Management Plan Being Considered for Rainwater Basin

The Rainwater Basin area in southern Nebraska. Image courtesy of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

By James Ed. Ducey

A new management plan for the Rainwater Basin Wetland Management District in southern Nebraska has been prepared for public review.

The “Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment” was prepared by the Hastings office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Several goals given for the management of the wetland district, address these topics:

• wetland habitat; specifically to Restore, enhance, and maintain the hydrology and early successional vegetation conditions essential to the conservation of migratory birds,” according to the draft plan.
• Early successional vegetation conditions
• Upland habitat
• Water rights
• Wildlife diseases
• Invasive plant species
• Research and science
• Cultural resources
• Visitor services
• Partnerships
• Socioeconomics
• Operations

The FWS would also like to increase the extent of protected habitats to 46,000 acres from the current 24,210 acres.

The CCP is needed, according to the agency document, to:

* “communicate with the public and other partners in efforts to carry out the mission of the Refuge System;

* provide a clear statement of direction for management of the district’s WPAs;

* provide neighbors, visitors, and government officials with an understanding of the Service’s management actions on and around the district’s WPAs;

* ensure that the Service’s management actions are consistent with the mandates of the Improvement Act;

* ensure that the management of the district’s WPAs is consistent with federal, state, and county plans; and

* provide a basis for the development of budget requests for the district’s operation, maintenance, and capital improvement needs.”

“The Rainwater Basin, is a complex of wetlands scattered throughout a 17-county area. The wetlands are shallow basins that provide resting and feeding areas for millions on birds during spring and fall migration,” according to the website for the basin.

Within the region, there are about 60 waterfowl production areas managed by the FWS. The draft plan has maps showing the location of these areas in the different counties.

There are also a number of wildlife management areas in the region which are managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Public comments may be provided on the plan until August 18. An open house for discussion of the draft plan will be held at the Quality Hotel in Hastings on July 31st.

Draft Copy of the Management Plan

FWS Rainwater Basin Homepage