[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 36 (Thursday, February 23, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 9314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2528]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Announcement of Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve 
Revised Management Plan

AGENCY: Estuarine Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal 
Resource Management, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of approval and availability of the Final Revised 
Management Plan for the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research 
Reserve.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the Estuarine Reserves Division, 
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean 
Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. 
Department of Commerce has approved the revised management plan for the 
Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (Reserve).
    The Reserve was designated in 1999 pursuant to Section 315 of the 
Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, 16 U.S.C. 1461 and has 
been operating under the management plan approved as part of the 
designation document. Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), a state must revise 
their management plan every five years. The submission of this plan 
fulfills this requirement and sets a course for successful 
implementation of the goals and objectives of the reserve.
    The mission of the Kachemak Bay reserve management plan is to 
enhance understanding and appreciation of the Kachemak Bay estuary and 
adjacent waters to ensure these ecosystems remain healthy and 
productive through site-based estuarine research, stewardship and 
education. The management plan identifies six priority resource issues 
that are addressed through active management. These priority issues are 
(1) larval and juvenile fisheries recruitment and life history 
dynamics, (2) climate change, (3) coastal dynamics (natural and 
anthropogenic), including land use change, (4) natural hazards, (5) 
socioeconomics associated with coastal resources, and (6) public 
access. Kachemak Bay reserve's management plan addresses these issues 
with specific programs for resource management and protection, research 
and monitoring, education and training, public access and visitor use, 
program administration, and partnerships and regional coordination.
    The plan identifies management goals, priority resource management 
issues or threats that these goals must address, and specific 
strategies to accomplish these goals. The resource management and 
protection program addresses issues such as land acquisition and 
habitat restoration and protection. The reserve manages important 
habitats but any land acquisition of inholdings would be done by the 
state pursuant to existing management programs rather than by the 
reserve.
    The research and monitoring program supports process-oriented 
research focused on obtaining baseline knowledge of the Bay and its 
watershed, and expanding hydrographic and biological monitoring that 
can be used for long-term comparisons. Staff and visiting researchers 
conduct monitoring and research within the watersheds and boundaries of 
the reserve and use GIS to map critical habitats and hydrology and 
hydrodynamic processes.
    The education and training program at the reserve targets audiences 
of all ages and backgrounds for traditional, experiential, training and 
outreach opportunities. The education program is also upgrading and 
expanding the Reserve's exhibitry to better interpret scientific data 
collected by the Research program.
    The public access and visitor use program at the reserve includes 
working with partners to assess visitor needs and complement current 
public access as allowable. Visitor use policies are designed to 
provide for compatible use and protection of valuable natural 
resources.
    The administration program team ensures the staffing and budget 
necessary to carry out the goals and objectives of the plan. Situated 
within its parent agency, Division of Sport Fish of the Alaska 
Department of Fish and Game, the administrative staff develops stable 
funding and grant match opportunities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nina Garfield at (301) 563-1171 or 
Laurie McGilvray, Chief, Estuarine Reserves Division at (301) 563-1158 
of NOAA's National Ocean Service, Estuarine Reserves Division, 1305 
East-West Highway, N/ORM5, 10th floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

    Dated: February 8, 2006.
Eldon Hout,
Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
 [FR Doc. E6-2528 Filed 2-22-06; 8:45 am]
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