The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is holding two additional open houses for the public to learn about the draft comprehensive conservation plan/environmental impact statement (CCP/EIS) for Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). The open houses will be held on July 29 and September 17 from 3 to 7p.m. at the Chatham Community Center, 702 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633.
The open houses are opportunities for people to learn about the refuge and actions in the draft plan at various information stations. They also provide an informal setting to meet Service staff and another opportunity for the public to submit written comments on the draft CCP/EIS.
The comment period for the draft CCP/EIS is open through October 10, 2014. Up to this point, there have been different opportunities for visitors and nearby residents to learn about and provide feedback on the draft plan. There have been two open houses and a public hearing since the release of the draft plan in April. We have also provided updates on the refuge website, through media outlets in print and on the radio, and have mailed out postcards and newsletters about any updates on our progress.
Through the end of the comment period, comments can also always be submitted via e-mail at northeastplanning@fws.gov; please include “Monomoy NWR Draft CCP/EIS” in the subject line. Comments can also be mailed to Libby Herland, Project Leader, at Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 73 Weir Hill Road, Sudbury, MA 01776 or faxed to 978-443-2898. Comments can also be dropped off during regular business hours at the refuge complex’s Chatham or Sudbury offices.
The draft CCP/EIS describes three alternatives that were evaluated for managing the refuge for the next 15 years. It also provides an analysis of the potential effects on the environment from implementing each alternative.
Proposed management actions strive to meet the refuge purpose, which is to provide habitat for migratory birds and preserve the refuge’s wilderness character. The Service wants to employ a balanced approach to manage wildlife habitat and provide unique recreational opportunities for visitors.
For the latest information about the Monomoy NWR draft CCP/EIS, please visit: http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Monomoy/what_we_do/conservation.html
Find the news release about the Monomoy NWR draft CCP/EIS here: http://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?ID=42485D8A-DC4D-E5F0-ED301D17367F6607
Monomoy NWR was established in 1944 to provide habitat for migratory birds. The refuge encompasses 8,321 acres with varied habitats of ocean, salt and freshwater marshes, dunes, and freshwater ponds. Of this, 3,244 acres are designated wilderness. The refuge provides important resting, nesting, and feeding habitat for migratory birds, including the federally threatened piping plover and roseate tern. More than ten species of seabirds, shorebirds, and water birds nest on the islands. The refuge also supports the second largest nesting colony of common terns on the Atlantic seaboard with over 8,000 nesting pairs.
