Community ClicksSEQUIM — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is asking the public to comment on proposals to manage the Protection Island and San Juan Islands National Wildlife Refuges.
Included are drafts of the Comprehensive Conservation and Draft Wilderness Stewardship plans and the environmental assessment, and an analysis of three management alternatives for the refuges.
Among the proposals are:
<<< More active habitat management projects, including removal of deer from Protection Island to enhance seabird nesting habitat.
<<< Restoration projects on the spits, grasslands and forests to increase native plant diversity.
<<< Public-use changes such as enforcing no-pets regulations on all San Juan Islands Refuge lands and closing some areas on Turn Island.
<<< Limiting overnight camping on Turn and Matia islands to visitors arriving by human-powered craft and initiating a camping reservation system.
<<< Enhancing public understanding and appreciation of the refuges’ natural and cultural resources.
The draft plan and the current planning update are posted at www.fws.gov/pacific/planning.
Printed copies are available for review at the Jefferson County Library in Port Hadlock and through the North Olympic Library System in Clallam County.
Comments on the draft should be mailed, faxed or e-mailed by Thursday, Sept. 16.
Send comments to: Kevin Ryan, Project Leader, Washington Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 715 Holgerson Road, Sequim, WA 98382; fax to 360-457-9778; or e-mail, with Protection Island/San Juan Islands in the subject line, to FW1PlanningComments@fws.gov.
