» Comments sought on refuge plan

Thursday, July 16, 2009 | No comments posted. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comments on its Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the Oregon Islands, Three Arch Rocks and Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuges.

In 2006 the Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex initiated a planning process called “Comprehensive Conservation Planning” to review the wildlife, habitat and public use activities on the three refuges. The purpose is to plan management of these resources for the next 15 years.   

The CCP describes and assesses two alternatives, one of which would continue current management, and a second that proposes to “enhance wildlife and habitat management, and increase wildlife-dependent public use.”

Under the latter “preferred” alternative, the USFWS would place greater emphasis on accomplishing wildlife and habitat inventories, surveys, monitoring, research and opportunities for public use. The new activities would include increasing cooperator/partner involvement and refuge staff as funding allows.

Dave Ledig, the refuge complex’s South Coast manager, said the Coquille Point headland (purchased by USFWS in 1991) is part of the Oregon Islands refuge, which was established in 1935. Coquille Point’s purpose, he explained, is to provide a buffer between mainland development and the coastal offshore reefs and islands, to protect the bluff zone for wildlife, and to provide opportunities for wildlife observation and environmental education.

The rocks, reefs and islands of the refuge itself, which extends the length of the Oregon coast, serve as refuge and breeding grounds for more than a million seabirds and tens of thousands of marine mammals. The refuge is classified as wilderness by congressional mandate. Ledig listed some of the changes proposed in the preferred alternative for the headland itself, and for the rocks and islands.

The headland

At Coquille Point, the USFWS plans to: restore native plants; provide greater environmental education for the public; redesign and expand the parking lot; and hire a permanent fulltime maintenance person to assist in maintaining the refuge facilities and interpretation areas located on the coast between North Bend and the California border.

The refuge

On the rocks, reefs and islands of the refuge, the USFWS plans to: survey and document native and invasive plants and animals; work to control invasive species; work closer with other agencies to develop oil spill response plans; increase cooperative law enforcement efforts to protect sea birds, marine mammals and refuge habitats; educate pilots about the impacts of low level overflights; work to increase knowledge about the senstivity of the islands; and develop interpretive panels focusing on wildlife resources and protective strategies.

“Coquille Point and Oregon Islands are an important part of the Bandon community, and this is the opportunity for the community to participate in planning how the refuge will be managed for the next 15 years,” Ledig added. To request a copy of the Draft CCP on cd-rom call 541-867-4550, or download a copy on the Web site at http://www.fws.gov/oregoncoast.

Public comments should be postmarked or e-mailed by July 24 to: Oregon Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 2127 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, Oregon 97365 or oregoncoastCCP@fws.gov.