Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Planning Process
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Visitor Services Planning Process Wildlife-dependent recreation • Step-down from Comprehensive Conservation Plan • 14 Standards (goals, objectives, and strategies) • Analyze 25 proposed recreation enhancements from State License • Agreement (Exhibit C) Public involvement • Public use and compatibility • Facilities and maps •
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development 1997 Refuge Improvement Act “Big 6” Wildlife-dependent Recreation Fishing Hunting Photography Interpretation Wildlife Observation Environmental Education Policy (601 FW 1) • Refuge Improvement Act of 1997
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Visitor Services Standards 1. Visitor Services Plan 2. Welcome and orient visitors 3. Hunting 4. Fishing 5. Wildlife observation and photography 6. Environmental education 7. Interpretation of key resources and issues 8. Other recreational uses 9. Outreach 10. Work with volunteers, Friends, and other partnerships 11. Recreation fees 12. Concessions 13. Commercial Use 14. Wilderness (not applicable at Lox) Policy (605 FW 1)
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Refuge map
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Current Uses and Potential Uses Strazzulla EA License Agreement • Evaluate 25 proposed uses from Exhibit C Public scoping in May
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Welcome and Orient Visitors Standard 2 Facilities What are your Welcome kiosks/signs thoughts and ideas for Visitor Center welcoming and 7 days/week • orienting visitors? 9:00 am to 4:00 pm • Refuge hours 5:00 am-10:00 pm • Brochures and maps ADA accessible Front desk staff Website & Social Media Policy (605 FW 1)
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Hunting Opportunities Standard 3 Currently Hunt Plan completed in 2012 ~30,000 acres/21% open Alligator What are your 11 permits/year (total 22) • thoughts and ideas for hunting Duck and Coot opportunities? Early teal • Regular season • Youth Season Strazzulla EA • Wed-Sun White-tailed deer & feral hog • State regulations 4:00 am – 1:00 pm • Archery only Policy (605 FW 2) •CFR Refuge-Specific Regulations for Hunting
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Fishing Opportunities Currently What are your Fishing Plan 2014 thoughts and ideas Standard 4 Boat based sport fishing in canals • for fishing Bank fishing opportunities? • 2 ADA fishing piers • 3 boat ramps • Strazzulla EA Kids’ fishing events • ADA fishing pier in 17 Tournaments L-40 Canal • Commercial guides • Policy (605 FW 3) • CFR Refuge Specific Regulations for Fishing
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Wildlife Observation & Photography Currently What are your • C-8 photo blind thoughts and ideas Standard 5 • > 46 miles of trails for wildlife observation and • Observation towers photography • Butterfly Garden opportunities? • Binocular loan • Kid’s birding event • Bird checklist (2011) Strazzulla EA Photo blind • Stationary scope Observation tower • Bird walks Boardwalk trail • Friends’ Photo contest Policies (605 FW 1 and 605 FW 4)
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Environmental Education Currently What are your thoughts and ideas Hosted almost 15,000 participants for environmental through various partners during FY2016-17 education Standard 6 opportunities? Policy (605 FW 6)
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Interpretation “ Interpretation on refuges connects the hearts and minds of our visitors with the places, objects, and resources we protect .” Currently Visitor center exhibits Special events Volunteer-led programs • Tram Tours Standard 7 • Bird walks • Night walks What are your • Canoe tours thoughts and ideas 2 Friends’ Art Contests for interpretation opportunities? Friends’ publications Interpretive signs Policy (605 FW 7)
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Other Recreational Use Must be appropriate and compatible • SUPs • Conflicts/Benefits Current Uses Walking/hiking What are your thoughts and ideas Biking for other recreational opportunities? Canoeing/kayaking Boating Standard 8 Policies (601 FW 1, 603 FW 1, 603 FW 2, 631 FW 5, 8 RM 7, RM 9)
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Communicate Key Issues (Outreach) Relations with: Conservation partners • What are your Congressional relations • thoughts and ideas News media • for outreach Public involvement • opportunities? Stakeholder groups • Activities involving Visitor center exhibits • Presentations • Standard 9 Brochures & publications • Off-site events • Social media • Website • Photo: Lygodium spores by USFWS Policy (605 FW 1)
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Volunteers, Friends, and Partnerships 2016: 73 volunteers completed 12,900 hours Our partners help us meet our mission and goals Fund-raising efforts through Friends EE, interp, maintenance, biology, admin, more What are your thoughts and ideas for Standard 10 partnership opportunities? Policies (150 FW 1, 150 FW 2, 150 FW 3, 240 FW 9, 605 FW 1)
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Recreation Fee Program Currently What are your thoughts and ideas Multiple passes available on the recreation • 80% fees to public use fee program? management Policies (Federal Lands REA 2004 • USFWS Rec Fees • 261 FW 1 • 263 FW 1)
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Concessions and Commercial Use Currently Loxahatchee Canoeing (SUP) What are your thoughts and ideas • Canoes for concessions and commercial use • Kayaks opportunities? • Bicycles Commercial fishing guides USFWS Policies 603 FW1 and 605 FW 5 Director’s Order N0.139 • 50 CFR 25.61, 29.1, and 27.97,
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Exhibit C – Immediate Time Frame Review process < 6 months. Complete evaluation, implement approved activities within 24 months. 1. Provide specialty hunts, fishing, and other recreational opportunities for youth, veterans, and active military 2. Host additional Kids Fishing Days 3. Increase number of alligator quota permits 4. Open remainder of L-40 and L-7 to hiking and bicycling. 5. Allow leashed pets 6. Participate in the District and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission python removal programs from levees and roads.
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Exhibit C – Short-term Time Frame Review process < 1 year. Complete evaluation, implement approved activities within 36 months. 7. Establish a canoe trail on south end of Refuge 8. Provide camping adjacent to the L-7 levee by permit 9. Expand the total number of days of hunting allowed during alligator season 10. Provide bank fishing opportunities by constructing a fishing pier at Loxahatchee Road Entrance 11. Provide for nontraditional uses such as weddings, yoga, and other similar activities
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Exhibit C- Mid-term Time Frame Review process < 3 years. Complete evaluation, implement approved activities within 48 months. 12. Expanding the number of days available for waterfowl hunting from 5 days per week to 7 days per week 13. Allow hunter access from additional locations including the L-39, L-40, and L-7 levees. 14. Provide specialized deer hunting opportunities (youth and/or wounded warrior hunt) on lands owned in fee by the Department of the Interior 15. Expand existing hunt area 16. Establish a small mammal and hog hunting season in interior of Refuge in accordance with State regulations for listed game species
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services Plan Development Exhibit C- Mid-term Time Frame Review process < 3 years. Complete evaluation, implement approved activities within 48 months. 17. Provide camping on platforms in the Refuge “interior” 18. Provide concession operation at the south end Loxahatchee Road Entrance for canoe and kayak rental, john boat rental, bike rental, commercial fishing guides, bait, snacks, and drinks and guided tours for wildlife observation. 19. Provide bowfishing opportunity per State regulations in current areas open to fishing except the A, B, and C impoundments 20. Open perimeter canal to alligator hunting
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