[Federal Register: May 17, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 94)]
[Notices]
[Page 27576-27578]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr17my10-84]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2010-N052; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
J.N. ``Ding'' Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Lee County, FL
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 Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and
environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for J.N. ``Ding'' Darling
National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) for public review and comment. In the
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 June 16, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the Draft CCP/EA by contacting Ms.
Cheri M. Ehrhardt, via U.S. mail at J.N. ``Ding'' Darling NWR, 1
Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, FL 33957, or via e-mail at
DingDarlingCCP@fws.gov. Alternatively you may download the document
from our Internet Site at http://southeast.fws.gov/planning under
``Draft Documents.'' Submit comments on the Draft CCP/EA to the above
postal address or e-mail address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Cheri M. Ehrhardt, Natural
Resource Planner, telephone: 321/861-2368; or Mr. Paul Tritaik, Refuge
Manager, telephone: 239/472-1100.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for J.N. ``Ding''
Darling NWR. We started the process through a notice in the Federal
Register on June 27, 2007 (72 FR 35254), and extended the comment
period in a notice in the Federal Register on April 2, 2008 (73 FR
17991). For more about the refuge, its purposes, and our CCP process,
please see those notices.
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 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.
The 6,406.79-acre refuge supports hundreds of species of wildlife
and plants, providing protection for 13 Federal-listed species and 49
State-listed species, as well as for migratory birds and native
wildlife. It also supports habitat diversity through tropical hardwood
forests, beaches, mangrove swamps, mixed wetland shrubs, salt marshes,
open waters and seagrass beds, and lakes and canals. Comprising roughly
half of Sanibel Island and most of Buck Key, the J.N. ``Ding'' Darling
NWR provides key habitats supporting a variety of species in a highly
developed landscape. The city of Sanibel, Lee County, Sanibel-Captiva
Conservation Foundation, and the Service work together to continue
conservation work on Sanibel Island, which is one of the top birding
hot spots in the nation, with beautiful beaches, shelling, fishing, and
wildlife. This partnership has resulted in land use planning to guide
growth and development, ensuring that future generations will be able
to enjoy the special ambience and quiet harmony that Sanibel Island
offers.
The priority management issues facing this refuge are addressed in
the Draft CCP/EA, including: (1) Increasing and changing human
population, development of the landscape, recreational uses and
demands, and associated impacts; (2) issues and impacts associated with
water quality, water quantity, and timing of flows; (3) invasion and
spread of exotic, invasive,
[[Page 27577]]
and nuisance species; (4) climate change impacts; (5) need for long-
term protection of important resources; (6) declines in and threats to
rare, threatened, and endangered species; (7) insufficient baseline
wildlife and habitat data and lack of a comprehensive habitat
management plan; and (8) insufficient resources to address refuge
needs.
CCP Alternatives, Including Our Proposed Alternative
We developed four alternatives for managing the refuge and chose
Alternative C as the proposed alternative. A full description of each
alternative is in the Draft CCP/EA. We summarize each alternative
below.
Alternative A (Current Management, No Action)
Alternative A would continue management activities and programs at
levels similar to past management, providing a baseline for the
comparison of the action alternatives. Funding and staffing levels
would remain similar to current levels, and programs would follow the
same direction, emphasis, and intensity as under current management.
Working with partners, we would conduct several surveying and
monitoring activities, providing information for a variety of birds;
juvenile and baitfish populations; and key rare, threatened, and
endangered species. Habitat management activities on the refuge would
include an impounded wetland reconnection/mangrove restoration project,
impoundment management, prescribed fire, fuel and fire-effect
monitoring, exotic plant control, limited water quality monitoring, and
limited ditch clearing. Further, we would work with the partners to
address exotic, invasive, and nuisance animals; water quality,
quantity, and timing of flows concerns; and climate change. We would
continue to offer a robust visitor services program, facilitating
fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental
education and interpretation, while continuing to use a concessionaire
to help provide these opportunities. Management and use of the
Wilderness Area would continue. We would work with numerous
governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other
partners to foster and promote refuge management goals, including
through existing management and cooperative agreements.
Alternative B (Native Wildlife and Habitat Diversity)
Alternative B would expand or initiate our management activities,
with a focus on native wildlife and habitat diversity, providing a new
focus for refuge management actions, decisions, and priorities.
Increased surveying and monitoring activities and increased water
management capabilities for the impoundments, the Bailey Tract, and the
State Botanical Site would better serve a variety of species. Habitat
management and restoration activities would better provide for a mix of
native species. Control of exotic, invasive, and nuisance plants and
animals would be expanded. Benefitting numerous species and habitats of
management concern, we would expand activities to better coordinate
with the partners to address water quality, quantity, and timing of
flows related to Lake Okeechobee regulatory releases, drainage in the
Caloosahatchee Basin, local runoff issues, water quality in Tarpon Bay
and on the refuge, and operation of the city of Sanibel's weir. With a
focus on native wildlife and habitat diversity, we would utilize the
best available science and employ a strategic habitat conservation
approach to anticipate wildlife and habitat adaptation tendencies and
to target management actions to facilitate successful adaptation
responses to the impacts of climate change. We would better protect the
archaeological and historical resources of the refuge on Sanibel and
Captiva Islands, including conducting a complete archaeological and
historical resources survey and protecting in perpetuity the
historically significant site of ``Ding'' Darling's fishing cabin off
Captiva Island. We would complete the approved acquisition boundary;
develop management agreements to protect key resources; and pursue
additional special designations for the refuge, including Western
Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network and RAMSAR Wetlands of
International Importance. We would enhance our Wilderness Area program.
Although we currently have a robust visitor services program,
Alternative B would focus more on native wildlife and habitat diversity
and the minimization of human impacts on these resources. In general,
existing visitor uses would continue, including fishing, wildlife
observation and photography, and environmental education and
interpretation, while we would increase efforts to improve ethical
behavior, expand and enhance education and outreach activities, and
maintain the concession approach to facilitating visitor activities and
experiences. To provide additional visitor opportunities, we would
locate and develop an observation tower at the Bailey Tract. The
Wildlife Drive would be evaluated for any needed changes. We would
evaluate the need for and ability to provide parking at the Shell Mound
Trail to address existing ad-hoc parking and Wildlife Drive congestion
issues at this site. We would convert the temporary fee-funded law
enforcement officer position to a permanent position and add five
refuge-specific staff: Wildlife biologist, biological science
technician, two law enforcement officers, and park ranger
(Environmental Education/Outreach). Historically, a single commercial
bait fisherman has operated on the refuge. In line with regional
compatibility guidance and to limit the impacts from commercial fishing
activities, we would phase out commercial bait fishing activities from
the refuge during the life of the CCP.
Alternative C (Migratory Birds, Proposed Action)
Alternative C would expand management with a focus on the needs of
migratory birds, providing direction for management actions, decisions,
and priorities, and prioritizing migratory birds in all restoration
plans. This alternative addresses the management needs of all birds
covered under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, including resident species
of native birds that are found using the refuge year-round. Expanded
and new surveying and monitoring activities, habitat management, and
habitat restoration would benefit a variety of species, including rare,
threatened, and endangered species, with an emphasis on migratory
birds. Increased water management capabilities for the impoundments,
the Bailey Tract, and the State Botanical Site would also benefit a
variety of species, predominantly migratory birds. Control of exotic,
invasive, and nuisance plants and animals would be expanded, with a
focus on migratory birds. To benefit migratory birds while also serving
numerous species and habitats of management concern, we would expand
activities to better coordinate with the partners to address water
quality, quantity, and timing of flows related to Lake Okeechobee
regulatory releases, drainage in the Caloosahatchee Basin, local runoff
issues, water quality in Tarpon Bay and on the refuge, and operation of
the city of Sanibel's weir. We would work with partners to evaluate
water quality impacts on algal blooms, bird usage, seagrasses, and fish
populations in and around the refuge. With a focus on migratory birds,
we
[[Page 27578]]
would utilize the best available science and employ a strategic habitat
conservation approach to anticipate wildlife and habitat adaptation
tendencies and to target management actions to facilitate successful
adaptation responses to the impacts of climate change. We would better
protect the archaeological and historical resources of the refuge on
Sanibel and Captiva Islands, including conducting a complete
archaeological and historical resources survey and protecting in
perpetuity the historically significant site of ``Ding'' Darling's
fishing cabin off Captiva Island. We would complete the approved
acquisition boundary, with a focus on migratory birds; develop
management agreements to protect key resources, including nesting and
roosting areas; and pursue additional special designations for the
refuge, including Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network and
RAMSAR Wetlands of International Importance. We would enhance our
Wilderness Area program. Although we currently have a robust visitor
services program, Alternative C would focus more on migratory birds and
the minimization of human impacts on these resources. In general,
existing visitor uses would continue, including fishing, wildlife
observation, wildlife photography, and environmental education and
interpretation, while we would increase our efforts to improve ethical
behavior, expand and enhance education and outreach activities, and
maintain the concession approach to facilitating visitor activities and
experiences. To provide additional visitor opportunities, we would
locate and develop an observation tower at the Bailey Tract and a
handicapped-accessible fishing pier at Smith Pond on the Bailey Tract.
The Wildlife Drive would be evaluated for any needed changes. Further,
we would evaluate the need for and ability to provide parking at the
Shell Mound Trail to address existing ad-hoc parking and Wildlife Drive
congestion issues at this site. We would convert the temporary fee-
funded law enforcement officer position to a permanent position and
would add five refuge-specific staff: Wildlife biologist, biological
science technician, two law enforcement officers, and park ranger
(Environmental Education/Outreach). Historically, a single commercial
bait fisherman has operated on the refuge. In line with regional
compatibility guidance and to limit the impacts from commercial fishing
activities, we would phase out commercial bait fishing activities from
the refuge during the life of the CCP.
Alternative D (Rare, Threatened, and Endangered Species)
Alternative D would focus on initiating and increasing management
actions that promote the recovery of rare, threatened, and endangered
species occurring within the refuge, providing a new direction for
management actions, decisions, and priorities. Expanded and initiated
surveying and monitoring efforts, habitat management, habitat
restoration, and research would benefit a variety of species, with an
emphasis on rare, threatened, and endangered species. Control of
exotic, invasive, and nuisance plants and animals would be expanded
under Alternative D, with a focus on high-priority habitats serving
rare, threatened, and endangered species. To benefit rare, threatened,
and endangered species while also serving numerous species and habitats
of management concern, we would expand activities to better coordinate
with partners to address water quality, quantity, and timing of flows
related to Lake Okeechobee regulatory releases, drainage in the
Caloosahatchee Basin, local runoff issues, water quality in Tarpon Bay
and the refuge, and operation of the city of Sanibel's weir. We would
work with partners to evaluate water quality impacts on algal blooms,
bird usage, seagrasses, and fish populations in and around the refuge
to better understand the impacts on rare, threatened, and endangered
species. We would coordinate with researchers and the partners to
understand the impacts of climate change on refuge resources with a
focus on rare, threatened, and endangered species, fostering and
conducting research as possible, establishing benchmarks, and adapting
management. We would better protect the archaeological and historical
resources of the refuge on Sanibel and Captiva Islands, including
conducting a complete archaeological and historical resources survey
and protecting in perpetuity of the historically significant site of
``Ding'' Darling's fishing cabin off Captiva Island. We would complete
the approved acquisition boundary; develop management agreements to
protect key resources; and pursue additional special designations for
the refuge, including Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network and
RAMSAR Wetlands of International Importance. In addition, we would
expand our Wilderness Area program. Although we currently have a robust
visitor services program, Alternative D would focus more on rare,
threatened, and endangered species and the minimization of human
impacts on these resources. In general, existing visitor uses would
continue, including fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife
photography, and environmental education and interpretation, while we
would increase efforts to improve ethical behavior, expand and enhance
education and outreach activities, and maintain the concession approach
to facilitating visitor activities and experiences. To provide
additional visitor opportunities, we would locate and develop an
observation tower at the Bailey Tract. The Wildlife Drive would be
evaluated for any needed changes. Further, we would evaluate the need
for and ability to provide parking at the Shell Mound Trail to address
existing ad-hoc parking and Wildlife Drive congestion issues at this
site. To help accomplish the outlined actions, Alternative D would be
similar to Alternatives B and C. We would convert the temporary fee-
funded law enforcement officer position to a permanent position and
would add five refuge-specific staff: Wildlife biologist, biological
science technician, two law enforcement officers, and park ranger
(Environmental Education/Outreach). Historically, a single commercial
bait fisherman has operated on the refuge. In line with regional
compatibility guidance and to limit the impacts from commercial fishing
activities, we would phase out commercial bait fishing activities from
the refuge during the life of the CCP.
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: March 22, 2010.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-11684 Filed 5-14-10; 8:45 am]
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