The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a reminder of the August 31 deadline for comments on the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
People wishing to comment may do so via e-mail through the Refuge planning website at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/uppermiss,or by mail at Upper Mississippi River NW&FR, Attn CCP Comment, Room 101, 51 East Fourth St., Winona, MN, 55987.
During the public review phase of the draft plan, the Refuge hosted 21 public information meetings and workshops attended by more than 2,900 people. Refuge Manager Don Hultman said since the last workshop in Dubuque, Iowa, on July 21, Refuge staff have been meeting individually with representatives from state agencies and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to discuss the draft plan.
Hultman said in addition to comments at the meetings and workshops, nearly 2,000 comments from individuals or organizations have been received to date. All input will be considered as the Refuge drafts a new preferred alternative for public release and comment in mid to late-October.
? Commenting now is very important since we want everyone's ideas to help craft the best new alternative possible," Hultman said.
He said written comments to date reflect a wide range of viewpoints on many of the more contentious issues in the draft plan. Comments also come in various forms. "We have received about 300 personally-written comments, about 1,625 ?form letter? comments sponsored by groups with varying interests, and three petitions signed by a total of 560 people," Hultman said.
Refuge staff are expecting a rush of comments as the deadline approaches, including the formal comments from the states, Corps of Engineers, and a variety of conservation organizations.
The comprehensive plan, when completed, will guide management and administration of the refuge for the next 15 years, although periodic reviews will occur. Federal law requires comprehensive plans for all national wildlife refuges.
The draft Plan and a summary can be viewed on the Internet at the Service's Planning Website: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/uppermiss. The draft Plan can also be viewed at 52 public libraries in communities near the refuge, or at refuge district offices in Savanna, Ill , McGregor, Iowa; La Crosse, Wis.; and Winona, Minn. The website also contains recommendations made by people at the 10 workshops held in June and July.
With more than 3 million visitors per year, the "Upper Miss? Refuge is the most visited refuge in the country and has the added complexity of a major navigation system, including 11 locks and dams within its boundary. It is also a world-class fish and wildlife area which harbors 306 species of birds; 119 species of fish; more than 130 active bald eagle nests; thousands of heron and egret nests; spectacular concentrations of canvasback ducks, tundra swans, and white pelicans; and several threatened or endangered species.
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 more than 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 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 that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.


