[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 20 (Monday, February 2, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5848-5850]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2173]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R3-R-2008-N0295; 30136-1265-0000-S3]


Leopold and St. Croix Wetland Management Districts, Wisconsin

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; final comprehensive conservation plan 
and finding of no significant impact for environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of final comprehensive conservation plans (CCP) and 
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the Leopold and St. Croix 
Wetland Management Districts (WMD). In the CCP, we describe how we will 
manage these districts for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final CCP and FONSI are available on compact 
disk or hard copy. You may obtain a copy by writing to: U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Division of Conservation Planning, Bishop Henry 
Whipple Federal Building, 1 Federal Drive, Fort Snelling, MN 55111, or 
you may view or download a copy of the documents at http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/leopold and http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/stcroix.

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 complete 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. We released the draft 
CCPs and environmental assessments to the public, announcing and 
requesting comments in a notice of availability in the Federal Register 
(73 FR 43468, July 25, 2008).
    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 8-
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.

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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

    Our draft CCP and NEPA document (73 FR 43468, July 25, 2008) 
addressed several priority issues raised by us and others. To address 
these priority issues, we developed and evaluated 4 alternatives during 
the planning process.

Alternative 1, Waterfowl Emphasis--Current Management Direction

    Under Alternative 1, the activities of the District 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. 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.

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 over current practice. Visitor 
services would improve about at the rate and extent of current 
practice. 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, with control applied to 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. 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 those in 
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. 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 District would continue, but with more acres affected. Monitoring 
of habitat and wildlife would increase compared with the current 
practice. Visitor services would expand and improve in quality compared 
with the current practice. 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 with control applied to 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. 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.

Comments

    We solicited comments on the draft CCP and environmental assessment 
for Leopold and St. Croix WMDs from July 25, 2008 to August 25, 2008. 
We held an open house in New Richmond, Wisconsin on August 12, 2008 and 
in Portage, Wisconsin on August 13, 2008, to receive comments. We 
received 3 written comments during the comment period. We responded to 
all substantive comments in an appendix to the CCPs.

Our Preferred Alternative

    After considering the comments we received, we have chosen 
Alternative 4 as our preferred alternative.

[[Page 5850]]

Management of the Districts for the next 15 years will focus on: (1) 
Continuing current habitat management activities, but on a greater 
acreage; (2) increased monitoring of habitat and wildlife; and (3) 
expanding and improving the quality of visitor services.

    Dated: December 14, 2008.
Charles M. Wooley,
Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort 
Snelling, Minnesota.
[FR Doc. E9-2173 Filed 1-30-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P