[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64364-64365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28430]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental 
Assessment for the Minnesota Wetland Management Districts (WMDs), Big 
Stone, Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Litchfield, Morris, and Windom

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces that 
the final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental 
Assessment (EA) is available for Big Stone, Detroit Lakes, Fergus 
Falls, Litchfield, Morris, and Windom WMDs. The CCPs were prepared 
pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 
1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act 
of 1997, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and we 
describe how the Service intends to manage these districts over the 
next 15 years.

DATES: Implementation of the CCPs will not begin sooner than 30 days 
following the publication of this Federal Register notice.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the CCPs are available on compact diskette or hard 
copy, and you may obtain a copy by writing the applicable WMD: Big 
Stone Wetland Management District, Rural Route 1, Box 25, Odessa, MN 
56276-9706; Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District, 26624 North 
Tower Road, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-7959; Fergus Falls Wetland 
Management District, 21932 State Highway 210, Fergus Falls, MN 56537-
7627; Litchfield Wetland Management District, 22274-615th Avenue, 
Litchfield, MN 55355-2900; Morris Wetland Management District, 43875-
230th Street, Morris, MN 56267-9735; or Windom Wetland Management 
District, 49663 County Road 17, Windom, MN 56101-3026. Copies of the 
CCP can also be accessed and downloaded at the following Web site 
address: http://www.midwest.fws.gov/planning/wmdplanning.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Refuge System 
Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge 
System Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee et seq.) requires 
a CCP and the National Environmental Policy Act compliance (42 U.S.C. 
4321-4370d). The purpose in developing CCPs is to provide district 
managers with a 15-year strategy for achieving district purposes and 
contribute toward the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System, 
consistent with sound principles of fish and wildlife science, 
conservation, legal mandates, and Service policies. In addition to 
outlining broad management direction on conserving wildlife and their 
habitats, the CCPs identify wildlife-dependent recreational 
opportunities available to the public, including opportunities for 
hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and 
environmental education and interpretation. The CCPs will be reviewed 
and updated at least every 15 years.
    The WMD Waterfowl Production Areas purposes are: ``* * * as 
Waterfowl Production Areas'' subject to ``* * * all of the provisions 
of such Act [Migratory Bird Conservation Act] * * * except the 
inviolate sanctuary provisions * * *'' and `` * * * for any other 
management purpose, for migratory birds.''
    The Minnesota WMDs are part of a unique natural ecosystem and an 
equally unique legacy of human partnership. Six WMDs are located in 
western Minnesota: Big Stone WMD, Detroit Lakes WMD, Fergus Falls WMD, 
Litchfield WMD, Morris WMD, and Windom WMD. These WMDs used a joint 
process to prepare the CCPs, resulting in six separate CCPs.
    Wetland Management Districts are unique collections of land that 
are not national wildlife refuges, but are managed as part of the 
National Wildlife Refuge System. A WMD is the Federal administrative 
unit that is charged with acquiring, overseeing and managing Waterfowl 
Production Areas (WPAs) and easements within a multi-county area. 
Waterfowl Production Areas are wetlands and surrounding upland 
grasslands purchased by the Service to

[[Page 64365]]

provide nesting habitat for waterfowl. Several WPAs of anywhere from a 
few acres to a few hundred acres are scattered throughout a several-
county area. Waterfowl Production Areas within the Minnesota WMDs 
average about 210 acres in size.
    Wetland Management Districts exemplify how partnerships can succeed 
in preserving habitat. From the Duck Stamp Act of 1934 to the Wetland 
Loan Act of 1961 to the Small Wetland Acquisition Program of 1962, the 
Service, and hunters, environmentalists, and communities have worked 
together to preserve land and wildlife. Funding for acquisition of WPAs 
comes in large part from funds generated through the Duck Stamp Act, 
making duck hunters a key partner in preserving critical habitat within 
the prairie pothole region.
    When the Service buys land for the WMDs, it is the result of 
negotiation with a willing seller as well as the State of Minnesota, 
the local county and the township. Working with counties, the Service 
has established a goal for acres of acquisition in each WMD, and each 
county within each WMD has agreed to that goal. Prior to final 
acquisition approval by the State of Minnesota (through the Land 
Exchange Board, which is headed by the Governor), each tract is 
discussed and reviewed in detail with the commissioners of the county 
where the tract is located. (There are 28 counties within the six-
district planning area.) Township boards are also informed of these 
proposed acquisitions and invited to attend and participate in the 
meeting with the county commissioners. The meetings are open to the 
public.
    Wetland Management Districts are managed differently than national 
wildlife refuges. Waterfowl Production Areas are assumed to be open to 
the public unless closed for a specific reason. In Minnesota, WPAs are 
open to the Service's Big Six priority public uses: hunting, fishing, 
wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and 
interpretation.
    Big Stone WMD--The WMD was established in 1996 to acquire and 
manage lands under the Small Wetlands Acquisition Program within 
Lincoln and Lyon counties. It currently includes 11 WPAs covering 2,343 
acres of fee title lands, 15 habitat and/or wetland easements covering 
1,547 acres.
    Detroit Lakes WMD--The 5 county WMD currently manages 41,615 fee 
acres on 163 WPAs and 320 easements covering 13,300 acres.
    Fergus Falls WMD--The 5 county WMD currently manages 215 WPAs 
totaling 43,417 acres and 1,136 easements covering 113,525 acres.
    Litchfield WMD--The 7 county WMD was established in 1978 and today 
manages 148 WPAs covering more than 33,000 acres of fee title lands, 
453 easements covering 36,154 acres.
    Morris WMD--The 8 county WMD, originally established in 1964 as the 
Benson WMD, manages 246 WPAs totaling 51,208 acres in fee title 
ownership and 646 easements encompassing 23,182 acres.
    Windom WMD--The 12 county WMD was established in 1990. It includes 
59 WPAs covering 12,669 acres of fee title lands, 51 easements covering 
over 1,847 acres.
    Three management alternatives were considered: (1) Acquire no 
additional land and maintain management on current land; (2) Increase 
land holdings to goal acres and maintain current management practices 
(current management); and (3) Increase land holdings to goal acres and 
expand management for waterfowl, other trust species and the public 
(preferred alternative).
    The CCP represents the preferred alternative and describes a future 
in which the Service continues to acquire land to reach the goal acres 
agreed to by the State of Minnesota and each County within the 
District. The WMDs will strive to preserve and maintain diversity and 
increase the abundance of waterfowl and other key wildlife species in 
the Northern Tallgrass Prairie Ecosystem. They will restore wetlands 
and prairie as habitat for migratory waterfowl. Our intent will be to 
increase the block size of WPAs from an average of 210 acres to benefit 
waterfowl species as well as grassland birds. Working with the 
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, we will reintroduce native 
species on WPAs. Coordinated, standardized, cost-effective and 
defensible methods will be implemented for gathering and analyzing 
habitat and population data. Limited continued use of food plots and 
feeder cribs to support resident wildlife, notably white-tailed deer 
and pheasants will be allowed. The WMDs will work with other WMDs in 
Minnesota as well as neighboring states (Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota 
and North Dakota) to develop more consistency in policies for habitat, 
public use and resource protection. It is our goal to promote a greater 
understanding and awareness of the WMDs' programs, goals and objectives 
within the public, partnerships, tribes and government agencies.

    Dated: May 6, 2003.
Gerry Jackson,
Acting Regional Director.

    Editorial note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register on November 7, 2003.

[FR Doc. 03-28430 Filed 11-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P