Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks public comment on draft Compatibility Determination for plant gathering at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is announcing the availability of a draft compatibility determination for public review and comment, proposing both non-commercial and commercial plant gathering on Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge. Public comments on the draft will be accepted for 14 days, from DATE to DATE.

Plant gathering is the collection of plants, plant parts, or plant products. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with other federal agencies and partners to implement the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration to increase the supply of locally adapted native plant species needed to restore healthy, resilient, and adaptive ecosystems. Seeds may be collected from Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge for non-commercial or commercial uses, including long-term storage, research, development, production to increase seed supply, and ecological restoration activities. Native seed collections, including efforts at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, would contribute to native plant materials development and would help to ensure successful restoration of working landscapes and wildlife habitat after natural disasters and other damage. Additionally, gathering of plants in and around Sacramento NWR Complex by Native Americans has occurred historically and continues to be a periodic use today.

The draft compatibility determination is available for review online at: Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Printed copies of the draft are available for review at the Refuge Complex Visitor Center and Headquarters at 752 County Road 99W, Willows, CA 95988.

For questions and comments about the draft, send an email to FW8PlanComments@fws.gov.