*Issues Workbook*

**Let's Get Started\...**

At this early stage of planning we are seeking your input via meetings,
this workbook, and any other written or verbal comments submitted to us.
We would like to hear directly from you - to learn how you feel about
the Refuge, any issues or concerns you have, and any suggestions you may
have about how to better accomplish our mission. We encourage you to
provide comments to us as soon as possible. The sooner we receive your
comments, the sooner we will be able to incorporate them into the
planning process.

Thanks for taking the time to give us your input!

**Questions on Values, Vision and the Service's Role**

1.  What do you value most about the Connecticut River and its
    watershed?

2.  What do you consider to be the most important problem facing the
    watershed?

3\. Which of the following Refuge-sponsored activities have you heard
about or participated in? Which do you think sound valuable? (Please
place an X in the box corresponding with your answer)

  -------------------------------------------- --------- ---------------- --------------
  **Activities**                               **Heard   **Participated   **Valuable**
                                               About**   In**             

  Exhibits at the Montshire Museum                                        

  Educational programs at Montshire Museum                                

  Exhibits at the Great North Woods Visitor                               
  Center                                                                  

  Programs at Great North Woods Visitor Center                            

  Exhibits at Great Falls Discovery Center                                

  Programs at Great Falls Discovery Center                                

  Invasive plant control workshops for land                               
  managers                                                                

  Invasive plant conferences                                              

  Volunteer invasive plant control projects                               

  Endangered species volunteer work                                       

  Technical assistance from Refuge staff                                  

  Financial assistance through grants                                     

  Cooperative projects with partners in land                              
  protection                                                              

  Cooperative projects with partners to                                   
  control invasive species                                                

  Hunting on Refuge lands                                                 

  Fishing on Refuge lands                                                 

  Walking/hiking/skiing/snowshoeing on Refuge                             
  lands                                                                   

  Birding or other wildlife observation on                                
  Refuge lands                                                            

  Photography on Refuge lands                                             

  Environmental education/interpretation                                  
  programs on Refuge lands                                                

  Environmental education/interpretation                                  
  programs at other outdoor locations                                     
  sponsored by the Refuge                                                 

  Snowmobiling on the Nulhegan Basin or                                   
  Pondicherry Divisions                                                   
  -------------------------------------------- --------- ---------------- --------------

4\. Where have you heard of the Refuge's CCP efforts before?

**Questions on Conservation**

5\. Please keep in mind that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
concentrates its efforts on migratory species and federally endangered
species. In your opinion, which species or habitats should be a priority
for the Refuge? Please rank the following in priority order (1 being the
highest priority, 2 being the second highest, and so on). If you do not
think we should be engaged in a choice, please place an X in the blank.

\_\_\_\_ declining songbird populations

\_\_\_\_ songbirds whose natural range is mostly in New England

\_\_\_\_ migratory fish (e.g. Atlantic salmon, American shad, river
herring, eels)

> \_\_\_\_ federally threatened and endangered species (piping plover,
> bald eagle, Puritan tiger beetle, dwarf wedge mussel, shortnose
> sturgeon. Jesup's milk-vetch, small-whorled pogonia, northeast
> bulrush)

\_\_\_\_ regionally declining plants

\_\_\_\_ state-listed threatened and endangered species

\_\_\_\_ rare habitats

\_\_\_\_ protection of large blocks of forest

\_\_\_\_ protection of large blocks of grassland

\_\_\_\_ restoration of floodplain forests

\_\_\_\_ protection/restoration of wetlands

\_\_\_\_ protection/restoration of riparian areas

\_\_\_\_ other \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

6\. Which tools should the Service use to help them conserve, protect,
and enhance priority species and habitats? Please rank the following
tools in priority order (1 being the highest priority, 2 being the
second highest, and so on). If you do not think we should be engaged in
a choice, please put an X in the blank.

\_\_\_\_ land acquisition from willing sellers at market value

> \_\_\_\_ focused land management on appropriate Refuge lands (to
> enhance conditions for priority species)

\_\_\_\_ conduct research on Refuge lands\
\
\_\_\_\_ conduct monitoring on Refuge lands\
\
\_\_\_\_ provide research and demonstration areas on Refuge lands

\_\_\_\_ technical assistance to encourage focused land management on
appropriate private lands

\_\_\_\_ purchase of development rights

\_\_\_\_ work with other agencies and conservation groups

\_\_\_\_ work with private landowners

\_\_\_\_ targeted education to decision makers and land managers

\_\_\_\_ work to remove barriers to fish passage

\_\_\_\_ work to improve in-stream habitats

\_\_\_\_ other (please
specify)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

7\. Which of the following issues should be a priority for the Refuge?
Please rank the following issues in priority order (1 being the highest
priority, 2 being the second highest, and so on). If you do not think we
should be engaged in an issue, please place an X in the blank.

\_\_\_\_ loss of habitat to suburban and industrial development

\_\_\_\_ fragmentation of habitats by roads and development

\_\_\_\_ lack of fish passage due to dams and culverts

\_\_\_\_ impacts of human activities to water quality and aquatic
habitats

\_\_\_\_ loss of surface water levels or flow reductions due to water
withdrawals

\_\_\_\_ effects of recreational use on wildlife habitats

\_\_\_\_ lack of management capability to maintain optimal habitats

\_\_\_\_ displacement of native species by invasive exotic plants and
animals

\_\_\_\_ threats to federal-listed species

\_\_\_\_ negative public sentiment toward certain management techniques
(e.g. forestry, burning, herbicides)

\_\_\_\_ other (please specify)
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**Questions on Education**

8\. Please rank the topics you think we should be teaching in priority
order (1 being the highest priority). If you do not think we should be
engaged in a choice, please place an x in the blank.

\_\_\_\_ general natural resource concepts

\_\_\_\_ wildlife/habitat concepts

\_\_\_\_ the needs of migratory species

\_\_\_\_ the problems faced by endangered species

\_\_\_\_ resource stewardship

\_\_\_\_ how to control invasive species

\_\_\_\_ how to manage land for wildlife

\_\_\_\_ impact of personal choices on ecosystem health

\_\_\_\_ value of biodiversity

\_\_\_\_ how to connect with/enjoy the outdoors

\_\_\_\_ others (please specify)
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

9\. Please rank the audiences you think we should be reaching in
priority order (1 being the highest priority). If you do not think we
should be engaged in a choice, please place an X in the blank.

\_\_\_\_ K-12th grade students

\_\_\_\_ teachers of K-12th grade students

\_\_\_\_ nature center staffs

> \_\_\_\_ special audiences that can influence/solve certain problems
> (landowners, foresters, recreational users, etc.)

\_\_\_\_ urban residents

\_\_\_\_ rural residents

\_\_\_\_ college students

\_\_\_\_ families

\_\_\_\_ others (please specify)
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

10\. Please rank the educational tools you think we should be using in
priority order (1 being the highest priority). If you do not think we
should be engaged in a choice, please place an X in the blank.

\_\_\_\_ articles in newspapers and magazines

\_\_\_\_ field trips and workshops

\_\_\_\_ general educational programs

\_\_\_\_ mobile exhibits that visit fairs, schools, nature centers

\_\_\_\_ demonstration projects

\_\_\_\_ others (please specify)
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**\
Questions on Recreation and Public Access**

While natural diversity conservation and ecosystem health are the
Refuge's primary purposes, some public uses can be allowed when they do
not impact these resources. In fact, the National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act of 1997 identifies six priority wildlife-dependent
public uses that are to receive enhanced consideration on national
wildlife refuges: environmental education, interpretation, fishing,
hunting, wildlife observation, and photography. These six uses will be
evaluated in this planning process.

Other uses must be evaluated by the refuge manager to see if they are
"appropriate" and "compatible." Such things as whether the activity
contributes to fulfilling the refuge's purposes, its consistency with
applicable laws, regulations and policies, whether it can be offered
consistent with public safety, whether the refuge has the budget and
staffing resources to administer the use, whether the activity will
impair the existing wildlife-dependent recreational uses, whether the
activity is available/can be done elsewhere, and anticipated impacts to
resources are all considered prior to allowing uses.\
\
11. Are any of these activities or current levels of use on the Refuge a
concern?

wildlife viewing \_\_\_ photography \_\_\_

environmental education \_\_\_ interpretation \_\_\_

hunting \_\_\_ fishing \_\_\_\
\
hiking \_\_\_ skiing/snowshoeing \_\_\_

snowmobile access \_\_\_ vehicle access \_\_\_

Please explain your concerns:

12\. In your opinion, what other activities should occur on Refuge
lands?

13\. Have you used any of our recreational facilities (visitor/education
centers, roads, trails, kiosks, other signage). Do they meet your needs?

14\. Do you have other comments on recreational use?

**That's it! Thank you for your time.**

IMPORTANT: Now that you are done, please separate pages 3-10 and mail
them back to us by April 13, 2007. We will summarize these public
comments and those received at the public meeting in our next
newsletter. Please help us keep our mailing list updated by completing
the following.

If you have specific challenges, needs, opportunities that you would
like to bring to our attention, please attach information or contact us
at anytime in the process.

If you wish to receive future "Planning Updates" about the Silvio O.
Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge comprehensive conservation plan,
please fill in the appropriate information below and return the with the
Issues Workbook.

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(Please Print)

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If you are acting in an official capacity as the representative of an
organization please complete the following two items.

Organization:
\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Title:
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IMPORTANT: Please note that names on the CCP mailing list become part of
the public record for this project. The Service must release names only,
if requested, under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act of
1974. To retain you on our mailing list we need your permission. Please
sign below.

Signature:
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Date: \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

![](media/image1.png){width="1.1111111111111112in"
height="0.6590277777777778in"}http://www.fws.gov

March 2007