Minwr Ccp

[duckbone]

The draft is out and I've just finished reading it. I agree with most of their plans. I urge you all to get a copy and read it. The comment period ends FEB 26 '07. After that it's law and you can't ***** about it. It is available by request or here http://www.fws.gov/southeast/planning/DraftDocsPg4.htm

[Dead Ringer]

Under the proposed action: "Evaluate public use impacts to waterfowl populations." This sounds like we need to keep a close eye and a loud voice in the evaluation. Also, "the refuge would establish closed area buffers for key nesting and roosting islands." Obviously important for threatened and endangered species, but we'll need to make sure that this idea doesn't become a catch-all tool to obtain widespread closures.

All in all though, sounds mostly positive. Sure beats alterative C! And under alternative B, manage waterfowl pops as a forage food for bald eagles :icon_conf

[uncle D]

DB,

Last chance for minmum waterfowl disturbance in South lagoon, i.e. boat traffic?

Duke

[duckbone]

Yep, big problem redfish boats running all the divers off the lagoon. They no longer roost or feed there and there used to be thousands. Lots of the wig and pins used to roost with them keeping them up on the lagoon and out of the launch pad area's. Go for option C which is close the lagoon south of Haulover to fishing boats from NOV to FEB. Just happens to coincide with Trout spawning too! and give the redfish a break from the pressure. A winner all around as I see it. Think how good the fishing will be in the srping down there. I would suggest a strong voice, all you need to do is send them an e-mail with your comments. This is our chance for a voice make it a good one cause the plan is for the next 15 years! I don't want to here any *****ing from the fisherman. They have that lagoon to themselves for the entire year. 4 months of crappy fishing weather in the winter is a small price to pay. That and get rid of the dang quota hunts and go to a yearly hunt permit you pay for and go to a class to recieve.

[Dead Ringer]

Option C? Not so fast :eusa_naug

This alternative calls for many improvements for waterfowl, but one major blow to waterfowling: a short, buried sentence:

"The refuge would eliminate waterfowl hunting on the refuge."
-- Visitor Services, Pg 154

That one might be important :icon_scra

[duckmanJR]

WOW! That one would be important.....

[duckbone]

Don't jump to conclusions they are not proposing to cut any hunting. They are adding. Deer and hog hunting to come in the future, plus they are looking at aquiring the north indian river property and include it in the hunting area's. Those are just options for discussion and comments. So send some in. I sent some yesterday the brunt of which was on the quota system. My idea is to trash the current system and have no more quota permits. Instead have a hunting permit you must pay for say $50 and with the proceeds fund a class from the refuge to include LEO you must attend before you get your permit. The permit holder could take a party up to 4 hunting. Screw up and get a ticket and you lose your permit for the year. I think that would lose some of the slob hunters but still allow hunting oportunity for everyone who wanted it. Also I was in favor of closing the lagoon south of Haulover to fishing boats for duck season but would still allow wading or non motorized boats. As far as the impounds go my suggestion was to manage the designated migratory bird impounds with a lighter hand of management in other words leave them alone with a higher rain water level and the Ruppia and Chara would return to the impounds that it has disappeared from Namely in area's 2 and 3 on the lagoon and with it's return the number of birds would return with it.Those are my big points. They are very interested in returning the refuge to it's former bird numbers and state that a few times in the plan. I think if they would adopt my idea's it would be very good for the refuge but I need help I work hard out there and put in easy 100 hrs of volunteer work a year to get my voice heard but I could use help.

[Gaddy1]

I sent in my thoughts on the MINWR CCP & EA.

[NSBsailsntails]

I have scanned over the proposed plans and for the most part looks good. closing the lagoon south of haulover would not only effect the redfisherman but would also effect the guys who hunt the lagoon(by boat) south of haulover. i fish the lagoon alot but closing it during waterfowl season doesnt matter to me becuase im hunting during those months. it states it would keep the no motor zone in the banana river and also open 3 slow speed zones for manatee protection. my question is these slow speed zones in the lagoon or banana river? we have enough slow speed zones for them feral sea cows. in the plan c they say they would bring the amount of removed hog from 2500 to 4000. why would they remove more hogs than they normally do if they are gonna open hunting on them? i havnt read it thoroughly so i need to print it out and take a good look at it.

[duckbone]

North Banana river and Banana creek. North Indian river Lagoon, south and west of the No motor zone in Banana river and Mosquito lagoon. Option A is no change and compliance to what the state has already made. They will use hunting to increase the take to 4000 per year. The guys that have the contracts will resist this but the do most of their hunting on the space center anyway not the open refuge.

[Dead Ringer]

I didn't mince my words. That is a direct quote from the CCP under alternative C. If it's in there, then isn't it still an issue? I know that alternative C is not the proposed plan of action, but it is an option. I'm just saying that although we may love C for the improvements to waterfowl populations in the refuge, we need to critically evaluate all details. It does us no good to have thousands of birds in there if we can't hunt them.

[duckbone]

Do you think they are going to eliminate hiking and bicycling too? thats the next sentence. But it is something we can comment on all the more reason to use all the voice we have because in it they say they have less than 2000 waterfowlers and 200,000 fisherman! They also say the number of waterfowlers is not increasing but the fisherman have tripled. This is good as we are seen not to have created any problems with the number of birds. They way to compete with that is in the form of a presentation of a letter outlining our common idea's. I like mine but if someone has a better one lets hear it.

[N. Cook]

Do we have someone up there who knows the new manager and key staff enough to call and invite a couple of them to come to our lunch and meeting next Sat. at the H. I. in Titusville? Is this a good idea?

[duckbone]

I can get that for you. Why wouldn't you? here's your chance (if they can show) to tell them what you want.

[Dead Ringer]

Sounds good, I just didn't want that to go unnoticed. I agree that we need to make sure that the voice is heard.

[N. Cook]

They would be welcome....I don't know them, except some by name recognition, and I know Epstein is no longer there....We need someone who personally knows them...Pat can you do this?....contact them with the meeting info and formally invite them to lunch. We would be glad to have them comment and answer questions.

[duckbone]

I'll stop in there on wed after I hunt and ask. I need to know where and what time and a number for them to contact if someone from there can show.

[N. Cook]

The meeting is at the Titusville Riverfront Holiday Inn at 12 noon on this SAt. the 13th. They are welcome....we have lunch catered for 50 folks and can add to that if more come....just post on this site before Thurs nite.

There is an open session after the lunch and meeting and all are welcome then as well to trade ideas and info with members.