[Federal Register: January 8, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 5)]
[Notices]
[Page 1073-1075]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr08ja10-58]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2009-N198; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, Pope and Yell Counties, AR
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability: Draft comprehensive conservation plan
and environmental assessment; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and
environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Holla Bend National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR) for public review and comment. In this Draft CCP/
EA, we describe the alternative we propose to use to manage this refuge
for the 15 years following approval of the final CCP.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by February 8, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Send comments, questions, and requests for information to:
Mr. Durwin Carter, Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge, 10448 Holla
Bend Road, Dardanelle, AR 72834; telephone: 479-229-4300; e-mail:
durwin_carter@fws.gov. The Draft CCP/EA is available on compact disk
or in hard copy. The Draft CCP/EA may also be accessed and downloaded
from the Service's Internet Site: http://southeast.fws.gov/planning.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mike Dawson, Refuge Planner,
Jackson, MS; telephone: 601-965-4903, extension 20.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Holla Bend NWR.
We started the process through a notice in the Federal Register on May
17, 2007 (72 FR 27837).
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act of 1997, 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 strategy 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 Administration Act.
CCP Alternatives, Including Our Proposed Alternative
We developed four alternatives for managing the refuge and chose
Alternative D as the proposed alternative. Each alternative would
pursue the same four broad refuge goals--wildlife, habitat, public use,
and refuge administration. A full description is in the Draft CCP/EA.
We summarize each alternative below.
Alternative A--Current Management (No Action)
Alternative A would continue current management strategies, with
little or no change in budgeting or funding. Under this alternative, we
would protect, maintain, restore, and enhance 6,616 acres of refuge
lands and 441 additional acres included in a migratory bird closure
area around the refuge, primarily focusing on the needs of migratory
waterfowl. We would place additional emphasis on the needs of resident
wildlife, migratory non-game birds, and threatened and endangered
species. We would continue cooperative farming on 1,200 acres. We would
continue mandated activities for protection of federally listed
species. Control of nuisance wildlife populations would be undertaken
as necessary. Habitat management efforts would concentrate on moist-
soil management, waterfowl impoundments, and crop production. We would
continue to monitor invasive plants.
We would maintain the current levels of wildlife-dependent
recreation activities (e.g., hunting, fishing, wildlife observation,
wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation).
We would maintain two designated hiking trails, a 10-mile, self-guided
auto tour route (for wildlife observation and photography), and three
boat launch ramps with gravel parking areas, to the extent that these
facilities would not substantially interfere with or
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detract from wildlife conservation. The refuge would continue to be
closed to all migratory bird hunting, but would be opened to deer
hunting, using archery/crossbow and gun, with the exception of a small
tract adjacent to the Levee Trail. Turkeys, rabbits, squirrels,
coyotes, beavers, raccoons, and bobcats would also be allowed to be
taken incidental to deer hunting, and on certain designated days there
would be special hunts for raccoons and turkeys. Sport fishing would be
permitted in all refuge waters from March 1 to October 31 each year.
The refuge would be closed to fishing during the winter months to limit
disturbance of wintering waterfowl (except for bank fishing on Long
Lake from November 1 to February 28).
Under this alternative, we would pursue opportunities that arise to
purchase or exchange priority tracts within the refuge acquisition
boundary, which include 1,703 acres in private ownership distributed in
numerous small tracts around the perimeter of the refuge.
We would not have a dedicated park ranger (visitor services), but
staff would continue to provide environmental education services to the
public, including limited visits to schools, environmental education
workshops, and on-site and off-site environmental education programs.
We would continue to maintain exhibits in the visitor center, a kiosk
outside the visitor center, and one on the Woodpecker Interpretive
Trail.
We would continue to offer opportunities for wildlife observation
and photography throughout the refuge, accessible along the refuge road
system from March 16 to November 14, but with the addition of a
wildlife observation deck next to the visitor center. We would maintain
a staff of 4, including the refuge manager, office assistant,
maintenance mechanic, and equipment operator. We would maintain the
refuge headquarters, visitor center, maintenance building and yard,
roads, gates, and equipment such as road grader, tractors, dozers, and
backhoe.
Alternative B--Enhanced Management of Habitat and Fish and Wildlife
Populations
Alternative B reflects an increase in management of habitat and
fish and wildlife populations. In addition to the activities described
under Alternative A, we would develop baseline inventories of biota and
habitat potential, including inventories of forest conditions, aquatic
species, and suitable woodcock habitat. We would broaden our focus on
migratory waterfowl to include objectives for forest-dwelling and early
successional birds, shorebirds, woodcock, colonial waterbirds, marsh
birds, and wood ducks. In addition to continuing mandated activities
for protection of federally listed species, we would develop a strategy
to address these threatened and endangered species, as well as State-
listed rare species. We would develop a database and monitor deer herd
status, trends in wild turkey populations, and the presence of
waterbird rookeries. Data on nuisance wildlife would be collected and
aggressive control measures initiated.
Habitat management would include converting 125 acres from
agricultural production to grassland and scrub/shrub habitat. By
utilizing force account farming, the cropland acreage on the refuge
would be reduced by 25 percent and crops would be converted to
preferred waterfowl foods. We would also aggressively monitor non-
native plants and implement a plan to eliminate them. Enhancements in
the management of moist-soil habitat would include developing complete
water control capability on all moist-soil acres and using periodic
disturbance to set back succession. Further, we would pursue
cooperative projects to improve habitat quality on about 500 acres of
open water. Waterfowl usage and shorebird response to habitat
management would be monitored.
Under this alternative, we would pursue opportunities to purchase
or exchange tracts within the refuge acquisition boundary that would
enhance fish and wildlife management. The staff would increase by the
addition of a biologist, biological science technician, and park ranger
(law enforcement). Wildlife-dependent recreation activities would be
the same as under Alternative A.
Alternative C--Enhanced Management for Wildlife-Dependent Public Uses
This alternative represents an increased focus on wildlife-
dependent public uses, rather than more emphasis on management of fish
and wildlife populations and habitat as described under Alternative B.
In addition to the activities described under Alternative A, we would
increase wildlife-dependent recreation activities (e.g., hunting,
fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental
education and interpretation).
The two most significant enhancements under this alternative would
be the development of an environmental education center and the
addition of a park ranger (visitor services) to the staff. These
enhancements would greatly increase our capability to conduct
environmental education and interpretation programs, and to better
utilize qualified volunteers in support of Holla Bend NWR's mission and
objectives. In addition to the park ranger, the staff would increase by
the addition of an operations specialist and a heavy equipment
mechanic. One function of the park ranger would be to develop a plan
for recruiting and effectively managing volunteer support.
This alternative would include construction of fishing piers at
both Long Lake and Lodge Lake to be accessible by disabled individuals;
development of a bird observation trail north of the refuge office;
improvements to the Lodge Lake Trail and the loop to the Levee Trail;
and vegetation management along refuge roads to improve wildlife
viewing opportunities. Information kiosks, direction signs, parking
lots, and other visitor use facilities would be improved. Under this
alternative, we would determine the maximum number of archery hunters
that refuge resources could support, and we would open a dove hunting
season.
We would pursue opportunities to purchase or exchange tracts within
the refuge acquisition boundary that would enhance the public use
program.
Alternative D--Balanced Enhancement of Management for Habitat, Fish and
Wildlife Populations, and Wildlife-Dependent Public Uses (Proposed
Alternative)
This adaptive management alternative is basically concurrent
implementation of selected enhancements under Alternatives B and C,
which would result in greater benefits to the refuge and the
surrounding area. For example, the baseline biological information
developed under Alternative B would be useful in identifying
opportunities to improve visitor experiences, and the increased
volunteer support management developed under Alternative C would lead
to increased efficiencies in collecting data on biological resources
and responses (e.g., nuisance and invasive species occurrence, deer
herd status, and evaluation of habitat management efforts) identified
under Alternative B.
Habitat management would include converting 100 acres from
agricultural production to grassland and scrub/shrub habitat;
cooperative farming would continue on 1,200 acres. To the extent
possible, crops would be converted to preferred waterfowl foods. We
would monitor non-native plants and develop a strategy to eliminate
them. Enhancements in the management of
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moist-soil habitat would include developing complete water control
capability on all moist-soil acres and use of periodic disturbance to
set back succession. Further, the Service would pursue cooperative
projects to improve habitat quality on 500 acres of open water.
Waterfowl usage and shorebird response to habitat management would be
monitored.
The two significant enhancements in the public use program would be
development of an environmental education center on the refuge and the
addition of a park ranger (visitor services) to the staff. These
enhancements would greatly increase our capability and opportunity to
conduct environmental education and interpretation programs, and to
better utilize qualified volunteers in support of Holla Bend NWR's
mission and objectives. One responsibility of the park ranger would be
to develop a plan for recruiting and effectively managing volunteer
support. Wildlife-dependent recreation activities would be the same as
under Alternative A.
This alternative would include the construction of a fishing pier
at Lodge Lake to be accessible by disabled individuals; development of
a bird observation trail north of the refuge office; improvements to
the Lodge Lake Trail and the loop to the Levee Trail; and selective
vegetation management along refuge roads to improve wildlife viewing
opportunities. Information kiosks, direction signs, parking lots, and
other visitor use facilities also would be improved to the extent
feasible. We would determine the maximum number of archery hunters that
refuge resources could support, and we would evaluate the feasibility
of adding a dove season.
We would pursue opportunities to purchase or exchange priority
tracts within the refuge acquisition boundary, which includes 1,703
acres in private ownership distributed in numerous small tracts around
the perimeter of the refuge.
The staff would include a refuge manager, deputy refuge manager,
heavy equipment operator, and office assistant, and would be increased
to also include a biologist and biological science technician, a park
ranger (visitor services), a park ranger (law enforcement), an
operations specialist, and a heavy equipment mechanic.
Next Step
After the comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and
address them.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Authority
This notice is published under the authority of the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105-57.
Dated: October 15, 2009.
Jacquelyn B. Parrish,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-101 Filed 1-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P