The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing changes in the commercial waterfowl guiding program for hunters at White River National Wildlife Refuge in DeWitt, Arkansas. The proposed changes are contained in a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) available to the public beginning today.
The Service proposes to limit the number of commercial guides on the refuge and to assign guides to specific zones. According to Refuge Manager Larry Mallard, the reasons for the proposed changes are to reduce conflicts among commercial guides, and between commercial guides and non-guided hunters; and to provide for a safe, high quality waterfowl hunting experience for the public.
Three possible alternatives to addressing these issues and their potential impacts on the environment are evaluated in the EA. The Service believes the preferred alternative, the proposed action, is a balanced approach to addressing the demands for commercial guide services, while meeting the growing needs of non-guided hunters.
Revisions in the guiding program are required to comply with the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (PL 105-57) and its "compatibility" requirements. The Act requires that compatibility determinations be made at each refuge to ensure that all public uses of the refuge do not conflict with the purpose of the refuge or the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System; or interfere with the six priority public uses established by the Act. These six uses are hunting, fishing, education, interpretation, photography, and wildlife observation.
The draft EA, which contains the "Guiding Prospectus" and the compatibility determination, is available for public review and comment now through June 15, 2002. A copy can be obtained by contacting White River National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 308, DeWitt, Arkansas 72042. Comments may be sent to the refuge manager at the same address. The draft EA, questions and answers, an executive summary, and a refuge map can also be accessed at: http://southeast.fws.gov/whiteriver/.
There will also be two public meetings to receive public comment on the draft EA. The first will be held at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2002, at the DeWitt High School, located at 1614 South Grandview Drive, DeWitt, AR. The second meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, at the Stuttgart Campus of Phillips Community College, located at 2807 Highway 165 South, Stuttgart, AR. Refuge staff will be available onsite prior to the meetings, from 4-6 p.m., to informally answer questions and receive comments about the draft EA. A formal presentation and receipt of comments on the draft EA will take place from 7-8:30 p.m.
Implementation of the revised guiding program is planned for the 2002/2003 waterfowl season.
Draft Environmental AssessmentExecutive Summary -- Waterfowl Guiding Program on White River National Wildlife Refuge
Questions and Answers for Commercial Waterfowl Guiding on White River National Wildlife Refuge
