Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Bear Lake County, ID, and Oxford Slough Waterfowl Production Area, Franklin and Bannock Counties, ID; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact, 33433-33435 [2013-13046]

Agencies

• Fish and Wildlife Service
• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33433-33435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13046]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-R-2013-N048; 12560-0000-10137 S3]


Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Bear Lake County, ID, and 
Oxford Slough Waterfowl Production Area, Franklin and Bannock Counties, 
ID; Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant 
Impact

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 the 
availability of the final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for the Bear Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR, 
refuge), 7 miles south of Montpelier, Idaho; the refuge-managed Thomas 
Fork Unit (Unit) in Montpelier; and the Oxford Slough Waterfowl 
Production Area (WPA) in Oxford, Idaho. The final CCP describes how we 
will manage the refuge and WPA for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP and FONSI by 
any of the following methods. You may request a hard copy or a CD of 
the document.
    Agency Web site: Download the final CCP and FONSI at https://www.fws.gov/bearlake/refuge_planning.html.
    Email: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov. Include ``Bear Lake NWR CCP'' 
in the subject line of the message.
    U.S. Mail: Annette de Knijf, Refuge Manager, Bear Lake NWR, Box 9, 
Montpelier, ID 83254.
    In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Call 208-847-1757 to make an 
appointment during regular business hours at the Refuge Headquarters at 
322 North 4th St. (Oregon Trail Center), Montpelier, ID. For more 
information on locations for viewing or obtaining documents, see 
``Public Availability of Documents'' under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Annette de Knijf, Refuge Manager, Bear 
Lake NWR, 322 North 4th St. (Oregon Trail Center), Montpelier, ID 
83254; phone (208) 847-1757.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    With this notice, we finalize the CCP process for Bear Lake 
National Wildlife Refuge in Bear Lake County, Idaho, and the Oxford 
Slough Waterfowl Production Area in Franklin and Bannock Counties, 
Idaho. We started this process through a notice in the Federal Register 
(75 FR 35829; June 23, 2010). We released the draft CCP/EA to the 
public, announcing and requesting comments in a notice of availability 
in the Federal Register (77 FR 59639; September 28, 2012). For more 
information about the history and purposes of the refuge and WPA, see 
that notice.
    We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI for the 
CCP for Bear Lake NWR and Oxford Slough WPA in accordance with National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (40 CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements. We 
completed a thorough analysis of impacts on the human environment, 
which we included in the draft CCP/EA.
    The final CCP will guide us in managing and administering the 
refuge and WPA for the next 15 years. Alternative 3, as we described in 
the draft CCP/EA, forms the basis of the final CCP.

Background

The CCP Process

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as 
amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 
(together referred to as the Refuge Administration Act), 16 U.S.C. 
668dd-668ee, requires us to develop a CCP for each national

[[Page 33434]]

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, our policies, and NEPA. In addition to 
outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and their 
habitats, CCPs identify compatible 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 
each CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with the Refuge 
Administration Act. Implementing a CCP is subject to the availability 
of funding and any additional compliance requirements.

CCP Selected Alternative

    To address issues identified during our CCP planning process, we 
developed and evaluated alternatives and identified the preferred 
alternative for the refuge and WPA. The preferred alternative, which 
was selected for the CCP, is briefly summarized below. For full details 
of all the alternatives, please review the draft CCP/EA (see the Public 
Availability of Documents section for ways to view or obtain the CCP/
EA).
Selected Alternative (Alternative 3)
    Under the Selected Alternative we will continue to provide habitat 
for waterfowl breeding and fall migration at Bear Lake NWR. We will use 
water level manipulations and other strategies to provide a variety of 
wetland habitats that benefit a wide range of priority species. Water 
in the individual wetland units of Bear Lake NWR will be managed to 
simulate natural hydrologic variability (normal, drought, and flood 
conditions), while providing a consistent annual acreage of wetland 
habitat types across the refuge. We will continue to work with 
PacifiCorp to manage water levels on the refuge for wildlife and 
habitat while abiding by the stipulations of the Bear River Compact and 
the 1968 Agreement between PacifiCorp and the Service. We will reduce 
meadow and upland haying operations on Bear Lake NWR, the Thomas Fork 
Unit, and Oxford Slough WPA by 44 percent (3,533 acres to 1,492 acres) 
over the next 15 years, with three 5-year cycles. Farming will be 
reduced from 214 acres to 154 acres. Former cropland and hayed areas 
will be restored to native wet meadow or grassland communities.
    We will work in partnership with PacifiCorp and other stakeholders 
to study and consult on the effects, desirability, and feasibility of 
reducing sediment loading in the Mud Lake Complex of Bear Lake NWR. We 
will analyze the feasibility of, and make recommendations on, 
techniques to exclude carp and non-native game fish within the Mud Lake 
Complex, and work in partnership with PacifiCorp and the Idaho 
Department of Fish and Game to study and consult on the effects of fish 
passage at irrigation diversions and water control structures within 
the Refuge.
    We will manage water at the Thomas Fork Unit to simulate natural 
hydrologic variability (normal, drought, and flood conditions), restore 
stream habitat on the Thomas Fork Unit for spawning Bonneville 
cutthroat trout, and pursue increased reliability of late season water 
at Oxford Slough WPA to benefit nesting waterfowl and waterbirds.
    Public uses that are currently allowed on the refuge and WPA will 
continue. The Thomas Fork Unit will continue to be closed to public 
use. We will construct additional facilities to support wildlife 
observation, photography, environmental education, interpretation, and 
fishing at Bear Lake NWR. Plans for a combined refuge office and small 
visitor contact station with an environmental education classroom on or 
near the refuge will be developed within 5 years of CCP completion, and 
we will seek funding to construct these facilities. We will establish a 
visitor services position in the Southeast Idaho Complex that will 
serve all refuges in the Complex. This will allow the refuge to recruit 
and train volunteers that would assist in providing expanded wildlife-
dependent recreation opportunities.
    Hunting of waterfowl, small game (cottontails), and upland birds 
(gray partridge, grouse, ring-necked pheasant) will continue to be 
allowed on 7,450 acres (40 percent) of Bear Lake NWR, with enhancements 
to improve access. Hunting of waterfowl, small game, upland game birds, 
big game, and trapping of furbearers will continue to be allowed on the 
Oxford Slough WPA in accordance with State regulations.

Comments

    We solicited public comments on the draft CCP/EA for 30 days, from 
September 28 to October 29, 2012 (77 FR 59639). We received comments 
from 14 entities. To address public comments received on the draft CCP/
EA, responsive changes and clarifications were made to the final CCP 
where appropriate. These changes are summarized in the FONSI. The major 
changes follow.
     The strategy ``In partnership with PacifiCorp, Idaho 
Department of Fish and Game, and other partners, construct four fish 
passage ladder projects on the Rainbow bridge; Paris Creek, Paris Dike, 
and Bloomington Creek to increase fish spawning passage and reconnect 
the two most genetically viable populations of Bonneville cutthroat 
trout in the Bear River by 2027'' was changed to: ``Throughout the 
lifetime of the CCP, work in partnership with PacifiCorp and the Idaho 
Department of Fish and Game to study and consult on the effects of fish 
passage at irrigation diversions and water control structures within 
the refuge.''
     The strategy ``Implement feasibility and engineering 
studies on techniques to further reduce sediment loading within the Mud 
Lake Complex. By 2020, provide recommendations to reduce the 
sedimentation rate of Bear River water diversions and better facilitate 
carp and non-native game fish exclusion'' was changed to: ``Work in 
partnership with PacifiCorp and other stakeholders to study and consult 
on the effects, desirability, and feasibility of reducing sediment 
loading in the Mud Lake Unit.'' The strategy ``By 2020, provide 
recommendations to better facilitate carp and non-native game fish 
exclusion'' was added.

Selected Alternative

    After considering the comments received, we have selected 
Alternative 3 for implementation. The goals, objectives, and strategies 
under Alternative 3 best achieve the purpose and need for the CCP while 
maintaining balance among the varied management needs and programs. 
Alternative 3 addresses the purposes, issues, and relevant mandates of 
the refuge and WPA and is consistent with principles of sound fish and 
wildlife management.

Public Availability of Documents

    In addition to the information in ADDRESSES, you can view copies of 
the draft CCP/EA on the internet at https://www.fws.gov/bearlake/refuge_planning.html, and printed copies will be available for review 
at the following libraries: Bear Lake County Library, 138 North 6th 
Street, Montpelier, ID 83254; Larsen-Sant Public Library, 109 South 1st 
East, Preston, ID 83263.


[[Page 33435]]


    Dated: February 27, 2013.
Richard Hannan,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-13046 Filed 6-3-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P