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 the Great Lakes Islands National Wildlife Refuges have 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
Great Lakes Islands National Wildlife Refuges
Comprehensive Conservation Planning Begins!Activity So Far
Next Steps
The Refuges
For More Information
Comprehensive Conservation Planning Begins!
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is launching a comprehensive conservation planning effort for the Great Lakes Islands, which include several island refuges in Lake Superior, Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.
Comprehensive conservation planning will set wildlife, habitat and public use priorities and guide management decisions on the Refuges for the next 15 years. All aspects of island Refuge management will be addressed, including fish and wildlife habitat, public use, and current management activities.
Because they face similar resource and public use issues, the Service will develop a single comprehensive conservation plan for the five refuges.
Activity So Far
Public involvement is a key element in refuge planning. The people who live near refuges, American Indian tribes, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, local government officials and people who care about habitat and wildlife conservation all have unique and important perspectives that must be considered in planning.
In an effort to gather these perspectives, the Service hosted open house events in communities around the refuges during the summer of 2009. Open houses were held as follows:
- Lake Michigan / Gravel Island NWR and Green Bay NWR (Gravel, Hog, Pilot, Plum and Spider Islands): Open house events were held at Washington Island, Wisconsin, on June 17 and at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin on June 18. See the Handout
- Lake Huron / Michigan Islands NWR (Big Charity, Little Charity, Scarecrow, and Thunder Bay Islands): An open house was held at Alpena, Michigan, on July 7, at Au Gres, Michigan on July 8, and at Caseville, Michigan on July 9. See the Handout
- Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior / Harbor Island NWR, Huron NWR, and portions of Michigan Islands NWR (Hat, Shoe, Pismire, and Gull Islands): Open house events were held at L'Anse, Michigan on July 20, at Beaver Island, Michigan, on July 22, and at Drummond Island, Michigan on July 23. See the Handout
Next Steps
Gathering information, finalizing a list of issues to address, and beginning work on an environmental assessment will be the focus of planning activities for the next several months.
The Refuges
Specifically, the Great Lakes refuges include:
Lake Superior
- Huron NWR, Marquette County, Michigan: The Refuge's eight islands comprise just 147 acres, but they were designated a Wilderness Area due to their remote location and primitive quality. The Refuge is managed by staff at Seney NWR in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It was established for the protection of migratory birds, specifically a large nesting colony of Herring Gulls.
Lake Huron
- Harbor Island NWR, Chippewa County, Michigan: Located just off the northwest shore of Drummond Island in Potagannissing Bay, the 695-acre Refuge has a variety of habitat and wildlife. The Refuge is managed by staff at Seney NWR.
- A portion of Michigan Islands NWR that includes four islands in Arenac and Alpena Counties in Michigan: The four islands include Big Charity, Little Charity, Scarecrow and Thunder Bay. This portion of the Refuge is managed by Shiawassee NWR, which is located near Saginaw, Michigan. The islands provide habitat for migratory birds and colonial nesting birds. The federally-listed threatened dwarf lake iris and Pitcher's thistle are found on the islands.
Lake Michigan
- Gravel Island NWR, Door County, Wisconsin: The Refuge includes Gravel Island (4 acres) and Spider Island (23 acres). The islands are located about 1 mile east of the northern tip of the Door County Peninsula in Wisconsin. The islands were set aside by an Executive Order in 1915 as a preserve and breeding ground for native birds.
- Green Bay NWR, Door County, Wisconsin: The Refuge includes Hog Island (2 acres), Plum Island (325 acres) and Pilot Island (3.7 acres). The islands are located off the tip of Wisconsin's Door Peninsula. The Refuge is managed by staff at Horicon NWR in Mayville, Wisconsin.
- A portion of Michigan Islands NWR that includes four islands in Charlevoix County, Michigan: This portion of the Refuge includes Gull, Hat, Pismire and Shoe islands and is managed by Seney NWR.
For More Information
For more information on the Great Lakes Islands Refuges comprehensive conservation planning effort, please e-mail, write or call Gary Muehlenhardt of the Division of Conservation Planning, Midwest Region, at 612/713-5477.
Gary Muehlenhardt
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Division of Conservation Planning, Room 530
BHW Federal Building
1 Federal Drive
Ft. Snelling, MN 55111
People with hearing impairments are invited to use the Federal Information Relay System: 1-800-877-8339
