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January 1999

Fish & Wildlife News: January/February 1999

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Anne Badgley in as Region 1 RD 2 Interior Plans 150th Bashes Year-Round 9 Fighting Invasives in the Ohio River 16 Service Releases More Mexican Wolves 4 Bringing the Hatchery to the Volunteers 10 Hollywood Comes to a Refuge 18 LE Busts Coral Smuggling Ring 5 Cranes Draw Crowds in New Mexico 11 Rare Fish Makes a Comeback 23 Service Embraces Migratory Bird Initiatives 6 Tribute to Region 1 Employees Killed on Duty 12 Student Leaders Take D.C. by Storm 26 A New Concept in Beef 8 Team Implements Ecosystem Approach 15 2 Anne Badgley Position Changes Steps in as Pacific in Washington Regional Director External Affairs

Badgley most recently served as assistant regional director for external affairs in Region 1. She came to the Service in 1996 after serving as chief of staff for the National Park Service in Washington, D.C.

Badgley also worked as the primary environmental and natural resources aide and legislative assistant to former Senator Brock Adams of Washington state, and as deputy director of congressional and intergovernmental affairs for the Department of the Interior. She practiced law as an environmental attorney for Seattle-based firm Perkins Coie in its Washington, D.C., office.

A native of Seattle, Badgley holds a master’s in business administration from the University of California in Los Angeles Pacific Regional Director Anne Badgley. and a law degree from the University Assistant Director for External Affairs Tom Photo by Tami Heilemann/DOI. of Washington. While there, she was Melius. Photo by Tami Heilemann/DOI. editor-in-chief of the Law Review and was honored as the National Association of Anne Badgley is the new regional director Women Lawyers’ outstanding law graduate. Service Welcomes New AD for External Affairs for the six-state Pacific region. She also has experience in radio and Tom Melius is the Service’s new assistant television news. director for external affairs. “Anne has a strong background in natural resource management and knows western “These credentials, coupled with her Melius is the former director of conservation issues well,” Director Jamie Rappaport background in natural resources policy and a senior advisor at the National Clark said. “In addition, Anne has a management have provided her with Fish and Wildlife Foundation. reputation as a creative and innovative a strong foundation for assuming the leader. I believe she will be an excellent responsibilities of regional director,” “Tom’s experience with legislative issues, addition to the agency’s management, and Clark said. public relations activities, and federal I look forward to working closely with her grant-making programs both with the in supporting the mission of the Service.” Foundation and on congressional committees, makes him a natural to head the External Affairs office and a solid addition to the Service,” said Director Jamie Rappaport Clark.

On the cover: Mussel in peril. Service biologist Janet Butler displays two zebra mussel-encrusted native mussels taken from the Ohio River (see story on page 16). Zebra mussels and other invasive species are responsible for the deaths of many thousands of native species each year. Photo by Eric Eckl. 3

Prior to working at the Foundation, Melius Million Named Partnership Coordinator Among the many media campaigns Million served as a senior staff member on the Phil Million, Service Public Affairs head supervised were the book, film, and news Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, since 1984, has given up the daily fire drills of coverage for the 50th anniversary of the and Transportation, managing legislation Public Affairs to become the special assistant Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid program; a involving oceans and fishery-related issues. for Conservation Partnerships, a new major outreach campaign on the effect of Before that he was a staff member on the position located in External Affairs in the drought on duck populations and the need House Committee on Merchant Marine and Washington Office. for duck harvest restrictions; and press Fisheries, where he advised members on fish coverage of the reintroduction of gray wolves and wildlife-related legislation that included In his new position, Million is working to in the Yellowstone ecosystem. migratory waterfowl and the federal Duck re-energize the Service’s partnership Stamp program, federal aid activities and agreements with constituent groups, and will Million served as assistant director for endangered species. also be focusing on the Service’s role in the Public Affairs beginning in 1984 and later newly-funded outreach campaign for sport became chief of Public Affairs when the Melius also worked as an assistant director fishing and boating, established under the Assistant Director for External Affairs for the National Rifle Association in auspices of the Sport Fishing and Boating position was created. Washington, D.C., supervising the group’s Partnership Council. hunting information, awards and education Stepping into the Public Affairs chief program, and working extensively with state “Phil’s legacy to the Service from his years in position is Megan Durham, who most fish and wildlife agencies. He began his Public Affairs is substantial,” said Mike recently served as the National Outreach career as a wildlife biologist in Pennsylvania Smith, Deputy Assistant Director for Coordinator. Durham will oversee the Media at Nemacolin Trails Hunting Reserve. External Affairs. “For those who were not Services, Broadcast and Audiovisual, and here 15 or 20 years ago, it is hard to imagine Printing and Publications offices located in Melius has served as a congressional advisor the advances that have been made in the the Main Interior Building. Before becoming to a variety of international U.S. delegations, Service’s awareness and understanding of the Service’s outreach coordinator Durham including the delegations to the Convention the importance of good public affairs work to served as deputy chief of Public Affairs and on International Trade in Endangered our conservation mission. Phil helped the as chief of the office of Current Information Species of Wild Threatened Fauna and Service understand why public affairs was (now Media Services). Flora, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands important, and his skill and credibility with and the U.N. Conference on the the news media helped the Service gain Durham’s 25-year career with the Service Environment and Development. public understanding during numerous includes public affairs support for all Service crises. He also supervised the production of programs and the North American A native of South Dakota, Melius received a the Service’s major videos, ran a professional Waterfowl Management Plan, as well as 2 bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology and a printing operation, and established strong years as an editorial assistant for technical master’s degree in wildlife and fisheries public affairs staff support for programs. research publications in the former science from South Dakota State University. Research Division. “Perhaps his most important legacy,” Smith contended, “is the sound reputation and Rachel F. Levin, Public Affairs, credibility of the Service’s public affairs Washington, DC operation among the nation’s news media.” 4 Mexican Wolf Program Pushes On Workshop Targets Marine Invertebrate Trade

Biologists moved two groups of Mexican Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt assisted wolves into acclimation pens in the Apache Service biologists in transferring the female National Forest in mid-January, while the wolf to the Campbell Blue pen. four remaining wolves from the first reintroduction last year were released into “My presence here is to say the lobo is here the forest with markings intended to help to stay. We will do whatever is necessary to hunters distinguish them from coyotes. ensure its success,” said Babbitt.

Service and Arizona Game and Fish Of eleven wolves, released as part of an Department biologists transported five experimental, nonessential population, only wolves from Ted Turner’s Ladder Ranch in these four remain in the wild. Biologists southern New Mexico to the Engineer captured four other wolves and returned Springs acclimation pen, and shortly after them to Sevilleta NWR in New Mexico. moved four wolves from Sevilleta NWR to Five wolves were apparently shot, including the Turkey Creek pen. the mother of the first Mexican wolf pup born in the wild in more than 25 years. Making a match. Service Special Agent Each of the two new groups consists of a Consequently, it is presumed, the pup is DeMarion McKinney practices coral family of wolves bred in captivity; adults dead too. identification during a workshop field trip were held at the facilities for 12 to 14 months to a coral importer’s warehouse. Photo by and offspring were born at the facilities in “All of these losses are tragic,” Babbitt said, Kim Hamilton May 1998. The wolves will be held in the “because the wolves were displaying all the pens for a month or two to become right behaviors in the wild. Each of them was Efforts to curtail illegal trade in corals and acclimated to their surroundings, and then successfully hunting elk and avoiding other imperiled marine species got a boost will be released into the forest. livestock.” in November when law enforcement officers from the United States, Canada All wolves will wear brightly colored radio The mother wolf, found dead last August, and Mexico examined the issue at a four-day collars that will allow them to be monitored was particularly demonstrative of how marine invertebrate workshop in Long by wolf biologists and enhance their visibility capable the wolves were of adapting to the Beach, California. if forest users encounter them. wild. After she had endured a severe injury while hunting elk, she was strong enough to The workshop, sponsored by the North Meanwhile, two pairs of wolves released recover and continue hunting and killing food American Wildlife Enforcement Group, from the Engineer Springs and Campbell for her new pup. targeted growing global concern about the Blue pens on December 11, 1998, continue future of coral reef ecosystems and such to explore their surroundings. Hans Stuart, External Affairs, marine invertebrates as giant clams and Albuquerque, New Mexico queen conch. The Commission for Last of the original eleven wolves released Environmental Cooperation, which last spring, the two males were captured Ben Ikenson, Student Conservation addresses North American environmental and each paired with a female in their Associate, Albuquerque, New Mexico issues, provided funding and administrative respective pens. support for the training program.

The hindquarters of each wolf were “Huge quantities of corals and other marine spray-painted orange and the radio collars species enter trade each year, and many were also painted, orange for the males end up in the United States or other and pink for the females. The paint will not North American markets,” said Service interfere with mating because the animals Senior Wildlife Inspector Sheila Einsweiler, are colorblind. who helped plan the workshop and taught a segment on identifying products made from marine invertebrates. “International protections regulate this trade, but enforcing those rules at the port of entry can be difficult.”

Species identification is the first step in the import inspection process, but this task can be a major hurdle. International trade restrictions, for example, cover more than 250 genera of stony coral alone. These reef-building corals cannot enter the United States, Mexico or Canada legally 5 Investigation Results in First-Ever Coral Smuggling Charges

unless they are accompanied by export Contraband. Service permits from the country of origin. inspectors seized a shipment containing “You can’t verify a permit, detect fraud, some 400 boxes of seize an illegal shipment or foil a smuggling endangered coral as attempt if you don’t know what you’re part of a multi-year looking at,” Einsweiler said. coral smuggling investigation. The workshop focused heavily on species USFWS photo. and product identification. Classroom instruction was supplemented by field trips to two local marine import businesses where participants had a chance to test their refined identification skills on the establishments’ inventories.

The workshop opened with an overview of protected marine species and included sessions on protecting reef ecosystems, A federal investigation of a coral and seashell The Philippines banned the export of corals global trade patterns, and techniques for smuggling operation resulted in the in 1977. Many of the species involved in this conducting inspections and detecting fraud November 1998 grand jury indictment of a case, including blue, organ-pipe, branch, and smuggling. Scientists from the Southern Florida businessman and his Philippine brush, staghorn, finger, brown stem, California Marine Institute briefed the group trading partner on conspiracy charges. mushroom, and feather corals, have been on efforts to artificially cultivate corals, and listed on Appendix II of the Convention on staff from the Aquarium of the Pacific The case, pursued by Service special agents International Trade in Endangered Species discussed ways to store and care for seized and wildlife inspectors with the law of Wild Fauna and Flora since 1985. Such corals and marine invertebrate species. enforcement office in Tampa, Florida; species may not be legally traded without officers from the U.S. Customs Service; export permits from the country of origin. Service Wildlife Inspectors Janine and the U.S. Attorney for the Middle Marquardt from Miami and Michael District of Florida, is believed by the Justice In addition to dealing in protected corals, Osborn and Dahlia Merida from Los Angeles Department to be the first federal criminal the defendants also allegedly trafficked in served as instructors. Training segments felony prosecution involving illegal coral and a variety of protected seashells, including were also presented by representatives seashell trade. giant clams, China clams, bear’s paw clams, from the Mexican government’s helmet shells and trumpet shells. environmental protection authority, the “Coral reefs are crucial to global ecological National Oceanic and Atmospheric well-being; they are a basic building block The Service investigation of the smuggling Administration, the National Marine of the food chain on which people, fish and operation began in July 1997 when Wildlife Fisheries Service, and TRAFFIC USA, wildlife all depend,” said Sam D. Hamilton, Inspector Joseph DeJulio intercepted a an arm of the World Wildlife Fund that regional director for the Service’s Southeast shipment containing over 400 boxes and studies wildlife trade issues. region. “Commercial exploitation is a packages of coral and seashells at the airport serious threat to these fragile resources. in Tampa, Florida. Special Agent Patrick The marine invertebrate workshop was the Rigorous enforcement of the laws and Lund, working with counterparts from U.S. fourth in a series of cooperative training treaties that regulate trade in corals and Customs, documented a series of allegedly programs sponsored by the North American other species is essential to preserving the illegal transactions between the indicted Wildlife Enforcement Group. Previous world’s marine ecosystems.” U.S. businessman and his Philippine supplier programs addressed enforcement issues that extended back over a six-year period. involving the reptile skin, wild bird and The six-count grand jury indictment alleges fur trades. that from 1991 to 1997 a U.S. importer who The pair have been charged with conspiring ran a seashell and gift shop in Tarpon to violate the Endangered Species Act, the “Trilateral workshops allow our countries to Springs, Florida, conspired with the owner Lacey Act and the federal anti-smuggling share information and expertise and improve of an export business in Cebu City, the law. The Florida businessman and his our collective enforcement capabilities,” said Philippines, to smuggle protected corals and company have also been charged with Kevin Adams, chief of the office of Law seashells into the United States. The pair importation violations under the Lacey Act. Enforcement. “Our ultimate goal is to close allegedly used false declarations, invoices If convicted, the two defendants could face North America as a market for illegal and shipping documents to circumvent U.S. sentences of up to five years in prison and wildlife and wildlife products.” and Philippine laws as well as international fines as high as $250,000 per count. trade restrictions that protect corals and Sandy Cleva, Division of Law Enforcement, other marine species. Sandy Cleva, Division of Law Enforcement, Arlington, Virginia Arlington, Virginia 6 Initiatives Address Migratory Bird Conservation

The Service is moving forward with several and managing wetlands to benefit waterfowl initiatives that recognize the conservation and other migratory birds.” of migratory birds and habitat as vital components in ongoing efforts to keep More than half of the original wetlands in the species at sustainable levels. United States have been lost and many of those that remain are degraded. In many Light Geese Habitat Destruction areas of the country, moist-soil management “It’s a basic axiom of wildlife management areas provide invaluable habitat for that healthy wildlife populations can’t waterfowl and other migratory birds. survive without sufficient habitat,” said Robert Blohm, acting chief of the Office The proposed change to federal baiting of Migratory Bird Management. “For regulations would allow hunting of waterfowl hundreds of species, loss of habitat from and cranes over natural vegetation that has encroaching human development has led been mowed or otherwise manipulated to directly to declining populations.” benefit migratory birds, as long as the manipulation takes place at least 10 days But in the case of several species of before the start of any waterfowl season. Arctic-nesting greater and lesser snow geese and Ross’ geese, agricultural, urban and The change will also clarify other existing refuge development has had the opposite baiting rules to make it easier for hunters to effect. The vast fields of soybeans, wheat understand their obligations, said Adams. and other crops found throughout flyways and along wintering grounds, coupled Service biologists expect no adverse effect on with expanded state and federal waterfowl migratory bird populations as a result of refuge areas, have provided light geese these proposed regulatory changes. The with ample forage and resting areas during Habitat destruction. Several species of light additional areas of natural vegetation that their yearly migrations, Blohm said. geese including Ross’ geese (pictured above) are expected to be preserved because of the have overgrazed their own feeding and proposed changes will benefit waterfowl and The resulting decrease in the mortality rate nesting grounds around the Hudson Bay in other migratory birds. of these light geese has triggered explosive Canada. Photo by Glen Smart. population growth that is contributing to the The proposal sets a clear cut-off date for destruction of critical feeding and nesting The Service in February published two final legal manipulation of these areas if they are grounds around Canada’s Hudson Bay. rules that give state wildlife agencies in to be hunted and broadens the definition of 24 Midwestern and southern states the natural vegetation to include millet. Light geese feed by pulling up and eating the authority to allow hunters to use unplugged roots of plants, a natural practice known as shotguns and electronic calls during regular The inclusion of millet was a tough decision, grubbing. “At healthy population levels, light goose seasons. In addition, states could Adams said, because it functions as both an grubbing actually helps stimulate plant establish a special conservation order agricultural crop and a moist-soil growth in the salt marshes around the bay,” without bag and possession limits up to and management tool, as well as an important said Blohm. past March 10, after all other migratory bird food source for migrating and wintering sport hunting seasons have closed. waterfowl. The Service decided that the But competition for food has caused geese potential benefits justify including millet in to overgraze these areas, denuding large Baiting Regulations the proposed definition of natural vegetation, swaths of vital summer plant growth. The Service is working to facilitate even when it is planted and mowed. Scientists believe that this habitat restoration of wetlands and ensure the long- degradation has contributed to declining term conservation of migratory birds across The Service is now evaluating comments on populations of more than 30 other bird the United States by proposing to change the proposed rule, with a final rule expected species in the area. existing regulations on baiting, Kevin sometime in the spring. Adams, chief of Law Enforcement, said. In an effort to bring light geese populations Congressional Activity under control, the Service has finalized Hunting is currently restricted in areas Congressional action this fall mandated several modifications to existing hunting where natural vegetation has been mowed or changes in two other aspects of migratory frameworks and a new initiative biologists otherwise manipulated to make the area game bird hunting that the Service has now hope will dramatically increase the take more attractive to waterfowl. “While baiting incorporated into its regulations. of birds. has been and will continue to be illegal,” he said, “the proposed change recognizes that a In past years, hunters could be cited for blanket prohibition on those practices may be discouraging landowners from improving 7 Service Opens Art Gallery in Northeast RO

hunting in a baited area even if they had no It’s an art...Wildlife knowledge that it was baited. Under a new artist Alan James law, they can be cited only if they “know or Robinson works on reasonably should have known” that the area a painting at the was baited. opening of an art exhibit in the The law in essence expands to the entire Region 5 regional country the liability standard in effect for office. Photo by parts of the South covered by the Fifth Terri Edwards. Circuit, where a 1978 federal court decision established a similar standard for baiting, said Adams. The change does not remove hunters’ affirmative obligation to ask about the presence of any bait in the area to be hunted and to physically inspect the area before beginning to hunt.

Congress also included language in the 1999 Omnibus Appropriations Bill that gave six southern states the opportunity to change their duck hunting seasons from a 60-day season ending on January 17 to a 51-day season ending on January 31. The states of The Northeast region is seeking artists December 3, 1998, through January 5, 1999. Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama opted interested in displaying their nature and Robinson is the owner, designer to shorten their seasons and extend them wildlife-related art in a new gallery at the and illustrator for the award-winning into January by two weeks, while Arkansas, regional office in Hadley, Massachusetts. Press of the Sea Turtle in Kentucky and Louisiana chose not to make The gallery is open to the public during Easthampton, Massachusetts. the change. weekday business hours. The nature and wildlife photographs of Sol Chris Tollefson, Public Affairs, Wildlife artist and outdoorsman Alan James Levine will be on display from January Washington, DC Robinson exhibited his wood engravings and through March. Many of Levine’s lithographs, as well as his unique nature photographs were taken on Service and paintings done on topographical maps, from National Park Service lands in the southeastern United States. His work was recently on display at the Department of the Interior museum in Washington, D.C.

New Refuge Dedicated in Virginia Contact Region 5 External Affairs at 413/253 8322 if you know of accomplished Refuge Manager Greg Weiler hosted peacetime 1991 Defense Base Realignment artists who may be interested in displaying Senators John Warner and Charles Robb and Closure Act. “The quality of wildlife their work in the new gallery. The art may and Congressmen Davis and Moran of habitat attracted strong local support for be created in any medium and must relate Virginia, along with Service and Department making this land into a national wildlife to wildlife, nature or environmental of Army representatives and 150 area refuge,” said Northeast Regional Director conservation themes. residents at an October 31, 1998, ceremony Ronald Lambertson. dedicating Occoquan Bay NWR. Terri Edwards, External Affairs, Grasslands on the refuge will be managed for Hadley, Massachusetts The new refuge is located along Occoquan wildlife, and recreational opportunities will Bay at the confluence of the Potomac and include environmental education and wildlife Occoquan rivers in northern Virginia. It is a observation. Service engineers are designing square-mile oasis for wildlife in a heavily a plan for renovating a building on the populated urban area. property for use as a visitor contact station. Construction is expected to begin in 1999. The former Woodbridge Army Research Facility-Harry Diamond Laboratories Terri Edwards, External Affairs, became available to the Service as part of the Hadley, Massachusetts 8 Predator-Friendly Beef for In NH, Babbitt Hamburger-Hungry Humans Salutes Wild and Scenic Rivers

Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt traveled to Durham, New Hampshire, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act last October. While there, Babbitt announced support for a project to provide anadromous fish access to spawning and rearing habitat in New Hampshire’s Lamprey River, which bears the “Wild and Scenic” designation.

Signed by President Johnson on October 2, 1968, the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act protects river segments which contain remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, historic, cultural, and fish and wildlife values. To date, 155 river segments in 36 states have been designated as National Wild and Scenic Rivers—nearly 11,000 miles in length. Protected rivers range from the mighty Missouri River to the 47-mile Lamprey River, 13 miles of which was designated A novel concept. Guests at the Albuquerque Biological Park line up for a burger made with in 1995. predator-friendly beef. Photo by Ben Ikenson. The proposed project on the Lamprey River Predator-friendly beef? What sounds like a Cattle ranchers such as Jim Winder of is slated to begin in the fall of 1999 and be contradiction in terms is, in fact, a new label Heritage Ranch represent a new generation completed by 2001, said Joseph McKeon, that will appear on beef products from of ranchers in the Southwest who welcome project leader at the Office of Fishery ranches whose proprietors believe in sharing the reintroduction of predators like the Assistance in Laconia, New Hampshire. their land with all indigenous wildlife, Mexican wolf because of the species’ intrinsic Work at Wiswall Dam on the Lamprey will including coyotes, mountain lions and wolves. importance to the ecosystem. include modifications to the structure and construction of a fish ladder. Last October Southwest Regional Director For the better part of this century, a Nancy Kaufman joined Craig Miller of federally supported predator-control “A fish passage facility at this dam would Defenders of Wildlife as the non-profit program used poisons, guns and traps to open 43 miles of habitat, including 300 acres organization introduced predator-friendly eliminate species that threatened livestock. of spawning habitat for anadromous fish,” beef. About 100 people, including In 1914, the capture or kill of a Mexican wolf McKeon said. “This project will restore runs Albuquerque Mayor Jim Baca, attended the paid bounties of as much as $10, and by the of river herring, American shad, American event at the Albuquerque Biological Park, late 1970s, Mexican wolves no longer existed eel, sea lamprey and striped bass to anxiously awaiting a free burger made in the United States. upstream sections of the river where these from Heritage Ranch beef, a product of species historically lived.” Jim Winder’s wolf-country New Mexico A year ago, the Service began reintroducing ranch. Between bites they read about the Mexican wolves to part of their historic The New Hampshire Fish and Game evolution of predator-friendly beef and range in the Apache National Forest in Department has responsibility for learned that “...‘cattle ranching’ and eastern Arizona. anadromous fish management on New ‘environmentally friendly’ need not be Hampshire coastal rivers, and has worked mutually exclusive any longer.” Predator-friendly beef may cost more but, closely with Service biologists in developing as Miller said, it will be worth it. He urged the project proposal. Kaufman expressed the Service’s support that the cost of restoring the environment for predator-friendly beef. “Our bottom line be shared with a public who really cares is to work with all interested and affected for the environment, who will focus their parties to improve the status of listed species spending on environmentally sound and the health of natural resources in the products, and thus enable this kind of Southwest,” she said. “Also, we are very ranching to be economically feasible. concerned with maintaining economic viability for the lifestyles and cultures that Ben Ikenson, Student Conservation have come to define the spirit of the West.” Associate, Albuquerque, New Mexico

She later sampled a burger, pronouncing it “delicious.” 9 Interior Marks 150th with Events Throughout the Year

The Department of the Interior will celebrate its 150th anniversary March 3 but the partying won’t be confined to just one day. Here’s a look at some of the activities planned for the coming months to recognize the anniversary, the Department and the hard work of Interior employees around the nation.

Environmental Film Festival Photography and Poetry Contests A gala opening night with a celebrity host Bureaus will hold these contests for will kick off this event, tentatively planned employees and their children. Stay tuned for mid-March. In addition, each interested for further information. bureau will have an opportunity to host one night of the festival. Presidential Proclamation The Department submitted a draft Departmental Awards Convocation proclamation last year to ensure issuance on The convocation is scheduled for March 3, the anniversary date. The proclamation will 1999, at 2 p.m. in the Main Interior emphasize the value of public lands. Building auditorium. The highest-level Departmental honor awards will be Service Director Jamie Rappaport Clark is presented—Distinguished Service Awards, encouraging Service offices to help celebrate Valor Awards, the Secretary’s Diversity the anniversary using the 150th anniversary Awards and Conservation Service Awards. logo on all publications and incorporating A “Wild and Scenic” place. Interior Secretary In addition, Presidential Rank Award the 150th anniversary into existing special Bruce Babbitt (left) chats with Project recipients for 1997 and 1998, and the events such as Earth Day, International Leader Joe McKeon of the Service’s Laconia Information Technology Award recipients Migratory Bird Day, National Fishing Fishery Assistance Office along the banks will be recognized. Week and National Wildlife Refuge Week. of the Lamprey River. USFWS photo. Black and white and color version of the The Secretary will also present the newest logo are available on the DOI website at Dams built on the Lamprey River over the Departmental honor, the Unsung Hero http://www.doi.gov. years to support industrial and residential Award, established specifically for the development prevented fish from swimming anniversary to recognize those employees Rachel F. Levin, Public Affairs, upstream to spawn, McKeon said. A fish who regularly do more than their jobs Washington, DC ladder will enhance efforts to restore require. The Department hopes in the future river herring in the Lamprey River, and to honor an Unsung Hero on a monthly Editor’s note: In March, People, Land and will also provide support for federal and basis. Look for more information on the Water, the Departmental newsletter, will state fish restoration efforts in other Unsung Hero Award, plus a list of winners publish a special edition to commemorate nearby watersheds. from the Service, in the March/April issue of the 150th anniversary, featuring a history Fish & Wildlife News. of the Interior Department as well as a Charlene Brown, Office of Fishery look back at the origins of the Service Assistance, Laconia, New Hampshire and the people who have help to shape our agency’s mission. 10 Bringing the Hatchery to the “Hilltowns”

“We’ve literally carried the hatchery to the This, Rowan acknowledges, takes hilltowns so people can understand what’s partnerships. Among the government going on in their backyard in the Westfield agencies involved are the National Marine River,” said Mickey Novak, project leader at Fisheries Service, U.S. Forest Service, the salmon station, which raises Atlantic Connecticut Department of Environmental salmon for spawning and stocking in western Protection, Massachusetts Division of Massachusetts rivers. Fisheries and Wildlife, New Hampshire Department of Fish and Game, and Participants were also invited to sample local the Vermont Department of Fisheries cuisine and hospitality over the weekend. and Wildlife.

About fifty people spawned salmon and “We can’t get fishways built without twenty of them stocked the newly fertilized cooperation from local businesses, and we eggs in nearby Roaring Brook, a tributary of can’t stock the millions of baby Atlantic the east branch of the Westfield River. salmon throughout the river valley without Volunteers built gravel nests in the stream huge numbers of citizen volunteers and Rinse cycle. Volunteers look on as Phil bottom, filled them with eggs, and carefully assistance from local conservation groups,” Herzig of the Sunderland Office of Fishery covered the eggs to safeguard them from she said. “We can’t protect riverine habitat Assistance rinses newly fertilized salmon floods and predators. unless private landowners help. We can’t eggs. USFWS photo. even make sure anglers can tell a trout “It gives a sense of life in the river,” said one from a salmon without help from sporting The Service’s Connecticut River volunteer, observing that this is “important goods businesses.” Coordinator’s office, along with local in protecting responsible economic growth businesses and the Westfield River that protects our natural resources.” According to the 1996 National Survey Watershed Association, sponsored an of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Eco-Weekend November 14–15 in Two hundred years ago, said Janice Rowan, Associated Recreation, more than half Huntington, Massachusetts. About 70 project leader at the Connecticut River of all Massachusetts residents participated people, many of whom had little or no Coordinator’s office, Atlantic salmon went in wildlife-associated recreation, and they experience handling live fish, spawned and extinct in the Connecticut River because of spend nearly two billion dollars per year stocked Atlantic salmon and learned about dams, pollution and overfishing. For the past doing it. local fisheries conservation efforts. 30 years, state and federal agencies have been working to restore these fish and the “So, it’s only natural that we would come “This was the first time I’ve seen fish rivers in which they swim. together with local businesses to promote the spawn,” said one participant, who found it restoration program. What we do can help “a great experience.” Another participant Now hundreds of thousands of shad and them attract business. What they do can who tried her hand at spawning a female striped bass swim the river each spring, twist the balance of success for restoration,” salmon reported, “This is a lot more and an annual run of Atlantic salmon Rowan said. complicated than I realized!” has returned.

The Eco-Weekend allowed residents of the However, because there are not yet enough “hilltowns” of western Massachusetts to fish to meet all needs, the Service and other learn about the Service’s activities at the agencies continue to produce and stock Richard Cronin National Salmon Station, salmon from hatcheries, protect important located about an hour away. habitat, conduct research, and work to get fishways built so fish will be able to swim up to their spawning and nursery habitat and out to the ocean when they’re ready. 11 Pristine Dunes Cranes Draw Crowds to Added to Bosque del Apache NWR Humboldt Bay NWR

Around the time of the year when many folks scurry about to prepare turkey dinners for flocks of relatives, flocks of cranes congregate at Bosque del Apache NWR in the Middle Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico. In a floodplain rich with the golden hues of autumn cottonwoods and verdant fields of alfalfa and ripened corn, thousands of migrating waterfowl and sandhill cranes fly, gawk, cackle, swim and feed.

For four days, November 19-22, 1998, the 11th annual Festival of the Cranes, sponsored by the refuge, the city of Socorro, A welcome addition. A traditional ribbon New Mexico, and the Socorro County cutting marked the addition of Lanphere Chamber of Commerce, drew thousands of Dunes to Humboldt Bay NWR. Wielding wildlife watchers to the refuge to witness the scissors are (left to right) Friends of the spectacle of these majestic migrants. Dunes President John St. Marie, California State Coastal Conservancy Executive Officer “The festival was created to showcase the Bill Ahern, Region 1 Assistant Regional refuge and its wildlife, and to foster in the Friendly gathering. Thousands of cranes and Director for Refuges and Wildlife Carolyn local community a sense of pride and other migratory birds gather at Bosque Bohan, The Nature Conservancy Coastal participation,” said Refuge Manager del Apache NWR each autumn. Photo by Area Director Lynn Lozier, and Humboldt Phil Norton. “Probably the most popular Ben Ikenson. County Supervisor John Woolley. Photo by event every year is the evening fly-in” Susan Saul. to the breathtaking spectacle of thousands Also during the festival, Recovery Project of sandhill cranes and light geese Leader Dave Parsons discussed the complex The most pristine dune ecosystem on the descending over the marshes of the scientific and social issues involved in the north Pacific Coast is now part of Humboldt refuge at sunset, he said. Service’s Mexican Wolf Recovery Project, Bay NWR. After 24 years in The Nature and fourth generation New Mexico cattle Conservancy’s care, the 450-acre “It’s an unforgettable experience, especially rancher Jim Winder spoke about the benefits Lanphere-Christensen Dunes Preserve when you add in the burbles of circling of uniting the efforts of ranchers with those was welcomed into the northern California cranes calling to their companions on the of environmentalists. refuge with a ceremony in October. marsh and the cacophony of the geese. It’s just impossible not to be moved by these The refuge seemed an appropriate stage for The Lanphere Dunes contain the timeless rituals surrounding migration,” such a topic, as the staff works closely with southernmost stand of coastal beach pine Norton said local farmers, some of whom sharecrop forest, two federally-listed endangered refuge land to grow corn and alfalfa, two plants, dune hollow wetlands, and rare Aside from the marvel of such a dense crops used to feed and manipulate the northern foredune grassland and dune mat conglomeration of winged wildlife, the movement of the birds. plant communities. festival hosted a diverse array of educational exhibits, demonstrations, programs and Norton pronounced the 1998 crane festival Friends of the Dunes volunteers escorted workshops. Presenters addressed such a success. about 75 guests on a half-mile walk through topics as birding by ear, which taught the coastal forest to emerge at the open identification of birds by their sounds, Native “Plentiful wildlife and cooperating weather dune ceremony location overlooking several American culture, and local history. attracted large crowds of mellow, happy rare plant communities and the Pacific folks, to this year’s festival, making it a real Ocean. Participants reminisced about how Walking, hiking and vehicular tours provided celebration of nature,” he said. Mrs. Lanphere, the property’s former fun opportunities to learn about birds, owner, used to defend the dunes from wildlife photography, and even archeology— Ben Ikenson, Student Conservation off-road vehicles with her pistol. courtesy of a tour of the San Pasqual, San Associate, Albuquerque, New Mexico Pasqualito, and Qualaco Piro Indian ruins in Speakers praised the Friends of the Dunes’ an area ordinarily closed to the public. work to remove non-native plants, and they acknowledged the ecological values of the dunes as an addition to the refuge.

Susan Saul, External Affairs, Portland, Oregon 12 Project Leader Remembers Region 1 Employees

Mike Callow and Kathy Cheap, Service employees at the Mid-Columbia River NWR Complex in Oregon, were killed November 6 when their aircraft went down in the Columbia River near Washington state’s Hanford Reach. Here they are remembered by their boss, Gary Hagedorn, project leader at the complex.

James Michael (Mike) Callow June 16, 1948–November 6, 1998 Mike was a native Missourian, born in Marysville and raised in his home state. He served in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972 and graduated from Missouri State University with a bachelor’s degree.

He began his wildlife career in 1976 with the National Park Service as a biological technician and later worked for the Bureau Mike Callow at the National Wildlife Refuge of Reclamation in the late 1970s and 1980s. Kathy Cheap. Photo ©Chuck and Conference in Keystone, Colorado. Photo by At the Service’s Northern Prairie Wildlife Grace Bartlett. David Linehan. Research Center from 1979 through 1989, Mike worked on several wildlife research Kathleen Mary Cheap A unique woman with many talents and projects including waterfowl nesting studies December 11, 1950–November 6, 1998 hobbies, Kathy loved contra dancing and in the Canadian prairie provinces and the Kathy was born and raised in Vallejo, calling as well as horseback riding and was Woodsworth Biological Station. California, and graduated from Vallejo a skilled artist in numerous mediums. She Senior High in 1969. She continued her touched so many of our lives and gave us all In 1989 Mike went to work at Arrowwood education at Solano Community College in a piece of her to carry on forever. NWR Complex in North Dakota and then California, transferring to California State served as refuge manager at Squaw Creek University at San Luis Obispo to obtain a Kathy was characterized by her bubbly NWR in Mound City, Missouri, for seven degree in biology and earning a master’s personality and the passion she exhibited for years before transferring to Oregon as degree in wildlife science from New Mexico her work. She lived her life to the fullest. manager of Umatilla NWR in 1998. State University at Las Cruces. Gary Hagedorn, Mid-Columbia River Mike was well known for his knowledge and In 1983, Kathy went to work as a biological NWR, Umatilla, Oregon ability in restoration of wetland and native technician for the National Oceanic and prairie habitats. His strong work ethic and Atmospheric Administration in Beaufort, dedication resulted in numerous high quality North Carolina. She came to the Service in restoration projects. July 1984 as a biological technician at Tamarac NWR in Rochert, Minnesota. The good-natured, always happy attitude he Later, Kathy held positions as a wildlife exhibited was contagious and people who biologist for the Upper Mississippi River worked with and for him appreciated his National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in sense of humor and amiable personality. Winona, Minnesota; refuge manager at Mike was a highly principled man who will be Umatilla NWR in Irrigon, Oregon; greatly missed. and most recently as a wildlife biologist for the Mid-Columbia River NWR Complex in Umatilla, Oregon. 13 Alaska Refuge Blazes a New Trail Tracing the Decline of Mussels

Although they’ve been around since prehistoric times, relatively little is known about America’s freshwater mussels.

Biologists know that more freshwater mussels live in North America than anywhere else on earth. Mussels don’t swim, yet they live under water. Most have beaks, yet they make no sounds. They are harvested commercially and poached illegally from U.S. lakes, rivers and streams, then sold to overseas markets.

Biologists also know that freshwater mussels are among the most endangered species in America. Of approximately 300 species of mussels in the United States, 30 are extinct and 70 are listed as threatened or endangered.

Revolutionary trail. This environmentally-friendly trail floats on Kachemak Bay at Beluga Populations continue to decline for a number Slough NWR. Photo by Poppy Benson. of reasons. Impoundments such as dams and locks, water pollution, excessive silt and Alaska Maritime NWR recently celebrated Parts of the Beluga Slough Trail go through sedimentation affect mussels. These factors the completion of a unique trail, created a tunnel of fireweed while other parts float also affect fish, which mussels require as through a joint effort among the Service, the on top of saltwater. Located near the hosts for reproduction. Alaska departments of Transportation and commercial center of Homer on the northern Natural Resources, and the city of Homer. shore of Kachemak Bay, it winds through a The accidental introduction of the zebra Students, recreational users and local lower marsh area and a wet upland area and mussel—an exotic nuisance species—to residents now have a revolutionary floating over a saturated wetland flooded by the tides America’s rivers poses a threat to freshwater trail winding through the proposed refuge several times a month. mussels. Zebra mussels clump themselves to visitors’ center site and onto a city-owned the shells of freshwater mussels, filtering park on the shore of Kachemak Bay. Benson said the refuge plans to break food out of the water before it can reach ground on the new visitors’ center in 2001, native mussels and causing them to starve. The 2,500 foot long environmentally-friendly but added that the new Beluga Slough Trail (See related article, page 16) trail offers pedestrians the opportunity to kicked things off. Future plans for the trail see a saltwater wetland up close while itself include a 2,000 foot extension to As scientists note recent declines in mussel preserving the integrity of the fragile complete a pedestrian link around the north populations throughout the United States, location. The builders made the trail with edge of the slough. they are paying more attention to the tiny minimal disturbance to the wetland, which bivalves and learning more about them. supports waterfowl, shorebirds and cranes, Connie M.J. Barclay, External Affairs, and provides winter feeding for moose. Anchorage, Alaska “[Freshwater mussels] are pretty inconspicuous and they don’t demand a lot of The new trail is made of polyurethane foam attention, so they’re a pretty easy species to encased in polyethylene plastic, which rises overlook,” said Andy Roberts, a Service and falls with the Kachemak Bay tides. “One biologist in Columbia, Missouri. “They’re not of the incredible things about this trail is that cute, furry animals, and they aren’t very it cost a half a million dollars, and was paid cuddly. But they are ecologically important.” for with Exxon Valdez money and state money,” Refuge Outdoor Recreation Planner Roberts’ office recently brought together Poppy Benson said. “This trail offers a a group of regional mussel experts, wonderful opportunity for people to see and malacologists, to conduct a hands-on appreciate the beauty of Alaska, with an up- freshwater mussel identification workshop. close view of the habitat and the wildlife, Fifty people, including representatives of the without hurting anything.” Missouri departments of Natural Resources and Conservation and the Army Corps of Engineers, and private consultants and educators, attended. continued on next page 14 Hurricane Georges Damages Habitat in the Southeast

The good news is that southeastern and Caribbean populations of several endangered and threatened species survived the September onslaught of Hurricane Georges. The bad news is that the effects of the storm on these species will linger because of severe damage to their habitats.

The storm’s most powerful hit targeted one of the three most productive nesting islands of the endangered brown pelican at Breton NWR off Louisiana’s coast. That island, which previously supported more than 7,000 brown pelican nests, is now open water.

“It just ceased to exist,” said Sam D. Hamilton, regional director for the Southeast region. “The topography of the gulf makes the ecosystem extremely susceptible to a significant hurricane like Georges. I am truly impressed by Service employees’ Distinguishing features. Fish and wildlife superlative efforts to prepare for the storm biologist Andy Roberts (left) explains the and conduct damage control by clearing Storm damage. Besides damaging habitat identifying features of a freshwater mussel the tremendous wreckage and muck that used by several endangered and threatened to a participant in a mussel workshop Georges left behind.” species, last summer’s Hurricane Georges sponsored by the Columbia Ecological caused structural damage to Service Services field office. Photo by Scott Flaherty. A nearby island which also supported more facilities such as National Key Deer Refuge. than 7,000 nests was almost completely Photo by Barry Stieglitz Workshop participants studied the empty destroyed. A third island which holds some shells of 62 Midwestern native mussel 2,000 nests sustained minor damage. Most In Puerto Rico, the brunt of the hurricane species and learned about mussel of the remaining suitable habitat is subject slammed the eastern and southeastern reproduction and the role of fish hosts. to flooding because of its low elevation; slopes in Puerto Rico’s Caribbean National Later they waded through the various sites increased populations of raccoons, which Forest. The storm spared the valley where on the Meramec River in eastern Missouri prey on pelican eggs and young birds, most of the endangered Puerto Rican to identify mussels. also are a threat. parrot’s breeding activity takes place and where most of the non-breeding flocks However, identifying different species of “Fortunately this year’s nesting season reside. Biologists counted 36 surviving of a mussels is difficult, which makes studying had concluded before the storm,” said minimum 40 birds in preliminary surveys them a challenge. No single feature can be Howard Poitevint, project leader for after the storm. Although large chunks of used to identify a particular mussel species; Southeast Louisiana refuges. “Young flying debris destroyed several parrot cages, a combination of characteristics—shape, pelicans had already fledged and had most of the wild nests survived. color, hinge teeth, beak sculpture and begun to scatter throughout the gulf’s where the mussel is found—are keys to coastal areas, minimizing the impact on the However, because of severe structural identifying them. pelicans themselves.” damage to the forest, a planned 1999 release of captive Puerto Rican parrots “Mussels are difficult to identify, there’s no However, Poitevint expects nesting will be delayed one year to the summer or doubt about that,” said Roberts. “You can production by the islands’ pelicans to be low fall of 2000. read about them and look at pictures of them in the foreseeable future unless the birds in books, but we’ve found the best way to locate other suitable areas. On the mainland, Georges surged through teach people about mussels is to actually the Gulf of Mexico, leveling dunes, wiping out have someone show them the characteristics At St. Vincent NWR off Florida’s gulf coast, vegetation and severely damaging critical used to distinguish among them.” Hurricane Earl earlier this year buried habitat for the endangered Alabama beach 17 loggerhead turtle nests in the sand. mouse along coastal Alabama. Tidal surges Scott Flaherty, External Affairs, Hurricane Georges buried the last remaining traveling up to 150 meters inland damaged Minneapolis, Minnesota nest of this threatened species under an or destroyed more than 2,100 acres of beach additional foot of sand. mouse habitat in three recovery zones.

Elsie Davis, External Affairs, Atlanta, Georgia ECOSYSTEM APPROACH PAGE 15 Teams Focus on Ecosystem Approach

If you enjoy the company of shy, retiring The Ohio State University group which Gerry Jackson, assistant director for people who hesitate to voice their conducted the ecosystem approach Ecological Services, is leading the team opinions—you should definitely NOT come evaluation made twelve recommendations. looking at how the Washington Office can to a meeting of the Service’s Ecosystem The Service Directorate acted on one of the better support the ecosystem approach. Implementation Team! recommendations—the organizational structure—and rejected one—the formation “Each level of the Service is critical to the “This team is raising the most difficult of a Landscape Ecology Office in successful implementation of the ecosystem issues, and I think they are serving as a Washington. The remaining ten approach,” Jackson says. “The Washington great sounding board and ‘reality check’ recommendations are the major focus of the Office stands ready to better support the for our progress on implementing the “I-Team’s” work. ecosystem approach by providing increased ecosystem approach,” says deputy director advocacy at the national level, enhancing John Rogers, who leads the team. “They’re In its three meetings so far, the team has communications and coordination and no rubber stamp for the Directorate and, to recommended and initiated actions to providing increased technical assistance.” put it politely, they routinely ‘share’ with me strengthen internal and external when they don’t agree with something!” communications and has drafted guidance on Members of the Implementation Team the roles and responsibilities of ecosystem believe one of their greatest values to Formed in June 1998, the team is composed teams and team members. This guidance, the agency is to provide a forum for of representatives from across Service based on the experience of successful discussion of employee concerns and programs and regions, and includes several ecosystem teams, is intended to be of use recommendations about the ecosystem ecosystem team leaders and GARDs. primarily for ecosystem teams that need to approach. Team members encourage The team’s job is to identify barriers and strengthen their function. employees to contact them. make recommendations that will help the Service more effectively implement the The I-Team is coordinating its actions with Megan Durham, Public Affairs, ecosystem approach. two additional, separate committees charged Washington, DC with looking at specific ecosystem approach “The team’s most important work or goal is issues—budget and the role of the to define and provide solutions to the Washington Office. barriers which impact our ability at the field- Ecosystem Implementation landscape level to effectively and efficiently The Budget Team, under the leadership manage the trust resources for which the of Assistant Director for Administration Team Members Service is responsible,” says team member Denise Sheehan, is examining the most Randy Cook of the Lower Mississippi River effective way to incorporate the ecosystem If you have issues you would like to raise Ecosystem Team. approach into the Service’s budget process. to the attention of the Implementation Team or the Directorate, forward them to Fellow team member Don Hultman, deputy “We’ve heard loud and clear from the Mamie Parker or any team member. chief of the Division of Refuges, agrees. appropriations committee staff that they are very comfortable with the programmatic Kevin Adams Don Hultman “The team has developed into an effective approach to our budget,” says Deputy Roger Banks Brad Johnson forum for not only discussing issues related Director Rogers. “Nevertheless the Tom Bauer Scott Johnston to the ecosystem approach, but for getting ecosystem teams are identifying important John Blankenship Bob Krska those issues and solutions to the Director for resource needs, and we need to find the best Hannibal Bolton Tony Leger action,” Hultman says. “The team is focused way to include those in our budget planning.” Randy Cook Mamie Parker on positive change rather than more process. Kari Duncan Joe Piehuta Having the Deputy Director as team chair The seven-member Budget Ecosystem Task Megan Durham John Rogers helps cut through the bull associated with Force includes representatives from the Nancy Gloman Pat Sousa many team efforts and provides an effective field, regional offices, and Washington Office. Bill Grabill Elliott Sutta conduit to the Directorate.” This small group is trying to develop a clear Jim Houk Pam Thiel and concise process for ecoteams to identify budget priorities and needs, which the GARDs can use with PARDs to formulate regional budget requests. The goals of the planned process are to minimize workload on ecoteams while ensuring their inclusion, and to incorporate ecoteam planning into the existing programmatic budget formulation process. Two members of this group are also members of the Ecosystem Implementation Team, providing excellent liaison and exchange of ideas and perspectives. 16 ECOSYSTEM APPROACH PAGE Ohio River Valley Ecosystem Team Races Against Zebra Mussel Invasion

On an overcast October morning last year, The divers continued their work, carefully Freshwater mussels are America’s most two Service boats floated quietly over the marking off sections of the mussel beds and endangered group of species—biologists rich mussel beds off Muskingum Island in sending basket after basket of encrusted estimate that more than two thirds of them the Ohio River Islands NWR. Members of native mussels to the biologists waiting are imperiled to the point of warranting the Ohio River Valley Ecosystem Team topside. In the boat, a crew from the Service, federal protection. Poor water quality, dams braced for the worst as they tracked the the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the Ohio and channelization have contributed to the movements of divers below by watching their Biological Survey and the West Virginia decline of most mussel species—and the bubbles. Now and again the clanking of Department of Natural Resources sorted arrival of the zebra mussels threatens to heavy machinery broke the silence, echoing through the mussels, identifying such native deliver the knockout punch to many. from one of the many industrial facilities species as pimpleback, monkeyface, and along the banks. pocketbook mussels. But the crew on the river was out do more than survey the losses—it was on a rescue At last, a Service diver broke the surface On the beach, another group scraped, mission. Working from a “hit list” developed and delivered her report. counted and weighed zebras to determine by the Ohio River Valley Ecosystem Team, the extent of the infestation in the mussel the biologists identified vulnerable species to “Zebra mussels are everywhere,” refuge bed, home to 28 different pearlymussel be removed from the river. Federally listed outdoor recreation planner Janet Butler told species, two of them federally listed. Once mussels were sent the USGS-BRD Science waiting biologists and journalists, holding tallied, the results were bleak. The zebra Center in Leetown, West Virginia, and the up two large native mussels, each encrusted mussel population had expanded by more rest were sent to the federal hatchery in with a dense mass of zebra mussels. “Every than 2,000 percent in less than 12 months. White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. native mussel, every rock, is covered.” A year prior, most recovered native mussels Moving the Natives Out of Harm’s Way Zebra mussels, native to the Caspian Sea, had a handful of zebras attached, but most of “Invasive species populations tend to peak made their way to the United States as the natives rescued this day were smothered quickly, and then subside dramatically stowaways on ocean-going freighters. Once with 40 or more, and some had more than 150 before stabilizing, even without control established, the invasive pest expanded into zebras clinging in thick, gristly clumps. efforts,” said Kari Duncan, manager at the Ohio River, probably hitching a ride on White Sulphur Springs NFH, as she used one of the many coal-laden barges like those “These native mussels are going to have a a tube of super glue to tag pearly mussels that steamed slowly past the anchored stressful winter,” said Service biologist for quick identification later. “If we can Service boats that crisp fall day. Patty Morrison softly. successfully hold a sufficient number of vulnerable species in refugia, we are Scott Schell, with the Ohio Division of optimistic about an opportunity to Wildlife was less optimistic. “It looks like reestablish them in the wild at some point we’re going to lose these mussel beds,” in the future.” he said.

Exhibit Crosses Regional and Program Boundaries The Great Lakes Ecosystem Team has developed a bi-regional exhibit on Service programs in the Great Lakes ecosystem which covers portions of regions 3 and 5. Since its initial development in 1997, the exhibit has delivered the Service message at the 1998 State of the Lakes Ecosystem Annual Conference in Buffalo, New York; served as a backdrop for a press conference at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, DC; and been the main attraction in the new, cooperatively managed Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center.

Field stations in both regions have repeatedly demonstrated their commitments to getting the Service message to as many people as possible by volunteering to transport, set-up and staff the exhibit.

The exhibit features different three-dimensional props and artifacts gathered by field offices. These can be switched to represent field stations from any geographic area within the ecosystem, and personalize the exhibit’s message.

Joan Guilfoyle, External Affairs, Minneapolis, Minnesota 17 Mapping Our Ecosystem Boundaries

“We have about 66 percent survival right If you’ve ever looked for a map of Service Currently the Service does not have a now overall, which is quite good considering ecosystem boundaries, you know the national ecosystem coordinator. Southworth just how new this line of research is. For problem—an up-to-date ecosystem map plans to work with the regions, the national some species, it’s much higher,” said simply doesn’t exist. As a result, the Service implementation team for the ecosystem Keith McGilvray, a biologist at the hatchery, is now working on creating a clear and approach and the Directorate to reach an as he carefully placed trays of newly concise map to illustrate those boundaries. agreement on any differences in boundaries. arrived mussels in the holding pond. According to National Geographic When the coverage is complete Southworth White Sulphur Springs is a federal Information Systems Coordinator Deb will circulate it for review as a proposed broodstock facility and provides trout Southworth, the only current map of the Service data standard. The final data layer eggs to other federal, state, and private fish ecosystem boundaries is a very generalized will be available to all Service employees and culture facilities. With assistance from graphic originating from a 1:7,000,000 scale external partners through the Service’s researchers at Virginia Tech, world leaders map. Because of this format, the data cannot Internet site. This coverage will be in a in propagating freshwater mussels, the be combined with other Service information standard data format with documented data hatchery has set aside several ponds to such as station locations. The small scale also content and geographic coordinates. hold the mussels out of harm’s way, with makes it difficult to distinguish precise an eye towards propagation and eventual boundary locations. Employees and partners may use it to reintroduction. produce accurate paper maps of ecosystem “We are working to create a documented, boundaries or easily converted to a variety of “Mussels need fish hosts at early stages in standardized ecosystem boundaries data graphic formats for publication. their lifecycles, so a hatchery is a natural layer that can be utilized in GIS as well facility to begin experimenting with as in various outreach applications,” In addition, and perhaps more importantly, reproduction,” Duncan said. Southworth said. “This data layer will Southworth indicated that the coverage provide a consistent illustration of may be used with other geographic data Dr. Tom Watters, a mussel expert with Ohio ecosystem boundaries to Service staff and layers such as flyways, endangered State University who contributes to the our external partners.” species locations and refuge boundaries rescue effort, underscored the urgency of to develop strategic and project plans, the team’s efforts. In August 1998, he lead It will also contain updated information and to document issues and successes in a team of researchers that documented incorporating changes that several regions ecosystem management. complete extinction of native mussels in have made to their ecosystem boundaries in western Lake Erie just ten years after the the years since the original map was created. You may view the Service’s original first zebras were discovered in those waters. ecosystem map at http://refuges.fws.gov/ Using GIS to create the new data layer NWRSFiles/Graphics/MapGIFs.html. It’s a race against time, but the Ohio River will simplify future updates, according Valley Ecosystem Team and its partners to Southworth. All regions, through Rachel F. Levin, Public Affairs, are in high gear. their Service GIS Steering Committee Washington, DC representatives, have supplied her with Eric Eckl, Public Affairs, updated information on their ecosystem Deb Southworth, Information Resources Washington, DC boundaries. Management, Denver, Colorado

“We still need to resolve data incompatibilities in order to complete the standard data layer,” she said. “These issues include regional differences in ecosystem names from the original national list and questions on jurisdiction when ecosystems cross regional boundaries.” 18 Students Use Internet to Tackle Quiet on the Set! Moose Mystery Hollywood Invades Patuxent Refuge

Thanks to their own World Wide Web page, Hollywood came to southern Maryland two Minnesota radio-collared moose cows last fall when Patuxent Research Refuge known as “B8164” and “D0982” have become served as the set for a movie starring the most popular critters in Region 3. Harrison Ford.

B8164, captured and collared by researchers The star of “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and in January 1996, lives at Agassiz NWR in “Patriot Games” took time out from filming northwest Minnesota. D0982, captured in the movie, “Random Hearts,” to shoot a March 1997, is from the Minnesota video public service announcement on behalf Department of Natural Resources’ Red of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Lake Wildlife Management Area. Previously, these popular moose were well Despite fears that a movie crew would be known to students at Minnesota schools difficult to work with, staff at Patuxent participating in the Adopt-A-Moose welcomed the opportunity (and challenge) to program. Now, as a result of their Internet catch a bit of “Hollywood fever.” It all began exposure, the animals’ popularity has with a phone call from Random Hearts expanded nationwide. Productions at Columbia Pictures, looking for a site to film a portion of a movie. The The Service and the Minnesota Department company said it would need a total of seven of Natural Resources initiated Adopt-A- weeks to construct a log cabin on the refuge, Moose in 1996 to promote awareness of and film for six days and tear down the set. support for solving the mystery of declining Moose mystery. Biologists have captured and moose numbers in northwest Minnesota. radio-collared more than 150 moose as part The only major snag: the producers Local businesses, sporting and conservation of a study on moose mortality in Minnesota. proposed to film in the middle of groups, and individuals sponsored moose by Visitors to the Region 3 home page may hunting season. contributing $400 each—the cost of a radio track the movements of two of those moose. collar—to the research effort. Photo ©Bill Silliker, Jr. After the company agreed to work around hunting schedules on the refuge, Since 1995, more than 88 partners have The site, which traces the travels of B8164 negotiations got underway. They required contributed to the program, providing more and D0982 from the time of their capture several site visits by the film’s producers; than $50,000 toward the purchase of moose to the present, also offers habitat photos, phone calls back and forth between the East collars and helicopter capture of animals. video of a helicopter net gun moose capture, and West coasts; consultations with the interviews with biologists and audio of a Interior Department’s solicitors and other Currently, 93 classes—about 2,700 cow moose. regional and Washington Office personnel; students—and 30 sponsors participate in the and issuance of a detailed Special Use Adopt-A-Moose program. As the project Thanks to thousands of volunteer hours, Permit to cover as many contingencies as grew in size, Maggie Anderson, manager of equipment donations from private could be considered. Agassiz NWR, and Gretchen Mehmel, companies, and cooperation from private manager of the Red Lake Wildlife Area, landowners, the research project is The refuge site to be used was an established began to explore the possibility of beginning to provide answers to the moose primitive camping area that had already establishing a home page to allow an mystery. Since 1995, more than 155 moose been disturbed and had its own parking area. interactive method of following the moose have been radio collared; of these, 55 have Nearby areas accommodated the myriad research project. Soon after, the Minnesota died. Most revealing from a research trailers that moved in to support the actors, Moose Mystery page became a reality. standpoint were the causes of death— directors, crew and caterers. 33 adults and 14 calves perished from The moose mystery home page has become disease, parasites or starvation. Construction on the cabin that was to be the the most popular on the Region 3 website, set proceeded smoothly. Daily clean-up of drawing a record 325,000 hits to the region’s While researchers have not been able to the site kept potential habitat impacts to a home page in one month, according to pinpoint the exact cause of the population minimum and all seemed to be moving along Region 3 Webmaster Larry Dean. decline, they have eliminated some swimmingly, but Mother Nature had her possibilities, such as bear and wolf predation. own thoughts. When it was time to begin With the help of a challenge grant issued by filming, the leaves hadn’t yet turned the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Those interested in the research project their vibrant reds, yellows and oranges! the new home page is now on-line and all may access the new moose page at The company delayed filming until the Minnesota students and Internet users have http://www.fws.gov/r3pao/agassiz/ foliage cooperated. access to the study. The page offers the moose.html. history of moose in Minnesota, outlines ongoing research and tallies the results of Dan Sobieck, External Affairs, the research project. Minneapolis, Minnesota 19 Poaching Duck Eggs Costs Fugitive Big Money

Harrison Ford and his British co-star, A successful aviculturist, Vandenberg was Kristen Scott Thomas, arrived on the scene first arrested in the summer of 1992 as part with little fanfare. Refuge staff conducted of Operation Duck Soup as he tried to leave periodic site checks during the course of the Alaska with 78 exotic duck eggs packed in filming and found Ford to be very amiable. egg cartons warmed with hot water bottles. He had collected the eggs from their nests on Encouraged by Ford’s willingness to interact the North Slope; under his collectors permit, with visitors, Patuxent wildlife biologist Nell Vandenberg was allowed to possess no more Baldacchino spoke with the actor’s staff than 27 eggs. It is also illegal to sell eggs about filming a public service announcement collected from the wild. for the refuge system. A few phone calls and discussions later, staff from the Service’s According to Service agents, the 78 eggs Public Affairs office and the National found in Vandenberg’s cooler when they Conservation Training Center traveled to arrested him would have netted him more the refuge to film the spot. than $100,000 on the black market.

The excitement of the “Hollywood invasion” Vandenberg surrendered his passport and at Patuxent is now just a memory. The movie paid a $50,000 cash bond in U.S. District site, now cleaned up and restored, is in Court in Anchorage. He then fled the United even better condition that it had been; the States and remained a fugitive until his habitat was improved by planting some Examining the contraband. After arresting attorneys contacted the Service last July. additional shrubbery. alleged duck egg smugglers during Operation Duck Soup, Service law The two-year Operation Duck Soup However, the glow of serving as a movie set enforcement agents found themselves investigation targeted aviculturists such as will not soon fade. Some staff members and surrogate parents to dozens of eggs Vandenberg who obtained government volunteers have pictures of themselves with and hatching chicks. Photo by Connie permits to take wild bird eggs for their Harrison Ford. Random Hearts Productions M.J. Barclay. private collections but violated the permits recently made a sizeable donation to the by taking more eggs than authorized, Friends of Patuxent to help expand Service law enforcement agents in October operating in closed areas, and/or selling environmental education activities. And most closed the book on a fugitive who fled the fledglings to exotic bird collectors around the importantly, the refuge system gained a new United States six years ago to avoid world, particularly to wealthy Europeans. outreach tool and a few new friends. prosecution in an illegal Alaskan duck egg collecting case. According to Service agents, there can be big Patricia Nagel, Patuxent Research Refuge, money in selling rare ducks. Waterfowl born Laurel, Maryland Fish & Wildlife Service agents also and raised in captivity by licensed breeders closed Operation Duck Soup, a two-year can lawfully be sold, but birds and eggs Rachel F. Levin, Public Affairs, cooperative undercover investigation taken from the wild cannot. Washington, DC with the Canadian Wildlife Service, when the fugitive, Joe Sidney Vandenberg, Connie M.J. Barclay, External Affairs, turned himself in and pled guilty to four Anchorage, Alaska misdemeanor violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

A judge ordered Vandenberg, 45, of Canada, to pay restitutions in the amount of $50,000 and a criminal fine of $20,000, and sentenced him to two years probation. Vandenberg also forfeited his original $50,000 bond because he fled the country. 20 Southwestern Trout on the Move

Just across the border in New Mexico, recovery of the endangered Gila trout moves forward as well. Beset by recent natural calamities—fire, flood and drought—Gila trout recovery efforts took a turn for the better when a forest fire eradicated non- native trout from a wilderness stream. The New Mexico Fishery Resources Office seized the opportunity and readied the Black Canyon stream for the return of native Gila trout.

Several private angling groups and volunteers marshaled their resources and built a barrier—a small waterfall—funded by Federal Aid monies to keep non-native trout from moving upstream. Mescalero NFH in New Mexico produced several thousand fingerlings from their Gila trout broodstock. Unendangered. The Apache trout, a threatened species, nears the threshold of delisting. Assisted by staff from the Gila National USFWS photo. Forest and the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish, an unprecedented 13,000 Our southwestern trout species, the Apache “After three decades, we’re happy to see this fingerlings made their way to Black Canyon. and Gila trout, are on the move—literally. fish return to its native habitat,” said Daniel Panniers of cold water draped across the Parker, a White Mountain Apache tribal backs of mules carried the Gila trout well The Apache trout, listed as threatened, is member and an Arizona Fishery Resources into the headwaters. Fishery biologists near recovery and may soon be delisted Office biologist. remarked that not a single mortality thanks in large part to the hard work of the occurred on the way in, and the young trout Fisheries field stations in Arizona. The Parker and his colleagues have good reason swam away upon release. Arizona Fishery Resources Office, White to celebrate: the Apache trout recovery plan Mountain Apache Tribe, Arizona Game & calls for 30 self-sustaining stream Barry Wiley, the New Mexico Fishery Fish, Pinetop Fish Health Center, and populations before delisting can occur, and Resource Office’s Gila trout coordinator, Williams Creek NFH, assisted by the New Ord Creek may be number 29. The larger praised the cooperative effort. Mexico Fishery Resources Office, recently fish will be ready to spawn this spring, giving moved Apache trout back into historic this population a head start in getting “We’ve worked hard just to get back to habitat. Eighty-nine fish up to nine inches established. All trout were marked so square one from floods and fires,” said Wiley. long now reside in Ord Creek on the Fort biologists can measure their dispersal and “Black Canyon offered a rare opportunity Apache Indian Reservation. long-term survival. and it’s resulted in the largest reintroduction effort to date. We’re about one stream away Taken from a remote refugia stream on the “The Apache trout is on the brink of from downlisting. A couple of years from Kaibab National Forest, the trout were recovery,” said Stewart Jacks, project leader now, folks may be talking about how to fish packed out by livestock, trucked to an at the Arizona Fishery Resources Office. for Gila trout.” Arizona Game & Fish hatchery and “We’re working hard to get this fish delisted. temporarily held until fish health center Thanks to the help of eager cooperators, that Craig L. Springer, Division of Fisheries, biologists ensured the fish were in good goal is on the near horizon.” Albuquerque, New Mexico health. A hatchery truck transported the trout to Ord Creek for release. 21 Children See “Partners” in Action Video Spotlights Eagle Repository

When she bought her property, de Castro saw evidence of overuse by domestic livestock. Two wetlands had been severely degraded by past mismanagement. Because of their value for diverse wildlife from migrating waterfowl to resident deer, enhancement of the wetlands was one of de Castro’s top priorities.

“Wetlands are a vital part of the ecology in the desert Southwest; they are rare sources of water for innumerable plant and animal species,” she said.

Through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, de Castro planted more than Joint effort. Second graders learned about 5,000 trees and shrubs, drilled grass seed On the wing. The Eagle Rising video and wetlands and the wildlife that depend on throughout her property, placed tons of brochure explain the importance of eagles in them at Kimberly de Castro’s ranch, the site straw bales with grass seed in her eroded Native Americans culture and describe how of a Partners for Fish and Wildlife project. “hot spots,” and designed and placed more the National Eagle Repository processes Photo by Ben Ikenson. than five miles of a drip irrigation system requests for eagle feathers and parts. Photo to ensure success for her planting. by Tami Heilemann. A schoolbus filled with elementary school students tottered along a desolate dirt road The Partners project on de Castro’s Eagle Rising, a new 22-minute Service video, toward Kimberly de Castro’s ranch, about 30 property is three years old and has cost takes an in-depth look at the operations of miles southeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico. On approximately $40,000. The Service, the the National Eagle Repository in Denver, either side of the road that sunny October Department of Agriculture’s Stewardship Colorado. Aimed at Native Americans, morning a thin layer of blue gramma grass Incentive Program and Phillips Petroleum wildlife professionals and the general public, shimmered in the breeze. helped fund the restoration. Eagle Rising explores the spiritual and cultural significance of the eagle to Native De Castro, Service biologists Chuck Mullins In the midst of her newly flourishing land Americans and explains how the Service and and Marcelle Francke, New Mexico Game & that autumn day, de Castro was quick to repository staff go about the exacting work Fish Department biologist Jennifer Jeffers, point out that “our most important resource of distributing eagle feathers and parts (as and a professional videographer greeted the is our children....To ensure the long term well as other birds and their parts) to Native children as they arrived. health of habitat, and of the environment in Americans on a first-come, first-served basis general, the seed of knowledge must be for religious use. A small business owner, de Castro was planted in the fertile soil of our children’s among nine winners of the Service’s minds.” With that in mind, she hosted the 22 The video outlines the procedure Native 1998 National Wetlands Award, second graders, classmates of her daughter, Americans go through to obtain an eagle, created to recognize individuals who Jenna, and invited the biologists along to depicts repository staff fulfilling requests, have demonstrated extraordinary explain the importance of wetlands. and details steps state, federal and local effort, innovation and excellence in wildlife officials should take to send wetland conservation. De Castro and her young visitors also will recovered dead eagles to the repository to be featured in a video about the Partners help meet the growing backlog of Native De Castro has for several years participated program. The National Conservation American feather requests. in the Service’s Partners for Fish Training Center is producing the video, and Wildlife program, which provides which biologist Mullins hopes will “drum up Preview copies of Eagle Rising have been cost-sharing and technical assistance for some more support for Partners.” well received by both wildlife and Native restoration and enhancement of fish and American groups and the Bureau of Indian wildlife on private lands. Since its inception Ben Ikenson, Student Conservation Affairs purchased and sent a copy to every in 1990, in cooperation with other agencies Associate, Albuquerque, New Mexico federally-recognized tribe. Copies of Eagle and organizations, the program has helped Rising (and of a new brochure on the to restore or enhance 16,430 acres of repository) can be obtained by contacting the wildlife habitat, including 9,527 acres of Service’s Native American Liaison, Duncan wetland habitat. Brown at 202/208-4133, or via e-mail at [email protected].

Phil Million, External Affairs, Washington, DC 22 ACE Basin Bozeman Facility Hosts Celebrates a Budding Scientists Decade of Cooperation

More than 150 private landowners and conservation partners gathered under the stately oaks of the Grove Plantation at ACE Basin NWR in South Carolina last fall to celebrate 10 years of conservation successes based in public/private partnership.

Established in 1988 through the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, the ACE (Ashepoo, Combahee and South Edisto rivers) Basin Task Force, a coalition of public and private partners, now permanently protects more than 130,000 acres, in part through the refuge. The basin is one of the largest undeveloped estuaries on the East Coast and supports myriad endangered and threatened species including bald eagles, osprey, loggerhead sea turtles, and shortnose sturgeon.

The ACE Basin has thrived using a partnership approach between the Service, A lasting impression. Students from the Bridger Outdoor Science School make plastic private landowners in the basin, the molds of animal tracks as part of their annual visit to the Bozeman Fish Technology South Carolina Department of Natural Center. USFWS photo. Resources, Ducks Unlimited and the Nature Conservancy. The task force was For two days last September, humans may “It’s not everyday that kids get to see one of the first public/private ventures in have outnumbered the fish at Bozeman Fish unusual species such as sturgeon and which the Service was involved. Technology Center in Montana. chubs,” added Bozeman Hatchery Manager Ron Zitzow as he took a group of giggling, From the beginning, partners recognized More than 200 sixth graders, their teachers, wide-eyed students on a tour of the labs that the project’s success depended on the parents and staff from the Bridger Outdoor and ponds. willingness of the private landowners to Science School in Belgrade, Montana, protect their properties. The primary descended on the center for a “hands-on” “The outdoor experience for kids leaves a methods of protecting property in the basin learning experience. lasting impression and if they’re having fun have been making voluntary conservation while they’re learning, they pay attention easements on privately owned lands, Known as the Bridger Environmental and remember what was talked about,” providing wildlife habitat management Education Program, this annual event said Bridger School Director Bobbi Geise. assistance for private landowners, and provides an opportunity for kids to learn purchasing key parcels for public lands about fish, wildlife, and outdoor skills such The kids rated panning for gold as their such as the refuge. More than 70,000 as tracking, orienteering, geology, teamwork favorite activity, and for next year acres of the habitat the task force protects and even panning for gold. recommended educational stations on are still privately owned. survival skills, photography and outdoor “It’s an opportunity for the tech center to cooking; a treasure hunt; plant identification; The ACE Basin project has inspired similar contribute to the community,” said Center and a hike up to the “M” rock landmark (for projects around the South Carolina coast and Director Greg Kindschi. “We’re close to the Montana State University) that towers in other areas of the country, according to town and the grounds are large enough, with approximately 1,000 feet on Baldy Mountain Southeast Regional Director Sam Hamilton. streams and varied terrain, so we can host a above the fish technology center. lot of kids doing a bunch of different “We are applying the lessons we learned activities at once.” Eric Eckl, Public Affairs, here to other wildlife refuges and areas Washington, DC where there is potential to develop public and private partnerships,” he said.

Donny Browning, ACE Basin NWR, Hollywood, South Carolina 23 Once Thought Extinct, Get to the Heart of Rare Fish Rebounds the Matter

For 122 years the robust redhorse was When biologists studied the newly In an effort to make the federal government believed to be extinct. Then in 1991, discovered redhorse population, they found “more responsive, accessible, and biologists from the Georgia Department of it consisted almost entirely of older adults. understandable in its communications Natural Resources discovered this sizable Redhorse can live for as long as 26 years, with the public,” President Clinton last fall fish species in the Oconee River near longer than most other freshwater species. directed agencies to begin using plain Toomsboro, Georgia. Scientists estimated The advanced average age of these survivors language in most documents. that this population remnant, surviving along indicated that the redhorse’s reproductive a 70-mile stretch of river, numbered as few rates were poor. In a memo to the head of executive as 2,000. Today more than 27,900 hatchery- departments and agencies, President Clinton reared robust redhorse have been In 1995, various federal and state natural said, “By using plain language, we send a introduced into Georgia rivers. resources agencies, along with a variety clear message about what the government of industrial and academic interests, is doing, what it requires, and what services In the 1870s, the robust redhorse, which can established the Robust Redhorse it offers. Plain language saves the measure 30 inches in length and weigh 17 Conservation Committee to study the fish’s government and the private sector time, pounds, was believed to have existed in large decline, attempt to re-establish it at a effort and money.” numbers in the then-pristine rivers of sustainable level in its former range, and Georgia and the Carolinas. Remains of the recover the redhorse to avoid placing it on Although plain language requirements species found at archeological sites in the the endangered species list. The Georgia may vary from one document to another Southeast indicate that it was an important Department of Natural Resources depending on the intended audience, all plain food source for Native Americans and coordinated the restoration efforts. language documents should have logical perhaps early settlers. organization and easy-to-read design Fisheries biologists began to ship fertilized features, and use: The past 100 years of human settlement eggs from the Oconee River to Warm and industrial development in the Southeast Springs NFH in Georgia. Beginning in ■ common, everyday words, except for has resulted in extensive erosion and 1995, they stocked some 25,000 fry in state necessary technical terms; sedimentation of rivers and streams, as well hatcheries in Georgia and South Carolina. as damming of waterways and the extensive The redhorse thrived and eventually were ■ “you” and other pronouns; muddying of once-clear waters, affecting released as fingerlings into several Georgia species such as the redhorse which migrate rivers. Other fingerlings were held at ■ the active voice; and to shallow river areas covered with clean Service facilities for study and to serve as gravel spawning sites to protect eggs and a backup population. ■ short sentences. developing larvae. Tom MacKenzie, External Affairs, To ensure the use of plain language, all The introduction in the 1960s and 1970s Atlanta, Georgia department and agency heads must of the flathead catfish, a voracious meet several deadlines for implementing predator, also contributed to the decline the policy: of the robust redhorse. ■ By October 1, 1998, plain language must be used in all new documents, other than regulations, that explain how to obtain benefits or services or how to comply with requirements agencies administer or enforce.

■ By January 1, 2002, all such documents created prior to October 1, 1998 must also be in plain language.

continued on next page 24 Get to the Heart of Making Lake Erie Islands the Matter “Snake-friendly” (continued)

■ By January 1, 1999, plain language must be used in all proposed and final rulings published in the Federal Register, unless the agency proposed the rule before that date. Agencies are to consider rewriting existing regulations in plain language.

The National Partnership for Reinventing Government issued guidance to help agencies comply with the directives and to explain more fully the elements of plain language, and also recommended using customer feedback and common sense to guide plain language efforts.

To help Interior employees comply with the plain language requirements, John Strylowski of the Secretary’s office leads a course in the basics of plain language. He leads employees through exercises which require them to rewrite wordy, hard-to-understand passages into “plain English” using the President’s guidelines.

Federal employees who write outstanding Friends of snakes. (Left to right) Melissa Hathaway of the Ohio Division of Wildlife, Kent examples of plain language letters, notices, Kroonemeyer of the Service and June Anderson, a resident of Kelley’s Island, show off a rules or other public communication sign highlighting the plight of Lake Erie water snakes. Photo by Joan Guilfoyle. documents may be awarded Vice President Gore’s “No Gobbledygook” award. In a unique effort to alert people to the plight The Service quickly distributed the first 200 of an oft-unloved creature, the Service has signs and residents posted them at boat For more information on the President’s been working cooperatively with the Ohio docks and restaurants, on front lawns, in plain language requirements, see the Division of Wildlife, the Kelley’s Island state parks, and even on the back of golf-carts plain language Web site at Audubon Society, the Erie Islands Historical (a common form of island transportation). http://www.plainlanguage.gov. Society and others to inform and educate Two island mayors offered to post snake shoreline landowners, island business signs on all public access roads. Rachel F. Levin, Public Affairs, owners and day-tripping tourists about Washington, DC the value of the Lake Erie water snake The sign’s message, which also included to the Erie Islands’ ecosystem and the plea “Please do not kill or harass this natural heritage. non-poisonous snake,” applauded conservation-minded residents and The four-year outreach program has encourage continued community support included school poster-drawing contests, for the snake. Kent Kroonemeyer, field snake-viewing field trips and programs, a supervisor of the Ecological Services field poster and brochure, exhibits at local office in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, presented signs festivals and events, and regular news at the Northeast Ohio Mayors and Managers releases to reach residents and visitors on Association, where 100 representatives of four islands in western Lake Erie. Local local governments heard the story of the communities have greatly increased their snake and how important community support support for the snake protection effort. is to long-term conservation. Voluntary In early 1998, the outreach team created agreements and an endangered species fact an outdoor sign reading “Water Snakes sheet were included with each sign. Welcome Here: Help Us Save the Rare Lake Erie Water Snake, A Unique Part Plans for permanent exhibits are underway of Our Island Heritage.” at two visitors centers on the islands, as well as temporary exhibits for a variety of public festivals in 1999.

Joan Guilfoyle, External Affairs, Minneapolis, Minnesota 25 Newest Hatchery Raises Rare Fish

“The hatchery was built here because this area is prime habitat for the razorback,” Pruitt said. “Also, we will have heated water in the indoor tanks, which will be used to trigger the fish to spawn. The large number of tanks allows us to raise separate groups of fish from different parents, providing the kind of genetic diversity needed for survival in the wild.”

The largest sucker in North America, the razorback is believed to have evolved some 4 million years ago.

Mike Stempel, a fisheries official from the Service’s Denver office, said that restoring these fish species is just one aspect of maintaining an interconnected river ecosystem.

“Restoring habitat for these fish is one of the most important aspects of recovering them,” Stempel said. “When the ecosystem is healthy for the fish, waterfowl populations are also up, upland game populations are up, and deer and elk populations are up.” New addition. Larry Shanks of Ouray NWR and Tom Pruitt, manager of the new Ouray NFH, survey the 36 ponds adjacent to the hatchery building. Photo by Connie Young. Connie Young, Upper Colorado River Recovery Program, Denver, Colorado Located on Ouray NWR in eastern Utah, the The 65-foot by 150-foot hatchery building recently dedicated Ouray NFH is one of 66 is equipped with about 100 fiberglass tanks Service national fish hatcheries and one of and troughs. Once full-fledged hatchery only five hatcheries whose sole mission is to operations begin, the Service will use the raise endangered fish. tanks to raise endangered fish for stocking, education and research. The hatchery will raise primarily razorback suckers, along with smaller numbers of “Most of the razorback suckers left in the endangered Colorado squawfish, bonytails wild are very old adults,” Ouray Hatchery and humpback chubs. These four fish species Manager Tom Pruitt said. “At this hatchery, are found in the Colorado River basin—and we will be able to raise juvenile and young nowhere else on earth. adult fish. Once these young fish are 12 to 16 inches long, they can be stocked in the river and hopefully will begin reproducing.”

Excavation of the 36 outdoor ponds adjacent to the hatchery building began in 1992. Completed ponds held razorback suckers, Colorado squawfish and bonytails as early as 1994. 26 Job Corps Students Experience Tanzanian “Firsts” in Washington Officials Tour Arizona Refuge

An exciting “first.” The Southwest region last fall hosted Job Corps students four Tanzanian wildlife and park officials met with Interior as part of a U.S. Agency for International Secretary Bruce Development natural resources Babbitt during their management project. visit to Washington, DC, for the Student The four, including two Tanzanian national Government and park superintendents, an official from the Leadership African Wildlife Foundation, and a Conference last government environmental official, toured fall. Photo by Cabeza Prieta NWR, learning about Kerry Hinton endangered species such as the Sonoran pronghorn, wilderness areas, refuge hunting policies, and other management issues.

“The tour was a great success,” said Refuge Manager Don Tiller. “We discussed and compared management schemes of refuges and African parks. We were very similar in some respects but they were amazed that we did not have as much wildlife roaming the Lorina Cathy flew on an airplane for the The student leaders also for the first time Cabeza as they are used to. The climate is first time last fall. had the opportunity to discuss the purpose very similar, too.” and mission of the Service with Deputy Cathy, a student at the Treasure Lake Job Director John Rogers. Students asked Since January 1998, EPIQ/Tanzania has Corps Center in Indiahoma, Oklahoma, questions on topics such as listing an been operational as part of a contract with joined fellow student government officers endangered species. the Global Bureau of USAID to serve the from Mingo and Treasure Lake Job Corps needs of that agency’s Tanzania’s Strategic centers for a week in Washington, DC, at the Next, National Job Corps Director Mary Objective in Environmental and Natural Service’s Student Government and Silva listened to suggestions about improving Resources Management. Working with four Leadership Conference, October 5-9. life at Job Corps centers and how to get national parks, game reserves, and coastal more young people into the program by zone and community-based conservation The students enjoyed leadership training placing more advertisements in newspapers, efforts in Tanzania, the program seeks to conducted by LaDonna Tramble, a Job on the radio and on television. The students link conservation of biodiversity with Corps graduate who is a founding member also suggested that the Job Corps program sustainable development. of the National Job Corps Alumni invest in providing videos for each center Association and president of the Denver as a recruiting tool. Collaborating partners include the Interior chapter. The students participated in a Department, the Peace Corps and the World variety of team-building exercises designed The students visited Capitol Hill, enjoying Wildlife Fund. to foster a cooperative and respectful spirit. photo opportunities with their Congressional representatives, Senator Don Nickles, “This is a great example of an international Yet another monumental event in the Senator James Inhofe and Congressman exchange of ideas,” said Southwest Regional students’ lives came as they met someone not J.C. Watts from Oklahoma, and Director Nancy Kaufman of the program. many visitors to Washington, or even the Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond and “When it comes to conservation, there are Interior Department, have the opportunity Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson no boundaries.” to chat with: Secretary of the Interior from Missouri. Bruce Babbitt. The students had a photo Ben Ikenson, Student Conservation opportunity with Babbitt and were thrilled These ambitious student leaders returned Associate, Albuquerque, New Mexico to meet him. to their centers full of renewed excitement and motivation, as well as some great stories Babbitt reaffirmed his belief in the benefits to tell their friends about their four days of the Job Corps program. “The Job Corps of “firsts” in the nation’s capital. program does great work with America’s young people,” he said. Kerry Hinton, Job Corps Program, Washington, DC 27 Effort to Establish Fish & Wildlife...In Brief Red Wolves in National Park Comes to an End

The Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Engineer Cockrell Receives White transferred as 10-inch fish to a Service Park Service last fall announced a joint House Award hatchery in June 1999. The fish rearing decision to end the eight-year effort to Frank B. Cockrell, alternative fuel vehicle project is part of a two-year cooperative restore a wild population of red wolves in coordinator for the Service, received special agreement between the Keweenaw Bay the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, recognition for his outstanding contribution Community and the Service. The agreement located in North Carolina and Tennessee. toward efficient energy use in the federal calls for the Community to isolate and raise The two services made the decision because government. He received a congratulatory three strains of lake trout for use as future of extremely low pup survival and the letter from President Clinton and was broodstock. In exchange, the Service will inability of wolves to establish home ranges presented with an award at the National provide yearling lake and brook trout from within the park. Press Club last October. Over the past seven its hatcheries to Keweenaw Bay and the years Cockrell has been closely involved in Community’s reservation waters. This decision does not affect the Fish & improving vehicle fuel conservation and in Wildlife Service’s more successful population acquiring alternative fuel vehicles for the Remembering Service Veteran Harry of reintroduced red wolves in northeastern federal government. He has also helped Ben Crandell North Carolina. Fifty to 100 red wolves are foster increased use of alternative fuels, and The National Wildlife Refuge System lost a in that population. promotion and awareness of alternative fuel good friend last fall with the death of Harry vehicles. Cockrell was instrumental in the Ben Crandell on September 29. Crandell “Our goal for the recovery includes development of the Department of the spent 20 years with the Service, first on establishing at least three self-sustaining Interior’s first electric tram at Patuxent refuges in Arizona, Oklahoma and Wyoming, wild populations, one of which we had hoped Wildlife Visitor Center in Maryland; the beginning in 1951. In 1959 he moved to would be in the park,” said Service Southeast demonstration of an electric pickup truck Albuquerque to direct the land acquisition Regional Director Sam D. Hamilton. at the Service’s Lake Champlain Fish and program for eight states, and he was “Establishing a reintroduced population of Wildlife Resources Office in Vermont; instrumental in the establishment of 16 new red wolves depends on the released animals the completion of three electric trams at national wildlife refuges. He also was the producing wild offspring that survive to Back Bay NWR in Virginia; and a trial chief planning officer for the Division of replace natural mortality and increase the demonstration of five electric pickup trucks Refuges before becoming Director of population; unfortunately this did not occur.” at four Virginia refuges. Wilderness Reviews at The Wilderness Society. Later Crandell served as Chief “Of 28 pups known to be born in the wild Agreement Results in Healthy Great Lakes Trout of Staff for the Subcommittee on Public and not removed, we don’t know of any that Lake trout fingerlings being reared as part Lands and Alaska of the House Interior and have survived their first year, so we no of a hatchery isolation program at the Insular Affairs Committee. In that capacity longer expect to achieve the recovery goal Keweenaw Bay Indian Community Hatchery he played a vital role in adding about 55 in the park,” Hamilton said. near L’Anse, Michigan, were declared million prime acres of habitat to the refuge “disease-free” and given a clean bill of health system in Alaska. Project biologists are not certain what after a recent health inspection by the caused the high pup mortality. Newborn Service. Tribal staff have been nurturing pups are too small to wear the radio-tracking three strains of lake trout since fall 1997 collars used to monitor adult red wolves, when the eggs were collected and fertilized so only a few pup carcasses could be located at three Lake Superior reefs. The and examined. Biologists, however, suspect fingerlings, now six inches long, will continue disease, predation, malnutrition and growing at about one-half inch each month. parasites contributed to the high rate of If the fish remain healthy, they will be pup mortality.

In 1990, the two services selected the park as a potential restoration site because of the large tracts of federal land that make up the park and surrounding national forests. Restoring long-gone predators is a part of the National Park Service’s goal of reestablishing the native plants and animals which existed at the time European settlers first arrived in the mountains. 28 28 Fulfilling the Promise of the Future

The final year of the century is one for heal landscapes. For that purpose, our be safe havens for native species displaced reflection and resolutions. The Fish & organization has—while preserving the by invasives. And we should accelerate the Wildlife Service has its history to celebrate: integrity of our individual programs— Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force’s the establishment of the refuge system; the formed ecosystem teams focused on cooperative prevention and control efforts. growth of the fish and wildlife management 53 watersheds. profession; the passage of significant The Service, with its global scope and mix environmental laws; and the conservation In the coming months, I plan to visit various of specialized scientific expertise, should of many species, including the recovery of teams to learn of their challenges and how emerge in a leadership role on this issue. the bald eagle and the peregrine falcon. they are meeting them. Strengthen the National Wildlife Refuge System But we also face a major crisis: the loss and Increase Migratory Bird Conservation Efforts Last October, managers and other fragmentation of natural habitat. The United Migratory bird protection presents a great ambassadors from all our refuges and our States has lost more than half of its wetlands, opportunity to implement the ecosystem other programs, as well as many of our more than 85 percent of its forest lands and approach. Birds are important indicators of conservation partners, came together for nearly all of its tallgrass prairies. environmental health and many migratory the first time ever at the National Wildlife populations are declining due largely to Refuge System Conference. Out of this Yet there is reason for optimism. The habitat loss. conference is springing something very Service is enjoying strong and widening precious—broad endorsement of a vision support on Capitol Hill and in the The North American Waterfowl for our refuge system that will build on the administration, as well as growing public Management Plan and the Partners in Flight momentum of recent successes and catapult support—our partners and constituents program will help us and our partners lift us into the new century and beyond the are becoming increasingly involved in our migratory bird conservation to a higher level. system’s centennial anniversary. What efforts in ever more innovative ways. Our efforts will be aided by the addition of happened at the conference was nothing sites to the international Ramsar convention short of magical, and it is up to each of us Last October, I set four priorities to on wetlands and to the Western Hemisphere to keep that spirit of energy and hope alive, harness this momentum and address these Shorebird Reserve Network. to keep the promise of an even greater habitat problems. National Wildlife Refuge System. Additionally, our education and outreach Strengthen the Ecosystem Approach programs will address migratory bird issues The future is full of challenges but also Since fish and wildlife issues are connected related to oil pits, power transmission lines promise. Our predecessors persevered when to ecosystems as a whole, we need a and pesticide use. faced with crisis. Their legacy should inspire comprehensive management approach that us to do likewise. You can expect to see me identifies ways to live on the land without Lead the Fight Against Invasives personally engaged as we move forward in compromising its health. There are more than 6,000 nonnative plants the priority areas I have outlined. and animals contributing to the decline of This is the ecosystem approach, and nearly half of all endangered species in the partnership is an essential element. United States and causing more than $100 Partnerships are reaping rewards for billion in annual damages. Montana’s Blackfoot Challenge and the Ohio River watershed. The public is responding We need a comprehensive survey of invasive and participating. The health of the resource species on Service lands and biodiversity hot demonstrates that success. spots, with control actions identified for each species. The battle against nonindigenous An ecosystem approach requires that the species should be a priority for funding Service rally the resources and expertise of through our Partners for Fish and Wildlife its diverse parts for a unified effort to program. Our refuges and hatcheries should

Fish & Wildlife News Submit articles and photographs to: Deadline for May issue: Executive Editor: Megan Durham Rachel F. Levin April 1, 1999 Editor: Rachel F. Levin U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Room 3024 Deadline for July issue: 1849 C Street, NW June 1, 1999 Washington, DC 20240 202/208 5631 Fax: 202/219-9463 E-mail: [email protected]