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USFWS critical of Driller coverage
Dear Editor,
Was I at the same public meeting as the Taft Midway Driller? According to the article yesterday (see “Ranchers, Others Ask for Grazing to Return to Bitter Creek,” May 3, 2010), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has a plan to burn the Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge. Further, the article states that the Refuge is currently using “proscribed[sic] burning” as a management tool on the Refuge.
The fact is, no prescribed burning has ever taken place on the Refuge. Further, the Service is not proposing to conduct prescribed burning on the Refuge. The purpose of the April 28 public meeting hosted by the Service was to gather information from the public for the Comprehensive Conservation Planning (CCP) process. The Service is in the initial “scoping” phase of planning. Therefore, we did not present management options or alternatives, because those won’t be developed until after we’ve heard from the public.
It is unfortunate these inaccuracies were published because the article will perpetuate rumors and misconceptions that confuse and mislead the public. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has not conducted prescribed burns on Bitter Creek, and we’ve heard the community’s opposition to prescribed burning loud and clear as we begin drafting the 15-year management plan.
For more information about the CCP planning process covering Bitter Creek, Blue Ridge and Hopper Mountain national wildlife refuges, please visit http://www.fws.gov/hoppermountain/ or contact me at (805) 644-5185.
Sincerely,
Michael Woodbridge
Public Affairs
Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex
2493 Portola Road, Ste. A
Ventura, CA 93003
USFWS critical of Driller coverage
Dear Editor,
Was I at the same public meeting as the Taft Midway Driller? According to the article yesterday (see “Ranchers, Others Ask for Grazing to Return to Bitter Creek,” May 3, 2010), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has a plan to burn the Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge. Further, the article states that the Refuge is currently using “proscribed[sic] burning” as a management tool on the Refuge.
The fact is, no prescribed burning has ever taken place on the Refuge. Further, the Service is not proposing to conduct prescribed burning on the Refuge. The purpose of the April 28 public meeting hosted by the Service was to gather information from the public for the Comprehensive Conservation Planning (CCP) process. The Service is in the initial “scoping” phase of planning. Therefore, we did not present management options or alternatives, because those won’t be developed until after we’ve heard from the public.
It is unfortunate these inaccuracies were published because the article will perpetuate rumors and misconceptions that confuse and mislead the public. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has not conducted prescribed burns on Bitter Creek, and we’ve heard the community’s opposition to prescribed burning loud and clear as we begin drafting the 15-year management plan.
For more information about the CCP planning process covering Bitter Creek, Blue Ridge and Hopper Mountain national wildlife refuges, please visit http://www.fws.gov/hoppermountain/ or contact me at (805) 644-5185.
Sincerely,
Michael Woodbridge
Public Affairs
Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex
2493 Portola Road, Ste. A
Ventura, CA 93003
