522 FW 8       Fish and Wildlife Population Management

8.2 Eligible/Ineligible Purposes.

A. Projects for fish and wildlife population management must have objectives related to one or more of the following purposes.

(1) Restoring or establishing fish or wildlife populations in suitable habitats.

(2) Maintaining or enhancing fish populations that have insufficient natural reproduction.

(3) Maintaining fish and wildlife populations at levels consistent with habitat conditions or other limiting factors.

(4) Providing sport fishing opportunities by propagation and/or release of catchable sized fish; i.e., "put and take" fishing.

B. The following purposes or activities are not eligible.

(1) Propagation and/or release of wildlife for hunting of those individual animals released.

(2) Activities directed to the welfare of individual animals such as caring for injured animals or removal of nuisance animals. (Caring for individual animals of endangered or threatened species may be eligible.)

(3) Payment for damages caused by wildlife.

(4) Predator control except when necessary for the restoration or establishment of wildlife populations.

8.3 Documentation of Proposals. The project statement for fish and wildlife management projects should include the following information.

A. Need. State why the subject populations are being managed. This may be an objective for the species or population or the need in terms of overcoming a shortage of angling, hunting, or other fish and wildlife associated opportunities.

B. Objective. Describe what is to be accomplished for or with the target population to meet the need. For example:

To stock Fish Lake annually by June 10 with 20,000 catchable rainbow trout to provide for urban fishing in Arlington County.

To establish a population of at least 5 resident breeding river otters in the Blue River watershed by 1995.

To reestablish a channel catfish and rainbow trout fishery in Fish Lake by October 1995.

C. Expected Results or Benefits. Identify, and to the extent feasible quantify, the resource or public benefits to be realized as a result of this project. For example:

The annual stocking of Fish Lake is expected to provide 10,000 recreation angler days and a harvest rate of 0.75 fish/day.

The restoration of the river otter as a functional part of the Blue River ecosystem and the enhancement of public recreational opportunities.

The reclamation of Fish Lake will reestablish a catch rate for rainbow trout above .50 fish per hour and angling pressure of 60,000 angler-days per year.

D. Approach. Describe how the work will be conducted. Identify species and numbers to be stocked or transplanted, schedules, methods for protecting the animals released, etc.

E. Location. Identify where the work will be done.

F. Estimated Cost. Provide the estimated cost, by year, for completion of the objective.

8.4 Documentation to Support the Grant Proposal. General information on documentation to support the Grant Proposal is contained in 522 FW 1.4. Provide, with the Grant Proposal, information needed by the Regional Director to determine whether the intended use of the land will have a significant impact on the environment. Additional information on National Environmental Policy Act requirements is contained in Part 523, Federal Aid Compliance Requirements.

8.5 Documentation to Support the Grant Agreement. Provide a schedule showing the species, numbers and locations of fish or wildlife to be stocked or transplanted. (See 522 FW 1.7 for general information on documentation to support the Grant Agreement.)

8.6 Costs. General requirements related to allowable costs are in 43 CFR 12.62 and 522 FW 1.11. If stocked fish will provide significant non-sport fishing benefits, costs for the stocked fish must be allocated between the sport and non-sport fishing programs. Federal Aid participation is limited to the costs of stocking fish necessary to meet sport fish objectives.

8.7 Special Conditions. The following conditions are specifically applicable to fish and wildlife population management activities.

A. The areas into which a species is introduced should be under control of the State fish and wildlife agency for a period sufficient to establish the species. Control may be achieved by written agreement with the landowner which contains specific mention of the species to be introduced.

B. The introduction of exotic species is subject to Executive Order ll987, Exotic Organisms, which requires the State to obtain a favorable biological opinion issued by the Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service.

C. The proposed activities will not jeopardize a federally-listed threatened or endangered species or their critical habitat.

8.8 Performance Reports. Within 90 days after the end of the Grant Agreement period, the State must submit a performance report on each project (See 522 FW 1.22). The performance report must contain the following information for each project.

A. A comparison of the actual accomplishments through the end of the segment period relative to the objective in the project statement. This should provide information on how the project is progressing towards accomplishment of the stated objective. Explain the reason for any differences.

B. A summary of work completed during the grant agreement period. The report should include, as appropriate, species, numbers (by sex, age, proven pairs, etc. when significant to project success) and locations of fish and wildlife stocked/translocated.

C. The costs incurred during the Grant Agreement period.