Number: 1988-06
WHEREAS, some of the last hardwood wetland bottoms in the Midwest are along the Patoka River in southwestern Indiana; and
WHEREAS, this area has extensive forest stands that include sweet gum, red maple, green ash, pin oak, river birch, swamp white oak, cherry bark oak, bald cypress, red elm and American elm; and
WHEREAS, the Patoka River bottom lands provide some of the finest habitat for over 200 species of birds from warblers to waterfowl as well as the American bald eagle, the osprey and the yellow-crowned night heron; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has studied 24,000 acres in the area and in its Environmental Assessment has proposed a National Wildlife Refuge to consist of 17,500 acres, more or less; and
WHEREAS, critics have said the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not make public its intent to study the area; and
WHEREAS, there is documented evidence that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did communicate with State and local officials as well as local residents about their feasibility study; and
WHEREAS, many state-wide and refuge area residents do support the creation of the Patoka National Wildlife Refuge; and
WHEREAS, this area deserves the protected status of a National Wildlife Refuge to preserve the wildlife habitat and to ensure the opportunities for the use and the appreciation of the area by all; and
WHEREAS, refuge opponents have claimed that a refuge would increase the number of waterfowl in the area and, thereby, increase the risk of Avian Influenza to local, domestic poultry operations beyond acceptable limits; and
WHEREAS, the Avian Influenza Task Force findings state the risk of Avian Influenza to be minimal to domestic poultry operations located near the proposed refuge site; and
WHEREAS, waterfowl populations will continue to use the area with or without the establishment of a refuge; and
WHEREAS, Avian Influenza poses no more threat to poultry operations along the Patoka River than it does to any other poultry operations located near refuges such as those along the East Coast in the Chesapeake Bay area and the central valley of California; and
WHEREAS, the Avian Influenza Task Force suggests that the threat of Avian Influenza would likely be lessened if the Patoka River bottoms were managed by one protective agency or landowner such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and
WHEREAS, the Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge is the only other National Wildlife Refuge in the state of Indiana; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Patoka Refuge Area could potentially be ditched, dredged, drained, logged, cleared and farmed at some time in the future, thereby destroying its local, regional, and national significance for wildlife and related habitat;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 17-20, 1988, in New Orleans, Louisiana supports the establishment of a Patoka National Wildlife Refuge by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along the Patoka River in southwestern Indiana.