Draft Revised Management Plans for the ACE Basin, Elkhorn Slough, and Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserves; Notice of Proposed Boundary Changes

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is soliciting comments from the public regarding a proposed revision of the management plans for the Ashepoo[hyphen]Combahee[hyphen]Edisto Basin (ACE Basin) National Estuarine Research Reserve in South Carolina, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve in California, and Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Alabama. A management plan provides a framework to guide a reserve's programs, track progress toward meeting its goals, and identify potential opportunities or changes in direction. It is also used to guide programmatic evaluations of a reserve. Management plan revisions are required at least every five years. These draft revised management plans are intended to replace the ACE Basin Research Reserve, Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve, and Weeks Bay Research Reserve management plans, which were approved in 2011, 2007, and 2017, respectively. NOAA is also considering requests to change the boundary of each reserve and is simultaneously soliciting comments from the public on the proposed boundary changes.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 201 (Tuesday, October 20, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 20, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66316-66317]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-21418]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration


Draft Revised Management Plans for the ACE Basin, Elkhorn Slough, 
and Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserves; Notice of Proposed 
Boundary Changes

AGENCY: Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is 
soliciting comments from the public regarding a proposed revision of 
the management plans for the Ashepoo[hyphen]Combahee[hyphen]Edisto 
Basin (ACE Basin) National Estuarine Research Reserve in South 
Carolina, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve in 
California, and Weeks Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in 
Alabama. A management plan provides a framework to guide a reserve's 
programs, track progress toward meeting its goals, and identify 
potential opportunities or changes in direction. It is also used to 
guide programmatic evaluations of a reserve. Management plan revisions 
are required at least every five years. These draft revised management 
plans are intended to replace the ACE Basin Research Reserve, Elkhorn 
Slough Research Reserve, and Weeks Bay Research Reserve management 
plans, which were approved in 2011, 2007, and 2017, respectively. NOAA 
is also considering requests to change the boundary of each reserve and 
is simultaneously soliciting comments from the public on the proposed 
boundary changes.

DATES: Comments must be received at the appropriate address (see 
ADDRESSES) on or before November 19, 2026.

ADDRESSES: The draft revised management plan for the ACE Basin Research 
Reserve can be downloaded or viewed at: <a href="http://dnr.sc.gov/marine/NERR">dnr.sc.gov/marine/NERR</a>. The 
draft revised management plan for the Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve 
can be downloaded or viewed at: <a href="http://elkhornslough.org/MP">elkhornslough.org/MP</a>. The draft revised 
management plan for the Weeks Bay Research Reserve can be downloaded or 
viewed at: <a href="http://outdooralabama.com/WeeksBayNERRManagementPlan">outdooralabama.com/WeeksBayNERRManagementPlan</a>. Each plan is 
also available by sending a written request to the point of contact 
identified below (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT).
    For the ACE Basin Research Reserve, you may submit comments by 
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#347158555d5a511a625541504651415d58745a5b55551a535b42"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="652009040c0b004b330410011700100c09250b0a04044b020a13">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Include ``Comments on draft ACE 
Basin Research Reserve Management Plan'' in the subject line of the 
message. For the Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve, you may submit 
comments by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4b0c2e26262a651c2a2a272a252f0b25242a2a652c243d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="87c0e2eaeae6a9d0e6e6ebe6e9e3c7e9e8e6e6a9e0e8f1">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Include ``Comments on 
draft Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve Management Plan'' in the subject 
line of the message. For the Weeks Bay Research Reserve, you may submit 
comments by email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#cc81adb8b8e28fa4adbfbfa98ca2a3adade2aba3ba"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ade0ccd9d983eec5ccdedec8edc3c2cccc83cac2db">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Include ``Comments on draft 
Weeks Bay Research Reserve Management Plan'' in the subject line of the 
message. The written comments NOAA receives are considered part of the 
public record, and the entirety of the comment, including the name of 
the commenter, email address, attachments, and other supporting 
materials, will be publicly accessible. Sensitive personally 
identifiable information, such as account numbers and Social Security 
numbers, should not be included with the comment. Comments that are not 
related to the management plan for the ACE Basin, Elkhorn Slough, or 
Weeks Bay Research Reserves, or that contain profanity, vulgarity, 
threats, or other inappropriate language, will not be considered.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ACE Basin Research Reserve: Elaine 
Vaudreuil, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7d38111c141318532b1c08190f180814113d13121c1c531a120b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7c39101d151219522a1d09180e190915103c12131d1d521b130a">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, (202) 936-6008; Elkhorn Slough Research 
Reserve: Gemma Waaland, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="dbbcbeb6b6baf5acbabab7bab5bf9bb5b4babaf5bcb4ad">[email&#160;protected]</a>, (707) 495-2623; Weeks Bay Research Reserve: 
Matt Chasse, NOAA's Office for Coastal Management, 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#45082431316b062d24363620052b2a24246b222a33"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4c012d3838620f242d3f3f290c22232d2d622b233a">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>, (240) 628-5417.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(c), the South 
Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the California Department of 
Fish and Wildlife, and the Alabama Department of Conservation and 
Natural Resources must revise the management plans for the ACE Basin 
Research Reserve, the Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve, and the Weeks 
Bay Research Reserve, respectively, at least every five years. If 
approved by NOAA, the revised management plan for the ACE Basin 
Research Reserve will replace the plan previously approved in 2011; the 
revised management plan for the Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve will 
replace the plan previously approved in 2007; and the revised 
management plan for the Weeks Bay Research Reserve will replace the 
plan previously approved in 2017.
    Management plans outline a reserve's strategic goals and 
objectives; administrative structure; programs for conducting research 
and monitoring, education, and training; resource protection, 
restoration, and manipulation plans; public access and visitor use 
plans; consideration for future land acquisition; and facility 
development to support reserve operations.
    In particular, this draft revised management plan for ACE Basin 
identifies four goals that the reserve will work toward over the next 
five years: Enable South Carolina's communities, residents, and 
visitors to protect coastal resources; advance knowledge about coastal 
and estuarine ecosystems through research and monitoring; apply science 
and stewardship to balance long[hyphen]term protection of the ACE 
Basin's natural and cultural resources with enjoyment by current and 
future generations; and enhance the capacity of the reserve to 
contribute to the ACE Basin community, the South Carolina Department of 
Natural Resources, and the National Estuarine Research Reserve System 
through effective operations and communication. Since the last 
management plan, ACE Basin has engaged with new audiences and partners, 
filled some identified staffing needs, adapted training programs to 
include more virtual content, and successfully acquired lands that were

[[Page 66317]]

previously privately owned ``in-holdings'' adjacent to the reserve's 
boundary. These parcels are now proposed for addition to the reserve's 
boundary. The revised management plan, once approved, would serve as 
the guiding document for the ACE Basin Research Reserve for the next 
five years.
    This draft revised management plan for Elkhorn Slough identifies 
five goals that the reserve will work toward over the next five years: 
Increase scientific understanding of estuarine ecosystems to inform 
conservation strategies; lead development and implementation of 
collaborative science-based conservation strategies to protect and 
restore native habitats in the Elkhorn Slough; increase awareness, 
understanding, and appreciation of the Elkhorn Slough; improve coastal 
decision-making through increased skills, knowledge, and access to key 
resources; and provide administrative leadership and resources 
necessary to improve the operations and infrastructure of the reserve. 
Since the last management plan, Elkhorn Slough has engaged with new 
audiences and partners; acquired 10 new parcels, nine of which were 
incorporated into the boundary in 2020 and one of which is now proposed 
for addition to their boundary; updated and added state-of-the-art 
interpretive exhibits to their visitor's center and remodeled their 
outdoor teaching spaces; expanded their trail access; and continued to 
build upon their tidal wetland program through new marsh restoration 
projects. The revised management plan, once approved, would serve as 
the guiding document for the Elkhorn Slough Research Reserve for the 
next five years.
    This draft revised management plan for Weeks Bay identifies four 
goals that the reserve will work toward over the next five years: Serve 
as a model to other coastal ecosystems through biologically diverse and 
resilient ecosystems within the Weeks Bay watershed; inform decisions 
affecting estuaries and coastal watersheds through an understanding of 
coastal ecosystems from science and monitoring; improve ecological 
appreciation to advance coastal literacy, conservation, and resiliency; 
and enhance the community sense of stewardship and appreciation of the 
local ecosystems. Since the last management plan, Weeks Bay has engaged 
with new audiences and partners, improved the resilience of their 
environmental monitoring capabilities, expanded training programs that 
incorporate reserve data, and successfully acquired lands adjacent to 
the reserve's boundary. Eleven parcels acquired by the Alabama 
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Lands Division, 
and the State of Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust Program, as well as 
additional state-owned water bottoms, are now proposed for addition to 
the reserve's boundary. The revised management plan, once approved, 
would serve as the guiding document for the Weeks Bay Research Reserve 
for the next five years.
    NOAA's Office for Coastal Management analyzes the environmental 
impacts of the proposed approval of this management plan, as well as 
the proposed boundary change, as required by the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.
    The public is invited to comment on the draft revised management 
plans. NOAA will take these comments into consideration when deciding 
whether to approve the revised management plans in whole or in part.
    The public is also invited to comment on the proposal by the South 
Carolina Department of Natural Resources, as lead agency for managing 
the ACE Basin Research Reserve, to incorporate 12 state-owned parcels 
acquired since 2011 into the reserve's approved boundary, as described 
in the draft management plan; the proposal by the California Department 
of Fish and Wildlife, as lead agency for managing the Elkhorn Slough 
Research Reserve, to incorporate one state-owned parcel acquired since 
2020 into the reserve's approved boundary, as described in the draft 
management plan; and the proposal by the Alabama Department of 
Conservation and Natural Resources, as lead agency for managing the 
Weeks Bay Research Reserve, to incorporate 11 state-owned parcels 
acquired since 2017 and additional state-owned water bottoms into the 
reserve's approved boundary, as described in the draft management plan. 
Pursuant to 15 CFR 921.33(a), NOAA may require public notice, including 
notice in the Federal Register and an opportunity for public comment, 
before approving a boundary change. NOAA will take public comments into 
consideration when deciding whether to approve this proposed boundary 
change in whole or in part.
    Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.; 15 CFR 921.33.

Keelin S. Kuipers,
Acting Director, Office for Coastal Management, National Ocean Service, 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2026-21418 Filed 10-19-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-08-P


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