[mou] Open House Planning Meetings for Rice Lake and Mille Lacs NWRs
Michelle_McDowell@fws.gov
Michelle_McDowell@fws.gov
Thu, 24 Mar 2005 09:02:21 -0700
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Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge Announces Open House Meetings
to Gather Public Comments for the Development of
Comprehensive Conservation Plans for Rice Lake and Mille Lacs
National Wildlife Refuges
Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge will begin soliciting public comments
as part of a comprehensive conservation planning process for Rice Lake and
Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuges. The resulting Comprehensive
Conservation Plan (CCP) will determine management policies for both
refuges and ensure the refuges fulfill their established purpose and
mission. Public involvement is an essential part of the planning process.
All interested individuals are invited to attend one of three open
houses. Open house meetings are scheduled for April 5, 6, and 7.
Open house times and locations:
Tuesday, April 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Rice Lake National
Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is located at 36289
State Hwy 65 south of McGregor.
Wednesday, April 6 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mille Lacs Community
Center of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in Onamia. The Community Center
is located at 43408 Ooodena Drive, Onamia.
Thursday, April 7, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the East Lake Community Center
of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. The East Lake Community Center is
located near the Refuge at 36666 State Hwy 65 south of McGregor.
The CCP process for Rice Lake and Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuges is
in the initial stages and may take more than two years to complete. In
addition to the open houses, individuals may submit written comments to
the refuge (Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Attn: CCP Comment, 36289
State Hwy 65, McGregor, MN 55760) or via the Internet at:
http://midwest.fws.gov/planning. Individuals are asked to submit their
concerns by the middle of May, so that they may be adequately considered
during the planning.
In developing this plan, the refuge recognizes that in addition to
managing the fish, wildlife and plants that inhabit the area, the refuge
will also consider the needs of the people who visit and the local
community.
All comments will be analyzed, reviewed and considered along with
biological and visitor data gathered during the planning process. Once
this information is compiled, the refuge mission, vision and goals will be
reviewed; significant issues identified; and a range of management
alternatives developed. After these steps are completed, a draft CCP will
be published for public comment and review by other agencies, partners and
individuals. Comments on the draft CCP will be analyzed, reviewed and
incorporated into the final CCP. Once the final CCP is approved, the plan
will be implemented and monitored. Congress mandates that the plan be
reviewed and revised every 15 years.
Rice Lake NWR was established in 1935 to provide habitat for migratory
birds, primarily waterfowl. Rice Lake NWR includes a detached parcel of
land known as the Sandstone Unit in Pine County.
The Rice Lake NWR staff also manage Mille Lacs NWR. The two islands of
Mille Lacs NWR were set aside by Executive Orders in 1915 and 1920 as a
"preserve and breeding ground for native birds" In addition to the
legislation and orders that established the refuges, national legislation
also affects the management of the refuges, as well as the entire National
Wildlife Refuge System.
The National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, the Refuge
Recreation Act of 1962, Executive Order 12996 and the National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 are primary mandates that define the
mission and management of national wildlife refuges. These laws establish
a unified mission for the System, develop a process for determining
compatible uses, further define compatible uses, and identify six priority
wildlife-dependent recreational uses (hunting, fishing, wildlife
observation, wildlife photography, environmental education and
interpretation).
In the 1997 Act, Congress mandated that a CCP be prepared for each refuge
within the National Wildlife Refuge System. These plans will guide
long-term management decisions and identify refuge goals, objectives, and
strategies for achieving the Refuge System mission. The plans provide
other agencies and the public with a clear understanding of the desired
conditions of the refuge and how the Service will implement management
strategies.
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<div align=center>
<br><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><b>Rice Lake National Wildlife
Refuge Announces Open House Meetings </b></font>
<br><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><b>to Gather Public Comments for
the Development of</b></font>
<br><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><b>Comprehensive Conservation Plans
for Rice Lake and Mille Lacs</b></font>
<br><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><b>National Wildlife Refuges</b></font></div>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge
will begin soliciting public comments as part of a comprehensive conservation
planning process for Rice Lake and Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuges.
The resulting Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) will determine
management policies for both refuges and ensure the refuges fulfill their
established purpose and mission. <i> </i>Public involvement is an
essential part of the planning process. All interested individuals
are invited to attend one of three open houses. Open house meetings
are scheduled for April 5, 6, and 7.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Open house times and locations:</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Tuesday, April 5, from 4 p.m. to
8 p.m., at the Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. The
Visitor Center is located at 36289 State Hwy 65 south of McGregor.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Wednesday, April 6 from 5 p.m.
to 8 p.m. at the Mille Lacs Community Center of the Mille Lacs Band of
Ojibwe in Onamia. The Community Center is located at 43408 Ooodena
Drive, Onamia.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Thursday, April 7, from 5 p.m.
to 8 p.m. at the East Lake Community Center of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
The East Lake Community Center is located near the Refuge at 36666
State Hwy 65 south of McGregor.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">The CCP process for Rice Lake and
Mille Lacs National Wildlife Refuges is in the initial stages and may take
more than two years to complete. In addition to the open houses, individuals
may submit written comments to the refuge (Rice Lake National Wildlife
Refuge, Attn: CCP Comment, 36289 State Hwy 65, McGregor, MN 55760) or via
the Internet at: http://midwest.fws.gov/planning. Individuals are
asked to submit their concerns by the middle of May, so that they may be
adequately considered during the planning.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">In developing this plan, the refuge
recognizes that in addition to managing the fish, wildlife and plants that
inhabit the area, the refuge will also consider the needs of the people
who visit and the local community.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">All comments will be analyzed,
reviewed and considered along with biological and visitor data gathered
during the planning process. Once this information is compiled, the
refuge mission, vision and goals will be reviewed; significant issues identified;
and a range of management alternatives developed. After these steps
are completed, a draft CCP will be published for public comment and review
by other agencies, partners and individuals. Comments on the draft
CCP will be analyzed, reviewed and incorporated into the final CCP. Once
the final CCP is approved, the plan will be implemented and monitored.
Congress mandates that the plan be reviewed and revised every 15
years. </font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">Rice Lake NWR was established in
1935 to provide habitat for migratory birds, primarily waterfowl. Rice
Lake NWR includes a detached parcel of land known as the Sandstone Unit
in Pine County.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">The Rice Lake NWR staff also manage
Mille Lacs NWR. The two islands of Mille Lacs NWR were set aside
by Executive Orders in 1915 and 1920 as a "preserve and breeding ground
for native birds" In addition to the legislation and orders
that established the refuges, national legislation also affects the management
of the refuges, as well as the entire National Wildlife Refuge System.
</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">The National Wildlife Refuge System
Administration Act of 1966, the Refuge Recreation Act of 1962, Executive
Order 12996 and the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of
1997 are primary mandates that define the mission and management of national
wildlife refuges. These laws establish a unified mission for the
System, develop a process for determining compatible uses, further define
compatible uses, and identify six priority wildlife-dependent recreational
uses (hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, wildlife photography, environmental
education and interpretation).</font>
<br>
<br><font size=3 face="Times New Roman">In the 1997 Act, Congress mandated
that a CCP be prepared for each refuge within the National Wildlife Refuge
System. These plans will guide long-term management decisions and
identify refuge goals, objectives, and strategies for achieving the Refuge
System mission. The plans provide other agencies and the public with
a clear understanding of the desired conditions of the refuge and how the
Service will implement management strategies. </font>
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