Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Planning
Frequently Asked Questions
We are delighted that folks are interested in the Refuge’s CCP.
During the planning process, the recreational activities that you
enjoy now will continue. However, changes may be implemented following
the completion and implementation of the approved CCP. The CCP is
scheduled to be completed in Winter 2013-14. Please see the refuge
brochure for more information on current management and recreation
at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge.
We will conduct the CCP planning process in an open, inclusive,
and transparent manner. Comments received on the draft CCP are currently
being considered. To provide more information about the CCP process,
we offer you…
“The Most Frequently Asked Questions
about the Refuge and the CCP”
1. How can I find out more about the draft CCP and
what changes are proposed?
2. How can I provide my comments?
3. How can I stay informed about the CCP process
4. What have you heard in previous public comment
periods?
5. What is the purpose of Deer Flat
National Wildlife Refuge?
6. What happens during the CCP planning
and public involvement process?
7. What are the National Wildlife Refuge System’s
policies regarding recreational uses?
1) How can I find out more about
the draft CCP and what changes are proposed?
Review Planning Update
5 (or the translation en espanol)
which summarizes the alternatives proposed in the draft CCP/EIS
or read the entire draft. Both the Planning Update and the draft
CCP/EIS can be downloaded
here. The Draft comment period ended May 15, 2013.
View this video
(file larger than 500
kb) providing an overview of the CCP process and the draft
preferred alternative.
Return to list of Frequently Asked Questions
2) How can I provide my comments?
The third and final comment period during this planning process,
to submit comments on the Draft CCP/EIS, ended on May 15, 2013.
We will use ideas from these comments to develop the final CCP/EIS.
Responses to comments received on the draft CCP/EIS will be included
in the final CCP/EIS, which is expected to be released in fall or
winter of 2013.
The first round of Public Scoping, which provided the first opportunity
for public comment in this process, ended September 10, 2010. We
received over 800 comments during that period. The second round
of scoping outreach, providing opportunities to comment on Preliminary
Draft Alternatives, ended July 29, 2011. We received over 200 comments
during that period. We used ideas from those comment periods, as
well as best available science, to develop the draft CCPEIS. Appendix
H of the draft CCP/EIS summarizes public input during the first
and second rounds of public scoping in 2010 and 2011.
3) How can I stay informed about
the CCP process.
Call (208-467-9278) or email
to be added to the CCP mailing list and receive future Planning
Updates to keep you informed about the planning process.
Return to list of Frequently Asked Questions
4) What have you heard in previous
public comment periods?
Appendix H
of the draft CCP/EIS summarizes public input during the first round
of public scoping in 2010 and the second round of public scoping
(providing opportunities to comment on Preliminary Draft Alternatives)
in 2011. We used ideas from those comments, as well as best available
science, to develop the draft CCP/EIS. Responses to comments received
during the 2013 comment period on the draft CCP/EIS will be included
in the final CCP/EIS, which is expected to be released in fall or
winter of 2013.
5) What is the purpose of Deer Flat
National Wildlife Refuge?
Deer Flat Refuge was established by President Theodore Roosevelt
in 1909 and is one
of the oldest refuges in the National
Wildlife Refuge System. The Refuge currently manages more than
200 native bird species including geese, swans, pelicans, songbirds,
ducks, shorebirds, eagles, falcons, hawks and owls; and over 30
mammals, including mule deer, coyote, red fox, gophers, marmot,
badger, rabbits, and beaver. The Refuge encompasses two units—the
Lake Lowell Unit and the Snake River Islands Unit—these units include
riparian forest, shrub steppe, open water, freshwater marsh, and
cropland habitats.
The designated purposes of Deer Flat NWR are:
- Serve as a refuge and breeding grounds for migratory birds and
other wildlife.
- For use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management
purpose, for migratory birds.
- Suitable for incidental fish and wildlife-oriented recreational
development, the protection of natural resources, and the conservation
of endangered species or threatened species.
Return to list of Frequently Asked Questions
6) What happens during the CCP planning
and public involvement process?
The CCP planning and public involvement process is shown in the
diagram below. We are currently at step 7. If you would like more
in-depth information about the Comprehensive Conservation Planning
process, see 602
FW3 . If you would like to review the Planning Update that provides
information about this stage of the process, click
here or contact us
(208-467-9278) to request a copy. You can also contact
us (208-467-9278) to be added to the mailing list to receive
future planning updates that will keep you informed about the planning
process.
Return to list of Frequently Asked Questions
7) What are the National Wildlife
Refuge System’s policies regarding recreational uses?
Two of the primary policies guiding recreational uses on a refuge
are appropriateness and compatibility.
Our Appropriate
Refuge Uses Policy states: Recreational activities which are
dependent on wildlife, known as the Big Six priority public uses—fishing,
hunting, wildlife photography, wildlife observation, environmental
education, and wildlife interpretation—are automatically considered
to be appropriate activities on a national wildlife refuge, whereas
other uses are not.
Generally, to be considered appropriate, uses other than the Big
Six priority uses must, among other considerations, contribute to
the public’s understanding and appreciation of the refuge’s natural
or cultural resources or be beneficial to the refuge’s natural or
cultural resources. They also must not impair existing wildlife-dependent
recreational uses or reduce the potential to provide quality, compatible,
wildlife-dependent recreation into the future.
According to our Compatibility
Policy, once a recreational activity is determined to be appropriate,
it must be evaluated for compatibility. To be compatible, a recreational
use must not materially interfere with or detract from the purpose
of the Refuge or the National Wildlife Refuge System mission.
The general policy on Wildlife-Dependent
Recreation also provides general guidance on Refuge recreation
programs.
Return to list of Frequently Asked Questions
Return to main Refuge Planning page
