A new preferred alternative for the Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge has been released for a 60-day public review and comment period the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on Dec. 5.

Refuge Manager Don Hultman said the new alternative is being issued as a supplement to the draft CCP and EIS released in May, 2005 and is currently available on the Service’s planning website, in refuge district offices, and in community libraries.

An executive summary of the supplement is being mailed to more than 4,000 citizens and groups and delivery can be expected over the next several days. The executive summary contains background information, a summary of major changes reflected in the new alternative, a series of tables for comparing and contrasting alternatives, and twelve fold-out pool maps showing the alternative features.

Hultman said the new alternative, known as “Alternative E: Modified Wildlife and Integrated Public Use Focus,” contains several major changes as a result of public, conservation group, and agency input received in writing or during public meetings and workshops earlier this year.

“ We had 2,900 people take part in 11 public information meetings and 10 public workshops,” he said. “The workshops alone generated 87 group reports with recommendations on the most controversial issues, and we received more than 2,400 written comments.”

The major changes include:

--Dropping 3 of 6 proposed No Hunting Zones around public use facilities.

--Changes to boundaries in several proposed Waterfowl Hunting Closed Areas.

--Dropping the “no fishing, no motors” provision for Waterfowl Hunting Closed Areas in favor of “Voluntary Avoidance” for large areas and “No Motors and Voluntary Avoidance” for small areas, with restrictions taking effect October 15 versus October 1 each year to extend fall fishing.

--Dropping the 25 shotshell daily limit and 100 yard spacing regulations for waterfowl hunting, although the existing 200 yard spacing for blinds or parties in Illinois will remain.

--Dropping the fee managed hunt proposal for the Gibbs Lake Area of Lake Onalaska in Pool 7 in favor of devising a plan with waterfowlers.

--Reducing the number of Electric Motor Areas from 17 to 6, but adding 8 Slow, No Wake Areas where from March 16 to October 31 each year watercraft must go slow and no airboats or hovercraft are permitted.

--Dropping the restrictions on areas open to camping and proposed alcohol and human waste regulations, but adding a new regulation prohibiting glass containers.

--Dropping the proposal for a launch fee at Refuge-administered boat ramps.

Hultman said comments on the new alternative will be accepted through February 3, 2006. In January, the refuge will host nine open houses at communities along the river where the public may view large maps, talk with refuge staff, and offer comments and suggestions. Specific sites for the open houses are being identified and will be announced when known. Communities and dates for the open houses are listed below. All open houses will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. except the Saturday open house in Onalaska which will be 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Stoddard, Wis. Tuesday, January 3

La Crescent, Minn. Thursday, January 5

Onalaska, Wis. Saturday, January 7

Lansing, Iowa Monday, January 9

Prairie du Chien, Wis. Tuesday, January 10

Savanna, Ill. Tuesday, January 17

Dubuque, Iowa Wednesday, January 18

Winona, Minn. Monday, January 23

Wabasha, Minn. Tuesday, January 24

Hultman said the supplement does not represent the final changes to the full draft CCP and EIS.

“ Comments received during the first 120-day comment period, along with comments received on this supplement, will all be considered when preparing the final CCP and EIS. People do not need to resubmit their earlier comments and can focus on the new alternative if they wish,” he said.

Hultman said they are hoping to have a final CCP and EIS completed by spring, 2006. The final plan will be released to the public and there will be a 30-day waiting period before a record of decision is signed and the plan becomes truly “final.”

Copies of the executive summary and full supplement, along with the full draft CCP and EIS, can be viewed on the Internet at the Service’s Planning Website: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/planning/uppermiss/. The documents can also be viewed at 52 public libraries in communities near the refuge, or at refuge district offices in Savanna, Ill.; McGregor, Iowa; La Crosse, Wis.; and Winona, Minn. For assistance, persons may call the refuge at (507) 452-4232, or leave a message at the toll-free number (888) 291-5719.

With more than 3 million visitors per year, the “Upper Miss” Refuge is the most visited refuge in the country and has the added complexity of a major navigation system, including 11 locks and dams within its boundary. It is also a world-class fish and wildlife area which harbors 306 species of birds; 119 species of fish; more than 130 active bald eagle nests; thousands of heron and egret nests; spectacular concentrations of canvasback ducks, tundra swans, and white pelicans; and several threatened or endangered species.