[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 95 (Thursday, May 17, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27838-27839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9493]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service


Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Long Lake National 
Wildlife Refuge Complex, Moffit, ND

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announces that a 
final Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the Long Lake National 
Wildlife Refuge Complex (Complex) is available. This CCP, prepared 
pursuant to the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 
and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, describes how the 
Service intends to manage the Complex, which includes Long Lake 
National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Slade NWR, Florence Lake NWR, and Long 
Lake Wetland Management District (WMD), for the next 15 years.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the final CCP or Summary is available by writing 
to Bernardo Garza, Planning Team Leader, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, P.O. Box 25486, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225; 
or download from http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov/planning.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernardo Garza, (303) 236-4377, or 
John Esperance, (303) 236-4369.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Complex is located within Burleigh, Emmons and Kidder Counties 
in south-central North Dakota. The final CCP for this Complex includes 
three NWRs and one WMD:
    <bullet> Long Lake NWR (22,310 acres in size) was established on 
February 25, 1932, ``as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory 
birds and wild animals''; and ``for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or 
for any other management purpose, for migratory birds.'' This refuge 
encompasses 15,000 acres of brackish to saline marsh and lake; 1,000 
acres of other wetlands; and approximately 6,000 acres of tame and 
native grassland, woodland, and cropland. The refuge serves as an 
important staging area for migrating sandhill cranes, Canada geese and 
other waterfowl, shorebirds, and other migratory birds. Endangered 
whooping cranes often utilize refuge marshes during Spring and Fall 
migrations.
    <bullet> Slade NWR (3,000 acres in size) was established on October 
10, 1944, ``for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other 
management purpose, for migratory birds.''
    <bullet> Florence Lake NWR was established on May 10, 1939, ``as a 
refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife''; 
and ``for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management 
purpose, for migratory birds.'' The fee portion of this refuge consists 
of 1,468 acres.
    <bullet> Long Lake WMD manages 1,036 perpetual wetland easements, 
93 perpetual grassland easements, 16 Farmers Home Administration 
perpetual easements, 2,759 upland acres, one Garrison Diversion Unit 
mitigation tract managed as a Wildlife Development Area, and 78 
Waterfowl Production Areas. The WMD was established with the purposes 
of assuring the long-term viability of the breeding waterfowl 
population and production through the acquisition and management of 
Waterfowl Production Areas, while considering the needs of other 
migratory birds, threatened and endangered species and other wildlife; 
``as Waterfowl Production Areas subject to all provisions of the 
Migratory Bird Conservation Act except the inviolate sanctuary 
provisions''; and ``for any other management purposes, for migratory 
birds, and for conservation purposes.''
    This final CCP identifies goals, objectives and strategies for the 
management of the Complex that emphasize restoration and maintenance of 
Long Lake and other native habitats in vigorous condition to promote 
biological diversity. The CCP places high importance on the control of 
invasive plant species with partners and integrated pest management. It 
seeks to provide habitats in order to contribute to conservation, 
enhancement and production of migratory bird species, while protecting 
federally listed species.
    The availability of the draft CCP and Environmental Assessment (EA) 
for a 30-day public review and comment period was announced in the 
Federal Register on July 10, 2006 (71 FR 38892-38893). The draft CCP/EA 
evaluated four alternatives for managing the Complex for the next 15 
years.
    The preferred alternative will expand the scope and level of 
efforts of the current management of habitats by incorporating adaptive 
resource management. This alternative will seek to improve and develop 
public use facilities to maximize existing and potential wildlife-
dependent priority public use opportunities when they are compatible 
with other management objectives. Under this alternative, the Complex 
will strive to develop partnerships; encourage research that provides 
the necessary knowledge and data to guide habitat management decisions 
and activities; and to protect and/or restore additional wildlife 
habitats.
    This alternative was selected based on the EA, comments received, 
and because it best meets the purposes and goals of the Complex, as 
well as the goals of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The 
management direction of the Complex is expected to also benefit 
federally listed species, large ungulates, shore birds, migrating and 
nesting waterfowl, and neotropical migrants. It identifies increased 
environmental education and partnerships that are likely to result in 
improved wildlife-

[[Page 27839]]

dependent recreational opportunities. Finally, the CCP places high 
importance on the protection of cultural and historical resources.

    Dated: January 17, 2007.
James J. Slack,
Deputy Regional Director, Region 6, Denver, Colorado.
 [FR Doc. E7-9493 Filed 5-16-07; 8:45 am]
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