An Introduction to Comprehensive

Conservation Planning for National Wildlife

Refuges

U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServicePacific Region

What is the Mission ofWhat is the Mission ofthe Refuge System?the Refuge System?

“ “ . . . to administer a national network of . . . to administer a national network of

lands and waters for the conservation, lands and waters for the conservation,

management, and where appropriate, management, and where appropriate,

restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant

resources and their habitats within the resources and their habitats within the

United States for the benefit of present United States for the benefit of present

and future generations of Americans.”and future generations of Americans.”

National Wildlife Refuge System National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, as amended:Administration Act, as amended: Defines NWRS MissionDefines NWRS Mission Defines Refuge PurposesDefines Refuge Purposes Defines Biological Integrity, Diversity Defines Biological Integrity, Diversity

and Environmental Healthand Environmental Health Defines Priority Public Uses (Big 6)Defines Priority Public Uses (Big 6) Requires Completion of Requires Completion of

Comprehensive Conservation PlansComprehensive Conservation Plans

Refuge PurposesRefuge PurposesPurpose(s) of the RefugePurpose(s) of the Refuge – “The – “The

purposes specified in or derived from the purposes specified in or derived from the law, proclamation, executive order, law, proclamation, executive order, agreement, public land order, donation agreement, public land order, donation document, or administrative document, or administrative memorandum establishing, authorizing, or memorandum establishing, authorizing, or expanding a national wildlife refuge, expanding a national wildlife refuge, national wildlife refuge unit or national national wildlife refuge unit or national wildlife refuge subunit. For refuges that wildlife refuge subunit. For refuges that encompass congressionally designated encompass congressionally designated wilderness, the purposes of the wilderness, the purposes of the Wilderness Act are additional purposes of Wilderness Act are additional purposes of the wilderness portion of the refuge.” the wilderness portion of the refuge.” (Compatibility Policy, 603 FW 2).(Compatibility Policy, 603 FW 2).

Refuge PurposesRefuge Purposes

Refuge Management Emphasis: Refuge Management Emphasis: Each Each refuge is to be managed to achieve its refuge is to be managed to achieve its purpose(s)purpose(s) and the NWRS mission. and the NWRS mission.

Compatibility: Compatibility: Public uses must be Public uses must be appropriate and compatible with the appropriate and compatible with the purpose(s)purpose(s) of a unit and the NWRS of a unit and the NWRS mission.mission.

NWRS Mission vs. Refuge Purpose(s):NWRS Mission vs. Refuge Purpose(s): When in conflict, refuge When in conflict, refuge purpose(s)purpose(s) takes takes precedence over the NWRS mission.precedence over the NWRS mission.

Purpose of Kootenai NWRPurpose of Kootenai NWR

““for use as an inviolate for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for management purpose, for migratory birdsmigratory birds” (Migratory Bird ” (Migratory Bird Conservation Act)Conservation Act)

Purpose of Kootenai NWRPurpose of Kootenai NWR

““for use as an inviolate for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for management purpose, for migratory birdsmigratory birds” (Migratory Bird ” (Migratory Bird Conservation Act)Conservation Act)

Purpose of Kootenai NWRPurpose of Kootenai NWR ““......a pressing need for the a pressing need for the

restoration of waterfowl habitat restoration of waterfowl habitat in this part of the Pacific Flyway in this part of the Pacific Flyway to increase nesting habitatto increase nesting habitat, , provide feeding and resting provide feeding and resting areas during migrationareas during migration, and to , and to facilitate waterfowl facilitate waterfowl management techniques in crop management techniques in crop protectionprotection.” .” (1964:MBCC (1964:MBCC Memorandum #6 )Memorandum #6 )

Biological Integrity, Diversity, Biological Integrity, Diversity, and Environmental and Environmental

HealthHealth Administration Act states that each refuge will be Administration Act states that each refuge will be

managed to fulfill refuge purposes, System managed to fulfill refuge purposes, System mission, and ensure biological integrity, diversity mission, and ensure biological integrity, diversity and environmental health (BIDEH)and environmental health (BIDEH)

BIDEH operates at various landscape scales from BIDEH operates at various landscape scales from refuge to ecosystem, national and internationalrefuge to ecosystem, national and international

Planning and evaluating refuge activities occurs Planning and evaluating refuge activities occurs at all landscape scalesat all landscape scales

Historic conditions considered in management Historic conditions considered in management decisionsdecisions

Prevent introduction, detect and control invasive Prevent introduction, detect and control invasive species, and restore native speciesspecies, and restore native species

The Big SixThe Big Six HuntingHunting

Sport FishingSport Fishing

Wildlife observationWildlife observation

Environmental Environmental

educationeducation

InterpretationInterpretation

PhotographyPhotography

ComprehensiveComprehensiveConservation PlanningConservation Planning

CCPs must be completed for all refuges by CCPs must be completed for all refuges by 20122012

Refuges will be managed according to these Refuges will be managed according to these plansplans

CCPs will include Appropriate Use & CCPs will include Appropriate Use & Compatibility Determinations for all Compatibility Determinations for all current/proposed usescurrent/proposed uses

Extensive state/tribal/agency/public Extensive state/tribal/agency/public involvement involvement

NEPA and other Service complianceNEPA and other Service compliance

Background and historyBackground and history Refuge purposesRefuge purposes Vision and goalsVision and goals Objectives (e.g. wildlife, habitat, Objectives (e.g. wildlife, habitat,

public use)public use) Management strategies to reach Management strategies to reach

objectivesobjectives Monitoring programsMonitoring programs

Major Components Major Components of a CCPof a CCP

Mar 2002 MF

Review and Revise the

Plan

Public Scoping & Identify

Issues

Prepare Draft Plan

Final Plan

Implement Plan & Monitor

Vision Statement & Goals

Develop Alternative

Objectives & Strategies

Initiate StudyPre-Planning

TheTheCCPCCP

ProcessProcess

PublicInput

PublicInput

PublicInput

Typical Planning Team Typical Planning Team OrganizationOrganization

Refuge ManagerRefuge ManagerPlanning

Team LeaderPlanning

Team Leader

BiologistBiologist Outdoor Recreation Planner

Outdoor Recreation Planner Other Refuge

StaffOther Refuge

Staff

IDFGIDFG TribesTribes OtherAgencies

OtherAgencies

Technical SpecialistsTechnical Specialists

Other Programs &

Partners

Other Programs &

Partners

Core TeamCore Team

Extended TeamExtended Team

Pacific Region Pacific Region

USFWS USFWS Decision-Decision-

makers and makers and Key Staff for Key Staff for Refuge PlansRefuge Plans

Regional NWRS Chief

Carolyn BohanRegional NWRS Chief

Carolyn Bohan

Natural & CulturalResources

Steve Moore

Natural & CulturalResources

Steve Moore

Planning & VisitorServices

ChuckHoughten

Planning & VisitorServices

ChuckHoughten

Realty & Refuge Information

Miriam Mazel

Realty & Refuge Information

Miriam Mazel

Refuge Supervisor

Forrest CameronRefuge Supervisor

Forrest Cameron

Regional Director

Ren LohoefenerRegional Director

Ren Lohoefener

Refuge Project Leaders

Refuge Project Leaders

Compatible UseCompatible UseFor a secondary use to be deemed compatible, it must:For a secondary use to be deemed compatible, it must:

Be an existing or proposed use of a refuge that has been Be an existing or proposed use of a refuge that has been

determined first to be an appropriate use of the refugedetermined first to be an appropriate use of the refuge

not materially interfere with or detract from the National not materially interfere with or detract from the National

Wildlife Refuge System mission or the major purposes of Wildlife Refuge System mission or the major purposes of

the refuge, in the sound professional judgment of the the refuge, in the sound professional judgment of the

Refuge Manager Refuge Manager

be determined compatible in a written compatibility be determined compatible in a written compatibility

determination (public has opportunity to review) determination (public has opportunity to review)

Appropriate UsesAppropriate Uses

Appropriateness establishes a “pre-Appropriateness establishes a “pre-

compatibility” screening process.compatibility” screening process.

Not-appropriate uses are to be denied Not-appropriate uses are to be denied

without determining compatibility.without determining compatibility.

Uses found appropriate must still have Uses found appropriate must still have

a compatibility determination.a compatibility determination.

Public Involvement in CCPsPublic Involvement in CCPs ‘‘‘‘(3) In preparing each comprehensive conservation (3) In preparing each comprehensive conservation

plan under this subsection, and any revision to such a plan under this subsection, and any revision to such a plan, the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall, plan, the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall, to the maximum extent practicable and consistent to the maximum extent practicable and consistent with this Act— with this Act— – ‘‘‘‘(A) consult with adjoining Federal, State, local, (A) consult with adjoining Federal, State, local,

and private landowners and affected State and private landowners and affected State conservation agencies; andconservation agencies; and

– ‘‘‘‘(B) coordinate the development of the (B) coordinate the development of the conservation plan or revision with relevant State conservation plan or revision with relevant State conservation plans for fish and wildlife and their conservation plans for fish and wildlife and their habitats.”habitats.”

(16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee, as amended)(16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee, as amended)

Public Involvement Public Involvement OpportunitiesOpportunities

Public Scoping Meetings – Comment PeriodPublic Scoping Meetings – Comment Period Planning Updates and Refuge CCP Website – Planning Updates and Refuge CCP Website –

Information provided throughout the planning Information provided throughout the planning processprocess

Alternatives Development – Meetings/WorkshopsAlternatives Development – Meetings/Workshops Individual Organization Meetings and Stakeholder Individual Organization Meetings and Stakeholder

Group Meetings for informational purposes, upon Group Meetings for informational purposes, upon requestrequest

Public Comment Period on Draft Plan and NEPA Public Comment Period on Draft Plan and NEPA Document (typically includes meetings or Document (typically includes meetings or workshops, 30-60 day comment period)workshops, 30-60 day comment period)

Final Public Notice and Availability of Completed Final Public Notice and Availability of Completed PlanPlan

Information Gathering and Information Gathering and Sharing Techniques Used in Sharing Techniques Used in

CCP ProcessesCCP Processes State and Other Federal Agency State and Other Federal Agency

Coordination MeetingsCoordination Meetings Tribal Government ConsultationsTribal Government Consultations Extended TeamsExtended Teams Informational Sharing Agreements (Agency, Informational Sharing Agreements (Agency,

NGO, etc.)NGO, etc.) Refuge History, Local and Regional Refuge History, Local and Regional

Information SourcesInformation Sources

Regional Office contacts for Regional Office contacts for more information:more information:

Carolyn Bohan, Regional Chief, NWRSCarolyn Bohan, Regional Chief, NWRS503-231-6214503-231-6214

Chuck Houghten, Refuge Conservation Planning & Chuck Houghten, Refuge Conservation Planning & Visitor Services, Portland ROVisitor Services, Portland RO503-231-2096503-231-2096

Ben Harrison, Refuge Planning, Portland RO Ben Harrison, Refuge Planning, Portland RO 503-231-2232503-231-2232

Planning Web Site:Planning Web Site:www.fws.gov/pacific/planningwww.fws.gov/pacific/planning

Field Station contacts for more Field Station contacts for more information:information:

Lisa Langelier: Inland NW NWR Lisa Langelier: Inland NW NWR Complex 509-684-8384Complex 509-684-8384

Kootenai NWR - Dianna Ellis Kootenai NWR - Dianna Ellis 208-267-2888208-267-2888