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#### See the Refuge Website for Current Information!

The CCP and Appendix E maps shown on this website do not reflect any modifications that may have been made since the CCP was approved in 2006. CCPs are long-term plans, and we expect to revise them in light of additional habitat planning, wildlife monitoring and other factors. 

Maps, hunting zones, and recreation regulations may have changed since the CCP was approved. See the Refuge's website for current information: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/UpperMississippiRiver

#### See the CCP and FEIS/CCP

The comprehensive conservation plan and the Final EIS/CCP are providedhere in portable document format (pdf). To see files, you need Acrobat Reader software,and it is available for free on the Adobe website.

##### See the CCP

Full CCP (7.6 MB)

Text-only Version of the FullCCP (1.4 MB)

By Chapter:

Approval Page (16KB)Acknowledgements (24 KB)Executive Summary (203 KB)Table of Contents (109 KB)Chapter 1: Introduction and PlanningBackground (803 KB)Chapter 2: Consultation and Coordinationwith the Public and Others (381 KB)Chapter 3: Refuge Environment (2.5MB)Chapter 3 as a text-only document(591 KB)Chapter 4: Management Direction (1.5MB)Chapter 5: Plan Implementation ()Appendix A: Record of Decision (398KB)Appendix B: Glossary (40 KB)Appendix C: Project Features Tables (80KB)Appendix D: Applicable Laws and ExecutiveOrders (46 KB)

Appendix E: Maps Showing CCP ActionsLegendPool 4 (332 KB)Pool 5 (297 KB)Pool 5A (315 KB)Pool 6 (281 KB)Pool 7 (310 KB)Pool 8 (333 KB)Pool 9 (271 KB)Pool 10 (244 KB)Pool 11 (231 KB)Pool 12 (217 KB)Pool 13 (277 KB)Pool 14 (231 KB)

Appendix F: LiteratureCited (51 KB)Appendix G: National Wildlife Refuge SystemPolicy Changes (31 KB)

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##### See the Final EIS

Final EIS/CCP (10.4MB)

Text-only version FinalEIS/CCP (4.5 MB)

Summary of Changes toAlternative E (July 2006) (1.8 MB)

By Chapter:

Dear Reader (30KB)Abstract (22 KB)Readers' Guide (26 KB)Table of Contents (121 KB)Summary FEIS (1 MB)Chapter 1: Introduction, Purpose and Need,Planning Background (869 KB)Chapter 2: Alternatives, Including theProposed Action (1.2 MB)Chapter 3: Affected Environment (1.8MB)Chapter 4: Environmental Consequences(792 KB)Chapter 5: List of Preparers (33KB)Chapter 6: Consultation and Coordinationwith the Public and Others (56 KB)Chapter 7: Public Comment on the DraftEIS/CCP and the Supplement (Alternative E) and Response (6 MB); text-only version (300 KB)Chapter 8: References (54 KB)Appendix A: Glossary (38 KB)Appendix B: Initialisms and Acronyms(26 KB)Appendix C: Legislation Establishing theUpper Mississippi River NW&FR (560 KB)Appendix D: Applicable Laws and ExecutiveOrders (46 KB)Appendix E: CompatibilityDeterminations (28 KB)Appendix F: Cooperative Agreement withCorps of Engineers (737 KB)Appendix G: Land Acquisition Maps (1.5MB)Appendix H: Project Features Tables(221 KB)Appendix I: Current HuntingRegulations (35 KB)Appendix J: Public Use Regulations (35KB)Appdendix K: animal and Plant SpeciesLists (217 KB)Appendix L: Plan Implementation (129KB)Appendix M: Distribution List (19KB)Appendix N: Example of Environmental PoolPlans (383 KB)Appendix O: Vegetation ClassificationSystem Reference and Sample (166 KB)

Appendix P: Maps of Management AlternativesAlternative A: No Action (CurrentDirection):Pool 4, Pool 5, Pool 5A, Pool 6, Pool 7, Pool8, Pool 9, Pool 10, Pool 11, Pool 12, Pool 13, Pool 14Alternative B: Wildlife Focus:Pool 4, Pool 5, Pool 5A, Pool 6, Pool 7, Pool8, Pool 9, Pool 10, Pool 11, Pool 12, Pool 13, Pool 14Alternative C: Public Use Focus:Pool 4, Pool 5, Pool 5A, Pool 6, Pool 7, Pool8, Pool 9, Pool 10, Pool 11, Pool 12, Pool 13, Pool 14Alternative D: Wildlife and Integrated Public UseFocus:Pool 4, Pool 5, Pool 5A, Pool 6, Pool 7, Pool8, Pool 9, Pool 10, Pool 11, Pool 12, Pool 13, Pool 14Alternative E: Modified Wildlife and Integrated PublicUse Focus:Pool 4, Pool 5, Pool 5A, Pool 6, Pool 7, Pool8, Pool 9, Pool 10, Pool 11, Pool 12, Pool 13, Pool 14

Appendix Q: WaterfowlHunting Closed Areas History, Description, Background and Rationale for Alternative E(234 KB)Appendix R: Electric Motor Areas and Slow,No Wake Areas: Background, Descriptions, and rationale for Alternative E (72 KB)

# Upper Mississippi River National Wildlifeand Fish RefugeComprehensive Conservation Plan

Comprehensive Conservation Plan CompletedNext StepsRecord of Decision SignedFinal EIS/CCPThe RefugeFor More InformationWhere Are We in the Planning Process?Compatibility Determinations

## Comprehensive Conservation Plan Completed

The completion of a stand-alone version of the Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP)concludes the 4-year comprehensive conservation planning process for the UpperMississippi River NW&FR. The document includes the CCP elements of the FinalEnvironmental Impact Statement / Comprehensive Conservation Plan (FEIS), which wascompleted in July 2006. The stand-alone CCP is available on this website. A news releaseon the CCP was issued November 22, 2006.

Why a stand-alone version? The FEIS integrates the requirements of both environmentaldocumentation and comprehensive conservation planning, making it a very detailed and longdocument. In order for the comprehensive conservation plan to be an accessible workingdocument for Refuge staff, as well as a clear description of Refuge management directionfor others, we pulled it out into a separate, stand-alone document. Other than minoredits or needed explanatory information, there is no new text -- every chapter andappendix has been taken from the FEIS.

## Next Steps

Refuge staff will be implementing the Comprehensive Conservation Plan based ontimetables identified in the plan. Information on any ongoing efforts, such aspreparation of step-down plans and associated public meetings, will be provided as neededon the Refuge's website at:http://www.fws.gov/midwest/UpperMississippiRiver

## Record of Decision Signed

The Record of Decision for the FEIS was signed by Robyn Thorson, Regional Director ofthe Midwest Region of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, on August 24, 2006. Thorsonselected the preferred alternative, Alternative E: Modified Wildlife and IntegratedPublic Use, as the management direction for Upper Mississippi River NW&FR. (See theAugust 24, 2006, news release.)

The RODis available in portable document format (pdf) on this website.

## Final EIS/CCP

In July 2006, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Service) released the FinalEnvironmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP). The planwill guide management and administration of the 240,000-acre, multi-state refuge for thenext 15 years.

The preferred alternative in the FEIS, Alternative E: Modified Wildlife andIntegrated Public Use Focus, seeks to balance the needs of fish and wildlife with theneeds of the public for recreation. All current public uses on the Refuge will continue,although the plan outlines several areas or zones where means of access and use would beaffected.

Alternative E was developed in response to comments received on the Draft EIS/CCP inthe summer of 2005 and was released for public comment in December 2005. In the FinalEIS/CCP, Alternative E reflects many changes from the Draft EIS/CCP released in May 2005and the Supplement to the Draft EIS/CCP. These changes are outlined in a Summary of Major Changes to the FEIS.

## The Upper Mississippi River NW&FR

The UpperMississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge stretches along the MississippiRiver and includes Districts in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois. The Refuge ispart of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge Complex, which also includesTrempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin and Driftless Area National WildlifeRefuge in Iowa.

Established in 1924, the 240,000-acre Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife andFish Refuge covers 261 miles of the River valley from Wabasha, Minnesota, to Rock Island,Illinois. The Refuge is divided into four districts, the Savanna District, the WinonaDistrict, the McGregor District, and the LaCrosse District.

The Refuge includes broad pools, islands, braided channels, extensive bottomlandforest, floodplain marshes and occasional sand prairie. These habitats are critical tomammals, waterfowl, songbirds and raptors, amphibians and reptiles. More than 160 BaldEagle nests and a yearly average of 15 active Heron colonies with a total of 5,000 nestsexist on the Refuge. The Refuge and the River support 119 fish species that support astrong commercial and recreational fishery.

## For More Information

A great deal of information on the Refuge and each Refuge District is available byfollowing the links in the previous section. For additional information, call the Refugeat 888/291-5719.

## Where Are We in the Planning Process?

These are the steps that the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service follows in comprehensiveconservation planning; the step that the Upper Mississippi River NWR has reached ishighlighted:
      - Preplanning: Plan the Plan
      - Initiate Public Involvement and Scoping
      - Review Vision Statement and Goals and Determine Significant Issues
      - Develop and Analyze Alternatives, Including the Proposed Action
      - Prepare a Draft CCP and NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) Document
      - Prepare and Adopt Final CCP
      - Implement Plan, Monitor and Evaluate
      - Review and Revise the Plan

## Compatibility Determinations

In accordance with the Refuge Improvement Act of 1997, no uses for which the Servicehas authority to regulate may be allowed on a unit of Refuge System unless it isdetermined to be compatible. A compatible use is a use that, in the sound professionaljudgment of the refuge manager, will not materially interfere with or detract from thefulfillment of the National Wildlife Refuge System mission or the purposes of thenational wildlife refuge. Managers must complete a written compatibility determinationfor each use, or collection of like-uses, that is signed by the manager and the RegionalChief of Refuges in the respective Service region.

The following compatibility determinations were prepared as part of the planningprocess for Upper Mississippi River NW&FR:

Archeological investigationsand surveysBeach-related uses (swimming,sunbathing, picnicking, and other)Boating with motor-drivenwatercraft, snowmobilingCampingCanoeing, kayaking, and sailingCommercial fishing (includingmussel and turtle harvest)Dog exercising and trainingEnvironmentaleducationFarmingFishing, recreationalFishing floats,commercialFishing tournamentsFruits of the soilharvestGrazingGuided fishingGuided huntingGuidedwildlife observationHayingHunting, migratorybirdHunting, big game, upland game,furbearerInterpretation, wildlife observation, and photographyResearchSediment removalSpecialevents, non-Refuge sponsoredTemporary work outside ofexisting rights-of-wayTrapping of furbearersTreeharvest

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