80 FR 34166 - Butte Sink, Willow Creek-Lurline, and North Central Valley Wildlife Management Areas, Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Yuba, Sacramento, Sutter, Placer, Yolo, Solano, Contra Costa, and San Joaquin Counties, CA

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 114 (June 15, 2015)

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the availability of a Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Butte Sink, Willow Creek-Lurline, and North Central Valley Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) for public review and comment. The CCP/EA, prepared under the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, describes how the Service proposes to manage the three WMAs for the next 15 years. Draft compatibility determinations for several existing and proposed public uses are also available for review and public comment with the Draft CCP/EA.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 114 (Monday, June 15, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34166-34168]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14655]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

[FWS-R8-R-2015-N025]; [FXRS12610800000-156-FF08R00000]


Butte Sink, Willow Creek-Lurline, and North Central Valley 
Wildlife Management Areas, Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Yuba, 
Sacramento, Sutter, Placer, Yolo, Solano, Contra Costa, and San Joaquin 
Counties, CA

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments: draft 
comprehensive conservation plan/environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), announce the 
availability of a Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Butte Sink, Willow Creek-Lurline, 
and North Central Valley Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) for public 
review and comment. The CCP/EA, prepared under the National Wildlife 
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, and in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, describes how the Service 
proposes to manage the three WMAs for the next 15 years. Draft 
compatibility determinations for several existing and proposed public 
uses are also available for review and public comment with the Draft 
CCP/EA.

DATES: To ensure consideration, we must receive your written comments 
by September 9, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Send your comments, requests for more information, or 
requests to be added to the mailing list by any of the following 
methods.
    Email: [email protected]. Include ``WMAs CCP'' in the subject 
line of the message.
    Fax: Attn: WMAs CCP, (916) 414-6497.
    U.S. Mail: Pacific Southwest Region, Natural Resources-Planning, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825-
1846.
    In-Person Drop-off: You may drop off comments during regular 
business hours at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Osborn, Planning Team Leader,

[[Page 34167]]

by email at [email protected], or Dan Frisk, Sacramento National 
Wildlife Refuge Complex Project Leader, by phone at (530) 934-2801. 
Further information may also be found at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Sacramento/ Sacramento/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Wildlife Refuge System 
Improvement Act of 1997 (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee), which amended the 
National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, requires 
the Service to develop a CCP for each national wildlife refuge. The 
purpose in developing a CCP is to provide managers with a 15-year plan 
for achieving refuge purposes and contributing toward the mission of 
the National Wildlife Refuge System, consistent with sound principles 
of fish and wildlife management, conservation, legal mandates, and our 
policies. In addition to outlining broad management direction on 
conserving wildlife and their habitats, CCPs identify wildlife-
dependent recreational opportunities available to the public, including 
opportunities for hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and 
photography, and environmental education and interpretation.

Background

    We initiated the CCP/EA for the Butte Sink, Willow Creek-Lurline, 
and North Central Valley WMAs, in Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Yuba, 
Sutter, Placer, Yolo, Solano, Contra Costa, and San Joaquin Counties in 
2009. At that time and throughout the process, we requested, 
considered, and incorporated public scoping comments in numerous ways. 
Our public outreach included a Federal Register notice of intent 
published on November 30, 2009 (74 FR 62584), two planning updates, a 
CCP Web page (http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Sacramento/), and three public 
scoping meetings. The scoping comment period ended on January 15, 2010. 
Verbal comments were recorded at the public meetings, and written 
comments were submitted via letters and emails.

Butte Sink, Willow Creek-Lurline, and North Central Valley Wildlife 
Management Areas

    This CCP includes the Butte Sink, Willow Creek-Lurline, and North 
Central Valley WMAs. The WMAs are part of the Sacramento National 
Wildlife Refuge Complex. The Butte Sink WMA was established in 1979 and 
currently consists of 733 acres of fee title lands and 34 conservation 
easements on approximately 10,236 acres of private wetlands. The 
acquisition objective for the Butte Sink WMA has been met. The Willow 
Creek-Lurline WMA was established in 1985 and currently consists of 85 
conservation easements on approximately 5,859 acres of private 
wetlands; with an approved easement acquisition objective of 8,000 
acres within Glenn and Colusa Counties. The North Central Valley WMA 
was established in 1991 and currently consists of approximately 2,929 
acres of Service-owned lands and 28 conservation easements on 
approximately 14,740 acres of private wetlands, with an approved 
acquisition objective of 48,750 easement acres and 6,250 Service-owned 
acres within 11 counties.
    The vast majority of wetlands in the Central Valley have been 
converted to agricultural, industrial, and urban development. The WMAs 
consist of intensively managed wetlands, and associated uplands and 
riparian habitats that support large concentrations of migratory birds 
and many other wetland-dependent species. Collectively, these lands 
play a significant role in supporting approximately 40 percent of 
Pacific Flyway wintering waterfowl populations.

Alternatives

    The Draft CCP/EA identifies and evaluates three alternatives for 
managing Butte Sink, Willow Creek-Lurline, and North Central Valley 
WMAs for the next 15 years. The alternative that appears to best meet 
the WMAs' purposes is identified as the preferred alternative. The 
preferred alternative is identified based on the analysis presented in 
the Draft CCP/EA, which may be modified following the completion of the 
public comment period based on comments received from other agencies, 
Tribal governments, nongovernmental organizations, or individuals.

Alternative A

    Under Alternative A (no action alternative), the Service would 
continue to manage the WMAs as we have in the recent past. Conservation 
easements would be used as a voluntary, cost-effective tool to protect 
habitat while maintaining private ownership and management. No 
additional acquisition would take place in the Butte Sink WMA. Up to 
2,141 acres of wetland easements could be acquired from willing 
landowners to protect wetlands in the Willow Creek-Lurline WMA. Up to 
34,043 acres of wetland easements could be acquired from willing 
landowners in North Central Valley WMA, excluding Sacramento County. 
Under Alternative A, there would be no agricultural easements in the 
WMAs. The Service could acquire up to 3,321 additional acres of 
Service-owned lands from willing landowners in the North Central Valley 
WMA. When appropriate, the Service would consult with affected counties 
prior to acquiring lands in fee-title (Service-owned lands).
    Under all alternatives, on Llano Seco Unit and other appropriate 
Service-owned lands, we would provide visitors of all ages and 
abilities with quality wildlife-dependent recreation, and volunteer 
opportunities to enhance public appreciation, understanding, and 
enjoyment of fish, wildlife, habitats, and cultural resources.

Alternative B

    Under Alternative B, wetland easement acquisition goals would 
remain the same as Alternative A. The only proposed change in wetland 
easement acquisition would take place in the North Central Valley WMA, 
where objectives would be modified to include Sacramento County. Under 
Alternative B, a voluntary agricultural easement program would also be 
added to the North Central Valley WMA to protect farmland that provides 
important migratory bird habitat and/or open space buffers to existing 
protected wetlands. Up to 30,700 acres of agricultural easements could 
be acquired from willing landowners in Butte, Colusa, Glenn, 
Sacramento, Sutter, and Yolo Counties. As with Alternative A, the 
Service could acquire up to 3,321 additional acres of Service-owned 
lands from willing landowners in the North Central Valley WMA.

Alternative C

    Under Alternative C (preferred alternative), the wetland easement 
acquisition goals for the Butte Sink WMA and the Willow Creek-Lurline 
WMA would remain the same as Alternatives A and B. In Alternative C, 
the Service is proposing to reduce its existing North Central Valley 
WMA wetland easement acquisition objective from 34,043 acres to 15,000 
acres. The Service is also proposing to limit wetland easement 
acquisition to Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Placer, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba 
Counties. In addition, the Service proposes to add an agricultural 
easement program to the North Central Valley WMA. Under this scenario, 
up to 19,043 acres (the difference between the existing North Central 
Valley WMA wetland easement acreage objective and the Alternative C 
North Central Valley WMA wetland easement acreage objective) of 
agricultural easements could be acquired from willing landowners to 
protect farmland in

[[Page 34168]]

Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Sacramento, Sutter, and Yolo Counties. As with 
Alternatives A and B, the Service could acquire up to 3,321 additional 
acres of Service-owned lands from willing landowners in the North 
Central Valley WMA.

Public Meetings

    The locations, dates, and times of public meetings will be listed 
in a planning update distributed to the project mailing list and posted 
on the refuge planning Web site at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Sacramento/. For deadlines and instructions on requesting reasonable 
accommodations at the public meetings, please send your request to the 
email address or fax number in the ADDRESSES section.

Review and Comment

    Copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be obtained by contacting to Sandy 
Osborn (see ADDRESSES). Copies of the Draft CCP/EA may be viewed at the 
same address and local libraries. The Draft CCP/EA will also be 
available for viewing and downloading online at http://www.fws.gov/refuge/Sacramento/.
    Comments on the Draft CCP/EA should be addressed to Sandy Osborn 
(see ADDRESSES).
    At the end of the review and comment period for this Draft CCP/EA, 
comments will be analyzed by the Service and addressed in the Final 
CCP/EA. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be 
aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

Alexandra Pitts,
Acting Regional Director, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, 
California.
[FR Doc. 2015-14655 Filed 6-12-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-55-P