The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is distributing $1 billion to state wildlife agencies through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. Generated by the hunting and angling industry, these funds support regional conservation projects across the country. The 2021 WSFR apportionment is $121 million higher than the 2020 apportionment due to increases in firearm, fishing equipment and motorboat fuel revenues.
In the California-Great Basin Region, the Service will deliver more than $41 million to California and more than $18 million to Nevada.
“The WSFR program and its partnerships with the states and industry are critical to realizing healthy, diverse fish and wildlife populations in our region,” said Service California Great-Basin Regional Director Paul Souza. “WSFR grants also fund recruitment, retention and reactivation efforts – encouraging even more Californians and Nevadans to participate in outdoor recreation, ultimately supporting more fish and wildlife conservation for current and future generations.”
Rooted in the Pittman–Robertson Act of 1937, the Dingell–Johnson Act of 1950, and the Wallop–Breaux Amendment of 1984, the WSFR program establishes a conservation partnership among state wildlife agencies, the outdoor industry and the Service. When hunters, anglers and boaters purchase equipment and fuel, the manufacturers, producers and importers of those goods pay into the Wildlife Restoration, Sport Fish Restoration and Boating trust funds. These funds are distributed by the Service to ensure wildlife agencies in all states, commonwealths and territories receive support.
“The Service shares the conservation priorities of the states: keeping our fish and wildlife populations healthy and creating opportunities for outdoor recreation,” said Larry Riley, manager for the WSFR Program in the California-Great Basin Region. “We recognize that our state fish and wildlife agencies are so important to enact local and regional conservation and recreation opportunities, and we are pleased to support them in implementing their mission.”
The WSFR Program in the California-Great Basin Region processes more than 100 grant applications for funding under the apportionment in California and Nevada each year.
State wildlife agencies dedicate WSFR funds to a variety of conservation projects and programs. Since WSFR’s inception, $20 billion has been allocated to hunting and fishing education, fish and wildlife management, scientific research, habitat restoration and protection, land and water rights acquisition, and hunting and boating access.
State-by-state listings of the Service’s final apportionments for Fiscal Year 2021 can be found here and here. For more information about the WSFR program visit http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information about our work and the people who make it happen, visit https://www.fws.gov/cno/ or connect with us via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.
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