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The frequency of water level drawdowns would be determined by using growing season vegetation surveys to track plant and invertebrate community health. Key factors in developing alternative water level depths, duration, and frequency would be the need to account for species’ annual cycles, wildlife use, and vegetation disturbance activities. Annual monitoring results would be incorporated into annual water management plans, including planning to not adjust water levels, based upon Adaptive Management principles. Water Quality. In addition to water levels, water quality is a key component of wildlife habitat. Water quality affects the character and composition of invertebrate communities at the base of the food chain. Of the constituents normally monitored in surface waters, nutrients, sediment and chlorides are of particular interest in Round Lake. Nutrients and sediments have the potential to affect water clarity and oxygen levels. Water clarity is key to light penetration and growth of submergent plants, which in turn provide habitat for invertebrate and food for waterfowl. Chlorides and oxygen levels can dramatically alter invertebrate communities. As with other Refuge Units, we will monitor water quality parameters, including results of sampling conducted by other agencies such as MPCA.We would continue to actively work with regulatory agencies and units of local government to identify non-TCAAP sources of water quality degradation, such as road improvement projects, that adversely affect the water quality in Round Lake and prevent its degradation. The sediments of the Round Lake basin have elevated concentrations of heavy metals and PCBs (MPCA 1981). The origin of these contaminants was the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant, which during World War II allowed industrial pollutants to enter area surface waters and consequently, some of these contaminants found their way into Round Lake. Ongoing investigations by the U.S. Army in cooperation with Service staff and several other agencies have determined that these contaminants threaten the biological communities of this area.This aspect of Round Lake is an overriding factor currentlyreducing thebiological integrity and limiting the public use of the Round Lake Unit. We will continue to work with Army, the US Environmental Protection Agency, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to remedy this threat to the biotic community of Round Lake and public use of the Round Lake Unit of Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. We alsowillpartner with these agencies to monitor the Lake’s recovery and suitability for public use. Upland Habitats.The majority of the upland on the Unit is contained within a relatively narrow zone of vegetation that rings the wetland area. These uplandssupport a mixture of trees and shrubs.Although upland habitats occupy only about29acres of the154acreRound Lake Unit, they are important to the Unit in several ways. Ecologically, they provide an area that buffers the runoff from surrounding residential and light industrial developmentbefore it reaches Round Lake.These habitats also providenesting habitat for migratory songbirds, raptors,and cavity nesting birds, including some waterfowl such as wood ducks and hooded mergansers. Thereis a documented bald eagle nest currently on the Unit. 8/6/2013 14 USFWS RLMP