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LAST EDITED ON Mar-13-09 AT 10:39AM (MST)[p]another anti gun, anti hunter, screw the outdoorsman, socialistic bill from the left winger in the whithouse . . .
Secretary Salazar Announces $26 Million for Wetlands Grants, Nearly $12
Million for Refuge Acquisitions Benefiting Migratory Waterfowl
Montana Project to Receive Funding
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Migratory
Bird Conservation Commission has approved more than $26 million in
funding to protect and restore more than 200,000 acres of wetland areas
and wildlife habitat in the U.S. and Mexico under the North American
Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The commission, which is chaired by
Secretary Salazar, also approved $11.5 million to protect more than
3,500 wetland acres on seven units of the National Wildlife Refuge
System.
The commission includes Senators Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Blanche
Lincoln of Arkansas, Representative John Dingell of Michigan, Secretary
of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, as well as state representatives serving
as ex officio members who vote on projects located within their
respective states.
"It is an honor to preside over a program that for nearly eight decades
has secured hundreds of thousands of acres of wetland habitat throughout
North America for migratory birds," Secretary Salazar said. "The
Migratory Bird Conservation Commission is about common-sense
conservation, protecting wetlands critical to birds throughout their
nesting, wintering, and migratory ranges irrespective of state and
international borders that may intersect the flyways."
More than $24.2 million of NAWCA grant funds will support 25 projects
in 21 states and Puerto Rico, with partners contributing an additional
$60.6 million in matching funds to help protect, restore and enhance
almost 185,000 acres. Nearly $2 million for seven projects will help
protect 85,427 acres of habitat in Mexico, with partners contributing an
additional $3.5 million the projects. The grants were awarded under
NAWCA's U.S. Standard Grants and Mexico Grants Programs administered by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency of the Department of the
Interior. The grants are funded by annual Congressional appropriations;
fines, penalties and forfeitures levied under the Migratory Bird Treaty
Act; interest accrued on funds under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife
Restoration Act and excise taxes paid on small engine fuels through the
Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Fund.
The Glaciated Valleys of Northwest Montana Project will receive a $1
million grant, $2.8 million in matching funds, and $2.8 million in
non-matching funds as part of a multi-phase, landscape-scale effort to
protect wetlands and associated fish and wildlife habitat in
northwestern Montana. These areas, surrounding Flathead Lake, are known
for their bird diversity, importance to migratory waterfowl and
associated rivers, lakes, sloughs and ponds that attract many bird
species.
Within the project area, the Flathead and Mission valleys support one of
the highest levels of bird diversity in the lower 48 states. This
proposal aims to permanently protect 1,169 acres and restore, enhance
and temporarily protect an additional 986 acres of significant wetland
complexes and riparian areas that are highly important to threatened
species, species of special concern, migratory birds, other important
fish and wildlife resources, and outdoor recreation. The project area
still contains significant opportunities to protect wildlife habitat in
the face of rapid conversion to subdivisions.
Secretary Salazar Announces $26 Million for Wetlands Grants, Nearly $12
Million for Refuge Acquisitions Benefiting Migratory Waterfowl
Montana Project to Receive Funding
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Migratory
Bird Conservation Commission has approved more than $26 million in
funding to protect and restore more than 200,000 acres of wetland areas
and wildlife habitat in the U.S. and Mexico under the North American
Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). The commission, which is chaired by
Secretary Salazar, also approved $11.5 million to protect more than
3,500 wetland acres on seven units of the National Wildlife Refuge
System.
The commission includes Senators Thad Cochran of Mississippi and Blanche
Lincoln of Arkansas, Representative John Dingell of Michigan, Secretary
of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency
Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, as well as state representatives serving
as ex officio members who vote on projects located within their
respective states.
"It is an honor to preside over a program that for nearly eight decades
has secured hundreds of thousands of acres of wetland habitat throughout
North America for migratory birds," Secretary Salazar said. "The
Migratory Bird Conservation Commission is about common-sense
conservation, protecting wetlands critical to birds throughout their
nesting, wintering, and migratory ranges irrespective of state and
international borders that may intersect the flyways."
More than $24.2 million of NAWCA grant funds will support 25 projects
in 21 states and Puerto Rico, with partners contributing an additional
$60.6 million in matching funds to help protect, restore and enhance
almost 185,000 acres. Nearly $2 million for seven projects will help
protect 85,427 acres of habitat in Mexico, with partners contributing an
additional $3.5 million the projects. The grants were awarded under
NAWCA's U.S. Standard Grants and Mexico Grants Programs administered by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency of the Department of the
Interior. The grants are funded by annual Congressional appropriations;
fines, penalties and forfeitures levied under the Migratory Bird Treaty
Act; interest accrued on funds under the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife
Restoration Act and excise taxes paid on small engine fuels through the
Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Fund.
The Glaciated Valleys of Northwest Montana Project will receive a $1
million grant, $2.8 million in matching funds, and $2.8 million in
non-matching funds as part of a multi-phase, landscape-scale effort to
protect wetlands and associated fish and wildlife habitat in
northwestern Montana. These areas, surrounding Flathead Lake, are known
for their bird diversity, importance to migratory waterfowl and
associated rivers, lakes, sloughs and ponds that attract many bird
species.
Within the project area, the Flathead and Mission valleys support one of
the highest levels of bird diversity in the lower 48 states. This
proposal aims to permanently protect 1,169 acres and restore, enhance
and temporarily protect an additional 986 acres of significant wetland
complexes and riparian areas that are highly important to threatened
species, species of special concern, migratory birds, other important
fish and wildlife resources, and outdoor recreation. The project area
still contains significant opportunities to protect wildlife habitat in
the face of rapid conversion to subdivisions.