Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, WA, 34154-34155 [2010-14085]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34154-34155]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14085]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-R-2010-N001; 1265-0000-10137-S3]


Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, WA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: Draft comprehensive conservation plan 
and environmental assessment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of our draft comprehensive conservation plan and 
environmental assessment (DCCP/EA) for the Ridgefield National Wildlife 
Refuge (refuge), for public review and comment. The DCCP/EA describes 
our alternatives, including our preferred alternative, for managing the 
refuge for the 15 years following approval of the final CCP.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we need to receive your written 
comments by July 16, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, requests for more information, or 
requests for copies of the DCCP/EA, by any of the following methods.
    E-mail: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Include ``Ridgefield NWR DCCP/
EA'' in the subject line.
    Fax: Attn: Bob Flores, Project Leader, (360) 887-4109.
    U.S. Mail: Bob Flores, Project Leader, Ridgefield National Wildlife 
Refuge, P.O. Box 457, Ridgefield, WA 98642.
    Web site: https://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield; select 
``Contact Us.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Flores, Project Leader, (360) 887-
4106.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Introduction

    The refuge encompasses 5,218 acres along the lower Columbia River 
in Clark County, WA. Habitat types on the refuge include seasonal, 
semipermanent, and permanent wetlands; floodplain forests; managed 
pastures; croplands; and oak woodlands. The refuge was established to 
provide migration and wintering habitat for dusky Canada geese and 
other waterfowl. It also provides important habitat for sandhill 
cranes, waterbirds, migratory landbirds, and raptors.

Background

The CCP Process

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Refuge 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 and 
photography, and environmental education and interpretation. We will 
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with 
the Refuge Administration Act.

Public Outreach

    We began public outreach by publishing a Notice of Intent in the 
Federal Register (71 FR 43787; August 2, 2006), announcing our intent 
to complete a CCP/EA and inviting public comments. In August 2006, we 
distributed Planning Update 1 to our mailing list and public outlets. 
On September 14 and 20, 2006, we held public scoping meetings in 
Ridgefield and Vancouver, Washington, respectively, to meet the public 
and obtain comments. The meetings were announced through local media 
outlets, on the Refuge's Web site, and in Planning Update 1. In January 
2007, we distributed Planning Update 2, which included a summary of the 
comments we received, a planning schedule, and a description of the 
CCP's scope. In March 2009, we distributed Planning Update 3; in it we 
summarized our preliminary draft alternatives, requested public 
comments, and invited the public to an open house. On March 26, 2009, 
we held an open house in Ridgefield, Washington, to gather input on the 
preliminary alternatives.

DCCP/EA Alternatives We Are Considering

    We identified and evaluated four alternatives for managing the 
refuge, including a No Action Alternative (Alternative 1). Brief 
descriptions of the alternatives follow.

Alternative 1 (No Action)

    Under Alternative 1, the refuge would continue to manage and where 
feasible restore habitat for priority species, including dusky Canada 
geese, other Canada geese subspecies, cackling geese, other waterfowl, 
and Federal and State imperiled listed species. Hunting would continue 
on the River `S' Unit's 760-acre hunt area. The 4.3-mile auto tour 
route would remain open year round in its current configuration. The 
refuge would coordinate with its Friends groups, local educators, and 
Tribes to conduct environmental and cultural education and 
interpretation programs. This alternative is considered the base from 
which to compare the action alternatives.

Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative)

    Under Alternative 2, our preferred alternative, the refuge would 
continue to protect, maintain, and where feasible, restore habitat for 
priority species, including dusky Canada geese, other waterfowl, and 
Federal and State imperiled listed species (e.g. sandhill crane). Under 
this alternative the refuge would maintain high-quality green forage 
for geese in improved pastures

[[Page 34155]]

and wet meadows, and increase the acreage in cropland and wet meadow. 
Wetlands would be managed to increase productivity and reduce water 
pumping costs. Invasive species and State- and county-listed noxious 
weeds would continue to be a primary management concern. Enhancing and 
restoring bottomland forest and oak woodland habitats would increase. 
We would complete habitat assessments to guide restoration of streams 
and tidally influenced wetlands. We would conduct feasibility studies 
for reintroducing native species such as Columbian white-tailed deer 
and western pond turtle, and inventory and monitoring efforts would 
increase. Current public use areas and closures would remain in effect 
under Alternative 2. The waterfowl hunt area/location would remain 
unchanged. Proposed changes in wetland management would improve the 
hunt program's quality over time. A new access point to the River `S' 
Unit, including a 2-lane bridge and 1-mile entrance road, would be 
developed. The existing auto tour route would be open year round in its 
current location; however, the route would be shortened slightly to 
provide habitat for dusky Canada geese and cranes. A new 1.5-mile dike-
top walking trail would be constructed. Environmental and cultural 
resources education and interpretation programs would increase.

Alternative 3

    Under Alternative 3, actions to protect, maintain, and restore 
habitat for priority species are the same as under Alternative 2. 
Current public use areas and closures would remain in effect. The 
waterfowl hunt area/location would remain the same; however, core dusky 
habitat on the south end of the River `S' Unit (207 acres) would be 
closed to goose hunting. The existing access point to the River `S' 
Unit would be retained; a new 2-lane bridge would be constructed to 
eliminate the at-grade railroad crossing; and the entrance road would 
be widened. Implementation of this alternative would require either 
land acquisition or easement relocation/expansion. The existing auto 
tour route would remain unchanged. A new 1.5-mile dike-top walking 
trail would be constructed. Environmental and cultural resources 
education and interpretation programs would increase.

Alternative 4

    Under Alternative 4, actions to protect, maintain, and restore 
habitat for priority species would be the same as under Alternatives 2 
and 3, except slightly more crops would be grown. The total wildlife 
sanctuary area (closed to public use) would be slightly less than the 
other alternatives; however, this alternative provides the largest 
contiguous sanctuary for dusky Canada geese and sandhill cranes on the 
south end of the refuge. A new access point to the River `S' Unit, 
including a 2-lane bridge and 1-mile entrance road north of the current 
access point, would be developed. Closing the south end of the River 
`S' Unit to public use during waterfowl and crane migration season, to 
benefit dusky Canada geese and sandhill cranes is proposed in this 
alternative. The south end of the River `S' Unit (207 acres) would be 
closed to hunting, and the south end of the auto tour route would be 
closed during waterfowl season (October 1-March 15), which would reduce 
its length from 4.3 miles to 2.6 miles during that time. To offset the 
loss of hunting opportunities on the south end of the River `S' Unit, 
250 acres of Bachelor Island would be opened to waterfowl hunting. The 
northern portion of this area would be closed early to hunting (January 
15) to prevent disturbance to a great blue heron nesting colony. A new 
1.5-mile dike-top walking trail would be constructed. Environmental and 
cultural resources education and interpretation programs would 
increase.

Public Availability of Documents

    In addition to the information in ADDRESSES, you can obtain a CD-
ROM copy of the DCCP/EA from the refuge at phone number (360) 887-4106. 
Copies may be reviewed at the refuge and on the Internet at https://www.fws.gov/ridgefieldrefuges/ridgefield. Printed copies will be 
available for review at the following libraries: Ridgefield Community 
Library, 210 North Main Ave., Ridgefield, WA 98642; Vancouver Community 
Library, 1007 East Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver, WA 98663; and Multnomah 
County Central Library, 801 SW. 10th Ave., Portland, OR 97205.

Next Steps

    After this comment period ends, we will analyze the comments and 
address them in the final CCP and decision document.

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 identifying information from 
the public, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Dated: April 20, 2010.
Carolyn A. Bohan,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2010-14085 Filed 6-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P