Comprehensive Conservation Plans provide long-term guidance for management decisions; set forth goals, objectives and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes; and, identify the Fish and Wildlife Service's best estimate of future needs. These plans detail program planning levels that are sometimes substantially above current budget allocations and, as such, are primarily for Service strategic planning and program prioritization purposes. The plans do not constitute a commitment for staffing increases, operational and maintenance increases, or funding for future land acquisition.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) prepared this Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and Final Environmental Assessment (EA) to guide the management of Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex with refuges located in Jackson, Lauderdale, Limestone, Madison, and Morgan Counties, Alabama. The plan outlines programs and corresponding resource needs for the next 15 years, as mandated by the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997. Before the Service began planning, it conducted a biological and public use review of the wildlife, habitat, and visitor services management programs at each refuge. Three public scoping meetings were then held to solicit public opinion of the issues the plan should address.

The primary role of the Medicine Lake NWR Complex is to conserve its diverse wetlands and grasslands as a "refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife." This draft comprehensive conservation plan (CCP) and environmental assessment (EA) will guide management of these lands for the next 15 years.