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ExpectMore.govExpectMore.gov home pageEXPECT FEDERAL PROGRAMS TO PERFORM WELL, AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.
 
Program Assessment

Program

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Fish and Wildlife Service - National Wildlife Refuge System

The National Wildlife Refuge System is the nation's largest system of land and waters with the primary purpose of conserving wildlife and habitat. Other uses compatible with conservation (such as hunting and fishing) are permitted. Currently there are 547 wildlife refuges covering more than 96 million acres.

Rating

What This Rating Means

PERFORMING
Adequate

This rating describes a program that needs to set more ambitious goals, achieve better results, improve accountability or strengthen its management practices.
  • The NWRS developed a five-year strategic plan for the program. It includes long-term outcome measures to help guide the program's success. The long-term, outcome performance measures focus on the conservation and management of land and water habitats, migratory birds, threatened and endangered species, inter-jurisdictional fish, as well as the use of the refuges. Some baseline data is needed.
  • An independent evaluation of the program is nearing completion. This is a positive step but the Refuge System needs to establish a system to ensure independent evaluations are conducted on a regular basis.
  • The program systems are generally set up to hold managers and partners accountable for cost, schedule, and performance results. It is difficult, however, to ensure that managers and partners are being held accountable for achieving performance results. Efforts to improve this transparency are necessary to ensure results are achieved.

Improvement Plan

About Improvement Plans

We are taking the following actions to improve the performance of the program:

  • Developing baselines and targets for new performance goals.
  • Establishing a system for regularly scheduled independent evaluations.
  • Improving performance plan linkage to goals and performance assessments to results. Also, improving systems to require, track and certify that partner cost, schedule, and performance goals are met.

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