U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production AreaRelease of Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan

Greetings!The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service, we, our) has just released the draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental assessment (EA) for Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (refuge, NWR) and Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) for public review. This newsletter includes a brief summary of the different alternatives the planning team evaluated for the refuge. This newsletter also includes information about how to obtain and comment on the draft CCP and EA.

The Refuge and WPAThe refuge and WPA lie in central Maine, within portions of Kennebec, Penobscot, and Waldo counties, near the cities of Bangor and Augusta. The Service currently owns 11,876 acres within the units making up Sunkhaze Meadows NWR, as well as 1,068 acres managed as Carlton Pond WPA. The refuge and WPA are currently managed by staff based in Rockland, Maine as part of the Maine Coastal Islands NWR.

Comprehensive Conservation PlanningIn 1997, Congress passed the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) Improvement Act. Its main components include

a unifying mission for the Refuge System, a new process for determining compatible uses of refuges, and a requirement to prepare CCPs for each refuge in the Refuge System.

A CCP is a 15-year strategic plan guiding management for all refuge and WPA programs. Service policy requires that CCPs be revised at least every 15 years, or sooner if significant new information becomes available.

Draft Plan Available for Public ReviewThe CCP process for the refuge and WPA officially began in January 2011. The core planning team includes refuge staff, Service planners, and representatives from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, the Penobscot Indian Nation, and the Town of Milford. We have now completed a draft plan which we are distributing for public review and comment through May 31, 2013.

An EA, required by the National Environmental Policy Act, is

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Sunkhaze Stream, Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

incorporated into the draft plan. The EA describes in detail the three management alternatives we evaluated for the refuge and WPA to achieve the refuge’s purposes, vision, and goals (see highlights below). It also provides an analysis of the potential effects on the environment from implementing each alternative.

Management Alternatives ConsideredWe have identified alternative B as the Service-preferred alternative for the refuge and WPA. Below are brief descriptions of the alternatives we evaluated for the refuge. These are followed by more detailed highlights in the table. Please refer to chapter 3 of the draft CCP and EA for the complete descriptions of each alternative. All of the alternatives are contingent on proposed staff and funding.

Alternative A - Current ManagementThis alternative describes our current management priorities and activities and is considered the “No Action” alternative. It serves as a baseline for comparing and contrasting alternatives B and C.

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Sunkhaze Meadows NWR and Carlton Pond WPA

Draft GoalsGoal 1. Promote the environmental health of Sunkhaze Meadows Unit wetland, forest, and aquatic habitats to protect water quality and sustain native rare plants, natural communities, and wildlife, including species of conservation concern.

Goal 2: Promote the environmental health of forest, open water, and emergent wetland habitat at Carlton Pond WPA to benefit waterfowl and sustain a diversity of wildlife including species of conservation concern.

Goal 3: Promote the environmental health of forest, grassland, and shrubland habitat at Benton and Sandy Stream Units to sustain a diversity of wildlife, including species of conservation concern.

Goal 4: Engage visitors, students, and nearby residents in the Refuge System’s six priority public uses, as well as other compatible public uses, to enhance public understanding, enjoyment, and environmental stewardship of the wetlands, woods, wildlife, and cultural resources of the Sunkhaze Meadows Unit.

Goal 5: Engage visitors, students, and nearby residents in the Refuge System’s six priority public uses, as well as other compatible public uses, to enhance public understanding, enjoyment, and environmental stewardship of the wetlands, woods, and wildlife at Carlton Pond WPA.

Goal 6: Engage visitors, students, and nearby residents in the Refuge System’s six priority public uses, as well as other compatible public uses, to enhance public understanding, enjoyment, and environmental stewardship of the shrublands, woods, grasslands, and wildlife at the Benton and Sandy Stream Units.

Goal 7. Communicate and collaborate with local communities, Federal and State agencies, local and Tribal representatives, and other organizations throughout Maine and the region to further the purposes of the refuge and the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Under alternative A, we would continue to focus on preserving the freshwater wetland-peatland complex on the Sunkhaze Meadows Unit, which provides habitat for breeding waterfowl. We would continue to preserve the open water and emergent marsh habitat at Carlton Pond WPA, the grassland habitat at the Benton Unit, and the shrubland and riparian habitat at the Sandy Stream Unit. Public use activities such as hunting, hiking, and wildlife observation and photography would continue to be allowed. Friends of Sunkhaze Meadows NWR and other partners would continue to lead environmental education and interpretation programs at refuge units and the WPA.

Alternative B - Increased Habitat Enhancement and Improved Visitor Services (Service-preferred Alternative)

This is the Service-preferred alternative because it combines the actions we believe would best achieve the refuge’s purposes, vision, and goals.

Under this alternative, we would continue to focus on the preservation of the peatland-wetland complex and mature forest within the Sunkhaze Meadows Unit. We would continue shrubland habitat management at the Sandy Stream Unit and would potentially expand grassland management at the Benton Unit. If additional staff were approved, we would also expand public use programs on the refuge, including providing Service-led environmental education programs and improving maintenance of public use infrastructure. Friends of Sunkhaze Meadows NWR and other partners would continue to be important in helping us conduct environmental education and interpretation programs, as well as trail maintenance and other refuge projects.

Alternative C - Increased Shrub and Young Forest Habitat and Increased Public Use

Contingent on additional staff, under alternative C we would shift management of some mature forest and grasslands to shrubland and

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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Servicehttp://www.fws.gov

April 2013

young forest habitat within the Sunkhaze Meadow and Benton Units. Management of the Sandy Stream Unit and WPA would be similar to alternative B. Under this alternative, public use programming would be increased compared to alternative B. This would include working with partners to increase and enhance activities, such as environmental education and interpretation programs, and expanding trails at the Benton Unit.

How to Obtain a Copy of the Draft PlanYou may view and download the draft CCP and EA online at:http://www.fws.gov/northeast/planning/Sunkhaze%20Meadows/ccphome.html

You may request a paper copy or CD-ROM of the draft plan from the Maine Coastal Islands NWR Headquarters.

Phone: 207/594-0600 Email: Beth_Goettel@fws.govMail: Beth Goettel, Refuge Manager Maine Coastal Islands NWR 9 Water Street P.O. Box 1735 Rockland, ME 04841

A pink lady’s slipper at the Sunkhaze Meadows Unit.

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Sunkhaze Meadows NWR and Carlton Pond WPA: Comparison of Alternatives

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Alternative C

Increased Shrub and Young Forest Habitat and Increased

Public Use

Sunkhaze Meadows UnitContinue to: • Conserve the wetland-peatland

complex and forest habitats by allowing natural processes to maintain the wetland system.

• Control invasive species infestations as opportunities arise.

In addition to alternative A: • Conduct more inventory and

monitoring to better understand and manage the wetland-peatland complex and forest habitats.

• Initiate active management of forests to sustain conditions that support rare species and deer overwintering areas.

• Expand refuge Web site, update brochures and displays.

• Develop two new parking areas, create a connector trail from Carter Meadow Road to the Carter Meadow parking area.

Similar to alternative B, except: • Convert 55 acres of existing conifer

forest and 660 acres of existing northern hardwood-mixed forest to early successional shrubland habitat.

• Maintain the Buzzy Brook trails for public use access.

Benton UnitContinue to: • Manage 95 acres as grassland

habitat through a cooperative haying agreement and prescribed burns.

• Preserve the 155 acres of northern hardwood mixed forest and 71 acres of conifer forest.

Similar to alternative A, except: • Conduct more inventory and monitoring

to better understand and manage the grassland and forest habitats.

• Explore the feasibility of expanding grassland habitat by converting up to 22 acres of forest to grassland.

• Create a connector trail from the parking area to the existing snowmobile trail for public use during the spring, summer, and fall.

• Convert 92 acres of grassland to shrubland by suspending the cooperative haying program.

• Conduct more inventory and monitoring efforts to better understand and manage the shrubland and forest habitats.

• Establish a network of trails throughout the unit to promote public use opportunities during the spring, summer, and fall.

Sandy Stream UnitContinue to: • Maintain the existing forested buffer

along Sandy Stream at its minimum width of 25 feet.

• Allow off-trail access for fishing and wildlife observation.

• Maintain the existing snowmobile trail in its current location.

Similar to A, except:• Expand the buffer along Sandy Stream

to 90 feet by ceasing mowing and allowing natural succession to develop a mature riparian forest.

• Relocate the snowmobile trail parallel to Prairie Road to minimize habitat fragmentation.

Similar to B, except:• Expand the buffer along Sandy

Stream to 90 feet by actively planting the area to develop a mature riparian forest.

Carlton Pond WPA Continue to: • Manage the combined 783 acres of

open water (295 acres) and emergent marsh (455 acres) habitat, and the 34 acres of treed peat bog to maintain appropriate water levels and provide emergent wetlands.

• Provide opportunities for wildlife observation and other public uses.

• Continue to maintain the existing dam and water control infrastructure.

Similar to A, except: • Conduct more inventory and

monitoring to better understand and manage the open water, emergent wetland, and forest habitats.

Similar to B.

Alternative B

Increased Habitat Enhancement and Improved Visitor Services (Service-preferred Alternative)

Alternative A

Current Management

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service NWRS - Refuge Planning300 Westgate Center Drive Hadley, MA 01035

Copies of the draft CCP and EA will also be available for viewing at the following local libraries:

Old Town Public Library46 Middle StreetOld Town, ME 04468

DorothyWebb Quimby Library Unity College90 Quaker Hill RoadUnity, ME 04988

How to Provide CommentsWe invite you to share your comments about the draft plan either in writing or in person at our public meetings (see below). We will accept letters, faxes, phone calls, and emails. To be considered, all comments must be emailed or postmarked by May 31, 2013.

Please put “Sunkhaze Meadows and Carlton Pond CCP” in the subject line of your email.

Email: northeastplanning@fws.gov

Mail: Lia McLaughlin U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 300 Westgate Center Drive Hadley, MA 01035 Phone: 413/253-8575 Fax: 413/253-8468

Public MeetingsAs announced in our postcard mailed in early April, we will be holding two sets of public meetings, one set in Milford and the other in Unity, Maine. We will have afternoon and evening sessions. Eash session will be the same. We will have a short presentation on the draft plan, followed by an open house with refuge and planning team staff. We will record any comments and suggestions you would like to provide.

Date and LocationApril 25, 2013Afternoon Session: 2-4 p.m.Evening Session: 6-8 p.m.

Milford Town Hall62 Davenport St.Milford, Maine 04461

Date and LocationApril 26, 2013Afternoon Session: 3-5 p.m.Evening Session: 6-8 p.m.

Unity Community Center32 School StreetUnity, Maine 04988

For directions, please contact the refuge at 207/594-0600.

People with disabilities who need special assistance to participate in these meetings, please contact refuge staff at 207/594-0600 or the Federal Relay Service at 1-866-377-8642. Requests for accommodations should be made at least 5 business days in advance.