What We Do
"The Refuge System will be fully engaged in the effort to conserve America’s great outdoors, leading when we can, and following when we should."
- Conserving the Future, Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation, 2011
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997
For almost a century, the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System had been managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under a variety of laws without an "Organic Act" or comprehensive legislation spelling out how it ought to be managed and used by the public. On October 9, 1997, President Clinton signed the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. The Act amends the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 in a manner that provides an “Organic Act” for the Refuge System. The Act was passed to ensure that the Refuge System is managed as a national system of related lands, waters, and interests for the protection and conservation of our Nation's wildlife resources.
The Act defines a unifying mission for all refuges, including a process for determining compatible uses on refuges, and requiring that each refuge be managed according to a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP). It expressly states that wildlife conservation is the priority of System lands and that the Secretary shall ensure that the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of refuge lands are maintained. Each refuge must be managed to fulfill the specific purposes for which the refuge was established and the System mission. The first priority of each refuge is to conserve, manage, and if needed, restore fish and wildlife populations and habitats according to its purpose.
The only system of Federal lands devoted specifically to wildlife, the National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of diverse and strategically located habitats. More than 545 national wildlife refuges and thousands of waterfowl production areas across the United States teem with millions of migratory birds, serve as havens for hundreds of endangered species, and host an enormous variety of other plants and animals. Over 39 million people visit units of the National Wildlife Refuge System each year to enjoy a wide range of wildlife related recreational opportunities.
The passage of this Act gave guidance to the Secretary of the Interior for the overall management of the Refuge System. The Act's main components include:
- a strong and singular wildlife conservation Mission for the Refuge System
- a requirement that the Secretary of the Interior maintain the biological integrity, diversity and environmental health of the Refuge System
- a new process for determining compatible uses on refuges
- a recognition that wildlife-dependent recreational uses involving hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation, when determined to be compatible, are legitimate and appropriate public uses of the Refuge System
- confirmation that these compatible wildlife-dependent recreational uses are the priority general public uses of the Refuge System
- the requirement to complete a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for each refuge
Management and Conservation
Refuge Planning
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
The primary planning document for a refuge is called a "comprehensive conservation plan" or CCP. Under the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act of 1997 each refuge in the National Wildlife Refuge System is required to periodically complete a CCP to guide management over a fifteen-year period. Each refuge must be managed to fulfill the NWRS mission and the specific purposes for which that refuge was established.
The CCP includes the goals, objectives, and strategies for improving refuge conditions including the types of habitat provided, partnership opportunities, and management actions needed to achieve desired conditions. The Service’s preferred alternative for managing the refuge and its effects on the human environment are described in the CCP as well. Additionally, during the CCP writing process the public is encouraged to participate in planning meetings and to submit comments within a specified time frame.
Learn about the Comprehensive Conservation Plan that will guide the Refuge into the future.
Our Projects and Research
European Green Crab Invasion
What do you do when one of the world’s worst invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species decides to settle into your landscape? In 2016, the first crabs were detected in the Washington state portion of the Salish Sea. Through Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR), the staff at Dungeness detected the invasion at the Refuge, catching the first crabs in 2017. A massive trapping effort began to meet this threat head-on. In the first year, 96 crabs were caught in 3,762 traps located in three locations of suitable habitat. The number of crabs has gone down considerably, and two sites have had no captures for two or more seasons. Since capturing that first crab, the refuge has set 11,607 traps, caught 233 total crabs, and feels confident that no breeding populations of green crabs exist within the refuge. This effort was to protect the special habitats (e.g., eelgrass beds, tidal channels and saltwater lagoons) which native species depend upon.
Parking Lot and Public Restrooms Renovation
Partnering with others is something that refuges do all the time. For this renovation to become a reality, Dungeness NWR is working with Clallam County, Federal Highways Administration, and various design and construction contractors. The purpose of this project is to provide adequate Refuge parking and restroom facilities while increasing public safety and reducing long-term environmental impacts. The refuge hosts about 100,000 visitors annually. The parking lots were last paved in 1988, and the comfort station was built in 1973. Both public resources were long overdue for replacement. In early 2022, the refuge anticipates to complete the geotechnical surveys, secure the contract for engineering designs, and initiate the bid process for construction.
More coming soon!
Law Enforcement
The mission of US Fish and Wildlife law enforcement is to protect wildlife and plant resources. Through the effective enforcement of Federal laws we contribute to Fish and Wildlife Service efforts to recover endangered species, conserve migratory birds, preserve wildlife habitat, safeguard fisheries, combat invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species , and promote international wildlife conservation.