[Federal Register: February 4, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 23)]
[Notices]
[Page 6031-6033]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04fe05-110]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Comprehensive Conservation
Plan/Environmental Assessment for Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge
in Baldwin County, Alabama.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Draft
Comprehensive Conservation Plan/Environmental Assessment for Bon Secour
National Wildlife Refuge is available for review and comment. The
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended
by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997,
requires the Service to develop a comprehensive conservation plan for
each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in developing a
comprehensive conservation plan is to provide refuge managers with a
15-year strategy for achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward
the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with
sound principles of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal
mandates, and Service policies. In addition to outlining broad
management direction on conserving wildlife and their habitats, the
plan identifies wildlife-dependent recreational opportunities available
to the public, including opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife
observation and photography, and environmental education and
interpretation.
Proposed goals for the refuge include:
Identifying, conserving, managing, enhancing, and
restoring populations of native fish and wildlife species
representative of coastal Alabama, with special emphasis on migratory
birds and threatened and endangered species.
Identifying, conserving, managing, enhancing, and
restoring the natural diversity, abundance, and ecological functions of
refuge habitats and associated plant communities, with an emphasis on
managing designated critical habitat for threatened and endangered
species.
Identifying and conserving archaeological and natural
resources on the refuge and promoting conservation through interagency
and private landowner cooperation, partnerships, and land protection
programs on the Fort Morgan Peninsula and coastal Alabama.
Providing the public with quality interpretation, outreach
opportunities, environmental education programs, and recreational
activities that lead to a greater understanding, enjoyment, and
appreciation of fish, wildlife, habitats, and cultural resources of
coastal Alabama.
Compatibility determinations for recreational fishing, wildlife
observation, photography, hiking, environmental education and
interpretation, swimming and beach use, scientific research, dogs on
the beach, and bicycling are included in the draft plan.
Proposed Action
The proposed action is to adopt and implement a comprehensive
conservation plan for the refuge that best achieves the refuge's
purpose, vision, and goals; contributes to the National Wildlife Refuge
System mission; addresses the significant issues and relevant mandates;
and is consistent with principles of sound fish and wildlife
management. The Service analyzed four alternatives for managing the
refuge and chose Alternative D as the one to best achieve all of these
elements.
Alternatives
Alternative A--Represents the status quo; e.g., no changes from
current management of the refuge. Existing refuge management and public
outreach practices would be favored under this alternative. All refuge
management actions would be directed towards achieving the refuge's
primary purposes including: (1) Preserving habitat to ensure the well-
being of nationally threatened and endangered species; (2) conserving
an undisturbed beach/dune ecosystem which includes a diversity of fish,
wildlife, and their habitats; (3) serving as a living laboratory for
scientists and students; and (4) providing wildlife-oriented recreation
for the public.
Refuge management programs would continue to be developed and
implemented with little baseline biological information. Active habitat
management would include beach/dune habitat improvement and
restoration, protection of nesting sea turtles, and prescribed burning
designed to reduce fuel loads. Land would be acquired from willing
sellers within the current acquisition boundary totaling approximately
12,570 acres.
Fishing and wildlife observation would continue to be the major
focuses of the refuge public use program, with no expansion of current
opportunities. Current restrictions or prohibitions would remain. No
new trails would be developed, but the refuge staff would continue to
maintain the existing trails. Environmental education and
interpretation and wildlife photography would be accommodated on a
case-by-case basis. Funding to construct a maintenance facility and to
rehabilitate existing facilities would be requested.
Alternative B--Expands wildlife and habitat management activities,
while maintaining current public use and education. Under this
alternative, the emphasis would be to improve refuge resources for
wildlife, while still maintaining those public use opportunities which
presently exist. Most refuge management actions would be directed
toward preserving, enhancing, restoring, and managing the beach/dune
habitat for the benefit of the Alabama beach mouse and nesting sea
turtles. Prescribed burning would be used to improve habitat for
neotropical migratory birds. Other national, regional, and state goals
to protect and restore forest, grassland, and scrub/shrub bird
populations would be supported secondarily in habitats that are inland
from the beach/dune habitat. Baseline data would be collected,
standardized surveys implemented, and populations monitored.
Additional staff would include a biological technician and a law
enforcement officer to accomplish objectives for establishing baseline
data on refuge resources, managing habitats, and protecting biological
resources.
Under this alternative the refuge would continue to seek lands from
willing sellers within the acquisition boundary. Non-traditional land
protection methods would be developed and employed.
Public uses would include wildlife observation and photography,
limited interpretation, and fishing. Under this alternative, outreach
and environmental education would occur on a sporadic, time-permitting
basis. No evaluation of existing uses would occur. Fishing and wildlife
observation would continue to be the major focus for the public use
program, with no expansion of enhancement of current opportunities. No
new trails would be developed, but the refuge staff would continue to
maintain the existing trails. All new
[[Page 6032]]
funding would support the wildlife and habitat management programs,
with annual maintenance funding to support upkeep of existing public
use facilities. Partnership opportunities would not be feasible, as
full attention would be on managing refuge lands and collecting
biological information. This alternative in no way addresses the
increase in visitation that has occurred in the past 5 years and that
is predicted to continue.
Alternative C--Maintains current wildlife and habitat management
activities, while expanding public use and education. This approach
would maintain the current wildlife and habitat management activities
while allowing for significantly more public recreational uses.
Additional staff needed to implement this alternative includes an
outdoor recreation planner, a law enforcement officer, and a seasonal
maintenance worker. Trails, parking lots, and interpretive signage
would be constructed in every refuge unit, along with added
environmental education and watchable wildlife programs. Additional
staff would be used for developing and presenting both on- and off-site
outreach and interpretation programs. A user fee and permit system
would be implemented for fishing and beach use. A visitor center and
headquarters office would be constructed on the refuge and would
include an environmental education classroom and meeting facilities.
Land acquisition within the current acquisition boundary would
continue with emphasis on those lands that can provide additional
public use opportunities and beach access.
Sporadic beach mouse live-trapping and monitoring of sea turtle
nests on refuge beaches would continue. No new surveys on migratory
songbirds, breeding songbirds, shorebirds and marshbirds, and wintering
shorebirds would occur. Baseline data on herpetofauna would not be
collected. Only dune restoration habitat projects would occur.
Grassland and scrub/shrub habitat would not be restored and managed and
prescribed fire would continue to focus on fuel reduction versus
enhancing bird habitats. All new partnerships would be related to
visitor services, public outreach, and environmental education.
Alternative D--Expands wildlife and habitat management activities,
while optimizing public use and involvement. The Service planning team
has identified Alternative D as the preferred alternative. This
alternative was developed based on public input and the best judgment
of the planning team. The strategies presented in the draft plan were
developed as a direct result of the selection of Alternative D.
This alternative would promote a greater understanding and
protection of fish, wildlife, and their habitats, and higher quality,
balanced recreational opportunities for visitors. Fishing would
continue with greater emphasis on the quality of the experience.
Education and interpretation would be promoted through regular programs
and partnerships with local schools. Wildlife observation and
photography opportunities would be expanded, including a kayak trail
and observation towers, highlighting refuge management programs and
unique wildlife habitats. A user fee and permit would be implemented to
facilitate night fishing at Mobile Point. A visitor center and
headquarters office would be constructed on the refuge with space for
interpretation, environmental education, and staff.
Research studies on the refuge would be fostered and partnerships
developed with other agencies and universities to provide needed
resources and experiment sites, while meeting the needs of the refuge's
wildlife and habitat management programs. Research would also benefit
conservation efforts throughout the Central Gulf Coast to preserve,
enhance, restore, and manage coastal barrier island habitat. New
surveys on birds, reptiles, and amphibians would be initiated to
develop baseline information.
Additional staff would include both biological and outreach
personnel. A biological technician, outdoor recreation planner,
seasonal maintenance worker, and full-time law enforcement officer
would be added to accomplish objectives for establishing baseline data
on refuge resources, managing habitats, providing opportunities and
facilities for wildlife observation and photography, providing
educational programs that promote a greater understanding of refuge
resources, and protecting natural and cultural resources and refuge
visitors.
Under this alternative, the refuge would continue to seek
acquisition of all lands within the present acquisition boundary. Lands
acquired as part of the refuge would be made available for compatible
wildlife-dependent public recreation and environmental education
opportunities, where appropriate. Pristine lands that provide high
quality habitat and connectivity to existing refuge lands would be
priority acquisitions. Equally important acquisition tools to be used
include: transfer lands, partnerships with conservation organizations,
conservation easements with adjacent landowners, and leases/cooperative
agreements with state agencies.
Actions Common to All Alternatives
All three alternatives share the following management concepts and
techniques for achieving the goals of the refuge:
Restoring native habitats;
Establishing, maintaining, and improving partnerships with
landowners and local, state, and federal agencies and organizations;
Coordinating management actions with local and state land
and resource management agencies;
Monitoring Alabama beach mouse populations and sea turtle
nesting in partnership with others;
Removing non-native invasive plants;
Encouraging scientific research on the refuge; and
Continuing land acquisition within the refuge boundary.
DATES: A meeting will be held at the Gulf Shores Adult Activities
Center to present the plan to the public. Mailings, newspaper articles,
and postings on the refuge Web site will be the avenues to inform the
public of the date and time for this meeting. Individuals wishing to
comment on the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan/Environmental
Assessment for Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge should do so within
30 days following the date of this notice. Public comments were
requested, considered, and incorporated throughout the planning process
in numerous ways. Public outreach has included public scoping meetings,
technical workgroups, planning updates, and a Federal Register notice.
ADDRESSES: Requests for copies of the Draft Comprehensive Conservation
Plan/Environmental Assessment should be addressed to Robert Cail,
Refuge Manager, Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, 12295 State
Highway 180, Gulf Shores, Alabama 36542. Comments on the draft may be
submitted to the above address or via electronic mail to
bonsecour@fws.gov. Please include your name and return address in your
Internet message. Our practice is to make comments, including names and
home addresses of respondents, available for public review during
regular business hours. Individual respondents may request that we
withhold their home addresses from the record, which we will honor to
the extent allowable by law.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge is
located on the Gulf Coast of Alabama, 8 miles west of the city of Gulf
Shores,
[[Page 6033]]
Alabama, in Baldwin and Mobile Counties. The refuge is divided into
five separate management units along the Fort Morgan Peninsula and
Little Dauphin Island. Although the refuge was established in 1980, to
date, only 6,978 acres have been acquired within the acquisition
boundary totaling approximately 12,570 acres, including the 575 acres
leased from the State of Alabama. The Service has management
jurisdiction along the shoreline above mean high tide except on Little
Dauphin Island, which contains 560 acres of submerged bottoms. The
potential wildlife habitat values of beach/dune, maritime forest, and
estuarine habitats provided the impetus to purchase the properties.
Management efforts since 1985 have emphasized acquiring land,
securing staff to operate the refuge, and initiating conservation
programs that benefit endangered wildlife species. However, Service
acquisition of key properties, such as inholdings and beach/dune
habitat, may not be realized within the 15-year planning period due to
budget constraints and landowner preferences. The five units within the
acquisition boundary have a significant ``edge,'' which contributes to
the predation of birds, sea turtles, and beach mice. Edge effect is the
tendency of a transitional zone between communities to support more
species and higher population densities than any of the surrounding
communities.
Current conservation management projects for the refuge include:
recruiting and training staff and improving existing facilities;
managing habitats to reduce the threats and problems associated with
species of concern; acquiring land to complete refuge boundaries;
assisting in sea turtle and Alabama beach mouse recovery; and defining
research within the beach/dune area and involving partners and
volunteers to accomplish this research.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Cail, Refuge Manager, Bon
Secour National Wildlife Refuge, telephone: 251/540-7720; fax: 251/540-
7301, or mail (write to Refuge Manager at address in ADDRESSES
section).
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Pub. L.
105-57.
Dated: January 6, 2005.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 05-2182 Filed 2-3-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-M