Conservation Briefs is a compilation of short news stories of interest to Outdoor News Bulletin readers. The stories 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 includes links to online resources for more details on each topic.

This month:

• Bureau of Reclamation to Fund Nearly $20 Million in Water Projects
• USDA Documents how Firefighting Costs Impact States
• Obama Designates New National Monument in New Mexico
• 2014-15 Duck Stamp Goes on Sale June 27

Bureau of Reclamation to Fund Nearly $20 Million in Water Projects

Speaking at the Western Governors' Association annual meeting on June 9, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced that the Bureau of Reclamation would be providing $19.6 million in federal funding for water and energy efficiency grants as well as for three river basin studies. $17.8 million in funding, under the Department's WaterSMART Program, can be used for projects that "conserve or use water more efficiently, increase the use of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, benefit endangered and threatened species, facilitate water markets, carry out activities to address climate-related impacts on water or prevent any water-related crisis or conflict." Three river basins, the Upper Red River Basin in Oklahoma, the Upper Deschutes Basin in Oregon and the Missouri River Headwaters Basin in Montana, will receive $1.8 million for comprehensive river basin studies. The studies assess future supply and demand of the river system; analyze how existing water and power operations will perform under changing water realities; develop adaptation and mitigation strategies for improved operations and infrastructure; and outline a quantitative or qualitative trade-off analysis of the strategies, findings and conclusions.

"Through these WaterSMART programs, Reclamation is working to reduce conflict in the effective management of the West's water and power resources," Deputy Secretary of the Interior Mike Connor said. "The water and energy efficiency projects are expected to conserve more than 67,000 acre-feet of water annually and 22.9 million kilowatt-hours of electricity ? enough water for more than 250,000 people and enough electricity for more than 2,000 households."

In mid-May, the Administration announced WaterSMART grants to nine water reclamation and reuse projects in California to support water conservation efforts during the state's historic drought. In addition, partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service $6.3 million in Agricultural Water Conservation and Efficiency grants were provided to California farmers. The joint initiative supports improvements that facilitate on-farm water use efficiency and conservation projects within water districts.

USDA Documents how Firefighting Costs Impact States

A report released on June 9 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) outlines how the costs of fighting wildfire has diverted funding from forestry projects in almost every state. The report documents how local wildfire preparedness, forest restoration, maintenance and other projects were deferred in 2012 and 2013 when costs for firefighting exceeded agency allocations. In those two years, USDA and the Department of the Interior transferred nearly $1 billion from other accounts to fund firefighting expenses. The report was intended to support the president's fiscal year 2015 budget request that would create a wildfire emergency fund, similar to emergency funds for other national disasters, to pay for the costs of battling catastrophic fires.

"With longer and more severe wildfire seasons, the current way that the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of Interior budget for wildland fire is unsustainable," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Until firefighting is treated like other natural disasters that can draw on emergency funding, firefighting expenditures will continue to disrupt forest restoration and management, research, and other activities that help manage our forests and reduce future catastrophic wildfire."

Obama Designates New National Monument in New Mexico

On May 21, President Obama signed a proclamation creating the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument in New Mexico under the Antiquities Act. The designation brings together nearly 500,000 acres of existing public lands within the monument and will "protect significant prehistoric, historic, geologic, and biologic resources of scientific interest." The Bureau of Land Management will manage all of the lands within the new national monument under the system of National Conservation Lands for existing multiple uses including grazing, outdoor recreation and natural and cultural resource management.

"Today is the culmination of a community-led effort to conserve, protect and promote these public lands, but it's the beginning of a new chapter for the businesses that will benefit from the tourism and recreation, and the wildlife that rely on this unique habitat," said Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. "The Organ Mountains and surrounding Desert Peaks are steeped in culture, history, wildlife and opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors ? from hunting to hiking to gazing at ancient petroglyphs and fossils ? and the President's action ensures that these cherished landscapes are celebrated and passed on to the generations of New Mexicans and Americans to come."

2014-15 Duck Stamp Goes on Sale June 27

Sale of the 2014-2015 federal Duck Stamp begins on June 27. The stamp, celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2014, is a critical revenue stream for conservation of wetland and migratory bird habitat. In those 80 years, funds generated from the sale of duck stamps have been used to protect more than 6 million acres of habitat across the country. The price of the stamp remains at $15, the same price it has had since the last price increase in 1991. Since that time, the cost of land protection has increased dramatically and the buying power of the stamp has never been lower. For example, in Minnesota the cost of an acre of land has increased from $400 to $1,400 since 1998, a 250 percent increase according to Ducks Unlimited. DU has developed an infographic comparing the increased costs of some basic needs during a similar timeframe ? a loaf of bread has increased from .70 cents to $1.38, a 97 percent increase and a gallon of gas has increased from $1.24 to $3.27, a more than 163 percent increase. Conservation groups have been working with Congress in the effort to pass a price increase, though legislation has stalled so far.