Planning Meeting Scheduled to Explore the Establishment of a Refuge Support Group for Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge

Contacts:
Steve Miller, (256) 848-7085

In response to numerous requests from members of the local community, a public meeting has been scheduled for January 17, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at the West Blocton High School in Bibb County to explore the formation of a Refuge Support (Friends) Group for Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. The President of Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Association will provide information on their Refuge Friends Group’s efforts at Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge and the benefits of the Refuge Friends Group to the refuge and local communities.

A Refuge Friends Group is a grassroots, private, and independent organization formed by citizens who have a shared vision of supporting their local National Wildlife Refuge. The groups are diverse, with each organization forming around the needs of their local refuge. Groups act as an advocate for a local refuge and the National Wildlife Refuge System through a formal non-profit organization designed to support the mission of a refuge.

You may request additional information via email cahabariver@fws.gov. You may also call Refuge Manager Steve Miller at (256) 848-7085.

Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge was established May 13, 2002. The refuge is currently acquiring properties within the approved 3,840 acre acquisition boundary of the refuge from willing sellers. The refuge has acquired approximately 3,500 acres to-date along a 3-mile section of the Cahaba River. The refuge is currently open for wildlife dependent public use but remains unstaffed and unfunded.

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 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 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 that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.