The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is accepting comments for a Draft Compatibility Determination for a utility Right-of-Way on Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) pertaining to infrastructure repair and upgrade from previous hurricane damages. The Service has prepared a Draft Compatibility Determination (CD) which provides the assessment and guidelines for this right-of-way. The CD is currently available for your review here or at the refuge office and visitor center. Comments will be received until June 6, 2024.
A compatible use is a proposed or existing wildlife-dependent recreational use or any other use of a National Wildlife Refuge that, based on sound professional judgment, will not materially interfere with or detract from the fulfillment of the purposes for which the refuge was established and the National Wildlife Refuge System mission. The Service develops a compatibility determination to facilitate evaluation of proposed uses, including anticipated impacts and stipulations necessary to ensure compatibility.
The National Wildlife Refuge System mission 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. The purposes for establishing the refuges are provided on the first page of the draft compatibility determination.
All comments should be in writing and should be received no later than June 6, 2024. Comments should specifically articulate how the proposed project would, or would not, materially interfere with or detract from the Refuge purposes or Refuge System mission. Comments should be addressed to:
Shaun Ziegler, Refuge Manager
Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
1428 Highway 27, Bell City, LA 70630
Comments may also be sent via email to swlrcomplex@fws.gov. If commenting via email, please place the words “Compatibility Determination Comments” in the subject line and your comments in the body of the text. Please do not include attachments because they will not be opened due to the potential for computer viruses.
To request a copy of the compatibility determination, learn the final decision regarding this proposed use, or for more information, contact the Cameron Prairie National Wildlife Refuge office at (337) 774-5923. Copies of the draft compatibility determination may be accessed here on this page, or obtained at the refuge headquarters office and visitor center at 1428 Highway 27, Bell City, LA 70630
Activities
Cameron Prairie Visitor Center will be open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. starting May 20, 2023.
Related Documents
Brochures and maps for Cameron prairie NWR.
Rules and Policies
Rules and information pertaining to the Cameron Prairie NWR
Locations
The refuge headquarters is located at the Gibbstown Unit. Follow these directions to get there:
Take exit 36 (highway 397 south) off of Interstate 10 east of Lake Charles, Louisiana. Follow highway 397 south 8 miles. Turn left at the stop sign on highway 14. Follow highway 14 to Holmwood, Louisiana. Where highway 14 turns left continue straight onto highway 27. From this point the refuge headquarters is located 11 miles south on the right hand side.