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CAPITOL FLYER
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
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Capitol
Flyer is intended to keep you abreast of the latest developments
in Washington affecting the National Wildlife Refuge System.
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Table of Contents:
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NWRA Urges Refuge Funding Increase at Congressional Hearing
The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) testified before the Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans in the House of Representatives at a July 20th hearing on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) growing operations crisis within the National Wildlife Refuge System, and specifically a proposal by FWS' Northeast region (Region 5) to place refuges in "Preservation Status." The region's restructuring proposal, which will de-staff some refuges, prompted the hearing.
Saying that de-staffing refuges is indicative of a crisis point in the Refuge System, NWRA Director of Government Affairs Michael Woodbridge urged Congress to take swift action to address critically-low refuge funding levels. Presently, the System suffers from an escalating operations and maintenance backlog of $3.1 billion. The organization voiced concerns about the detrimental effect on wildlife, law enforcement, FWS employees and volunteers working for the Refuge System, as well as the more than 40 million Americans who visit and appreciate national wildlife refuges each year. The NWRA also recommended that Congress ask the Administration to provide line-item budgets for refuges as a way of adding transparency to the budgeting process and a clearer representation of how limited funding has become for refuges across the country.
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NWRA-Endorsed Bill Advances
As reported in the June issue of Capitol Flyer, the NWRA testified earlier this year at hearings before the House Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans in support of legislation for existing refuge expansion and new refuge establishment. We are pleased to report that another one of these bills has advanced.
On July 24, the House of Representatives approved a measure sponsored by Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL) to double the size of Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Cahaba River is considered to be the longest free-flowing river in Alabama and is known for its extraordinary biological diversity. The refuge encompasses 3,400 acres and 3.5 miles of the river. If approved in the Senate and signed by the President, the bill will add 3,600 acres and an additional 4 miles of the river to the refuge. Mussels, snails and 131 species of fish, some federally protected, inhabit Cahaba River NWR.
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Neches River Approved as Refuge
The FWS recently announced the creation of Neches River National Wildlife Refuge in northeast Texas. More than 25,000 acres and 38 miles of the river will be included in the refuge when land acquisition is complete. Now the FWS is working on acquiring land for the refuge, which will hopefully be open to the public within a year.
In 1985, the area was deemed ecologically important. The various habitats of the river include wetlands and bottomland hardwoods that are frequented by waterfowl, such as mallards, dabbling, and wood ducks. The area is home to river otters, bobcats, and many species of fish, amphibians, and reptiles. Neches River NWR would help to protect the threatened American Alligator.
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National Bison Range Agreement May Be Extended
The annual funding agreement (AFA) between the FWS and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT), which transferred approximately half the refuge staff positions and budget at the National Bison Range in Montana to the tribes, went into effect March 15, 2005. The agreement runs through September 30, 2006, at which point the CSKT may sign another agreement with the FWS.
Recently, the FWS report on the tribe's performance for the first 12 months of the AFA, along with the tribe's rebuttal, were made available to the Refuge Association and others under the Freedom of Information Act. The FWS evaluation report outlines the CSKT's performance of refuge activities at the National Bison Range as very poor, with only 41% of activities being rated as "fully successful" and 37% rated "unsuccessful" or "needs improvement."
Initial talks are already beginning between the CSKT and FWS for a second AFA at the Bison Range. The NWRA continues be concerned about the agreement, citing high operating costs, management and performance problems and low employee morale. The Association continues to push for a substantially improved agreement and for the FWS to develop guidelines governing the creation and management of tribal AFAs at all refuges.
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Take Action!
You can make your voice heard by utilizing the Refuge Action Network (RAN), a free, fast and easy way to respond to important national wildlife refuge alerts. Using the RAN system, you can send an e-mail or fax (even if you don't own a fax machine) to your elected officials with a click or two of your mouse.
Please
visit the NWRA Web site or contact Michael Woodbridge,
Director of Government Affairs, at 202.333.9073 or mwoodbridge@refugenet.org
for more information.
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Capitol
Flyer, a monthly e-newsletter from the NWRA, is prepared by Michael
Woodbridge, NWRA's Director of Government Affairs.
For additional information, please contact mwoodbridge@refugenet.org. |
