U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Looks for Comments on Outline Recreational Hunting Plan, Environmental Assessment, and Compatibility Determination for Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge
A Outline Recreational Hunting Project and Environmental Assessment for Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Saint Tammany Parish is accessible for public review on March 5, 2007. The review period will extend until April 5, 2007.
The Project describes 2 alternatives for hunting on the refuge: (1) the no action alternative would not allow hunting and (2) the suggested action would open the refuge to hunting of up to all species listed and regulations described in the 2007 Recreational Hunting Plan. Although hunting has been ongoing on Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, in response to a 2003 lawsuit filed by the Fund for Animals, the U.S.F.W.S. (Service) developed environmental assessments that describe hunting programs at twenty-three National wildlife refuges located in the Southeast Region to address cumulative impacts of hunting. Under the suggested action, hunting of deer, rabbits, squirrel, quail, and migratory birds such as waterfowl, coots, woodcock, snipe, gallinule, and rails would occur. Hunting would be carried out in accordance with Federal and State of Louisiana regulations, and refuge-specific regulations.
Copies of the Project can be reviewed on the refuge web location at: http://www.fws.gov/bigbranchmarsh/ and at the following libraries:
Saint Tammany Parish:
Slidell Branch: 555 Robert Blvd.
Lacombe Branch: 28027 Hwy 190
Mandeville Branch: 845 Gerard Saint
Written comments or questions can be directed to Daniel Breaux, Refuge Manager, at 61389 Hwy 434, Lacombe, Louisiana 70445; (985) 882-2030. Email comments can be provided to the following address: Daniel_Breaux@fws.gov.
The Big branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge is currently over 17,000 acres and is located in Saint Tammany Parish, Louisiana. The refuge lies along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain between Cane Bayou west of Lacombe to Hwy 90 east of the Fritchie marsh. Hunting is suggested for the refuge but visitors can currently enjoy fishing, wildlife observation, photography, and environmental education.
The U.S.F.W.S. is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 94 million acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses in excess of 542 National wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 Countrywide fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid plan that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
