Contacts
Margaret Anderson (218) 449-4115 ext. 210
Margaret_Anderson@fws.gov
Scott Flaherty, 612-713-5309
Scott_Flaherty@fws.gov
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) is seeking public input on its plans for Agassiz
National Wildlife Refuge during an open house Dec. 5, at the
Heritage Center (301 4th St. East) in Thief River Falls, Minn.
Interested members of the public will be asked to comment on the
Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) currently being developed
for Agassiz NWR, located in Marshall County, in northwest
Minnesota.
The open house is set for 5-9 p.m., with a
formal presentation on the planning process at 7 p.m. Citizens
may stop by any time during the open house to submit comments to
refuge staff. The CCP will set wildlife, habitat, and public use
priorities and guide management decisions on the Refuge for the
next 15 years. The open house will give interested members of the
public, tribes, agencies, neighbors, public interest groups, and
local governments an opportunity to participate in this Refuge
planning process from the very beginning. The Service is
interested in obtaining the public's ideas on management of the
refuge so they can be addressed in the planning process.
"We want to hear the public's ideas on
management of Agassiz refuge," said Margaret Anderson,
refuge manager. "I hope everyone who is interested will
attend and share their perspectives. This open house provides a
forum for public involvement in planning for future management of
the Refuge. It's an opportunity to identify areas of improvement,
issues, or express support of on-going management. These comments
will form the basis for management alternatives to be evaluated
in the planning process." Anderson said.
The 7 p.m., presentation on the planning
and environmental compliance processes will be given by a
representative of the Mangi Environmental Group, a consulting
firm that is assisting the Service in preparing the CCP and its
associated Environmental Assessment (EA). Immediately after the
presentation, attendees will be given the opportunity to express
their thoughts and ideas on Refuge management. In addition,
comment forms will be made available so that written comments can
be submitted at the meeting or mailed in to the Refuge later.
All aspects of the Refuge will be addressed
by the CCP, including important fish and wildlife habitats,
public use and facilities potential, and existing habitat
management. By law, six wildlife-dependent recreational uses
receive a priority on National Wildlife Refuges: fishing,
hunting, wildlife observation and photography, environmental
education and interpretation.
Agassiz NWR, originally called Mud Lake
Refuge, was established by Executive Order No. 7583 in 1937.
Established primarily for migratory birds, it is the northernmost
refuge in the Mississippi River flyway. The 61,500 acre refuge
offers a haven for many wildlife species including 280 species of
birds (half of them nesting on the Refuge), 49 species of
mammals, 12 species of amphibians and 9 species of reptiles.
Because of this rich diversity of wildlife and easy viewing
opportunities, Agassiz has been listed as one of the top 100
places to view wildlife in the lower 48 states. Agassiz supports
a resident moose herd and until recently was the only national
wildlife refuge in the lower 48 states to support a resident wolf
population. A 4,000-acre designated wilderness area contains the
northwestern most stand of black spruce/tamarac bog habitat in
Minnesota.
If someone cannot attend the open house and
would like to submit written comments, they can be sent to
Margaret Anderson, Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, 22996 290th
St. NE, Middle River, MN 56737-9754. Comments may also be sent
through the Service's Planning website at http://midwest.fws.gov/planning/agassiz.htm . For more information, or to be placed on a
mailing list, write to the address above, telephone (218)
449-4115 x 213, or e-mail Margaret_Anderson@fws.gov
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the
principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting,
and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the
continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages
the 95 million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which
encompasses nearly 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of
small wetlands and other special management areas. It also
operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices
and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces
Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act,
manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally
significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat
such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their
conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program
that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes
on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife
agencies.
For further information about programs and
activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great
Lakes-Big Rivers Region, visit our website at http://midwest.fws.gov
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