In 1994, a public use management plan was approved for the complex. The public use plan will be incorporated into the revised comprehensive plan for the refuge. In addition to the well-known array of wildlife including brown bears, moose, caribou, wolves, and bald eagles, the refuge hosts over 200 species of songbirds, shore birds, and waterfowl. The rich fisheries of both the Bristol Bay and Pacific sides of the refuge include five species of Pacific salmon, rainbow trout, Dolly varden, Arctic char, and Arctic grayling. How You Can Help The main task before us is to develop a list of issues that will be addressed in the revised plan.
Issues are controversies, concerns, or opportunities facing the refuge.
Issues help focus public debate and analysis on the aspects of refuge management that need the most attention We began to develop the issues in March 1998, when we held meetings in 10 communities around the refuge to hear ideas about refuge resources and how they're being managed. We also mailed a copy of our first newsletter to about 6,000 people nationwide, including all of the local community box holders. We compiled the comments and then refuge staff members added their concerns. The product was a list of planning issues that we would like you to review. In other words, we should look for ways to improve the existing plan rather than take off in a whole new direction.