Contacts
Doug Spencer (989)777-5930 ext. 2
Email: doug_spencer@fws.gov
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) is inviting the public to participate in the planning
for the recently established Detroit River International Wildlife
Refuge. The Service announced today that it is preparing a
Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the refuge, located in Wayne
and Monroe counties, Mich. The Comprehensive Conservation Plan
will determine fish and wildlife habitat protection priorities
and guide management decisions for the next 15 years.
The Detroit River International Wildlife
Refuge was established by Public Law 107-91 on Dec. 21, 2002. The
refuge is the first international refuge in North America, and
will conserve, protect and restore habitat for 29 species of
waterfowl, 65 kinds of fish and 300 species of migratory birds
along the lower Detroit River in Michigan and Canada. The Detroit
River has also been recognized as both an American and Canadian
Heritage River; the first such international designation in North
America. The authorized refuge boundary includes islands, coastal
wetlands, marshes, shoals and river front lands along 18 miles of
the lower Detroit River.
The Service will host two open houses to
give the public an opportunity to participate in the planning
process. The open houses will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on
Wednesday, June 19, at the Copeland Recreation Center, 2306
Fourth Street (Fourth and Mulberry Street), Wyandotte, Mich., and
4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2002 at the Monroe City Hall,
120 East First Street, Monroe, Mich. Interested citizens may stop
by any time during these hours and stay as long as they wish.
"We want to hear what people have to
say about the refuge," said Doug Spencer, refuge manager,
"I hope everyone with an interest in the area will attend
and share their thoughts and ideas. The open houses will also
provide an opportunity for us to answer questions and for the
public to learn more about the refuge and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service."
All aspects of the refuge and its programs
will be addressed by the plan, 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.
If someone cannot attend an open house and
would like to submit written comments, they can be sent to Doug
Spencer at the refuge's temporary headquarters at the Shiawassee
National Wildlife Refuge, 6975 Mower Road, Saginaw, MI
48606-9783. Comments may also be sent through the Service's
planning website at http://midwest.fws.gov/planning/detroitrivertop.htm
For more information, or to be placed on a
mailing list, write to the address above or telephone (989)
777-5930, ext. 2 or e-mail doug_spencer@fws.gov .
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the
principle Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting,
and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants 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 service 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 more information about the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes - Big Rivers Region, visit
our home page at http://midwest.fws.gov
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