Ohio River Islands NWR Hunting Plan 1
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge Hunting Plan August 2021 Wells Island – Janet Butler/USFWS Appendix A – Hunting Compatibility Determination Appendix B – Environmental Assessment Appendix C – Intra-Service Section 7 Evaluation Appendix D – Finding of No Significant Impact Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge Hunting Plan August 2021 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge 3982 Waverly Road Williamstown, WV 26187 Submitted By: Project Leader ______________________________________________ ____________ Signature Date Concurrence: Refuge Supervisor ______________________________________________ ____________ Signature Date Approved: Regional Chief National Wildlife Refuge System ______________________________________________ ____________ Signature Date Table of Contents I. Introduction .............................................................................................................................1 II. Statement of Objectives ..........................................................................................................3 III. Description of Hunting Program ............................................................................................3 A. Areas to be Opened to Hunting .....................................................................................3 B. Species to be Taken, Hunting Periods, Access ...............................................................4 C. Permit Requirements .....................................................................................................5 D. Consultation and Coordination with the State ................................................................5 E. Law Enforcement ..........................................................................................................6 F. Funding and Staffing Requirements ..................................................................................6 IV. Conduct of the Hunting Program ...........................................................................................7 A. Hunter Permit Application, Selection, and/or Registration Procedures ...........................7 B. Refuge-Specific Hunting Regulations............................................................................7 C. Relevant State Regulations ............................................................................................8 D. Other Refuge Rules and Regulations for Hunting and Fishing .......................................8 V. Public Engagement .................................................................................................................8 A. Outreach for Announcing and Publicizing the Hunting Program ...................................8 B. Anticipated Public Reaction to the Hunting Program .....................................................8 C. How Hunters Will Be Informed of Relevant Rules and Regulations ..............................8 VI. Compatibility Determination .................................................................................................9 List of Tables 1. Table 1. Areas and species groups open to hunting at Ohio River NWR ..................................4 2. Table 2. Funding and Staffing Requirements ...........................................................................7 List of Figures 1. Figure 1. Ohio River Islands Refuge Map .............................................................................. 10 2. Figure 2. Buckley Mainland Hunt Area at Ohio River Islands NWR...................................... 11 2. Figure 3. Middle Island Hunt Area at Ohio River Islands NWR............................................. 12 OHIO RIVER ISLANDS NATIONALWILDLIFE REFUGE HUNTING PLAN I. Introduction National wildlife refuges are guided by the mission and goals of the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System), the establishing purpose(s) of an individual refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) policy, and laws and international treaties. Relevant guidance includes the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act (NWRSAA) of 1966, as amended by the Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Refuge Recreation Act of 1962, and selected portions of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Manual. Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (NWR, refuge) was established in 1990 pursuant to the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a-742j, as amended). The primary purpose of the refuge is for “the development, management, advancement, conservation, and protection of fish and wildlife resources through research, acquisition of land and water or interests therein, development of existing facilities, and other means.” The refuge currently owns or manages 3,441 acres of lands and waters along 362 miles of the Ohio River in Pennsylvania (PA), West Virginia (WV), and Kentucky (KY) (Figure 1). The terrestrial acreage is comprised primarily of islands in the river, as the refuge currently owns, in fee title, all or parts of 22 islands and 4 mainland tracts. It also manages an 8.4-acre wetland conservation easement in Belleville, WV under the authority of the 1990 Food, Agriculture, Conservation and Trade Act. The overall land cover is classified as 53 percent underwater habitat, 33 percent forest, and the remaining 14 percent as old fields, wetlands, or other habitats. The refuge is located within 2 hours driving time of many metropolitan areas including Pittsburgh, PA, Columbus, OH, Cincinnati, OH, Cleveland, OH, Charleston, WV, Wheeling, WV, and Lexington, KY. The mission of the Refuge System, as outlined by the NWRSAA and amended by the Refuge System Improvement Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.), is to: “... administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.” The NWRSAA mandates the Secretary of the Interior in administering the Refuge System to (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)(4): ● Provide for the conservation of fish, wildlife, and plants, and their habitats within the Refuge System; ● Ensure that the biological integrity, diversity, and environmental health of the Refuge System are maintained for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans; Ohio River Islands NWR Hunting Plan 1 ● Ensure that the mission of the Refuge System described at 16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)(2) and the purposes of each refuge are carried out; ● Ensure effective coordination, interaction, and cooperation with owners of land adjoining refuges and the fish and wildlife agency of the States in which the units of the Refuge System are located; ● Assist in the maintenance of adequate water quantity and water quality to fulfill the mission of the Refuge System and the purposes of each refuge; ● Recognize compatible wildlife-dependent recreational uses as the priority general public uses of the Refuge System through which the American public can develop an appreciation for fish and wildlife; ● Ensure that opportunities are provided within the Refuge System for compatible wildlife-dependent recreational uses; and ● Monitor the status and trends of fish, wildlife, and plants in each refuge. Therefore, it is a priority of the Service to provide for wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities, including hunting and fishing, when those opportunities are compatible with the purposes for which the refuge was established and the mission of the Refuge System. Public hunting at Ohio River Islands NWR began in 1994 and continues to this day, providing quality big game, migratory bird, and upland game hunting opportunities. Access to most refuge units is by boat, which limits hunter use and therefore provides a unique hunting experience. The Service proposes to expand hunting opportunities at Ohio Rivers Islands NWR to better align with State programs. We propose the following changes as part of the update to this existing hunting plan: 1. Species changes: In addition to the existing species, the refuge would open to crow, raccoon, grey fox, red fox, bobcat, skunk, opossum, woodchuck, weasel, squirrel, rabbit, turkey, and coyote. 2. Huntable Acreage: No additional total acres will open to hunting, but migratory bird and upland game species will be expanded to new acres. Migratory bird hunting would open on 364 acres not previously open to this use. Upland game hunting would open on 1,400 acres not previously open to this use. 3. Method of take changes: Open new and existing species in alignment with State with some exceptions. Archery only for big game will be maintained. 4. Hunter orange: No changes to the use of hunter orange. Ohio River Islands NWR Hunting Plan 2 II. Statement of Objectives The objectives of a multi-species hunting program on Ohio River Islands NWR are to: • Provide the public with a quality recreational experience on refuge lands and increase opportunities for hunters; • Design a hunting program that is in alignment with refuge habitat management objectives; • Provide wildlife-dependent public recreation as mandated by and according to Service law and policy; • Design a hunting program that is administratively efficient and manageable with existing staffing levels; and • To implement a hunting program that is safe for all refuge users. Ohio River Islands NWR’s 2002 Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) identified hunting as “…an acceptable and legitimate