SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources must revise the management plans for the ACE Basin Research Reserve, the Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve, and the Weeks Bay Research Reserve, respectively, at least every five years. If approved by NOAA, the revised management plan for the ACE Basin Research Reserve will replace the plan previously approved in 2011; the revised management plan for the Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve will replace the plan previously approved in 2007; and the revised management plan for the Weeks Bay Research Reserve will replace the plan previously approved in 2017.

Management plans outline a reserve's strategic goals and objectives; administrative structure; programs for conducting research and monitoring, education, and training; resource protection, restoration, and manipulation plans; public access and visitor use plans; consideration for future land acquisition; and facility development to support reserve operations.

In particular, this draft revised management plan for ACE Basin identifies four goals that the reserve will work toward over the next five years: Enable South Carolina's communities, residents, and visitors to protect coastal resources; advance knowledge about coastal and estuarine ecosystems through research and monitoring; apply science and stewardship to balance long‐term protection of the ACE Basin's natural and cultural resources with enjoyment by current and future generations; and enhance the capacity of the reserve to contribute to the ACE Basin community, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System through effective operations and communication. Since the last management plan, ACE Basin has engaged with new audiences and partners, filled some identified staffing needs, adapted training programs to include more virtual content, and successfully acquired lands that were ( printed page 66317) previously privately owned “in-holdings” adjacent to the reserve's boundary. These parcels are now proposed for addition to the reserve's boundary. The revised management plan, once approved, would serve as the guiding document for the ACE Basin Research Reserve for the next five years.

This draft revised management plan for Elkhorn Slough identifies five goals that the reserve will work toward over the next five years: Increase scientific understanding of estuarine ecosystems to inform conservation strategies; lead development and implementation of collaborative science-based conservation strategies to protect and restore native habitats in the Elkhorn Slough; increase awareness, understanding, and appreciation of the Elkhorn Slough; improve coastal decision-making through increased skills, knowledge, and access to key resources; and provide administrative leadership and resources necessary to improve the operations and infrastructure of the reserve. Since the last management plan, Elkhorn Slough has engaged with new audiences and partners; acquired 10 new parcels, nine of which were incorporated into the boundary in 2020 and one of which is now proposed for addition to their boundary; updated and added state-of-the-art interpretive exhibits to their visitor's center and remodeled their outdoor teaching spaces; expanded their trail access; and continued to build upon their tidal wetland program through new marsh restoration projects. The revised management plan, once approved, would serve as the guiding document for the Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve for the next five years.

This draft revised management plan for Weeks Bay identifies four goals that the reserve will work toward over the next five years: Serve as a model to other coastal ecosystems through biologically diverse and resilient ecosystems within the Weeks Bay watershed; inform decisions affecting estuaries and coastal watersheds through an understanding of coastal ecosystems from science and monitoring; improve ecological appreciation to advance coastal literacy, conservation, and resiliency; and enhance the community sense of stewardship and appreciation of the local ecosystems. Since the last management plan, Weeks Bay has engaged with new audiences and partners, improved the resilience of their environmental monitoring capabilities, expanded training programs that incorporate reserve data, and successfully acquired lands adjacent to the reserve's boundary. Eleven parcels acquired by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Lands Division, and the State of Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust Program, as well as additional state-owned water bottoms, are now proposed for addition to the reserve's boundary. The revised management plan, once approved, would serve as the guiding document for the Weeks Bay Research Reserve for the next five years.

NOAA's Office for Coastal Management analyzes the environmental impacts of the proposed approval of this management plan, as well as the proposed boundary change, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.

The public is invited to comment on the draft revised management plans. NOAA will take these comments into consideration when deciding whether to approve the revised management plans in whole or in part.

The public is also invited to comment on the proposal by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, as lead agency for managing the ACE Basin Research Reserve, to incorporate 12 state-owned parcels acquired since 2011 into the reserve's approved boundary, as described in the draft management plan; the proposal by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, as lead agency for managing the Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve, to incorporate one state-owned parcel acquired since 2020 into the reserve's approved boundary, as described in the draft management plan; and the proposal by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, as lead agency for managing the Weeks Bay Research Reserve, to incorporate 11 state-owned parcels acquired since 2017 and additional state-owned water bottoms into the reserve's approved boundary, as described in the draft management plan. Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(a), NOAA may require public notice, including notice in the Federal Register and an opportunity for public comment, before approving a boundary change. NOAA will take public comments into consideration when deciding whether to approve this proposed boundary change in whole or in part.

Authority:16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.;15 CFR 921.33.

91 FR 66316