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

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Trailmarker: Photo by Karla
Thompson
Chapter 2: The Comprehensive Conservation Planning Process
local towns and hunting groups was a suggestion. Others opposed hunting
of any kind on the refuge.
Management of Public Use and Access
The Complex Headquarters and visitor contact station is located in
Sudbury, MA. The need for environmental educational programs in
local schools as well as additional interpretive opportunities where the
public can learn about the refuge was also raised.
We do not have a consistent process for collecting and documenting
visitation at the refuge. The refuge will be opened in phases
beginning in the fall of 2004. Trespass has been occurring at the
refuge.
Resource Protection and Visitor Safety
Many people voiced concern for additional protection for cultural and
historical resources. Other concerns included the need to control
poaching, trespassing and other refuge regulations violations. We
need to address use of existing structures, if possible, and determine
where a number of buildings need to be removed. To date, 18
buildings have been removed from the refuge. There is still a large amount
of material to be removed from the refuge, including razor wire, and holes
to be filled.
Infrastructure and Operations and Maintenance
We heard from some people that the Complex doesn’t have the resources
and staff needed to support programs and maintenance of the refuge. A
new biological position was added to the Complex in 2004 and additional
positions have been identified to be filled as funding allows.
Issues and Concerns Considered Outside the Scope of This Plan
Some external threats to the refuges such as water quality and
contamination were identified by the public.
Poor water quality in the Concord, Sudbury and Assabet Rivers prompted
concern among citizens. The Concord and Sudbury Rivers both are
reported to have high levels of contamination, and the Assabet River
suffers from excessive nutrient loading. In these watersheds, the Service is
currently involved in watershed-wide efforts and partnerships to review
and reduce impacts to the communities and to refuge resources. Service
contaminants specialists represent wildlife interests in contaminants
cleanup efforts that directly affect refuge lands, such as lands transferred
to the Service or rivers that flow into the refuges, and refuge staff
Assabet River NWR