In November 2007, the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program awarded six grants to State fish and wildlife agencies for a total of $537,964.  WSFR Program administers Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration, Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration, State Wildlife, Landowner Incentive Program, Boating Infrastructure, and the Clean Vessel Act grants.  Grant specialist and fiscal staff also provide administrative support for grants awarded under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act, the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act, the Tribal Landowner Incentive Program and the Tribal Wildlife Grant program.  In Region 2, the States receive over $85 million in grants annually for resource conservation and management and to promote outdoor recreation.  More information on state projects is available at the WSFR Program webpage:  http://www.fws.gov/southwest (click on Federal Assistance)

Region 2 WSFR Program hosted the national strategic planning writing team of the Joint Federal/State Task Force.  The team is composed of Service representatives from the WSFR Program and representatives of State fish and wildlife agency personnel.  The team made significant progress in drafting both WSFR Program strategic and operational plans.

WSFR Program staff represented the Service at the sinking of the 473-foot USTS Texas Clipper which now will become an artificial reef.  The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) began this project in 1999 with partial funding from a Sport Fish Restoration grant (TX W-117-D). The sunken ship, which lies 17 miles off of South Padre Island, will become the site of several scientific monitoring programs, including studies of biological growth on the hull and superstructure and the rates of metallic corrosion in Gulf waters.  The Clipper will also become a valuable complex habitat for fish and other marine organisms and an attraction for fishermen and recreational divers

WSFR Program staff conducted a site visit to the TPWD Coastal Conservation Association (CCA)/Central Power and Light Company (CPL) Marine Development Center in Corpus Christi. TPWD partially supports the operation of the facility using Sport Fish Restoration grant funds. The Center is a production hatchery for red drum and spotted sea trout as well as a research facility.  The Center also conducts an active educational and outreach program with the local community.  During the site visit, the Center hosted an educational outreach activity for 150 high school students.