Contacts
Nicholas Throckmorton, 202/208-5636
Nicholas_Throckmorton@fws.gov
The Migratory
Bird Conservation Commission approved the acquisition of more
than 4,660 acres of important migratory bird habitat in Idaho,
Maine, Michigan, Texas and Utah for the National Wildlife
Refuge System at its June meeting in Washington,
D.C.
The
Cabinet-level commission, chaired by Interior Secretary Gale
Norton, approved Migratory Bird Conservation funds of more
than $4.5 million to acquire the land. All acquisitions had
been previously approved by the affected states.
“Sportsmen and
women have contributed a great deal to the development of the
National Wildlife Refuge System,” said Interior Secretary Gale
Norton. “Money
raised by the sale of Federal Duck Stamps pays for these land
acquisitions.
Since the first Duck Stamp sale in 1934, about $675
million has been raised to purchase more than 5 million acres
of wetlands for the refuge system.”
New National
Wildlife Refuge System acquisitions approved by the
Conservation Commission are:
Michigan: Acquisition of 153
acres of habitat for migratory waterfowl within the boundaries
of Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge in Monroe
County.
Idaho:
Acquisition of 760 acres of wetland habitat within the
boundaries of Grays Lake NWR in Bonneville
County.
Texas:
Acquisition of 1,344 acres to provide habitat for migrating
and wintering waterfowl within the boundaries of San Bernard
NWR in Brazoria County.
Texas:
Acquisition of 2,285 acres to preserve wetland habitat at
Trinity River NWR in Liberty County.
Utah:
Acquisition of 105 acres to provide habitat for migratory
waterfowl within the boundary of Bear River NWR in Box Elder
County.
Maine:
Acquisition of 18 acres to protect habitat for wintering
waterfowl within the boundary of Moosehorn NWR in Washington
County.
The Migratory
Bird Conservation Act of 1929 established the Migratory Bird
Conservation Commission to approve land to be purchased for
the National Wildlife Refuge System with monies from the
Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. The fund is supported by
revenue collected from Federal Duck Stamp sales, import duties
collected on arms and ammunition, right-of-way payments to the
refuge system, and receipts from national wildlife refuge
entry fees.
The Commission
also accepted recommendations from the North American Wetlands
Conservation Council and approved the protection or
restoration of more than 1.6 million acres of wetlands. A total of $17 million
was authorized under the North American Wetlands Conservation
Act, which will be matched by nearly $33 million in partner
funds to restore habitat in Canada.
“President
Bush’s support for wetlands conservation was clearly evident
last December when he signed into law the re-authorization of
the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, renewing his
commitment and increasing the authorization for this
outstanding program,” said Norton.
The Commission
meets three times a year to approve funding proposals.
Permanent Commission members are Interior Secretary Norton,
Senators Thad Cochran and John Breaux; Representatives John
Dingell and Curt Weldon; Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman;
and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine
Todd Whitman.
The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency
responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish,
wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing
benefit of the American people. The Service manages the
95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which
encompasses 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small
wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates
69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices and
81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces
federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act,
manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally
significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat
such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their
conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid
program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in
excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish
and wildlife agencies.
-fws-
For more
information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service,
visit our homepage
at http://www.fws.gov
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