Maintaining Ongoing Refuge Programs and Commitments
in an Era of Tight Budgets

The Willamette Valley Refuges are critical areas supporting regional U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service priority species, including dusky Canada geese, other geese, migratory waterfowl, waterbirds, and many listed species. The Refuges provide some of the only publicly open, wildlife-oriented lands in the Willamette Valley and are increasingly used for recreation and recharge by a growing human population. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 1 Workforce Plan completed in 2006 identified these refuges as “focus refuges”. Focus refuges receive a higher priority for funding and staff than non-focus refuges.

Currently the staff of Willamette Valley National Wildlife Refuge Complex consists of 15 permanent positions, but previous planning efforts have identified this Complex as needing three additional permanent staff. These positions remain unfilled and funding and staffing for these refuges remain a concern.

Habitat and public use programs have intensified over the last fifteen years requiring more intensive maintenance and increased commitments of labor and staff. Insufficient maintenance funds over the last few years has resulted in more frequent equipment breakdowns, buildings not being repaired, structures not being replaced, restrooms being closed and roads/trails showing signs of disrepair.

Key questions to be addressed in the CCP:
As future public demands for use of refuge lands and facilities increases, will present funding and staff be adequate to meet wildlife-dependent public use commitments? As more environmental issues and demands arise in the Willamette Valley, will present funding and staff be adequate to fulfill Refuge purposes and meet the mandate to maintain biological integrity? How will we resolve the shortfall in maintenance funding for buildings, facilities and equipment?