Fish and Aquatic Conservation
We work to conserve America's aquatic resources for present and future generations. (Photo: Larry Jernigan/USFWS)
We work with our partners and engage the public, using a science-based approach,
to conserve, restore
and enhance fish and other aquatic resources for the
continuing benefit of the American people.
Recent News
Fort McCoy natural resources personnel earn USFWS Military Conservation Partner Award
By Scott Sturkol | March 19, 2019
The Fort McCoy Directorate of Public Works Environmental Division Natural Resources Branch was recently awarded the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Military Conservation Partner Award.
"On behalf of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), I congratulate you on your selection as the recipient of our 15th annual Military Conservation Partnership Award," wrote Assistant USFWS Director for Fish and Aquatic Conservation David Hoskins in a letter to Fort McCoy's senior commander, 88th Readiness Division Commanding General Maj. Gen. Jody J. Daniels announcing the award.
Sacramento River juvenile salmon from Coleman Hatchery released in first year of three-year study
On Saturday, April 13, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a total of 360,000 juvenile fall Chinook salmon on the Sacramento River in an three-year study aimed at increasing their survival on their long journey to the ocean.
The service released 180,000 marked juvenile salmon into the Sacramento River at Scotty's Landing near Chico, 75 miles downstream of where they were born, in the pilot project focusing on increasing the contribution of the Coleman National Fish Hatchery to California’s salmon fishery.
Forestry Technician; JoAnn Wise, Budget Administrator; Pam Sponholtz, Project Leader;
Dustin Casady, Fish and Wildlife Biologist; Max Canestorp, retired; Clark Jones,
Wildlife Biologist; Brian Mihlbachler, Environmental Scientist. Not pictured: Joe Murphy,
Alex Schubert, Laura Mendenhall, Cole Brittain, and Chris Kennedy.
Colorado FWCO Recognized for 15 Years of Successful Military Partnerships
For decades, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Colorado Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office (COFWCO) has partnered with the Department of Defense to embed biologists, foresters, etc. on installations to manage natural resources within the parameters of mission support. As part of this partnership, COFWCO staff bring a unique perspective to protection and management of federally listed species and migratory birds, and are able to facilitate relative communications between the installations and Service regulators.
COFWCO maintains an agreement with Colorado State University through the Cooperative Ecosystem Units program. This agreement also allows the COFWCO to partner with the Center for Environmental Management on Military Lands (CEMML) and the Colorado Natural Heritage Program. Through this relationship, CEMML undertook the feasibility study on the placement of Conservation Law Enforcement Officers on multiple Air Force installations along the Front Range. CEMML also worked with Buckley Air Force Base to establish a wildlife exclusion fence around their airfield, and with the Air Force Academy to fence off aspen regeneration plots and manage stream restoration projects.
At the annual meeting in March 2019, the COFWCO received the Natural Resources Conservation Communication, Conservation Partnership award from the National Military Fish and Wildlife Association. This award is intended to recognize those who develop fruitful partnerships benefiting natural resource conservation on military installations in support of the military mission.