Feds Solicit Public Input on WMDs in South Dakota

All sorts of local environmental news today!

A well-informed reader sends me a note on South Dakota's WMDs—Wetlands Management Districts. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is preparing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the South Dakota's three Wetlands Management Districts around Huron, Sand Lake, and Madison. The feds are seeking public input (hey, that's us!) on what we think the plan should include.

The press release explains the CCP's goals this way:

The purpose in developing a CCP is to provide project leaders with a 15-year strategy for achieving refuge and wetland management district 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 Service 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, wildlife photography, and environmental education and interpretation.

The questions for us:

1. What problems or issues do you want to see addressed in the CCP?
2. What improvements would you recommend for these three (3) WMDs?

Say, John, I wonder if now's the time to send the feds that plan for the Bicentennial Park again?

Got a good idea for what sort of improvements the feds could make in our Wetlands Management District? Give USFWS a shout!

Written comments are due October 16; send them to

Bernardo Garza, Planning Team Leader
Division of Refuge Planning
P.O. Box 25486
Denver Federal Center
Denver, Colorado 80225

You can also call Mr. Garza with your questions at 303-236-4377, or Chief of the Branch of Refuge Planning John Esperance at 303-236-4369.