Oxbow NWR Final CCP - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Chapter 1: Introduction and Background
the Army (May, 1974 and February, 1988) formed the original 711.03 acre
portion of the refuge located south of Massachusetts Route 2. The third
Army transfer occurred in May of 1999, and added the 836.3 acre portion of
the refuge that is located north of Route 2. Finally, approximately 120
acres was added to the refuge in April, 2001, with the acquisition of the
former Watt Farm property along Still River Depot Road in Harvard.
The primary purpose for which the refuge was created is its “...particular
value in carrying out the National Migratory Bird Management Program”
(16 U.S.C. 667B, An Act Authorizing the Transfer of Certain Real Property
for Wildlife, or Other Purposes, as amended). The refuge’s interspersion of
wetland, forested upland and old field habitats is ideally suited for this
purpose. The refuge supports a diverse mix of migratory birds including
waterfowl, wading birds, raptors, shorebirds, passerines, as well as resident
mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. The extensive and
regionally significant wetlands occurring on and adjacent to the refuge,
including their associated tributary drainages and headwaters, have been
listed as a priority for protection under both the North American
Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) and the Emergency Wetlands
Resources Act of 1986.
The portion of the refuge south of Route 2 lies within the 12,900 acre
Central Nashua River Valley Area of Critical Environmental Concern
(ACEC) designated by the Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental
Affairs due to its unique environmental characteristics and values (MADEP
1998). The refuge’s geographic position, accessibility to the local and
regional communities, and its diverse biological resources also makes it
highly attractive for natural resource educational or interpretive programs,
and compatible wildlife dependent recreational uses. An estimated 70,000
people visited the refuge in 2003. All of this use occurred within the older
portion of the refuge, south of Route 2.
Purpose and Need for a CCP
The purpose of a CCP is to provide managers and other interested partners
guidance and direction for each refuge over the next 15 years, thus
achieving refuge purposes and contributing to the mission of the Refuge
System. The plan identifies what role the refuges play, consistent with
sound principles of fish and wildlife conservation, in the protection,
enhancement and restoration of trust resources.
This plan is also needed to:
• provide a clear statement of desired future conditions for habitat,
wildlife, visitors and facilities;
• provide refuge neighbors, visitors, and partners with a clear
understanding of the reasons for management actions;
• ensure management reflects the policies and goals of the Refuge
System and legal mandates;
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
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