Comprehensive Conservation Planning

Our office recently finished its 15-year Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District. In December, 2005 four public scoping meetings were held. The locations were Kearney, York, Clay Center, and Holdrege. A total of 51 people attended the meetings. During the scoping meetings we gathered comments, questions, and concerns from those present. The input was used to help us develop a plan that meets the mandates provided by Congress in the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. These mandates include:

■ The focus of management on the District is to benefit wildlife conservation.

■ Wildlife-dependent recreation activities, (hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, environmental education and interpretation) are encouraged when they are compatible with wildlife conservation.

The CCP will benefit management of Rainwater Basin WMD by:

■ Providing a clear statement of direction for future management of the District.

■ Giving District neighbors, visitors and the general public an understanding of the Service’s management actions on and around the Districts.

■ Ensuring that the District’s management actions and programs are consistent with the mandates of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

■ Ensuring that District management is consistent with other federal, state, and local plans when practicable.

■ Establishing that wildlife-dependent recreation uses (compatible uses including hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, or environmental education and interpretation) are the priority public uses within the Refuge System.

■ Providing a basis for the development of budget requests on the operation, maintenance, and capital improvement needs.

The document is available at the following website: http://www.r6.fws.gov/planning/ccp.htm or by contacting our office at rainwater@fws.gov.

Last updated: September 23, 2008