Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge Complex will host a series public information meetings beginning February 13, to gather ideas and suggestions from the public concerning future management of Humboldt Bay and Castle Rock National Wildlife Refuges in northern California.  Public input from the meetings will help the refuge as it prepares a draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) which, when completed, will articulate conservation issues and management alternatives for the 4,000-acre Humboldt Bay and 14-acre Castle Rock refuges.

“In addition to the value these natural places provide to migratory birds and other wildlife, the refuges are an important part of the outdoor experience for many people along California’s northern coast, “ said Refuge Manager Eric Nelson. “We want to involve the public as much as possible as we begin to make plans for the future.”

The public will also be provide the opportunity to comment on the refuge complex’s draft CCP after it is written and released to the public, Nelson said.

Castle Rock NWR will be the focus of the first meeting on Tuesday, Feb.13, 2007 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Del Norte Family Resource Center Conference Room, 207 Price Mall in Crescent City.

Humboldt Bay NWR will be the focus of meetings held Thursday, Feb. 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Student Union Building of the College of the Redwoods, 7351 Tompkins Hill Road  in Eureka, Calif., and Saturday, Feb. 17 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Humboldt Area Foundation Conference Room, 373 Indianola  Road in Bayside, Calif.

Written comments are welcomed at the meetings and can also submitted by mail, e-mail or fax to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, CA/NV Refuge Planning Office, Attn: David Bergendorf, 2800 Cottage Way Suite W-1832, Sacramento CA, 95825; 916-414-6497 (fax) or David_Bergendorf@fws.gov .  A planning update is being distributed with basic information about the refuge and the CCP planning process.  Copies of the planning update are available on the Service’s Planning website at: http://www.fws.gov/pacific/planning/ .  Updates can also be requested by sending a request to the address above.

More information about the meetings or the refuge is available by contacting Refuge Manager Eric Nelson, Humboldt Bay NWRC, PO Box 576, Loleta, CA 95551; Tel.(707) 733-5406, Fax 707-733-1946 or E-mail Eric_T_Nelson@fws.gov.

Humboldt Bay NWR is located on Humboldt Bay on the northwest California coast near Arcata. The refuge protects wetlands and bay habitats for migratory birds, especially black brant. The refuge includes the Lanphere Dunes, one of the most pristine remaining dune ecosystems in the Pacific Northwest. The refuge also administers Castle Rock NWR, an island located less than a mile off the California coast, which contains the largest breeding population of common murres in California and provides a roost for Aleutian Canada geese during migration. The refuge complex exists primarily to protect and enhance wetland habitats for migratory water birds especially black brant. Concentrations of migratory water birds--especially shorebirds--occur in the fall, winter, and spring; in winter.

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 Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, 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.

More information about Humboldt Bay NWRC is available on the Internet at http://www.fws.gov/humboldtbay/