2017-2018 ANNUAL REPORT 1 Little River Falls DeKalb County 2 BILLY POPE BILLY The Honorable Kay Ivey Governor of Alabama State Capitol Montgomery, AL 36130 Dear Governor Ivey: I am pleased to submit the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Annual Report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018. The Department continues to find new ways to serve the public while making sure we are adhering to our mission of promoting the wise stewardship and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources for current and future generations. Twelve Alabama State Parks were awarded Trip Advisor’s Award of Excellence certificates in Fiscal Year 2018. Seven parks were inducted into the Hall of Fame for five consecutive years of winning Awards of Excellence. These designations are based on unsolicited visitor reviews and show how much the public enjoys what our parks have to offer. In 2018, the Snapper Check Program was certified by NOAA Fisheries as a statis- tically valid method to estimate Alabama red snapper landings. Alabama is using Snapper Check to monitor red snapper landings in near real-time to stay within a state quota issued through a NOAA Fisheries’ Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP). The EFP will continue through 2019. The State Lands Division continued to coordinate administrative and technical aspects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) pursuant to the Oil Pollution Act. This included participating in NRDA Trustee Council meetings, conducting public meetings, soliciting public input regarding potential restoration ideas, assisting with development of draft resto- ration plans and implementing early restoration projects. The Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division implemented an Adult Mentored Hunting Program last year. A total of 71 new hunters participated in 13 adult mentored hunting workshops. Programs like this build on our already-established youth hunting programs with a goal of creating more hunters who will purchase the licenses that provide so much of the Department’s revenue. These are just a few of the accomplishments you will find in this report. Thank you for your support and leadership to our agency and the State of Alabama. Sincerely, Christopher M. Blankenship Commissioner 3 Overview 5 TABLE OF Conservation Advisory Board 6 CONTENTS Budget 7 Organizational Chart 8 Administrative 9 Marine Resources 16 Mariculture Center Rears Pompano, Flounder, Redfish 20 State Lands 22 The Wehle Land Conservation Center: A Public Resource for Conservation, Recreation and Environmental Education Opportunities 30 State Parks 32 The Benefits of Unsolicited Feedback from Park Guests: Trip Advisor 38 Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries 40 Making a Difference… We All Can Do It! 54 4 DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is an executive and administrative Department of the State of Alabama created by statute. The Commissioner, appointed by the Governor as a member of her cabinet, advises the Governor and Legislature on management of freshwater fish, wildlife, marine resources, state lands, state parks, and other natural resources. Scope of Operations The Department’s scope of operations includes the administra- and to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy tion, management and maintenance of 21 state parks, 23 pub- these resources. lic fishing lakes, three freshwater fish hatcheries, one aquatic biodiversity center, 162 public boat ramps, 30 wildlife manage- Funding ment areas, 6 special opportunity areas, 12 shooting ranges, a Funding for the Department is generated through special rev- saltwater mariculture center, and 645,000 acres of trust lands enues, which include federal money, cigarette taxes, user and managed for the benefit of several state agencies, the General license fees, mandated interest from endowment and federal Fund and Alabama Trust Fund. Other departmental functions in- regulations. The Forever Wild Program received interest income clude maintenance of a State Land Resource Information Center from the Alabama Trust Fund. Specific revenue sources for the and administration of the Forever Wild Land Trust program. four operational divisions are as follows: Organization Marine Resources: Saltwater fishing licenses, fines, marine gas tax and federal grants. Marine Resources also has an During Fiscal Year 2018, the Department had four operational endowment, but it has not grown enough to divisions and seven support sections. The operational divisions enhance operations. were Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. Support sections were Accounting, State Lands: Management fees from the sale of timber, min- Engineering, Information and Education, Information Tech- erals and various leases on state lands administered under nology, Legal, Personnel and Payroll, Property Inventory, and the Lands Asset Management Program. Further, the division Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Restoration. The Commissioner receives additional federal grants that support was advised by a 13-member Conservation Advisory Board. specific programs. Division directors managed the Department’s programs under State Parks: User-generated funds in the form of entrance, their jurisdiction through authority delegated by the Legislature rental, lodging, golf and other recreational fees. State Parks and the Commissioner. Concerted efforts were made to balance received a modest amount of funding from cigarette needs and requirements against resources and available funding tax revenue. to satisfy present and future public and resource requirements. Active public education and voluntary participation programs Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries: Fishing and hunting were expanded and new plans were implemented to achieve licenses and permits; fines; waterfowl stamps; federal al- maximum multiple-use benefits consistent with locations from excise taxes on sporting arms, ammunition, resource conservation. archery gear and some fishing tackle; and federal grants. Interest income continues to be generated by the Game and Fish endowment fund for resident lifetime hunting Department Goals and fishing licenses. Direct donations and voluntary state The Department’s major goal is to promote the statewide income tax refund check-offs for the Nongame Wildlife stewardship and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources Program continue to decrease from previous fiscal years. 5 CONSERVATION ADVISORY BOARD The Conservation Advisory Board, created by statute, is com- Governor’s approval, the Board can amend, make any changes, posed of 10 members appointed by the Governor for alter- repeal or create and promulgate additional rules and regula- nating terms of six years and three ex-officio members in the tions. The Board also assists in publicizing the Department’s persons of the Governor, the Commissioner of Agriculture and programs and activities. Industries, and the Director of the Alabama Cooperative Exten- sion System. The Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Meetings Resources serves as the ex-officio secretary of the Board. The Advisory Board met two times during FY 2018: The Advisory Board assists in formulating policies for the De- n March 3, 2018, at the State Capitol Auditorium in partment of Conservation, examines all rules and regulations Montgomery, Ala. and makes recommendations for their change or amendment. n May 19, 2018, at the Alabama Fire College in By a two-thirds vote of the members present and with the Tuscaloosa, Ala. Conservation Advisory Board Members as of Sept. 30, 2018 Members Home Town Term Expires Joseph Dobbs, Jr., Chairman Birmingham March 28, 2021 Greg Barksdale Hanceville September 30, 2023 Brock Jones Boligee March 28, 2021 Patrick Cagle Montgomery March 28, 2021 Grady Hartzog Eufaula March 28, 2021 Raymond Jones, Jr. Huntsville May 9, 2019 Jeff Martin Pell City May 9, 2019 Ben C. Stimpson, Jr. Mobile September 30, 2023 Gary Wolfe Fairhope March 28, 2021 Tim Wood Selma September 30, 2023 Ex-officio Members Kay Ivey, Governor, State of Alabama Gary Lemme, Director, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Auburn University John McMillan, Commissioner, Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Ex-officio Secretary of the Board Christopher M. Blankenship, Commissioner, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources 6 BUDGET Total ACTUAL 2018 Total BUDGETED 2019 Total REQUESTED 2020 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES 1,047 1,180 1,182 UNENCUMBERED CASH BALANCE FORWARD 39,968,197 46,574,887 25,611,027 Marine Resources - Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission 534,030 565,000 559,000 Marine Resources - Commerce 822,950 691,000 2,725,500 Marine Resources - Interior 1,994,716 1,300,000 1,183,500 Game & Fish - Interior 28,364,764 23,850,000 21,250,000 Game & Fish - Misc 136,605 142,000 385,000 Lands - Commerce 2,259,106 10,375,000 4,424,825 Lands - Interior 0 1,000,000 1,000,000 Restore Act 0 146,201,479 132,190,997 Total Federal Funding 34,112,171 184,124,479 163,718,822 National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 8,421,073 4,800,000 11,724,000 Licenses and Permits 21,450,772 20,843,750 20,642,700 Land Management Fees 4,475,294 5,500,000 3,453,855 User Fees 36,907,160 37,012,662 39,869,030 Timber Sales 407,174 375,000 905,000 Fines 706,290 740,000 710,000 Trust Fund Interest (MR and WFF) 705,755 540,000 550,000 Other 4,900,086 6,722,800 6,130,100 Total Departmental Related Receipts 77,973,604 76,534,212 83,984,685 Cigarette Tax 2,618,662 3,000,000 3,000,000 Gasoline Tax 2,820,930 2,450,000 2,450,000 Use Tax Discount Cap 1,276,391