Planning Process Initiated for Three Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuges
Public meetings are scheduled - see list below
Public scoping comments are requested by December 31, 2010
The Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex has initiated a planning process called Comprehensive Conservation Planning to review the wildlife, habitat and public use activities on Bandon Marsh, Nestucca Bay and Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs). Three public Open House meetings will be held in communities along the Oregon coast to explain this process and to seek input from the public, interested government agencies, elected officials, tribes, and conservation organizations regarding their interests, concerns and viewpoints about important management issues on these refuges. Public input will be used to help determine the issues that will be addressed in the plan.
The public is invited to the following open house meetings:
November 29 2010, 6-9 PM at the Lincoln City Community Center
2150 NE Oar Place, Lincoln City, OR 97367 Tuesday, November 30, 2010, 6-9 PM at the Kiwanda Community Center
34600 Cape Kiwanda Drive, Pacific City, OR 97135 Thursday, December 2, 2010, 6-9 PM at the Bandon Community Center
1200 11th Street SW, Bandon, OR 97411
Please share your ideas by attending one of the upcoming public meetings and/or by submitting written comments. Comments on the issues to be addressed in the CCP should be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed by December 31, 2010, to Roy Lowe, Project Leader, Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 2127 SE Marine Science Drive, port, OR 97365; fax number (541)867-4551; or e-mail Oregoncoastccp@fws.gov. During each meeting there will be a brief presentation at approximately 6:15 p.m. followed by the opportunity to talk to refuge staff about wildlife-oriented recreation, wildlife and habitat management, and the planning process. For more information please call the refuge's port office at 541-867-4550, or go to www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/.
A Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) is a 15-year plan that guides a NWRs management decisions, and identifies long-range refuge goals, objectives, and strategies for achieving the purposes for which the refuge was established. During the CCP planning process, many elements will be considered, including wildlife and habitat protection and management, and public use opportunities. More information about the CCP process is available at www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/.
Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located in the lower Coquille River estuary on Oregon's south coast. This 889-acre Refuge was established in 1983 to conserve the last substantial tract of salt marsh salt marsh
Salt marshes are found in tidal areas near the coast, where freshwater mixes with saltwater.
Learn more about salt marsh in the Coquille River estuary for migratory birds and for anadromous fish such as the threatened coho salmon. This Refuge's habitats are a diversity of salt marsh, mudflats and tidal sloughs; forested freshwater wetlands; freshwater marsh; riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian areas; and grasslands. The eastern Ni-les'tun Unit includes 400 acres of historic saltmarsh that is in the process of being restored to tidal action, and visitors are able to observe wildlife from the viewing deck overlooking the restoration site. The western Bandon Marsh Unit consists primarily of salt marsh, mudflats, and riparian forest, and popular recreational activities on this Unit include waterfowl hunting, clamming, environmental education, and observing and photographing wildlife.
The 888-acre Nestucca Bay NWR is located on the north-central Oregon coast near the confluence of the Nestucca and Little Nestucca Rivers. This Refuge was established in 1991 to protect diverse coastal wetland habitats and upland habitat buffers for a variety of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, songbirds, anadromous fish, and other wildlife, and to protect essential wintering habitat for Aleutian cackling geese, which were federally listed as endangered in 1967 and delisted in 2001, and for dusky Canada geese (USFWS species of concern). This Refuge contains open water, mudflats, and tidal marshes; grasslands; and lowland pastures which are managed intensively to provide goose habitat, especially for dusky Canada geese which continues to experience a long-term population decline. In 2002, the Refuge was expanded to include the Neskowin Marsh Unit which incorporates unique freshwater wetland and bog habitats not found within the original Refuge boundary. Habitats within the Neskowin Marsh Unit include marsh, bogs, forested wetlands, and upland shrub and meadows. Nestucca Bay NWR is also a place where people can enjoy nature. The Pacific View Trail and Overlook provide an accessible opportunity to observe wildlife and habitats from atop Cannery Hill at the Nestucca Bay Unit. Siletz Bay NWR, also on the north-central coast but just south of Lincoln City, was established in 1991 to protect the remaining coastal wetlands and uplands around Siletz Bay from rapidly encroaching development. Tidal marsh protection and restoration were priority goals for establishing this Refuge. Siletz Bay NWR's 568 acres of tidal marsh, diked former tidal marsh in varying stages of muted tidal action, forested wetlands, and upland forest provide essential habitat for shorebirds, wading birds, waterfowl, anadromous fish, and other estuarine-dependent fish and wildlife species. The Refuge offers seasonal opportunities to observe wildlife via guided canoe/kayak excursions on Millport Slough and the Siletz River which flow through the Refuge.
Public scoping comments are requested by December 31, 2010
The Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex has initiated a planning process called Comprehensive Conservation Planning to review the wildlife, habitat and public use activities on Bandon Marsh, Nestucca Bay and Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs). Three public Open House meetings will be held in communities along the Oregon coast to explain this process and to seek input from the public, interested government agencies, elected officials, tribes, and conservation organizations regarding their interests, concerns and viewpoints about important management issues on these refuges. Public input will be used to help determine the issues that will be addressed in the plan.
The public is invited to the following open house meetings:
2150 NE Oar Place, Lincoln City, OR 97367
34600 Cape Kiwanda Drive, Pacific City, OR 97135
1200 11th Street SW, Bandon, OR 97411
Please share your ideas by attending one of the upcoming public meetings and/or by submitting written comments. Comments on the issues to be addressed in the CCP should be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed by December 31, 2010, to Roy Lowe, Project Leader, Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 2127 SE Marine Science Drive, port, OR 97365; fax number (541)867-4551; or e-mail Oregoncoastccp@fws.gov. During each meeting there will be a brief presentation at approximately 6:15 p.m. followed by the opportunity to talk to refuge staff about wildlife-oriented recreation, wildlife and habitat management, and the planning process. For more information please call the refuge's port office at 541-867-4550, or go to www.fws.gov/oregoncoast/.
A Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) is a 15-year plan that guides a NWRs management decisions, and identifies long-range refuge goals, objectives, and strategies for achieving the purposes for which the refuge was established. During the CCP planning process, many elements will be considered, including wildlife and habitat protection and management, and public use opportunities. More information about the CCP process is available at www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/.
Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located in the lower Coquille River estuary on Oregon's south coast. This 889-acre Refuge was established in 1983 to conserve the last substantial tract of salt marsh salt marsh
Salt marshes are found in tidal areas near the coast, where freshwater mixes with saltwater.
Learn more about salt marsh in the Coquille River estuary for migratory birds and for anadromous fish such as the threatened coho salmon. This Refuge's habitats are a diversity of salt marsh, mudflats and tidal sloughs; forested freshwater wetlands; freshwater marsh; riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian areas; and grasslands. The eastern Ni-les'tun Unit includes 400 acres of historic saltmarsh that is in the process of being restored to tidal action, and visitors are able to observe wildlife from the viewing deck overlooking the restoration site. The western Bandon Marsh Unit consists primarily of salt marsh, mudflats, and riparian forest, and popular recreational activities on this Unit include waterfowl hunting, clamming, environmental education, and observing and photographing wildlife.
The 888-acre Nestucca Bay NWR is located on the north-central Oregon coast near the confluence of the Nestucca and Little Nestucca Rivers. This Refuge was established in 1991 to protect diverse coastal wetland habitats and upland habitat buffers for a variety of migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, songbirds, anadromous fish, and other wildlife, and to protect essential wintering habitat for Aleutian cackling geese, which were federally listed as endangered in 1967 and delisted in 2001, and for dusky Canada geese (USFWS species of concern). This Refuge contains open water, mudflats, and tidal marshes; grasslands; and lowland pastures which are managed intensively to provide goose habitat, especially for dusky Canada geese which continues to experience a long-term population decline. In 2002, the Refuge was expanded to include the Neskowin Marsh Unit which incorporates unique freshwater wetland and bog habitats not found within the original Refuge boundary. Habitats within the Neskowin Marsh Unit include marsh, bogs, forested wetlands, and upland shrub and meadows. Nestucca Bay NWR is also a place where people can enjoy nature. The Pacific View Trail and Overlook provide an accessible opportunity to observe wildlife and habitats from atop Cannery Hill at the Nestucca Bay Unit. Siletz Bay NWR, also on the north-central coast but just south of Lincoln City, was established in 1991 to protect the remaining coastal wetlands and uplands around Siletz Bay from rapidly encroaching development. Tidal marsh protection and restoration were priority goals for establishing this Refuge. Siletz Bay NWR's 568 acres of tidal marsh, diked former tidal marsh in varying stages of muted tidal action, forested wetlands, and upland forest provide essential habitat for shorebirds, wading birds, waterfowl, anadromous fish, and other estuarine-dependent fish and wildlife species. The Refuge offers seasonal opportunities to observe wildlife via guided canoe/kayak excursions on Millport Slough and the Siletz River which flow through the Refuge.
