Refuges In 8 States Get More Land
The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission has approved the acquisition of more than 3,000 acres of important migratory bird habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System.
The commission approved Migratory Bird Conservation funds of nearly $3.7 million to acquire the land. All acquisitions had been previously approved by the affected states.
New National Wildlife Refuge System acquisitions approved by the Conservation Commission are:
Colorado: Acquisition of 638 acres to protect wetlands for migratory waterfowl within the boundaries of Alamosa NWR in Alamosa County.
Maryland: Acquisition of 89 acres to preserve marsh, shoreline, wooded swamp and forested upland for migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, woodcock and neotropical migrants within the boundaries of Blackwater NWR in Dorchester County.
New Jersey: Acquisition of 91.3 acres to preserve Spartina salt marsh and low wooded wetlands for waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors, woodcock and neotropical migrants within the boundaries of Cape May NWR in Cape May County.
Wisconsin: Acquisition of 40 acres to preserve, protect and restore migratory waterfowl habitat at Horicon NWR in Dodge County.
Maine: Acquisition of 1,084 acres to provide habitat for black ducks and woodcock within the boundary of Moosehorn NWR in Washington County.
Tennessee: Acquisition of 609 acres to protect habitat for wintering waterfowl within the boundary of Chickasaw NWR in Lauderdale County.
Washington: Acquisition of 60 acres to provide production and migration habitat for waterfowl within the boundary of Conboy Lake NWR in Klickitat County.
Texas: Acquisition of 549 acres to protect wetlands for waterfowl within the boundary of Trinity River NWR in Liberty County.
The Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929 established the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission to approve land to be purchased for the National Wildlife Refuge System with monies from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. The fund is supported by revenue collected from Federal Duck Stamp sales, import duties collected on arms and ammunition, right-of-way payments to the refuge system, and receipts from national wildlife refuge entry fees.
The Commission also approved the protection or restoration of more than 137,000 acres of wetlands. A total of $14.5 million was authorized under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, which will be matched by nearly $43.8 million in partner funds to restore habitat.
The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission accepted recommendations from the North American Wetlands Conservation Council and approved 24 grants that will foster wetland restoration protection and enhancement projects in Mexico and the United States under the auspices of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.
Grant funds of more than $1.6 million will be combined with nearly $2 million of partner funds in Mexico and more than $12.9 million in grant funds will be combined with $41.8 million in the United States. Grants will fund projects in the states of North Dakota, Idaho, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Jersey, Iowa, Nebraska, California, North Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, and Washington and throughout Mexico.
