The final version of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s plan to protect Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge is complete.
The comprehensive conservation plan or CCP released today provides a 15-year road map for managing the refuge and its public use programs.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is sticking its preferred option from the draft CCP, but has tweaked that plan in response to concerns from state agencies and area residents.
To address persistent flooding in communities like Prime Hook Beach, the updated plan calls for restoring the breached dunes that cause that flooding as the likely first step in marsh restoration. But dune restoration will not be an immediate stand-alone project - and any short term flood relief is being left to DNREC to handle.
The amended plan also scales back proposed changes to hunting in the area, but still calls for restoring formerly farmed land to forest habitat.
Sen. Tom Carper and the rest of the Delaware Congressional delegation sent a letter to U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar earlier this year asking for the long-delayed plan to be completed. Today, Carper welcomed release of its final version.
"Since the CCP process began nearly seven years ago, the ecologically diverse refuge and surrounding area has undergone significant changes and damage, as recently as this fall during Superstorm Sandy," said Carper in a statement. "This plan represents a deliberative and thoughtful management strategy for Prime Hook, one that incorporates the best available science, community participation and a long term vision that will sustain this national treasure for the good of both Prime Hook and the adjacent communities for generations to come, Moreover, this plan will help guide short-term repairs for damage sustained during Superstorm Sandy and long-term plans to stabilize and restore this vital habitat."
$20 million of funding for Prime Hook repairs is part of the Obama Administration's request for emergency supplemental funding in response to Hurricane Sandy. That bill was passed by the Senate Friday, but still needs approval of the House.
The full Prime Hook CCP is available for review and comment for the next 30 days. You can find the full plan online here.