text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Lake Erie Western Basin 
  International Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      The Congress finds the following:
              (1) The western basin of Lake Erie, as part of the Great 
          Lakes ecosystem, the largest freshwater ecosystem on the face 
          of the Earth, is vitally important to the economic and 
          environmental future of the United States.
              (2) Over the past three decades, the citizens and 
          governmental institutions of both the United States and Canada 
          have devoted increasing attention and resources to the 
          restoration of the water quality and fisheries of the Great 
          Lakes, including the western basin. This increased awareness 
          has been accompanied by a gradual shift to a holistic 
          ``ecosystem approach'' that highlights a growing recognition 
          that shoreline areas--the nearshore terrestrial ecosystems--are 
          an integral part of the western basin and the Great Lakes 
          ecosystem as a whole.
              (3) The Great Lakes account for more than 90 percent of the 
          surface freshwater in the nation. The western basin receives 
          approximately 90 percent of its flow from the Detroit River and 
          only approximately 10 percent from tributaries.
              (4) The western basin of Lake Erie is an important 
          ecosystem that includes a number of distinct islands, channels, 
          rivers, and shoals that support dense populations of fish, 
          wildlife, and aquatic plants.
              (5) The coastal wetlands of Lake Erie support the largest 
          diversity of plant and wildlife species in the Great Lakes. The 
          moderate climate of Lake Erie and its more southern latitude 
          allow for many species that are not found in or along the 
          northern Great Lakes. More than 300 species of plants, 
          including 37 significant species, have been identified in the 
          aquatic and wetland habitats of the western basin.
              (6) The shallow western basin, from the Lower Detroit River 
          to Sandusky Bay, is home to the largest concentration of 
          marshes in Lake Erie, including Mouille, Metzger, and Magee 
          marshes, the Maumee Bay wetland complex, the wetland complexes 
          flanking Locust Point, and the wetlands in Sandusky Bay. The 
          larger United States islands in western Lake Erie have wetlands 
          in the small ebayments.
              (7) The wetlands in the western basin of Lake Erie comprise 
          as some of the most important waterfowl habitat in the Great 
          Lakes. Waterfowl, wading birds, shore birds, gulls and terns, 
          raptors, and perching birds all use the western basin wetlands 
          for migration, nesting, and feeding. Hundreds of thousands of 
          diving ducks stop to rest in the Lake Erie area on their fall 
          migration from Canada to the east and south. The wetlands of 
          the western basin provide a major stopover for sea ducks such 
          as migrating bufflehead, common goldeneye, common mergansers, 
          and ruddy duck.
              (8) The international importance of Lake Erie is manifested 
          in the United States congressional designation of the Ottawa 
          and Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuges.
              (9) Lake Erie has an international reputation for walleye, 
          perch, and bass fishing, recreational boating, birding, 
          photography, and duck hunting. On an economic basis, Lake Erie 
          tourism accounts for an estimate $1,500,000,000 in retail sales 
          and more than 50,000 jobs.
              (10) Many of the 417,000 boats that are registered in Ohio 
          are used in the western basin of Lake Erie, in part to fish for 
          the estimated 10,000,000 walleye that migrate from the lake to 
          spawn. This internationally renowned walleye fishery drives 
          much of Ohio's $2,000,000,000 sport fishing industry.
              (11) Coastal wetlands in the western basin have been 
          subjected to intense pressure for 150 years. Prior to 1850, the 
  western basin was part of an extensive coastal marsh and swamp system 
  of approximately 122,000 hectares that comprised a portion of the Great 
  Black Swamp. By 1951, only 12,407 wetland hectares remained in the 
  western basin. Half of that acreage was destroyed between 1972 and 
  1987. Therefore, today only approximately 5,000 hectares remain. Along 
  the Michigan shoreline, coastal wetlands were reduced by 62 percent 
  between 1916 and the early 1970s. The development of the city of Monroe 
  has had a particularly significant impact on the coastal wetlands at 
  the mouth of the Raisin River: only approximately 100 hectares remain 
  physically unaltered today in an area where 70 years ago marshes were 
  10 times more extensive. In addition to the actual loss of coastal 
  wetland acreage along the shores of Lake Erie, the quality of many 
  remaining wetlands has been degraded by numerous stressors, especially 
  excessive loadings of sediments and nutrients, contaminants, shoreline 
  modification, exotic species, and the diking of wetlands. Protective 
  peninsula beach systems, such as the former Bay Point and Woodtick, at 
  the border of Ohio and Michigan near the mouth of the Ottawa River and 
  Maumee Bay, have been eroded over the years, exacerbating erosion along 
  the shorelines and impacting the breeding and spawning grounds.
  
   SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  
      For purposes of this Act:
              (1) The term ``Refuge'' means the Lake Erie Western Basin 
          International Wildlife Refuge established by section 5.
              (2) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the 
          Interior.
              (3) The term ``Lake Erie Western Basin'' means those lands 
          and waters within the area described in section 5(a).
  
  SEC. 4. PURPOSES.
  
      The purposes for which the Refuge is established and shall be 
  managed are as follows:
              (1) To protect the remaining high-quality fish and wildlife 
          habitats of the western basins of Lake Erie before they are 
          lost to further development and to restore and enhance degraded 
          wildlife habitats associated with the western basin of Lake 
          Erie.
              (2) To assist in international efforts to conserve, 
          enhance, and restore the native aquatic and terrestrial 
          community characteristics of the western basin of Lake Erie 
          (including associated fish, wildlife, and plant species), both 
          in the United States and Canada in partnership with 
          nongovernmental and private organizations, as well as private 
          individuals dedicated to habitat enhancement.
              (3) To facilitate partnerships among the United States Fish 
          and Wildlife Service, Canadian national and provincial 
          authorities, State and local governments, local communities in 
          the United States and in Canada, conservation organizations, 
          and other non-Federal entities to promote public awareness of 
          the resources of the western basin of Lake Erie.
              (4) To advance the collective goals and priorities 
          established in the ``Great Lakes Strategy 2002--A Plan for the 
          New Millennium'', by the United States Policy Committee 
          comprised of various Federal agencies, including the United 
          States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection 
          Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic and 
          Atmospheric Administration, the United States Geological 
          Survey, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 
          the Forest Service, and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, as 
          well as the State governments and tribal governments in the 
          Great Lakes. These goals, broadly stated, include working 
          together to protect and restore the chemical, physical, and 
          biological integrity of the Great Lakes basin ecosystem.
  
  SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF REFUGE.
  
      (a) Boundaries.--There is hereby established the Lake Erie Western 
  Basin International Wildlife Refuge, consisting of the lands and waters 
  owned or managed by the Secretary pursuant to this Act in the State of 
  Michigan from the southern boundary of Sterling State Park to the 
  eastern edge of Sandusky Bay, as depicted upon the map entitled ``Lake 
  Erie Western Basin International Wildlife Refuge Proposed'', dated May 
  12, 2002, which shall be available for inspection in appropriate 
  offices of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
      (b) Existing Refuge Lands.--The Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and 
  the Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge are hereby included within, 
  and shall be a part of, the Lake Erie Western Basin International 
  Wildlife Refuge. All references to the Ottawa and Cedar Point national 
  wildlife refuges shall hereafter be treated as references to the Lake 
  Erie Western Basin International Wildlife Refuge.
      (c) Boundary Revisions.--The Secretary may make such revisions of 
  the boundaries of the Refuge as may be appropriate to carry out the 
  purposes of the Refuge or to facilitate the acquisition of property 
  within the Refuge.
      (d) Acquisition.--The Secretary is authorized to acquire by 
  donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange the 
  lands and waters, or interests therein (including conservation 
  easements), within the boundaries of the Refuge. Any and all 
  acquisitions of lands or waters under the provisions of this Act shall 
  be made in a voluntary manner and shall not be the result of forced 
  takings.
      (e) Transfers From Other Agencies.--Any Federal property located 
  within the boundaries of the Refuge which is under the administrative 
  jurisdiction of another department or agency of the United States may, 
  with the concurrence of the head of administering department or agency, 
  be transferred without consideration to the administrative jurisdiction 
  of the Secretary for the purposes of this Act.
      (f) Study of Associated Area.--The Secretary, acting through the 
  Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall conduct 
  a study of fish and wildlife habitat and aquatic and terrestrial 
  communities of the Maumee River, from its mouth to an appropriate 
  juncture along the Maumee River Heritage Corridor between Toledo and 
  Fort Wayne, Indiana. Not later than 18 months after the date of the 
  enactment of the Act, the Secretary shall complete such study and 
  submit a report containing the results thereof to the Congress.
  
  SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION.
  
      (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer all federally owned 
  lands, waters, and interests therein that are within the boundaries of 
  the Refuge in accordance with the National Wildlife Refuge System 
  Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd et seq.) and this Act. The 
  Secretary may use such additional statutory authority as may be 
  available for the conservation of fish and wildlife, and the provision 
  of fish and wildlife dependent recreational opportunities as the 
  Secretary considers appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Act.
      (b) Priority Uses.--In providing opportunities for compatible fish 
  and wildlife dependent recreation, the Secretary, in accordance with 
  paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 4(a) of the National Wildlife Refuge 
  System Administration Act of 1966 (16 U.S.C. 668dd(a)), shall ensure 
  that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and 
  environmental education and interpretation are the priority public uses 
  of the Refuge.
      (c) Cooperative Agreements Regarding Non-Federal Lands.--The 
  Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with the 
  State of Ohio or Michigan, or any political subdivision thereof, and 
  with any other person or entity for the management in a manner 
  consistent with this Act of lands that are owned by such State, 
  subdivision, or other person or entity and located within the 
  boundaries of the Refuge and to promote public awareness of the 
  resources of the Lake Erie Western Basin International Wildlife Refuge 
  and encourage public participation in the conservation of those 
  resources.
      (d) Use of Existing Greenway Authority.--The Secretary shall 
  encourage the State of Ohio to use existing authorities under the 
  Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to provide funding for 
  acquisition and development of trails within the boundaries of the 
  Refuge.
target: Lake Erie Western Basin International Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act - Establishes the Lake Erie Western Basin International Wildlife Refuge (Refuge), Michigan and Ohio. Includes the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge and the Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge within it.Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) revise Refuge boundaries to carry out its purposes or to facilitate the acquisition of property; and (2) acquire by donation, purchase, or exchange the lands and waters or interests within such boundaries. Provides for transfers from other agencies.Requires the Secretary, acting through the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to conduct a study of fish and wildlife habitat and aquatic and terrestrial communities of the Maumee River.Directs the Secretary to: (1) administer all federally owned lands, waters, and interests within the Refuge; (2) ensure that hunting, fishing, wildlife observation and photography, and environmental education and interpretation are the priority public uses of the Refuge; and (3) encourage Ohio to use existing authorities under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to provide funding for acquisition and development of trails within the Refuge.Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements regarding non-Federal lands.
feat_title: To provide for the establishment of the Lake Erie Western Basin International Wildlife Refuge in the States of Ohio and Michigan, and for other purposes.