Flora
01-20-2008, 12:20 PM
This is in regards to the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge and the Comprehensive Conservation Plan. Today I was alerted by a member of the VT Traditions Coalition (Del Green) that unless a lot of snowmobilers weigh in on the matter, snowmobile trails across the refuge may be eliminated if declared an "incompatible use". In researching this matter online, I stumbled across this little tidbit: (sounds like the animals have more rights than humans...)
From here:
forestwatch.org
Snowmobiling
In 1999, two years after initial establishment of the Nulhegan Division of the Conte Refuge, the FWS made a compatibility determination in favor of snowmobile access within that Division. This process was required because snowmobiling is not one of the six legislatively mandated priority uses of a national wildlife refuge. Forest Watch believes the analysis and justification presented by the FWS for the determination was flawed. Among the reasons cited by the FWS in support of continued snowmobile use was that no evidence specific to the Nulhegan regarding snowmobiling impacts existed.
In contrast to the Conte, in the recently completed draft CCP for the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Vermont, the FWS determined that snowmobiles were not compatible with the purposes of the Refuge. A host of scientific studies were cited in support of this decision. While none of the research was conducted on the Missisquoi, the FWS was able to make reasonable extrapolations to the possible impacts of snowmobiling, if it were to occur there. Where a judgment call was required, the FWS properly weighted its decision on the side of wildlife, taking a precautionary approach to a non-priority, non-wildlife-dependent use.
While we agree that site-specific information is best, it is usually a long and costly process to conduct such research. In the meantime, a crucial management decision must be made, for practical and legal reasons. This is where the agency must choose to “err” on the side of wildlife, rather than simply uphold the status quo until better information is available.
Unfortunately, the FWS did not put wildlife first on the Conte in its snowmobile compatibility determination. It chose to err on the side of an activity that has been repeatedly documented as harmful to wildlife and to the environment in a variety of other places.
Snowmobiling generates significant levels of air and noise pollution, often results in the harassment of wildlife, and conflicts with other visitors quest for quiet and solitude. Please develop and study alternatives that would close all or portions of the existing snowmobile trail network in order to establish large areas where wildlife would be free from the dangers and stresses of intense motorized recreational use in the winter months.
We wish to bring to your attention a relatively recent study on the relationship between snowmobiles and coyote penetration of deep snow areas. We believe this research is relevant to the Nulhegan Division—a deep snow area—despite having been conducted in the Intermountain West. The study showed that coyotes are able to access areas that normally would be off-limits via hard-packed snowmobile trails. Coyotes are not anatomically designed to travel far or for long in deep snow. Where lynx exist, coyotes compete directly with them, as well as indirectly through consumption of prey (i.e., snowshoe hare). The authors of this study state that there is ample evidence to suggest that coyotes will dominate and out-compete lynx where they occur together, and therefore management decisions to restrict snowmobiling are warranted where it is suspected that coyotes may be making inroads into lynx habitat.
While the federally-listed Canada lynx is not resident on the Nulhegan Division, it was documented in northeast Vermont this past winter, 20 miles from the Refuge. This is not the first lynx sign observed in this part of the state, either. It seems likely that lynx will continue to make forays into the state, and with adequate security and protection, will eventually recolonize suitable habitat where it exists.
Other species of concern may also be harmed by the ability of coyotes to penetrate deep snow areas via snowmobile trails on the Refuge. These include, potentially, the state-listed spruce grouse, state-listed pine marten, and white-tailed deer.
The FWS is obligated to put the needs of wildlife, especially “Trust Species,” ahead of other human uses of the refuge system. The Conte Refuge is specifically charged with the following purposes:
• “to protect and enhance the natural diversity and abundance of plant, fish and wildlife species and the ecosystem upon which these species depend within the refuge” (emphasis added)
• “to protect species listed as endangered or threatened, or identified as candidates for listing, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973…”
We request that the potential for harm to wildlife, air, and water, caused by the presence of snowmobiles on the Refuge, be analyzed in the CCP, that you develop NEPA alternatives that would close all or some of the existing snowmobile trail system, and that you revise your snowmobile compatibility determination accordingly. In fact, we believe NEPA analysis of the environmental impacts of snowmobiling should be done prior to the issuance of the annual Special Use Permit granting use of the snowmobile trail system.
Finally, we wish to point out that by barring pedestrian use of the only reasonable winter access points to the Nulhegan because snowmobiling could endanger the safety of pedestrians, the FWS has elevated a loud, polluting recreational activity, better known for its speed and thrills, over quieter, non-motorized activities that certainly offer greater opportunity to observe wildlife or their sign, and are more conducive to the development of an appreciative attitude toward the natural world. We request that you conduct an analysis and develop alternatives for the CCP in which the FWS allows and encourages other forms of winter recreation, more in keeping with the spirit and purpose of the National Wildlife Refuge system.
************************************************** **
Here is info page on how to contact the powers that be. Comments must be received by the end of January 2008.
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/contact.html
The odd thing is that Keith Weaver, past manager of the refuge, had previously said many times that he felt that snowmobiling was a very compatible use to this area because there is no other way to access the interior of the refuge in the winter months. I heard today from Mr. Green that the FWS is getting slammed hard with lots of comments from NON-snowmobilers, many of whom aren't even Vermonters, and the groups they represent - this group of course, "forest watch".. :mad:
This refuge is located in Lewis and Ferdinand and Brunswick VT, prime snowmobiling country, and I think there's 36 miles of trails on the refuge.
This is a link to a group very adamant about keeping open the trails, and perhaps some of your web visitors are members or would like to become members:
http://www.vermonttraditions.org/
Please share this info with your snowmobiling friends and have them contact
the powers that be before it's too late! :eek:
From here:
forestwatch.org
Snowmobiling
In 1999, two years after initial establishment of the Nulhegan Division of the Conte Refuge, the FWS made a compatibility determination in favor of snowmobile access within that Division. This process was required because snowmobiling is not one of the six legislatively mandated priority uses of a national wildlife refuge. Forest Watch believes the analysis and justification presented by the FWS for the determination was flawed. Among the reasons cited by the FWS in support of continued snowmobile use was that no evidence specific to the Nulhegan regarding snowmobiling impacts existed.
In contrast to the Conte, in the recently completed draft CCP for the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge in northwest Vermont, the FWS determined that snowmobiles were not compatible with the purposes of the Refuge. A host of scientific studies were cited in support of this decision. While none of the research was conducted on the Missisquoi, the FWS was able to make reasonable extrapolations to the possible impacts of snowmobiling, if it were to occur there. Where a judgment call was required, the FWS properly weighted its decision on the side of wildlife, taking a precautionary approach to a non-priority, non-wildlife-dependent use.
While we agree that site-specific information is best, it is usually a long and costly process to conduct such research. In the meantime, a crucial management decision must be made, for practical and legal reasons. This is where the agency must choose to “err” on the side of wildlife, rather than simply uphold the status quo until better information is available.
Unfortunately, the FWS did not put wildlife first on the Conte in its snowmobile compatibility determination. It chose to err on the side of an activity that has been repeatedly documented as harmful to wildlife and to the environment in a variety of other places.
Snowmobiling generates significant levels of air and noise pollution, often results in the harassment of wildlife, and conflicts with other visitors quest for quiet and solitude. Please develop and study alternatives that would close all or portions of the existing snowmobile trail network in order to establish large areas where wildlife would be free from the dangers and stresses of intense motorized recreational use in the winter months.
We wish to bring to your attention a relatively recent study on the relationship between snowmobiles and coyote penetration of deep snow areas. We believe this research is relevant to the Nulhegan Division—a deep snow area—despite having been conducted in the Intermountain West. The study showed that coyotes are able to access areas that normally would be off-limits via hard-packed snowmobile trails. Coyotes are not anatomically designed to travel far or for long in deep snow. Where lynx exist, coyotes compete directly with them, as well as indirectly through consumption of prey (i.e., snowshoe hare). The authors of this study state that there is ample evidence to suggest that coyotes will dominate and out-compete lynx where they occur together, and therefore management decisions to restrict snowmobiling are warranted where it is suspected that coyotes may be making inroads into lynx habitat.
While the federally-listed Canada lynx is not resident on the Nulhegan Division, it was documented in northeast Vermont this past winter, 20 miles from the Refuge. This is not the first lynx sign observed in this part of the state, either. It seems likely that lynx will continue to make forays into the state, and with adequate security and protection, will eventually recolonize suitable habitat where it exists.
Other species of concern may also be harmed by the ability of coyotes to penetrate deep snow areas via snowmobile trails on the Refuge. These include, potentially, the state-listed spruce grouse, state-listed pine marten, and white-tailed deer.
The FWS is obligated to put the needs of wildlife, especially “Trust Species,” ahead of other human uses of the refuge system. The Conte Refuge is specifically charged with the following purposes:
• “to protect and enhance the natural diversity and abundance of plant, fish and wildlife species and the ecosystem upon which these species depend within the refuge” (emphasis added)
• “to protect species listed as endangered or threatened, or identified as candidates for listing, pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973…”
We request that the potential for harm to wildlife, air, and water, caused by the presence of snowmobiles on the Refuge, be analyzed in the CCP, that you develop NEPA alternatives that would close all or some of the existing snowmobile trail system, and that you revise your snowmobile compatibility determination accordingly. In fact, we believe NEPA analysis of the environmental impacts of snowmobiling should be done prior to the issuance of the annual Special Use Permit granting use of the snowmobile trail system.
Finally, we wish to point out that by barring pedestrian use of the only reasonable winter access points to the Nulhegan because snowmobiling could endanger the safety of pedestrians, the FWS has elevated a loud, polluting recreational activity, better known for its speed and thrills, over quieter, non-motorized activities that certainly offer greater opportunity to observe wildlife or their sign, and are more conducive to the development of an appreciative attitude toward the natural world. We request that you conduct an analysis and develop alternatives for the CCP in which the FWS allows and encourages other forms of winter recreation, more in keeping with the spirit and purpose of the National Wildlife Refuge system.
************************************************** **
Here is info page on how to contact the powers that be. Comments must be received by the end of January 2008.
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/contact.html
The odd thing is that Keith Weaver, past manager of the refuge, had previously said many times that he felt that snowmobiling was a very compatible use to this area because there is no other way to access the interior of the refuge in the winter months. I heard today from Mr. Green that the FWS is getting slammed hard with lots of comments from NON-snowmobilers, many of whom aren't even Vermonters, and the groups they represent - this group of course, "forest watch".. :mad:
This refuge is located in Lewis and Ferdinand and Brunswick VT, prime snowmobiling country, and I think there's 36 miles of trails on the refuge.
This is a link to a group very adamant about keeping open the trails, and perhaps some of your web visitors are members or would like to become members:
http://www.vermonttraditions.org/
Please share this info with your snowmobiling friends and have them contact
the powers that be before it's too late! :eek: