University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln RefugeUpdate (USFWS-NWRS) US Fish & Wildlife Service 11-2007 Refuge Update – November/December 2007, Volume 4, Number 6 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/refugeupdate Part of the Environmental Health and Protection Commons "Refuge Update – November/December 2007, Volume 4, Number 6" (2007). RefugeUpdate (USFWS- NWRS). 36. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/refugeupdate/36 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the US Fish & Wildlife Service at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in RefugeUpdate (USFWS- NWRS) by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuge System Inside RefugeUpdate November/December 2007 Vol 4, No 6 Celebrating 20 Years of Science on the M/ V Tiglax, page 5 Kevin Bell is honored as Captain National Wildlife Refuges Return Economic of the largest ship operated by the National Wildlife Refuge System. Benefit Along with Wildlife Values Focus on…A River Runs Through It, pages 8-15 Rivers on refuges are managed for recreation, habitat restoration, water rights and sheer beauty. The Fight Against Giant Salvinia, page 18 Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Texas is fighting a weed that can travel three-quarters of a mile in 24 hours. Awards, page 21 From protecting the land to going “green,” awards recognize excellence. Ten New Refuge Friends Groups: • Columbia Gorge Refuge Stewards (Washington) • Friends of Deer Flat National The Refuge System generated almost $1.7 billion in economic return for regional economies in 2006, Wildlife Refuge (Idaho) including money spent on wildlife observation, birding and photography. (USFWS) • Amigos de la Sevilleta (Sevilleta he National Wildlife Refuge created, generating about $543 million in National Wildlife Refuge, New TSystem – with 548 national wildlife employment income. Mexico) refuges spanning nearly 97 million • Refuge Friends, Inc. (Minnesota acres – has long been regarded as the “We’ve always known that national wildlife refuges enrich Americans’ lives Valley National Wildlife Refuge) world’s finest network of public lands in ways that are substantial, if not easily • Friends of Trempealeau Refuge dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat. Now, the 2006 measured,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife (Wisconsin) Banking on Nature study shows that it Service Director H. Dale Hall. “Now • Supporters of St. Vincent National is also a significant economic engine for we can point to solid economic research Wildlife Refuge (Florida) neighboring communities. that shows the Refuge System, while admirably fulfilling its conservation • Friends of Southwest Louisiana The Refuge System generated almost mission, also repays us in dollars and Complex National Wildlife Refuges $1.7 billion in economic return for cents. That goes far above its mandated • Friends of Mackay Island National regional economies, according to the mission to guarantee that wild creatures Wildlife Refuge (North Carolina) study, which looked at 80 national wildlife will always have a place on the American refuges. The economic benefit is almost landscape.” • Friends of Wallkill River National four times the $383 million allocated to Wildlife Refuge (New Jersey) the Refuge System in fiscal year 2006. The Banking on Nature report clearly • Friends of Rocky Flats National As the spending flowed through the shows that people will travel to visit Wildlife Refuge (Colorado) economy, 26,798 private sector jobs were national wildlife refuges that are not in continued pg 22 In fact, refuges are already doing a lot. More than 760,000 youngsters participated last year in environmental education programs on 375 national wildlife refuges. Consider Fran McTamaney, who we profile From the Director on page 15 in this issue. Her leadership at San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Igniting a Passion Complex has touched tens of thousands H. Dale Hall of students. She has played a key role in I don’t follow fashion, but I’m told the new for the environment is reasonably scores of projects, conducting summer catch phrase among some opinion makers consistent across several decades, but camps for youngsters from economically and cultural pacesetters is, “Green is the high school seniors aren’t among them. disadvantaged neighborhoods and helping new black.” Retailers like Wal-Mart are In a survey of about 18,000 students, the to produce a Salt Marsh Manual for setting up stores to use less energy; hotels educator-led field trips that is a model for and motels are advertising themselves researchers discovered what they called “a startling, precipitous decline” from 1976 environmental education programs across as environmentally responsible; and the country. even some fashion shows have replaced to 2005 in reports of their conservation the traditional red carpet with a green behaviors. Seniors in 2005 weren’t as Fran is proof not only that one individual one and are featuring clothing made of willing to change their behavior as were can make a difference, but also that sustainable fabric. young people in the late 1970s. They are environmental education is critical. As happy to endorse efforts to protect the we embark on our Children and Nature The “green revolution” is encouraging environment, but they aren’t willing to Initiative, we expect environmental because it indicates the conservation make a personal commitment. According education to be central. Our national message the Fish and Wildlife Service and to the analysis, they are also less likely wildlife refuges are already models for others have been spreading for more than than youth of past generations to believe some of the finest programs offered 100 years is taking hold across America. resources may be scarce in the future. anywhere. Whether through schools But we’re not reaching everyone. An and scouting groups or during festivals analysis by Pennsylvania State University If conservation has a prayer in the future, we need to help these young folks find a and other special events, national wildlife researchers found that most Americans refuges are places where we can connect generally recognize the importance of passion for nature and the outdoors. So what can we do? children with nature and ignite a passion to environmental issues and their concern last a lifetime. ◆ Chief’s Corner RefugeUpdate One Person at a Time Dirk Kempthorne Address editorial The most recent the most important story. What really Secretary inquiries to: Banking on Nature matters can be seen on the land, not just Department of the Refuge Update report, detailed the wildlife and habitats being restored Interior USFWS-NWRS 4401 North Fairfax Dr., Geoff Haskett on the front page to health, but also in the experience of H. Dale Hall Room 634C of this newsletter, tomorrow’s conservation stewards. Director — U.S. Fish and Arlington, VA brings great news to national wildlife Wildlife Service 22203-1610 Litchfield Wetland Management District Phone: 703-358-1858 refuges. To summarize the report, we Geoffrey L. Haskett in Minnesota reported that more than 30 Fax: 703-358-2517 created about $4 in economic return for Assistant Director E-mail: Boy Scouts have donated about 240 hours, — National Wildlife every $1 we received in the fiscal year [email protected] 2006 budget. Communities that surround right in the heart of the Prairie Pothole Refuge System region. They’ve worked hard, but they’ve This newsletter is national wildlife refuges saw a measurable Martha Nudel published on recycled also had fun. They’ve encountered Editor in Chief economic pay-back, including creation of paper using soy-based about 27,000 private sector jobs. skunks, bats, turtles, frogs, snakes and lots of bugs they think are “cool.” Their Karen Leggett ink. Managing Editor This is one of many benefits that stem volunteer work on the WMD brought from the National Wildlife Refuge them Scout badges and an important C System. But economic return is not connection to the land. — continued on pg 23 Pg 2 Refuge Update | September/October 2007 Marine Debris Initiative: A Call to Can It managing marine the drains out into the oceans and then debris. The finally ended up at the Northwestern Refuge System Hawaiian Islands.” includes about 30,000 coastal Marine Debris Trash Increases miles, 20 million Five Percent a Year coastal acres, seven A new report from the nonprofit Ocean million ocean acres Conservancy says marine debris from with three million both ocean- and land-based activities has acres in coral reef increased across the United States by ecosystems. The more than five percent a year since 2001. Refuge System The newly-launched Marine Debris also has 300,000 Initiative is a multifaceted, national Congressionally- and international approach to identify, designated marine prevent and reduce the problem. The wilderness acres on NOAA Web site, http://marinedebris. 34 refuges. noaa.gov/about/welcome.html, is a first The Midway Atoll step in a program that not only brings Laysan albatross are too often found surrounded by marine debris – including together state and local authorities, buoys – on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, where First Lady Laura grant is being Bush found carcasses of infants who had ingested things like cigarette lighters provided to the the private sector and international and bottle caps. (David Patte/USFWS) Friends of Midway partners, but also helps educate school Atoll by the children and others about their roles in he White House announced on National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, solving the problem. There will also be November 2 a Marine Debris T the Dow Chemical Company, the National kiosks in the new Ocean Hall opening Initiative that includes a $200,000 Oceanographic and Atmospheric next year at the National Museum of grant for a Midway Atoll Marine Debris Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Natural History in Washington, D.C.
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