Greetings

This is the second in a series of

Planning Updates from the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)

regarding a study of protecting and

restoring important migratory bird

habitat in the southern San Joaquin

Valley also known as Tulare Basin.

Through these Updates, we share

information with you and seek

your involvement in our study.

Your input is very important. It

helps us gather information and

identify issues affecting you, your

community, and the natural

resources of the Tulare Basin. If

you do not wish to receive the

Updates, please let us know

through one of the points of

contact listed on page 6.

In This Issue: Page

Public Workshops Held 1

Summary of Public Comments 2

Planning Area Map 3

What Next? 4

Contact Information 5

Two Public Meetings were Successful 

Garnering Comments for “Scope”

Efforts to involve public participation in a plan for conservation of 

wetland habitats and associated upland areas of the Tulare Basin,

resulted in 61 people attending two meetings held in Visalia and

Bakersfield on July 11, 2002. We had a very productive discussion 

of ideas, conservation opportunities and issues at both sessions. A

summary of comments received is on page two. The information

gathered from these public comments will guide Service staff in

preparing the Land Protection Plan, Conceptual Management Plan 

and related Environmental Assessment for the Tulare Basin.

While covering a wide spectrum of ideas or approaches to conserving

the wetland resources in the Tulare Basin, the tone of all comments

received has been supportive of Service action to support the private

wetland owners in securing perpetual protection for these habitats.

Dry seasonal wetland, USFWS Isolated remnant Poso Creek, USFWS Associated Uplands, USFWS 

Who is participating? The private landowners 

within the study area and the Tulare Basin Wetlands

Association. The general public and other interested 

groups or organizations are invited to express their

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Tulare Basin

Land Protection Planning Study

Planning Update # 2, October 2002
2

Pintail, Larry Eiffert, USFWS

Green-winged teal, Larry Eiffert, USFWS

Summary of Comments:

The most frequent issue brought to our attention is the need for

reliable, affordable water supplies for private wetlands. Requests for

the Service to consider supplying or subsidizing the water supply were

recorded. At this time the Service does not propose to independently

resolve this important resource issue. The Service is actively engaged

with numerous partners via the Central Valley Habitat Joint Venture

in identifying the extent of the private wetlands water supply need and

evaluating potential solutions.

Many of the questions received can be considered requests for

additional information about routine procedures used by the Service

for conservation easements. These items include the cost, value and

appraisal process that result in offers being made to individual

landowners. Visit Service web sites at http://pacific.fws.gov/planning/

and http://realty.fws.gov/index.html to obtain more information about

realty and planning procedures and appraisal values. Inquiries as to

the tax consequences of selling conservation easement interests in real

property were received. The way a landowner holds title to property

(individually, partnerships or incorporated) can affect the tax

consequence of sales of easements. Landowners are advised to consult

with a professional tax advisor to obtain specific information on their

own situation.

Several inquiries were made about how mineral rights are treated,

impacted or addressed. The Service proposes to purchase interests in

land while leaving mineral rights in private ownership and only

restrict the season of extraction or surface disturbing activities.

Additional information can be obtained from FWS realty staff.

Two specific requests for expanded geographic coverage in the area of

consideration for obtaining conservation easements were received. 

Service staff will evaluate the potential of the areas located in Kings

County east of Kettleman City and south of Bakersfield in Kern

County. The ability to modify uplands and opportunity to restore

“idle” or currently dry wetlands was asked in numerous ways by

several different persons. The existence of farming activity on uplands

associated with some hunting clubs is related to the general questions

about associated uplands. These issues require site specific

information to address viable improvements and the potential to

impact listed species that may occupy dry sites. In the present Service

proposal, wetland sites in need of extensive restoration or

development would not be considered a priority for conservation

easements. Adding consideration of restoration potential may be a

valid alternative in the environmental assessment.

A compilation of comments received to date can be provided upon

request and will be included as an appendix to the planning documents

issued for public review and comment.
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Kern NWR

Pixley NWR

Creek

Poso

Deer Creek

Kings Co.Tulare Co.

Kern Co. Kern Co.

_To Sacramento

_

To Los Angeles

Tulare

Lake

Kern

Lake

Buena

Vista

Lake

Goose

Lake

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Taft

Wasco

Delano

Avenal

Tulare

Shafter

Hanford

Visalia

Bakersfield

Porterville

5 0 5 10

Miles

Tulare Basin Study Area

CA/NV Refuge Planning Office - June 2002 I

Approved Refuge Boundaries

Tulare Basin Study Area

FWS Lands Historic Lakes

Focus Area
4

Sandhill Crane, USFWS

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.

Tulare Basin Land Protection Planning Study Schedule

Planning Step Target Dates

Study Kickoff, Issue Identification, Information Gathering, Begin Scoping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . July 11, 2002

Reviewing Public Comments Begins, send your Issues and Comments by this date . . . . . August 30, 2002

Planning Documents Available for Public Review and Comment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . December 2002

Public Comments on Planning Documents Due . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . February 2003

Issue Notice of Decision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . April 2003

What Happens Next?

A schedule of key planning steps is included below. The

Service will develop several planning documents including:

- A Land Protection Plan, which will describe resource

protection needs, identify tracts of land on which the Service

would be interested in acquiring easements from willing

participants, and describe land type protection priorities.

- A Conceptual Management Plan, which will describe the

habitat goals being considered for lands proposed for

protection.

- An Environmental Assessment, which will evaluate the

potential effects that each land protection

alternative–including a proposal to acquire conservation

easements as part of the National Wildlife Refuge

System–would have on the physical, biological, social and

economic environment.

You will have an opportunity to review and comment on

these planning documents. Their availability will be

announced in a future planning update. The service will

review public comments on these documents and recommend

a course of action. Final approval of the selected alternative

will be made by the Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

If the project is approved, the Service will begin

implementation of the selected, alternative, based on

available funding and willing participants.
5

For Information on the

National Wildlife

Refuge System Contact:

Dave Hardt, 

Project Leader

Kern NWR

P.O. Box 670

Delano, CA 93216

Phone: (661) 725-2767

U.S. Department of the Interior

Fish and Wildlife Service

Attn: NWRS/RPL

911 NE 11th Avenue

Portland, Oregon 97232-4181

Address correction requested

How Do I Contact the Service or Provide Comments?

Your participation is encouraged throughout the process. Please

send your written comments to Scott Frazer or Richard Smith . . . 

. . . via mail: Scott Frazer, Refuge Operations Specialist

 Kern National Wildlife Refuge

 P.O. Box 670 

 Delano, CA 93216 

 

 Richard Smith, Natural Resource Specialist

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 CA/NV Refuge Planning office

 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1916

 Sacramento, CA 95825

 . . . via fax: (661) 725-6041

. . . or via e-mail: FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov

 (Please refer to “Tulare Lake” in the subject line.) 

Richard Smith can also provide information on the planning process. 

Call him at (916) 414-6502, if you have any questions.