Birders who visit the Ridgefield N.W.R. in Clark County, may want to
attend this meeting. There will be some major changes proposed that will
affect visitor access, some to the positive, some not so good. The major
thrust is good as it focuses on protecting the wildlife, rather than the
Refuge being a park for people with wildlife in it.
Wilson Cady
Washougal, WA.
gorgebirds at juno.com

--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Joe_Engler at fws.gov
>
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hosts Open House
to Discuss New Public Use Program at Ridgefield National Wildlife
Refuge

The staff of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) has
scheduled an Open House on Wednesday, July 28, 7:00 p.m. at the
Ridgefield Community Center (210 N. Main) to announce the results of
a
public use program review conducted on the refuge and to solicit
comments from the public. The review took place in March 1998, and
was
completed by a ten member team representing both state and federal
fish
and wildlife agencies. The purpose of the review was to evaluate
the
quality of visitor facilities and experiences at Ridgefield NWR as
well
as the impacts of those uses on refuge wildlife.

The review was conducted in response to Congress passing the
National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, which
provides significant guidance for management and public use of
Refuge
System lands. This act requires that each refuge be managed to
fulfill the Refuge System Mission as well as the specific purpose(s)
for which the refuge was established. The Act also declares that
compatible wildlife-dependent recreational uses be legitimate and
appropriate and that priority be given to six general public uses of
the Refuge System. These six uses include hunting, fishing,
wildlife
observation, photography, and environmental education and
interpretation.

The team review how the public currently participates in each of
the six uses at Ridgefield NWR. They found many of these uses plus
other non wildlife-dependent activities were resulting in
unacceptable
levels of disturbance to wildlife. As a result, refuge managers are
considering modifications to the current public use program.

Refuge staff will be available to receive comments and questions
regarding recommendations contained in the public use review. The
open house will start with a general background information session
and then later break-up into sessions where the public will get a
chance to talk to a staff member on a one-to-one basis. Any person
interested in receiving information or making comments about new and
proposed public use enhancement projects are encouraged to attend.
Requests for information and comments will be received at the
following: Project Leader, Ridgefield NWR Complex, P.O. Box 457,
Ridgefield, WA 98642; by phone (360) 887-4106, weekdays, between
8:00
a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; or by e-mail: tom_melanson at mail.fws.gov

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