Chincoteague, VA - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has released a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental impact statement (EIS) that will guide management of Chincoteague and Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuges for the next 15 years. The management decisions included in the CCP are a result of thorough environmental review and input from the community and other stakeholders.
The final CCP/EIS is available online and hard copies are available at the refuge office for a final 30-day review through October 11, 2015. For questions about the CCP/EIS, call 757-336-5014 or email northeastplanning@fws.gov.
A draft CCP/EIS was released a year ago and underwent 90 days of public review. Based on the important feedback received during the extended comment period, the Service has modified its preferred management alternative (alternative B), which calls for balancing wildlife habitat management with public use opportunities. Under alternative B, the Service still proposes to relocate the recreational beach 1.5 miles north of the current site, keep it approximately one mile long, and include a new parking lot protected by dunes.
Specifically, the most important changes in the final CCP/EIS from what was proposed in the draft CCP/EIS include:
In addition to the new one-mile-long recreational beach and the new one-half mile year-round Oversand Vehicle Zone (OSV), certain recreational uses such as fishing, walking, and watching wildlife will be allowed on an additional mile of beach under National Park Service (NPS) jurisdiction south to the terminus of the Swan Cove Bike Trail.
Continuing to allow seasonal OSV access and hiking on the Overwash and Hook via Beach Road causeway, and year-round vehicle access on Beach Road to the South Pony Corral.
Keeping the Toms Cove visitor contact station open for environmental education programs conducted by the National Park Service, Chincoteague Bay Field Station and others.
Swan Cove Bike Trail will remain open for biking and hiking to the beach.
The Service Road will remain open to hiking year-round to the Maryland State line and Assateague Island National Seashore boundary.
These changes are further explained in the refuge’s latest newsletter.
The 30-day review is primarily to allow federal and state agencies with jurisdiction or expertise, and those individuals and organizations who commented on the draft document, a chance to review the Service’s response to their comments on the draft CCP/EIS. After the review period ends, the Service will evaluate and incorporate any new substantive information and will complete the process to approve the plan. Once approved, the Service may begin implementing the plan over time, pending available funding.
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1943 to provide habitat for migratory birds. Currently spanning more than 14,000 acres, the refuge provides habitat for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, songbirds, and many other species of wildlife and plants. Refuge management programs restore threatened and endangered species such as the piping plover and red knot.
Visit the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge website for more information.
