| ****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************Cover of the CCP/EA******How       Do I Provide Comments?** Use the link below to e-mail your comments directly       to the Refuge Manager or mail or fax comments as follows.
Refuge Manager        Ridgefield NWR Complex        PO Box 457        Ridgefield, WA 98642        Phone:         360/887-4106         FAX:         360/887-4109**E-mail         Comments Now**

  | ************************************************Steigerwald         Lake, Franz Lake, and Pierce         National Wildlife Refuges CCP/EA************************************************To         review the CCP/EA, use the following links to the Chapters, Appendices,         and Figures. Most figures are large map files. The figures were extracted         from the chapters to reduce downloading time, and are posted seperately.         The links to the figures are near the bottom of the table of contents.

**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

CHAPTER         1: INTRODUCTION        Introduction…1-1        Proposed Action…1-2        Purpose and Need for Action…1-2        U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service…1-5        National Wildlife Refuge System…1-5        Refuge Establishment and Explanation of Refuge Purposes…1-7        Relationship to Ecosystem Management Goals…1-9        Refuge Vision Statements…1-16        References…1-20

CHAPTER         2: PLANNING PROCESS AND ISSUES        Planning Process…2-1        Conservation Targets…2-3        Conservation Targets for the Gorge Refuges…2-4        Planning Issues…2-6        Issues Outside the Scope of the CCP/EA…2-12        References…2-13

CHAPTER         3: REFUGE MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES        Introduction…3-1        Features Common to All Alternatives…3-1        Alternative A: No Action…3-8        Alternative B: Proposed Action…3-23        Alternative C…3-44        Alternatives Components Considered but Eliminated from Detailed Analysis…3-57        References…3-65

CHAPTER         4: AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT        Lower Columbia River Ecosystem… 4-1        Physical Environment… 4-3        Refuge Habitats and Associated Wildlife… 4-8        Invasive Species… 4-20        Federally- and State-Listed Species… 4-22        Refuge Public Use Facilities, Activities and Programs… 4-30        Refuge Access and Administrative Facilities… 4-32        Cultural Resources… 4-34        Socioeconomic Environment… 4-38        Research and Monitoring… 4-44        Refuge Management Economics… 4-45        References… 4-46CHAPTER 5: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES        Introduction…5-1        Effects on Physical Environment…5-2        Effects on Refuge Habitats and Associated Species…5-5        Effects on Wildlife and Plant Populations Including Listed Species…5-13        Effects on Public Education and Recreation…5-16        Effects on Cultural and Historic Environment…5-19        Economic Effects…5-20        Effects to Environmental Justice…5-20        References…5-28

CHAPTER         6: PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING        Introduction…6-1        Annual Funding…6-1        Costs to Implement CCP…6-2        Partnership Opportunities…6-12        Step-Down Management Plans…6-14        Monitoring and Evaluation…6-16        CCP Amendment and Revision…6-16

**APPENDICES**Appendix A.         Acronyms and GlossaryAppendix         B. Public Scoping ReportAppendix         C. List of Planning Team Members and Persons Responsible for Preparing         this DocumentAppendix         D. Conservation Targets for Steigerwald Lake, Franz Lake and Pierce National         Wildlife RefugesAppendix         E. Analysis of Hunting Opportunities at Pierce, Franz Lake, and Steigerwald         Lake National Wildlife RefugesAppendix         F. Key Legislation and PoliciesAppendix         G. Wilderness ReviewAppendix         H. Overview of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Steigerwald Lake, Section         1135, Feasibility Study ProjectAppendix         I. Species ListsAppendix         J. Key Ecological Attributes of Focal Conservation TargetsAppendix K. Compatibility         DeterminationsAppendix L. Land         Protection PlanAppendix         M Wetland Management GuidelinesAppendix         N. Fire Management Plan Summary**LIST OF FIGURES**Figure 1-1. Refuge vicinity…1-3        Figure 1-2. Goals of the Gorge Refuges' CCP…1-4 (with Chapter 1 text)         Figure 1-3. Columbia River watershed         and Pacific flyway…1-10Figure 3-1. Draft Alternative         A: Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge…3-20Figure 3-2. Draft Alternative         A: Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge…3-21Figure 3-3. Draft Alternative         A: Pierce National Wildlife Refuge…3-22Figure 3-4. Draft Alternative         B: Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge…3-41Figure 3-5. Draft Alternative         B: Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge…3-42Figure 3-6. Draft Alternative         B: Pierce National Wildlife Refuge…3-43Figure 3-7. Draft Alternative         C: Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge…3-54Figure 3-8. Draft Alternative         C: Franz Lake National Wildlife Refuge…3-55Figure 3-9. Draft Alternative         C: Pierce National Wildlife Refuge…3-56Figure 4-1. Natural areas of biological         significance in the lower Columbia River…4-2Figure 4-2. Base vegetation: Steigerwald         Lake National Wildlife Refuge…4-11Figure 4-3. Base vegetation: Franz         Lake National Wildlife Refuge…4-12Figure 4-4. Base vegetation: Pierce         National Wildlife Refuge…4-13

**LIST OF TABLES**         (You can find the Tables in the chapter files.)        Table 2-1. Focal conservation targets selected in the CCP planning process         to represent the conservation targets for the Gorge Refuges…2-5        Table 3-1. Summary comparison of proposed alternatives…3-61        Table 4-1. Historic change in wetland and riparian cover, Steigerwald         Lake Refuge…4-9        Table 4-2. Acres of potential wetland habitat, Steigerwald Lake Refuge…4-10        Table 4-3. Estimated acres of riparian communities on the Gorge Refuges…4-15        Table 4-4. Canada geese surveys, 1998 through 2003, Steigerwald Lake Refuge…4-18        Table 4-5. Special status species of birds, Gorge Refuges…4-23        Table 4-6. Special status species of mammals, Gorge Refuges…4-24        Table 4-7. Special status reptiles and amphibians species, Gorge Refuges…4-25        Table 4-8. Special status species of fish, Gorge Refuges…4-28        Table 4-9. Special status species of plants, Gorge Refuges…4-30        Table 4-10. Average number of visitors per mile of Columbia River Dike         Trail observed during a walking survey from March 2002 to March 2004…4-32        Table 4-11. Known cultural sites and National Register of Historic Places         status…4-38        Table 4-12. Socioeconomic profile of Clark and Skamania Counties and Washington         State… 4-39        Table 4-13. Land use profile for Clark and Skamania Counties… 4-40        Table 4-14. Public use opportunities available in Washington near the         Gorge Refuges …4-42        Table 5-1. Summary of environmental consequences of the alternatives…         5-21        Table 6-1. Estimated costs (excluding Service personnel) and priority         rank of projects proposed in Alternative B of the Gorge Refuges CCP…         6-6        Table 6-2. Annual salary and benefits for current and proposed staff to         accomplish the projects identified in the Gorge Refuge CCP… 6-10        Table 6-3. Estimated fraction of a full-time equivalent (FTE) Service         employee for 13 staff positions (11.5 FTEs) to complete projects proposed         in the Gorge CCP… 6-11        Table 6-4. Maintenance projects and associated costs in FY 2003 MMS database         for the Gorge Refuges… 6-11        Table 6-5. Estimated costs to implement the Gorge Refuges CCP… 6-12

Information         Updated: August 2004 |
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