Although they may not realize it, these volunteers are also contributing to another locally lesser-known, but major Service program, the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. The Plan is an international agreement among Canada, the U.S., and Mexico whose goal is to rebuild the populations of canvasbacks and other waterfowl and migratory birds by protecting and restoring their habitat.
"The Chesapeake Bay Coastal Ecosystem Program is a classic example of how one Service program benefits another," according to Mollie Beattie, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Looking at just one line in the budget doesnt tell the full story of the resources the Service commits to the North American Plan or to any single program. Everything we do is connected. What we do for water quality or endangered species also benefits ducks, and vice versa."
On the West Coast, another coastal initiative has breathed life into the North American Plans Pacific Coast Joint Venture. Seven joint venture projects recently received $2.7 million in grants from the Services National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Program to acquire and restore 3,000 acres of wetland habitat in California, Oregon, and Washington. One area to be acquired, 274 acres on the north coast of Grays Harbor, Washington, also provides habitat for one of the largest wintering populations of canvasbacks on the northwest coast. It has been nominated as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network site.
And last March, the Pacific Coast Joint Venture received its first grant from the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund to launch a major "First Step" project in North Puget Sound. The
$1.1 million grant to Washington State, matched by $1.8 million from joint venture partners, will protect and restore a rich diversity of habitat.
"One of the great features of the North American Plan is the partnership dollars it attracts," Director Beattie said. "It is a magnet for non government money and has a multiplier effect of two to three times the federal investment."
The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex is one of the more successful practitioners of leveraging its funds with challenge grants, or matching funds. "In any given year," Refuge Manager Gary Kramer said, "our refuge budget of $1.5 million will be increased by $50,000 to $500,000 in challenge grants and "private lands" money. This enables us to do more waterfowl habitat management on the refuge. In addition, we have two full time employees who work directly with landowners. They provide technical advice and assistance to hunt clubs, rice growers, and others to help them improve and maintain wildlife habitat throughout the year."
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://midwest.fws.gov
