Use: Annual single day youth fishing event

Refuge Name: Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge

Establishing and Acquisition Authorities:

Two Ponds NWR was acquired under the authority of the Emergency Wetland Resource Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-645).

Refuge Purposes:

1. To restore, enhance, and preserve a diversity of upland and wetland habitats for migrant and resident wildlife, fish and invertebrates.

2. To provide opportunities for environmental education with emphasis on the inherent values of wetlands and wildlife in an urban environment.

3. To provide interpretive facilities and opportunities related to wildlife, such as viewing, study, and photography.

National Wildlife Refuge System Mission:

“The mission of the System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.”

Description of Use:

Establish a one-day or partial day annual youth fishing event at Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge. Fishing has been identified as a priority public use in the Refuge Improvement Act of 1997. Due to the small numbers of sport fish available and small amount of area accessible to fishing, the Refuge cannot sustain an open fishing season and the proposed one day event would be strictly catch and release, unless there is a management need to remove particular fish. Additional restrictions such as, barbless hooks and type of bait permitted may be instituted. Bank fishing only will be permitted. This will be a highly regulated event with refuge staff present at all times. The Comprehensive Management Plan for Two Ponds NWR states that “opportunities related to wildlife” is a specific purpose and as a measure of the “Connecting People with Nature” initiative, this event should be encouraged.

Availability of Resources:

This event may be planned as a part of the annual “Trails Day” event or in concert with the annual free fishing weekend, or in cooperation with a youth fishing event sponsored by the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW). In any case, CDOW has expressed interest in supporting this event and support from Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR staff, Regional Office staff, and volunteers is likely. This event would require no additional staff hours to administer or it could require one or more staff persons to administer, depending on the date selected for the event. In addition to required personnel to administer this event, other staff members may opt to assist with the event to help make this a special event for a number of children.

Anticipated Impacts of the Use:

A one day youth fishing event would pose a minimal impact on the Refuge resources. Human presence in habitat is acknowledged to result in some unavoidable disturbance of wildlife. However, in most cases, such disturbances are not biologically significant, resulting in only short-distance movements, or short-term interruptions in natural behaviors that do not result in behavioral or physiological impacts that negatively affect life functions of the species. Foot traffic along the shoreline will compact the vegetation, but should have no long term impact. Native fish species, which are a food source for fish eating birds that use the Refuge, should not be impacted by this event.

Public Review and Comment:

Two Ponds NWR is maximizing the use of the refuge website to solicit public comment on documents, including Compatibility Determinations. The website is routinely used by the public to obtain information about the refuge. A notice will be published in the quarterly newsletter, produced by the Two Ponds Preservation Foundation, directing interested individuals to the website to review this Compatibility Determination, and provide comments. In draft form, this Compatibility Determination will be provided for public review and comment at informational kiosks at the entrance to Two Ponds NWR off of 80th Ave., and on either end of the hiking trail on the west side of the refuge, at 77th Ave. and adjacent to the clinic parking lot near Kipling Street in Arvada, CO, and on the Two Ponds NWR website at http://twoponds.fws.gov. for a 30 day period during March –April 2008.

PLEASE E-MAIL YOUR COMMENTS TO TWO PONDS NWR