Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is seeking public input as staff begin developing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan to guide long-term management of the refuge. Public scoping meetings will be held in Socorro and Albuquerque in order to hear from a variety of organizations, agencies, and individuals.
The Socorro meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Socorro County Annex Building (198 Neel Avenue).
The Albuquerque meeting will be on Thursday, May 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (1 block north of I-40 at 12th Street). Refreshments will be served at both meetings.
A Planning Update is available to familiarize you with the planning process, current refuge management, and potential issues. The update is available electronically at www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/newmex/bosque/planningupdate1.pdf. You can also pick up a copy at the Bosque del Apache NWR Visitor Center or call (505) 835-1828 to have one mailed to you.
The scoping meetings are the first step in a long process to develop a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. The final product will be document that guides all aspects of refuge management for the next 15 years. The planning process will be compliant with the National Environmental Policy Act, so an Environmental Assessment will be developed concurrently. Public participation is critical to the process. When the scoping phase is complete, a draft plan and alternatives will be developed by the planning team. When the draft is complete (in 12-18 months) it will be released for public review and comment. Comments will be incorporated into the final plan, which will then be available to the public.
The CCP is required by law under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. The Act states that each refuge must have a plan by 2012 and that plans will be reviewed and updated every 15 years. The CCP will guide management direction, provide support for budget requests, and be the legal basis for decisionmaking.
For more information about the Public Scoping Meetings or Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, please contact the refuge at (505) 835-1828 or at P.O. Box 1246, Socorro, NM 87801.
