U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE ANNOUNCES $6 MILLION GRANT TO HELP PURCHASE WILDLIFE HABITAT IN UTAH

Washington County, Utah will receive a grant of more than $6 million to purchase desert tortoise habitat, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today. The grant is part of a larger package providing $68 million in grants to10 states to help acquire vital habitat for threatened and endangered species ranging from loggerhead turtles in Florida to imperiled songbirds in Texas.

The $6,063,750 Washington County grant would be used to purchase three identified properties for the threatened desert tortoise. The Utah Department of Wildlife Resources, Washington County Water Conservation District, Washington County and private organizations are providing the matching funds to complete the purchase.

The funds, distributed as part of the Service