117 STAT. 706
PUBLIC LAW 108–23—MAY 19, 2003 (25) only approximately 100 hectares remain physically unaltered today in an area in which, 70 years ago, marshes were 10 times more extensive; (26) in addition to the actual loss of coastal wetland acreage along the shores of Lake Erie, the quality of much remaining dike wetland has been degraded by numerous stressors, especially excessive loadings of sediments and nutrients, contaminants, shoreline modification, exotic species, and the diking of wetland; and (27) 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 negatively affecting breeding and spawning grounds.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act: (1) INTERNATIONAL REFUGE.—The term ‘‘International Refuge’’ means the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge established by section 5(a) of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 668dd note; 115 Stat. 894). (2) REFUGE COMPLEX.—The term ‘‘Refuge Complex’’ means the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex and the lands and waters in the complex, as described in the document entitled ‘‘The Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge Complex’’ and dated September 22, 2000, including— (A) the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, established by the Secretary in accordance with the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715 et seq.); (B) the West Sister Island National Wildlife Refuge established by Executive Order No. 7937, dated August 2, 1937; and (C) the Cedar Point National Wildlife Refuge established by the Secretary in accordance with the Migratory Bird Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 715 et seq.). (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior. (4) WESTERN BASIN.— (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘western basin’’ means the western basin of Lake Erie, consisting of the land and water in the watersheds of Lake Erie extending from the watershed of the Lower Detroit River in the State of Michigan to and including Sandusky Bay and the watershed of Sandusky Bay in the State of Ohio. (B) INCLUSION.—The term ‘‘western basin’’ includes the Bass Island archipelago in the State of Ohio. SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF BOUNDARIES.
(a) REFUGE COMPLEX BOUNDARIES.— (1) EXPANSION.—The boundaries of the Refuge Complex are expanded to include land and water in the State of Ohio from the eastern boundary of Maumee Bay State Park to the eastern boundary of the Darby Unit (including the Bass Island archipelago), as depicted on the map entitled ‘‘Ottawa National
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