On January 15, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its long anticipated review of the potential impacts of a large open pit mine within the Bristol Bay watershed. The analysis found that unique aspects of the fragile ecosystem could be permanently damaged posing risk to salmon and Alaska Native cultures.

The Wildlife Management Institute (WMI), in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is providing support to the Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) network. This new section of the Outdoor News Bulletin will provide readers with regular updates on LCC efforts involving WMI. This month's article spotlights the Gulf Coast Prairie Landscape Conservation Cooperative's efforts to work with non-profit and government agencies in Mexico to ensure that conservation projects are effective on both sides of the border.

Negotiators in Congress reportedly reached a deal for a new Farm Bill during the holiday recess, however several unresolved issues are delaying action, according to the Wildlife Management Institute. Provisions related to the nation's dairy industry appear to be one of the major sticking points.

"A longstanding dispute over dairy policy is holding up an agreement between U.S. House and Senate lawmakers on a new farm bill," House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas said.

Conservation Briefs is a compilation of short news stories of interest to Outdoor News Bulletin readers. The stories will cover a number of issues that have developed in the past month or provide updates on issues that were featured in previous ONB editions. Each story will include links to online resources for more details on each topic.

This month:

Many western species of large ungulates migrate between seasonal ranges, some using the same corridors and habitats that they have used for thousands of years. "Managing and Protecting North America's Ungulate Migratory Pathways," one of four concurrent Special Sessions at the 79^th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference in Denver, CO, will outline threats to and opportunities for habitat conservation and management of ungulate migratory pathways and stopover habitats.

A workshop at the upcoming 79^th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference will explore the tactics and strategies to effectively recruit and train adult hunters. Titled "Food for Thought: Increasing Return on Investment by Reaching Out to Recruit New Adult Hunters," the session will take place from 1 to 3 pm on Tuesday, March 11^th at the Sheraton Downtown in Denver, Colorado.

America's national symbol, the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was a common south Louisiana resident in the early 1900's. After experiencing dramatic declines similar to the rest of the nation, numbers of Louisiana eagles were precariously low by the early 1970's. Conservation and monitoring efforts have helped rebuild the population; however, despite its recovery, the Bald Eagle remains a species of conservation concern in Louisiana.