AFWA's HQ office move

AFWA HQ is in a whirl of activity as we prepare to move to our new office starting tomorrow. Well, I guess that's what happens when you're boxing up 100+ years of Association history. We'll be back up and running on June 2nd!


Please note our new address:
1100 First Street NE
Suite 825
Washington, DC 20002

Phone: 202/838-3474
Fax: 202/350-9869 

Statement from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Regarding the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA’s Proposal on Endangered Species Petitions Regulations

The Association of Fish &  Wildlife Agencies applauds the intent of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (the Services) announcement today to increase engagement with state fish and wildlife agencies in formulating petitions to list species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).          

As part of the Services’ proposal, petitioners would be required to consult with state fish and wildlife agencies prior to filing ESA petitions. AFWA agrees with the Services that this action is consistent with the intent of the Endangered Species Act—that listing decisions be based on the best available science. 

The proposal acknowledges the states’ substantial experience, expertise and information relevant to the conservation of at-risk species. It also directs the Secretary of the Interior to account for the efforts being made by state agencies to protect species when considering listing petitions.

The Association also appreciates the Services’ recognition of the states’ jurisdiction and responsibility for managing and conserving freshwater fish, wildlife and plant species and respect for the states’ special conservation role and responsibilities. Pro-active conservation programs to keep imperiled species off the Endangered Species List are more successful and considerably less costly to American taxpayers than the “emergency room” approach that goes into effect under the ESA. 

AFWA encourages Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and the Services to continue to work closely with their state agency partners in the critical work ahead to conserve the great diversity of our nation’s fish, wildlife and plant species.


To read the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's official announcement, go to www.fws.gov.

Have you checked out AFWA's 2014 Annual Report yet?

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies released its 2014 Annual Reportfeaturing cover photography by George Andrejko of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

As AFWA’s 2014-2015 President, Larry Voyles, shares in his welcome letter, “Every hour of every day, the greatest conservation system in the world is hard at work safeguarding North America’s precious fish and wildlife resources and their habitats.”

Throughout the pages in the report, the Association considers the gas, the grease and the heart that drive the intricate machine of fish and wildlife conservation on a continental and hemispheric scale across a tapestry of public and private lands.

The report also reflects AFWA’s four strategic goals to (1) advocate for sound conservation policies and legislation; (2) secure and sustain funding for conservation; (3) strengthen conservation partnerships; and (4) support members’ engagement within the Association. 

> Download and share a PDF version of AFWA's 2014 Annual Report 

AFWA's Management Assistance Team is Looking for a Professional Development Programs Manager

The Professional Development Programs Manager is a key member of AFWA's Management Assistance Team (MAT) located in Shepherdstown, WV on the campus of the National Conservation Training Center. MAT is the Association’s professional development (PD) unit, which supports state fish and wildlife agency management, leadership and other programmatic needs.






The Programs Manager is responsible for research, planning, design, development and evaluation of PD programs, as well as the facilitation of those programs, including instruction.






If you would like to learn more about this career opportunity, go to www.matteam.org/announcement-position-opening/. The application period is open through June 5 or until filled.

2015 “Waters to Watch” Provide Community, Economic Benefit

The National Fish Habitat Partnership (www.fishhabitat.org) today unveiled  its list of 10 “Waters to Watch” for 2015—a collection of rivers, streams, estuaries, lakes and watershed systems that will benefit from strategic conservation efforts to protect, restore or enhance their current condition. These voluntary, locally driven projects represent conservation actions in progress implemented under the National Fish Habitat Partnership by 19 regional Fish Habitat Partnerships throughout the country.

The conservation actions implemented through these projects are designed to conserve freshwater, estuarine and marine habitats essential to the many fish and wildlife species that call these areas home. These examples of conservation have been fundamental to the overall success of the National Fish Habitat Partnership since 2006.

Throughout the year, these projects will demonstrate how conservation efforts are reversing persistent declines in our nation’s aquatic habitats. Having featured 90 partnership projects since 2007, these “Waters to Watch” are proving that science-based, on-the-ground conservation efforts are truly making a difference in improving fish habitat across the country.

“Success in conservation often doesn’t happen overnight,” said Kelly Hepler, Chair of the National Fish Habitat Board. “We are highlighting these projects today with both long and short-term goals in mind. We are working through our regional partnerships in an effort to conserve these great waterways and reverse declines in suitable fish habitat. In our 9^thyear of this annual campaign, we are beginning to see many of our previous projects named to this list making a real difference. For our 10^thAnniversary of the “Waters to Watch” in 2016, we will highlight some of these dynamic past projects that are making a positive impact both regionally and nationally.”

The “Waters to Watch” in 2015 and associated Fish Habitat Partnerships:

1. Alexander Creek Watershed, AK
Partnership: Mat-Su Basin Salmon Habitat Partnership (http://bit.ly/1dZhlod)

Objective: Project goals are to restore Alexander Creek drainage Chinook salmon numbers in what was previously very productive habitat and a vibrant fishery. Partners are working to do this through large scale invasive pike removal and monitoring, as well as detection, education and eradication of Alaska's first invasive aquatic plant Elodea.
           

2. Kasilof and Anchor River Watersheds, AK
Partnership:Kenai Peninsula Fish Habitat Partnership (http://bit.ly/1F4OzLE)
Objective: The Kenai Peninsula Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project will help restore physical and biological processes within the Kasilof and Anchor River Watersheds in order to contribute to a healthy, productive and biologically diverse ecosystem for the benefit of injured species and services. The project will eliminate four barriers to aquatic species passage on the Anchor and Kasilof Rivers.

3. Kilchis Estuary, OR
Partnership: Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership (http://bit.ly/1EAjg8a)
Objective:Restore freshwater and tidal connections, provide off-channel rearing habitat for salmonids, and restore historic spruce swamp habitat. The site provides habitat for coho, Chinook and chum salmon, steelhead and cutthroat trout as well as a myriad of other wetland species, including colonial nesting waterbirds, migrating waterfowl, juvenile marine fishes and resident mammals.

4. Lake Livingston, TX
Partnership:Reservoir Fisheries Habitat Partnership (http://bit.ly/1KFfEWW)
Objective:The overall goal of the project is to reestablish Lake Livingston as a destination for anglers and other outdoor recreationists. As such, the project has support from a host of community leaders. A dedicated core group of volunteer leaders are in place to ensure that the project continues to move forward garnering additional local support along the way.

5. Lower Heeia Stream Habitat Improvement Project, Oahu (HI)      

Partnership: Hawaii Fish Habitat Partnership (http://bit.ly/1KFi0Fh)
Objective:This project will restore native vegetation in the tidally influenced portion of Heeia Stream and its adjacent estuary. Project implementation will involve removal of a large stand of invasive riparian trees, followed by soil preparation, erosion control and riparian forest restoration using native plant species.

6. Mill Creek Restoration, WV
Partnership: Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (http://bit.ly/1Fik341)
Objective:The WV Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) is mitigating the negative impacts of Super Storms that occurred in 2012 on Mill Creek, WV, one of the state’s four intact brook trout populations, by implementing a strategic Large Woody Material “chop and drop” program within Kumbrabow State Forest, which encompasses approximately 6 stream miles. This project is being completed utilizing the principles of natural stream restoration to place, and in some instances modify and anchor, currently hanging trees in the stream as habitat for fish.

7. Pinole Creek, CA
Partnership: California Fish Passage Forum (http://bit.ly/1JF2I37)
Objective:The purpose of this project is to restore access to the upper reaches of Pinole Creek for the current population of Central California Coast Steelhead by modifying the existing box culverts where Pinole Creek passes under Interstate Highway 80 (I-80).  Habitat assessments conducted on Pinole Creek in 2009 indicate sufficient habitat to support anadromous steelhead spawning and rearing if passage issues at the I-80 culvert are remedied. This project will improve access to nearly seven miles of documented quality steelhead spawning and rearing habitat on the main stem of Pinole Creek.

8. Shoshone Springs Pupfish Habitat Project, CA

Partnership: Desert Fish Habitat Partnership (http://bit.ly/1E3P4S5)
Objective:The project secured the existence of Shoshone pupfish in their native range far into the future, and will educate the public about their importance.  The project quadrupled the habitat area occupied by endemic Shoshone pupfish, benefiting the entire known population in the one spring, springbrook, and spring supported riparian system where they naturally occur. 

9. Sun Creek, OR
Partnership:Western Native Trout Initiative (http://bit.ly/1zXTKhD)
Objective: To reestablish redband trout and migratory populations of bull trout to Sun Creek through improved connectivity, habitat quality and stream and riparian function. Due to poor connectivity between Sun Creek and the Wood River, overall habitat degradation, and interactions with non-native salmonids, redband trout were extirpated from Sun Creek and bull trout populations were restricted to a short headwater reach. Similar to other Cascade tributaries in the Upper Klamath Basin, Sun Creek likely supported widespread and abundant populations of both species. Reconnecting Sun Creek to the Wood River will allow redband trout to recolonize Sun Creek and access high quality spawning and rearing habitat. It will also provide a migratory corridor for the isolated bull trout population to expand its range, occupy new habitat within Wood River watershed, and improve overall population resilience. 

10. Ulele Springs on the Hillsborough River, FL
Partnership:Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (http://bit.ly/1zXTXBp)

Objective: The restored Ulele Springs is providing native wetland vegetation and provide habitat for fish and mammals. To date, numerous native fish and wildlife has been observed within the basin, which is staring to mimic the anticipated species richness and diversity of a natural spring run entering an estuarine ecotone.

> Find project maps and descriptions of the 10 Waters toWatch list for 2015 

> Visit the Waters to Watch Homepage for all of thePartnership’s projects from 2007-2015 

> Check out the Partnership’s interactive habitat datamapper, supported by USGS 

About the National Fish Habitat Partnership:

Since 2006, the National Fish Habitat Partnership has been a partner in 514 projects in 47 states benefiting fish habitat. The National Fish Habitat Partnership works to conserve fish habitat nationwide, leveraging federal, state, tribal, and private funding resources to achieve the greatest impact on fish populations through priority conservation projects. The national partnership implements the National Fish Habitat Action Plan and supports 19 regional grassroots partner organizations.

For more information visit:

fishhabitat.org/
www.facebook.com/NFHAP
twitter.com/FishHabitat  
www.scoop.it/t/fish-habitat

Contact: Ryan Roberts
rroberts@fishwildlife.org 

AFWA is Seeking an Agricultural Conservation Coordinator

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is looking for a talented individual (super hero) to manage our Farm Bill conservation, forestry and bioenergy portfolio in Washington, DC.

The coordinator, under direct supervision of the Government Affairs Director, works with state fish and wildlife agencies and other Association members to enhance fish and wildlife habitat and encourage sustainably managed fish and wildlife resources through the reauthorization and implementation of conservation, forestry, energy and other provisions of the 2014 and future Farm Bills. The incumbent will work closely with the state agencies, AFWA's Agricultural Conservation Committee and its seven programmatic working groups to troubleshoot Farm Bill conservation implementation challenges and work with federal agencies and conservation partner organizations to develop policy recommendations for achieving desired outcomes. The coordinator also works with Congress during the Farm Bill reauthorization process and appropriations cycles to advance the state fish and wildlife agencies’ Farm Bill priorities.

This is a full-time position located in AFWA's Washington, DC office. 

> View the full position announcement

The April/May 2015 Issue of The AFWA Strategist is Now Online

The April/May 2015 issue of The AFWA Strategist is now available! Articles include brief updates on the first meeting of AFWA’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources; the reauthorization of the Sport Fish and Boating Trust Fund; the Dear Colleague Letter supporting the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program; the release of the 2014 Farm Bill Field Guide to Fish and Wildlife Conservation; upcoming professional development webinars through AFWA’s Conservation Learning Campus; AFWA annual awards nominations; and more. 

> Checkout the Spring edition of our new publication, The AFWA Strategist, to learnmore about the top issues that the Association is covering.

> View previous issues of The AFWA Strategist