By Ashley McLeod, Staff Writer
Nov 11, 2014, 13:03
PRINCE GEORGE — The James River National Wildlife Refuge, located in Prince George, may be getting a facelift soon as the bald eagle drops from the federal and state endangered list.
The wildlife refuge was established in 1991 in order to protect fish, plants, and other wildlife from being listed as endangered or threatened. The 4,325-acre property has been an important breeding and roosting habitat for bald eagles since its start.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services recently released a Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment, which lists three options on how to continue maintaining the refuge in the future. The first option is to continue what has been going on in the past, the second is to make the habitat into an open pine savannah, and the third would be to make the area into a dry hardwood forest.
For the U.S. Fish and Wildlife services, the current option that is favored is the second. This option allows for the existing forest to be turned into a pine savannah, which includes midstory and understory habitats to support bird species. The habitat is currently a pine-dominated forest.
Also in discussion for the refuge is the addition of a motorized boat ramp, which would allow for access for fishing in the waters. The Prince George Board of Supervisors recently approved a resolution in support of this addition to the refuge.
The plans for the refuge are currently displayed at the Hopewell Regional Library, and the Prince George Public Library. The Prince George Library will also host a public meeting on Wednesday, November 12, to hear from the community about the plans to work on the refuge. There will be two meetings, at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., where members of the community may view the plans, hear from officials, and make comments on the plan.
