[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 144 (Friday, July 25, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43468-43469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17106]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-R-2008-N0118; 30136-1265-0000-S3]


Leopold and St. Croix Wetland Management Districts in Wisconsin

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 draft comprehensive conservation plans (CCP) and 
environmental assessments (EA) for the Leopold and St. Croix Wetland 
Management Districts (District(s), WMD(s)) for public review and 
comment. In the draft CCP/EAs, we describe how we propose to manage 
these districts for the next 15 years.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments 
by August 25, 2008. Open house style meetings 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.
     Agency Web Site: View or download a copy of the documents 
and comment at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/leopold and http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/stcroix.
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``Leopold Draft CCP/
EA'' or ``St. Croix Draft CCP/EA'', as appropriate, in the subject line 
of the message.
     Fax: 608-745-0866 for Leopold WMD and 715-246-4670 for St. 
Croix WMD.
     U.S. Mail: Comments for Leopold WMD can be mailed to: 
District Manager, W10040 Cascade Mountain Road, Portage, Wisconsin 
53901. Comments for St. Croix WMD can be mailed to: District Manager, 
1764 95th Street, New Richmond, Wisconsin 54017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Kerr, St. Croix WMD, 715-246-7784 
or Steve Lenz, Leopold WMD, 608-742-7100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    With this notice, we continue the CCP process for Leopold and St. 
Croix WMDs, which we started in 71 FR 20722 (April 21, 2006). For more 
about the initiation process, see that notice. Leopold and St. Croix 
WMDs are located in Wisconsin. Established in 1993, the Leopold WMD 
manages 53 waterfowl production areas (WPAs) totaling more than 12,000 
acres in 17 southeastern Wisconsin counties. The District also 
administers 48 conservation easements within an eastern Wisconsin area 
of 34 counties. The St. Croix WMD, also established in 1993, manages 41 
WPAs totaling 7,500 acres within an eight-county District of west-
central Wisconsin. The District also administers 14 conservation 
easements. WPAs consist of wetland habitat surrounded by grassland and 
woodland communities. While WPAs are managed primarily for ducks and 
geese, they also provide habitat for a variety of other wildlife such 
as grassland birds, shorebirds, wading birds, mink, muskrat, wild 
turkey, and deer.

Background

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 and wetland 
management district. The purpose in developing a CCP is to provide 
managers with a 15-year strategy for achieving district 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 were organized 
into five topics: Habitat management; habitat loss and fragmentation; 
land acquisition; public use; and service identity. To address these 
issues, we developed and evaluated the following alternatives during 
the planning process. The themes and approaches within the alternatives 
are consistent between the Districts.
    Under all alternatives federally listed threatened and endangered 
species would be protected; coordination would occur with the Wisconsin 
Department of Natural Resources; visitors would feel safe and the 
resources would be protected through law enforcement; a proposal would 
be developed to construct new headquarters and shop facilities; and any 
undertaking would be analyzed for its potential to affect historic 
properties.

Alternative 1, Waterfowl Emphasis--Current Management Direction

    Under Alternative 1 the activities of the Districts would continue 
as in the past with current staffing and resources. The target for each 
District would be to restore 150 acres of grassland per year. The 15 
year target for wetland restoration would be 50 percent of the drained 
wetlands for Leopold WMD and 75 percent for St. Croix WMD. Up to 20 
percent of the woodlands and oak savannah would be inventoried with the 
objective of restoring approximately 25 percent of the identified 
potential savannah. Invasive species would be inventoried and treated 
with the recognition that only a small portion of the affected acres 
would be dealt with. Land acquisition would continue as funds were 
available with the intent of establishing larger complexes of wetlands 
and grasslands. An objective would be to raise the quality of the 
visitor services programs over time, reaching a higher level of rating 
within 5 years. The rating would be based on the evaluation standards 
of the Refuge Annual Performance Plan, which use the criteria for 
quality described in the Service Manual. Five (Leopold) and two (St. 
Croix) WPAs would be more fully developed with visitor services 
facilities. The volunteer and partnership programs would continue at 
2008 levels. Contacts with neighbors would continue to be limited and 
general knowledge of the District and Service identity and missions 
would remain unchanged.

Alternative 2, Waterfowl Emphasis With Increased Consideration for 
Other ``Priority'' Species and Low/Moderate Consideration for Visitor 
Services

    Under Alternative 2, the types of habitat management activities of 
the Districts would continue, but with more acres affected. Monitoring 
of habitat and wildlife would increase compared to the

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current direction. Visitor services would improve about at the rate and 
extent of the current direction. The target for each District would be 
to restore 200 acres of grassland per year. The 15 year target for 
wetland restoration would be 75 percent of the drained wetlands for 
Leopold WMD and 90 percent for St. Croix WMD. Up to 90 percent of the 
woodlands and oak savannah would be inventoried with the objective of 
restoring approximately 75 percent (Leopold) and 80 percent (St. Croix) 
of the identified potential savannah. Invasive species would be 
inventoried on 100 percent of the Districts and would be treated on 25 
percent (Leopold) and 50 percent (St. Croix) of District lands. Land 
acquisition would continue as funds were available with the intent of 
establishing larger complexes of wetlands and grasslands. An objective 
would be to raise the quality of the visitor services programs over 
time, reaching a higher level of rating within 5 years. Five (Leopold) 
and two (St. Croix) WPAs would be more fully developed with visitor 
services facilities. The volunteer and partnership programs would 
increase. Contacts with neighbors would increase slightly and general 
knowledge of the District and Service identity and missions would 
increase slightly. Full implementation of this alternative would 
require the addition of 1.5 full-time equivalents (Leopold) and 2.5 
full-time equivalents (St. Croix) to the current staff.

Alternative 3, Waterfowl Emphasis With Low Increase in Management for 
Other Wildlife and Increased Consideration for Visitor Services

    Under Alternative 3, the types and amounts of habitat management 
activities undertaken by the Districts would be similar to Alternative 
1. Visitor services would expand and improve in quality compared with 
Alternative 1. Outreach activities would also be greater. An objective 
would be to raise the quality of the visitor services programs over 
time, reaching two higher levels of rating within 5 years. Seven 
(Leopold) and four (St. Croix) WPAs would be more fully developed with 
visitor services facilities. The volunteer and partnership programs 
would increase. Contacts with neighbors would increase and additional 
information would be provided to them. The general knowledge of the 
District and Service identity and mission would increase among 
neighbors and the community. Full implementation of this alternative 
would require the addition of 1.5 full-time equivalents (Leopold) and 
2.5 full-time equivalents (St. Croix) to the current staff.

Alternative 4, Waterfowl Emphasis With Increased and Balanced 
Consideration for Other ``Priority'' Species, Their Habitats, Visitor 
Services and Neighborhood Relationships (Preferred Alternative)

    Alternative 4 incorporates components of Alternatives 2 and 3. 
Under this alternative the types of habitat management activities of 
the Districts would continue, but with more acres affected. Monitoring 
of habitat and wildlife would increase compared to the current 
direction. Visitor services would expand and improve in quality 
compared to the current direction. Outreach activities would also be 
greater. The target for each District would be to restore 200 acres of 
grassland per year. The 15 year target for wetland restoration would be 
75 percent of the drained wetlands for Leopold WMD and 90 percent for 
St. Croix WMD. Up to 90 percent of the woodlands and oak savannah would 
be inventoried with the objective of restoring approximately 75 percent 
(Leopold) and 80 percent (St. Croix) of the identified potential 
savannah. Invasive species would be inventoried on 100 percent of the 
Districts and would be treated on 25 percent (Leopold) and 50 percent 
(St. Croix) of District lands. The Districts would develop a monitoring 
program to determine waterfowl recruitment. Land acquisition would 
continue as funds were available with the intent of establishing larger 
complexes of wetlands and grasslands. Seven (Leopold) and four (St. 
Croix) WPAs would be more fully developed with visitor services 
facilities. The volunteer and partnership programs would increase. 
Contacts with neighbors and the expected effects would be the same as 
Alternative 3. Full implementation of this alternative would require 
the addition of 3.5 full-time equivalents (Leopold) and 3.5 full-time 
equivalents (St. Croix) to the current staff.

Public Meetings

    We will give the public an opportunity to provide comments at 
public meetings. You may obtain the schedule from the addresses listed 
above (see ADDRESSES). You may also submit comments anytime during the 
comment period by writing to the above addresses.

Public Availability of Comments

    Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or 
other personal identifying information, you should know that your 
entire comment--including your personal identifying information--may be 
made publicly available. 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. All comments become 
part of the official public record, and we handle requests for such 
comments in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act, NEPA, and 
Service and Departmental policies and procedures.

    Dated: May 22, 2008.
Charles M. Wooley,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort 
Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. E8-17106 Filed 7-24-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P