[Federal Register: June 23, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 120)]
[Notices]
[Page 35829-35831]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr23jn10-116]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2010-N084; 10137-1265-0000]
Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Oxford Slough Waterfowl
Production Area, ID
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan
and Environmental Assessment; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
prepare a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and associated National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents for Bear Lake National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR, Refuge), 7 miles south of Montpelier, Idaho, the
Refuge-managed Thomas Fork Unit (Unit) in Montpelier, and the Oxford
Slough Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) in Oxford, Idaho. We are
providing this notice in compliance with our CCP policy to advise other
Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the public of our intentions
and to obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues to
consider in the planning process.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by July 23, 2010. We will announce opportunities for public input in
local news media throughout the CCP planning process.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any
of the following methods:
[[Page 35830]]
E-mail: annette_deknijf@fws.gov. Include ``Bear Lake CCP EA'' in
the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Annette de Knijf, 208-847-1319.
U.S. Mail: Bear Lake NWR, Box 9, Montpelier, ID 83254.
In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments during regular
business hours at Refuge Headquarters at 370 Webster St., Montpelier,
ID.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Annette de Knijf, 208-847-1757.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we initiate our process for developing a CCP for
the Bear Lake NWR in Bear Lake County, and Oxford Slough WPA in
Franklin and Bannock Counties, Idaho. This notice complies with our CCP
policy to (1) Advise other Federal and State agencies, Tribes, and the
public of our intention to conduct detailed planning on this Refuge and
WPA, and (2) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues
to consider in the environmental document and during development of the
CCP.
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), as amended by the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires us to develop
a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose for developing a
CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan 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 our policies. In
addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife
and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-dependent recreational
opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and
environmental education and interpretation. We will review and update
the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Administration
Act.
Each unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System was established
for specific purposes. We use these purposes as the foundation for
developing and prioritizing the management of goals and objectives for
each refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge System mission, and to
determine how the public can use each refuge. The planning process is a
way for us and the public to evaluate management goals and objectives
for the best possible conservation approach to this important wildlife
habitat, while providing for wildlife-dependent recreational
opportunities that are compatible with each refuge's establishing
purposes and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Our CCP process provides participation opportunities for Tribal,
State, and local governments; agencies; organizations; and the public.
At this time we encourage input in the form of issues, concerns, ideas,
and suggestions for the future management of Bear Lake NWR and Oxford
Slough WPA.
We will conduct the Environmental Assessment (EA) of this project
in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.); NEPA
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); other appropriate Federal laws
and regulations; and our policies and procedures for compliance with
those laws and regulations.
Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Bear Lake NWR was established in 1968 and is located in Bear Lake
County, near the community of Montpelier, in southeast Idaho. The
Refuge lies in Bear Lake Valley at approximately 5,925 feet in
elevation in the historic location of the Dingle Swamp. The Thomas Fork
Unit is a 1015-acre tract of land managed by the Refuge and situated at
an elevation of 6,060 feet, approximately 20 miles east of Montpelier,
Idaho, along U.S. Hwy. 30, near Border, Wyoming, The Unit's eastern
boundary is the Wyoming State line.
The Refuge is composed of an 18,000-acre emergent marsh, 1,600
acres of uplands, and 5 miles of riparian streams. Approximately 100
species of migratory birds nest at Bear Lake NWR, including large
concentrations of colonial waterbirds, and many other species of
wildlife utilize the Refuge during various periods of the year. In the
early 1900s, the Telluride Canal Company substantially modified the
natural hydrology of the former Dingle Swamp by diverting the Bear
River to flow into Bear Lake for irrigation storage. The indirect
effects were numerous and significantly altered the hydrology and
ecological processes of the Bear Lake Watershed.
Oxford Slough Waterfowl Production Area
Oxford Slough is the Service's only waterfowl production area in
the Service's northwest region. It is located 10 miles north of
Preston, Idaho, abutting the small town of Oxford. Oxford Slough,
situated in the Cache Valley, is the drainage for Oxford and Deep
Creeks as well as other streams and creeks in the surrounding mountain
ranges. The Oxford Slough WPA provides valuable foraging habitat for
species such as cranes, geese, Franklin's gulls, and white-faced ibis,
and nesting habitat for many shorebird species.
Scoping: Preliminary Issues, Concerns, and Opportunities
We have identified preliminary issues, concerns, and opportunities
that we may address in the CCP. We have briefly summarized these issues
below. During public scoping, we may identify additional issues.
At Bear Lake NWR, Oxford Slough WPA, and the Thomas Fork Unit, the
Service will evaluate: (1) Water management schedules to improve Refuge
wildlife habitats and values; (2) How the Service can protect and
improve the quantity and quality of water for fish and wildlife
resources; (3) Actions required to minimize disturbance within the
Refuge to nesting and migrating waterbirds and wildlife; (4) How the
Refuge can meet increasing demands for recreational opportunities and
provide quality visitor services programs in consideration of wildlife
disturbance issues; (5) The best means to attain productive deep marsh
habitats for Refuge wildlife which match or mimic the natural and
historic vegetative composition and open water interspersion of the
Bear Lake Watershed; (6) What can be done to prevent the introduction
and dispersal of invasive plants and animals and facilitate their
removal from the Refuge; (7) The Refuge's role in supporting native
fish and riparian habitat restoration; (8) The restoration of native
sagebrush habitats to support the long-term viability of native
wildlife populations; (9) The most appropriate management techniques
for the Refuge's wet meadow and upland habitats to maximize habitat
values for key wildlife species (e.g., sandhill cranes, Canada geese),
while assuring other native wildlife cover and forage requirements are
also satisfied; (10) How the Refuge can adaptively manage in response
to predicted and unpredicted challenges faced by climate change; and
(11) How the Refuge can most appropriately assess the efficacy of
management actions at the appropriate spatial and temporal scale.
[[Page 35831]]
Public Meetings
We will involve the public through open houses, informational and
technical meetings, and written comments. We will release mailings,
news releases, and announcements to provide information about
opportunities for public involvement in the planning process.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Dated: May 17, 2010.
Richard Hannan,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2010-15201 Filed 6-22-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P