[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 114 (Thursday, June 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32838-32839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11443]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Announcement of Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve 
Revised Management Plan Including a Boundary Expansion

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 Weeks 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, which 
includes an expansion of the boundary of the reserve, for the Weeks Bay 
National Estuarine Research Reserve.
    The Weeks Bay Reserve was designated in February 1986 pursuant to 
Section 315 of the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, 16 
U.S.C. 1461. The reserve has been operating under a management plan 
approved in 1998. Pursuant to 15 CFR Section 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 Weeks Bay Reserve is to provide leadership to 
promote informed management of estuarine and coastal habitats through 
scientific understanding and encourage good stewardship practices 
through partnerships, public education, and outreach programs. The 
management plan establishes three goals consistent with the reserve's 
mission. These goals are (1) protect and improve habitat and biological 
diversity within the boundary of the Reserve, (2) improve decisions 
affecting estuarine and coastal resources, and (3) promote education, 
stewardship, and scientific research focusing on estuarine ecosystems. 
Organized in a framework of programmatic goals and objectives, the 
Weeks Bay Reserve's management plan identifies specific strategies or 
actions for research, education/interpretation, public access, 
construction, acquisition, and resource protection, restoration, and 
manipulation. Overall, the plan seeks to accomplish the mission of the 
reserve by facilitating scientific research, encouraging stewardship, 
and addressing the local education and outreach needs.
    Specifically, stewardship is encompassed under resource protection, 
habitat restoration, and resource manipulation plans. These plans 
address reserve efforts to evaluate natural and anthropogenic processes 
that affect the reserve and its habitats, support for research and 
monitoring of important resources, restore and protect natural habitats 
and to actively educate the public to inform resource management.
    Research and monitoring support independent research projects 
within the reserve and its vicinity with resources and background data. 
Staff and visiting researchers conduct monitoring and research within 
the boundaries of the reserve and Weeks Bay watershed and use GIS to 
map critical habitats. Research and monitoring results are made 
available to others and is translated to public and private users 
through education, training and outreach programs.
    Education at the reserve targets a wide variety of audiences 
including students, teachers, adults, resource users and coastal 
decision-maker audiences. The reserve's comprehensive approach to 
education including a K-12 education program, outreach and a coastal 
training program are designed to increase knowledge of the target 
audiences about Alabama estuaries.
    Public access at Weeks Bay Reserve includes improving and enhancing 
water access to facilitate the implementation of reserve programs. 
Also, the reserve will reduce impacts on natural resources and maximize 
public outreach by designating specific areas (i.e., boardwalks) and 
create guidelines for public access.
    Administration at the reserve includes supporting the staffing and 
budget necessary to carry out the goals and objectives of the plan. The 
administration of the Weeks Bay Reserve is a collective effort 
involving the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources 
(ADCNR), other state or local agencies and organizations, and the 
Reserve Advisory Committee. An established administrative framework 
implements and coordinates Reserve programs under the plan.
    The boundary expansion incorporates adjacent state-owned coastal 
and submerged lands within the Weeks Bay Coastal Area. Incorporating 
these lands increases the size of the reserve from 6,192 acres to 6,525 
acres. The expansion provides a broader and more representative 
diversity of wetland and water habitats found within the old boundary 
of the reserve. Habitats within the new boundary of the reserve include 
tidal freshwater riverine, emergent and forested wetland communities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew J. Chasse at (301) 563-1198 or 
Laurie McGilvray at (301) 563-1158 of NOAA's National Ocean Service,

[[Page 32839]]

Estuarine Reserves Division, 1305 East-West Highway, N/ORM5, 10th 
floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

    Dated: June 6, 2007.
David M. Kennedy,
Director, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. E7-11443 Filed 6-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P