[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58866-58867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20474]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge, Pike and Gibson Counties, 
IN

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability: Draft comprehensive conservation plan 
and environmental assessment; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and draft 
environmental assessment (EA) for Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge 
(NWR) for public review and comment. In this draft CCP/EA, we describe 
how we propose to manage the refuge for the next 15 years.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments 
by November 30, 2007. An open house style meeting will be held during 
the comment period to receive comments and provide information on the 
draft plan. Special mailings, newspaper articles, internet postings, 
and other media announcements will inform people of the meetings and 
opportunities for written comments.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments or requests for more information by any 
of the following methods. You may also drop off comments in person at 
Patoka River NWR.
     Agency Web site: View or download a copy of the document 
and comment at

[[Page 58867]]

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/PatokaRiver/.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``Patoka River Draft 
CCP/EA'' in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: 812-749-3059.
     Mail: Refuge Manager, Patoka River National Wildlife 
Refuge, 510\1/2\ West Morton St., Oakland City, IN 47660.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill McCoy, 812-749-3199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Patoka River NWR, 
which was started with the notice of intent published in 68 FR 62472 
(November 4, 2003). For more about the initial process and the history 
of this refuge, see that notice. Patoka River NWR, located in 
southwestern Indiana, includes wetlands and bottomland forest along the 
Patoka River that provide a variety of habitat for migrant and resident 
wildlife. The Refuge contains some of the best wood duck production 
habitat in the State and is used by endangered and threatened species, 
including the Bald Eagle. The Refuge also includes the Cane Ridge Unit, 
a 464-acre satellite 24 miles west of the main Refuge that contains 
nesting habitat for the endangered Interior Least Tern, and the 219-
acre White River Bottoms Unit nine miles north of the Refuge.

The CCP Process

    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), requires us to develop a comprehensive 
conservation plan for each national wildlife refuge. The purpose in 
developing a CCP is to provide refuge managers with a 15-year strategy 
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, and our 
policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on 
conserving wildlife and their habitats, plans identify wildlife-
dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including 
opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife 
photography, and environmental education and interpretation.

CCP Alternatives and Our Preferred Alternative

Priority Issues

    During the public scoping process, we, other governmental partners, 
and the public identified several priority issues, which include: 
Habitat management; water quality within the Patoka River and its 
tributaries; demand for additional visitor services; land acquisition 
within the approved Refuge boundary; and declining fish productivity 
within oxbow lakes. To address these issues, we developed and evaluated 
the following alternatives during the planning process.

Alternative 1, Current Management

    Under Alternative 1, Current Management, the amount of bottomland 
forest and managed wetlands would increase and the amount of farmland 
would decrease; work would continue on improving the water quality 
within the Patoka River and its tributaries with the long term goal of 
removal of the streams from the list of impaired waters; there would be 
some improvements for welcoming and orienting refuge visitors; hunting 
and fishing opportunities would continue at present levels; wildlife 
observation opportunities would increase with new or improved 
facilities at three locations; there would be increased capacity to 
provide environmental education materials; land acquisition would 
continue both solely and in conjunction with partners; and there would 
be no active restoration of oxbow lakes or stream channels.

Alternative 2, Passive Management and Reactive Visitor Services

    Under Alternative 2, bottomland farmland would be allowed to 
naturally succeed to bottomland forest; work would continue on 
improving the water quality within the Patoka River and its tributaries 
with the long term goal of removal of the streams from the list of 
impaired waters; there would be some improvements for welcoming and 
orienting refuge visitors; hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation 
opportunities would continue at present levels but there would be no 
new facilities for wildlife observation; environmental education would 
remain at present levels; land acquisition would continue both solely 
and in conjunction with partners; and there would be no active 
restoration of oxbow lakes or stream channels.

Alternative 3 (Preferred Alternative)

    Under Alternative 3, the amount of bottomland forest and managed 
wetlands would increase and the amount of farmland would decrease but 
some would be retained as stopover habitat for migratory waterbirds; 
work would continue on improving the water quality within the Patoka 
River and its tributaries with the long term goal of removal of the 
streams from the list of impaired waters; there would be some 
improvements for welcoming and orienting refuge visitors; hunting 
opportunities would continue at present levels but there would be 
additional facilities to enhance fishing opportunities; wildlife 
observation opportunities would increase with new or improved 
facilities at three locations with the possibility of additional 
improvements; there would be increased capacity to provide 
environmental education materials; land acquisition would continue both 
solely and in conjunction with partners; and information would be 
collected to help evaluate stream channel and oxbow lake restoration 
options.

Public Meeting

    We will give the public an opportunity to provide comments at a 
public meeting. You may obtain the schedule from the addresses listed 
in this notice (see ADDRESSES). You may also submit comments anytime 
during the comment period.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should know 
that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you may 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Dated: June 4, 2007.
Charles M. Wooley,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort 
Snelling, Minnesota.

    Editorial Note: This document was received at the Office of the 
Federal Register on October 12, 2007.

[FR Doc. E7-20474 Filed 10-16-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P