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Secretary Kempthorne Announces $26 Million for Wetlands Grants, $4.1 Million for Refuge Acquisitions - New Video Released on Migratory Bird Conservation Commission

Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne provides introduction to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC) video.
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne provides introduction to the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC) video.

September 15, 2008
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced that the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission has approved more than $26 million in funding to protect and restore more than 135,000 acres of U.S. wetland areas and wildlife habitats under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). Chaired by Secretary Kempthorne, the commission also approved $4.1 million in funding to add more than 4,400 other wetland acres to seven national wildlife refuges.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall Honored For Lifetime Contributions to Conservation

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Director H. Dale Hall. Credit: Tami A. Heilemann
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Director H. Dale Hall. Credit: Tami A. Heilemann

September 11, 2008
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale Hall has been recognized by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) for his career-long history of working with states and other conservation partners on issues ranging from climate change to endangered species protection.

Hall received the special recognition award for his support of AFWA and the states at the organization's annual meeting this week in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Captive Breeding used to Boost Declining Population of Lange's Metalmark Butterfly at Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge

Lange's Metalmark Butterfly. Credit: Jerry Powell
Lange's Metalmark Butterfly. Credit: Jerry Powell

September 11, 2008
In August biologists from Moorpark College, The Urban Wildlands Group, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released adults and caterpillars of the Lange's metalmark butterfly to increase their numbers at Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge. Antioch Dunes NWR is the only place on earth where the Lange's Metalmark Butterfly exists. The release was the culmination of a successful captive breeding program that began last year when monitoring found dangerously low numbers of the Lange's metalmark butterfly two years in a row. The breeding program is part of a two-pronged effort to save the species.

Fish Passage Program Solves Dam Problems

New bridge over Little Brown's Creek in California shows the dramatic improvements to fish passage possible with the help of the National Fish Passage program. Credit: Christine Jordan, Five Counties Salmonid Conservation Program
New bridge over Little Brown's Creek in California shows the dramatic improvements to fish passage possible with the help of the National Fish Passage program. Credit: Christine Jordan, Five Counties Salmonid Conservation Program
September 10, 2008
This year the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Fish Passage Program provided nearly $8.3 million to remove or bypass more than 168 barriers to fish passage. Along with nearly $18 million in partnership funds, the Fish Passage Program will help reopen 1,716 miles of streams and rivers and 9,471 acres to improve habitats for recreational fish and imperiled aquatic species.

Millions for Wetlands Grants and Refuge Acquisitions Announced

Northern Pintail Drake. Credit: John and Karen Hollingsworth
Northern Pintail Drake. Credit: John and Karen Hollingsworth

September 10, 2008
The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved more than $26 million in federal funding to protect and restore more than 135,000 acres of vital wetland habitat across the U.S. under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). Chaired by Secretary Kempthorne, the Commission also approved funding to secure more than 4,400 wetland acres for seven National Wildlife Refuges.

Service Supports 2008 Year of the Frog

Click image for slide show. Frog presentation courtesy of Joe Milmoe / USFWS.
Click image for slide show. Frog presentation courtesy of Joe Milmoe / USFWS.

September 5, 2008
Amphibian populations are in decline in many areas of the world. Areas which previously hosted a range of healthy frogs and other amphibian populations now have fewer, or even no frogs, toads, and salamanders. 2008 has been declared the "Year of the Frog" to highlight this crisis and emphasize the importance of amphibian conservation.

BoatUS and Service Sign Agreement to Promote "Ethical Angler" Campaign

Family fishing from powerboat on lake. Credit: USFWS
Family fishing from powerboat on lake. Credit: USFWS

September 2, 2008
The Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) and the US Fish and Wildlife Service joined forces today to reinforce the values of sport fishing through a public information campaign called The Ethical Angler.

Trout Travails Treated with $3 Million in Fish Aid

Brook trout. Credit USFWS
Brook trout. Credit USFWS

August 28, 2008
Recognizing the need to fix crumbling stream-banks and dilapidated culverts, and to improve water quality for brook trout and other aquatic species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently provided more than $3 million to support 70 fish habitat projects in 31 states across the nation as part of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.

With an additional $7.8 million in partner contributions, the projects will restore and enhance stream, lake, and coastal habitat to improve recreational fishing and help recover endangered species.

New Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Video Garners Two Prestigious Film Awards

DVD cover of the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge — Home of the Great Kodiak Bear. Credit: Steve Hillebrand / USFWS
DVD cover of the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge — Home of the Great Kodiak Bear. Credit: Steve Hillebrand / USFWS

August 27, 2008
Produced by the Service's National Conservation Training Center and the staff at Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, this beautifully photographed video follows the bears as they travel through the seasons. The video, Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge—Home of the Great Kodiak Bear recently received an Award of Excellence at the 14th Annual Communicators Award and a Silver at the 29th Annual Telly Awards.The video is available for purchase through a cooperative agreement with Alaska Geographic.

West Virginia Northern Flying Squirrel has Recovered, Glides Off Endangered Species List

West Virgina Northern flying squirrel. Credit: US Army Corps of Enginers
West Virgina Northern flying squirrel. Credit: US Army Corps of Enginers

August 25, 2008
Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced today that the West Virginia northern flying squirrel has recovered from the brink of extinction and will be removed from Endangered Species Act protection. The species' rebound can be attributed to a combination of conservation efforts and regeneration of the flying squirrel's forest habitat.

Endangered Species Chief and Oregon Rancher Walk a Mile in Each Other’s Boots

Ranch Manager Stacy Davies (L) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Assistant Director of Endangered Species, Bryan Arroyo on Roaring Springs Ranch in Frenchglen, Oregon. Credit: (c) Roberta Guarino
Ranch Manager Stacy Davies (L) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Assistant Director of Endangered Species, Bryan Arroyo on Roaring Springs Ranch in Frenchglen, Oregon. Credit: (c) Roberta Guarino

August 21, 2008
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Assistant Director for Endangered Species, Bryan Arroyo and Stacy Davies, manager of the Roaring Springs Ranch in Frenchglen, Oregon, recently traded jobs for a week as part of the “Walk a Mile in My Boots” exchange program. This innovative program was established in 2003 between the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation to give Service employees and ranchers a better understanding of and mutual appreciation for each other's roles and responsibilities.

Service Grants Aid Imperiled International Wildlife

Participants in a workshop on the importance of Caribbean wetlands learn to identify birds on the island of Carriacou. Credit: Lisa Sorrenson - Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds
Participants in a workshop on the importance of Caribbean wetlands learn to identify birds on the island of Carriacou. Credit: Lisa Sorrenson - Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds

August 19, 2008
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is awarding more than $337,681 in international conservation grants under the Marine Turtle Conservation Fund to aid recovery of endangered sea turtles in six countries and provide training for natural resource managers in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Service Announces New Tool for Endangered Species Conservation

Golden-cheeked warbler. Credit: Steve Maslowski/USFWS

July 31, 2008
The Service has developed the final guidance for an innovative new tool designed to help federal agencies conserve imperiled species on non-federal lands. The Recovery Crediting System will give federal agencies greater flexibility to offset impacts to threatened and endangered species caused by their actions by undertaking conservation efforts on non-federal lands, with the requirement that there is a net benefit to recovery of the species impacted.

If you wish to inquire on previous stories, contact malcomb_barsella@fws.gov.
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Last updated: September 15, 2008
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