By RICK OLIVO
Staff Writer for the Ashland Daily Press

A draft environmental assessment released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says a proposed Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge would protect and restore the last remaining unprotected coastal wetlands area in Chequamegon Bay.

The assessment is part of a process being undertaken by the service to bring 540 acres along lower Whittlesey Creek and 1,240 acres in the Whittlesey Creek watershed into the National Wildlife Refuge system, a complex of over 500 refuges nationwide, covering a total of more than 92 million acres nationwide, the world's largest collection of lands managed specifically for fish and wildlife.  The assessment's interim comprehensive conservation plan called the Whittlesey Creek wetlands "a portion of the remaining coastal wetland and stream habitat within the largest and most important coastal wetland complex on Lake Superior."

The refuge plans call for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service to purchase the 540 acres of the lower Whittlesey Creek area while obtaining conservation easements on the 1,240 acres of watershed.

"This is important habitat," said USF&WS Biologist Maureen Gallagher Monday.  "There are very few coastal wetlands on lake Superior," she said.  The area is heavily used by both fish and shore birds, she said.  It accounts for only one percent of anadromous trout waters, but accounts for 35 percent of the region's coho salmon.

Over 160 different bird species have been identified in the area.  The report noted that Whittlesey Creek has the potential for the restoration of the migratory, lake dwelling form of brook trout known as "coasters" which were depleted by fishing, habitat loss and introduced species.  Under the National Refuge, one of the goals would be to return Whittlesey creek to its original streambed, undoing stream channelization done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1948.

Under the plan, spawning habitat in Whittlesey, Little Whittlesey and Terwilliger creeks would be restored and protected.  Habitat improvement for migratory birds and other wildlife is also called for in the plan.  Gallagher said part of the area was already protected by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as part of the department's South Shores Fishery Area.

The addition of the Whittlesey Creek National Refuge would create a complex of conservation areas that include Prentice Park to the east, the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, currently under construction on an adjacent 180 acre parcel, and the nearly half of the Whittlesey Creek watershed currently located within the Chequamegon National Forest.

"This is the last of the wetlands along this part of the coast that is threatened by development," said Tom Busiahn, team leader for the USF&WS Ashland office.  Busiahn noted the Service proposed to buy only 540 acres of land from willing sellers.  "Its importance is far beyond its size," he said.  "There are a lot of refuges that are proposed that are tens of thousands of acres.  This is an area of particular importance."

Busiahn said the process of creating the National Refuge was about two-thirds of the way done.  "It's not a done deal yet.  What we want is for people to take a look at these documents and see if we have addressed the issues we talked about at last summer's open houses," he said. Busiahn said previous hearings had established "overwhelming" support for the plan.

"We've had well in excess of 95 percent of the comments we have received in favor of protecting the area," said Gallagher.  Some concerns over the project relate to the approximately $15,000 in local tax revenues that would be lost to local communities by the federal acquisition of the property.  However, according to the report, property taxes would decrease "only a fraction" due to federal payments in lieu of taxes.  The report also claimed that increased public use of the area would provide additional profit to the tourism-based economy.

"It's public support that makes the refuge," Busiahn said.  "If it isn't strong enough, it isn't going to happen."  Busiahn quoted Jeff Carlson of Mason, President of the Whittlesey Habitat Coalition.  "'It isn't your refuge, this is our refuge,' he told me.  That's the kind of attitude needed if this refuge is going top happen."

According to Gallagher, Authorization of the Refuge could take place by March of 1998.  Funding for the project could occur from an appropriation in Congress or by grant funding from other sources.  "We are looking at teaming up with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) through the Wetland Resource Program, Busiahn said.

An open house to explain the proposal will be held January 5 at the Service's office at 2800 Lake Shore Drive East in Ashland.  Representatives of the service will be present from noon to 6 p.m. to talk about the project and the environmental assessment.  Public comments will be used to write a final environmental assessment on the project.  The findings of the assessment will be used to determine if a full Environmental Impact Statement on the project needs to be written.  If an EIS is not required, the Service will issue a "Decision Document" that will officially establish the refuge and authorize the acquisition of land.

For more information or to obtain a copy of the assessment, contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or call 715-682-6185.