Planning Process Initiated for Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge
Public scoping comments are requested by November 4, 2011
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) Washington Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Complex has initiated a planning process called Comprehensive Conservation Planning to review the wildlife, habitat and public use activities on Dungeness National Wildlife Refuges (NWR).
A Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) is a 15-year plan that guides a NWR’s 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. Public use activities will be reviewed for appropriateness and compatibility with refuge purposes and the Refuge System mission as part of the CCP process. The Service is considering making changes to two visitor activities; jogging and horseback riding which are permitted in a limited area on the refuge. More information about the CCP process is available at www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/.
The Service invites public comments on issues to be addressed in the CCP. For more information, including the first planning update for this project, see the Service’s website at: http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning. To receive a paper copy of the planning update and comment form, or to submit comments, contact: Washington Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 715 Holgerson Road, Sequim, WA 98362, phone: (360) 457-8451 fax: 360-457-9778. Comments can also be e-mailed to us using the following address: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Please include “Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge” in the subject line. To have your comments considered during the public scoping phase of the CCP’s development, submit your comments or return the comment form by November 4, 2011. There will be additional opportunities to provide comments throughout the CCP planning process.
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established by Executive Order on January 20, 1915 for the purpose of “…a refuge, preserve, and breeding ground for native birds…” under the management of the Federal Government. On May 29, 1943, the State of Washington granted a Use Deed to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for all of the second class tidelands associated with Dungeness NWR. On March 6, 1973 Mr. Cecil Dawley donated 125 acres on Sequim Bay to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service which is included as part of Dungeness NWR. The Refuge currently consists of 772.52 acres, including a sand spit, second-class tidelands and bay area, and forested upland areas. Dungeness Spit, which has approximately twenty miles of undisturbed sandy beach, is one of only a few such geological formations in the world.
Dungeness NWR provides habitat for many wildlife species. The spit provides resting and feeding habitat for shorebirds, nesting habitat for black oystercatchers, glaucous-winged gulls and Caspian terns, and pupping and haulout habitat for harbor seals. The eelgrass beds provide feeding and rearing grounds for a large number of marine organisms and waterfowl including brant. Upland forests are used by breeding song birds, amphibians and bats.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) Washington Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Complex has initiated a planning process called Comprehensive Conservation Planning to review the wildlife, habitat and public use activities on Dungeness National Wildlife Refuges (NWR).
A Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) is a 15-year plan that guides a NWR’s 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. Public use activities will be reviewed for appropriateness and compatibility with refuge purposes and the Refuge System mission as part of the CCP process. The Service is considering making changes to two visitor activities; jogging and horseback riding which are permitted in a limited area on the refuge. More information about the CCP process is available at www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/.
The Service invites public comments on issues to be addressed in the CCP. For more information, including the first planning update for this project, see the Service’s website at: http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning. To receive a paper copy of the planning update and comment form, or to submit comments, contact: Washington Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 715 Holgerson Road, Sequim, WA 98362, phone: (360) 457-8451 fax: 360-457-9778. Comments can also be e-mailed to us using the following address: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Please include “Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge” in the subject line. To have your comments considered during the public scoping phase of the CCP’s development, submit your comments or return the comment form by November 4, 2011. There will be additional opportunities to provide comments throughout the CCP planning process.
Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) was established by Executive Order on January 20, 1915 for the purpose of “…a refuge, preserve, and breeding ground for native birds…” under the management of the Federal Government. On May 29, 1943, the State of Washington granted a Use Deed to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for all of the second class tidelands associated with Dungeness NWR. On March 6, 1973 Mr. Cecil Dawley donated 125 acres on Sequim Bay to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service which is included as part of Dungeness NWR. The Refuge currently consists of 772.52 acres, including a sand spit, second-class tidelands and bay area, and forested upland areas. Dungeness Spit, which has approximately twenty miles of undisturbed sandy beach, is one of only a few such geological formations in the world.
Dungeness NWR provides habitat for many wildlife species. The spit provides resting and feeding habitat for shorebirds, nesting habitat for black oystercatchers, glaucous-winged gulls and Caspian terns, and pupping and haulout habitat for harbor seals. The eelgrass beds provide feeding and rearing grounds for a large number of marine organisms and waterfowl including brant. Upland forests are used by breeding song birds, amphibians and bats.
