USFWS: Secretary Kempthorne Announces Funding for Wetlands Projects, Additions to National Wildlife Refuges

The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission has approved $28.9 million from the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund for 30 conservation projects in 17 U.S. states and 12 Canadian provinces. U.S. partners in 26 projects will add nearly $130 million, including more than $55 million in obligated match, to restore more than 209,000 acres of wetlands and associated uplands. Partners in four Canadian projects will add more than $7.5 million to improve more than 24,000 acres of habitat.

The Commission’s action funds grants to diverse public-private partnerships through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The grants are financed by Congressional appropriations, fines, penalties and forfeitures under the Migratory Bird Treat Act, interest accrued to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and excise taxes paid on small engine fuels through the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Fund.

“This is a marvelous example of how the public and private sectors can and
do work together to maintain and expand outdoor opportunities for
Americans,” said Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. "Acre-by-acre, public
and private partners are restoring wetlands across the nation. Wetlands
provide excellent habitat for wildlife and provide millions of Americans
with a range of outdoor recreational opportunities."

Some 3,150 partners have been involved in nearly 1,800 wetlands
conservation projects throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico
since 1990. Partners in all three countries focus on long-term protection,
restoration, or enhancement of critical habitats. More than $742 million
in grants have been invested in the three countries, and partner
contributions have topped $2 billion. Nearly 23 million acres of wetlands
and associated uplands across the continent have been positively affected
as a result of the program.

The Commission also earmarked more than $6.5 million and approved the
acquisition of fee title and conservation easements for 4,253 additional
acres of habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System. New refuge
acquisitions, all previously approved by the Service and each of the
states, include:

Arkansas: Acquisition of 226 acres to protect waterfowl habitat at White
River National Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas, Desha, Monroe, and Phillips
Counties and 382 acres at Overflow National Wildlife Refuge in Ashley
County.

California: Acquisition of a perpetual conservation easement on 248 acres
to protect waterfowl habitat at Grasslands Wildlife Management Area in
Merced County and acquisition of a perpetual waterfowl habitat easement on
799 acres at North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area in Sutter
County.

Maine: Acquisition of 219 acres to provide nesting and waterfowl habitat
at Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Penobscot County.

Maryland: Acquisition of 295 acres to provide habitat for waterfowl at
Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Dorchester County.

Massachusetts/Vermont: Acquisition of 107 acres to provide habitat for
waterfowl at Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge - Mill River
Division - in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, and 76 acres for Nulhegan
Basin Division in Essex County, Vermont.

Michigan: Acquisition of 63 acres to protect migratory bird habitat on
Detroit River and western Lake Erie shore at Detroit River International
Wildlife Refuge in Wayne and Monroe Counties.

Minnesota: Establishment of a new 35,756-acre boundary for future
Commission purchase for the new Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge in
Polk County and acquisition of 402 acres to conserve prairie pothole
wetlands for waterfowl and other migratory bird populations.

New Hampshire: Acquisition of 392 acres to protect waterfowl habitat at
Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge in Coos County.

New Jersey: Acquisition of 98 acres to protect waterfowl habitat at Edwin
B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in Atlantic, Burlington, and Ocean
Counties.

New York: Acquisition of 476 acres to protect waterfowl habitat at
Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne Counties.

Texas: Acquisition of 470 acres to protect waterfowl habitat at Trinity
River National Wildlife Refuge in Liberty County.

In addition to money collected from Duck Stamp sales, other funds going to
habitat acquisition for refuges are collected from import duties on
firearms and ammunition and right-of-way payments to the refuge system.

Those funds have provided more than $700 million.

Commission membership includes Secretary Kempthorne, Senators Thad Cochran and Blanche Lincoln, Representatives John Dingell and Curt Weldon, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns, and Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.

A fact sheet containing summary information about the approved NAWCA
projects is available at http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/Standard/files/2006_Sept_StandardGrantSummaryTable.pdf

Brief descriptions of U.S. projects will soon be available at
http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/Standard/US/ApprovProj.shtm

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency
responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and
plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American
people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge
System which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national
fish hatcheries, 63 fishery resource offices and 81 ecological services
field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the
Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores
nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat
such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American tribal governments
with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program
that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing
and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.