[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33433-33435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13046]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R1-R-2013-N048; 12560-0000-10137 S3]
Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Bear Lake County, ID, and
Oxford Slough Waterfowl Production Area, Franklin and Bannock Counties,
ID; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant
Impact
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 the final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Environmental
Assessment (EA) for the Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR,
refuge), 7 miles south of Montpelier, Idaho; the refuge-managed Thomas
Fork Unit (Unit) in Montpelier; and the Oxford Slough Waterfowl
Production Area (WPA) in Oxford, Idaho. The final CCP describes how we
will manage the refuge and WPA for the next 15 years.
ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP and FONSI by
any of the following methods. You may request a hard copy or a CD of
the document.
Agency Web site: Download the final CCP and FONSI at http://www.fws.gov/bearlake/refuge_planning.html.
Email: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Include ``Bear Lake NWR CCP''
in the subject line of the message.
U.S. Mail: Annette de Knijf, Refuge Manager, Bear Lake NWR, Box 9,
Montpelier, ID 83254.
In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 208-847-1757 to make an
appointment during regular business hours at the Refuge Headquarters at
322 North 4th St. (Oregon Trail Center), Montpelier, ID. For more
information on locations for viewing or obtaining documents, see
``Public Availability of Documents'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Annette de Knijf, Refuge Manager, Bear
Lake NWR, 322 North 4th St. (Oregon Trail Center), Montpelier, ID
83254; phone (208) 847-1757.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Bear Lake
National Wildlife Refuge in Bear Lake County, Idaho, and the Oxford
Slough Waterfowl Production Area in Franklin and Bannock Counties,
Idaho. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register
(75 FR 35829; June 23, 2010). We released the draft CCP/EA to the
public, announcing and requesting comments in a notice of availability
in the Federal Register (77 FR 59639; September 28, 2012). For more
information about the history and purposes of the refuge and WPA, see
that notice.
We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI for the
CCP for Bear Lake NWR and Oxford Slough WPA in accordance with 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 CCP/EA.
The final CCP will guide us in managing and administering the
refuge and WPA for the next 15 years. Alternative 3, as we described in
the draft CCP/EA, forms the basis of the final CCP.
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as
amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997
(together referred to as the Refuge Administration Act), 16 U.S.C.
668dd-668ee, requires us to develop a CCP for each national
[[Page 33434]]
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, our policies, and NEPA. 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
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and
environmental education and interpretation. We will review and update
each CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Refuge
Administration Act. Implementing a CCP is subject to the availability
of funding and any additional compliance requirements.
CCP Selected Alternative
To address issues identified during our CCP planning process, we
developed and evaluated alternatives and identified the preferred
alternative for the refuge and WPA. The preferred alternative, which
was selected for the CCP, is briefly summarized below. For full details
of all the alternatives, please review the draft CCP/EA (see the Public
Availability of Documents section for ways to view or obtain the CCP/
EA).
Selected Alternative (Alternative 3)
Under the Selected Alternative we will continue to provide habitat
for waterfowl breeding and fall migration at Bear Lake NWR. We will use
water level manipulations and other strategies to provide a variety of
wetland habitats that benefit a wide range of priority species. Water
in the individual wetland units of Bear Lake NWR will be managed to
simulate natural hydrologic variability (normal, drought, and flood
conditions), while providing a consistent annual acreage of wetland
habitat types across the refuge. We will continue to work with
PacifiCorp to manage water levels on the refuge for wildlife and
habitat while abiding by the stipulations of the Bear River Compact and
the 1968 Agreement between PacifiCorp and the Service. We will reduce
meadow and upland haying operations on Bear Lake NWR, the Thomas Fork
Unit, and Oxford Slough WPA by 44 percent (3,533 acres to 1,492 acres)
over the next 15 years, with three 5-year cycles. Farming will be
reduced from 214 acres to 154 acres. Former cropland and hayed areas
will be restored to native wet meadow or grassland communities.
We will work in partnership with PacifiCorp and other stakeholders
to study and consult on the effects, desirability, and feasibility of
reducing sediment loading in the Mud Lake Complex of Bear Lake NWR. We
will analyze the feasibility of, and make recommendations on,
techniques to exclude carp and non-native game fish within the Mud Lake
Complex, and work in partnership with PacifiCorp and the Idaho
Department of Fish and Game to study and consult on the effects of fish
passage at irrigation diversions and water control structures within
the Refuge.
We will manage water at the Thomas Fork Unit to simulate natural
hydrologic variability (normal, drought, and flood conditions), restore
stream habitat on the Thomas Fork Unit for spawning Bonneville
cutthroat trout, and pursue increased reliability of late season water
at Oxford Slough WPA to benefit nesting waterfowl and waterbirds.
Public uses that are currently allowed on the refuge and WPA will
continue. The Thomas Fork Unit will continue to be closed to public
use. We will construct additional facilities to support wildlife
observation, photography, environmental education, interpretation, and
fishing at Bear Lake NWR. Plans for a combined refuge office and small
visitor contact station with an environmental education classroom on or
near the refuge will be developed within 5 years of CCP completion, and
we will seek funding to construct these facilities. We will establish a
visitor services position in the Southeast Idaho Complex that will
serve all refuges in the Complex. This will allow the refuge to recruit
and train volunteers that would assist in providing expanded wildlife-
dependent recreation opportunities.
Hunting of waterfowl, small game (cottontails), and upland birds
(gray partridge, grouse, ring-necked pheasant) will continue to be
allowed on 7,450 acres (40 percent) of Bear Lake NWR, with enhancements
to improve access. Hunting of waterfowl, small game, upland game birds,
big game, and trapping of furbearers will continue to be allowed on the
Oxford Slough WPA in accordance with State regulations.
Comments
We solicited public comments on the draft CCP/EA for 30 days, from
September 28 to October 29, 2012 (77 FR 59639). We received comments
from 14 entities. To address public comments received on the draft CCP/
EA, responsive changes and clarifications were made to the final CCP
where appropriate. These changes are summarized in the FONSI. The major
changes follow.
The strategy ``In partnership with PacifiCorp, Idaho
Department of Fish and Game, and other partners, construct four fish
passage ladder projects on the Rainbow bridge; Paris Creek, Paris Dike,
and Bloomington Creek to increase fish spawning passage and reconnect
the two most genetically viable populations of Bonneville cutthroat
trout in the Bear River by 2027'' was changed to: ``Throughout the
lifetime of the CCP, work in partnership with PacifiCorp and the Idaho
Department of Fish and Game to study and consult on the effects of fish
passage at irrigation diversions and water control structures within
the refuge.''
The strategy ``Implement feasibility and engineering
studies on techniques to further reduce sediment loading within the Mud
Lake Complex. By 2020, provide recommendations to reduce the
sedimentation rate of Bear River water diversions and better facilitate
carp and non-native game fish exclusion'' was changed to: ``Work in
partnership with PacifiCorp and other stakeholders to study and consult
on the effects, desirability, and feasibility of reducing sediment
loading in the Mud Lake Unit.'' The strategy ``By 2020, provide
recommendations to better facilitate carp and non-native game fish
exclusion'' was added.
Selected Alternative
After considering the comments received, we have selected
Alternative 3 for implementation. The goals, objectives, and strategies
under Alternative 3 best achieve the purpose and need for the CCP while
maintaining balance among the varied management needs and programs.
Alternative 3 addresses the purposes, issues, and relevant mandates of
the refuge and WPA and is consistent with principles of sound fish and
wildlife management.
Public Availability of Documents
In addition to the information in ADDRESSES, you can view copies of
the draft CCP/EA on the internet at http://www.fws.gov/bearlake/refuge_planning.html, and printed copies will be available for review
at the following libraries: Bear Lake County Library, 138 North 6th
Street, Montpelier, ID 83254; Larsen-Sant Public Library, 109 South 1st
East, Preston, ID 83263.
[[Page 33435]]
Dated: February 27, 2013.
Richard Hannan,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-13046 Filed 6-3-13; 8:45 am]
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