[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 16, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9047-9049]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-3540]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R1-R-2010-N220; 1265-0000-10137-S3]


Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, Clark County, WA; Final 
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Finding of No Significant Impact 
for Environmental Assessment

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of our final comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and 
finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the environmental 
assessment (EA) for the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). 
In this final CCP, we describe how we will manage this Refuge for the 
next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: You may view or obtain copies of the final CCP and FONSI by 
any of the following methods. You may request a hard copy or CD-ROM.
    Agency Web Site: Download the CCP/FONSI at http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning.
    E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``Ridgefield Refuge 
final CCP'' in the subject line of the message.
    Mail: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 457, 
Ridgefield, WA 98642.

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    In-Person Viewing or Pickup: Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, 
28908 NW. Main Avenue, Ridgefield, WA 98642.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bob Flores, Project Leader, (360) 887-
4109.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    With this notice, we complete the CCP process for the Refuge. The 
Service started this process through a notice of intent in the Federal 
Register (71 FR 43787; August 2, 2006). We released the Draft CCP/EA to 
the public, announcing and requesting comments in a notice of 
availability in the Federal Register (75 FR 34154; June 16, 2010).
    The Refuge is located in Washington along the Columbia River. It 
was established to secure vital winter habitat for dusky Canada geese 
and other waterfowl. The Refuge encompasses 5,218 acres of marshes, 
grasslands, and woodlands on 5 units. We preserve the natural Columbia 
River floodplain on the Carty, Roth, and Ridgeport Dairy units. We 
manage the River `S' and Bachelor Island units to provide habitat for 
waterfowl and other wildlife. Sandhill cranes, shorebirds, and a 
variety of songbirds stop at the Refuge during spring and fall 
migrations. Some bird species, such as mallards, great blue herons, and 
red-tailed hawks, nest and reside on the Refuge year-round.
    We announce our decision and the availability of the FONSI for the 
final CCP in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
(40 CFR 1506.6(b)) requirements. We completed a thorough analysis of 
impacts on the human environment, which we included in the draft CCP/
EA.
    The CCP will guide us in managing and administering the Refuge for 
the next 15 years. Alternative 2, as we described in the draft CCP, is 
the foundation for the CCP.

Background

    The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 
U.S.C. 668dd-668ee) (Refuge Administration Act), as amended by the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, requires us to 
develop a CCP for each refuge. The purpose for developing a CCP is to 
provide refuge managers with a 15-year plan 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. We will 
review and update the CCP at least every 15 years in accordance with 
the Refuge Administration Act.

CCP Alternatives, Including Selected Alternative

    During our CCP planning process we identified several issues. To 
address the issues, we developed and evaluated the following 
alternatives in our Draft CCP/EA.

Alternative 1 (No Action)

    Under Alternative 1, we would have continued to manage and where 
feasible restore habitat for dusky Canada geese, other Canada geese 
subspecies, cackling geese, other waterfowl, and imperiled Federal and 
State listed species. Hunting would continue on the River `S' Unit's 
760-acre hunt area. The current 4.3-mile auto tour route would remain 
open year round. The Refuge would continue to coordinate with its 
Friends groups, local educators, and Tribes to conduct environmental 
and cultural education and interpretation programs.

Alternative 2 (Preferred Alternative)

    Under Alternative 2, our preferred alternative, we would continue 
to protect, maintain, and, where feasible, restore habitat for priority 
species, including dusky Canada geese, other waterfowl, and imperiled 
Federal and State listed species. We would maintain high-quality green 
forage for geese in improved pastures and wet meadows, and increase 
cropland and wet meadow acreage. Wetlands would be managed to increase 
productivity and reduce water pumping costs. Invasive species and 
State- and county-listed noxious weeds would continue to be a primary 
management concern. Enhancing and restoring bottomland forest and oak 
woodland habitats would increase. We would complete habitat assessments 
to guide stream and tidally influenced wetland restorations. We would 
conduct feasibility studies for reintroducing native species such as 
Columbian white-tailed deer and western pond turtle, and inventory and 
monitoring efforts would increase.
    Under Alternative 2, current public use areas and closures would 
continue, the waterfowl hunt area would remain unchanged, and changes 
in wetland management would improve the hunt program over time. A new 
access point to the River `S' Unit, including a 2-lane bridge and 1-
mile entrance road, would be developed. The current auto tour route 
would be open year round, and shortened slightly to provide habitat for 
dusky Canada geese and cranes. A new 1.5-mile dike-top walking trail 
would be constructed. Environmental and cultural resources education 
and interpretation would increase.

Alternative 3

    Under Alternative 3, actions to protect, maintain, and restore 
habitat for priority species are the same as those under Alternative 2. 
Current public use areas and closures would continue. The waterfowl 
hunt area/location would remain the same; however, core dusky habitat 
on the south end of the River `S' Unit (207 acres) would be closed to 
goose hunting. The existing access point to the River `S' Unit would be 
retained; a new 2-lane bridge would be constructed to eliminate the at-
grade railroad crossing; and the entrance road would be widened, 
requiring either land acquisition or easement modification. The 
existing auto tour route would not change. A new 1.5-mile dike-top 
walking trail would be constructed. Environmental and cultural 
education and interpretation would increase.

Alternative 4

    Under Alternative 4, actions to protect, maintain, and restore 
habitat for priority species would be the same as those under 
Alternatives 2 and 3, except that slightly more crops would be grown, 
and the total wildlife sanctuary area closed to public use would be 
reduced slightly. This alternative would, however, provide the largest 
contiguous sanctuary for dusky Canada geese and sandhill cranes on the 
Refuge's south end. A new access point to the River `S' Unit, including 
a 2-lane bridge and 1-mile entrance road, would be developed. The south 
end of the River `S' Unit would be closed to public use during 
waterfowl and crane migration, to benefit dusky Canada geese and 
sandhill cranes. The south end of the River `S' Unit (207 acres) would 
be closed to hunting, and the south end of the auto tour route would be 
closed during waterfowl season (October 1-March 15), reducing its 
length from 4.3 miles to 2.6 miles during that time. To offset the loss 
of these hunting opportunities, 250 acres of Bachelor Island would be 
opened to waterfowl hunting. The northern portion of this area would be 
closed early to hunting (January 15) to prevent disturbance to a great 
blue heron nesting colony. A new 1.5-mile dike-top walking trail would 
be constructed. Environmental and cultural education and interpretation 
would increase.

Comments

    We solicited comments on the Draft CCP/EA from June 16, 2010, to 
July 16, 2010 (75 FR 34154; June 16, 2010). We received 16 comment 
letters, forms, or emails on the Draft CCP/EA. To address public 
comments, minor changes and

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clarifications were made to the final CCP where we determined it would 
be appropriate.

Selected Alternative

    After considering the comments we received, we have selected 
Alternative 2 for implementation. By implementing Alternative 2, we 
will protect, maintain, and, where feasible, restore habitat for dusky 
Canada geese, other waterfowl, and imperiled species. We will maintain 
high-quality green forage in pastures and wet meadows, and increase 
cropland and wet meadow acreage. Wetlands will be managed to increase 
productivity and reduce pumping costs. Invasive species and noxious 
weeds will continue to be a primary management concern. Enhancing and 
restoring bottomland forest and oak woodland habitats will increase. We 
will complete habitat assessments to guide stream and tidally 
influenced wetland restorations. We will conduct feasibility studies 
for reintroducing native species such as Columbian white-tailed deer 
and western pond turtle, and inventory and monitoring efforts will 
increase.
    Current public use areas and closures will continue, the waterfowl 
hunt area will remain unchanged, and changes in wetland management will 
improve the hunt program over time. A new access point to the River `S' 
Unit will be developed. The existing auto tour route will be open year 
round, and shortened slightly, to provide habitat for dusky Canada 
geese and cranes. A new dike-top walking trail will be constructed. 
Environmental and cultural education and interpretation programs will 
increase.

    Dated: December 20, 2010.
Richard R. Hannan,
Acting Regional Director, Region 1, Portland, Oregon.
[FR Doc. 2011-3540 Filed 2-15-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P