[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16556-16558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6250]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R2-R-2012-N230; 1265-0000-10137-S3]
Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, Boundary County, ID; Final
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact
for Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and
finding of no significant impact for the environmental assessment for
the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge (NWR/refuge). In this final CCP,
we describe how we will manage the refuge for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP and finding
of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental assessment (EA)
by any of the following methods. You may request a hard copy or CD-ROM.
Agency Web Site: Download a copy of the document at http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning.
Email: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Include ``Kootenai NWR FCCP/
EA'' in the subject line.
Fax: Attn: Dianna Ellis, Refuge Manager, (208) 267-3888.
U.S. Mail: Dianna Ellis, Refuge Manager, Kootenai National Wildlife
Refuge, 287 Westside Road, Bonners Ferry, ID 83805.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call (208) 267-3888 to make an
appointment during regular business hours at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dianna Ellis, Refuge Manager, (208)
267-3888.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we announce the completion of the CCP process for
Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge. The Service started this process
through a notice of intent in the Federal Register (74 FR 8102;
February 23, 2009). We released the draft CCP/EA to the public,
announcing and requesting comments in a notice of availability in the
Federal Register (76 FR 48877; August 9, 2011).
Kootenai NWR encompasses 2,774 acres along the lower Kootenai River
in Boundary County, Idaho. Habitat types on the refuge include
seasonal, semipermanent, and permanent wetlands; floodplain forests;
coniferous forests; managed pastures; and croplands. The refuge was
established under the Migratory Bird Conservation Act ``for use as an
inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory
birds.'' The refuge provides important habitat for waterbirds,
migratory landbirds, and raptors; a variety of mammals including white-
tailed deer, elk, and moose; and bull trout, which is listed as a
threatened species under the Federal Endangered Species Act.
We announce our CCP decision and the availability of a FONSI for
Kootenai NWR in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Refuge
Administration Act) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40
CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements. We prepared an analysis of environmental
impacts, which we included in an EA that accompanied the draft CCP.
The CCP will guide us in managing and administering the refuges for
the next 15 years. Alternative 2, as described in the draft CCP, is the
basis for the final CCP.
Background
The Refuge Administration Act, 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 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 compatible wildlife-dependent
recreational opportunities available to the public, including
opportunities for compatible hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with
the Refuge Administration Act.
CCP Alternatives, Including Selected Alternative
Our draft CCP/EA (76 FR 48877; August 9, 2011) discussed several
issues. To address these, we developed and evaluated the following
alternatives.
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Alternative 1 (No Action)
Under Alternative 1, we analyzed the following ongoing actions:
Continuing to manage wetlands, croplands, and grasslands
for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, deer, and elk.
Growing 200 acres of grain crops annually.
Maintaining existing riparian and forest habitat; minimal
management of instream habitat.
Allowing waterfowl hunting on the 740-acre hunt area, 4
days per week, in accordance with the State's season. A 200-yard no-
shooting area (91 acres) would continue along the auto tour route to
provide for safety.
Allowing big game and upland game (grouse) hunting on the
295 acres of timber on the west side of Lions Den and Westside Roads.
Allowing fishing from the banks of Myrtle Creek only.
Providing a 4.5-mile auto tour route that is open year-
round to vehicles, walking, bicycling, jogging, dog walking (on leash
only), cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing as weather and road
conditions permit.
Providing slightly over 5 miles of trails that are open to
walking, jogging, and dog walking (on leash only) year-round, except
for Island Pond Trail, which would be closed on hunt days during the
waterfowl hunting season.
Providing an Environmental Education Center for teacher-
led, and occasionally staff-led, programs.
Alternative 2 (Selected Action)
Alternative 2, our preferred alternative, represents a balanced
approach among the many competing needs at the refuge. An emphasis on
managing wetlands, croplands, and grasslands for migratory waterfowl,
shorebirds, deer, and elk would continue. The Service will pursue
measures to improve habitat quality and restore native habitats, such
as:
Repairing and improving the existing water management
infrastructure to increase the refuge's ability to manage wetlands.
Increasing the acreage of moist-soil wetlands from 10-20
acres (current) to 75-100 acres to provide natural food sources for
waterfowl. Once moist soil habitat is established, 50-75 acres of
croplands would be restored to native upland grassland or wet meadow,
while 125-200 acres of small grains and green browse would continue to
be provided annually for migratory waterfowl.
Maintaining 200 acres of existing riparian habitat and
restoring 35-50 acres of native riparian and grassland habitats. White-
tailed deer and elk populations would be managed, in consultation with
the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG), through special permit
hunts in order to protect restored riparian habitat.
Suppressing wildfires and thinning forests to maintain an
open understory and reduce ladder fuels.
Working with partners to examine the feasibility of
restoring degraded stream habitats for the benefit of native fish.
Initiating a land protection plan study to analyze
alternatives for possible refuge boundary expansion to include 120
acres of floodplain owned by the Idaho Department of Lands.
The refuge would continue to provide opportunities for compatible
wildlife-dependent recreation, including waterfowl hunting, wildlife
observation and photography, big game and upland game hunting,
environmental education, and interpretation. Waterfowl hunting will
continue be permitted 4 days per week, in accordance with the State's
season. Current fishing regulations would continue (fishing is allowed
from the banks of Myrtle Creek only). The 4.5-mile auto tour route will
remain open year round to vehicles, walking, bicycling, jogging, dog
walking (on leash only), cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing as
weather and road conditions permit. A number of changes would be
implemented to improve the quality of and access to these programs,
increase public safety, and reduce disturbance to wildlife, including:
The waterfowl hunt area will be reduced to 582 acres due
to increasing the size of the 200-yard non-shooting area to include the
area along the Deep Creek Trail (266 acres) to provide for safety.
Overall, waterfowl hunting opportunities will be the same as under
current management because the non-shooting area is rarely hunted.
The location of fixed blinds and free-roam hunt areas
would be adjusted as necessary based on habitat quality, waterfowl use
of wetlands, and data from hunter surveys.
An additional ADA-accessible blind will be constructed on
the north hunt unit. South Pond will be open to hunting from the ADA
blind only.
Big game, upland game (grouse only), and turkey hunting
will be allowed west of Lions Den Road (173 acres). Big game and upland
game hunting will be discontinued west of Westside Road (122 acres). To
reduce damage to riparian vegetation on the refuge flats, special
permit and/or depredation hunts will be developed for white-tailed deer
and elk, in consultation with Idaho Department of Fish and Game, if
monitoring demonstrates a need for population control. Overall,
opportunities for big game and upland game hunting will increase
compared to current management.
Wildlife observation, photography, walking, cross-country
skiing, and snowshoeing will be allowed on four trails (3.7 miles
total) year round, weather permitting. The Island Pond Trail will be
closed to reduce disturbance to waterfowl.
Environmental education programs will increase.
Alternative 3
This alternative was analyzed but not selected. Under Alternative
3, actions to protect, maintain, and restore habitat for priority
species are the same as under Alternative 2, except that fewer areas
would be planted to crops since more acres are managed as moist soil
wetlands. The acreage in crops and moist soil would be intermediate
between Alternatives 1 and 2.
Waterfowl, big game, upland game, and turkey hunting would be the
same as in Alternative 2. As in Alternative 2, special permit hunts for
white-tailed deer and elk on the refuge flats would be developed to
reduce damage to riparian vegetation. Catch-and-release fishing would
be allowed from the banks of Myrtle Creek using single, barbless, non-
baited hooks only.
The 4.5-mile auto tour route would remain open year-round to
vehicles, walking, bicycling, jogging, dog walking (on leash only),
cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing as weather and road conditions
permit. Wildlife observation, photography, walking, cross-country
skiing, and snowshoeing would be allowed on five trails (4.8 miles
total) year round, weather permitting. The Island Pond Trail would be
closed, but the 1.1-mile Kootenai River Trail would be reopened.
Environmental education programs would increase.
Comments
We solicited comments on the draft CCP/EA from August 9, 2011, to
September 12, 2011 (76 FR 48877; August 9, 2011). To address the public
comments we received, responsive changes and clarifications were made
to the final CCP where appropriate. These changes are summarized in the
FONSI.
Selected Alternative
After considering the public comments, we have selected Alternative
2 for implementation. The goals, objectives, and strategies under
Alternative 2 best achieve the purpose and need for the CCP while
maintaining balance among the varied management
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needs and programs. Alternative 2 addresses the refuge purposes,
issues, and relevant mandates, and is consistent with principles of
sound fish and wildlife management.
Dated: November 10, 2011.
Hugh Morrison,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2012-6250 Filed 3-20-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P