Cormorant Control program

 April 19, 2021

Well, they are here!  Several hundred Cormorants are making Brevort Lake their temporary residents during their migration.  Because the DNR received the Federal Cormorant permit late, there is not enough time to set up the gun safety class, blood tests, and cormorant identification class we will only be able to harass them with bird bangers and your boat.

We will work with the DNR to organize blood testing and the classes sooner.

February 19, 2021

Double-crested Cormorant Update Webinars

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is providing double-crested cormorant management and rulemaking updates during two 90-minute webinars. The sessions, which are equivalent and will cover the same information, will begin with a brief presentation by Service staff followed by a question/answer period.

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to 500 participants per webinar.

Double-crested Cormorant Update Webinar 1 - February 22, 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern

REGISTER FOR FEBRUARY 22 SESSION

Double-crested Cormorant Update Webinar 2 - March 2, 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern

REGISTER FOR MARCH 2 SESSION

January 11, 2021

USFWS Finalizes Cormorant Control Permits

From the Michigan United Conservation Clubs Blog by Charlie Booher

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently finalized a rule that would facilitate the lethal take of nearly 120,000 double-crested cormorants annually nationwide.  This rule comes as the latest action in a year’s long process to manage cormorants more comprehensively. To read the entire MUCC article click here. 

To see the Federal Register click here.

Watch recorded webinars and view submitted comments at Regulations.gov Docket No. FWS-HQ-MB-2019-0103

An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a document that evaluates and discusses potential environmental impacts that would occur as a result of an agency taking action. It details the process through which a project is developed, includes consideration of a range of reasonable alternatives, analyzes the potential impacts resulting from the alternatives, and demonstrates compliance with other applicable environmental laws and executive orders. The EIS also informs the development of the draft rule, which will also be developed during this timeframe.

The Service will publish the draft EIS and draft rule for public review and comment. As part of the process, agencies identify and invite the participation of interested people. A draft EIS is published for public review and comment for a minimum of 45 days. This means the public has an opportunity to comment on the scope of the environmental review at the beginning of the process, and again on the draft before a final EIS and final rule is issued.

A final EIS is then published, which responses to substantive comments. A Notice of Availability is published in the Federal Register, announcing the availability of both draft and final EISs to the public. The EIS process ends with the issuance of the Record of Decision (ROD), which is the final rule. The ROD explains the Service’s decision, describes the alternatives considered, and discusses any monitoring plans, if necessary.

Summer 2020 - Draft EIS review and analysis

Upon the close of the comment period of the draft EIS and draft rule, the Service will consider all substantive comments and, if necessary, conduct further analyses. The Service will then prepare a final EIS, which informs the development of the final rule.