The purpose of this exhibit is to help Service staff decide if certain types of activities proposed under the State Wildlife Grants Mandatory subprogram (Program) are eligible for funding. The examples below are not comprehensive.
1. Example of mitigation eligible for Program funds:
The State fish and wildlife agency wants to convert a small wetland to a habitat type that is a higher priority under its State Plan. If the original activities and associated mitigating actions meet priorities in the State Plan, the State may use Program funds to mitigate for the loss of wetland habitat. When performing mitigation using Program funds, the State fish and wildlife agency may:
(a) Increase existing wetland value or habitat on another site, or
(b) Protect additional wetland habitat.
Why is this eligible? Both options for mitigation are eligible for funding because the habitat conversion met a priority conservation action in the Plan and mitigation will address an action that the Program funded.
2. Example of mitigation eligible for Program funds:
The State fish and wildlife agency wants to restore habitat for a high-priority species with greatest conservation need using Program funds. The restoration would decrease the habitat available to an endangered species that is in the State Plan but has a stable population compared to populations in other parts of its range. The State must mitigate for the lost habitat, so it proposes a new Program-funded project that would create habitat for this endangered species in an area near the original project.
Why is this eligible? The mitigation is eligible for funding because the restoration met a priority conservation action in the Plan and the mitigation will address an action that the Program funded.
3. Example of mitigation ineligible for Program funds:
A highway passes through a wetland that the State fish and wildlife agency purchased with Program funds. The State’s highway department wants to make the highway safer by raising the height of the road surface and increasing the width of the highway base. This action would result in a loss of wetland habitat that the State fish and wildlife agency acquired with Program funds. Although the Federal and State permits for this highway improvement would require mitigation for the wetland loss, the State fish and wildlife agency may not use Program funds for the mitigation.
Why is this ineligible? Mitigation is not eligible for Program funding because the land States acquire using Program funds must continue to meet the acquisition purpose(s), and the Program did not fund the highway improvement.
4. Example of an activity that enhances wildlife observation and is eligible for Program funds:
The State fish and wildlife agency wants to restore prairie habitat to benefit a species of greatest conservation need in an area where the State allows the public to access it on foot to observe wildlife.
Why is this eligible? WSFR may approve the use of Program funds for the restoration because its primary purpose is to benefit the species. Wildlife observation is a secondary use of the site, and the foot travel would not interfere with the purpose of the restoration.
5. Example of an activity that enhances wildlife observation, but is ineligible for Program funds:
The State fish and wildlife agency wants to build a trail around a marsh that attracts many waterfowl so that the public can observe the waterfowl.
Why is this ineligible? Although the design of the trail precludes disturbance of the waterfowl, WSFR may not approve the use of Program funds for the trail because its primary purpose is wildlife observation.