[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 100 (Tuesday, May 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30190-30192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12698]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS-R4-R-2011-N054; 40136-1265-0000-S3]
Atchafalaya National Wildlife Refuge, LA; Draft Comprehensive
Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the
availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan and
environmental assessment (Draft CCP/EA) for Atchafalaya National
Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in St. Martin and Iberville Parishes, Louisiana,
for public review and comment. In this Draft CCP/EA, we describe the
alternative we propose to use to manage this refuge for the 15 years
following approval of the final CCP.
DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments
by June 23, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may obtain a copy of the Draft CCP/EA by contacting Ms.
Tina Chouinard, via U.S. mail at Fish and Wildlife Service, 3006
Dinkins Lane, Paris, TN 38242, or via e-mail at [email protected]. Alternatively, you may download the document from
our Internet Site at http://southeast.fws.gov/planning under ``Draft
Documents.'' Comments on the Draft CCP/EA may be submitted to the above
postal address or e-mail address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Tina Chouinard, at 731/432-0981
(telephone).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Introduction
With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Atchafalaya NWR.
We started the process through a Federal Register notice on January 9,
2009 (74 FR 915). For more about the refuge and our CCP process, please
see that notice.
Atchafalaya NWR is one of eight refuges managed as part of the
Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Complex).
Atchafalaya NWR is in the lower Atchafalaya Basin Floodway System in
Louisiana. Atchafalaya NWR is bounded on the north by U.S. Highway 190,
on the south by Interstate 10, on the west by the Atchafalaya River,
and on the east by the East Atchafalaya Basin Protection Levee.
Atchafalaya NWR was established in 1986, when 15,255 acres were
purchased from the Iberville Land Company. The Louisiana Department of
Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) have also purchased fee title lands adjacent to and within the
Atchafalaya NWR, bringing the total to approximately 44,000 acres. The
USACE has authority to purchase additional lands within the Atchafalaya
Basin Floodway System.
Approximately 12 percent of the refuge is inundated open water,
with isolated cypress trees and willow stands. Bottomland hardwood
forest is the primary habitat.
Background
The CCP Process
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Administration Act), as amended by the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires us to develop
a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose for developing a
CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan for achieving
refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of the National
Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles of fish and
wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and our policies. In
addition to outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife
and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-dependent recreational
opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and
environmental education and interpretation. We will review and update
the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Administration
Act.
Significant issues addressed in this Draft CCP/EA include: (1)
Forest management; (2) biological inventorying and monitoring; (3) land
protection; (4) oil and gas operations; (5) enhancing wildlife-
dependent public use; and (6) increasing permanent staff.
CCP Alternatives, Including Our Proposed Alternative
We developed three alternatives for managing the refuge and chose
Alternative B as the proposed alternative. A full description of each
alternative is in the Draft CCP/EA. We summarize each alternative
below.
Alternative A--Current Management (No Action)
This alternative is required by the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) and is the ``no-action'' or ``status quo'' alternative, in
which we would not initiate major management changes. This alternative
also provides a baseline to compare the current habitat, wildlife, and
public use management to the two action alternatives.
Alternative A continues current management strategies, with little
or no change in budgeting or funding. We would continue to focus on
maintaining the biological integrity of the refuge's habitats. Under
this alternative, we would protect and maintain all refuge lands,
primarily focusing on the needs of threatened and endangered species,
with additional emphasis on the needs of migratory birds and resident
wildlife.
Conservation of federally listed threatened and endangered species
would be continued through current habitat management and monitoring
programs, to be accomplished primarily through established partnership
and research projects.
Current management of migratory birds would continue to provide
suitable habitat for waterfowl, contributing to the objective of the
North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The current levels of
surveying, monitoring, and managing of migratory and resident birds
would continue. We would also continue to provide for their basic needs
of feeding, resting, and breeding.
Mostly opportunistic monitoring and management of resident wildlife
would occur under this alternative. Only current refuge wildlife
management programs would continue to be maintained, and since little
baseline biological information would be gathered on non-managed
species or groups of species, new management activities would be
unlikely.
The Complex would continue habitat management of existing greentree
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reservoirs, wetlands, open waters, forested habitats, scrub/shrub
habitats, grasslands, and open lands. All impoundments, levees, moist-
soil units, and water control structures would continue to be
maintained to provide critical habitat for threatened and endangered
species, waterfowl, and wetland-dependent birds. Current water quality
information would be addressed on an as-needed basis and would continue
to be limited. All other habitat management programs would remain
unchanged.
Control of invasive and exotic plant species would continue on an
opportunistic basis as resources permit. This limited control would be
performed by chemical and/or mechanical means. Additionally, efforts to
control/remove invasive, exotic, or nuisance wildlife would continue.
These species tend to procreate rapidly and can be especially
destructive to habitats. Control would continue to be implemented by
the take of these animals as part of the hunting program and on an
opportunistic basis by staff.
We would maintain the current levels of wildlife-dependent
recreation activities (i.e., hunting, fishing, wildlife observation,
wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation)
and facilities.
Hunting opportunities on refuge lands are managed by LDWF as part
of the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and would continue. Due
to the complex boundaries and multi-ownership, all hunting and fishing
regulations are set by LDWF as part of a cooperative management
agreement and fall under the rules and regulations of Sherburne WMA.
This offers less confusion to the visiting public and also makes it
easier to enforce laws.
The refuge is open year round for sport fishing in accordance with
State fishing regulations. Fishermen frequent Big Alabama Bayou and
some of the smaller waters of the Complex. Recreational crawfishing is
allowed on the refuge. The Complex maintains four boat launching
facilities, with parking areas that provide bayou access. There is also
a designated pier for fishing.
Law enforcement would continue at the current level, with emphasis
on resource protection and public safety. We would continue to share
five staff members: Refuge manager, forester, biologist, park ranger
(public use specialist), and law enforcement officer.
Alternative B--Optimize Biological and Visitor Services (Proposed
Alternative)
We selected Alternative B as the proposed alternative, because we
believe it best signifies the vision, goals, and purposes of the
refuge. Additionally, this alternative was developed based on public
input and the best professional judgment of the planning team. Under
Alternative B, our emphasis would be on restoring and improving refuge
resources needed for wildlife and habitat management and providing
enhanced appropriate and compatible wildlife-dependent public use
opportunities, while addressing key issues and refuge mandates.
This alternative would focus on augmenting wildlife and habitat
management to identify, conserve, and restore populations of native
fish and wildlife species, with an emphasis on migratory birds and
threatened and endangered species. This objective would partially be
accomplished by increased monitoring of waterfowl, other migratory and
resident birds, and endemic species, in order to assess and adapt
management strategies and actions. Additionally, information gaps would
be addressed by the initiation of baseline surveying, periodic
monitoring, and, ultimately, the addition of adaptive habitat
management.
Habitat management programs for impoundments, greentree reservoirs,
wetlands, open waters, forested habitats, scrub/shrub habitats,
grasslands, and open lands would be reevaluated, and step-down
management plans would be developed to meet the foraging, nesting, and
breeding requirements of priority species. Additionally, monitoring and
adaptive habitat management would be implemented to potentially
counteract the impacts associated with long-term climate change and
sea-level rise.
The control of invasive, exotic, and/or nuisance wildlife and plant
species would be more aggressively managed by implementing a management
plan, completing a baseline inventory, supporting research, and
controlling with strategic mechanical and chemical means.
Alternative B enhances visitor service opportunities by: (1)
Improving the quality of fishing opportunities; (2) implementing an
environmental education program component that utilizes volunteers and
local schools as partners; (3) enhancing wildlife viewing and
photography opportunities by implementing blinds, a swamp trail
boardwalk, and additional observational areas; (4) developing and
implementing a visitor services management plan, working with partners
to develop a Complex visitor center, including a law enforcement office
and maintenance facility with an attached visitors' contact station;
and (5) enhancing personal interpretive and outreach opportunities.
Volunteer programs and friends groups also would be expanded to enhance
all aspects of management and to increase resource availability.
In addition to the enforcement of all Federal and State laws
applicable to the refuge to protect archaeological and historical
sites, we would identify and develop a plan to protect all known sites.
The development of an onsite office for law enforcement officers would
not only better provide security for these resources, but would also
ensure visitor safety and public compliance with refuge regulations.
Land acquisitions within the approved acquisition boundary would be
based on the importance of the habitat for wildlife, management, and
access. Administrative plans would stress the need for increased
maintenance of existing infrastructure and construction of new
facilities. Funding for new construction projects would be balanced
between habitat management and public-use needs. Additional staff would
include: Visitor services specialist, assistant manager, biological
technician, forestry technician, maintenance worker, and law
enforcement officer. The increased budget and staff levels would better
enable us to meet the obligations of wildlife stewardship, habitat
management, and public use.
Alternative C--Maximize Public Use
Active management of refuge resources would be employed under this
alternative to optimize public use opportunities. Staff and resources
would be dedicated to increasing the public-use activities of hunting,
fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and environmental
education and interpretation. All purposes of the refuge and mandated
monitoring of Federal trust species and archaeological resources would
continue, but other wildlife management would be dependent on public
interests.
We would prioritize habitat management of species of public
interest. Wetlands, the greentree reservoirs, and moist-soil units
would be maintained to facilitate public use opportunities, such as
fishing and canoeing. Forest habitat in high public use areas would be
managed, while all other areas would have little management
intervention. Forest opening demonstration sites would be implemented
to serve as educational opportunities for public and private land
managers. The control of invasive and exotic plant species would be
more aggressively managed in public use areas.
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Increased wildlife observation, wildlife photography, and
interpretation opportunities would result from the construction of an
on-site Complex visitor center, boardwalk, canoe and birding tours,
kiosks, and trail signs. Additionally, waterfowl and wildlife
monitoring would be conducted periodically to identify areas of high
use for the visiting public to observe. Environmental education would
be expanded by addressing a wide range of local environmental concerns
and would be offered to a broader range of student groups and schools
through teacher workshops. A new on-site environmental education
facility would be developed to better facilitate the new programs and
workshops. New information brochures, tear sheets, and website postings
would be published to increase public outreach and to promote public
use and recreational opportunities.
Land acquisitions within the approved acquisition boundary would be
based on the importance of the habitat for public use. Administration
plans would stress the need for increased maintenance of existing
infrastructure and construction of new facilities that would benefit
public use activities. Additional funding would be needed to maintain
the maximum number of trails and roads for access and to provide full-
time staff and new facilities to support expanded public use
activities.
Next Step
After the comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and
address them.
Public Availability of Comments
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be
able to do so.
Authority
This notice is published under the authority of the National
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105-57.
Dated: April 6, 2011.
Mark J. Musaus,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-12698 Filed 5-23-11; 8:45 am]
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