Habitat Management Plan Template
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CLARKS RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Big Game, Migratory Birds, Upland Game, Amphibians/Reptiles, and Invasive/Feral Species 2020 Sport Hunt Plan Submitted By: Project Leader ______________________________________________ Signature/Date Concurrence: Refuge Supervisor ______________________________________________ Signature/Date Approved: Regional Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System ______________________________________________ Signature/Date Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge 91 U.S. Highway 641 N Benton, KY 42025 March 2020 Table of Contents Section A. Sport Hunt Plan Introduction ...............................................................................................................................4 Statement of Objectives ...........................................................................................................7 Description of Hunting Program ............................................................................................ 10 Areas to be Opened to Hunting ............................................................................................. 10 Species to be Taken, Hunting periods, Hunting Access ......................................................... 12 Hunter Permit Requirements ................................................................................................. 16 Consultation and Coordination with the State ........................................................................ 16 Law Enforcement .................................................................................................................. 16 Funding and Staffing Requirements ...................................................................................... 16 Conduct of the Hunting Program ...........................................................................................18 Hunter Permit Application, Selection, and/or Registration Procedures ................................... 18 Refuge-Specific Hunting Regulations .................................................................................... 19 Relevant State Regulations ................................................................................................... 19 Other Refuge Rules and Regulations for Hunting .................................................................. 20 Public Engagement .................................................................................................................21 Outreach for Announcing and Publicizing the Hunting Program ............................................ 21 Anticipated Public Reaction to the Hunting Program ............................................................. 21 How Hunters will be Informed of Relevant Rules and Regulations ........................................ 22 Literature Cited .......................................................................................................................23 Section B. Environmental Assessment Introduction .............................................................................................................................24 Proposed Action .................................................................................................................... 24 Background ........................................................................................................................... 24 Purpose and Need ................................................................................................................ 26 Alternatives Considered .........................................................................................................27 Alternative A – Increase Hunting Season Structure and Alignment – [Proposed Action Alternative] ............................................................................................................................ 27 Alternative B – Current Management – [No Action Alternative] .............................................. 31 Affected Environment .............................................................................................................33 Environmental Consequences ...............................................................................................34 Impact Analysis ..................................................................................................................... 35 Cumulative Impact Analysis................................................................................................... 66 Clarks River NWR Sport Hunt Plan 2 Mitigation Measures and Conditions ...................................................................................... 78 Monitoring ............................................................................................................................. 78 Summary of Analysis ............................................................................................................. 79 Alternative A – Proposed Action Alternative ............................................................... 79 Alternative B – No Action Alternative ......................................................................... 79 Coordination ...........................................................................................................................79 List of Sources, Agencies and Persons Consulted ................................................................ 79 List of Preparers .................................................................................................................... 80 State Coordination ................................................................................................................. 80 Tribal Consultation ................................................................................................................ 80 Public Outreach ..................................................................................................................... 80 Appendix A. Literature Cited ..................................................................................................82 Appendix B. Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge Compatibility Determination .............. 92 Appendix C. US Fish and Wildlife Service Intra-Service Section 7 Biological Evaluation Form ............................................................................................................................................... 107 Appendix D. Service’s Response to Public Comments ..................................................... 118 Appendix E. Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision on Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge 2020 Sport Hunting Plan ..........................................................................................129 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Overview of the Proposed Action Alternative. ............................................................... 28 Table 2. Overview of the Current Management Alternative. ........................................................ 31 Table 3. Socioeconomic summary (2017) for Marshall, McCracken, Graves Counties, KY. ...... 33 Table 4. Affected Natural Resources and Anticipated Impacts ................................................... 35 Table 5. Affected Visitor Use and Experience and Anticipated Impacts ..................................... 61 Table 6. Affected Cultural Resources and Anticipated ................................................................ 62 Table 7. Affected Refuge Management and Operations and Anticipated Impacts ..................... 62 Table 8. Affected Socioeconomics and Anticipated Impacts ...................................................... 65 Table 9. Anticipated Cumulative Impacts ...................................................................................... 67 LIST OF FIGURES Section A. Sport Hunt Plan Figure 1. Clarks River NWR Location Map ..................................................................................... 5 Figure 2. Clarks River NWR with restricted hunting locations ................................................... 11 Figure 3. Clarks River NWR with Hunting Access and Locations .............................................. 15 Section B. Environmental Assessment Figure 1. Location Map of Clarks River NWR ............................................................................... 34 Clarks River NWR Sport Hunt Plan 3 Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge 2020 Sport Hunt Plan For Big Game, Migratory Birds, Upland Game, Amphibians/Reptiles, and Invasive/Feral Species INTRODUCTION National Wildlife Refuges are guided by the mission and goals of the National Wildlife Refuge System (NWRS), the purposes of an individual refuge, Service policy, and laws and international treaties. Relevant guidance includes the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Refuge Recreation Act of 1962, and selected portions of the Code of Federal Regulations and Fish and Wildlife Service Manual. Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR or refuge) was established pursuant to the Federal Property and Administrative Service Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 471-535), as amended; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934 (16 U.S.C. 661-666c) as amended; Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742a-742j Stat. 1119) as amended; the Act of May 19, 1948, Public Law 80-537 (16 U.S.C. 667b- 667d; 62 Stat. 240) as amended; and The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), as amended. Clarks River NWR was