[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 220 (Wednesday, November 14, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57108-57109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28437]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Availability of Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and 
Environmental Assessment for Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge, 
Monterey County, California

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces that a Draft 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment (CCP/EA) 
for Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) is available for 
review and comment. This CCP/EA, prepared pursuant to the National 
Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 and the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, describes how the U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service intends to manage the Refuge for the next 15 years. 
Also available for review with the CCP/EA are draft compatibility 
determinations for waterfowl hunting, surf fishing, wildlife 
observation and photography, environmental education and 
interpretation, research, and mosquito control.

DATES: Please submit comments on the Draft CCP/EA on or before December 
14, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft CCP/EA should be addressed to: Mark 
Pelz, Planning Team Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, CA/NV 
Refuge Planning Office, 2800 Cottage Way, Room W-1916, Sacramento, CA 
95825. Comments may also be submitted via electronic mail to 
[email protected]. Please type ``Salinas River NWR'' in the 
subject line.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Pelz, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, California/Nevada Refuge Planning Office, Room W-1916, 2800 
Cottage Way, Sacramento, California, 95825; (916) 414-6504; fax (916) 
414-6512; or Ivette Loredo, Refuge Manager, Salinas River National 
Wildlife Refuge, PO Box 524, Newark, CA 94560-0524; (510) 792-0222.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Availability of Documents

    Copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be obtained by writing to U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Attn: Mark Pelz, California/Nevada Refuge 
Planning Office, Room W-1916, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, California, 
95825. Copies of the plan may be viewed at this address or at the San 
Francisco Bay NWR Complex Headquarters, #1 Marshlands Road, Fremont, 
California. The Draft CCP/EA will also be available for viewing and 
download online at http://pacific.fws.gov/planning.

Background

    The Salinas River Refuge encompasses 366 acres located 11 miles 
north of Monterey, California, where the Salinas River empties into 
Monterey Bay. The Refuge is part of the San Francisco Bay National 
Wildlife Refuge Complex, which has its headquarters in Fremont, 
California. Refuge lands include a range of terrestrial and aquatic 
habitats, including coastal dunes and beach, grasslands, wetlands, and 
riparian scrub. Because of its location within the Pacific Flyway, the 
Refuge is used by a variety of migratory birds during breeding, 
wintering, and migration periods. It also provides habitat for several 
threatened and endangered species, including western snowy plover, 
California brown pelican, Smith's blue butterfly, Monterey gilia,

[[Page 57109]]

and Monterey spineflower. Approximately 40 species that occur or are 
suspected to occur on the Refuge are considered sensitive by Federal or 
State agencies. Current recreational uses on the Refuge include 
wildlife observation and photography, waterfowl hunting, and access to 
surf fishing.
    This Draft CCP/EA identifies and evaluates four alternatives for 
managing Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge in Monterey County, 
California for the next 15 years.
    Under the No Action Alternative, the Refuge would continue to be 
managed as it has been in the recent past (approximately the last ten 
years). Existing recreational uses would continue. For example, the 
Refuge would continue to provide limited hunting opportunities and surf 
fishing access. Similarly, wildlife observation and photography would 
occur on the Refuge. However, there would be no guided tours or docent 
program and no facilities would be built or improved. Recreational use 
would likely increase due to population growth in the area and a 
greater awareness of the existence of the Refuge. The Refuge is 
currently fenced along its southern boundary only. No new fencing would 
be added under the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action 
Alternative, resource management would include: removing and 
controlling invasive plants; managing mammalian predators to reduce 
predation on western snowy plovers; monitoring and managing snowy 
plover; conducting limited species inventories; mowing grasslands; 
planting native riparian trees and shrubs (mostly along the Salinas 
River); and managing mosquitos. The Service would rely primarily on 
partnerships with local and State agencies, organizations, 
universities, and adjacent landowners to accomplish many of its 
resource protection and monitoring goals. The level of staffing and 
funding currently devoted to the Refuge would remain the same under 
this alternative.
    Under Alternative 2, the Refuge would focus exclusively on 
protecting, enhancing, and restoring natural resources. The rationale 
for this alternative is that there are few other public lands in the 
Monterey Bay area whose primary mission is to protect endangered 
species and other wildlife. The Refuge supports a regionally important 
population of the western snowy plover, which is federally listed as 
threatened. More intensive management of this snowy plover population 
and control of public use may be required to increase the size of the 
population and maintain its long-term viability on the Refuge. Under 
this alternative, the Refuge would be closed to all public use except 
guided tours offered by Service staff for wildlife observation, 
photography, and environmental interpretation and education. The Refuge 
would be fenced along most of its borders to prevent unauthorized 
access. The beach below mean high water would remain open for public 
use, including surf fishing, because the Refuge does not control lands 
below mean high water. However, beach access through the Refuge would 
be stopped; users would be permitted to access the beach only from the 
public beaches adjacent to the Refuge. In addition, the Service would 
pursue a long-term lease with the State Lands Commission to manage the 
beach and tidelands below mean high water. Alternative 2 would redirect 
most of the limited resources currently devoted to public use 
management to support increasing the intensity of natural resources 
management. All of the current resource management activities would 
continue under this alternative. New management tools and techniques 
would include: using prescribed fire to augment mowing and herbicide 
use in the grassland/shrubland habitat; conducting comprehensive 
inventories of all species on the Refuge; translocating problem avian 
predators of the western snowy plover; and creating a Geographic 
Information System (GIS) database to track vegetation and population 
trends. Full implementation of this alternative would require increased 
staffing and funding.
    Alternative 3 represents the Service's preferred management 
scenario/proposed action. Under Alternative 3, public use of the Refuge 
would be improved but not substantially expanded. For example, 
informational signs and interpretive exhibits would be installed on the 
Refuge and a wheelchair-accessible trail to the Salinas River would be 
constructed. In addition, the existing parking lot would be improved 
(e.g., graded, paved, or covered with gravel). The area in which 
seasonal waterfowl hunting is permitted would be reduced by 
approximately 15 percent to protect roosting California brown pelicans. 
All of the current management activities would continue under this 
alternative. Some activities, such as special-status species 
inventories, would be substantially expanded. New management tools and 
techniques would include: using prescribed fire to augment mowing and 
herbicide use in the grassland/shrubland habitat; conducting 
inventories of all habitats on the Refuge; translocating problem avian 
predators of the western snowy plover; and creating a GIS database to 
track vegetation and population trends. In addition, the Service would 
pursue a long-term lease with the State Lands Commission to manage the 
beach and tidelands below mean high water. Full implementation of this 
alternative would require increased staffing and funding.
    Under Alternative 4, public use of the Refuge would be improved and 
expanded. For example, informational signs and interpretive exhibits 
would be installed on the Refuge, a wheelchair-accessible trail to the 
Salinas River and to the beach (on a boardwalk) would be constructed, 
hunting blinds would be built along the Salinas River, and a restroom 
would be installed near the parking lot. In addition, the existing 
parking lot and privately owned access road would be improved (e.g., 
paved or covered with gravel), greatly improving access to the Refuge, 
particularly during the rainy season. The seasonal hunt area would be 
reduced, as in Alternative 3. All of the current management activities 
would continue under this alternative. New management tools and 
techniques would include: using prescribed fire to augment mowing and 
herbicide use in the grassland/shrubland habitat; conducting 
inventories of all habitats on the Refuge; translocating problem avian 
predators of the western snowy plover; and creating a GIS database to 
track vegetation and population trends. In addition, the Service would 
pursue a long-term lease with the State Lands Commission to manage the 
beach and tidelands below mean high water. Full implementation of this 
alternative and management of the expected increase in public use and 
the potential conflicts between this use and protection of natural 
resources would require substantially increased staffing and funding.

    Dated: November 6, 2001.
Steve Thompson,
Acting Manager, California/Nevada Operations Office, Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. 01-28437 Filed 11-13-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P