State Wildlife Agencies To Receive $741 Million

[nastygunz]

THIS LINK SHOWS HOW MUCH IS ALLOTTED TO EACH STATE IN 2009

http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/WSFRfinalApportionmentsFY09.pdf
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State Wildlife Agencies To Receive $741 Million 
2/23/2009


Fish and wildlife agencies across the United States will receive a share of $740.9 million dollars raised through excise taxes on the sale of sporting firearms, ammunition, archery equipment, sportfishing equipment, electric outboard motors, and fuel taxes attributable to motorboats and small engines.

The taxes, which go to fund fish and wildlife conservation, boater access to public waters, and hunter and aquatic education are raised as part of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration programs. Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced the amount to be distributed from the program just today.

"The funds raised under the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs have helped conserve our fish and wildlife resources and provide opportunities for outdoor recreation for more than half a century. These investments, which help create jobs while protecting our nation's natural treasures, are particularly important in these tough economic times," Salazar said in a statement. "All those who pay into this program – the hunting and fishing industries, boaters, hunters, anglers, and recreational shooters – should take pride in helping to conserve our land and its fish and wildlife and provide benefits to all Americans who cherish the natural world and outdoor recreation."

The Wildlife Restoration apportionment for 2009 totals nearly $336 million, with more than $64.7 million marked for hunter education and firearm and archery range programs. The Sport Fish Restoration apportionment for 2009 totals more than $404 million.

Pittman-Robertson Funding
Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act funding is available to states, commonwealths, and territories through a formula based on land area, including inland waters and the number of paid hunting license holders in each state, commonwealth and territory. State, commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies use the money to manage wildlife populations, conduct habitat research, acquire wildlife lands and public access, carry out surveys and inventories, administer hunter education and construct and maintain shooting ranges.

"State fish and wildlife agencies are proud to be funded by the hunting, fishing and boating community through this American system of conservation funding, which has been a successful model for many years," said Rex Amack, president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. "This year's record Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration apportionment is vital in order for state agencies to continue their work to sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations and provide opportunities for all to connect with nature."

More than 62 percent of Wildlife Restoration funds are used to buy, develop, maintain, and operate wildlife management areas. Since the program began, state, commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies have acquired 68 million acres through fee simple, leases, or easements, and operated and maintained more than 390 million acres for hunting since the program began. In addition, agencies certified over 9 million participants in hunter education.

"This source of conservation funding is important not only measured by its dollar amount, but also by legislative safeguards preventing its diversion away from state fish and wildlife agencies," said Rowan Gould, acting director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "For states working to ensure a future for fish and wildlife – and opportunities for people to enjoy them – precious few programs offer this level of support and reliability."

Numerous species including the wild turkey, white-tailed deer, pronghorn antelope, American elk and black bears have increased in population due to improved research and habitat management funded in part by Wildlife Restoration. In the program's history, fish and wildlife agencies have assisted more than 9.2 million landowners on fish and wildlife management. States, commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies have improved more than 35 million acres of habitat and developed more than 44,000 acres of waterfowl impoundments.

Sport Fish Funding
Sport Fish Restoration is funded by the collection of excise taxes and import duties on sport fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels and pleasure boats as authorized through the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Resoration Act. Sport Fish Restoration funds are apportioned to the states based on a formula that includes the land and water area, inland waters and the Great Lakes and marine coastal areas where applicable and the number of paid fishing license holders.

States, the District of Columbia, commonwealths and territories use the funds to pay for stocking fish; acquiring and improving sport fish habitat; providing aquatic resource education opportunities; conducting fisheries research; maintaining public access and the construction at boat ramps, fishing piers and other facilities for recreational boating access.

Since the inception of the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act, states, commonwealth, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies have acquired 360,000 acres through fee simple, leases, or easements. They have operated and maintained more than 1.5 million acres annually and they stocked over 6.8 billion fish and restored more than 1.7 billion fish throughout the country; renovated or improved 6,400-boat access sites; and had over 11.9 million participants in the aquatic resource education program.


To see how much was allocated to your state or territory, visit http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/.

[cathryn]

are these funds irrevocably allotted for this or is their any chance the new administration can yank the carpet out from under the funding?

i know the money came from taxes and things but can they say ok, this sint a necesary expense this year so we're gonna take it and apply it to a different program?

[Jimmie in Ky]

These funds were brought into being because of sportsmen and are for the wildlife we love and that is all.

One good thing coming out of this is a research project on the restoration of alligator ger to western Ky and its rivers. It is possible it will help with the carp problem and th otter problem that has occured from thier restoration. It seems Otters prefer fish pionds and pay lakes  Jimmie