Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Planning Update Number 2, April 2011

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Planning Update Number 2, April 2011

Lazuli bunting / ©Scott Carpenter Thank You For Participating

Tualatin River National Wildlife Update 1 included background provided comments. In addition, Refuge is developing a Comprehensive information on the refuge, described we received written comments Conservation Plan (CCP) and the CCP planning process, and from 114 individuals, agencies, and associated environmental assessment. identified preliminary issues to be organizations. We read through every Upon completion, the CCP will guide addressed in the CCP. We invited comment and we appreciate your refuge management for 15 years. This you to get involved by providing your thoughtful suggestions and heartfelt planning update provides information comments at public meetings, by concerns. on the status of the planning process telephone or in person, or in writing and summarizes what we heard by email, fax, or postal mail. Thank you for sharing your thoughts from the public and agencies during and ideas with us. Your continued scoping. During November and December participation will be critical to the 2010, we held one agency and two success of the CCP. In November 2010, we distributed public scoping meetings to solicit Planning Update 1 to a wide range comments concerning development of Chris Lapp of individuals, organizations and the CCP. The three meetings had a Acting Refuge Manager government agencies. Planning total of 116 participants, most of whom Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge

In this issue Review of Comments Draft Refuge Vision Statement Draft Refuge Goals Bufflehead Next Steps ©Bjorn Fredrickson 2 3

Your Comments Covered Many Issues Draft Refuge Vision Statement Wildlife and Habitat Management Public Access and Public Use Facilities Hunting and Fishing An image of the future The refuge manages habitat for native The refuge offers wildlife-dependent Waterfowl, upland bird, and big game fish and wildlife. Many commenters public use opportunities while also hunting were of notable interest. Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge is a natural urged the refuge to maintain, expand protecting wildlife and habitat. Many Commenters described inadequate treasure where an abundance of native wildlife thrive and improve native habitats. They commenters suggested improvements hunting opportunities on public lands in a mosaic of wetland, prairie, forest and stream noted that the refuge has substantial to refuge public use facilities or ideas in western Oregon, particularly the gaps in habitat and several areas for new facilities, particularly at the Portland metropolitan area, and their habitats characteristic of the Willamette Valley where connectivity between habitats Wapato Lake Unit. The desire for strong interest in seeing opportunities that the Atfalat’i people knew. The refuge is a is narrow. Management plans and more trails on the refuge, trails to the provided on the refuge. They said that sanctuary for both wildlife and people, a place actions should reduce fragmentation refuge from surrounding areas, and refuge acquisition of the Wapato Lake and re-connect native habitats. Some public access to the Tualatin River to Unit came with public expectations where the ebb and flow of the river marks the natural people also expressed concern about launch canoes and kayaks were frequent that it would offer hunting and fishing rhythms of the refuge through the seasons. It’s a special place, disturbance to sensitive species and comments. Commenters urged opportunities. Many hunting advocates an icon where the stories of the refuge reflect the importance urged that habitats away from public integration of the refuge into regional mentioned the potential for special use areas be managed for minimal trail plans, such as the Tonquin Trail hunts, such as early season hunts and of the National Wildlife Refuge System. The refuge has a rich disturbance. Elk, deer, and waterfowl and the Tualatin River Water Trail, to hunts for youth and disabled persons. history of community vision where friends and neighbors helped management attracted many comments provide foot, bicycle and small water- Many other respondents expressed create, and continue to care for, this urban refuge and the watershed that due to economic damage they cause on craft access to and from the refuge. equally strong opinions in opposition private lands. Several commenters supported expansion of establishing hunting programs on supports it. It’s a model that combines excellence in landscape conservation, of the refuge’s environmental education the refuge. They stated that the learning, and partnerships to strive for a healthy natural world. Tualatin Restoration to Natural Water Regimes program. Those who commented on refuge is too small to safely River National Wildlife Refuge is a place where rich traditions, outdoor Numerous commenters encouraged the idea of an entrance fee and/or user accommodate hunting and that it the removal of dikes and water control fees for specific activities were either should be a sanctuary for wildlife. learning experiences, and discovery foster a love of and caring for nature that structures and the return to natural opposed, fearing it would discourage A number of commenters supported endures for generations to come. water regimes regulated by the refuge visitation and harm community a fishing program on the refuge. Tualatin River and its tributaries. relations, grudgingly supportive of They urged the refuge to restore fees as necessary to provide sustainable Community Partnerships floodplain areas that historically funding for public use programs and Several commenters cited the Spotted sandpiper chick / ©Bjorn Fredrickson supported native habitats of the facilities, or generally supportive. importance of the refuge actively Willamette Valley such as wetlands, collaborating with other natural wet prairies, and riparian forests. They Wapato Lake Water Management resource planning and management Draft Refuge Goals believed that allowing the river and Wapato lakebed management is an ventures in the region, including The CCP planning team has drafted a series of goals and is now developing objectives and strategies to meet these goals its tributaries to dictate inundation issue of great concern. Commenters Oregon Department of Fish and and to address the concerns identified during scoping. Included below are key aspects of our draft goals. heights and frequencies would support addressed lakebed management from Wildlife management programs, a diversity of fish and wildlife species a variety of perspectives, ranging Metro, neighboring public and private • Maintain, enhance, and restore a • Maintain, enhance, and where • Provide students and teachers from and habitats, including aquatic from habitat restoration opportunities natural areas, and the statewide Oregon variety of habitats of the historic feasible, restore in-channel stream the greater Portland area with habitats. They said that appropriate to the future of the Wapato Improvement Conservation Strategy, Willamette Willamette Valley ecosystem to and off-channel backwater slough compatible and high-quality restoration of these habitats should District and a continued supply of Synthesis Planning Project, and support breeding and migratory habitats representative of the historic opportunities to participate in support salmon and other native fish irrigation water to agricultural lands. Portland/Vancouver Area Regional land birds, water birds, and other Tualatin River Valley ecosystem to environmental education. recovery, as well as other species like Some commenters advocated for the Conservation Strategy. They said it is native species. These habitats benefit salmon, steelhead, and other western pond turtles. Comments removal of dikes, water control structures important to work cohesively in the include: bottomland riparian forest; native aquatic species. • Provide refuge visitors with diverse, regarding the use of prescribed fire as and pumps, and a return to natural management of a network of wildlife mixed coniferous/deciduous uplands; compatible, and high-quality a restoration tool were a mixture of water regimes. Other commenters conservation areas and to engage in oak/pine savanna; and wet and dry • Minimize adverse impacts of opportunities to participate in support and opposition. Some requested assurance that infrastructure research that enables managers to meadow prairies. non-native and nuisance plant and wildlife observation and participants expressed concerns about would be maintained and that the past better understand, assess the effects of, animal species. photography. the potential effects of climate change water management and irrigation and respond to climate change. Other • Maintain, enhance, and restore a on refuge habitats and species. water delivery would continue into the commenters identified additional ways diversity of wetland habitats of the • Collect scientific information as • Provide refuge visitors with future. Clean Water Services, the in which volunteers could be historic Willamette Valley ecosystem necessary to support adaptive compatible and high-quality Non-native/Invasive Plants & Animals Joint Water Commission, and the engaged on the refuge. Still other to support migratory land birds, management decisions on the opportunities to participate in Non-native and/or invasive plants Oregon Department of Environmental commenters recommended new water birds and shorebirds with refuge. hunting and fishing. and animals on the refuge degrade Quality wanted assurances that over public or private partnerships special emphasis on wintering habitats and directly impact native the long term, even if more natural to achieve refuge management waterfowl. • Protect and manage the Refuge’s • Improve safe and easy public access wildlife. Many commenters noted that water management is selected as the goals. cultural resources for their to, from, and within the refuge. the need to control plant and animal preferred alternative in the CCP, • Cultivate and maintain cereal grain educational, scientific, and cultural invasive species is a complex, long- poor-quality water will not be crops and green pastures as forage values. • Provide opportunities for local term challenge for the refuge. Bullfrogs, released into the Tualatin River. for migratory waterfowl and other communities and their citizens to be nutria, and feral cats, in particular, native species. • Provide visitors, local residents, involved with and actively support were identified as priority species for volunteers, and partners with fish and wildlife conservation, as management. Some commenters were For a comprehensive look at all of the comments • Support the recovery and protection opportunities to understand and well as claim ownership in and assist specific about the kind of management we received, go to our website at: of federal and state listed threatened appreciate the purpose, ecology, and with the refuge purpose and they would support, such as trapping and endangered species, as well as management of the refuge, the programs. or lethal removal. www.fws.gov/tualatinriver/refugeplanning Western tiger swallowtail other special status species. Refuge System, and fish and wildlife ©Ed Bustya conservation. 2 3

4 Next Steps for the CCP Developing Alternatives: A preliminary set of alternatives, with detailed objectives and strategies by goal, is under development by the planning team and will be completed in June 2011.

Reviewing Preliminary Alternatives with the Public: A planning update summarizing the preliminary alternatives will be distributed to the public in July 2011.

Preparing a Draft CCP and Environmental Assessment: A draft CCP with accompanying environmental analysis will be released for public review and comment in Spring 2012.

Questions or Concerns? Please contact us. Chris Lapp, Acting Refuge Manager Phone: 503-625-5944 Email: [email protected]