Oregon’s Willamette Valley Refuges Complete Planning Process
OutdoorHub 02.15.12
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released a Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) that will guide the management of William L. Finley, Ankeny and Baskett Slough national wildlife refuges for the next 15 years. The Refuges, located near Corvallis, Salem and Dallas in Oregon’s Willamette Valley provide significant wintering habitat for Canada and cackling geese, and support a number of rare, threatened or endangered species. Local residents enjoy the Refuges for wildlife viewing, photography and interpretation as well as environmental education, hunting and fishing.
The Draft CCP was released for public review and comment in May 2011, and the Final CCP includes a summary of these comments and Service responses.
Under the selected alternative, an emphasis on providing habitat for wintering geese will remain. Green forage for geese on the Refuges will continue to be provided primarily through cooperative farming agreements with local farmers. Management will continue in remnant native habitats to maintain or enhance their conditions. In addition, approximately 845 additional acres on the three Refuges currently or formerly in agricultural fields will be restored to wetland, wet prairie, riparian, oak woodland or upland prairie/oak savannah habitats over the next 15years. Threatened and endangered species management will continue to be a priority, guided by recovery plans where applicable.
Wildlife observation and interpretation will continue to be emphasized. Several new trails and viewing facilities will be added and the Complex will strengthen its environmental education program. A new option to hunt deer of both genders will be added on W.L. Finley Refuge, with new upland locations added for the hunt but a shorter season. A September goose hunt and youth waterfowl hunt will be provided at Baskett Slough Refuge within a few years. Within five years, fishing will be promoted at the Willamette River by developing safe fishing access and a canoe launch at Snag Boat Bend Unit near Peoria. Muddy Creek will be closed to fishing.
“The help of many dedicated people was essential to the development and completion of the CCP,” said Refuge Biologist and Acting Deputy Manager Jock Beall. “We sincerely thank all the individuals and organizations who participated in our planning process and provided valuable comments.”
The CCP was prepared together with an Environmental Assessment (EA), which described three alternatives for future management and predicted the environmental consequences anticipated under each alternative.
More information about the planning process and the refuges is available at the refuge website at http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/main/docs/OR/docswillamettevalley.htm
