Investing in Infrastructure that Benefits Sportsmen, Fish and Wildlife

Summary
Infrastructure includes the nation’s system of public works and the resources such as personnel, structures or equipment required for various activities. While many correctly equate infrastructure to public works projects such as roads, bridges, water and wastewater systems and other utilities, there are other elements of the country’s infrastructure that have a direct impact on fish, wildlife, public recreation areas and by extension, sportsmen and women. Consequently, as decision makers consider proposals to address the nation’s infrastructure needs, it is critically important that programs supporting projects that range from wetland restoration-associated flood control to shooting range construction are included in these conversations.BackgroundSince the passage of the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts, hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and boaters have generated billions for fish and wildlife conservation through the purchase of firearms and ammunition, fishing tackle and motorboat fuel. However, Function 300, which forms the core of conservation funding for the federal government, accounts for approximately 1% of total federal expenditures. In another measure of conservation spending, federal spending overall grew more than 130% from 1980 to 2009, but conservation spending went up by only 2.15% during this same period. In February 2018, President Donald Trump released his Administration’s Legislative Outline for Rebuilding Infrastructure in America. In his message to Congress, the President expressed his desire to work with legislators to address infrastructure needs throughout the nation. As Congress considers the proposal and develops legislation to meet these needs, CSF will continue working with members of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus to highlight the needs of the sportsmen’s community and advance infrastructure priorities that support hunting, fishing, recreational shooting as well as fish, wildlife and their habitats.CSF identified a set of sportsmen’s priorities that could help address the nation’s needs as part of a broader infrastructure package. These include:

  • Recovering America’s Wildlife Act – Annually redirects $1.3 billion of existing royalty revenue from offshore and onshore oil and gas leases to state-led wildlife conservation efforts, effectively allowing the states to more fully implement their State Wildlife Action Plans. The money will largely be spent on efforts such as restoring habitats, reintroducing native wildlife and plants, fighting invasive species, monitoring emerging diseases, educational programs and trail improvements.
  • North American Wetlands Conservation Act Reauthorization – Reauthorizes a voluntary, competitive matching grants program that is non-regulatory and based on public-private funding. Provides matching grants to organizations and individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects (i.e. shovel ready wetlands construction projects) in the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the benefit of wetlands-associated migratory birds and other wildlife. Requires a match of at least one dollar in non-Federal funds for every NAWCA dollar awarded. Supports projects that protect, restore, and enhance wetlands and associated upland habitats on public and private lands.
  • National Fish Habitat Conservation Through Partnerships – leverages public-private partnerships by authorizing the appropriation of $7.2 million annually for fish habitat restoration and protection projects that are supported by regional Fish Habitat Partnerships and codifies the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.
  • Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage Opportunities – Ensures that BLM and USFS lands are “open to fishing, hunting and shooting until closed” by specific agency action. Clarifies and gives permanency to existing practices, forestalls unnecessary litigation challenges to these traditional activities by anti-hunting and fishing interests, creates greater administrative efficiency and reduces agency expenses, follows a successful 35-year model governing lands in Alaska.
  • Highway Wildlife Crossings – Sportsmen recognize the need to conserve migration corridors, stopover areas and winter range habitats that are critical for the long-term viability of big game species that provide hunting opportunity, particularly in the West. Consistent with this goal are wildlife crossings that include structures such as underpass tunnels, viaducts, and overpasses that allow animals to cross human-made barriers, such as highways, safely. While planning for conservation of these landscape features is consistent with Secretarial Order 3362 (Improving Habitat Quality in Western Big-Game Winter Range and Migration Corridors), issued by former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, discussions surrounding a broader infrastructure package may provide opportunities to help identify additional resources to achieve these goals.

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