The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on a draft Environmental Assessment and Fire Management Plan for the St. Croix Wetland Management District in west-central Wisconsin. Once approved, the plan will direct the use of prescribed fire and mechanical fuel treatments to properly treat District vegetation and conduct habitat management activities that are vital to the Districts wildlife conservation mission for the next five years. District management response to wildfires is also addressed in the plan.
Copies of the draft EA and FMP may be requested by calling the St. Croix Wetland Management District Office at (715) 246-7784. The document can also be downloaded at: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/Fire/firemgtplans.html
Written comments on the FMP can be mailed to Tom Kerr at St Croix Wetland Management District, 1764 95th St., New Richmond, Wisconsin, 54017. Comments can also be faxed to (715) 246-4670, or sent via e-mail to Tom_Kerr@fws.gov. Comments must be received by the close of business Nov. 24, 2007.
The St. Croix Wetland Management District, established in 1993, manages 41 waterfowl production areas (WPAs) totaling 7,500 acres within an eight county District of west-central Wisconsin but at this time, WPAs are present only in St Croix, Polk and Dunn Counties. The District also administers 14 conservation easements totaling 438 acres. WPAs consist of wetland habitat surrounded by grassland and woodland communities. While WPAs are managed primarily for ducks and geese, they also provide habitat for a variety of other wildlife such as grassland birds, shorebirds, wading birds, mink, muskrat, wild turkey, and deer.
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 545 national wildlife Districts, 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.
