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News Release

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Releases Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan for Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

August 14, 2014

Cokeville Meadows NWR. Credit: USFWS

Green River, WY. – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced today the completion and publication of the comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) for Cokeville Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (NWR).

Cokeville Meadows NWR lies in Lincoln County, along Wyoming’s southwestern border with Idaho and Utah. The refuge is bisected longitudinally throughout its length by the Bear River and contains a mosaic of wet meadows, seasonal wetlands, and riparian corridors. The shrub-steppe uplands are dominated by sagebrush and a combination of grasses typical of the arid West. This refuge was established in 1993 for the conservation of the wetlands of the nation and provides nesting habitat for at least 32 water bird species. Wet meadows and wetlands attract thousands of migratory waterfowl and other waterbirds. Greater sage-grouse have used upland sagebrush areas for nesting, while riparian areas provide important feeding sites for their broods and a variety of neotropical migratory birds. Big game, including antelope, mule deer, and elk, also utilize refuge habitats.

The Service first involved the public in developing a draft plan and an environmental assessment in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act. In March 2014, the Regional Director of the Mountain-Prairie Region reviewed the CCP and environmental assessment and found that no Federal actions contained therein would significantly affect the quality of the human environment.

As signed by the Deputy Regional Director, the final CCP describes how the Service intends to manage the refuge over the next 15 years. It includes detailed information about the planning process, refuge, management issues, and the selected management direction.

According to the CCP, conservation for the refuge focuses on managing lands within a greater landscape footprint by developing partnerships to enhance habitats both on and off the refuge. Land and easement acquisition will continue to round out and complete the acquisition boundary. Wet meadow and upland habitats will be enhanced and managed to increase wildlife productivity and diversity. Agricultural practices will be geared to enhance refuge habitats for wildlife and reduce crop depredation. Refuge staff will increase their focus on further developing visitor resources, access and opportunities for all six priority wildlife-dependent uses, especially hunting, to encourage a greater understanding and appreciation of the Bear River watershed, wet meadows, riparian and stream habitats, and wildlife.

The final CCP for the Cokeville Meadows NWR will be posted on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region, Division of Refuge Planning website on August 14, 2014. Anyone wishing to request a printed copy of the document may do so by contacting the staff of the Seedskadee NWR Complex at (307) 875-2187 or at the following website:

http://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/planning/ccp/wy/ckv/ckv.html

For more information please contact:

Bernardo Garza, Division of Refuge Planning
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
P.O. Box 25486, DFC
Denver, CO 80225
(303) 236 4377

Tom Koerner, Project Leader
Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge Complex
37 miles north on Highway 372
PO Box 700
Green River, WY 82935
(307) 875 2187

– FWS –