Wood Duck © J. Isola

“A river seems a magic thing. A

magic, moving, living part of the

very earth itself.... “

 -Laura Gilpin, The Rio Grande, 1949

National Wildlife Refuge System Mission:

“The mission of the National Wildlife

Refuge System is to administer a

national network of lands and waters

for 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.”

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 

Sacramento River 

National Wildlife Refuge

Planning Update #3

July 2002

Greetings!

This is the third planning update since starting the Refuge’s

comprehensive conservation planning process last June. The Refuge

staff and the planning office have been steadily working through the

planning process using your comments and working with other river

partners to develop management goals and strategies. The habitat

and visitor services alternatives are coming together. This update

describes new happenings on the Refuge and the progress of the

Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP).

New Assistant Refuge Manager

In November 2001, Kelly Moroney was hired as the assistant Refuge

Manager responsible for the management of the Sacramento River

NWR. Kelly received bachelor's degrees from Chico State

University and Humboldt State University and most recently worked

on National Wildlife Refuges in Oregon and Washington. In addition

to his day-to-day responsibilities for the Sacramento River NWR,

Kelly will also oversee the Law Enforcement Program for the entire

refuge complex. Kelly can be contacted at (530) 934-2801. Welcome

aboard Kelly!

Outreach on the River

The Sacramento River NWR is just one entity working along the

Sacramento River. The Refuge staff continue to work with various

groups concerning the river. Most recently, Refuge staff have given

presentations to the Chico Rotary Club, United Sportsmen for

Wildlife and Habitat, and the Butte County Fish and Game Advisory

Commission. 
Sacramento River National Wildlife

Refuge Purposes:

“... to conserve (A) fish or wildlife

which are listed as endangered

species... or (B) plants ...” 16

U.S.C. 1534 (Endangered Species

Act of 1973)

“... for the development,

advancement, management,

conservation, and protection of fish

and wildlife resources ...” 16 U.S.C. 

742f (a) (4)

“... for the benefit of the United

States Fish and Wildlife Service, in

performing its activities and

services. Such acceptance may be

subject to the terms of any

restrictive or affirmative covenant,

or conditions of servitude ...” 16

U.S.C. 742f (b) (1) (Fish and

Wildlife Act of 1956)

Proposed Refuge Vision Statement:

“Working with partners and local

communities to conserve, protect,

and enhance a healthy Sacramento

River system for wildlife, habitat,

and the American people.” 

 

Other News on the River

Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for

Proposed Restoration Activities on the Sacramento River NWR

The "Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant

Impact for Proposed Restoration Activities on the Sacramento River

NWR" was completed and signed on February 10, 2002. The

document evaluated the effects of restoring or enhancing natural

vegetation on 2,372 Refuge owned acres. Refuge staff are committed

to working with other agencies and local governments during

restoration and enhancement activities. Interested parties can view

this document at "http://pacific.fws.gov/planning/"

California Department of Fish and Game - Sacramento River Wildlife Area

Management Plan

The California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) is developing

a management plan for their lands along the river that are included

within the Sacramento River Wildlife Area. CDFG has recently

contracted with The Nature Conservancy to provide a full time

planner to assist staff with developing their plan. CDFG and

Sacramento River NWR staff are working closely to ensure that

Federal and State management plans are consistent.

Where We Started and Why 

In 1997, Congress passed the National Wildlife Refuge System

Improvement Act (Act). In addition to identifying a mission for the

National Wildlife Refuge System, the Act directs that all wildlife

refuges have a CCP in place by the year 2012. These CCPs will

provide a 15-year guide, using the best available scientific knowledge,

to help managers achieve the purposes for which each refuge was

established, and to work toward the mission of the Refuge System. 

The Act lays out directives for managing refuges to ensure the longterm conservation of fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats. Two

important principles of the Act are to maintain biological integrity

and diversity of the area and facilitate compatible wildlife dependent

recreation.

We started the CCP for the Refuge in early 2001 with preplanning

and coordination. In May and June 2001 we held public scoping

meetings at four locations to receive comments and discuss issues. 

Since then, the Refuge staff and the planning team have been

working through the CCP process and meeting regularly. 
Review and 

Revise the 

Plan

Public Scoping 

& Identify 

Issues

Prepare 

Draft Plan

Final Plan

Implement 

Plan & 

Monitor

Vision Statement 

& Goals

Develop 

Objectives, 

Strategies, & 

Alternatives

Initiate Study

Pre-Planning

The 

CCP Planning

Process

Public

Input

Public

Input

Public

Input

Public

Input

Review and 

Revise the 

Plan

Public Scoping 

& Identify 

Issues

Prepare 

Draft Plan

Final Plan

Implement 

Plan & 

Monitor

Vision Statement 

& Goals

Develop 

Objectives, 

Strategies, & 

Alternatives

Initiate Study

Pre-Planning

The 

CCP Planning

Process

Public

Input

Public

Input

Public

Input

Public

Input

Proposed Refuge Goals:

- Restore, enhance, and manage

natural habitats, using principles of

landscape ecology, to contribute to the

recovery of endangered, threatened,

and species of special concern, and to

provide diversity and abundance of

migratory birds, native plants, and

other indigenous species.

- Provide wildlife-dependant recreation

and educational opportunities for

people of all ages and abilities to

experience, appreciate, and understand

the Refuge’s riparian ecosystem, fish,

wildlife, and history

- Work with other River stakeholders

for the betterment of the Sacramento

River ecosystem.

For More Information

We are available to provide additional

information regarding the refuge and

this planning process. Also, Fish and

Wildlife Service staff can attend a

meeting of your organization to discuss

the Refuge Plan. Please notify us at

least 3 weeks in advance to avoid

scheduling conflicts. 

If you have questions, comments,

concerns, or would like information

about the Refuge, or would like to be

removed from the Refuge mailing list,

please feel free to call or write us:

Kevin Foerster, Project Leader

Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Complex

752 County Road 99 W

Willows, CA 95988

(530) 934-2801

kevin_foerster@r1.fws.gov

What We’ve Been Doing

Since the last planning update in August 2001, the Refuge staff and

planning team have been developing the Refuge goals, objectives,

and strategies guided by the public scoping comments and the

National Environmental Policy Act process. The planning team is

currently refining alternatives for habitat management and visitor

services that will be presented in the draft CCP and Environmental

Assessment (EA) document.

The CCP planning process graphic below shows the steps in the

planning process and where the Refuge is in the process:

What’s Next

The planning team is currently completing the habitat management

and visitor services alternatives. The team is also finishing the 

objectives and strategies, revising maps, and beginning the support

appendices such as the hunting and fishing step down plans. The

team hopes to publish a Notice of Availability for the draft CCP/EA

in the Federal Register this fall or winter.

Please look over the proposed vision statement and goals, and if you

like provide comments to us.

Check It Out

Please visit the following sites on the Web for more Refuge

information and other planning documents: 

http://SacramentoValleyRefuges.fws.gov

http://pacific.fws.gov/planning/
Sacramento River Bank Area USFWS

Miki Fujitsubo, Refuge Planner

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

2800 Cottage Way, W-1916

Sacramento, CA 95825

(916) 414-6507

(916) 414-6512 (fax)

miki_fujitsubo@r1.fws.gov

Call, write, or email us to be placed on

our mailing list, to report a change in

your mailing address, or if you want to

be removed from the mailing list.

Draft CCP / EA Document Mailing Request

We are requesting that people interested in receiving a draft copy of

the CCP/EA fill out and send in the enclosed postcard. Copies of the

document can be reviewed at your local library or reviewed at our

web site (see above). 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

CA / NV Refuge Planing Office

2800 Cottage Way, W-1916

Sacramento, CA 95825

Attn: Mr. Miki Fujitsubo