Potential New NWR In Jackson

[420 racin]

This is a News Release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast Region. While you can't reply to this message, you can call me at (404) 679-7291, or send me a separate e-mail to: tom_mackenzie@fws.gov

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*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 4, 2013*

*Contacts:*

Mike Rich 662-836-3004 mike_rich@fws.gov

Connie Dickard 601-321-1121 connie_dickard@fws.gov

Public Meeting Scheduled for Proposed Urban Refuge In Jackson

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public input on a proposal to
establish a national wildlife refuge along the Pearl River in the Jackson,
Mississippi, metropolitan area. The public is invited to attend an open
house to learn more about the refuge proposal and to provide their comments.

This open house is scheduled for Thursday, November 21, 2013, from 5:30
p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Flowood Public Library, 103 Winners Circle, in
Flowood, Mississippi, 39232.

Written comments also can be e-mailed to: ProposedMSRefugeLPP@fws.gov

mailed to: Mike Rich, Refuge Manager, Theodore Roosevelt Refuge Complex,
12595 Mississippi Hwy. 149, Yazoo City, Mississippi, 39194, or faxed to:
(601) 836-3009.

The proposed refuge contains up to 5,000 acres and lies within an urbanized
portion of greater Jackson. It is bounded by the Ross Barnett Reservoir to
the north and Lakeland Drive to the south. The project area includes 2,712
acres of adjoining property currently owned by the Mississippi Department
of Transportation. If the proposed refuge is approved, this property will
be transferred to the Service within the next two years. Following the
transfer, the Service would then continue working with willing landowners
and other partners to protect the remaining acreage within the proposed
refuge boundary.

The benefits of the proposed refuge include: recreation, such as hunting,
fishing, canoeing, hiking, biking; wildlife photography and observation;
protection of migratory birds and the Pearl River bottomland hardwood
riparian ecosystem as well as the cultural and historical resources within
the property; and opportunities for environmental education and
interpretive programs highlighting the area’s important natural resources.

Public input on the proposal will guide the Service through the planning
process. A Service planning team will collect and consider the public’s
comments and develop a range of proposed alternatives for the refuge. In
early 2014, the public will have a chance to comment on the alternatives in
a draft plan. The planning team will again review the public’s input and
develop a final plan which will then be submitted to the Director of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for final consideration.

Additional public scoping meetings may be scheduled. Public notices will
be made through local news outlets and will also be posted to the Service’s
website.

For more information on the proposed refuge, or to join the mailing list
visit:

http://www.fws.gov/southeast/ProposedMSRefuge

The proposed national wildlife refuge would be incorporated into the
Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge Complex. This grouping of
refuges currently encompasses seven refuges and is responsible for managing
and maintaining over 100,000 acres in the Mississippi Delta region.

*The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others
to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their
habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more
information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit *
*www.fws.gov* <http://www.fws.gov/>. *Connect with our Facebook page at *
*www.facebook.com/usfwssoutheast* <https://www.facebook.com/usfwssoutheast>*,
follow our tweets at
**twitter.com/usfwssoutheast*<https://twitter.com/usfwssoutheast>*,
watch our YouTube Channel at
**www.youtube.com/usfws*<http://www.youtube.com/usfws>* and
download photos from our Flickr page at *
*http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwssoutheast*<http://www.flickr.com/photos/usfwssoutheast>
--
*Tom R. MacKenzie*
Media Relations Specialist and Native American Liaison
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Southeast Region
1875 Century Blvd Ste 410
Atlanta, GA 30345-3319
404-679-7291 Fax:404-679-7286 Cell: 678-296-6400

http://www.fws.gov/southeast

tom_mackenzie@fws.gov

[jacksbuddy]

Aaah yes. I can see it now. Ray Ray and Pookey decide to go hog hunting in Eastover, but they get stopped by Bubba and Cletus Earl, the Whackenhut Security Guards, who are patrolling the neighborhood in a golf cart. JPD is called for a "3 on Your Side" investigation, and then the fun begins...

All kidding aside, you DO realize that there will be a lot of questions that need to be answered at this public hearing, right? i.e. - When laws and ordinances conflict, which ones take precedent? etc.

Good luck.

[Brock1]

I'm fairly certain this piece of property is strictly on the rankin county side of river. I think it's the old hog creek hunting club that the state bought out 3 years ago. It'll be all the property behind Howard Wilson and across to the YMCA in flowood. I'm sure some of you have noticed the gas rig standing behind the YMCA. Used to hunt all of that with some friends. Could be wrong, but I doubt it

[mudsucker]

What will be the limit on crackheads?

[Rowdy53103]

Was looking at the map of the area and noticed this.....

32.351526,-90.116961

Who the heck is building houses that big in the Jackson city limits?? At least 10,000 ft^2?

[deltadukman]

Not sure where you're talking about but could be the neighborhood around the mule jail?

[GrizwalD]

im sure your referring to the mcgowan's .... havent looked at the coordinates you posted but i bet its the ones around that small lake

[Rowdy53103]

[edub20]

[GrizwalD]

yea thats the mcgowans

[jacksbuddy]

Oh yeah, THEY'LL be happy the first time Bubba shoots a deer with his bow just a bit behind the vitals, and said whitetail runs as far as their front driveway before expiring. Buffy gonna lose her latte.

[Wildfowler]

I'd rather see this than see the 2-lakes project come to pass. I know every inch of the land on the hinds county side, I grew up back in those swamps as a kid. As far as I'm concerned, it should include the hinds county side too.

[SWAG]

Looks like a good lake for sliders and turtles, mosquito heaven, and cottonmouths galore After living all my life in the Delta, one thing I know for sure. It is best to live a few 100 yds from the waters edge.

[Deltamud77]

[YazooValley]