Oxbow NWR Final CCP - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Oxbow NWR Final CCP - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Oxbow NWR Final CCP - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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Chapter 2: The Comprehensive Conservation Planning Process<br />
Chapter 2: The Comprehensive Conservation Planning<br />
Process<br />
Given the m<strong>and</strong>ate in the Refuge Improvement Act to develop a <strong>CCP</strong> for<br />
each <strong>NWR</strong>, we began the planning process in 1999. We started by forming<br />
a core planning team of refuge staff <strong>and</strong> <strong>Service</strong> planners from the regional<br />
office. We placed a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS in the January 1999<br />
Federal Register to officially kick-off our planning effort for all eight of the<br />
Complex refuges.<br />
First, we collected information on our biological <strong>and</strong> habitat resources.<br />
While in the process of collecting information, we initiated the public<br />
scoping <strong>and</strong> involvement part of the process. We held meetings with each<br />
town’s Board of Selectmen <strong>and</strong> state <strong>and</strong> federal agencies. Many of these<br />
groups provided information on natural resources <strong>and</strong> public uses on<br />
refuges in the Complex. In February of 1999,<br />
we held open houses in central locations to<br />
provide an opportunity for public comment<br />
on different issues including current <strong>and</strong><br />
future management strategies, l<strong>and</strong><br />
protection <strong>and</strong> public uses. We were pleased<br />
with the participation at many of our<br />
meetings, which ranged from 30 people to<br />
over 100.<br />
We recognized that attending our open<br />
houses would be difficult for many <strong>and</strong><br />
designed an Issues Workbook to encourage<br />
additional comment. Over 8,000 people<br />
representing a variety of interests received<br />
workbooks. Workbooks were also available<br />
at open houses <strong>and</strong> at the refuge<br />
headquarters. We received over 660<br />
responses.<br />
Using the information collected from our<br />
partners <strong>and</strong> through public comment we<br />
identified significant issues to be addressed in the plan. In August of 1999,<br />
we distributed a Planning Update to everyone on our mailing list<br />
describing the key issues identified for each refuge.<br />
Once key issues were determined <strong>and</strong> refined, we developed alternative<br />
strategies to address each one. We derived the strategies from public<br />
comment, follow-up contacts with partners <strong>and</strong> refuge staff. After a<br />
reasonable range of alternatives was identified, we evaluated the<br />
environmental consequences of each alternative.<br />
Comprehensive Conservation Plan<br />
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