May 30, 2007 — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will host two meetings to request input from the public in developing a comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for Sandy Point, Green Cay and Buck Island National Wildlife Refuges, according to a news release from the service.
Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge lies just southwest of Frederiksted on the southwestern tip of St. Croix. Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge consists of a small island just north of the Green Cay Marina on the northern shore of St. Croix. Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge (not to be confused with Buck Island Reef National Monument, managed by the National Park Service) lies two miles south of St. Thomas.
All three refuges are part of the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex managed by the service. The comprehensive conservation plan will set wildlife, habitat and public-use priorities and guide management decisions on the three refuges for the next 15 years, the news release said.
"The meetings will provide an opportunity for interested members of the public, agencies, neighbors, public-interest groups and local governments to participate in the refuge planning process from the very beginning," the news release said. "The purpose of the meetings is to find out what the public’s ideas are on management of the refuges so they can be addressed in the planning process."
The first meeting will take place from 4 – 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Ron L. De Lugo Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 5500 Veterans Drive, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, with a presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The second public meeting will take place from 4 – 7 p.m. Thursday at Christiansted National Historical Site, 2100 Church Street, No. 100, Christiansted, St. Croix, with a presentation at 6:30 p.m.
Interested individuals may stop by at any time to talk informally, ask questions, or submit comments, the news release said.. Refuge staff, maps and exhibits will be present. At 6:30 p.m., a planner with the Mangi Environmental Group, a consulting firm assisting the service in preparing the CCP and its associated environmental assessment (EA), will give a brief PowerPoint presentation on the conservation-planning and environmental-compliance processes.
Refuge Manager Mike Evans and Refuge Biologist Claudia Lombard will then present overviews of Sandy Point, Green Cay and Buck Island refuges, including their history, key wildlife and habitats, public-use opportunities and challenges. Immediately after the presentations, attendees will have 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 to the refuge later.
“We want to hear the public’s ideas for managing all three refuges,” Evans said, according to the news release. “I hope everyone who is interested in how Sandy Point, Green Cay, and Buck Island refuges are managed will attend and share their perspectives. These meetings provide a forum for public involvement in planning for future management of the refuges. It’s an opportunity to identify issues and areas needing improvement, as well as to express support of ongoing management. These comments will help form the basis for evaluation of management alternatives in the CCP and EA."
All aspects of the refuges will be addressed by the CCP, including important fish and wildlife habitats, public-use opportunities and facilities and existing habitat management. By law, six wildlife-dependent recreational uses receive priority on national wildlife refuges: fishing, hunting, wildlife observation and photography, environmental education and interpretation, provided they are compatible with refuge purposes.
Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge includes 480 acres and was established in 1984. This geologically stable but highly dynamic sandy beach hosts the largest nesting population of endangered leatherback turtles — the largest sea turtle in the world — within U.S. jurisdiction. In addition, the refuge supports more than 100 species of birds and is a popular recreation site with visitors and St. Croix residents alike.
Green Cay National Wildlife Refuge consists of a 14-acre island off the north shore of St. Croix. It was established in 1977 to protect critical habitat for one of two remaining natural populations of the endangered St. Croix ground lizard. This small species was eliminated from the island of St. Croix because of habitat changes and the introduction of the non-native Indian mongoose. In order to safeguard this highly endangered creature, the refuge is closed to public visitation.
Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge is a 45-acre island two miles south of St. Thomas. Originally established in 1969 because of its value to nesting migratory birds, few birds nest there today because of an infestation by introduced rats. At present, the refuge is best known for the diving, snorkeling and boating opportunities in spectacular coral reefs just offshore.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 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 news release said. The service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses more than 540 national wildlife refuges — including the nine refuges in the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex — as well as thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas.
It also operates 66 national 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 program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
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