Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge, ND, 11660-11661 [E8-4087]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 4, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11660-11661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4087]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Arrowwood National 
Wildlife Refuge, ND

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announce that 
our Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (Plan) and finding of no 
significant impact (FONSI) for Arrowwood national wildlife refuge 
(Refuge) is available. This Final Plan describes how the Service 
intends to manage the refuge for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the Plan may be obtained by writing to U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Division of Refuge Planning, P.O. Box 25486, 
Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225; or by download from 
https://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/planning.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Spratt, 303-236-4366 (phone); 
303-236-4792 (fax); or Michael_Spratt@fws.gov (e-mail).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed 
Executive Order 7168 on September 4, 1935, ``establishing Arrowwood 
Migratory Waterfowl Refuge.'' Now known as Arrowwood National Wildlife 
Refuge, the 15,973-acre Refuge is in east-central North Dakota. The 
Refuge covers 14 miles of the James River Valley in Foster and Stutsman 
counties, approximately 30 miles north of Jamestown. The purposes of 
the Refuge are for use by migratory birds with emphasis on waterfowl 
and other water birds; the conservation of fish and wildlife resources; 
use as an inviolate sanctuary; or for any other management purposes, 
for migratory birds; and a Refuge and breeding ground for migratory 
birds and other wildlife.
    The Refuge lies on the Central Flyway migratory corridor and is an 
important stopover for many birds. The prairie grassland and wetland 
complex habitats provide nesting and feeding habitat for waterfowl in 
the spring and summer. Hundreds of thousands of waterfowl migrate 
through the area and use the wetlands in the spring and fall for 
feeding and resting. The Refuge contains approximately 6,000 acres of 
native prairie; 5,340 acres of seed grasses; 3,850 acres of wetlands; 
660 acres of wooded ravines and riparian woodlands; and 125 acres of 
planted trees including shelterbelts. It is important to note that 
3,430 acres of wetlands are managed impoundments and pools. Public use 
and recreation at the Refuge includes the six priority wildlife-
dependent uses: Hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife 
photography, interpretation, and environmental education.
    The draft Plan and environmental assessment (EA) was made available 
to the public for review and comment following the announcement in the 
Federal Register on March 22, 2007 (72 FR 13508-13509). The draft Plan 
and EA identified and evaluated three alternatives for managing the 
Refuge for the next 15 years. Under Alternative A, the No Action 
alternative, the Service would manage habitats, wildlife, programs, and 
facilities at current levels as time, staff, and funds allow. There 
would be an emphasis on waterfowl migration and reproduction habitat. 
The Service would not develop any new management, restoration, or 
education programs at the Refuge. Target elevations of each wetland 
impoundment would be managed independently to achieve optimal habitat 
conditions.
    Alternative B would maximize the biological potential of the Refuge 
for both wetland and upland habitats, and support a well-balanced and 
diverse flora and fauna representative of the Prairie Pothole Region. A 
scientific-based monitoring program would be developed as part of the 
habitat management plan (HMP). Public use opportunities would be 
expanded with the construction of additional facilities

[[Page 11661]]

and development of educational programs.
    Alternative C, the Proposed Action, would include those features 
described in Alternative B, as well as including a plan to improve the 
water quality entering the Refuge, and reducing peak flows in the upper 
James River watershed during spring runoff and summer rainfall events. 
This watershed management component would include working with private 
landowners through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for 
Fish and Wildlife program and other federal, state, and private 
conservation programs. The focus would be to protect and restore 
wetlands and grasslands, and reduce the impact on water quality from 
cropland and livestock operations. Improving the health of the upper 
James River watershed would not only benefit wildlife habitat in the 
watershed and at the Refuge, it would also benefit the Jamestown 
Reservoir and all downstream users.
    The Service is furnishing this notice to advise other agencies and 
the public of the availability of the final Plan, to provide 
information on the desired conditions for the refuges, and to detail 
how the Service will implement management strategies. Based on the 
review and evaluation of the information contained in the EA, the 
Regional Director has determined that implementation of the Final Plan 
does not constitute a major federal action that would significantly 
affect the quality of the human environment within the meaning of 
Section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental Policy Act. Therefore, 
an Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared.

    Dated: February 26, 2008.
Gary G. Mowad,
Acting Regional Director.
 [FR Doc. E8-4087 Filed 3-3-08; 8:45 am]
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