Public Comment Period Extended for the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement
Comments will be accepted until March 21, 2011
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is extending the public comment period an additional two weeks to give the public more time to review and comment on the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Draft CCP/EIS). The Draft CCP/EIS outlines the proposed 15-year management plan, which includes an analysis of alternatives and the proposed management goals and objectives for the Refuge.
"Citizens thoughts and comments on the draft document are very important to us and we encourage people to share them with us," said Charlie Stenvall, Project Leader of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
The DCCP/EIS was developed to provide scientifically grounded guidance for improving the Refuge's habitats for the long-term conservation of migratory birds and native plants and animals. The proposals have been developed based on public feedback received during the planning process on the following key management issues:
* Protecting and sustaining the Refuges natural resources, including habitats, migratory bird populations and threatened, endangered or rare species;
* Providing priority public use programs such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education and interpretation;
* Developing a predator management plan;
* Restoring estuarine habitat;
* Managing the Refuge's forest;
* Developing a headquarters site plan;
* Expanding the approved Refuge boundary.
The draft document identifies three management alternatives. One alternative calls for continuing refuge programs and operations at current levels. The other two alternatives outline actions for enhancing, protecting and sustaining the Refuge's natural resources, including land acquisition and further improvements to habitats, migratory bird populations and threatened, endangered or rare species, and improving priority public use programs. Key programs identified in the DCCP/EIS for enhancement include proposed new visitor/administrative and maintenance facilities, expanded estuarine habitat restoration plan, predator management, a forest management plan, expanded hunting plan, and a land protection plan for possible land acquisition from willing sellers.
An overview of the draft alternatives (Planning Update 4) and the entire DCCP/EIS is posted on the refuge's Website at http://www.fws.gov/willapa/.
The printed volume is available at the following libraries: Astoria Public Library in Oregon, and these Timberline Regional Libraries: Ilwaco, South Bend, Naselle, and Ocean Park.
Comments on the DCCP/EIS should be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed by March 21, 2011, to: Charlie Stenvall, Project Leader, Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 3888 SR 101, Ilwaco, WA 98624; fax number (360) 484-3109; or e-mail FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov.
When Congress amended the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (Act) in 1997, it incorporated an underlying philosophy that "wildlife comes first" on refuges. The Act provided the Service with guidance for managing refuges to ensure the long-term conservation of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. It also established six priority public uses on National Wildlife Refugeswildlife observation and photography, hunting, fishing, interpretation, and environmental education. The Act also requires all lands within the Refuge System to be managed in accordance with a CCP to ensure that the management of each refuge reflects the purposes of that refuge and the mission, policies, and goals of the Refuge System.
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife, and for conservation purposes in and around Willapa Bay. Subsequent acquisition of lands over the last 70 years has expanded the refuge to approximately 16,000 acres. Current wildlife and habitat management activities include wetland restoration, stream and riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian restoration, salmon reintroduction, grazing and pasture management, invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species and weed control, forest management, and migratory bird and endangered species management and monitoring.
The Refuge is located in southwestern Washington on Willapa Bay, one of the most pristine estuaries in the United States. Willapa National Wildlife Refuge includes several rare remnants of old growth coastal cedar forest. The Refuge preserves habitat for spawning wild salmon, hundreds of thousands of migrating shorebirds, and threatened and endangered species such as the marbled murrelet.
Comments will be accepted until March 21, 2011
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is extending the public comment period an additional two weeks to give the public more time to review and comment on the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (Draft CCP/EIS). The Draft CCP/EIS outlines the proposed 15-year management plan, which includes an analysis of alternatives and the proposed management goals and objectives for the Refuge.
"Citizens thoughts and comments on the draft document are very important to us and we encourage people to share them with us," said Charlie Stenvall, Project Leader of the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
The DCCP/EIS was developed to provide scientifically grounded guidance for improving the Refuge's habitats for the long-term conservation of migratory birds and native plants and animals. The proposals have been developed based on public feedback received during the planning process on the following key management issues:
* Protecting and sustaining the Refuges natural resources, including habitats, migratory bird populations and threatened, endangered or rare species;
* Providing priority public use programs such as hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, environmental education and interpretation;
* Developing a predator management plan;
* Restoring estuarine habitat;
* Managing the Refuge's forest;
* Developing a headquarters site plan;
* Expanding the approved Refuge boundary.
The draft document identifies three management alternatives. One alternative calls for continuing refuge programs and operations at current levels. The other two alternatives outline actions for enhancing, protecting and sustaining the Refuge's natural resources, including land acquisition and further improvements to habitats, migratory bird populations and threatened, endangered or rare species, and improving priority public use programs. Key programs identified in the DCCP/EIS for enhancement include proposed new visitor/administrative and maintenance facilities, expanded estuarine habitat restoration plan, predator management, a forest management plan, expanded hunting plan, and a land protection plan for possible land acquisition from willing sellers.
An overview of the draft alternatives (Planning Update 4) and the entire DCCP/EIS is posted on the refuge's Website at http://www.fws.gov/willapa/.
The printed volume is available at the following libraries: Astoria Public Library in Oregon, and these Timberline Regional Libraries: Ilwaco, South Bend, Naselle, and Ocean Park.
Comments on the DCCP/EIS should be mailed, faxed, or e-mailed by March 21, 2011, to: Charlie Stenvall, Project Leader, Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 3888 SR 101, Ilwaco, WA 98624; fax number (360) 484-3109; or e-mail FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov.
When Congress amended the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (Act) in 1997, it incorporated an underlying philosophy that "wildlife comes first" on refuges. The Act provided the Service with guidance for managing refuges to ensure the long-term conservation of fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. It also established six priority public uses on National Wildlife Refugeswildlife observation and photography, hunting, fishing, interpretation, and environmental education. The Act also requires all lands within the Refuge System to be managed in accordance with a CCP to ensure that the management of each refuge reflects the purposes of that refuge and the mission, policies, and goals of the Refuge System.
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife, and for conservation purposes in and around Willapa Bay. Subsequent acquisition of lands over the last 70 years has expanded the refuge to approximately 16,000 acres. Current wildlife and habitat management activities include wetland restoration, stream and riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian restoration, salmon reintroduction, grazing and pasture management, invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.
Learn more about invasive species and weed control, forest management, and migratory bird and endangered species management and monitoring.
The Refuge is located in southwestern Washington on Willapa Bay, one of the most pristine estuaries in the United States. Willapa National Wildlife Refuge includes several rare remnants of old growth coastal cedar forest. The Refuge preserves habitat for spawning wild salmon, hundreds of thousands of migrating shorebirds, and threatened and endangered species such as the marbled murrelet.
