Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne announced on Friday, March 21, 2008, more than $360 thousand in grants will go to 3 Native American projects in the states of Maine and Rhode Island to fund important conservation projects. The grants are part of $6.2 million awarded to 38 Native American projects in 18 states to fund a wide range of conservation projects nationwide.

“Tribal Wildlife Grants are much more than a fiscal resource for tribes. The projects and partnerships supported by this program have enhanced our commitment to Native Americans and to the United States’ shared wildlife resources,” Kempthorne said.

John Sewell (left) and Clayton Socabasin, of the Passamaquoddy Tribe—Indian Township Reservation, collect data on fish populations in a previously–funded Tribal Wildlife Grant project. Credit: DJ Monette/USFWS

The Aroostook Band of Micmacs in Maine will receive nearly $49 thousand for a wildlife habitat enhancement project. The project will improve wildlife habitat and species diversity on Tribal trust lands by planting wild and cultivated apple, and high-bush cranberry that provide extremely valuable food and habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including game and song birds, deer, moose, bear, and a wide variety of other small mammals such as raccoons, squirrels, mice, and shrews.

Also of Maine, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians will received more than $114 thousand to study the aquatic habitat of the Meduxnekeag Watershed. The aquatic habitat study consists of two projects: 1) a comprehensive fluvial geomorphology assessment, and, 2) a detailed culvert/stream crossings assessment of the Meduxnekeag River Watershed. The study is Phase I of a planned aquatic habitat restoration program. Its implementation will result in restoration design alternatives for three priority river reaches and mitigation designs for ten priority culverts/stream crossings.

In Rhode Island, the Narragansett Indian Tribe will receive nearly $200 thousand for an Indian Cedar Swamp Brook riparian and wetland restoration project. The project will restore approximately 7 acres of important riparian and floodplain wetland habitat of Indian Cedar Swamp Brook on Tribal lands in Charlestown, Rhode Island. Indian Cedar Swamp Brook is a first order headwater stream draining Indian Cedar Swamp.

More than $34 million has gone to Native American tribes through Tribal Wildlife Grants program in the past six years, providing funding for 175 conservation projects administered by 133 participating Federally-recognized tribes. The grants provide technical and financial assistance for the development and implementation of efforts that benefit fish and wildlife resources and their habitat, including species that are not hunted or fished.

Hollis White holds a snapping turtle, a significant species to the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe studied in a previously– funded project. Credit: DJ Monette/ USFWS

“The Tribal Wildlife Grants Program has helped the Service collaborate more effectively with Native American tribes in conserving and restoring the vast diversity of fish and wildlife habitat that they manage,” added the Interior Department’s Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife Parks Lyle Laverty.

The grants have enabled tribes to develop increased management capacity, improve and enhance relationships with partners including State agencies, address cultural and environmental priorities, and heighten interest of tribal students in fisheries, wildlife and related fields of study. Some grants have been awarded to enhance recovery efforts for threatened and endangered species.

The grants are provided exclusively to Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments and are made possible under the Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2002, and through a component of the State Wildlife Grant program.

During the current grant cycle, tribes submitted a total of 110 proposals that were scored by panels in each Service Region using uniform ranking criteria. A national panel recommended 38 proposals for funding.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American People. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professional and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Web site

— FWS —