The Driftless Area Restoration Effort (DARE), received $220,000 through the National Fish Habitat Action Plan for 2007 stream restoration/enhancement projects. The partnership is focusing on improving habitat in coldwater/coolwater and warmwater streams and rivers in targeted watersheds for fish and other aquatic communities.

Despite a Continuing Resolution in FY07, ~$3 million was made available through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help support the National Fish Habitat Action Plan program.

Approximately $1.76 million was allocated to five regional partnerships in FY07 to fund on-the-ground projects. Operational funds received by the DARE partnership will be used to implement riparian and in-stream habitat projects and support the planning and coordination of the partnership.

Priority projects were entered into the Service’s Fisheries Operational Needs database (FONS) by the La Crosse National Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office and submitted to the National Fish Habitat Action Plan Board and Director of the USFWS for final approval.

Nine of eighteen projects from Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin were approved for NFHAP funding.  These projects were funded based on how well they met certain criteria. Project selection criteria included:

·         Shows demonstrable ecological benefits to partnership priority species.

·         Exhibits permanence of fish habitat benefits

·         Reduces habitat loss/fragmentation

·         Demonstrates addressing root cause of the problem

·         Demonstrates stream and watershed level planning

·         Probability of completion within a 2- year timeframe

·         Includes adequate pre-post project monitoring component to evaluate project success

·         Generates the maximum in matching funds and cost-sharing contributions

·         Makes use of the most current scientific knowledge and proven technology

·         Communicates Outreach/Education

The Service will be working with project partners to update a recently developed restoration database by Trout Unlimited and communicate project progress to the National Fish Habitat Board.