Milton, Del. - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released the final comprehensive conservation plan and environmental impact statement for Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. The 15-year plan for managing the refuge’s wildlife conservation and public use programs is available for review for 30 days.
The 30-day review period under the National Environmental Policy Act allows federal and state agencies, and individuals and organizations who commented on the draft document, a chance to review the Service’s response in the final CCP/EIS. After the review period ends, the Service will evaluate and incorporate any new substantive information and will complete the administrative process required to approve the plan.
The Service’s recommended alternative in the CCP/EIS calls for restoring marshes on the refuge to adapt to the realities of sea level rise and more intense and frequent storm events, restoring previously farmed areas to native forest habitat, expanding the hunting program and other visitor services, and controlling nuisance species such as Canada and snow geese.
Other agencies, conservation organizations, local landowners, and other stakeholders provided considerable input in the plan’s development. The Service evaluated written comments and public testimony on the draft plan in spring 2012, and has revised the plan to include the new information it received.
The final plan is available online at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/primehook. The document is also available at the refuge office at 11978 Turkle Pond Road in Milton.
Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1963 to protect wintering and breeding habitat for migratory birds on the western shore of the Delaware Bay. It is a mix of saltwater and freshwater wetlands bordered by woods and other upland habitats, and is considered a premier site for waterfowl hunting. The refuge is surrounded by residential developments and agricultural lands.
The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 requires the Service to write CCPs for all national wildlife refuges and reevaluate them every 15?years or as needed. The National Environmental Policy Act mandates that the Service develop either an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement in the CCP. This planning process provides a unique opportunity for the Service to involve individuals and local communities in the long-term management of refuges.
