Digest of Federal Resource Laws of Interest to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act

• conduct a study by October 1, 1994, of the status of, and the assessment, management, and restoration needs of, the fishery resources of the basin;

• invite the Secretary of the Army, the affected State directors, Indian tribes, the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Canadian government entities, and others to enter into an MOU regarding the scope and focus of the study and the responsibilities of those choosing to participate;

• establish a Great Lakes Coordination Office to coordinate all Service activities in the basin;

• establish a Lower Lakes Fishery Resources Office to carry out Service operational activities related to fishery resources in the lower Great Lakes;

• establish one or more "Upper Great Lakes Fishery Resource Office(s)" to carry out Service Operational activities related to fishery resources in the upper Great Lakes; and

• within one year of enactment and annually thereafter, submit reports to Congress discussing the progress and results of the study, recommending implementation activities, and describing activities taken to accomplish the goals established in the Act.

The legislative history includes: H.R. 4299; House Report 101-748; pages H8489-92 of the October 1, 1990, Congressional Record; and page S16618 from the October 24, 1990, Congressional Record.

Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1998, Public Law 105-265, October 19, 1998, reauthorizes the 1990 law. It recognizes the 32 recommendations in the 1995 Great Lakes Fishery Resources Restoration Study and moves the law from study to action. The law:

• shifts emphasis from study of species and habitat restoration needs to implementation of restoration projects emphasizing the 32 study recommendations;

• authorizes $3.5 million for each fiscal year through 2004 for activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Great Lakes Coordination and Fishery Resources Offices;

• establishes a Committee to recommend projects for funding to the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service;

• authorizes $4.5 million for each fiscal year through 2004 to fund restoration projects recommended by the Committee. Projects require a 25% non-federal match.

The law recognizes the successful partnerships in the Great Lakes region and provides the process for achieving on-the-ground restoration activities to benefit fish, wildlife and plants in the Great Lakes.

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