Secretary Salazar Declares Grant Award to Replace River Crossing to Benefit Threatened Niangua Darter

Project: R3TD

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced a $144,900 grant was awarded to the Missouri Department of Conservation to support the replacement of a road crossing over the Niangua River within the Osage River Basin to benefit resident fish species including the federally threatened Niangua darter. The grant is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"The economic recovery investments that the Department of the Interior is making will create jobs by building trails, restoring habitat, upgrading visitors' centers, and protecting national treasures in communities across America, while leaving a lasting legacy for our children and grandchildren," said Secretary Salazar.

Replacing the river crossing, currently containing under-sized, box culverts, will result in the reconnection of approximately 26 miles of the Niangua River and facilitate intra-population movements and seasonal migrations of the threatened Niangua darter.

The darter occurs in eleven counties within the Osage River Basin and in clear upland creeks and small to medium sized rivers with slight to moderate currents, requiring continuously flowing streams with silt-free gravel and rock bottoms. Population declines are primarily due to habitat loss from reservoir construction and stream channelization. Current threats include isolation of the 8 remaining populations due to stream fragmentation from low water flow or discontinuity at road crossing culverts. Facilitating seasonal migration would allow access to higher quality or spawning habitats that may currently be isolated upstream of the road crossing.

"In a win-win situation for both the darter and the local community of Dallas County, Missouri, the new free span bridge should be submerged less frequently and for shorter durations during spring floods," said Joanne Grady, fisheries biologist at the Columbia National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office. "The Co. will also see reduced maintenance costs with this design."

"The Midwest Region has a long tradition of enjoying the fish, wildlife, lakes, rivers and prairies we are so fortunate to have," said U.S.F.W.S. Midwest Regional Director Tom Melius. "The plans we will undertake in the Midwest as part of ARRA will provide jobs, increase the energy efficiency of government buildings, protect and enhance our natural resources, provide greater opportunities for people to enjoy those natural resources, and perhaps most importantly, help current and future generations understand and share our passion for the natural world."

Future awards will be announced when known. Grant opportunities for all ARRA plans are announced on the Internet at http://www.grants.gov . More information about this and other U.S.F.W.S. plans is accessible at http://recovery.doi.gov/press/bureaus/us-fish-and-wildlife-service .

Backing for these plans and hundreds more across the nation comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Of the $3 billion appropriated to the Department of the Interior, the Act provides $280 million for the U.S.F.W.S. - which includes $115 million for construction, repair and energy efficiency retrofit plans at Service facilities, and $165 million for habitat restoration, deferred maintenance and capital improvement projects. The Service will benefit from an additional $10 million, which is administered by the Department of Transportation and is not included in the Service's $280 million appropriation that will be used to rebuild and enhance roads on several national wildlife refuges. Plans will immediately create local jobs in the communities where they are located, while stimulating long-term employment and economic opportunities for the American public.

Recovery Act Plans address long-standing priority needs identified by the U.S.F.W.S. through its capital planning process. The Service worked through a rigorous merit-based process to identify and prioritize investments meeting the criteria put forth in the Recovery Act: namely, that a plan addresses the Department's highest priority mission needs; generates the biggest number of jobs in the shortest period of time; and creates lasting value for the American public.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Department of the Interior is making an investment in conserving America's timeless treasures - our stunning natural landscapes, our monuments to liberty, the icons of our culture and heritage - while helping middle class families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, employing youth and promoting community service.

For a full list of funded Plans nationwide, go to the Department's Recovery Web Location at http://recovery.doi.gov/. For a list of Service projects, click on the Service's logo at the bottom of the page. Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department of the Interior's economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each plan on the recovery web site, which will include an interactive map that enables the public to track where and how the Department's recovery dollars are being spent. In addition, the public can submit questions, comments or concerns at [email protected].

Secretary Salazar also has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force. Henderson and the Task Force will work closely with the Department of the Interior's Inspector General to ensure the Recovery Plan is meeting the high requirements for accountability, responsibility and transparency that President Obama has set.

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.

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