JULY 2015 Affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation Inside this issue: Page 2 Drainage of Prairie Potholes Page 3 Presidents Column Executive Director’s Update Page 4 Conservation Awards &Action Auction Aquatic Invasive Species Page 5 Summer Convention Schedule Boat Ramps Pierre Page 7 Collin O’mara Page 8 Bipartisan Sportsman Conservation House Bill By Mark Taylor, Trout Unlimited A new survey of hunters and anglers is yet more evidence that sportsmen are overwhelmingly supportive of sensible protections for the nation’s smaller streams and wetlands. The bipartisan survey of 1,000 registered voters who hunt and fish found that 83 percent believe the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Act protections should apply to smaller headwaters and wetlands, including some streams that may run only part of the year. Those waters gained such protection from the recently adopted Clean Water Rule, released by the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers on May 27. Passed in 1972, the Clean Water Act included protections to such waters. But two controversial Supreme Court rulings in the 2000s muddied those protections. In the wake of the split court decisions, the EPA was charged with proving a clear scientific nexus between headwaters and wetlands, and the larger streams they feed. Having done that -- including preparing a summary report of more than 1,000 peer-reviewed studies that proved the connection -- the EPA announced a draft Clean Water Rule in 2014. During the public comment period on the draft of the rule, the proposal drew more than a million public comments, with more than 800,000 in support of the rule. Irrigation systems, ponds and many ditches are specifically excluded, and the rule reaffirms existing exemptions for normal forestry, farming and ranching practices. Despite the overwhelming public support, Congress is considering legislation that would undermine or even nullify the rule. The new poll results shows that support for Clean Water Rule protections is bipartisan. Of the sportsmen surveyed, 38 percent identified themselves as Republicans while 28 percent were Democrats. Fortynine percent said they support the Tea Party movement. “It would be hard to find a more conservative group than the hunters and anglers we polled,” said Lori Weigel, a partner at the Republican polling firm Public Opinion Strategies. “And yet their support of this policy is broad?based and widespread, cutting across partisan and ideological divisions. And it endures after hearing the arguments against it.” VOLUME 55, NUMBER 4 Three-quarters of those polled said they believe adding Clean Water Act protections to headwaters and wetlands is more of a safeguard than a burdensome regulation. Two-thirds said they would have a more favorable opinion of a Senator for upholding the Clean Water Rule, while only 11 percent would feel less favorable. More than four in five -- 82 percent -- said they believe that U.S. can protect water quality and protect clean water at the same time. Separate polls in certain states, such as Virginia where key Congressmen remain on the fence regarding the legislative attacks on the Clean Water Rule aligned closely with the national poll results. For example, of 299 Virginia sportsmen polled, 82 percent approve of applying Clean Water Act protections to headwaters, with 49 percent strongly supportive. Only 16 percent oppose such protections. Congressional opposition to the rule frustrates Jim Martin, conservation director at the Berkley Conservation Institute, a branch of Pure Fishing, one of the largest tackle manufacturers in the sportfishing industry. “If the support is so widespread why are politicians not voting to support the rule?” Martin wonders. “This poll quite clearly shows what the public supports. Now, it is up to the political leaders to determine if they support the interests of their constituents or special interests on the issue of protecting watersheds.” Hunters and anglers have been outspoken in their support of the sensible and necessary Clean Water Rule protections. They fully understand, from their time afield, the importance of headwaters on the overall health of watersheds. Further armed with data from these polls, they need to continue to send a strong message to Washington: Support clean water, not special interests. Mark Taylor is Trout Unlimited’s eastern communications director. The connection between headwaters and larger streams was first driven home to him when he was a boy growing up alongside the South Umpqua River in Southern Oregon. Having thrown a stick in an ephemeral creek running alongside a neighborhood road, he followed along in wonder as the toy “boat” eventually made it all the way to the big river. Hunting Film Tour Set to Visit Sioux Falls Fair chase adventure films provide hefty stoke in advance of upcoming hunting season. Barcoded Flats (Sioux Falls, SD) The South Dakota Wildlife Federation - Camo Coalition is pleased to announce the first showing of the Hunting Film Tour in Sioux Falls on Tuesday, September 15! The Hunting Film Tour (HFT) is a traveling film festival that allows outdoor enthusiasts of all ages to enjoy exciting, story-driven content from hunting adventures around the globe, all of which will be shown on the big screen in crisp high definition. The SD Wildlife Federation - Camo Coalition is dedicated to the preservation of wild lands and wild life in South Dakota. With membership of over 3,000 committed hunters and anglers, in 16 affiliated clubs across the state, the Camo Coalition is committed to protecting the wildlife management and outdoor recreation interests of South Dakota for future generations. continued on page 2 Rapid City Sioux Falls Tuesday, September 15 Wednesday, October 14 7:15 p.m. (doors open at 6:45 p.m.) 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.) West Mall 7 Theater, 2101 West 41st Street Elks Theatre, 512 6th Street Pierre Thursday, September 17 7:15 p.m. (doors open at 7:00 p.m.) State Theatre, 123 West Capital Farmers- need a tax deduction this year? Consider donating some grain or land to the SDWF. You will get a tax break and your support of the SDWF will help protect the land and wildlife you love. Out Of Doors 2 JULY 2015 continued from page 1 The Hunting Film Tour began in 2013, and 2014 was a year of substantial growth for the Tour, not only in terms of the Tour’s geographic reach, but also the support offered by industry corporations and conservation organizations that have chosen to align with the Tour. The 2014 Hunting Film Tour featured 68 shows in 55 cities on 3 continents including expansion into Canada, Australia and Europe. Groups like the South Dakota Wildlife Federation – Camo Coalition have leveraged the HFT platform and utilize events as core fund raising tools to further their mission in protecting fish & game, lands and waters, public access, and the ability to enjoy our hunting and fishing heritage for this and future generations. With screenings planned for Sioux Falls, Pierre, and Rapid City, more than 50 tour stops are scheduled for 2015, making the HFT the largest cinematic event of its kind in the hunting industry. Theaters across the country will host fun live events that provide the perfect place for attendees to gather, swap stories, enjoy fun raffles and silent auctions, and get fired up for the upcoming season. “Last year, we hosted a very successful Hunting Film Tour event in Brookings,” said Mark Widman, Vice President of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation. “People came out to enjoy a unique event, something different from your standard fundraising banquet. We had a lot of families in attendance, and everyone had a great time watching some incredible high-quality hunting adventures on the big screen. Due to last year’s success, we’re holding three screenings across the state in 2015.” Hunting Film Tour events will be held in • Sioux Falls – Tuesday, Sept. 15 at the West Mall 7 Theaters • Pierre – Thursday, Sept. 17 at the State Theater • Rapid City – Wednesday, Oct. 14 at the Elks Theater “Our vision is becoming a reality, and it is proving to be a very exciting and rewarding experience building the Tour” said Gary Gillett, owner of the Hunting Film Tour. “From all perspectives there is a tidal wave coming; the quality of content continues to be amped up as film makers enhance their skills and equipment arsenal, industry corporate support continues to increase, we have aligned with all key Conservation organizations and fan base awareness is rapidly growing, it is a very exciting revolution taking place in the outdoor media space!” For a full tour schedule, film trailers, and to purchase tickets, visit huntingfilmtour.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Mark Widman --- sdwfcamoevents@gmail. com --- (605) 310-6347 Drainage of Prairie Pothole Wetlands Can Increase Flooding and Degrade Ecosystems The drainage of small wetlands can decrease wildlife habitat and may contribute to flooding in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study. USGS scientists analyzed data on 141 large PPR wetlands in North Dakota from the 1930s through 2010, and found that they have increased significantly in size. Most of the increases in surface water were due to drainage of smaller wetlands, likely for more efficient agricultural production. This drainage moves surface water into fewer wetlands, making them larger and degrading their abilities to reduce regional flooding and provide productive habitat for animals. Small wetlands in the PPR are economically and environmentally important because they help recharge local and regional groundwater. They also provide habitat for 50 to 80 percent of North American ducks. While the loss of small wetlands has its own effect on the ecosystem, consolidation of their water into larger wetlands can fundamentally change valuable ecosystems in the PPR, said Michael Anteau, a USGS scientist and an author of the paper. Our findings are relevant to policy makers and managers making wetland conservation decisions. The study is published in the journal Ecosphere. The scientists used historical aerial photographs to measure and compare the water surface area of wetlands during the study period. They found that current water surface areas were an av- Published by Curt Merriman Printing, Inc., P.O. Box 1046, 306 S. Coteau, Pierre, SD 57501 Subscription Rate - $10.00 per year or with membership in SDWF Individual members devote approximately 40 cents of their annual dues for each copy of the newspaper. Periodicals Postage Paid at Pierre, SD 57501 and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to South Dakota Wildlife Federation, 208 Linell, Pierre, SD 57501. USPS 503-320 ISSN 0883-6809 OUT OF DOORS EDITOR Chris Hesla Box 7075 • Pierre, SD 57501 Phone 605-224-7524 South Dakota Wildlife Federation OUT OF DOORS, printed monthly, except for January, April, July and November. The Out Of Doors is the official publication of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation (SDWF), a private, non-profit statewide organization of affiliated organizations and individuals incorporated under South Dakota laws. Subscription to this publication is through membership in the SDWF or direct contact with the SDWF, PO Box 7075, Pierre, SD 57501. All communications regarding advertising, editorial, circulation and SDWF matters may be sent to SDWF OUT OF DOORS, PO Box 7075, Pierre, South Dakota 57501. Permission to reprint articles normally given providing proper credit is given the publication and author. Views expressed by free lance writers are their own and do not necessarily express those of the publication or the SDWF. Mr. Chris Hesla Executive-Director (Hired) South Dakota Wildlife Federation P.O. Box 7075 Pierre, South Dakota 57501 (605) 224-7524 - office (605) 222-1002 - cell Fax: (605) 224-7524 [email protected] Mr. Rich Widman - President South Dakota Wildlife Federation 929 8th Avenue Brookings, South Dakota 57006 [email protected] Mr. Mark Widman 1st Vice-President South Dakota Wildlife Federation 2315 N. Devon Ave Tea, South Dakota 57064 [email protected] Bob Bucholz 2nd Vice-President South Dakota Wildlife Federation 3208 Cypruss ST N Aberdeen, SD 57401 [email protected] Mr. Terry Mayes 3rd Vice-President South Dakota Wildlife Federation 3203 Meadowbrook Drive Rapid City, South Dakota 57702 [email protected] erage of 86 percent greater than they were historically, and that the increase could not be attributed to climate change. Wetlands in highly drained watersheds had nearly three times greater water surface area than those in areas with little drainage. This work supports the idea that drainage of small wetlands can cause local and regional flooding because as wetlands grow, their likelihood of spillover increases. In contrast, less drained areas with many small wetlands help store water from snowmelt or precipitation, where it evaporates or seeps into the ground. Understanding what’s needed to restore natural water-level dynamics can help protect property or public infrastructure that may become threatened by rising water in large wetlands, Anteau said. Other effects include loss of habitat for animals that depend on smaller and dynamic wetlands. These now consolidated wetlands historically dried out during droughts, making stored nutrients available in the sediment. Nutrient surges provide food for aquatic plants and invertebrates after wetlands fill up with water again. Amphibians and waterfowl, including migrating ducks, feed on these plants and invertebrates. Foraging habitat in larger and deeper wetlands is less suitable for these wildlife populations. The Plains and Prairie Potholes Landscape Conservation Cooperative provided research funding. For more information about wetland research in the PPR, please visit the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center website. Mr. Norman Buxcel Director District 2 South Dakota Wildlife Federation 25602 236th Street Okaton, South Dakota 57562 Mr. Kenneth A. Schroeder, Jr. Director District 3 South Dakota Wildlife Federation 23697 Mulligan Mile Rapid City, South Dakota 57702 [email protected] Mr. Tom Putzier Director District 4 (Term: Aug 2008 to Aug 2012) South Dakota Wildlife Federation 6329 Country Lane Aberdeen, South Dakota 57401 [email protected] Mr. Allan Johnson Director-at-Large South Dakota Wildlife Federation Box 97 Hecla, South Dakota 57446 [email protected] Mr. Harvey Malon Director-at-Large South Dakota Wildlife Federation 635 Westwind Drive Rapid City, South Dakota 57701 [email protected] Leon Fenhaus 15227 Caputa Loop Rapid City, South Dakota 57703 Mr. Forrest “Mick” Stanton Director District 5 South Dakota Wildlife Federation 1001 37th St NW Watertown, SD 57201-7226 [email protected] Mr. John Pollmann Director-at-Large (Appointed Aug 2010 to Aug 2012) South Dakota Wildlife Federation 405 E 15th Street Dell Rapids, South Dakota 57022 [email protected] Mr. Charles Dieter Director District 6 South Dakota Wildlife Federation 47135 203rd Street Brookings, South Dakota 57006 [email protected] Mr. Jeff Albrecht Past President and Board of Directors South Dakota Wildlife Federation 131 58th Avenue Brookings, South Dakota 57006 [email protected] Mr. Ross Jensen Director District South Dakota Wildlife Federation 605 Wisconsin Avenue N.W. Huron, South Dakota 57350 [email protected] Scott Hed District #9 713 S Holt Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57103 [email protected] Bill Antonides Immediate Past President SD Camo Coalition President 514 N. Arch St. Mr. Jerry Lulewicz Aberedeen, South Dakota 57401-2951 Director District 8 [email protected] South Dakota Wildlife Federation 20 Arrowhead Pass Mr. Paul Vinatieri Mitchell, South Dakota 57301 Director District 1 [email protected] Saouth Wildlife Federation 1995 Sammis Trail Rapid City, South Dakota 57702 [email protected] OTHER NAMES OF IMPORTANCE: Mr. Robert J. Jacobson Sec-Treasurer Re-appointed South Dakota Wildlife Federation P.O. Box 297 Garretson, South Dakota 57030 [email protected] Mr. Mike McKernan Youth Camp Director (Non-Board Member) South Dakota Wildlife Federation 612 S. Garfield Murdo, South Dakota 57559 [email protected] Mr. David Dittloff NWF Regional Representative for SD National Wildlife Federation 240 N. Higgins Missoula, Montana 59802 [email protected] Mr. Brian Bashore NWF Region Nine Director National Wildlife Federation Lincoln, Nebraska 68508 [email protected] Out Of Doors 3 JULY 2015 President’s Column President, Rich Widman By the time you get this, SDWF and the Beadle County Sportsmen will be preparing for our annual state convention in Huron August 21-23. Now, if I’m correct, this will be our 70th year in existence (1945-2015). And to help us celebrate, Colin O’Mara, CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, will be our keynote speaker at the Saturday night banquet and auction. I hope you can make it! It’s amazing how long we’ve been around, and it shows how important we are to South Dakota. I am proud to have spent the past three years leading this great nonprofit organization in protecting and defending our South Dakota outdoors legacy. But none of this work would be possible without our members. Thank you all! Because of my position in SDWF, I’ve had the privilege of meeting with our state’s Congressional delegation four times to lobby for various conservation issues. I recently spent three hot, humid July days in Washington, D.C. meeting with Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds and Representative Kristi Noem asking for their support to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It was an honor to meet with them and their staff members, and I really appreciated how we were cared for and listened to by them. Senator Thune has been a supporter all along, and we thank him for that! I was one of many concerned citizens from across the country who took vacation days to fly in and speak with their Congressional delegations. I had a steep learning curve because I—like most people I’ve talked to—didn’t know a lot about LWCF, but I had help from Isis Starks of the Nature Conservancy, along with Eric Lindstrom and Jeff Heidelbauer from Ducks Unlimited. They’re all great people who do great things! Created in 1965, the LWCF is the product of a bipartisan commitment to invest in natural areas, water resources and our cultural heritage, as well as to provide recreation opportunities to all Americans. LWCF is not funded by taxpayer dollars. Instead, it uses royalties paid to the government by energy companies extracting one natural resource that belongs to all Americans—offshore oil and gas—to support the conservation of other precious resources—our land and water. LWCF has created outdoor recreation opportunities in every state and in 98% of counties across the U.S. by opening up key areas for hunting, fishing, and other recreational access. It also supports working forests and ranches and promotes the acquisition and protection of critical lands in national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, Civil War battlefields and other federal areas. Every year, $900 million in royalties is put into this fund, yet nearly every year Congress breaks its own promise to the American people and diverts much of the funding to other uses. Another important thing the LWCF does is to help ranchers and farmers, forest owners, and other private landowners stay on their land by providing funding for perpetual conservation easements. More than 12,000 South Dakotans have used this tool to protect their family farms or other lands for future generations. In fact, almost all of the wetlands that are left in South Dakota have been protected by easements. And, we have many folks waiting to do the same for their land when the funding is available. Something like 85% of sportsmen and women support these easements (not to mention the Clean Water Act, which is another issue on which our delegation really needs to hear our voices). Senator Thune is a strong proponent of easements, and Representative Noem actually has an easement for her family’s farm land, but Senator Rounds says he is personally against them. Hopefully he will put his personal feelings aside and represent the majority of people in South Dakota who believe perpetual conservation easements are vital to maintaining our private property rights and saving our lands for future generations. Here are a few more facts to keep in mind: • LWCF provides matching grants to states for state and local parks, ensuring close-to-home access to recreation, protection of natural resources and support for local economic growth. • Hunting, fishing, camping, and other outdoor activities contribute $646 billion to the economy while supporting 6.1 million jobs. • Combined with broader conservation, outdoor recreation and historic preservation sectors, the economic contribution rises to $1.06 trillion annually while supporting 9.4 million jobs (one in every 15 jobs in the U.S.). • Every single county in South Dakota has received money from this fund. Every single one! Just think what could have been done with full funding! While we were still in Washington, we received the good news that our efforts had paid off and there was already bipartisan support for re-authorizing the LWCF. Wow! Action usually doesn’t happen that quickly in Congress! A little closer to home, Governor Dennis Daugaard recently announced a $24 million surplus in the state’s budget. Now, you might remember that the South Dakota Conservation Fund, which he proposed and we supported, was badly underfunded by the legislature last session. Now we have plenty of money to get the SDCF up and running! Please contact the governor and your state senators and representatives and tell them to put at least $10 million into the fund. Financially speaking, when you look at the economic impact sportsmen/women bring to this state, we actually need about $50 million to adequately run the program. South Dakota in turn, makes around six times return on our investment, so it’s a win-win! We are always looking for new ways to get our name out, bring in new members, and fund SDWF and Camo Coalition. Last year Brookings was our testing ground for a new opportunity called the Hunting Film Tour. The event was a great success, so this year we decided to expand it to Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Pierre. Please read more about it in this issue and plan on attending if possible. We’d like to add Aberdeen, Watertown, Huron and other cities later and make this a yearly event. Finally, remember to take a kid outdoors, ask “JUST ONE” of your buddies to join SDWF, become a legacy member, and like us on Facebook! Executive Director’s Update by Chris Hesla Executive Director Chris Hesla Mark your calendars for the dates of August 21-23 for the SDWF 70th Annual Convention to be held in Huron, Beadle County Sportsmen will be our hosts. See the schedule printed in this Out-of-Doors for times and planned activities. We will be honoring four Conservation leaders from South Dakota on Saturday night at our dinner/auction. All members and anyone interested in our work and positions are welcome and encouraged to attend. SDWF is very honored to have a very special guest speaker Saturday night is NWF’s CEO and new leader Collin O’Mara. Collin will address our convention. In the 25 years or so that I have been involved in SDWF, I do not remember at any time NWF’s CEO speaking to us at a Convention. Everyone is welcome to come listen to Collin, he is a very vibrant speaker. During the Convention, we will be drawing the winners for JUST ONE by Rich Widman the 2015 Pheasant Hunt and the 2014-2015 Buffalo Shoot. Good luck and a big THANK YOU to all of you that purchased chances on both of these exciting hunts. Yesterday morning I drove by some public hunting lands that border Lake Oahe here in Sully County. I counted 10 different broods of pheasant chicks on the road eating gravel. It looks like the pheasant hatch is very good in this area. I know there are some areas where flooding or hail has been hard on pheasants this year. The first week of August I believe GF&P starts their brood counting routes. At this time next month, we should be close to having the actual count and population estimates statewide. I predict SD is in for a very good fall pheasant season, but the future is still in question due to changing farming practices and the lack of better conservation programs in the current Farm Bill. We can and do make a difference Out Of Doors 4 JULY 2015 Summer Convention, Conservation Awards, & Action Auction Aug 21 to 23 in Huron SDWF’s 70th Annual Summer Convention is scheduled for Aug. 21-23, 2015 hosted by the Beadle County Sportsmen. The business of the convention is going to be held at the BCSC Clubhouse located on the lake in NE Huron. The Sportsmen’s Club will also be the site of the Action Auction and Conservation Awards dinner on Saturday evening. This year’s Convention has no official business happening on Friday the 21; A complete Convention Schedule is in this Out-ofDoors. SDWF’s Convention is open to all members and the public is more than welcome. Saturday morning the delegates from our affiliates and guests will be welcomed by Huron Mayor and SDWF member Paul Alward and Kelly Hepler. Mr. Hepler, the new GFP Secretary, is our guest speaker along with a full schedule of speakers and activities for Saturday afternoon is planned. We have a very important guest speaker during the evening’s fundraiser and action auction: NWF’s new CEO Collin Omara for the first time will address the members of SDWF during Saturday’s night festivities. Saturday night the Action Auction, combined with the Conservation Award presentations and the banquet will be held at the clubhouse and is open to the public. Sunday will be a business meeting with Resolutions and SDWF business to be discussed. The entire schedule is available in this issue. NWF CEO Collin O’Mara will be our guest speaker at our Action Auction, Banquet and Conservation Awards banquet, Aug. 22 in Huron. Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Much talk has revolved around the topic of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in South Dakota since the discovery of quagga mussel veligers in Angostura Reservoir and an adult zebra mussel in Lewis and Clark Lake last fall. It became clear that if we were going to try to control the spread of invasive species we were going to need to make some significant changes. The department brought forward new rule proposals to the Commission in January and they were finalized in March. The new regulations that require drain plugs to be removed from transported boats and restrict anglers from transporting bait or fish in lake water went into effect on May 11. * CO’s, AIS interns, parks volunteers and other staff are meeting Department staff have been actively meeting with boaters and anglers about the changes, with mixed reports regarding compliance. Some conservation officers have mentioned anglers appear to be more aware of the new regulations than recreational boaters. Discussions are underway to improve communication and outreach to recreational boaters. Staff have taken several approaches to outreach through open house meetings, press articles, radio interviews, one on one conversations and correspondence, digital references and more which are outlined below. * Posters were developed for placement at bait shops with the message to move the bait, not the water and encouraging folks to think ahead when purchasing bait so they have a plan to only use domestic water to transport their bait when leaving the lake. * Signs were ordered for public water access areas and are currently being installed. with anglers and boaters to continue to spread the word about AIS in SD and the new rules. * http://sdleastwanted.com/ launched in early April to help convey the information and assist in the outreach efforts. * Rack cards were distributed to license agents, conservation officers, park and recreational areas and to regional offices. They will be placed on windshields in boat ramp parking lots or distributed when CO’s are conducting boat inspections. Thank you all for your tireless efforts to help inform the public of the changes. It has truly been a team effort across the entire department. We are making good progress towards educating the public of the concerns of AIS in South Dakota and will continue to strive for the goal of voluntary compliance with these new rules. JUST ONE Out Of Doors 5 JULY 2015 SUMMER CONVENTION - August 21 – 23, 2015 Schedule of Events Hosted by the Beadle Co. Sportsmen; with all meetings and SDWF business held at their clubhouse in NE Huron. Most attendees will be staying at the Crossroads Convention Center. Friday – August 21nd - Fun Night – Come out to the BCSC clubhouse At 5:00 P.M., enjoy beverages and camaraderie, with a variety of games and fun that will be available to anyone who wants to have a relaxing evening. We will have rides to and from the motel if you wish to partake in adult beverages. Come hungry: Snacks and beverages will be available Sunday – August 24th - The Sunday Morning Session will be held at the BCSC Clubhouse * 8:30 AM Registration for newcomers * 9:00 AM: CALL TO ORDER * Invocation and Prayer * Pledge of Allegiance and Conservation Pledge * Seating of the delegates * Affiliate reports and updates * Committee Reports: > Youth Conservation Camp (including Endowment Fund update) > Any other updates * David Dittloff, NWF Regional Representative and Outreach Coordinator * Report from Dave Nauman and Chris Hesla on lobbying efforts/current issues * Report on Camo Coalition * Short Break * Approval of last year’s financial statement * Further discussion on and adoption of the budget * Bids for 2016 Annual Convention * Any further business * Elections for open positions * Oath of Office induction for newly elected directors and officers * Any further resolutions- Bob Jacobson * 12:00 Noon lunch break if needed, lunch on your own * 2:00 PM: Adjourn 2:00 PM ~ SDWF Board of Directors Post-Convention Meeting (To include new officers.) * Call to Order * Consideration of Approval of Absence from meeting for any absent Officer or Director. * Review and approve any Executive Committee action taken between meetings. * Appointment of the Secretary-Treasurer and Approval by the Governing Board. * Approval of the Bond for the Secretary-Treasurer. * Approval of employment contracts for Executive Directors and Secretary/Treasurer * President: appoint or reappoint Directors-at-Large with Approval of the Governing Board * Act on any Application of a Past President within the last 10 years if received. * Committee Appointments: > Resolution Committee - consists of 8 members > Articles and By-Laws Committee - consists of 5 members > Endowment Fund Committee - consists of 5 members > Nominating Committee - consists of 5 members > National Affairs Committee - consists of 5 members > Budget and Finance Committee - consists of 5 members > Credentials Committee - consists of 5 members * Appointment of the Legislative Lobbyists * Appointment of delegate and alternate delegate to the NWF annual convention * Set the fall meeting date, place and time. * Any further discussion on budget, PR and development * Any further business. * Executive Session * Adjourn 3:00 PM ~ Short Meeting of the Camo Coalition Board of Directors. 3:30 PM ~ Short meeting of the new SDWF Executive Board Saturday – August 22rd * 7:30 AM ~ Registration at the Beadle County Sportsmen’s clubhouse * 8:00 AM ~ SDWF Board of Directors Pre-Convention Meeting > Call to Order > Consideration of Approval of Absence from meeting for any absent Officer or Director > Approval of the Minutes of the Spring Governing Board Meeting > Approval of the Treasurer’s Financial Report (see also below) > Review and approve any Executive Committee action taken between meetings > Review of any delinquent dues from affiliate clubs not received by July 31st and approval of seating of delegates from delinquent affiliates > Any further business > Adjourn A special activity is planned for spouses who choose not to attend the convention. * 8:30 AM: First Session of the 70th Annual Convention Board of Directors, Affiliate Delegates and the public. * Call to Order * Invocation and Prayer * Pledge of Allegiance * Seating of the delegates * Welcome and opening remarks, by Huron’s mayor and SDWF member Paul Alward * Report from the Executive Director * Approval of the Treasurer’s Financial Report * Committee Reports: > By-laws > Resolutions > Budget and Finance > PR and Development * Nominations: Open positions for Sunday’s vote. * Short Break * 10:30 AM ~Kelly Hepler, SD Dept. of Game, Fish and Parks, Sect. * Quick preview of afternoon programs and other options. * Noon ~ Burgers and Brats will be served at the Clubhouse, $10. * 1:00 PM ~ Presentation on how rainwater and wetlands are important on SD’s landscape, presented by NRCS. * 2:00 PM ~ SCBC member Chuck Pyle will take all of us who want to go to Maga Tahopi WPA located west of Huron and enjoy and will tour the natural classroom available to all. Transportation is provided. * 5:30 PM ~ Social, Dinner, Conservation Awards & Auction at the SCBC Clubhouse. We will give four awards to honor SD’s leading conservationists * With very special guest speaker, NWF’s CEO Collin Omara who will address the convention at the BCSC Clubhouse. Open to the public: bring a friend! Boat Ramps in Northeast South Dakota Undergo Repairs PIERRE, S.D. Two popular boat ramps in northeast South Dakota will temporarily be closed for repairs in July. The southeast boat ramp on Bitter Lake near Waubay in Day County was damaged over the winter, compromising the ramp. Repairs are expected to be completed this week. Boaters can access the lake from the boat ramp on the northwest side of the lake during construction. Dry Lake #2 near Willow Lake in Clark County will be under construction beginning July 20 to install a new double-lane boat ramp, parking lot and vault toilet. “The new double ramp should alleviate some of the pressure at Dry Lake #2,” said Rhet Russell, wildlife biologist for the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP). “With just one ramp on this busy lake, the improvements will be a welcomed addition for local anglers.” Construction dates are subject to change. For the most current information, contact the Watertown Regional GFP office at 605.882.5200. - See more at: http://gfp.sd.gov/news/news/july/15. aspx#sthash.BAS6KlBc.dpuf JUST ONE Out Of Doors 6 JULY 2015 SD Wildlife Federation Donors At the 2003 Winter Board Meeting, the SDWF Board created the SDWF Wildlife Legacy Council. The Council was created to allow recognition of the people who support SDWF above and beyond their membership and raffle donations. Thank you to the following donors for their contributions to the SDWF. Please consider becoming a member of the Wildlife Legacy Council. SDWF is a 501(c3) non-profit, all donations are tax deductible. These tax-deductible contributions will speak volumes for the future of the SDWF’s Wildlife Legacy Council! Please consider your donation today. Donations can be sent to SDWF, PO Box 7075, Pierre, SD 57501. The Legacy Council consists of five different donation levels. These donation levels were revised October 2011 to: Level V Eagle $1,000 & above; Level IV Buffalo $501 - $999; Level III Elk $301 - $500; Level II Deer $201 - $300; and Level I Pheasant $100 $200. March 2015 LEVEL III ELK CARLSON Jr., HENRY - SD OLSON, JEFF - SD LEVEL II DEER KAUSMANN, JAY - SD LEVEL I PHEASANT AKKERMAN, STEPHEN - MN ANDRESEN, RICH - SD BARKER, KENNETH - SD BJORDAHL, KEVIN - SD BOETEL, BENNIE - SD BORMANN, DANIEL - WI BURNS, KENDALL - CA CAMPBELL, STUART - SD DIVICH, DUANE - TX DRESSING, BRIAN - SD EVANS, RALPH - FL HOLM, DALE - SD KUCK, MICHAEL - SD LARSON, SCOTT - SD LEVISEN, ARLO - SD LIPPINCOTT, ROB - TX MADSON, CARL - SD METCALF, ROBERT - MN NIELSEN, RICHARD - SD NORDBY, DAVID O. - NY O'BREIN, SCOTT - FL OLSON, RICHARD - MN PAUL, K-LYNN - AZ POLENZ, ALLAN - OR POPOWSKI, JOHN - SD RUMPCA, HAL - SD SCOWLEY, JOHN - MO SMOLIK, JAMES - SD SORGDRAGER, ROGER - SD STULTS, MARK - SD WIMMER, DAVE - NE WISWALL, F HERBERT - SD ZIMMERMAN, HERB - CO February 2015 No legacy donations for this month. January 2015 LEVEL IV BUFFALO KRODINGER, LAWRENCE - MO FAST, DAVID - OH FOXWORTHY, ROBERT - KY LEPP, DONALD - SD GOEDE, DAN - SD PARCEL, KERRY - SD LEVEL III ELK JENSEN, GARY - SD LEVEL I PHEASANT BOWAR, PAT - SD KASISCHKE, CARL - MI BAGAUS, TERRY - MN BRICK, RICHARD - CA KLUTTZ, HENRY - NC SCALET, CHUCK & GINGER - KS BEALKA, ROBERT - SD LULEWICZ, JERRY - SD BUCKNER, EVERETT - AR LEVEL II DEER MADDOX, JR, F.A. - TN BUCKNER II, WILLIAM - AR EISENBEISZ, DAVID - SD MARTIN, JIM - SD BURNS, HOWARD - SD HALLSTROM, KEN - SD MAYES, TERRY & LAREE - SD DEBOER, JAY - SD HOFTIEZER, GREG - SD MCGUIRE, ARVID - WI ECKERT, DENIS - SD JACOBSON, ROBERT - SD ZOELLNER, KENNETH - CA MCQUEARY, PETER - TX MEDEIROS, PAUL - CA MILLER, LARRY - SD MURPHY, STAN - SD OCHOCKI, ROBERT - CA OLSON, MURDEAN - SD PETERS, DUANE - SD RITER, JR., ROBERT - SD SCHLUTER, BOB - MN WICKSTROM, GERALD - SD December 2014 No legacy donations for this month. November 2014 LEVEL II DEER SATTLER, ARNOLD - SD LEVEL I PHEASANT MESSERSCHMIDT, LOYAL - SD SCHLUTER, BOB - MN MILLER, RICHARD - SD SORNA, MICHAEL - TX SAMPSON, TERRY - SD BRAKEBUSH, CARL - WI DILLON, JOHN - UT DIVICH, DUANE - TX GREGORY, J.T. - GA HAY, MARY & JERRY - WI JOHNSON, DARRELL - SD KAUSMANN, JAY - SD LEHMANN, JAMES - MN LEMONDS, JIM - SD NELSON, LAWRENCE - SD ROMANS, JAY - NC SCHEURENBRAND, BRUCE - CA WILDMAN, DENNY - OH WILMS, DALE - CA WISWALL, BRIAN T. - SD YONKOVICH, JACK - SD LEVEL I PHEASANT CARRELS, MIKE - SD FUERST, KEVIN - SD HALVERSON, KENNETH - SD HASTINGS, JIM - MN JONES, DONALD - CO JORGENSON, N. TERRY - MN KEELER, CHARLES - MN KOTECKI, DAVID - MI LUTZ, BOB - ID PAXTON, GARY - OK RILEY, MIKE - MO VANCE, RANDY - SD WHEELER, STEPHEN J. - SD LEVEL I PHEASANT ANDRESEN, RICH - SD BRENEISER, THOMAS - MI CONNELL, CRAIG - SD DENISON, LARRY - VA FLINT, FORREST - MN HIX, DOUGLAS - ID KOSKI, GARY - AZ LINDNER, RONALD - SD MCGUIRE, ARVID - WI NEISSL, E.J. - AR NOTEBOOM, DOUG E. - SD RANDALL, KEVIN - SD ABELSETH, BUTCH - SD GORS, JOHN - SD JARVIS, PETER - IA October 2014 No legacy donations for this month. September 2014 LEVEL V EAGLE ROBERTS, STEVEN - MN LEVEL I PHEASANT ADAMS, MEL - TN AYLER, JOHN - KS AYLESWORTH JR., ROBERT - CA Love the outdoors and need a tax deduction this year? If you have a car, van, truck, ATV, or boat that’s in reasonably good shape and you aren’t using, donate it to the SDWF. You’ll get a nice tax break and will feel great knowing you helped our great organization protect South Dakota’s outdoors. August 2014 No legacy donations for this month. July 2014 LEVEL V EAGLE CHAPMAN, JOHN W. - PA LEVEL IV BUFFALO WORDEN, JAMES - CA June 2014 No legacy donations for this month. May 2014 LEVEL III ELK ZOELLNER , KENNETH - CA LEVEL II DEER KIEFT, LARRY - MI April 2014 No legacy donations for this month. 888-OVERBAG SDWF Membership Application To continue our conservation efforts - we need your help! Please donate generously. Name:______________________________________________________ Send Donation and Address:____________________________________________________ Membership Application to: City: _________________________State: __________Zip____________ SDWF Phone:______________________________________________________ P.O Box 7075 e-mail_______________________________________________________ Pierre, SD 57501-0952 SDWF $20/Yr Membership Fee $___________ SDWFCamo-Coalition lobbying donation:$__________ CC____________________________EXP _______CV_____ Check - make checks payable to SDWF Out Of Doors 7 JULY 2015 Notes from NWF CEO Collin O’Mara on Conservation; Coming on the heels of the Clean Water Rule announcement (which we hosted with our DC Affiliate Earth Conservation Corps) and the agreement among Ohio, Michigan, and Ontario to reduce phosphorous in the Great Lakes by 40%, the biggest recent news is the Obama Administration’s Department of Justice and the Attorneys General of the five Gulf Coast states reaching a settlement with BP for the horrific damage caused in 2010 as more than a hundred million gallons of oil gushed into the Gulf. The settlement is for $18 billion, with $5.5 billion for Clean Water Act violations and $7.1 billion for the Natural Resource Damage Assessment. We of course would always like to see more, but this is a huge win for wildlife and the biggest environmental penalty in history (by comparison it’s more money than all Land and Water Conservation dollars since its creation in 1965). Our collective team has been on the front lines of this battle from the beginning with my predecessor Larry Schweiger being among the first national leaders on-site calling for full accountability and restoration. Our team at the National Advocacy Center working closely with many state affiliates, including the Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida Wildlife Federations, led the charge for the passage of the RESTORE act which ensured that 80% of penalties and fines would end up in the Gulf for restoration, rather than just in the general U.S. Treasury. Our incomparable team in the Gulf, led by Susan Kaderka and David Muth, has worked hard every day since the disaster to ensure that both BP was held accountable and that all penalties are spent on ecological restoration. Our Gulf Coast and Mississippi River Delta teams have put out reports on the health of the Gulf, which show that dolphins are still dying, Kemp’s ridley sea turtles are nesting at a fraction of their pre-spill levels, and that impacts on bird and fish continue today. Our team has worked hard to lay out clear priorities for restoration in each of the Gulf States—projects that can now plan for implementation once the settlement is finalized. While there is still much more work to do, I am so proud of all of the work across our entire Federation and with our partners that made this all possible. Pheasant Hunt ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ Winner’s Choice Of: A four-day pheasant hunt for two hunters A three-day pheasant hunt for three hunters A two-day pheasant hunt for four hunters A cash prize of $700 $10 ea. or 3 for $25 Private land located in Central South Dakota • Drawing to be held Huron, SD, Aug. 21-23, 2015 Void where prohibited by law. Your presence or contribution not necessary to win. SDWF, PO Box 7075, Pierre, SD 57501 • (605) 224-7524 ___________________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ Phone Pheasant Hunt ___________________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ Phone Pheasant Hunt ___________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ Pheasant Hunt ___________________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ Pheasant Hunt ___________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ 2015-2016 South Dakota Wildlife Federation Buffalo & Wings Shoot Custer State Park Buffalo Shoot Winner’s Choice Of: ❖ A guided buffalo shoot during the 2016 Fall Season. Rifle or bow allowed for the shoot ❖ A cash prize of $1,500 $10 ea. or 3 for $25 ❖ This is a guided shoot in Custer State Park located in southwestern South Dakota ❖ These bulls average two years old ❖ Drawing to be held at Convention in August 2016 Void where prohibited by law. Your presence or contribution not necessary to win. ___________________________________________ Phone Buffalo Shoot JUST ONE ___________________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ Phone Buffalo Shoot ___________________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ Buffalo Shoot ___________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ Phone Buffalo Shoot ___________________________________________ Phone ___________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ Buffalo Shoot ___________________________________________ Name ___________________________________________ Address ___________________________________________ SDWF, PO Box 7075, Pierre, SD 57501 • (605) 224-7524 Buffalo Shoot We are also ramping up our campaign to save pollinators, like bees and butterflies, many of which have experienced significant population decline as a result of habitat loss, chemical use, climate impacts, and other factors. Building upon our highly impactful Gardening for Wildlife program, including our nearly 200,000 backyard habi- 2015 South Dakota Wildlife Federation Buffalo & Wings Shoot Pheasant Hunt We also achieved solid progress in controlling feral swine that are a scourge on habitat and key species in too many places. Last month, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) calling for the implementation of a national program to control feral swine populations. We have been working with several affiliates on this issue for many years; passing a resolution on invasive feral hogs at our 2012 Annual Meeting, submitting comments to APHIS as they undertook the creation of the EIS, and again earlier this year submitting joint comments on the draft Environmental Impact Statement. APHIS listened and followed nearly all of our science-based recommendations—a success that illustrates so perfectly the power of our Federation! The final EIS establishes APHIS as the lead agency responsible for collaborating among government agencies. It also increases resources for implementation, assistance to states, education efforts, and research on effective control methods—and puts into place a much needed national strategic plan and resources to control feral swine. I’d like to thank Doug Inkley and all of the state affiliates who were involved in making this happen. As I continue my march to meet every affiliate in their home state (well past the two-thirds mark!), I had the chance to visit with several affiliates over the past few weeks. I had a great time with Jamie Rhodes, Paul Beaudette, the entire Environmental Council of Rhode Island, as well as Don Hooper and Amber Hewett. ECRI is enjoying some great wins related to banning cesspools, strengthening resilience planning, beginning construction of nation’s first offshore wind farm at Block Island, and the designation of a new National Park at Blackstone River Valley. Our teams at the Minnesota Conservation Federation and the Renewable Resources Coalition (Alaska) are deeply engaged in fighting mining operations that threaten some of America’s greatest wildlife and fisheries habitat. In Minnesota, Gary Botzek and his team are fighting a sulfide ore copper mining operation proposed in the headwaters of America’s first designated Wilderness Area, the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area. Yes, that’s right, in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters (inside the watershed but just outside current wilderness designation). Working with my friend Ted Roosevelt IV, Jason Schmidt, Malea Stenzel Gilligan and I were on hand to launch a sportsmen and women coalition to support permanent protection Pheasant Hunt Another huge federal win in the past few weeks was the overwhelming House passage of reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by a margin of 398-1 (a Senate TSCA bill has passed committee with strong bipartisan support and awaits the floor). The proposed changes will drastically improve the way we test and regulate toxic chemicals in this nation. As a former state official, I can share painful details about the many problems with this nearly 40-year old statute and how it’s allowed chemicals that the science overwhelmingly proves are unsafe to harm kids and wildlife alike. As you can tell from the House vote, this is a hugely bipartisan effort and, though we’re still working to further strengthen the House and Senate versions of the bill (assuming the Senate bill gets floor time and passes, conference committee will be complicated), I’m proud that the National Wildlife Federation was an early vocal supporter of making progress this session and that our lobby team led by Josh Saks is working hard in the trenches to get something meaningful done that will improve the health of wildlife across the nation. (Also from Congress, a series of absolutely atrocious riders to the Interior and EPA budget bills that we’re fighting…) tat certifications, we are a founding partner of the National Pollinator Garden Network and helped launch the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge with First Lady Michelle Obama a few weeks ago. On Monarchs specifically (whose populations have declined by more than 90% in 15 years), we’re working with the White House and Federal Agencies (especially the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) and more than a dozen state affiliates, state fish/wildlife agencies, state transportation agencies, schools, and communities to put more milkweed habitat on the landscape and other efforts. Together, we can help save the iconic Monarch and restore pollinator populations that are essential for more than a third of all of the food we eat. I’m proud of the efforts of our entire Federation (led by Mary Phillips, Julie Sibbing, Naomi Edelson, Kevin Coyle, and Dave Mizejewski) and the leadership of state affiliates in Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Indiana, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Jersey, Delaware, the Dakotas, and I’m sure I’m forgetting many others. Let us know if you’d like to help. Out Of Doors of this amazing treasure. And I was up in Alaska at the Kenai for a Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council meeting—it was simply spectacular. In addition to addressing pressing Council business, we floated, fished, hiked to glaciers, and watched wildlife. While there I had a chance to learn more about our affiliate of the year, the Renewable Resources Coalition (Anders was training fishing guides so I met with Melissa Heuer from his team; RRC is fresh off their gigantic ballot measure win to protect Bristol Bay which passed with huge bipartisan, tribal and sportsmen/women support in every single part of the state). Finally, let me end with one fight that we need to win: One of the biggest electoral wins of 2014 was the overwhelming passage of Amendment One in Florida with 75%. Led by the Florida Wildlife Federation and other local partners, the measure constitutionally mandated that one-third of all realty transfer taxes be dedicated to land conservation. So great push for dedicated funding and huge win at the ballot box—but the story doesn’t end there. Over the past six months, the Florida State Legislature and Governor Scott have ignored the measure and just passed a budget that spends only a fraction of the mandated more than $700 million on conservation and they also allowed a key conservation opportunity in the Everglades to lapse and delayed other key conservation priorities. They are simply ignoring the law. A few weeks ago, Ron Warnken and I were down with Manley Fuller and his whole team for their 8 JULY 2015 board meeting and annual dinner, where I assumed I would just be lauding their huge success and preparing for implementation— and instead was discussing battle plans for fighting back. FWF and other partners launched their lawsuit against the legislature and we’ll use every tool in our arsenal to ensure that the will of Floridians is followed. We need to help them win this fight! This is all a long way of saying that we are making steady, meaningful progress across the nation. We’re bringing on fantastic talent across the Federation (folks like Dirk Sellers, new VP of Philanthropy, and Brian Kurzel new Regional Executive Director for the Rockies) and I’m also extremely excited that my predecessor and renown conservationist, Larry Schweiger, has been named President and CEO of PennFuture. Also, Carol Hayes is the new Executive Director of Prairie Rivers Network and Georgia Wildlife Federation named Mike Worley, President and CEO. Welcome aboard! >From restoring habitat and cleaning up waterways to defending public lands and connecting kids with nature, we are making a difference in every corner of America—now we just need to keep growing our conservation army! So let’s enjoy these victories and saddle up for the next battles! Thank you for all that you all do for our Federation—and for wildlife and all outdoor enthusiasts Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Conservation Package Introduced in the House Sportsmen’s Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Enhancement Act is purely positive move to reauthorize or implement critical conservation programs WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the four House leaders of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, Reps. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), Rob Wittman (R-Va.), Gene Green (D-Texas), and Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), introduced the bipartisan “Sportsmen’s Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Enhancement Act,” or SCORE Act (HR 3173), in the 114th Congress. Combined with the previously introduced SHARE Act (HR 2406), these bills constitute a major victory for fish and wildlife habitat, and improved access for America’s hunters and anglers. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.) and Ron Kind (DWis.), all past chairs of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, are also supporting SCORE. “The sportsmen’s community can stand squarely behind this bill as a great step forward in protecting our ability to fund and implement the conservation of at-risk habitats, species, and access,” said Whit Fosburgh, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “It’s a good example of bipartisan legislation that addresses the needs of America’s hunters and anglers, and we’d like to see a lot more of that consensus.” The bill contains seven provisions to reauthorize or implement legislation that helps fund conservation programs on federal and private lands, which boosts sportsmen’s access to quality hunting and fishing, including reauthorization of the Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act (FLTFA). Prior to its expiration in 2011, FLTFA had leveraged strategic federal land sales to fund 39 priority conservation projects, including many that expanded sportsmen’s access to world-class hunting and fishing opportunities. “There is a lot to like in this legislation,” said Kameran Onley, director of U.S. government relations for The Nature Conservancy. “It shows a significant bipartisan commitment to conservation and wildlife habitat protection, as well as sportsmen’s access and recreational opportunities that help grow our economy. We’re encouraged to see the bill include so many effective, fiscally-sound programs that provide both economic and conservation benefits.” The Act would reauthorize two conservation grant programs with matcheddollar incentives: the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) and the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act. Each federal dollar invested in these grant programs is matched, on average, three times over by non-federal dollars that have major on-the-ground impacts for the conservation of wetlands, waterfowl, and other wildlife. “Conserving and protecting our nation’s wetlands is at the core of Ducks Unlimited,” said DU’s Chief Policy Officer Margaret Everson. “NAWCA funding is a critical component for DU to carry out our mission of conserving, restoring, and managing wetlands and habitats for North America’s waterfowl. We’re pleased this legislation calls for the reauthorization of these programs and appreciate the continued support for our community from Representatives Wittman, Walz, Duncan, and Green.” A provision often referred to as Making Public Lands Public, which has garnered significant bipartisan support as a standalone piece of legislation, is also a part of the package. It requires that 1.5 percent of annual Land and Water Conservation Fund monies be made available to establish and expand recreational access to federal public lands. “We are thrilled to see bipartisan support for the SCORE Act, and we are particularly excited to see the ‘Making Public Lands Public’ provision included,” said Land Tawney, executive director for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA). “Public lands are the cornerstone of our sporting heritage and public access to these lands is a priority for BHA. We look forward to swift action and ultimate passage of the SCORE Act. The steak has sizzled on the grill long enough—it’s time to set the table and pass a sportsmen’s package.” SCORE includes a sense of Congressional support for the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act, which was previously introduced in Congress in 2014 to improve fish habitat through partnerships that foster conservation projects or enhance recreational fishing opportunities. These partnerships would “support the economic significance of fish habitat resources and the recreational, subsistence, and commercial fishing linked to these resources in the United States.” “The recreational fishing industry strongly supports and, in fact, depends on healthy fish habitat that provides abundant fish stocks, which are enjoyed by our nation’s 60 million anglers,” said Mike Leonard, ocean resource policy director for the American Sportfishing Association and National Fish Habitat Partnership board member. “In addition to the other public access and habitat improvement provisions in this bill, we strongly support the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act and hope to see it advance in this Congress as part of a broader sportsmen’s package.” Finally, SCORE would reauthorize the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a congressionally-chartered grant-making organization that works with public and private stakeholders, and Partners for Fish and Wildlife, which assists private landowners in preserving habitat for federally-managed species. “It’s vitally important that Congress now pass the SCORE Act, so that these important conservation measures can continue and the investments the American public has made in wildlife conservation programs can reap rewards for years to come,” said David Houghton, president of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. “We’re particularly pleased to see reauthorization of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, because this important program helps private landowners keep working lands working.” The National Wild Turkey Federation also supports this legislation, which pairs well with their ‘Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt’ initiative. “This bill helps us protect habitat that supports wildlife and hunting access, thus protecting our hunting heritage for millions of Americans to enjoy,” said Becky Humphries, chief conservation officer for NWTF. SHARE, which has also been supported by sportsmen’s groups, assures access for hunters and anglers, while SCORE seeks to improve habitat. Together, these bills assure a bright future for American sportsmen and women. “The SCORE Act has major implications for wildlife habitat conservation in the United States and provides vital funding for partnership efforts to preserve and safeguard America’s outdoor traditions,” said Howard Vincent, president and CEO of Pheasants Forever, Inc. “Pheasants Forever and its members urge Congress to swiftly pass this bipartisan legislation for our nation’s wild places, wildlife, and all who enjoy it.” Sportsmen/women- Want to help fund SDWF and the Youth Conservation Camp plus reduce your taxes this year? Donate stocks and land to the SDWF. You not only won’t have to pay taxes on those assets, you will pay less tax because of your generosity! JUST ONE
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