Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Northeast Region

Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is starting work on a long-term management plan for Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This plan, called a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP), will serve as a guide for managing the Refuge over the next 15 years.

This planning project offers a unique opportunity for the Service to involve individuals, organizations, and local communities in the future management of the Refuge. The public can play a significant role in the development of this far-reaching plan by submitting comments and participating in public meetings.

Public participation is critical to the success of this planning effort. The first series of public meetings occurred January 15-17, 2002. The Refuge received many comments and suggestions from the public. Throughout this process, there will be several other opportunities for individuals to provide input to the plan.

More information on planning and getting involved...

Why is this planning effort starting now?
In October 1997, Congress passed the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, which states that, first and foremost, the National Wildlife Refuge System must focus on wildlife conservation. This law establishes: (1) the mission of the Refuge System; (2) a new process of determining compatible public use activities on refuges; and (3) requires us to prepare CCP's for each refuge.

Goals of this planning process:

  • Outline Refuge management priorities for the next 10 to 15 years;
  • Describe significant Refuge resources and their importance;
  • Identify how the Refuge can best protect these resources;
  • Clarify what public uses are, and are not, compatible with managing significant resources;
  • Identify the Refuge's role within the local community and as a national resource.

What are Refuges all about?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, part of the Department of the Interior, is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing the nation's fish and wildlife populations and habitats. Refuges also offer a variety of wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities, and may have visitor centers, hiking trails, and environmental education programs.

What activities can be enjoyed at Refuges?
There are laws and policies which guide management of public use on National Wildlife Refuges. Only those public uses which are determined to be compatible with the mission of the Refuge System and the purposes of the Refuge are allowed. The Refuge Improvement Act identified six wildlife dependent public use priority uses:

  • environmental education
  • interpretation
  • wildlife observation
  • wildlife photography
  • hunting
  • fishing

Want to get involved?
We need to know your feelings about the Refuge, your concerns, those things that you are happy with, and your ideas for turning the Refuge's vision into reality. You can do this by filling out The Issues Workbook. Just click on the link below and mail the completed workbook to the Refuge by March 31, 2002.

The Issues Workbook (510k, Adobe Acrobat File)

Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
4005 Sandpiper Rd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23456

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Refuge Headquarters 757/721-2412, or call Thomas Bonetti, the CCP team leader at 413/253 -8307.

Want to find out more?
The Division of Planning for the northeast region aids in creating Comprehensive Conservation Plans for the regions National Wildlife Refuges. Visit them and see whats going on at other refuges: http://northeast.fws.gov/planning.

 

 
Last updated: December 11, 2008