99-54
SERVICE PROPOSES TO ADD LAND TO LOWER KLAMATH NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today it is proposing to purchase additional land for the Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge in Siskiyou County, California, and Klamath County, Oregon. The Service is soliciting public comments on its proposal to negotiate with willing sellers to purchase up to 1,080 acres in Klamath County and up to 5,873 acres and two groundwater wells in Siskiyou County. Following a 30-day public comment period, the Service will decide whether to approve any additions to the refuge. The refuge requires additional lands to meet the annual need for 12,000 to 16,000 acres of managed seasonal wetland habitat for migratory birds. The groundwater wells would partially address the need for a stable supply of high-quality water on the refuge. The Service considered several other alternatives before making its proposal. One of these included the potential acquisition of only the 5,873 acres of land in Siskiyou County. The other included the potential acquisition of only 4,190 acres in Siskiyou County. Both of these alternatives also included the purchase of the two groundwater wells. Another alternative called for no additional lands or groundwater wells to be purchased. Copies of the proposal's environmental assessment are available for review at the Klamath Falls, Oregon, and Yreka, California libraries. Copies can be obtained from the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Tulelake, California (telephone 530-667-2231); the Klamath Falls Fish and Wildlife Office, 6610 Washburn Way, Klamath Falls, Oregon (541-885-8481); the Yreka Fish and Wildlife Office, 1215 South Main, Suite 212, Yreka, California (530-842-5763); the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's California/Nevada Operations Office, 2233 Watt Avenue, Sacramento, CA (916-979-2034); and from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Regional Office, 911 NE 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon (503-231-2231). Written comments should be submitted by September 7, 1999, to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Attn: Mr. Charles Houghten), Refuge Planning Division (ARW-RPL), 911 N.E. 11th Avenue, Portland, Oregon 9732-4181. Comments may also be submitted by e-mail to : r1planning_guest@fws.gov (with "Lower Klamath" typed in the subject line). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprising more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state wildlife agencies. |