WSFR staff toured two Landowner Incentive Program grant properties south of Winslow, Arizona.  Both landowners are removing encroaching junipers to restore the grasslands for antelope and grassland birds.

Staff conducted monitoring site visits to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish's Bert Clancy Fish and Wildlife Area in San Miguel County, Edward Sargent Wildlife Management Area in Rio Arriba County, and Bernardo Waterfowl Management Area in Socorro County.  All of the sites are operated and maintained using Wildlife Restoration Program funds.

WSFR staff conducted a field review of Oklahoma's State Fish Hatchery Grant by visiting the new hatchery/region fisheries office at the Holdenville State Fish Hatchery near Holdenville, Oklahoma.

WSFR staff completed a site visit to Athens, Texas, to monitor the Athens State Fish Hatchery grant and represent WSFR Program at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center and the opening of the new education building.

During the week of April 30, staff from WSFR, Diversity and Civil Rights, and Engineering participated in an on-site civil rights review of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC). The review assessed ODWC=s adherence to Federal civil rights laws including: Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  In order to be eligible for Federal Assistance programs, grantees and subgrantees must demonstrate compliance with civil rights laws.

WSFR staff completed site visits to Rock Lake, Los Ojos, and Seven Springs state fish hatcheries in New Mexico.  Construction of warmwater rearing ponds is progressing at Rock Lake, with construction approximately 80 to 90 percent complete.  Construction is taking longer than anticipated due to wet weather conditions and the fact that not all of the completed construction meets the plans and specifications provided by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, and therefore must be reconstructed to meet specifications.  Los Ojos State Fish Hatchery is currently not producing trout in order for the staff to protect the spring water supply from contamination of whirling disease, and to sterilize and cover the production and brood raceways, again to prevent contamination of whirling disease.  Currently, the raceway covers are being designed by a qualified engineer. At the Seven Springs State Fish Hatchery Rio Grande cutthroat trout are being raised and spawned for recovery and restoration purposes.  Both hatchery and wild spawned fish are being cultured at this hatchery.

Staff met with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish staff to review and discuss the Aquatic Education Program (F-57-E) and the use of in-kind volunteer hours and other donations the Department receives through third parties.   

Staff met with Arizona Game and Fish Department personnel in Phoenix to review progress in preparing a Section 7 Biological Evaluation regarding stocking of sport fish in waters of Arizona using Sport Fish Restoration grant funds.