AMENDED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT HUNT PROGRAM PROPOSAL CANAAN VALLEY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE April 2007 U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge Tucker County, West Virginia ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT/HUNTING CANAAN VALLEY NWR TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES/TABLES ....................................................................................................... vi LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................ vii I. Introduction..........................................................................................................................1 II. Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action .........................................................................5 A. Proposed Action.......................................................................................................5 B. Purpose.....................................................................................................................5 C. Need for the Proposed Action..................................................................................6 III. Proposed Action and Its Alternatives ..................................................................................6 A. Summary of the Alternatives ...................................................................................7 B. Alternatives Dismissed from Consideration............................................................7 C. Description of Alternatives......................................................................................7 1. Regulations Common for Hunting Alternatives ..........................................7 2. Alternative 1. Proposed Action - Open Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge to hunting as regulated by the State of West Virginia with some exceptions ..................................................................................................11 3. Alternative 2 - Open Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge to White- tailed Deer Hunting Only...........................................................................13 4. Alternative 3 - (No Action) Do Not Open Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge to hunting ........................................................................14 IV. Affected Environment........................................................................................................14 A. Vegetation..............................................................................................................14 B. Wildlife ..................................................................................................................15 1. Upland (Small) Game .......................................................................................15 Ruffed Grouse............................................................................................15 Northern Bobwhite ....................................................................................15 Rabbits and Hare........................................................................................16 Squirrels.....................................................................................................16 Raccoon, Foxes (Red and Gray) and Bobcat.............................................16 Coyote........................................................................................................17 Opossum, Skunk, and Woodchuck ........................................................................17 2. Big Game ..........................................................................................................17 White-tailed Deer.......................................................................................17 i ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT/HUNTING CANAAN VALLEY NWR Black Bear..................................................................................................18 Wild Turkey...............................................................................................19 3. Migratory Game Birds ......................................................................................19 Waterfowl (Ducks and Geese)...................................................................19 Rails, Gallinule and Coot...........................................................................20 Mourning Doves ........................................................................................21 American Woodcock .................................................................................21 Wilson's Snipe............................................................................................23 4. Endangered, Threatened, and other Non-game Species ...................................23 C. Socio-Economic/Cultural Resources .....................................................................24 1. Socio-Economic………………………………………….…...……………….24 2. Cultural Resources.............................................................................................25 V. Environmental Consequences of the Proposed Action and Its Alternatives .....................26 1. Anticipated Direct and Indirect Impacts...................................................................................................................26 A. Alternative 1 (Proposed Action) - Open Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge to hunting as regulated by the State of West Virginia with some exceptions ..............................................................................................................26 1. Vegetation.........................................................................................................26 2. Wildlife .............................................................................................................27 a. Upland (Small) Game ...........................................................................27 Ruffed Grouse................................................................................27 Rabbits and Hare............................................................................28 Squirrels.........................................................................................29 Raccoon, Foxes (Red and Gray), and Bobcat................................29 Coyote…………………………………………………................30 Opossum, Skunk, and Woodchuck ................................................31 b. Big Game ..............................................................................................31 White-tailed Deer...........................................................................31 Black Bear......................................................................................31 Wild Turkey...................................................................................33 c. Migratory Game Birds ..........................................................................33 Waterfowl (Ducks and Geese).......................................................33 Rails, Gallinule, and Coot..............................................................34 Mourning Doves ............................................................................34 American Woodcock .....................................................................34 Wilson's Snipe................................................................................35 d. Endangered, Threatened and other Non-game species.........................35 3. Local Economy .................................................................................................36 4. Cultural Resources……………………………………………………… .......36 ii ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT/HUNTING CANAAN VALLEY NWR B. Alternative 2 - Open Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge to white-tailed deer hunting only ...........................................................................................................36 1. Vegetation.........................................................................................................36 2. Wildlife .............................................................................................................37 a. Upland (Small) Game ...........................................................................37 b. Big Game ..............................................................................................37 White-tailed Deer...........................................................................37 Black Bear......................................................................................37 Wild Turkey...................................................................................37 c. Migratory Game Birds ..........................................................................37 d. Endangered, Threatened, and other Non-game species........................38 3. Local Economy .................................................................................................38 4. Cultural Resources………………………………………................................38 C. Alternative 3 (No Action) - Do Not Open Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge to hunting...................................................................................................38 1. Vegetation.........................................................................................................38 2. Wildlife .............................................................................................................39 a. Upland (Small) Game ...........................................................................39 b. Big Game ..............................................................................................39