House Bill Would Clarify Clean Water Act The Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Representative James Oberstar (MN), along with Representatives John Dingell and Vern Ehlers (MI), introduced legislation on April 21 that attempts to restore protection under the Clean Water Act (CWA) for geographically isolated wetlands and intermittent ephemeral streams. Regulation under the CWA was changed in 2001 and 2006 by Supreme Court decisions that limited federal enforcement to navigable waterways. The new bill (H.R. 5088), America's Commitment to the Clean Water Act (ACCWA), would delete the use of "navigable... Read The Article
Communication Strategies Support Woodcock Conservation The Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) recently published research-based communication strategies to help the conservation community achieve the goals of the American Woodcock Conservation Plan by encouraging private landowners to create and conserve early successional forest habitat on private lands. This project, conducted in concert with D.J. Case and Associates, focused specifically on owners of small (10- to 100-acre) woodlands in 10 eastern states. This project was not designed to address communication needs of... Read The Article
Gulf Oil Spill Could Have Major Impacts on Region's Fish and Wildlife The impacts of the growing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has still not fully become evident, but the potential implications to the region known for its abundant and diverse fish and wildlife could be devastating, reports the Wildlife Management Institute. Direct damage or mortality caused by contamination from oil and the chemical dispersants being applied to break up the spill are the most immediate concerns. However, the longer-term impacts to the coastal habitat of the Gulf Coast states could be felt for decades if a substantial amount of oil makes its way into the? region's already... Read The Article
Conservation Stewardship Program Application Deadline Draws Near June 11, 2010 will be the next deadline for ranking applications to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), according to the Wildlife Management Institute. CSP was authorized in the 2008 Farm Bill. It was designed to maintain and increase conservation activities on tribal and private croplands, pasturelands, rangelands and non-industrial forestland in all 50 states by offering payments to producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their lands and incorporate additional land and water stewardship in their operations. Enrollment in CSP is currently limited to 12.7... Read The Article
