The Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the five refuges within the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge Complex has been completed and Notice of Availability of the plan published in the Federal Register, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today. The plan articulates the goals, objectives and strategies that will guide management at these refuges, scattered along nearly 350 miles of the Mississippi River, for the next 15 years.
The Mark Twain Refuge Complex includes Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Great River NWR, Clarence Cannon NWR, Two Rivers NWR, and Middle Mississippi River NWR. In brief, the plan calls for these refuges to focus on restoring riverine habitat for migratory birds and indigenous fish and increasing floodplain functions such as seasonal river connectivity in areas that have proven to be difficult for productive agricultural uses. Adaptive management techniques will be used to monitor conditions and aid in management adjustments necessary to work with varying conditions of the river. The plan also expands the authorized boundary of the refuge complex by 27,659 acres to provide additional opportunities to conserve and restore floodplain habitats as well as increase wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities. Actual land acquisitions will occur with willing sellers only, and will depend upon the availability of funds.
Public involvement has been a key component of the planning process since work began on the plan in 1997. In addition to working with the public, refuge management and staff have worked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Illinois and Iowa Departments of Natural Resources in Iowa and Illinois and the Missouri Department of Conservation. “The process provided an organized forum to interact with the public and our partners on important natural resource issues related to the Mississippi River,” said Dick Steinbach, refuge complex manager. “It’s a long, complex process but we’re happy with the resulting document.”
Project updates have been mailed to individuals, agencies and organizations that requested to be on the mailing list for this project. The update and the entire plan are available on the Internet at: http://midwest.fws.gov/planning/marktwain/index.html. Printed copies of the plan are also available by contacting the complex headquarters at 217-224-8580.
While the planned future condition is long-term, the Service anticipates that the plan will be updated every 5 to 10 years based on information gained through monitoring habitat and wildlife, as well as recreational usage.
The 45,000-acre Mark Twain Complex as established in 1958 to protect migratory birds, waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds. Its refuge units are located on 345 miles along the Mississippi River from near Muscatine, Iowa, to an area north of Cap Girardeau, Mo. It also includes short stretches of the Illinois and Iowa rivers. Refuge units also provide important habitat for fish and a variety of other native wildlife such as deer, fox, beaver, frogs, turtles, and snakes. The refuge complex headquarters is located at 1704 North 24th Street in Quincy, Ill.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 544 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
