U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced today that the U.S.F.W.S. will distribute in excess of $76.5 million to the fish and wildlife agencies of the 50 states, commonwealths, the District of Columbia, and territories to help conserve and recover imperiled fish and wildlife through the State Wildlife Grant Program. The $76.5 million dollar figure represents a significant increase in backing over the 2009 levels. Since the program's inception, Congress has provided over $573 million for conservation work on state and private lands.
"The State Wildlife Grant plan is part of the Department of the Interior's ongoing commitment to the essential conservation efforts of states," said Salazar. "In our challenging economic climate, the plan ensures that states will have the necessary resources to help conserve their highest priority wildlife, plants, and habitat - an investment that will pay dividends for years to come."
The State Wildlife Grant Plan (SWG) provides federal grant funds for the development and implementation of programs for the benefit of fish and wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished. For the past 9 years, this grants Plan has provided a stable federal backing source for state fish and wildlife agencies. This stability has been critical to the recovery and resilience of many species in greatest need of conservation. This year's funds come from the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010 (H.R. 2996).
As these projects show, the program's impact will be felt throughout the country in 2010:
- Kansas will use their backing to restore or enhance 30,000 acres of grasslands. The plan will help conserve at-risk species or those that require large home ranges for breeding, including lesser prairie-chicken, greater prairie-chicken, ferruginous hawk, Swainson's hawk, upland sandpiper, grasshopper sparrow, and swift fox.
- Colorado will use their backing to search for suitable habitat to determine the location occupancy of yellow-billed cuckoos. The search will confirm that the species is breeding in the North Fork of the Gunnison River Valley. This is an important 1st step in efforts to establish a long-term conservation project for the species in western Colorado.
- Georgia will address the impact of feral swine on natural forest regeneration on Ossabaw Island. The effort will enhance habitat for several bird species and the loggerhead turtle. The overall benefit will be an increase in habitat diversity, bird health, and the loggerhead turtle population on Ossabaw Island.
- Washington State will monitor spawning to estimate herring populations in Puget Sound. Findings will be used by the State's fish biologists for the conservation and recovery of the herring.
The SWG provides grants to states through a
formula-based distribution calculated using the state's land area and population. Awarded funds support activities related to both planning and implementation. Planning activities must contribute directly to the development or modification of the state's
Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Project (also known as Wildlife Action Plan) approved by the director of the U.S.F.W.S.. Implementation activities are activities that a state intends to carry out to execute their Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan. All funded activities must link with species, actions, or strategies included in each state's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan.
Please visit the U.S.F.W.S.'s Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Plan Web location at
http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/ for state, commonwealth, and the District of Columbia territory backing allocations or for more information on the program.
The mission of the U.S.F.W.S. is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
