Assabet River NWR Final CCP - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Appendix F: Staffing Charts
Determination:
Use is not compatible ___.
Use is Compatible with the following stipulations _X_.
The following stipulations are required to ensure compatibility:
� All hunters must obtain all necessary State, Federal, and refuge permits.
� Hunters must abide by all applicable refuge, State, and Federal regulations.
� Refuge staff will develop a Hunt Plan and amend the Code of Federal Regulations
before permitting hunting on the refuge.
� Staff will monitor hunting activities to determine any adverse impacts to refuge
resources and adjust the hunt program as necessary.
Justification: The National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-
57) identifies six legitimate and appropriate uses of wildlife refuges: hunting,
environmental education, interpretation, fishing, wildlife observation and wildlife
photography. These priority public uses are dependent upon healthy wildlife populations.
Where these uses are determined to be compatible, they are to receive enhanced
consideration over other uses in planning and management.
Hunting of white-tailed deer and turkey, upland game (rabbit, squirrel and ruffed grouse)
and woodcock on Assabet River NWR is justified within refuge objectives by providing
wildlife-oriented recreation and promoting appreciation of wildlife and the outdoors.
Recreational hunting is also a valid means of population control and can serve to keep
wildlife populations in check.
These activities will not materially interfere with or detract from the mission of the
National Wildlife Refuge System or the purposes for which the refuge was established.
Signature - Refuge Manager: /s/ Elizabeth A. Herland 12/21/2004
(Signature and Date)
Concurrence - Regional Chief: /s/ Anthony D. Léger 12/27/2004
(Signature and Date)
Mandatory 15-year Reevaluation Date: December 27, 2019
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Assabet River NWR