| Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley Outdoor Guide- Fishing, Hunting and everything outdoors...... | |
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| Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley Outdoor Guide- Fishing, Hunting and everything outdoors...... | |
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Home Sporting Goods, Bait and Tackle Hunting Stories and Information Fishing
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Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) will be hosting three public meetings to request input from the public in developing a Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP). Tennessee NWR was established on December 28, 1945, by President Harry S. Truman, who signed Executive Order No. 9670, designating the area "for the use of the Department of the Interior as a refuge and wildlife management area for migratory birds and other wildlife." On December 29, 1945, the Department of the Interior and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) entered into agreement with respect to the lands that were to be reserved and used as the National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge is managed by a Refuge Manager and staff in the Headquarters Office in Paris, TN, and in the Sub-Headquarters Office south of New Johnsonville, TN. The 51,358-acre Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge is made up of three separate refuge units. The Big Sandy Unit’s 21,438 acres is adjacent to Kentucky Lake east of Paris and north of Big Sandy. The Busseltown Unit’s 3,272 acres is located on the Tennessee River near Parsons. The Duck River Unit’s 26,738 acres is south of New Johnsonville, along the Duck River and Kentucky Lake. The refuge’s three units provide an important resting and feeding area for bald eagles and wintering waterfowl. Its diversity of habitats is home to over 301 species of birds, 89 reptiles and amphibians, 51 mammals, and 144 species of fish. It is an outdoor lover’s paradise with outstanding opportunities for fishing, hunting, and wildlife observation. The CCP will establish wildlife, habitat, and public use priorities and guide management decisions on the refuge for the next 15 years. The public meetings provide an opportunity for interested members of the public, tribes, agencies, neighbors, public interest groups, and local governments to participate in the refuge planning process from the very beginning. The purpose of these “scoping” meetings is to find out what the public’s ideas are on management of the refuge so they can be addressed in the planning process. Details of
the three public meetings are as follows: Interested citizens may stop by the public meetings to learn about the process and to submit their comments. Refuge Manager John Taylor and refuge staff will be on hand with maps and exhibits for public viewing. In all three meetings, brief presentations will be delivered. Manager Taylor will present an overview of Tennessee NWR, including its history, key wildlife and habitats, public use opportunities, and challenges. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Regional Office staff will discuss the CCP process. Leon Kolankiewicz, from the Mangi Environmental Group, will provide information on the CCP and other details. Mr. Kolankiewicz is assisting the refuge in preparing the CCP and its associated Environmental Assessment (EA). Immediately after the presentations, attendees will be given the opportunity to express their thoughts and ideas on refuge management. In addition, comment forms will be made available so that written comments can be submitted at the meeting or mailed in to the refuge later. “We want to hear the public’s ideas for management of Tennessee NWR,” said Refuge Manager Taylor. “I hope everyone who is interested in how the refuge is managed will attend and share their perspectives. The public meetings provide an opportunity for public involvement in planning for future management of the refuge. It’s a chance for the public to identify areas of improvement, issues, or to express support of ongoing management. These comments will help form the basis for goals, objectives and management alternatives in the CCP and EA,” said Taylor. The CCP will address all aspects of the refuge, including important fish and wildlife habitats, public use opportunities and facilities, and existing habitat management. In accordance with Executive Order 12996, dated March 25, 1996, compatible wildlife-dependent recreational uses involving hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation are priority public uses of the Refuge System, provided they are compatible with the refuge mission and purposes. If you or
someone you know cannot attend one of the public meetings and would like
to submit written comments, they can be sent to Mr. John Taylor at
Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, 3006 Dinkins Lane, Paris, TN 38242.
Comments may also be sent via email to
John_Taylor@fws.gov or FW4
RW Tennessee@fws.gov Steve McCadams is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area. He has also contributed many outdoor oriented articles to various national publications. |
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