Purposes of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Why Refuge Purposes are Important The purpose for which a Refuge was established or acquired is of key importance in Refuge planning. Purposes must form the foundation for planning and management decisions. By law, Refuges are to be managed so as to achieve their purposes. When a conflict exists between the System mission and the purpose of an individual refuge, the refuge purpose may supersede the System mission. Refuge purposes are the driving force in the development of the refuge vision statements, goals, objectives, and strategies in the CCP and are critical to determining the compatibility of all existing and proposed refuge uses. Where Do Refuge Purposes Come From? The purposes of a refuge are specified in or derived from the law, proclamation, executive order, agreement, public land order, donation document, or administrative memorandum establishing, authorizing, or expanding a refuge, refuge unit, or refuge subunit. What if there are Multiple Purposes? Unless the establishing law, order, or other document indicates otherwise, purposes dealing with the conservation, management, and restoration of fish, wildlife, and plants, and the habitats on which they depend take precedence over other purposes in the management and administration of any unit. Where a refuge has multiple purposes related to fish, wildlife, and plant conservation, the more specific purpose will take precedence in instances of conflict. When an additional unit is acquired under an authority different from the authority used to establish the original unit, the addition takes on the purpose(s) of the original unit, but the original unit does not take on the purpose(s) of the newer addition. Purposes for the Malheur Refuge: Malheur, Mud and Harney Lakes 81,786 acres were set aside in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt’s Executive Order No. 929 “as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds.” An August 12, 1908 to the President from the Secretary of the Interior stated that the purpose and intent was to preserve the habitat values of the three lakes for migratory waterfowl, and especially, the colonial nesting species. In 1932 additional public domain lands were withdrawn by President Herbert Hoover using Executive Order No. 5891 for addition to the refuge for “migratory bird refuge purposes.” Additional public domain lands were withdrawn in 1933 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt under Executive Order No. 6152 west of Harney Lake and in the Silver Lake area west of the Double-O for “migratory bird refuge “purposes”. Blitzen Valley In 1935 64,717 acres were acquired from the Eastern Oregon Land and Livestock Company under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Executive Order No. 7106. The order specified that the lands were for use “as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife.” Double-O 14,517 acres were purchased from the William Hanley Company in 1941 under authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission Act of 1929 which established the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission to approve areas of land or water recommended by the Secretary of the Interior for acquisition as “reservations for migratory birds”.
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Last updated:
July 1, 2009
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