[Federal Register: September 10, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 176)]
[Notices]
[Page 52668-52670]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10se08-55]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2008-N0163; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Logan Cave National Wildlife Refuge, Benton County, AR
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: final comprehensive conservation plan
and finding of no significant impact.
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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for Logan Cave National
Wildlife Refuge. In the final CCP, we describe how we will manage this
refuge for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the plan may be obtained by writing to: Holla Bend
National Wildlife Refuge, 10448 Holla Bend Road, Dardanelle, AR 72834.
The CCP/FONSI may also be accessed and downloaded from the Service's
Web site http://southeast.fws.gov/planning/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Durwin Carter, Refuge Manager,
Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge; Telephone: (479) 229-4300; Fax:
(479) 229-4302.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Logan Cave
National Wildlife Refuge. We started this process through a notice in
the Federal Register on November 23, 2005 (70 FR 70878). For more about
the process, see that notice.
Logan Cave National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1989 under
the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to protect cave inhabitants,
including the endangered gray bat (Myotis grisescens), Benton cave
crayfish (Cambarus aculabrum), and the threatened Ozark cavefish
(Amblyopsis rosae). The cave also has historically provided habitat for
the endangered Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis). This 123-acre Ozark
Mountain refuge, which includes a limestone solution cave with
approximately 1.5
[[Page 52669]]
miles of passageways, is located 20 miles west of Fayetteville,
Arkansas, and approximately 2 miles north of U.S. Highway 412. The
ecology of Logan Cave has been described as the highest quality cave
habitat in the entire Ozark region. There are only two known entry
points for the cave: the sinkhole and spring. The sinkhole consists of
a steep sided funnel shaped depression about 50 feet in diameter
located on a forested hillside. The spring entrance is located on a
hillside under an overhang rock bluff. Most of the refuge consists of
hillsides, which support a mature climax community of oak and hickory.
Groundwater surfacing within the cave forms a stream that flows
throughout the cave and at the outfall forms Logan Spring, which drains
to Osage Creek just south of the refuge. Osage Creek is a major
tributary of the Illinois River, which is the main drainage in
southwestern Benton County, and their confluence is about 1.2 miles
south of the refuge. In past years, spring water from the cave had a
measured flow of approximately 5 million gallons per day and supplied
the Logan community, a fish hatchery, and 49 fish ponds.
We announce our decision and the availability of the final CCP and
FONSI for Logan Cave National Wildlife Refuge in accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR 1506.6(b))
requirements. We completed a thorough analysis of impacts on the human
environment, which we included in the draft comprehensive conservation
plan and environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA). The CCP will guide us
in managing and administering Logan Cave Refuge for the next 15 years.
The compatibility determinations for environmental education and
interpretation, research, and monitoring are available in the CCP.
Background
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Improvement Act), which amended the National
Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, 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, wildlife
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Improvement Act.
Comments
Approximately 120 copies of the Draft CCP/EA were made available
for a 30-day public review period as announced in the Federal Register
on January 25, 2008 (73 FR 4615). A public meeting was held on February
12, 2008, at 6 p.m., at the Logan Community Center. Fifteen individuals
were in attendance at the meeting. Eight respondents consisting of the
Service; the State Clearinghouse of Arkansas, Department of Finance and
Administration; the Ozark Underground Laboratory, Inc.; Natural
Resources Conservation Service; the Arkansas Natural Heritage
Commission; and local citizens submitted written comments by mail or e-
mail.
Selected Alternative
We developed three alternatives for management of the refuge and
chose Alternative 3 as the preferred alternative. This alternative was
considered to be the most effective for meeting the purposes of the
refuge by conserving, restoring, and managing the refuge's habitats and
wildlife while optimizing wildlife-dependent public uses. Alternative 3
best achieves national, ecosystem, and refuge-specific goals and
objectives and positively addresses significant issues and concerns
expressed by the public.
Under Alternative 3, all refuge management actions will be directed
toward achieving the refuge's primary purpose to properly administer,
conserve, and develop the 123-acre area for protection of a unique cave
ecosystem that provides essential habitat for the endangered gray bat,
endangered Benton cave crayfish, the threatened Ozark cavefish, and
other significant cave dwelling wildlife species, while contributing to
other national, regional, and state goals to protect and restore karst
habitats and species.
The primary focus under this alternative will be to add a staff
person and equipment in order to manage, maintain, restore, and protect
the refuge's habitats and wildlife species. Wildlife and plant censuses
and inventory activities will be initiated and maintained to obtain the
biological information needed to continue current refuge management
programs and implement crucial management programs on and off the
refuge.
Active habitat management will be implemented to maintain and
enhance water quality and quantity within the cave system, the recharge
zone (groundwater recharge areas), and waterways within the bat
foraging areas through best management practices, easements, and
partnerships with private landowners and other federal and state
agencies. Continuous groundwater quality monitoring is crucial to the
existence of the aquatic species utilizing the cave stream and
groundwater corridors.
The Benton cave crayfish and Ozark Cavefish populations will be
maintained at a minimum of 35 and 40 individuals, respectively. A
properly trained survey team (no more than 4 observers) will perform
ocular surveys bi-annually in January or February. During these
surveys, the occurrence of any Indiana bats will be noted. The refuge
will study the micro-climate of the cave to determine suitability for
Indiana bats. Gray bats will be counted annually during July by exit
counts. At least two trained persons will count bats at the same time
on the same evening as the bats emerge from the spring and sinkhole
entrances. Bat guano will be measured each year as soon as possible
after the maternity colony has left the cave. No more than three
persons will conduct guano measurements and this will be done in
conjunction with the crayfish/cavefish surveys when possible. The
refuge will maintain all other populations of karst species, such as
pseudoscorpions, isopods, amphipods, beetles, collembolans, and other
blind insects, adapted to subterranean habitats. The abundance of the
grotto salamander will also be monitored.
The refuge will identify and implement strategies to improve
conditions on and off refuge lands for forest dwelling birds. The
primary purpose of this effort will be to work with partners and
private landowners to provide a forest system of sufficient size and
carrying capacity to reach regional objectives associated with area-
sensitive neotropical migratory birds. This will also help protect and
enhance foraging area for the gray bats, especially along Osage creek
and its tributaries.
Wildlife-dependent recreation activities, such as wildlife
observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and
interpretation will be provided. Utilizing various partners, the refuge
will develop a small environmental education program, focusing on karst
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environments. Although the cave is gated and entrance is limited to
biological surveys, some cave environmental education can still occur
(i.e., supervised visits by small groups to observe emergence of gray
bats from a safe distance during the summer). The refuge will develop a
community-based volunteer program by establishing a Cave Steward or
Friends program. Volunteers will be educated on management issues and
utilized to help complete wildlife and plant surveys, maintenance
projects, and to conduct public recreation and education programs.
Authority: This notice is published under the authority of the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law
105-57.
Dated: July 1, 2008.
Cynthia K. Dohner,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. E8-20977 Filed 9-9-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P