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

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Chapter 4: Management Direction
adequately manage uses of the area for the benefit of wildlife. Because
development rights must be included, the cost of purchasing conservation
easements often approaches that of fee title purchase, thus rendering this
method less practical. Donations of easements or voluntary deed
restrictions prohibiting habitat destruction will be encouraged. In addition,
the Service could negotiate management agreements with local and state
agencies, and accept conservation easements on upland tracts.
Funding for land acquisition comes from the Land and Water Conservation
Fund and the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund under the Migratory
Bird Conservation Act.
In the future, we may look at wetland, upland and river systems near
Assabet River NWR which are of interest for possible private-lands habitat
improvement projects, easements, and/or acquisition. In particular, we
believe protection of lands associated with the Sudbury, Assabet and
Concord River watershed is important for the health of fish and wildlife on
the refuge. All lands within the Assabet River NWR acquisition
boundaries are already acquired.
Resource Protection and Visitor Safety
Protection of visitors and both natural and cultural resources will be
improved. We propose to increase refuge staff by one additional, full-time
Park Ranger, and provide the necessary, intensive federal law enforcement
training required for dual function law enforcement responsibilities to two
additional staff (e.g., an assistant manager, refuge operations specialist, or
an outdoor recreation planner).
Refuge staff will complete a fire suppression contract or
agreement with state or local fire suppression agencies
for wildfires occurring on the refuge (see section Fire
Management at the beginning of this chapter).
Special Use Permits and Memorandum of
Understanding and Agreement
Guided tours, by outside groups, are permitted on the
refuges if the activity is determined to be appropriate
and compatible with the refuge(s) purpose. Permitting
Former Army drop zone: Photo by Marijke Holtrop will be divided into four categories by the type of use
and the regularity of the activity requested. Where
appropriate, one Permit or Agreement will be developed for all three
northern refuges in the Complex including Oxbow, Assabet River and
Great Meadows NWRs.
Special Use Permits may be issued to user groups or individuals for annual
or single events. These organizations or individuals are those who want to
Assabet River NWR