Posted: 7/18/06
Final refuge plan released
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released the Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge on July 11.
The preferred alternative in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), called Alternative E, is labeled ìModified Wildlife and Integrated Public Use Focus.î According to the Fish and Wildlife Service, it seeks to balance the needs of fish and wildlife with the needs of the public for recreation.
That is not an easy thing to do, as several contentious public meetings in the La Crosse area showed. Public reaction to the new plan has been mixed, depending on how people use the river. The refuge received 3,230 written comments to management alternatives contained in draft plans.
Some Wisconsin legislators are also challenging the legality of the plan, and may bring a lawsuit.
The most volatile aspects of the plan have been proposed changes to areas closed to waterfowl hunting which provide a series of stepping-stone sanctuaries for waterfowl during fall migration; establishment of electric motor and seasonal slow, no wake areas to reduce disturbance to wildlife and address conflicts between user groups; and, the phase-out of permanent waterfowl hunting blinds or structures which have evolved to proprietary use of a public refuge.
The next step in the planning process is a decision by the regional FWS director on which alternative in the Final EIS will become the final management plan for the refuge. This decision is made after a required 30-day minimum waiting period and recorded in a formal Record of Decision.
A decision is expected in late August.
No more public meetings will be held, although the public or agencies may provide information or comment during the waiting period.
Alternative E outlines a broad range of actions with the goal of improving habitat for fish and wildlife, complete land acquisition within the refuge, address water quality issues, provide more effective rest areas for waterfowl and other birds, provide high quality wildlife-dependent recreation, and balance the needs of various user groups.
ìAll the comments we received, both written and verbal, reflected an amazing diversity of viewpoints,î Refuge Manager Don Hultman said in a press release. ìItís obvious citizens love the Upper Mississippi River, and that passion bodes well for the future of the refuge, the river, and the fish and wildlife that call it home.î
Hultman said the preferred alternative strikes the best balance between the needs of wildlife and the needs of the people. ìI believe we have been responsive to the public, but also know that it is perhaps impossible to please everyone on a refuge of this size and scope,î he said.
Implementing the preferred alternative will cost an estimated $228 million over 15 years, with 78 percent, or $177 million, directly related to habitat improvement through enhancement projects and completing land acquisition within the refuge boundary.
More changes
Significant changes were put into Alternative E in the Final EIS. Four local ones are
ï Reducing the size of the Reno Bottoms Slow, No Wake Area in Pool 9 by 866 acres.
ï Dropping the proposed Goose Island Special Hunt Area (235 acres) in Pool 8.
ï Dropping the fee managed hunt proposal for the Gibbs Lake Area of Lake Onalaska in Pool 7 in favor of devising a plan with waterfowlers.
ï Delaying implementation of the Black River Bottoms Slow, No Wake Area in Pool 7 until 2008 to allow more time to explore an alternative area proposed by the public.
Other changes include:
ï Dropping the ìno fishing, no motorsî provision for Closed Areas in favor of Voluntary Avoidance for large areas and No Motors and Voluntary Avoidance for small areas, with restrictions taking effect October 15 -- versus October 1 -- each year to extend fall fishing.
ï Dropping the 25 shotshell daily limit and 100 yard spacing regulations for waterfowl hunting.
ï Reducing the number of Electric Motor Areas from 17 to 5; but designating eight Slow, No Wake Areas where from March 16 to October 31 watercraft must go slow and airboats or hovercraft operation is prohibited.
ï Dropping the restrictions on areas open to camping and new alcohol and human waste regulations, but adding a new regulation prohibiting glass containers when afoot on refuge lands.
ï Dropping the proposal for a launch fee at Refuge-administered boat ramps.
The Final EIS and CCP or the Summary of Major Changes to Alternative E can be viewed on the Internet at: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/uppermiss. The summary is also being mailed directly to the approximately 5,000 people who signed up to receive information about the CCP.
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