters of the GWHNWR each year.
Refuge Objectives:
- To manage as a refuge and
breeding ground for great white herons, other migratory birds and other
wildlife.
- To manage as an inviolate
sanctuary, or other management purpose, for migratory birds.
- Provide habitat and protection
for endangered and threatened fish, wildlife, plants, and migratory
birds.
- Protect the character of
the designated wilderness.
- Provide opportunities for
environmental education and public viewing of refuge wildlife and habitats.
Management Tools:
- Mechanical and chemical
control of invasive exotic plants.
- Interpretation/education.
- Routine wildlife monitoring.
- Law enforcement.
- Partnerships.
Public Use Opportunities
- Fishing.
- Wildlife observation.
- Photography.
- Environmental education.
Calendar of Events
April: Volunteer
Recognition Ceremony, National Wildlife Week.
May: Migratory Bird
Day.
October: National
Wildlife Refuge Week, refuge birthday.
Questions and Answers:
Where is the GWHNWR?
The refuge consists
of a 300 square mile area of water and unpopulated islands that lie on
the north side of the main chain of the Lower Florida Keys, between Marathon
and Key West. Additional refuge lands are found on the main chain of Lower
Keys.
How do I get to the GWHNWR?
There are no bridges
to the offshore islands. Access to most of the refuge is by boat only—personal,
rental or guided. The refuge’s establishing authority prohibits access
to most back ountry island,s although some refuge managed and state owned/
refuge managed islands are open for public access during daylight hours.
Camping is not permitted on the islands. Also, the refuge manages lands
on Upper Sugarloaf and Lower Sugarloaf Keys and can be driven to. Access
onto the refuge lands is by foot on old access roads.
What islands are open for public
use? All
of the refuge managed islands within the GWHNWR are closed in accordance
with the Executive Order that established it in 1938. There are some state-owned
lands that are managed by the FWS where public use is allowed during daylight
hours.
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