The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Regional Director has approved the Umbagog (formerly "Lake Umbagog") National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan, according to Refuge Manager Paul Casey. The plan will serve as a blueprint over the next 15 years for managing wildlife resources, enhancing public use programs, and protecting land within the refuge's expanded boundary.
"This plan represents six years of effort among agencies, communities and other stakeholders. Of the alternatives we considered, this approach will best achieve the purpose and goals of the refuge by protecting the health and diversity of the wetlands and forests of the Umbagog Lake area," said Casey.
The plan and other related information can be found online at ?
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/Umbagog/ccphome.html. Paper copies are available for review at local libraries.
Casey explained that the Service adopted its preferred alternative (Alternative B) with modifications based on public comments it received. In addition to changing the refuge's name to recognize that it encompasses areas well beyond the lakeshore, the plan allows the Service to:
- Expand the refuge boundary by 47,807 acres within which the Service will acquire land from willing sellers to conserve important wildlife habitat; and
- Enrich refuge wildlife-related recreational programs and services, including the construction of a new headquarters and visitor facility.
Refuge staff will begin hosting quarterly meetings to share information and offer opportunities for discussion with neighboring communities. The first of these meetings will be held from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. on Wed., April 8, at the Errol, N.H. Town Hall.
dditionally, the refuge will take other actions this year to improve outreach efforts to local communities and refuge visitors, such as installing informational kiosks, improving signage on the refuge, completing a new car-top boat launch near the existing refuge office, and publishing a refuge brochure. The refuge will embark on new management activities this year, including establishing management areas for American woodcock, working with a private landowner to employ timber practices to improve habitat for wintering deer and migratory birds, and controlling invasive plants.
Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge (/www.fws.gov.
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