U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Comprehensive Conservation Plan

Greetings

Help Us Plan for the Future!

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for

the Columbian White-tailed Deer

and Lewis and Clark National

Wildlife Refuge

Over the next year, the U.S. Fish

and Wildlife Service (Service)

will be seeking input from the

public, interested agencies, Tribes,

and organizations regarding their

interests, concerns and viewpoints

about important refuge management issues. This information will

be helpful in the production of a

Comprehensive Conservation

Plan (CCP) for the Lewis and

Clark National Wildlife Refuge

(Lewis and Clark Refuge) and

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for

the Columbian White-tailed Deer

(JBH Refuge).

This is the first in a series of

planning updates to keep you

informed and invite your

participation in the planning

process for these Refuges.

As we begin this planning process,

we are provided the opportunity

to look at our habitat management

and public programs from fresh

perspectives.

The purposes of the Refuges will

remain the same as when the

areas were set aside to protect

habitat for wildlife, and to provide

wildlife dependent recreation

consistent with wildlife needs.

However, we have a chance to

review each of our public programs

such as fishing, hunting, or

environmental education; our

placement of facilities such as

trails, boat ramps, or signs; and

Wintering dusky geese at Julia Butler Hansen Refuge. Photo USFWS.

Planning Update 1

September 2006

our management of habitats

such as wetlands, riparian

zones, pastures and wood lots.

Your insights and observations

are needed to provide a more

complete and thoughtful process.

Please share your ideas with

us by attending upcoming

public meetings (see page 7 for

details) or by submitting written

comments to the refuge (see

page 8 for contact information).

Your participation is critical

to the success of this effort –

we want to hear from you!
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National Wildlife What?

Refuges are places where wildlife comes first. The National Wildlife Refuge System

comprises the world’s largest collection of lands set aside specifically for wildlife

and provides important habitat for native plants and animals. The National Wildlife

Refuge System is administered by the Department of Interior’s Fish and

Wildlife Service, the principal federal agency responsible for conserving,

protecting, and enhancing the nation’s fish and wildlife populations and

their habitats for the benefit of the American people.

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is:

“To administer a national network of lands and waters for

the conservation, management, and where appropriate,

restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and

their habitats within the United States for the benefit

of present and future generations of Americans.”

Refuges Overview

The Lewis and Clark Refuge was

established in 1972 to preserve

wintering and foraging habitat for

migratory waterfowl and to protect

nesting and roosting habitat for

bald eagles. It was also established

to protect the Columbia River

estuary and its bottomlands, islands,

and tidelands. Its boundaries

encompass more than 33,000 acres

of the Columbia River estuary,

including tidal marsh, swamp,

sandbars, and mudflats. The Refuge

supports a diverse assemblage of

native fish, wildlife, and plants and

their habitats including rare Sitka

spruce swamp.

The JBH Refuge was established

in 1971 specifically to protect the

endangered Columbian white-tailed

deer (CWT deer). The Refuge

contains over 6,000 acres of

pastures, forested tidal swamps,

woodlots, marshes, and sloughs,

and is located along the Columbia

River in both Washington and

Oregon. The valuable Refuge

habitat preserved for the CWT

deer also benefits a large variety

of wintering birds, river otter,

various reptiles and amphibians,

several pairs of nesting bald eagles

and osprey, and many other species.

Preliminary Goals

Goals are broad statements

intended to provide direction for

the future management of the

Refuges. They are based on the

purposes of the Refuges, the

mission and policies of the National

Wildlife Refuge System, input

received through this planning

process, and the key issues

identified as most significant to

these Refuges. The planning

team has developed preliminary

goals for both Refuges and would

like your input on them.

Lewis and Clark Refuge

Goal 1: Preserve and protect the

rare Sitka spruce swamp and

riparian cottonwood forest, tidal

marshes, mudflats, islands, and

sandbars typical of the lower

Columbia River estuary.

Goal 2: Provide a variety of

quality, wildlife-dependent

recreational opportunities focusing

on the unique solitude possible on

the Refuge, which makes the

Refuge a meaningful place to visit,

explore, and enjoy.

Goal 3: To provide quality outreach

and educational programs that

foster a sense of public pride and

ownership in the Refuge, and

develop public recognition of its

role in the lower Columbia River

ecosystem.

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for

the Columbian White-tailed Deer

Goal 1: Provide and maintain a

mosaic of small pastures, woodlands,

wetlands, and riparian shrublands

for the benefit of the CWT deer,

dusky Canada geese, northern

harrier, and other species.

Goal 2: Provide a complex of

freshwater wetlands (tidal and nontidal) representative of the historic

lower Columbia River ecosystem

for the benefit of CWT deer, dusky

Canada geese, amphibians, bats,

and other species.

Goal 3: Provide riparian shrub

habitat representative of the

Columbian white-tailed deer yearling. Kendal Morris, USFWS.
3

historic lower Columbia River

ecosystem supporting a diverse

community of native species

including CWT deer, willow

flycatcher, and other land birds.

Goal 4: Provide woodlands

representative of the historic

lower Columbia River ecosystem

for the benefit of CWT deer,

neotropical migrants, bats,

amphibians, and other species.

Goal 5: Control and/or eradicate

invasive species in order to maintain

or restore habitats on the Refuge.

Goal 6: To provide opportunities

for high quality, wildlife dependent

recreational activities that foster

an appreciation of the CWT deer,

their habitats, and other native

species of the lower Columbia

River ecosystem.

Goal 7: Provide quality outreach

and educational programs that

foster an appreciation of the CWT

deer, their habitats, and other

native species of the lower

Columbia River ecosystem.

Preliminary Issues

to be Considered

In preparing the CCP, a range of

possible alternative management

approaches will be explored and

evaluated, including current

management practices. The

effects of the various alternatives

on the biological resources and

local communities will be

evaluated in an Environmental

Impact Statement in accordance

with the National Environmental

Policy Act.

The planning team has identified

some potential issues to be

considered during CCP

development. We would like to

hear your comments on these

issues, and any other topics of

concern, at our public meetings

(see page 7). If you aren’t able to

attend one of our public meetings,

please submit your comments in

writing to the Refuge (see page 8

for contact information).

Lewis and Clark National

Wildlife Refuge

Dredged materials management:

Columbia River channel

maintenance and deepening activities

continue to generate dredge spoil

accumulations within the Refuge

boundary. Dredge spoil provides

habitat for colonial nesting birds

and streaked horned larks. The

CCP will assess the impacts of

dredge spoil placement and what,

if any, Refuge actions are needed

to maximize wildlife benefits.

Colonial Nesting Bird

Management: Colonial nesting

birds (great blue herons, gulls,

terns, cormorants, etc.) occur

throughout the lower Columbia

River estuary. The management of

these birds is generally limited to

protecting roosting and nesting

areas from disturbance. Colonial

nesting birds have been the focus

of recent attention because many

feed on young salmon smolts as well

as other fish that travel through the

estuary. The CCP will focus on

Preliminary Goals cont’d . . .

Restoring

riparian habitat,

and floodplain

wetlands will

improve habitat

quality for

anadromous fish

migrating in the

Columbia River

system.

Coho stilly. Photo USFWS.
4

refuge requires a special use

permit and a compatibility

determination to determine if

“the use does or does not

materially interfere with or

detract from the fulfillment of

the mission of the refuge.”

The CCP will assess the current

and future demand for commercial

guiding, how and if guiding

activities should be regulated,

and what stipulations may be

necessary to ensure that any

allowed uses are compatible with

the purposes of the Refuge.

Camping On Refuge Lands:

Refuge policy states that

“camping on refuge lands is

allowed only when required to

implement or sustain an approved

wildlife/wildlands oriented

recreational activity or when no

other alternative is practical.”

Camping occurs within the boundaries of Lewis and Clark Refuge,

primarily on State-owned, dredge

spoil islands. The CCP will review

the Service’s campground policy

and how it relates to Refuge islands.

Wilderness Study: Lewis and

Clark Refuge is part of the largest

marsh in western Oregon. Due to the

relative remoteness and lack of

influences by humans, some of the

islands within the 33,000-acre Refuge

boundary may meet the criteria for

wilderness designation.

It should be noted that while a

wilderness designation can be

recommended, only Congress has

the authority to designate

wilderness. The CCP will study

whether any of the Refuge’s islands

have the potential for wilderness

designation.

The Lewis and Clark Refuge encompasses the largest marsh in western Oregon. It provides habitat for peak populations of 1,000

tundra swans, 5,000 Canada geese, and 50,000 ducks in February and March each year prior to their northward migration.

Tundra swan. Photo: USFWS.

Oregon Department of State

Lands Management Agreement:

In 1974 the Refuge signed an

agreement with Oregon Department

of State Lands to allow the Refuge

to manage the State-owned lands

within the boundary of Lewis and

Clark Refuge, this agreement

expired in 1994. The CCP will

consider managing the State lands

within the boundaries of the Refuge

and what management activities

should be covered in the agreement.

Commercial Guiding: Reports of

commercial guiding activities such

as hunting, fishing, and kayaking,

continue to increase within Refuge

boundaries. Commercial use of a

management needs for these birds

and how they can be encouraged to

maintain their population base

while limiting their impact on

anadromous fish.

Preliminary Issues cont’d . . .
5

The CCP will consider how it can

best meet priority public use

needs (hunting, fishing, wildlife

observation, photography,

environmental education, and

interpretation) while also

protecting wildlife and habitat.

Tidal Wetland and Stream

Restoration for Native Fish

Enhancement: Over this last

century, major losses of historic

intertidal marsh and riparian

forest habitat have occurred

within the lower Columbia River

estuary. This loss of habitat has

had a profound effect on the

native fish, wildlife, plants, and

their habitats of the region. The

CCP will assess the potential for

restoring native estuarine

habitat to portions of the Refuge

in concert with protecting

habitat for the federally

endangered CWT deer.

Wildlife and Habitat

Management: The Refuge is

actively managing habitat on the

mainland and Tenasillahe Island

units for the benefit of the CWT

deer. Invasive species such as

purple loosestrife and reed

canarygrass degrade the natural

habitat, resulting in a need for

intensive habitat management

activities. The CCP will examine

current management practices and

potential new actions for meeting

JBH Refuge purposes, trust

resource responsibilities, and

maintaining/restoring biological

integrity, diversity, and

environmental health.

Wilderness Study: Due to the

relative remoteness and lack of

influences by humans, two of the

JBH Refuge’s islands, Hunting and

Wallace, may meet the criteria for a

wilderness designation. It should be

noted that while a wilderness

designation can be recommended,

only Congress has the authority to

designate wilderness. The CCP will

study whether any of the islands in

the Refuge have potential for

wilderness designation.

Education and Outreach: The

Refuge is actively managing habitat

and wildlife on the mainland and

Tenasillahe Island units. The CCP

will explore how to better engage

and educate the public on Refuge

management activities.

Approximately 300 Columbian whitetailed deer live on the Julia Butler

Hansen Refuge; another 300-400 live

on private lands along the river. The

areas upstream from the Refuge on

Puget Island and on the Oregon side

of the river are vital to reestablishing

and maintaining viable populations

of the species. The Refuge works with

state agencies, and private and

corporate landowners to maintain

and reestablish deer on their lands.

Preliminary Issues cont’d . . .

Photo: USFWS.

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for

the Columbian White-tailed Deer

Population Management of

Predators to Protect Columbia

White-tailed Deer Fawns:

Predation on CWT deer, primarily

by coyotes, continues to be a major

factor in meeting CWT deer

population recovery goals. In order

to maintain a healthy and viable

population, as specified by the

CWT deer Recovery Plan, predation

will need to be managed. The CCP

will explore the best way to reduce

predation on CWT deer fawns.

Mosquito Borne Disease/Bird Flu

Concerns: Public concerns over

wildlife diseases that are

transmissible to humans have

increased in recent years. The role

the Refuge plays in addressing/

responding to these diseases may

impact its short- and long-term

management actions. The CCP will

explore the Refuge’s role and

appropriate responses to these

concerns.

Management of Public Access and

Use: Interest in public recreation

on the Refuge continues to increase.
6

Issues Outside the

Scope of the Plan

While CCPs are very comprehensive

plans, no single CCP can cover all

issues. The planning team has made

a list of some of the issues which

we currently believe are outside

the scope of this CCP.

Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for

the Columbian White-tailed Deer

Elk Management: High numbers

of elk on the Refuge have resulted

in unacceptable levels of competition

for food and cover between the elk

and the CWT deer. Options for

controlling the size of the elk herd

have recently become more

restricted due to the Washington

Department of Fish and Wildlife’s

concerns regarding relocation of

these animals.

As a result of these factors, the

Refuge staff prepared a Hunt Plan,

Environmental Assessment, and

Compatibility Determination

allowing a limited annual elk hunt

on the mainland unit of the Refuge.

The elk hunt was initiated during

November 2005. Elk hunting on the

Refuge as a management strategy

for the herd is incorporated by

reference within this CCP.

Deer Depredation: CWT deer have

been relocated off of the Refuge as

part of the recovery effort described

within the recovery plan. During

the early 1990s there were some

complaints regarding CWT deer

depredation on private property on

Puget Island. If deer depredation

occurs, complaints may again be

directed at the Refuge staff. This

issue was not included in this CCP,

however, because local depredation

complaints have not occurred

during the past ten years

associated with relocations.

LNG Facility: A plan to

construct a Liquefied Natural

Gas Plant (LNG) adjacent to the

Refuge is currently under

consideration and review. This

plan is extremely controversial

for the local community. While

this facility is not on Refuge

lands, the public is questioning

the safety/aesthetic/resource

concerns of a LNG plant being

adjacent to a National Wildlife

Refuge. In addition, LNG

security concerns may impact the

Refuge’s ability to access its

docking site and buildings on

Tenasillahe Island. This issue is

outside the scope of the CCP,

and can be better addressed as

part of the planning process for

that facility.

Bald eagle nest on Lewis and Clark Refuge. Photo USFWS.

East Sand Island Management:

In 1999, the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers (Corps) initiated a pilot

project to relocate a 9,000-pair

Caspian tern colony from Rice

Island to East Sand Island. In

addition to the terns, East Sand

Island supports numerous colonial

nesting birds including doublecrested cormorants, brown pelicans,

western/glaucous-winged gulls, and

Brant’s cormorants as well as

migrating shorebirds. East Sand

Island is located outside the

boundaries of the Refuge. Because

this island is not owned by the

Refuge, and is located outside

Refuge boundaries, it is outside the

scope of this CCP.

Lewis and Clark NWR

Floathouses: Thirty-one

floathouses are currently located

in the channels in and adjacent to

Refuge lands. They are within

the designated boundaries of the

Refuge but are technically on Oregon

State tidelands. A joint Memorandum

of Understanding between the

Service, Clatsop County, Oregon

Department of State Lands, and

floathouse owners was developed to

allow the existing floathouses to

remain while prohibiting the

placement of new structures. This

topic will not be addressed in the

CCP because it is now in the final

stages of implementation.
Planning Step Target Date

Planning Update 1 issued..................................September 2006

Public Meetings.....................................................October 2006

Planning Update 2 issued......................................January 2006

Planning Update 3 issued........................................August 2007

Public Review/Comment on Draft CCP/EIS.....December 2007

Final CCP.............................................................February 2008

Tentative Planning Schedule

Schedule dates are tentative and subject to change as the

planning process progresses.

7

You are invited to the first Open House Public Scoping Meetings

The first public scoping meetings are opportunities for you to help us identify the issues to be

addressed in the CCP and to have your questions answered about the Julia Butler Hansen

Refuge for the Columbian White-tailed Deer and Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuge.

Four open-house style public meetings are scheduled at different locations for your convenience.

Clatskanie

Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Place: Clatskanie City Hall

 95 N Nehalem

 Clatskanie, OR 97016

Longview

Date: Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Place: Cowlitz Public Utility District (PUD)

 961 12th Avenue

 Longview, WA 98632

Cathlamet

Date: Monday, October 23, 2006

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Place: River Street Meeting Room

 25 River Street

 Cathlamet, WA 98612

Astoria

Date: Thursday, October 19, 2006

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Place: Astoria Public Library, Flag Room

 450 10th Street

 Astoria, OR 97103
How Do I Contact the Service

or Provide Comments?

For Information on the National Wildlife Refuges:

Charlie Stenvall, Project Leader

Willapa National Wildlife Refuge Complex

3888 SR 101

Illwaco, WA 98624-9707

Phone: (360) 484-3482

Fax: (360) 484-3109

E-mail: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov

Web: http://www.fws.gov/willapa/

In this issue:

Your comments on the

Julia Butler Hansen

and Lewis and Clark

National Wildlife

Refuges are

requested. What

natural resource

issues are important

to you?

Visit the website for the Julia Butler Hansen and Lewis and Clark National Wildlife Refuges at http://www.fws.gov/willapa/

8

For Information on the Planning Process:

For Information on the CCP planning process:

Rebecca Young, Conservation Planner

1211 SE Cardinal Court, Suite 100

Vancouver, WA 98683

Phone: (360) 604-2563

Fax: (360) 604-2505

E-mail: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov

Web: http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/ The Columbian white-tailed deer population is

closely monitored on the Julia Butler Hansen Refuge.

Photo USFWS.

U.S. Department of the Interior

Fish and Wildlife Service

Division of Planning and Visitor Services

911 NE 11th Avenue

Portland, Oregon 97232

Address correction requested