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