Input Sought On Expansion of Warm Springs Wildlife Refuge

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) held a public meeting at the Overton Community Center on Wednesday, August 6. The meeting was held to solicit comments on a new draft plan for the Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex which encompasses vast tracts of public land in Clark, Lincoln and Nye Counties. Included in the Complex is the Moapa Valley National Wildlife Refuge (MVNWR) in Warm Springs. Other Refuge facilities in the Complex include: the Desert NWR (1.6 million acres), Ash Meadows NWR (24,000 acres), and Pahranagat NWR (5,000 acres).

The MVNWR contains 116 acres in Warm Springs. The Refuge was established in 1979 with the goal of providing the most ideal habitat for threatened and endangered species, primarily the Moapa dace. The dace is a small fish approximately 2-3 inches in length which exists only in the headwater springs of the Muddy River.

Although there are four major areas that make up the Complex the Moapa Valley area was the focus of the local meeting. Martinez explained that it was in 1997 that Congress passed the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act. This act required that a 15 year plan be developed for each Refuge area. In all there are 544 Refuge facilities across the United States which require such a plan by 2013.

In August of 2002 the process began with public scoping meetings. A great deal of input was given at that time which allowed the NWR to develop a statement and goals. Martinez explained that the goals were analyzed and three alternatives for the Warm Springs area were developed. Each of the three alternatives were displayed for those in attendance to view.

Alternative A is a No Action alternative. This alternative would continue operation without change to the current management of the Refuge area. The area would remain closed to the public. But work would be done to restore habitat on the Pederson Unit. Alternative B would work toward partially opening the facility to the public on weekends. The Pederson and Plummer Units would be restored and there would be an expansion of educational outreach efforts. There would not be a visitor center planned but visitor facilities such as trails and educational kiosks would be developed.

Alternative C was presented as the preferred alternative. This alternative proposes to expand the refuge planning boundary by 1500 acres. These expanded boundaries would add 391 acres currently held by the BLM, 988 acres owned by the Southern Nevada Water Authority, 79 acres owned by the LDS Church and several other smaller parcels held by various owners.

Martinez stressed that this proposal would expand only the planning boundary for the NWR. Management authority in those additional lands would not be changed. But changing the planning boundaries would give the USFWS the ability to acquire lands within that boundary should the opportunity arise in the future, Martinez said. Martinez explained that with the expansion to the boundary the NWR could protect 90% of the traditional dace habitat which was the purpose the refuge was originally established.

The second major goal for the facility was habitat restoration and visitor services, Martinez explained. “We have restored spring heads and put water back in the channels and created more habitat for the Moapa dace,” she said.

In the area of visitor services, Alternative C proposes to open the Moapa Valley NWR to the public with daily visiting hours. It would include the development of environmental education programs with self guided trail systems, permanent displays and kiosks as well as community outreach programs.

“One of our biggest challenges is staffing at the facilities,” said Martinez. Right now funding only allows for 15 full time employees across all four Refuges in the Complex. This encompasses over 1.6 million acres of public land in Nevada. To be able to keep the Moapa Valley Refuge open to the public, “volunteer assistance would be relied upon heavily,” Martinez said.

The buzzing crowd in attendance voiced several concerns. One attendee asked how many dace are currently in residence at the Refuge. “The last population survey said there are 400 plus dace,” Martinez responded.

One audience member commented “Isn’t that a much lower number than before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife took it over?”

Martinez acknowledged this but explained that one cause of the decline was the illegal introduction of non-native tilapia fish to the system. “This has reduced the dace population greatly, from around 3000,” Martinez said. “We are working to get rid of the tilapia population.”

Attendees were also concerned about palms being cleared from the area. Fears were expressed that the removal might have a negative affect on the dace. “With no shade the fish will “bake” in the harsh sun,” the person said.

“Restoration takes time and looks more like destruction,” Martinez said. “But we have the plan designed. We know where channels need to go and are in the midst of getting permits to go in and restore.”

Martinez assured the group that the dace population could only thrive with the restoration and further stated that no more big palms would be removed from the area.

Concerns over possible harm caused by products such as sand and gravel being brought into the habitat were also raised.

“All products used in the process have been and will be purchased locally.” Martinez assured.

Another audience member brought up the fencing which surrounds the facility, expressing concerns about how the other wildlife would be able to get in and use the area. “We are a little bit dace focused but not entirely dace centered,” admitted Martinez. “We want to restore the ecosystem.” Using the analogy “If you build it they will come” Martinez expressed hope that other wildlife would come if the right habitat was provided.

The NWR is accepting comments on all proposed alternatives until September 9. At that time the public comment period closes. A final plan will then be developed and a record of decision signed. Another comment period will take place at that time.

Martinez encouraged all residents to submit their comments, questions or concerns. Comments can be mailed to: Mark Pelz, Chief, Refuge Planning, 2800 Cottage Way, W-1832, Sacramento, California 95825. Comments can also be provided via email to fw8plancomments@fws.gov or via fax 916-414-6497. For more information on the plan you can visit www.fws.gov/desertcomplex/alt

Comment on this story. Send a letter to the editor by email, click here: EMAIL US