What We Do

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) plays a vital role in conserving America’s natural resources by engaging public and private partners in conservation planning and delivery, and in the review of major development proposals.

We work collaboratively with other federal agencies, industries, stakeholders, as well as state and local governments, on development projects that accommodate bout our country’s infrastructure needs, and preserve our nation’s biological, terrestrial, and aquatic natural resources.

Today, there are 250 dedicated biologists in nearly 100 field offices across the country who work on the most pressing issues affecting our fish and wildlife. Our biologists provide technical information, analyze fish and wildlife impacts, serve as members of planning teams and recommend measures to benefit fish and wildlife resources across the landscape.

We recommend early consultation by project proponents and agencies to identify and recommend ways to avoid potential resource conflicts. We also provide technical assistance on how to minimize unavoidable impacts to wildlife and their habitats through appropriate project siting, design, construction, and operation.

Service biologists also provide information about species that may be affected by proposed development, sensitive or rare habitat in the area and sampling and monitoring protocols. If necessary, our biologists help develop compensatory mitigation plans and strategies.

Our goal is to implement innovative solutions to meet development needs, while maintaining ecosystem integrity and protecting fish and wildlife habitat.

Our Projects and Research

Silky smooth deep blue water surrounded by green trees and vegetation. The trees and vegetation are reflected on the water.
Wetland and Aquatic Resource Conservation

Access to clean water is critical for people, fish, wildlife, and plants. Wetlands, also known as marshes, swamps, wet meadows, and bottom-land hardwood forests, filter contaminants and provide clean water. They also protect communities and farms from floods and coastal storm surges; recharge...

Project
Habitat management
Population enhancement
Wind farm in sand dunes with mountain range in background.
Energy Development

Federal and state policies on global climate change, economic recovery, and national energy security drive the development of a variety of domestic energy sources. Energy resource development is increasing, including traditional energy sources such as oil, gas and coal, and renewable sources...

Project
Habitat management
Population enhancement
View of a two-lane highway cutting through Alaskan wilderness.
Transportation Planning

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) recognizes the critical role of transportation in the economic and ecological well-being of human communities. Transportation projects influence the character of a region by the number of people and amount of goods and services it transports....

Project
Habitat management
Population enhancement
Water flows through narrow gorge with moss-covered rock in the foreground.
Water Resource Development

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) biologists work closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, and state agencies to help develop federal water resource projects (e.g., dams, harbor development, flood control, and water storage projects) that meet...

Project
Habitat management
Population enhancement
Resilience and risk mitigation

Our Laws and Regulations

National Environmental Policy Act

The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 is one of the first and most significant pieces of environmental legislation enacted in the United States. The law provides the basic national charter for protection of the environment, and it is intended to ensure that information regarding environmental effects of an agency's development proposal and alternative actions are available to inform agency decision makers and the public.

The Service provides information for use in NEPA documents, and reviews and provides comments on these documents. Through this process, we seek to ensure that impacts to plant and animal resources are adequately described and necessary mitigation is provided. Our goal is to make better environmental decisions in a cost and time-efficient manner to further our mission to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

Endangered Species Act

The Endangered Species Act establishes protections for fish, wildlife, and plants that are listed as threatened or endangered; provides for adding species to and removing them from the list of threatened and endangered species, and for preparing and implementing plans for their recovery;...

Laws, Agreements & Treaties
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act)

Section 404 (m) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act) authorizes the Service to comment on permit applications submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the discharge of dredged or fill material into navigable waters of the United States. Section 208(i) authorizes...

Laws, Agreements & Treaties
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act

The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act directs the Service to investigate and report on proposed Federal actions that affect any stream or other body of water and to provide recommendations to minimize impacts on fish and wildlife resources.

Laws, Agreements & Treaties
Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 U.S.C. 703-712) implements four international conservation treaties that the U.S. entered into with Canada in 1916, Mexico in 1936, Japan in 1972, and Russia in 1976. It is intended to ensure the sustainability of populations of all protected migratory...

Laws, Agreements & Treaties