Where in the Plan Are We?
These are the steps that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service follows in comprehensive conservation planning; the step that Big Muddy NWR has reached is highlighted:
- Preplanning: Plan the Plan
- Initiate Public Involvement and Scoping
- Review Vision Statement and Goals and Determine Significant Issues
- Develop and Analyze Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action
- Prepare a Draft CCP and NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) Document
- Prepare and Adopt Final CCP
- Implement Plan, Monitor and Evaluate
- Review and Revise the Plan
Big Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Comprehensive Conservation Plan Under Way
Two Public Listening Meetings Held in
January
See Comments from December Public Listening
Meetings
Next Steps
The Refuge
For More Information
Comprehensive Conservation Plan Under Way
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is preparing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan, or CCP, that will guide management of Big Muddy NFWR for the next 15 years. Planning ensures that the Refuge is managed in a way that fulfills its own purposes and fulfills the mission and purpose of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Planning is expected to take 3 years. Public involvement is a key element in comprehensive conservation planning, and there will be opportunities for neighbors, local communities, and everyone interested in the management of Big Muddy NFWR to participate in the planning process.
Two Public Listening Meetings Held in January
The final two public listening meetings were held on January 14, 2008, in Richmond and on January 15, 2008, in Waverly. Thirteen people attended the Richmond meeting and no written comments were submitted that evening. Seventeen people attended the Waverly meeting and no written comments were received.
Handouts describing comprehensive conservation planning, a draft vision for the Refuge, draft Refuge goals, and other information were available at all of the public listening meetings. The handout is available here (220 KB) in portable document format (pdf). To view a pdf you need Acrobat Reader software, which is available as a free download from Adobe.
See Comments From the December Public Listening Meetings
Summaries of the written comments received in the public listening meetings are provided here in portable document format (pdf).
December 3 in Columbia: The meeting was held at the Richard A. Shoettger Conference Building. See a summary of the comments received at the meeting. (15 KB pdf file)
December 4 in Linn: The meeting was held at St. George Church. See a summary of the comments received at the meeting. (14 KB pdf file)
December 5 in Fayette: The meeting was held at the Commercial Trust Bank. See a summary of the comments received at the meeting. (13 KB pdf file)
December 6 in Arrow Rock: The meeting was held at Arrow Rock State Historic Site Museum. See a summary of the comments received at the meeting.
December 12 in Chesterfield: The meeting was held at Chesterfield City Hall. See a summary of the comments received at the meeting.
Next Steps
After hearing from people at the public listening meetings, Refuge staff are now listing the significant issues that will be addressed in the CCP, reviewing the Refuge's vision statement, and reviewing Refuge goals. Staff will also be developing potential management alternatives. Once alternatives have been developed, staff will prepare an environmental assessment that evaluates how well each alternative addresses the issues.
The Refuge
Big Muddy NFWR consists of more than 10,000 acres of land along the Missouri River between Kansas City and St. Louis, Missouri. The Refuge was created in 1994 for the development, advancement, management, conservation and protection of fish and wildlife resources. The Refuge's authorized boundary includes up to 60,000 acres of floodplains and adjacent lands on the lower Missouri River.
The Refuge consists of several units that are named for towns that once flourished, pioneers, or landmarks along the Missouri River.
For More Information
For more information on the Big Muddy NFWR planning process, please send a note either via e-mail or through the mail, or call Refuge Manager Tom Bell at:
Telephone:
Toll-free: 800-611-1826
573/876-1826
TTY: 1-800-877-8339 (Federal Relay)
Address:
Big Muddy NFWR
Attention: CCP Comment
4200 New Haven Road
Columbia, MO 65201
