COMPATIBILITY DETERMINATION
Use: Recreational Fishing
Refuge Name: Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge-Metzger Marsh
County and State: Ottawa County, Ohio
Establishing and Acquisition Authority (ies): Established in 1961 under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715d). In addition, Public Law 108-23, 2003 expands the refuge’s acquisition boundary and establishes new refuge purposes.
Refuge Purposes: Units of the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge were established under the authority listed above for the following purpose:
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1961 under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act "....for use as an inviolate sanctuary, or for any other management purpose, for migratory birds." 16 U.S.C. 715d.
Public Law 108-23, dated May 19, 2003, “Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex Expansion and Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act”, established additional purposes for the Complex as follows:
….the Refuge Complex shall be managed--
(1) to strengthen and complement existing resource management, conservation, and education programs and activities at the Refuge Complex in a manner consistent with the primary purposes of the Refuge Complex--
(A) to provide major resting, feeding, and wintering habitats for migratory birds and other wildlife; and
(B) to enhance natural resource conservation and management in the western basin;
(2) in partnership with nongovernmental and private organizations and private individuals dedicated to habitat enhancement, to conserve, enhance, and restore the native aquatic and terrestrial community characteristics of the western basin (including associated fish, wildlife, and plant species);
(3) to facilitate partnerships among the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Canadian national and provincial authorities, State and local governments, local communities in the United States and Canada, conservation organizations, and other non-Federal entities to promote public awareness of the resources of the western basin; and
(4) to advance the collective goals and priorities that--
(A) were established in the report entitled ``Great Lakes Strategy 2002--A Plan for the New Millennium'', developed by the United States Policy Committee, comprised of Federal agencies (including the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the United States Geological Survey, the Forest Service, and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission) and State governments and tribal governments in the Great Lakes basin; and
(B) Include the goals of cooperating to protect and restore the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem.
Refuge System Mission: The Mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.” (National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act of 1966, as amended [16 U.S.C.668dd-ee]).
Ottawa’s stated vision: The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex will be managed for the conservation, management and restoration of fish and wildlife habitats. In its unique position on the shore of Lake Erie, the Refuge will encourage and nurture diverse native plant communities to provide resting, feeding and breeding sites for migrant and non-migrant birds, resident mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. It will provide a place for people to enjoy wildlife-dependent activities and learn about the complexities of the natural world through high-quality education and interpretive programming. It will add to the richness of the community by holding in trust a portion of the natural heritage of the Great Lakes ecosystem for the continuing benefit of the American people.
Description of Use:
Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) will provide public recreational fishing opportunities, a priority public use of the National Wildlife Refuge System, on the Metzger Marsh Unit (182.5 acres). If found compatible, priority uses are to receive enhanced consideration over other general public uses. (16 U.S.C. 668dd-668ee. As amended by Pub.L. 105-57; 111 Stat 1252).
Metzger Marsh is a 740 acre coastal wetland complex that is jointly managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Ohio Division of Wildlife. The Service owns fee title to approximately 182.5 acres. The Ohio Division of Wildlife manages the remaining 558 acres as the Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area. A management agreement (e.g., Memorandum of Agreement, MOU) between the Service and the Division of Wildlife governs joint management operations, including habitat management and public uses such as fishing, hunting, and trapping. Recreational fishing within the refuge portion of Metzger Marsh will be consistent with the state’s management of the Metzger Marsh Wildlife Area to ensure continuity of management across the 740-acre coastal wetland.
Metzger Marsh was once protected by a barrier beach, but continuous high water levels from the 1970’s to the 1990’s washed away much of the beach. The remaining beach was replaced by a lake front dike designed to protect the remaining coastal wetland habitats, provide free water exchange with Lake Erie, and exclude adult common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The dike and fish passage structure construction was completed in 1995. Prior to the construction of the dike and fish passage, fishing within Metzger marsh was uncontrolled since much of the area was open to the lake as an embayment which made the area impossible to sign and regulate.
Both sport and commercial fishing per state regulations were authorized for the 182.5 acres refuge management unit under the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Fishery Management Plan (1985). However, this compatibility determination only authorizes recreational fishing. Recreational fishing has occurred in Metzger Marsh since the construction of the lake front dike. According to Johnson et al. (2004), there have been 46 species collected within Metzger Marsh. The available fishery includes carp, freshwater drum, channel and bullhead catfish, northern pike, white bass and other species common to the Lake Erie shoreline. The State of Ohio manages and monitors the Lake Erie fishery maintaining healthy populations by allowing harvest of surpluses through recreational fishing and in the case of some species.
Fishing within Metzger Marsh will follow state regulations for waters connected to Lake Erie (i.e., Lake Erie fishing district). Fishing will be authorized both within the marsh and Lake Erie from the shore or boat. There will be some fishing restrictions in and around the fish passage structure to ensure public safety. Signs will be installed around the structure to ensure compliance and to identify public safety hazards. Turtles and frogs may be taken according to state regulations.
Availability of Resources:
Staff and equipment are available to administer this use through the refuge’s annual budget allocations. A full-time law enforcement officer is available for resource protection and enforcement of state and federal laws on refuge lands. Two visitor services professionals are available to ensure compatibility and to administer public use. Maintenance staff will ensure the trail and other public use facilities used to access fishing areas receive annual maintenance. In addition, the MOU between the Service and Ohio Division of Wildlife will provide supplemental resources by the state to administer this use (i.e., State Wildlife Officers, Resource Managers). The Service and State will work collaboratively to administer quality wildlife dependent recreational opportunities on both refuge and state fee title acres of Metzger Marsh.
Anticipated Impacts of the Use:
Fishing has shown no assessable environmental impact to refuge resources. Resource management concerns center around possible disturbance impacts to wildlife with bank and boat activities and harvesting fish species. Harvests are regulated by state and federal agencies to take only surplus animals, thus assuring viable, healthy populations within management and habitat guidelines. Bank fishing will temporarily disturb migratory birds and other wildlife. However, the abundance of submergent and emergent aquatic vegetation within the marsh especially along shorelines limits fishing access and reduces the areas within the marsh being impacted. Wildlife disturbance is consistent with other priority public uses such as wildlife observation and photography. Displaced birds temporarily relocate to other areas of the marsh or to adjacent areas away from anglers and other recreational users. Fishing will be authorized in areas open to other public uses.
Recreational fishing is compliant with the purposes of the refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge System mission. Authorizing fishing does not alter the refuge’s ability to meet habitat goals and it supports several of the primary objectives outlined in the Ottawa NWR Complex Comprehensive Conservation Plan. Fishing is a priority public use listed in the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act.
Fishing can have both positive and negative implications on refuge resources. A positive effect of the use would be an increase in user appreciation and understanding of the Service’s mission and refuge wildlife and habitats. Outdoor recreation users including anglers are among nature’s most committed constituents, but their presence can disturb wildlife and refuge habitats.
Research has shown that walking, boating, and biking can alter water bird behavior (Pease et al., 2005; Borgmann 2010). Pedestrian travel has the potential of disturbing shorebird, waterfowl, and other migratory birds feeding and resting near trails and within adjacent wetland pools/impoundments within fishing areas. Human disturbance to migratory birds and other wildlife has been documented in many studies (Klein et al, 1995; Pease et al., 2005; Borgmann, 2010). The presence of humans will disturb some wildlife causing temporary displacement. Some species may avoid areas with frequent visitation, while other species will be unaffected by human activity. There are many factors that can contribute to how an individual may respond to a disturbance stimulus and those responses vary by species. However, most studies evaluated the overt behavioral responses to a disturbance stimulus and few studies showed a population level impact. Several studies identified management actions such as seasonal closures; disturbance free zones; designated parking areas; keeping drivers in their vehicles; and guided tours as possible solutions to help managers mitigate the impacts of disturbance on migratory birds and other wildlife (Klein et al, 1995; Pease et al., 2005; Borgmann, 2010).
Hunting and trapping are compatible uses authorized within the marsh that could contribute cumulative impacts. Hunting and trapping have regulated seasons during fall and winter and overall use by these user groups are relatively low. In addition, hunting and trapping seasons occur during the fall and winter seasons when user participation in recreational fishing is lower thus reducing the potential impacts associated with the cumulative use by multiple user groups. Because of the nature of these uses, refuge recreational users typically avoid each other in order to maximize their recreational experience. This avoidance behavior serves to self-regulate and typically aides in reducing the cumulative impacts of multiple user groups.
Refuge lands adjacent to Metzger marsh will have more restrictive recreational use, thus providing disturbance free areas. These adjacent areas can function as an “inviolate sanctuary” for migratory birds and other wildlife helping to mitigate the disturbance impacts of recreational fishing.
There are other potential impacts of the use such as litter and trampling of habitats. Refuge and State law enforcement and Service education outreach will help to minimize these impacts. Regular law enforcement patrols and enforcement of littering and other state regulations will help to deter the negative behaviors associated with these impacts.
Borgmann, K. L. 2010. A review of human disturbance impacts on waterbirds. Retrieved from:
http://www.yourwetlands.org/pdf/A%20Review%20of%20Human%20Disturbance%20Impacts%20on%20Waterbirds.pdf
Pease, M. L., R. K. Rose, and M. J. Butler. (2005). Effects of human disturbance on the behavior of wintering ducks. Wildl. Soc. Bull., 33(1):103-112.
Klein, M. L. S. R. Humphrey, and H. F. Percival. (1995). Effects of ecotourism on distribution of waterbirds in a wildlife refuge. Conservation Biology, 9 (6):1454-1465.
Public Review and Comment: (to be determined)
Determination:
____ Use is not compatible
____ Use is compatible with the following stipulations
Stipulations Necessary to Ensure Compatibility:
1) The use is conducted in accordance with State regulations and applicable refuge regulations.
2) Law enforcement activities will help to enforce regulations and visitor compliance.
3) Monitoring the resource impacts of the use and adapt management activities to reduce impacts if population level impacts are observed.
4) Ensure the trail, bank fishing access, fish passage facilities are maintained and safe for the use.
5) Place monofilament line collection receptacles in high angler use areas.
6) Place interpretative wayside signs and other informative signs and brochures in fishing areas to educate and inform anglers on the impacts of fishing.
Justification: Fishing is a compatible public use of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Fishing will not materially interfere with or detract from the purposes of the Refuge or mission of the Refuge System. The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan and associated environmental assessment identify this use as compatible and promoted increasing fishing opportunities throughout the refuge. Fishing seasons and limits are established by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and these regulations are adopted by the refuge. These restrictions ensure the overall health and sustainability of refuge fish populations. Fishing does result in the take of animals within the population, but restrictions are designed to safeguard adequate population and recruitment from year to year. Refuge habitat restoration and enhancement projects are improving fish habitats and increasing the carrying capacity of fish within these associated coastal wetland units. Disturbance to other non-target fish and wildlife does occur, but this disturbance is generally localized, short-term, and does not adversely impact overall populations. Fishing supports the mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System by providing renewable resources for the benefit of the American public while conserving fish, wildlife, and plant resources on the refuge.
Signature: Refuge Manager: ______
(Signature and Date)
Concurrence: Regional Chief:______
(Signature and Date)
Mandatory 15 year Re-evaluation Date: ______
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