A History of the U.S. Department of the Interior During the Clinton Administration 1993-2001 Prepared for the Clinton Administration History Project Washington, DC 2000 i TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................... IX BRUCE BABBITT’S DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR................................................................................................. IX Historical Context....................................................................................................................................................... ix DOI Before 1993 ........................................................................................................................................................ ix Bruce Babbitt Before 1993 .......................................................................................................................................... x MOVING FROM CONSERVATION TO RESTORATION: AN ACTIVIST’S AGENDA......................................................... XI ALIGNING THE MISSION TO THE ORGANIZATION .................................................................................................... XII The National Heritage Tours....................................................................................................................................xiii Beyond Budgets ........................................................................................................................................................ xiv HISTORIC RESTORATION LEADERSHIP .................................................................................................................... XIV Thinking Like a Watershed ....................................................................................................................................... xiv HISTORIC RESTORATION PARTNERSHIPS ................................................................................................................ XV South Florida ..................................................................................................................................................... xv California Bay Delta........................................................................................................................................xvii INNOVATIONS IN SPECIES RECOVERY.................................................................................................................... XIX BROKER IN THE WATER WARS .............................................................................................................................. XXI DAMS ARE NOT FOREVER ...................................................................................................................................XXIV The Sledgehammer Tour......................................................................................................................................... xxiv REWRITING WILDLAND FIRE POLICY ...................................................................................................................XXV PROTECTING UNIQUE NATIONAL LANDSCAPES ...................................................................................................XXVI January 2000 Monument Designations ................................................................................................................. xxvii May 2000 Monument Recommendations ..............................................................................................................xxviii Congress Acts to Protect Areas ............................................................................................................................xxviii August 2000 Monument Recommendations ............................................................................................................ xxix National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS).................................................................................................. xxx GRAZING REFORM................................................................................................................................................XXX HARDROCK MINING REFORM .............................................................................................................................XXXII INDIAN TRUST REFORM.....................................................................................................................................XXXIII Water Rights Settlements ...................................................................................................................................... xxxiv Land Claims Settlements........................................................................................................................................ xxxv Fishing Rights........................................................................................................................................................ xxxv TRUST FUNDS MANAGEMENT............................................................................................................................ XXXV VOLUME I: INTERIOR LEGACY—POLICY AND PROGRAM INITIATIVES .............................................1 CHAPTER ONE: FISH, WILDLIFE AND PARKS .............................................................................................................1 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service ................................................................................................................................1 Making the Endangered Species Act Work Better............................................................................................................ 1 Resolving the Spotted Owl Controversy...................................................................................................................... 1 Ten-Point Plan ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 HCPs, Safe Harbors, CCAs & Landowner Incentives ................................................................................................. 3 Endangered Species Successes .................................................................................................................................... 4 Critical Habitat Policy ................................................................................................................................................. 5 President’s EO on Endangered Species/Native American policy ................................................................................ 6 Strengthening the National Wildlife Refuge System......................................................................................................... 6 The Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE)...................................................................................... 6 President’s EO on Priority Public Uses ....................................................................................................................... 7 National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act ................................................................................................... 7 Fulfilling the Promise .................................................................................................................................................. 8 Proposed Refuge System Centennial Legislation ........................................................................................................ 8 Summary of Major Refuge Additions.......................................................................................................................... 8 Protecting What We Have-Okefenokee NWR, Izembek NWR................................................................................. 10 Taking Migratory Bird Conservation to the Next Level ................................................................................................. 10 Status of Migratory Bird Populations; Status of Wetlands ........................................................................................ 11 ii Growth & Value of North American Waterfowl Management Plan.......................................................................... 12 Adaptive Harvest Management.................................................................................................................................. 12 Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds........................................................................................................ 13 Management of Overabundant Populations............................................................................................................... 13 North American Bird Conservation Initiative............................................................................................................ 14 Protecting What We Have ......................................................................................................................................... 14 Habitat & Aquatic Conservation..................................................................................................................................... 15 Invasive species ......................................................................................................................................................... 15 President’s Executive Order on Recreational