U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Plans to Locate Visitor Center in Sudbury

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) proposes to site and build a Visitor Center that would serve the Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Complex). The Visitor Center is proposed to be located at the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge and would provide information about Complex activities and management, as well as Service and National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) information. In addition, it would serve as an environmental education center. The new facility, as conceptualized, will house exhibits, office space, class room space, and space for a Friends group bookstore.

We have included a compatibility determination that would allow bicycling on the refuge as a means of access to the visitor center and as a connection to the existing Assabet River Rail Trail. Any activity that is allowed on a national wildlife refuge must first be found compatible with the purposes for which the refuge was established.

The Service received an appropriation from Congress to build the visitor center as a part of the 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill and began a search for the best location for the building. The EA examines the environmental effects of the construction project and the impact of allowing bicycle and vehicle access at the site. As required by the National Environmental Policy Act, we examine a number of alternatives. We have performed a detailed analysis of three alternative locations and a “no action” alternative.

The visitor center will become a destination that will provide exhibits and information about the 8 refuges of the Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge and the 95-million acre National Wildlife Refuge System. In addition, the visitor center will provide a starting point for individuals to participate in opportunities for environmental education and wildlife observation. The proposed site at Assabet River National Wildlife River opened to the public in 2005 and contains over 12 miles of nature trails.

The EA and CD are available for download here or hard copies and compact diskettes are available at the Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex Headquarters, or by contacting Bill Perry at the address below.

Bill Perry, Refuge Planner; Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 73 Weir Hill Road; Sudbury, MA 01776 or by email at bill_perry@fws.gov

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Web page updated 1/10/2007