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Position Announcement: Education and Restoration Specialist

The Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in partnership with the Washington Service Corps (WSC) is announcing an AmeriCorps Position working with the Education and Restoration Programs at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. To learn more, visit the Americorp Position Description.

Current Events

The Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge post e-newsletters and calendars of current events. Please follow this link to learn more about current events Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

Spring is almost here and we need volunteers to help us with many different projects. Click here for volunteer opportunities. Also check out our education programs here!.

Translocation of Columbian White-tailed Deer

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has completed the Final Environmental Assessment for an emergency translocation of endangered Columbian white-tailed deer. Beginning the last week of January 2013, up to 50 deer will be translocated from the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for Columbian White-tailed Deer near Cathlamet, Washington, to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge near Ridgefield, Washington. The deer are being moved to save them from potential loss due to the impending failure of a dike between the JBH refuge and the Columbia River. If the dike fails, much of the refuge will be flooded, placing the deer at risk.

The Service has completed an Amendment and companion Environmental Assessment (EA) to the Ridgefield Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and a Finding of No Significant Impact for Post-Translocation Management of Columbian White-tailed Deer at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Under this proposed action, the Service would adopt and implement the management goal, objective and strategies including predator management activities on the Refuge. The Service, in support ofthe recovery of this endangered species, considers these actions necessary for the stability and viability of the secure subpopulation of endangered Columbian white-tailed deer. More information on the translocation of Columbian white-tailed deer can be found at the website for Julia Butler Hansen NWR.

 

Translocation Update

Columbian white-tailed deer continue to be relocated from Julia Butler Hansen NWR to Ridgefield NWR. A total of 34 deer have been relocated. We are very interested in the movement of deer in the Ridgefield area. Should you see a white-tailed deer, please contact the Refuge at 360/887/2122. All relocated deer have bright yellow numbered ear tags. It is most helpful if you can record the numbers on the ear tags, as these numbers identify the individual deer. Click here, to learn more about reporting white-tailed deer observations.

Post Office Lake Ecosystem Restoration Environmental Assessment

The Portland District of the Army Corps. of Engineers is working in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to propose an ecosystem restoration project at Post Office Lake in the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. A 30-day review and comment period for a Draft Environmental Assessment, Finding of No Significant Impact and related documents is open until Feb. 24, 2013. The Environmental Assessment is availalbe at this link: Post Office Lake EA (1.1 MB).

We invite public questions and comments about the attached document, by phone at 503-808-4874, via email to barbara.g.cisneros@usace.army.mil or by postal mail to the Portland District at:

Portland District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Attn: Barbara Cisneros
P.O. Box 2946
Portland, OR 97208-2946

Interagency Military Pass

To show appreciation for those who serve in the U.S. Military, on May 19 – Armed Forces Day – the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will begin issuing an annual pass offering free entrance for active duty military members and their dependents to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and other fee units of the Refuge System, as well as National Parks and other public lands. Please use this link to learn more: Military Pass.

River S Unit Access Project

In 2009 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) published the Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the Ridgefield Refuge. The CCP included a Transportation Access Study completed by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); that study was a preliminary review of alternatives providing access improvements to the River 'S' Unit. The USFWS selected a new access to the River S Unit in their final CCP, meaning a new access point for River S was desired. A specific location for this access was not selected in the CCP.

The USFWS has now requested FHWA's, Western Federal Lands Division office in Vancouver WA to lead the River 'S' Unit Access Project under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). By building upon past planning efforts, the FHWA will produce an in-depth transportation analysis to assess the current access location and identify specific alternative locations to the River S Unit. With this new effort, FHWA is planning on engaging in a public scoping process under NEPA to develop the purpose and need and a full range of alternatives to address access related problems to the River 'S' Unit. For more information about FHWA process and outreach efforts, please follow this link to FHWA's website for this project.

River S Unit Access Project - Public Meeting

Thursday, January 31, 4-6 pm, Ridgefield Community Center

The USFWS and FHWA’s Western Federal Lands Division office in Vancouver, Washington, have been developing a comprehensive understanding of land used, ownerships, rights of way, and environmental issues by gathering agency input, interviewing area interest groups, and soliciting public comment. Since our last newsletter, FHWA produced an in-depth transportation analysis to assess the current access
location, Traffic Impact Assessment of potential new River S access locations, Railroad Crossing Study, Existing Bridge Evaluation, Lake River Navigation Study. Additionally, we identified, developed, and performed initial screening on a range of alternatives locations. Since June 2012, FHWA considered 23 alternatives. At the January 31 open house, the community will have an opportunity to review the alternatives and criteria and weigh in on whether there are additional alternatives or criteria that should be considered. To learn more about the project, please visit the Project Update.

Ridgefield Refuge's Final CCP/EA

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for the Refuge can be reviewed at the following website: Ridgefield planning documents.

River 'S' Unit Discovery Audio Tour

New to the River 'S' Auto Tour is a companion Discover Audio Tour with information about the Refuge, its wildlife and its resources. The Discover Audio Tour is available for loan during your visit to the Auto Tour Route from the Visitor Contact Station. Each track on the cd corresponds to a series of numeric signs along the Auto Tour Route. It can also be downloaded as a pod cast to your portable media device by visiting the web site for the Friends of the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge.

GeoAdventure

GeoAdventure is a free group activity kit that includes a GPS unit and a bag of clues designed for ages 12 and up. Great for scout troops, families, and other groups. Follow this link to find out more: GeoAdventure