Rookery Island Management Plan

Padre Island National Seashore » Rookery Island Management Plan » Document List

In response to the continued decline of colonial waterbird populations, the National Park Service (NPS) is proposing to develop a management plan for the dredge spoil islands and two natural islands occurring within the Padre Island National Seashore (PAIS) boundary of the Laguna Madre in Texas. In accordance with the Organic Act of 1916 and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, the proposed plan intends to introduce active conservation management techniques benefitting nesting colonial waterbirds. Project goals aim to: 1) protect PAIS natural resources while maintaining or enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities; 2) protect and assist recovery of various colonial waterbird species utilizing the islands for nesting, roosting, and loafing habitat; 3) mitigate erosion and marine debris accumulation; and 4) reduce the impairment of native ecosystems from exotic vegetation. Management techniques may include a variety of approaches including improved methods of shoreline, predator, pest, and vegetation management.

An Environmental Assessment (EA) will be prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to provide the decision-making framework that: 1) analyzes a reasonable range of alternatives to meet project objectives, 2) evaluates issues and impacts to national seashore resources and values, and 3) identifies mitigation measures to lessen the degree or extent of these impacts.


Contact Information

Jim Lindsay
361-949-8173 ext: 223
James_Lindsay@nps.gov