Refuge Update Sat Down with Fish His Political Party by Supporting the Beyond That, We Need to Look for More and Wildlife Service Director H
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System Inside RefugeUpdate September/October 2008 Vol 5, No 5 Rebuilding after Hurricane Ike, page 3 Texas and Louisiana refuges were severely damaged in mid-September. Independent Analysis Finds Refuge A Crane Species Rebounding, page 5 System Struggles to Meet Goals At a Mississippi refuge, the world’s longest-running crane reintroduction program is succeeding. Focus on. Refuge System Wetlands, pages 8-13 The Refuge System manages wetlands to enhance their value for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds, threatened and endangered species and a myriad of native fish, wildlife, and plants. Fluttering Close to Extinction, page 17. Antioch Dunes Refuge is out to save the Lange’s metalmark butterfly. A Leadership Reading List Now is a great time to pick up a volume or two that give us insights into conservation leaders: After an extensive study, Management Systems International (MSI) found the Refuge System at least • Dreamers & Defenders, American partially effective in nine of its 12 strategic goals. MSI rated the Refuge System as “highly effective” in Conservationists by Douglas H. Strong. one goal: facilitating partnerships and cooperative projects, including its volunteer program. (USFWS) Henry David Thoreau, Frederick Law Olmsted, John Muir: They’re all here as Strong recalled the triumphs and defeats of n independent evaluation has In its report, MSI rated the Refuge 12 conservationists. Afound that the Refuge System System as “ineffective” in meeting two • Women in the Field, America’s Pioneering experienced an 11 percent decline in strategic goals: Women Naturalists by Marcia Myers real purchasing power between FY 2003 Bonta. Published in 1991, this title contains and the FY 2008 requested budget. As • Protecting resources and visitors the biographies of 25 women, including a result, the Refuge System has been through law enforcement. many whose names have never become as well known as they should have. unable to maintain its level of operational • Strategically growing the System. activity, according to the report from • National Leaders of American Management Systems International Among its 11 principle recommendations, Conservation, compiled in 1985 by the (MSI), which conducted the evaluation MSI advises increasing the number of Natural Resources Council of America. full-time Refuge System law enforcement The book presents brief biographical between October 2006 and September sketches of people who made enduring 2007. officers from the current 200 to 400. contributions to conservation and While MSI noted that law enforcement professional resource management. The report, titled, “An Independent training is “sound and improving,” Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the the firm also noted a “critical lack of • Pioneer Conservationists of Eastern U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National America by Peter Wild, a journalist, a law enforcement coverage” at most backpacker and a poet of the American Wildlife Refuge System,” was delivered field stations. More than 70 percent of West. Here you will find John Burroughs, to Service Director H. Dale Hall on July refuge managers indicated they feel law George Bird Grinnell and Howard 11. The Service Directorate was briefed enforcement coverage is “insufficient” at Zahniser, among others. in early August. the refuge they manage. continued on pg 20 Title From the Director Sub Title Defining Leadership In anticipation One crucial time and leader in the well for future. Hundreds of people may of Leadership Service stands out for me. That’s when never have realized their potential were Awareness Day (former Service Director) John Turner it not for such programs. H. Dale Hall on October 27, took a very unpopular stand within Refuge Update sat down with Fish his political party by supporting the Beyond that, we need to look for more and Wildlife Service Director H. Dale reintroduction of wolves. It took courage opportunities to discuss leadership with Hall to hear his viewpoints about and strength, and it cost him in his career rank and file employees. It is critical that leadership. in the next administration. It was a true when supervisors face tough decisions, example of leadership. He wasn’t out to we explain to employees our thought Q: Who are your conservation win a popularity contest; he followed his process. Share your insights and why leadership heroes? conscience, and did what he knew was you went in the direction you did. Not right. everyone will agree, but everyone A: Other than the traditional iconic needs to understand how you got to heroes, I have heroes throughout the Q: What more should the Service do to the decision. Leadership is the burden ranks of this organization and other groom leaders? of explaining a decision that took into organizations. I find leadership at every account conflicting viewpoints among level in the Fish and Wildlife Service. A A: First, we have to recognize our good people. biologist or a clerk in one of our offices outstanding development programs. We can be a leader because leadership is are doing a tremendous job at NCTC Q: The Service has often talked about influencing others to do great work (National Conservation Training about the need for Washington and to meet their maximum potential. Center), through courses like the experience as a prerequisite for a Leadership happens every day in the employees foundation class, Advanced Grade 15 promotion. What do you see Service. Today’s leaders are the ones Leadership Development Program as the unique value of Washington who are quietly getting the job done. (ALDP), Stepping Up to Leadership, experience? and the SES candidate development program. All are positioning us very A: Washington gives you vision – the continued on pg 14 Chief’s Corner RefugeUpdate Farewell and Thanks Dirk Kempthorne Address editorial As I pack to Refuge Caucus, with 146 members Secretary inquiries to: take my next representing 42 states and 228 national Department of the Refuge Update assignment as wildlife refuges. In October 2007, when Interior USFWS-NWRS 4401 North Fairfax Dr., th Geoff Haskett the Regional we celebrated the 10 anniversary of H. Dale Hall Room 634C Director in enactment of the National Wildlife Director – U.S. Fish and Arlington, VA Alaska, I leave Washington, D.C., with Refuge System Improvement Act, the Wildlife Service 22203-1610 Phone: 703-358-1858 real sadness – saying good-bye to so Capitol Hill room was overflowing with Geoffrey L. Haskett Fax: 703-358-2517 many enthusiastic, professional and fun members of Congress, their aides and Assistant Director – E-mail: National Wildlife Refuge people who work for and support the hundreds of our supporters and Friends. [email protected] National Wildlife Refuge System. I am The room was so full that Interior System This newsletter is also leaving with real pride in the good Secretary Dirk Kempthorne could Martha Nudel published on recycled Editor in Chief things that have taken place over the barely shoulder his way to the podium paper using soy-based two and a half years that I was Chief of to deliver remarks. Michael Wright ink. the Refuge System. We’ve seen a reinvigoration of our Managing Editor We’ve seen the establishment of the relationship with the National Wildlife C bipartisan Congressional Wildlife Refuge Association and the growing continued on pg 7 Pg 2 Refuge Update | September/October 2008 Gulf Coast Refuges Rebuilding After Hurricane Ike subsequently rebuilt – were destroyed anew. As flood water receded, emergency response teams were on the scene at each refuge complex to, among duties, assist refuge staff members whose houses were destroyed or damaged. Trailers were made available and tarps stretched over damaged roofs. “It’s always gratifying to see how well we take care of our own,” said Southwest Louisiana Complex project leader Don Voros. The Friends of Aransas and Matagorda Island National Wildlife Refuges established a FWS Hurricane Ike Fund to aid Service employees in Texas and Louisiana who have been impacted by Hurricane Ike. Donations are welcome. Checks should be made out to “FAMI” and mailed to FAMI, P.O. Box 100, Texas Chenier Plains National Refuge Complex caught the full force of Hurricane Ike. The mid- Austwell, TX 77950. September tropical storm impacted every standing structure on the complex, which at one point was covered with more than ten feet of sea water. (USFWS) Contractors and engineers were quickly on the scene to assess damages and ebuilding programs are in national wildlife refuges became part prepare estimates of damage-repair Rthe works at coastal refuges of the Gulf of Mexico,” said complex costs. Cleaning up Sabine Refuge – prized for the habitat they provide manager Tim Cooper. will be complicated by the presence of wintering waterfowl and other wildlife containers of hazardous material and oil – in Texas and Louisiana that were Just to the east, in Louisiana, Ike field debris that Ike scattered over the heavily damaged in mid-September by whipped through Sabine, Lacassine, refuge’s 125,000 acres of wetlands. ◆ Hurricane Ike. Cameron Prairie and Shell Keys The cost of cleaning up the field Refuges, all part stations and then replacing or of the Southwest repairing an array of administrative Louisiana and recreational facilities was initially Refuge pegged at more than $260 million. The Complex. Most costs of repairing Service facilities of the complex’s elsewhere that were flooded or 320,000 acres otherwise damaged by the remnants of wetlands of the tropical storm were still being were inundated tallied as Refuge Update went to press. by surging sea water. At Texas Chenier Plains Refuge Complex, Sabine Refuge, 110,000 acres of wetlands that stretch two bridges as along the upper Gulf Coast between well as visitor- Houston and the Louisiana border, caught comfort and the full force of the storm. Every standing recreational structure was impacted. Storm-generated facilities – winds covered much of the refuges with heavily damaged more than ten feet of sea water, which is The storm also rolled over Southwest Louisiana Wildlife Refuge Complex.