[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 204 (Monday, October 22, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64538-64540]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25676]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2012-N132: 1265-0000-10137 S3]
Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, Washington and Yamhill
Counties, OR, Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental
Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
[[Page 64539]]
ACTION: Notice of availability; announcement of meetings; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and
environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for the Tualatin River National
Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) for public review and comment. The Draft CCP/
EA describes our proposal for managing the Refuge for the next 15
years.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please send your written comments by
November 21, 2012. We will hold public meetings; see Public Meetings
under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates, times, and locations.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments or request printed or CD-ROM copies
of the Draft CCP/EA by any of the following methods.
Email: TualatinCCP@fws.gov. Include ``Tualatin River NWR Draft CCP/
EA'' in the subject line of the message.
Fax: Attn: Erin Holmes, Project Leader, (503) 625-5947 (phone).
U.S. Mail: Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, 19255 SW
Pacific Highway, Sherwood, OR 97140.
In-Person Drop-Off, Viewing, or Pickup: To view or pick up a
document at the Refuge, call the Refuge's staff at (503) 625-5944
during regular business hours to make an appointment. Appointments are
not needed to drop off comments. For more information on locations for
viewing or obtaining documents, see ``Public Availability of
Documents'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin Holmes, Project Leader, (503)
625-5944 (phone); erin_holmes@fws.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for the Refuge. We
started this process through a notice in the Federal Register (75 FR
67763; November 3, 2010).
Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge
The Refuge's five units are located in the Tualatin River basin,
near Portland, OR, and encompass a total of 7,370 acres of land within
the Refuge's approved acquisition boundary. Of this, we have acquired
approximately 2,165 acres of land in fee title or easements, which are
managed as part of the Refuge. The Refuge's land acquisition program is
ongoing. The Refuge was established in 1992 for the following purposes:
``The development, advancement, management, conservation,
and protection of fish and wildlife resources * * *'' 16 U.S.C.
742f(a)(4);
``The benefit of the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service, in performing its activities and services. Such acceptance may
be subject to the terms of any restrictive or affirmative covenant, or
condition of servitude * * *'' 16 U.S.C. 742f(b)(1), Fish and Wildlife
Act of 1956; and
``The conservation of the wetlands of the Nation in order
to maintain the public benefits they provide and to help fulfill
international obligations contained in various migratory bird treaties
and conventions * * *'' 16 U.S.C. 3901(b), Emergency Wetlands Resources
Act of 1986.
The Refuge protects fish and wildlife and their habitats, and
provides a visitor center and wildlife-oriented recreation for nearly
100,000 visitors annually. The Refuge's staff manages predominately
flat bottomland bordered by uplands. Habitats include rivers and
streams, seasonal, scrub-shrub, and riparian forests; and wet prairie,
oak savanna, and mixed forested uplands. These habitats are home to
nearly 200 species of birds, more than 50 species of mammals, 25
species of reptiles and amphibians, and a variety of insects, fish, and
plants. The Refuge provides wildlife-dependent recreation that includes
wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and
interpretation.
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as
amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997
(together referred to as the Refuge Administration Act), 16 U.S.C.
668dd-668ee, 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 Refuge Administration Act.
Public Outreach
In winter 2010 we began our planning process, by publishing a
notice in the Federal Register (75 FR 67765, November 3, 2010) and
distributing a news release. To familiarize the public with our
planning process; the Refuge's purposes; and our fish, wildlife, and
recreation resources, we also distributed Planning Update 1 and hosted
public meetings. Planning Updates 2 and 3 were distributed in spring
and fall of 2011, respectively; we summarized public scoping comments
in Planning Update 2, and preliminary alternatives in Planning Update
3. Our mailing list includes more than 800 recipients, representing
Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies; elected officials;
nongovernment organizations; businesses; learning institutions; media
agencies; private landowners; and individual citizens. We continue to
maintain CCP information on our Web site: www.fws.gov/tualatinriver/refugeplanning.htm. We are requesting comments on the Draft CCP/EA
through this notice, a news release, Planning Update 4, public
meetings, and our Web site.
Draft CCP/EA Alternatives We Are Considering
We evaluated three alternatives for managing the Refuge for a
period of 15 years in the Draft CCP/EA. Based on our analysis,
Alternative 2 would best achieve the Refuge's purposes; therefore, it
is our preferred alternative. We may modify Alternative 2 in the Final
CCP/EA, to address comments we may receive on the Draft CCP/EA.
Alternative 1 (No Action Alternative)
The Refuge would continue to acquire, restore, and conserve
wetlands and other habitats for native fish and wildlife under
Alternative 1. Providing wetlands for migratory birds, including
wintering waterfowl, would remain our primary focus. Wetland basins
would be mowed, disked, and/or treated with herbicides to mimic natural
disturbance cycles, limit plant succession, and suppress invasive plant
species. Prairie, oak savanna, and forest habitats would be restored by
removing nonnative plants; planting native grasses, forbs, shrubs, and
trees; and controlling weeds. The Refuge's high quality wildlife
observation, photography, environmental education, and interpretation
programs would continue. Visitation would likely increase over the next
15 years;
[[Page 64540]]
however, staffing levels would not change.
Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative)
The Tualatin River and Rock Creek Units' riparian forest, scrub-
shrub wetland, and herbaceous wetland habitats would not substantially
change under Alternative 2. Prescribed fire would be added for habitat
management. In the upland area, we would restore mixed forest. We would
no longer manipulate water to maintain a 30-acre herbaceous wetland on
the Riverboat Unit, resulting in a wetland mixture of wet prairie and
scrub-shrub. We would convert approximately 10 acres of riparian forest
to wet prairie. At the Atf[aacute]lat'i Unit, the current channelized
Chicken Creek would be restored to its historical footprint. The
existing water diversion structure would be relocated to the east,
allowing water management on approximately 155 acres of herbaceous
wetland, 69 acres less than what is currently managed. We would
recontour the ground surface and update water control structures to
manage wetlands more effectively. The remaining acres would be
converted to wet prairie, oak savanna, and scrub-shrub wetland. We
would convert an additional 20 acres of seasonal wetlands and wet
prairie in the northern portion of the Atf[aacute]lat'i Unit to
floodplain riparian forest. If further land acquisition occurs at the
Onion Flats Unit, we would convert cooperative farming areas into
scrub-shrub wetland and oak savanna habitats. These changes could
benefit dusky Canada geese and threatened Nelson's checkermallow
plants. Rock Creek would be restored to its historical channel.
Management of the Wapato Lake Unit would include a mixture of free-
flowing hydrology and intensive water control; however, we would
transition to a more natural hydrology over the long term. A water
management study of the Wapato Lake lakebed would help us identify
needed restoration actions. Other actions would include restoring a
mosaic of wetlands, riparian forests, oak savannas, prairies, and
streams.
The Refuge's existing visitor programs would remain under
Alternative 2, with new opportunities, including up to three additional
wildlife photography blinds, an environmental education study area,
fishing from the River Overlook, and a nature exploration play area.
Opportunities to connect to regional trails would be explored. A junior
waterfowl hunt would occur on the Riverboat Unit. Opportunities for
hunting, photography, fishing, wildlife observation, a nature trail,
and interpretive exhibits would be explored at the Wapato Lake Unit,
when an adequate land base is acquired, and habitat restoration
decisions are made. In the near term, we would pursue environmental
education and wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities in the
community. Expanding the Refuge's habitat restoration and public use
programs would require six additional positions, which we would pursue
over the life of the CCP.
Alternative 3
Under Alternative 3, riparian forest would be expanded from 330
acres to approximately 390 acres on the Tualatin River Unit. The
remainder of the unit would be mixed forest. Natural hydrologic flows
would occur on the Refuge, with less water-level manipulation. At the
Atf[aacute]lat'i Unit, 180 acres of emergent wetland would be converted
to riparian forest and scrub-shrub wetlands. The oak savanna, emergent
wetland, and wet prairie in the northeastern portion of the
Atf[aacute]lat'i Unit would be converted to riparian forest.
Cooperative farming would be phased out at the Onion Flats Unit, as
scrub-shrub wetlands are restored. The surrounding upland areas would
become mixed forest. At the Riverboat, Rock Creek, and Wapato Lake
Units, management would be the same as Alternative 2. The Refuge's
staff would continue to explore opportunities for connecting to
regional trails. At the Wapato Lake Unit, opportunities for public use
would be explored as an adequate land base and access are acquired, and
habitat restoration decisions are made. In the near-term, we would
pursue education and recreation activities in the community. Limited
expansion of the environmental education and recreation programs would
occur on the Sherwood Unit under Alternative 3. Improving the quality
of existing public uses would be emphasized.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to methods in ADDRESSES, you can obtain documents on
our web site: www.fws.gov/tualatinriver/refugeplanning.htm; or at the
following public libraries.
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Library Address Phone No.
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Sherwood Public Library....... 21901 SW Sherwood 503-625-6688
Blvd., Sherwood, OR
97140.
Tigard Public Library......... 13500 SW Hall Blvd., 503-684-6537
Tigard, OR 97223.
Tualatin Public Library....... 18878 Southwest 503-691-3071
Martinazzi, Tualatin,
OR 97062.
Forest Grove Public Library... 2114 Pacific Avenue, 503-992-3247
Forest Grove, OR
97116.
Beaverton Public Library...... 12375 Southwest 5th 503-644-2197
Street, Beaverton, OR
97005.
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Public Meetings
We will hold a public open house meeting during the public comment
period. We will announce the open house date, time, and location in a
news release, planning update, and on our Web site.
Next Steps
After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and
address them in our final CCP.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, email 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: June 26, 2012.
Hugh Morrison,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2012-25676 Filed 10-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P