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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Designates Critical Habitat and Releases Economic Analysis for Bull Trout

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today revised the 2005 critical habitat designation for bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus), a threatened species found throughout much of the Pacific Northwest and protected under the federal Endangered Species Act.

Approximately 18,975 miles of streams and 488,252 acres of lakes and reservoirs in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Nevada are being designated as critical habitat for the wide-ranging fish. In Washington, 754 miles of marine shoreline are also being designated.

It’s hard to imagine that the rolling hills of Pole Mountain once had 75-mm military guns lined up for as far as the eye could see.

From 1879 to 1961, the Pole Mountain Unit of the Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming was used as a target and maneuver area for military training. The Army and Air Force used the area to train soldiers and airmen in the use of weapons and munitions.

Today the Forest Service manages the 58,000-acre site for multiple-use. However, there remain unexploded munitions in the area. Every now and then, a citizen brings a military object to authorities for disposal.

The Army Corps of Engineers, with the Forest Service as a cooperating agency, is using satellite technology to detect and remove the munitions.

New Report Shows Rise in Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife-Related Recreation Participation in 28 States - Billions of dollars generated for local economies and conservation

Participation in wildlife-associated recreation increased in 28 states since 2006, according to the findings of the 2011 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation State Overview Report released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today.  The State Overview Report is the second in a series of reports to be released by the Service over the next few months highlighting results from the National Survey.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar released the first report on August 15, 2012.  The National Survey, conducted since 1955, measures participation in these activities and related spending on trips and equipment across the nation and in individual states. The 2011 National Survey data show that hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers spent $145 billion last year on related gear, trips and other purchases such as licenses, tags and land leasing or ownership.

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Service Proposes New Hunting Opportunities on National Wildlife Refuges in Fourteen States Changes affect five refuges in the Service’s Pacific Region

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced a proposal to open one new refuge to hunting and to expand hunting opportunities at 16 national wildlife refuges in 14 states, including Oregon, Washington and Idaho. If approved, the proposal would provide additional public hunting opportunities in fulfillment of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997.

“The National Wildlife Refuge System offers some of the best public hunting and fishing around, helping to connect generations of Americans with this great outdoor tradition,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “Our goal is to increase hunting opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds, wherever these opportunities are compatible with refuge purposes.”

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