Chapters 1 - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Environmental Consequences
Public Use
Despite limited increases in public use opportunities at the Refuge under Alternative C, overall
public use opportunities would remain at a sufficiently small scale and would have no adverse
effects to land uses on the NWSSB or properties within the City of Seal Beach.
5.7.3.2 Effects Related to Public Safety
Wildlife and Habitat Management
The effects to public safety of implementing the wildlife and habitat management practices on the
Refuge associated with Alternative C would be the same as those described for Alternative B.
Pest Management
The effects to public safety under Alternative C as they relate to pest management would be the
same as those described under Alternative B.
Public Use
The effects related to public safety of increasing the number of public events permitted on the
Refuge as described under Alternative C would be the same as those described for Alternative A.
In addition, any new public use facilities, such as the proposed observation platform, would be
constructed well away from the small arms range and selection of construction sites would be
coordinated with the Navy to avoid potential hazards associated with ordnance.
5.7.3.3 Effects to Traffic Circulation
Some short term increases in construction traffic, similar to those described under Alternative B,
would occur as a result of the restoration proposals included under this alternative. Through the
implementation of the measures described under Alternative B, no adverse impacts to traffic
circulation would be anticipated. Also under Alternative C, the total number of Refuge staff could
increase by one, generating potentially four additional trips per day. This would increase the total
trips generated as a result of everyday Refuge-related management activities to 14 trips per day
during the work week. Expansion of the public use programs would increase the number of
weekends in which trips to and from the Refuge would be generated, but the estimate of about 50
to 60 trips generated per weekend day when a public event is occurring on the Refuge would
remain the same. Therefore, under this alternative, the volume of traffic generated by Refuge
uses would remain low and the majority of the trips would continue to occur during non-peak
hours. Therefore, no observable effects on the local and regional transportation system are
anticipated.
5.7.3.4 Effects to Public Utilities/Easements
Wildlife and Habitat Management
The effects on public utilities/easement of implementing the wildlife and habitat management
actions proposed under Alternative C would be essentially the same as those described for
Alternative B.
Public Use
Even with minor increases in public use, as proposed under Alternative C, the Refuge’s public use
program would have limited impacts on public utilities (i.e., limited water consumption and
utilization of the sewage system during public tours) and no impacts to existing easements.
Therefore, the implementation of the public uses proposed under Alternative C would not result in
any significant adverse effects to existing public utilities and easements.
Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan 5-79