All sorts of animals – big and small – live in your backyard. Some fly, some crawl, some jump, and some slither. They live under rocks, logs and leaves; up in bushes or trees; near water; and in holes in the ground and cracks in your house.

For your first Backyard Safari, look under a plant’s leaves, especially if they look as if something chewed on them. This is where caterpillars hang out. They look like worms with many legs. Some caterpillars look hairy, while others are smooth. Caterpillars change into pretty butterflies or moths. Leaves hide caterpillars from birds that might want to eat them for lunch.

Unless you know what kind of caterpillar you are looking at, do not touch it. Sometimes the ones that look furry are prickly. They could be poisonous.

Ask an adult to help you turn over a log or large stone (be sure to turn the log toward you in case there is a snake hiding underneath). It is not hard to find a beetle because there are many different ones. In fact, they are the largest group of insects on Earth. Look for the bugs with biting mouths and hard front wings that protect them.

Some beetles help people by using their jaws to eat tiny critters that chew on flowers or dine on vegetable gardens. Other beetles are pests because they eat the food people grow.

Beetles lay their eggs in dead, fallen trees or logs. When you turned the log over, did you also see tiny, white, squishy “worms” wriggling around? These grubs are baby beetles. Other animals and bugs that call logs and fallen trees home are pill bugs (roly-polies), ants, salamanders, lizards, frogs, earthworms, termites and centipedes.

10/29/2009 – The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) today awarded state snowmobile trail grants totaling $200,000 to nine local governments and to the statewide snowmobile association for trail maintenance, equipment, and safety improvements for public-access snowmobile trails in Illinois. 

“Snowmobiling in Illinois is enjoyed by thousands of people annually and we always talk about the importance of safety.  This money will help maintain trails and help keep snowmobilers safe this coming season.” said IDNR Director Marc Miller. 

The state snowmobile grant program is funded entirely by snowmobilers through the registration fees they pay.  There are nearly 38,000 registered snowmobiles in Illinois.

The snowmobile grant program is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  Applications for the next round of grants are available by contacting the IDNR Division of Grant Administration, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL, 62702-1271, or by calling 217/782-7481.  Applications are accepted March 1-May 1.

The Snowmobile Grant Program recipients and project information for Fiscal Year 2010 are listed below:

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Blackhawk Park District (Carroll County), $15,000 to upgrade and maintain the snowmobile trail between Stockton and Elizabeth. Funds will be used to repair/replace four snowmobile trail bridges and to add gates and posts.

Flagg-Rochelle Park District (Ogle County), $11,085 to acquire a 1.7 mile-long, 40-foot wide corridor adjacent to a proposed bike path in Rochelle.

Freeport Park District (Stephenson County), $8,000 for the out-of-pocket operation and maintenance costs involved with the grooming and maintenance of the area’s public snowmobile trails.  

Knox County Sheriff’s Department (Knox County), $3,100 to buy heavy cloth orange safety vests, and a portable generator to provide electricity for a command trailer.

Lena Community Park District (Stephenson County), $16,000 to purchase and replace two rubber tracks on a Tucker-Terra 1000 snowmobile groomer and to help cover operation and maintenance costs involved with the use of the snowmobile groomer. 

Lena Community Park District (Stephenson County), $2,550 to purchase materials to construct a snowmobile bridge, 200 snowmobile trail signs for better marking trails and posts.

Loran Township (Stephenson County), $5,250 to repair seven small snowmobile bridges and to purchase 500 snowmobile trail signs and posts to better mark the area’s public snowmobile trails.           

City of Morrison (Whiteside County), $11,085 for the development of a 10-foot wide, eight-tenths of a mile long aggregate trail that extends northward from the edge of town.  The eventual plan is to develop a trail that will reach Morrison- Rockwood State Park. 

Rockford Park District (Winnebago County), $40,820 to install a new snowmobile bridge, to repair four existing snowmobile bridges, and to purchase snowmobile trail signs and posts to better mark the area’s public snowmobile trails.

City of Savanna (Carroll County), $7,110 to purchase snowmobile trail signs and posts to mark two new public snowmobile trails.  One trail will extend from Savanna to Mt. Carroll and the other will extend from Savanna to Thomson. 

SNOWMOBILE CLUBS

Illinois Association of Snowmobile Clubs, Inc. (IASC), $80,000 to partially reimburse them for their annual cost of maintaining liability insurance that is required on all public snowmobile trails in Illinois. 

The programs planned are:

Comets: Icy Visitors From Afar – On Saturday, Nov. 14, at 2 p.m. come make your own comet with our comet chef.

Tracks and Scat – On Saturday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. come learn about mammals and birds and the clues they leave. Participants will take a closer look and match the wildlife with the evidence they leave behind.

Ski Cross Country – On Saturday, Jan. 16, there will be a class on the basics of cross-country skiing at 2 p.m. Following the class, there will be a ski tour of the trails near the Discovery Center. After the ski tour, there will be hot chocolate and coffee available, and information about the best skiing opportunities at Michigan state parks.

Snowshoe-making Workshop – On Sunday, Jan. 17, Come learn how to make your own traditional style of white ash snowshoes during a workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the center. There is a $160 fee to cover materials and instruction. Class size is limited and preregistration is required. Participants should bring their own brown bag lunch.

The Mystery of the Missing Groundhog – Join the Discovery Center staff on Saturday, Jan. 30, to learn the about the missing groundhog during this investigative program. The program begins at 2 p.m.

The Fastest Thing on Ice: Ice Boating – Guest presenter Mel Nichols will describe the ice boat building process; and Bruce Brown, world-class ice boat racer, will describe the racing experience during this presentation set from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6.

Snowshoeing – A snowshoeing adventure will be offered at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at the center. If there is insufficient snow, a hike will be substituted.

Winter Orienteering – Come and learn the challenges of finding your way around in the woods with a compass and map. This is a program for all ages, and compasses will be provided. This program takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13.

Alternative Energy Today – Discover how your family can incorporate current alternative energy sources in your home by finding out about technologies and resources, including a list of local businesses to help you install alternative energy products in the home. This program will start at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, and includes a hands-on activity involving solar power.

Spring Into Gardening – On Saturday, March 6, come discover the joy of gardening with Master Gardener Sharon Sohoza. Learn how to prepare soil, and the ins and outs of seed starting, along with tips on spring cleaning. Participants will start an herb to take home. This program will be offered at 2 p.m.

Spring Awakening – At 2 p.m. Saturday, March 20, come take a brisk spring walk along the trails near the Discovery Center and look for signs of the approaching spring season.

All programs at the center are universally accessible with the exception of skiing and snowshoeing. With the exception of the snowshoe-making workshop, all programs are free; however, a valid State Park Motor Vehicle Permit is required to enter the recreation area. Permits are available for $6 for a Michigan resident daily and $24 for an annual. Out-of-state residents may purchase permits for $8 for a daily and $29 for an annual.

To register for programs, call the center at (734) 475-3170.

10/28/2009 – DALLAS, Texas — The first ever North Texas Outdoor Expo will take place at the Elm Fork Shooting Sports facility in Dallas on Nov. 14, featuring activities such as fitness obstacle course, bicycling, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, archery, target shooting, rock climbing, and more.

The North Texas Outdoor Expo is the region’s first of its kind in terms of size and diversity of activities. The expo will be divided into eight “villages,” a fitness village, bike madness village, target village, nature’s village, archery village, dog village, water village and fishing village. Each village, in turn, will feature several activities and exhibits, adding up to more than 50 distinct attractions. Children can experience a wide range of activities, and all are free for kids.

Organizers deliberately define “outdoors” broadly to encompass a range of nature-based offerings, including a nature village with a butterfly display, birds of prey, an exotic petting zoo, reptiles, bugs, dutch oven cooking expo, camping expo, orienteering experience and more.

The expo will be held at the Elm Fork Shooting Sports complex at 10751 Luna Rd. in Dallas from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The shooting range will be closed during the event, except for the area where the target shooting activities will be held. The 500-acre property lies along the Trinity River just west of downtown, with wooded areas and multiple ponds, providing a rare natural landscape in an urban setting.

The event is being hosted by the Youth Target Foundation and Start Caring Wellness, a youth health organization fighting childhood obesity, with partner support from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Bass Pro Shops, Dallas Safari Club, Yamaha, Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), Sun & Ski Sports, Texas Motor Speedway and Audubon Dallas.

Event organizers are seeking volunteers to help staff the event. Volunteers can sign up on the Start Caring Wellness, Inc. Web site.

The event is free for children ages 17 and under, with a $5 admission charge for adults and a $5 charge for parking. More information about the expo can be found on the Start Caring Wellness Web site and Facebook page.

Held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City, the Wildlife Expo is Oklahoma’s largest outdoor recreation event, offering guests the chance to shoot shotguns and archery equipment, ride mountain bikes and ATVs, catch fish in a fully-stocked pond, experience kayaking, attend seminars and more for free.

At this year’s Expo, wild game meat will be served at the popular Taste of the Wildlife booth, where last year more than 1,000 pounds of fried catfish, more than 1,000 pounds of venison and about 220 gallons of buffalo chili were served to Expo visitors. Dutch oven demonstrators also served samples of deserts, stews and other delicious camp foods cooked right on site and provided seminars on the basics of Dutch oven cooking. Visitors were able to learn secrets of the trade, including what tools are needed to make camp cooking easier and how many coals to use when cooking with a Dutch oven.

“Visitors to the 2009 Wildlife Expo should make it a point to try each of the foods they can sample at the Taste of the Wild booth,” said Rhonda Hurst, Expo coordinator for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. “They should also be sure to attend a Dutch oven seminar to learn a new recipe or even learn about this style of camp cooking for the first time.”

In addition to sampling game meat and camp food, visitors also can attend a cooking seminar with renowned chef, restaurant owner and wild game cook Michael Fusco. Owner of Michael Fusco’s Riverside Grill in Tulsa, Fusco shows the ins and outs of handling and preparing wild game with culinary expertise every year at the Expo.

“Michael Fusco has partnered with the Wildlife Expo from its beginning and has always been a favorite among Expo visitors,” Hurst said.

The Wildlife Expo is hosted by the Wildlife Department in partnership with a wide range of other state agencies, private individuals and outdoor-related companies to host Expo. The huge event is designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities for all types of outdoor enthusiasts while promoting and instilling an appreciation for Oklahoma’s wildlife and natural resources.

Whether catching a fish for the first time, designing a personal fishing lure, or building a birdhouse to take home with them for free, visitors to the Expo get the chance to soak up a full weekend of free outdoor knowledge, skills and experiences as hundreds of volunteers and Wildlife Department employees work to keep the event exciting, educational and entertaining.

“If you want to try over a hundred outdoor activities, then be at this year’s wildlife Expo Sept. 25-27,” said country music star and outdoorsman Blake Shelton of Ada, who has made an appearance at the Expo in the past. “If you love to hunt and fish like I do, then take someone to this year’s Wildlife Expo.”

The Wildlife Expo will be held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City. Expo hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily Sept. 25-27. Log on to wildlifedepartment.com regularly to stay up to date on this year’s Expo activities.

This year’s Expo will again feature “School Day” Sept. 25, when busloads of school students from across the state will arrive and enjoy a day at the event. For more information about School Day or the Wildlife Expo, log on to wildlifedepartment.com.

 
Get a feel for the day-to-day life of early settlers as you walk through log cabins with period furnishings. Fiddles and hammer dulcimers provide the background music while pioneer reenactors demonstrate finger weaving, powder horn making, flint and steel fire, clothes washing and leather work. Experience the real horse power of draft horses during a logging demonstration, and stop by the cane mill and drink some cane juice on your way to the blacksmith shop. Enjoy kettle corn and Bullock County’s finest barbeque during the quilting and homemade soap making demonstrations. Finish the day with a relaxing open-woods trail ride. Admission is free to all.

 
The Wehle Land Conservation Center features over six miles of horseback riding trails, three fishing ponds, boating, canoeing, and wildlife observation. The Wehle Land Conservation Center is open to the public the first and third Saturday of each month and is located approximately five miles southeast of Midway, Ala. on County Road 47. Take U.S. Hwy. 82 from either Montgomery or Eufaula to Midway and follow the “Nature Center” signs. For more information, call 1-800-LAND-ALA.

 
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama’s natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.

“The information provided in this guide is designed to assist the public with accessing and traveling the river by boat to promote appreciation, conservation and protection of the river’s resources,” said Mary Crockett, program manager with the South Carolina Scenic Rivers Program, which is a part of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

To obtain a published copy contact Crockett by e-mail at CrockettM [at] dnr [dot] sc [dot] gov, or by phone at (803) 734-9111.

           
The river section that is the subject of the water trail guide is the South Carolina-designated Lynches Scenic River, which flows about 111 miles from the US Highway 15 bridge in Lee County to its confluence with the Great Pee Dee River, in Florence, Marion and Williamsburg counties. Along its course, the river flows through a varied natural and cultural landscape, including lower Piedmont landscapes, deep swamp Coastal Plain floodplain forests, farms, and rural crossroads.

           
The water trail guide includes information on landings and river miles, stream flow information, river conservation and one-way shuttle information, along with detailed full-color maps. The natural and cultural history of the Lynches River is covered in detail, including geology, flora, terrestrial and aquatic animal species and human history. Boating information is also covered in the book, including river etiquette and ethics, river safety and river miles coordinates, featuring latitude and longitude of each mile along the scenic river.

           
The South Carolina Scenic Rivers Program, established by the South Carolina Scenic Rivers Act of 1989, is designed to protect South Carolina’s unique and outstanding river resources. To accomplish this purpose, a cooperative, voluntary management program involves landowners, community interests and DNR, working in partnership to achieve common river-conservation goals. The partnership is formed through local advisory councils created for each scenic river—and for Lynches River, the Lynches River Advisory Council was created.

South Carolina’s natural resources are essential for economic development and contribute nearly $30 billion and 230,000 jobs to the state’s economy. Find out why Life’s Better Outdoors.

The draft reports collectively call for increased accountability and performance from pollution control, habitat protection and land conservation programs at all levels of government, including an expanded use of regulatory authorities to address pollution control and additional voluntary and market-based solutions – particularly when it comes to habitat protection and land conservation programs. Federal agencies are also proposing new ways to harness the latest innovations in science and technology. The proposed actions are in response to overwhelming scientific evidence that the health of the Chesapeake Bay remains exceptionally poor, despite the concerted restoration efforts of the past 25 years.

“Communities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed expect and deserve rivers and streams that are healthy and thriving,” said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, chairperson of the Federal Leadership Committee and the federal representative to the Chesapeake Executive Council. “We need bold new leadership, collective accountability by all contributors to the bay’s problems, and dramatic changes in policies using all the tools at hand if we are to fulfill President Obama’s goal for clean water throughout the region. These reports bring us a step closer to achieving the vision we all share for the future of the Chesapeake Bay.”

The draft reports are the first step in the creation of a new strategy for restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay and waterways in the region, as defined by the executive order. The reports include a variety of strategies and options for addressing issues such as water quality, public access, landscape conservation, climate change, scientific monitoring and the protection of living resources. Along with today’s public release, the draft reports were also submitted to the Federal Leadership Committee that is coordinating work on the executive order. The draft reports are available at http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net.

On May 12, President Obama issued Executive Order 13508 on Chesapeake Bay Restoration and Protection, the first-ever presidential directive on the bay and the first environmental executive order by President Obama. The order established a Federal Leadership Committee, chaired by EPA, and with senior representatives from the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, Interior and Transportation.

During the past 120 days, 10 federal agencies collaborated to develop the draft reports. The recommendations in the reports were shaped by consultations with the six states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the District of Columbia, as well as suggestions from stakeholders and the public. Successful restoration of the Chesapeake Bay depends on the involvement of federal, state and local governments; the private sector; nonprofit organizations; and the watershed’s 17 million residents. The draft reports were released to engage the public in the process outlined in the executive order.

The draft report on water quality includes some of the more significant potential changes to existing programs. In this report, EPA proposes to develop new regulations for the Chesapeake Bay to significantly reduce runoff pollution from urban, suburban and agricultural sources. The report also relays EPA’s intention to hold the states in the watershed more accountable for controlling pollution, through increased oversight, enforcement activities and new policies. Urban and suburban runoff pollution is the fastest growing source of pollution to the Chesapeake Bay, while agricultural runoff is the largest.

During the next 60 days, the Federal Leadership Committee will evaluate the proposals in the draft reports and consult with bay jurisdictions to refine the recommendations for meeting key challenges to the Chesapeake Bay’s health. On November 9, the Federal Leadership Committee will release a draft strategy that integrates the seven reports. Release of a draft strategy and revised reports will initiate a 60-day public comment period that concludes in early 2010. A final strategy will be completed by May 12, 2010. However, the agencies will be moving forward in a number of areas before the strategy becomes final.

“We have an urgent obligation to citizens of today and generations of tomorrow to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed, and this executive order puts new weight behind our work,” Jackson said. “We’re moving quickly and transparently on a comprehensive strategy that will get real results for the bay.”

More information on the executive order: http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net

The federal departments and agencies working on the Chesapeake Bay executive order include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of the Defense, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey.

The Chesapeake Bay is one of the most extraordinary places in America. The unique estuary is the largest in the nation and third largest in the world. Its 64,000-square-mile watershed spans parts of six states – Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia – and the entire District of Columbia. The bay and its watershed have remarkable ecological, economic, recreational, historic and cultural value to the region. Economists have estimated the bay’s value at more than $1 trillion, and its bounty includes over 500 million pounds of seafood per year. Supporting more than 3,600 species of plants, fish and other animals, the Chesapeake is home to 29 species of waterfowl and is a major resting ground along the Atlantic Flyway. The most recent scientific analysis of water quality concluded that the Chesapeake Bay is only attaining 21 percent of its goals.

“I think people have an innate desire to connect with nature,” said Karen Rowe, AGFC bird conservation biologist. “Birding is an easy way to do that.”

Particularly in The Natural State, an abiding interest in the outdoors seems commonplace.

“Around Arkansas, we have lots of hunters and fisherman, said Jim Allen, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Little Rock. “People [here] are conscious of nature.”

Allen’s store specializes in bird feeders and seeds. The report showed that backyard birding is the most popular way to watch birds, with 88 percent of birders claiming to observe birds at home. Arkansas birders can also see birds in a plethora of local natural areas.

“There are so many amazing places for birding in Arkansas,” Rowe said. “We tend to think of those places [e.g. wildlife management areas] for traditional hunting, but they’re excellent for bird-watching, too.”

Several Arkansas towns have harnessed the power of birding, drawing birders to their streets via birding events and customized accommodations. Clarendon hosts The Big Woods Birding Festival, which offers bird programs and hikes. Hoping to attract eco-tourists, Stuttgart is converting unused land to prairie habitat for birds around Stuttgart Airport. The airport already lures birders, who walk the grassy spans between runways to find specialty winter birds like Smith’s Longspur and Sprague’s Pipit. As of April 2008, Stuttgart Airport’s birder registry has documented birders from 23 states, two Canadian provinces and Great Britain.

Still, there’s room for other Arkansas towns to adopt birder-friendly standards to generate income from tourists.

“Tourism departments need to recognize there’s a birding element and recognize birders’ needs,” Rowe said. “Local towns need support, and birders can fill it. They don’t realize birders are out there.”

At the same time, birders need to identify themselves.

“I leave a birder calling card with the tip at restaurants,” stated Dr. Dan Scheiman, bird conservation director for Audubon Arkansas. “It lets businesses know that birders contribute to their local economy. Because we birders don’t always have binoculars around our necks, we also should be more vocal about who we are and why we are visiting.”

According to the report, most birders are middle-aged and older. In contrast, only eight percent of birders are between 16 and 24 years of age. /p>

“We’ve got to get the youth involved,” Rowe said. “AGFC is working hard to recruit young hunters and anglers. To the same extent, we need to recruit young birders. But more than that, we need to recruit conservationists.”

Through kindling a passion for nature within youth and communities, Arkansas will ensure that its natural heritage is preserved through birding and other outdoor activities.

The formal designation, following months of planning and public input gathering, provides the DNR with special authority to manage the 162-acre lake for waterfowl, wildlife and clean water through the use of periodic, temporary water level draw-downs in addition to other strategies.

Once a popular waterfowl lake, Round Lake has been in a declining state for many years due to excessive nutrients, high water and abundant rough fish. DNR partnered with Ducks Unlimited to survey and design both a new water control structure and a fish barrier that will help address those problems. Ducks Unlimited will hire and manage the construction of the new structures this fall through a grant from the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council.

Wendy Kruger, DNR Slayton area wildlife manager, calls the designation “a good shot in the arm for this lake and waterfowl that depend on clean water and healthy vegetation for survival. Now we can really focus on the necessary management approaches needed to restore this important lake.”

“Round Lake is just one more piece of the puzzle when it comes to improving shallow lakes and wetland habitat for waterfowl in Minnesota,” said Jon Schneider, Ducks Unlimited manager of Conservation Programs in Minnesota. “However, as our first project implemented with the new dedicated conservation funding approved by the voters last fall, it is an important building block and we’re very excited about its future.

“We’re optimistic that over time, these improved lakes will restore the stepping stones of high quality migration habitat ducks and other birds evolved to rely on as they moved through Minnesota in both spring and fall,” Schneider said.

Applications must be received at the IWA office in Niland by 3 p.m. Friday, September 25. The permit drawing will be held at noon Tuesday, October 6 at the IWA office. The drawing is open to the public, as successful applicants will be allowed to choose their own space at the time of selection. Applicants who are unable to attend the drawing but would like to designate someone to choose a space on their behalf may do so as long as the designee has written permission from the applicant. If a drawn applicant is not present, DFG will assign a space number on his or her behalf.

There is no cost to apply for the drawing; permits are also free for those applicants who are selected.

To obtain an application and rules related to the drawing, contact Imperial Wildlife Area, 8700 Davis Road, Niland, CA, 92257 or fax a request to (760) 359-0709. Additional information may be obtained by calling (760) 359-0577.

The annual October celebration has been held at the Nimbus Hatchery and Lake Natoma for the past 12 years, providing the public with a better understanding and appreciation for the American and Sacramento rivers and their connection to the salmon population.

The American River Salmon School Days, a field trip for 4th grade school children that has been held in conjunction with the festival in previous years, will continue this year. The American River Salmon School Days instructs students about the importance of clean and healthy rivers as well as habitat for salmon and other species. The program is offered to all 14 school districts in Sacramento County. More information about the Salmon School Days is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/education/SalmonSchool.

A possible resumption of the festival will be considered by DFG and its partners and sponsors next year.

“The economic recovery investments that the Department of the Interior is making will create jobs by building trails, restoring habitat, upgrading visitors’ centers, and protecting national treasures in communities across America, while leaving a lasting legacy for our children and grandchildren,” said Secretary Salazar.

Located on the western shores of Lake Michigan, the property – now called the Forest Beach Migratory Preserve – was recently purchased by the Ozaukee-Washington Land Trust with the intention of restoring wetlands and native plant communities to help protect Lake Michigan water quality and provide habitat and refuge for native and migratory birds. The Lake Michigan Flyway connects Canada and the Arctic Ocean to South America and is a critical migration route for birds such as black–billed cuckoo, eastern meadowlark, solitary sandpiper and golden–winged warbler.

“The Midwest Region has a long tradition of enjoying the fish, wildlife, lakes, rivers and prairies we are so fortunate to have,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Deputy Regional Director Charlie Wooley. “The projects we will undertake in the Midwest as part of ARRA will provide jobs, increase the energy efficiency of government buildings, protect and enhance our natural resources, provide greater opportunities for people to enjoy those natural resources, and perhaps most importantly, help current and future generations understand and share our passion for the natural world.”

Wooley joined Shawn Graff, director of the Ozaukee-Washington Land Trust, and the Land Trust’s many partners, neighbors, and volunteers at the site to break ground for the habitat restoration project. When restoration is complete, the site will feature a significant amount of critical migratory stopover habitat within a major migratory corridor. These habitats may be expected to make a significant contribution to the conservation of numerous migratory bird species.

“This migratory preserve will provide a great opportunity for adults and kids alike to learn about and observe a great diversity of migratory birds on their journeys between northern breeding areas and southern overwintering areas, Wooley said. “And, we’re putting dollars into the local economy by creating jobs as we work to restore the Lake Michigan ecosystem.”

Funding for these projects and hundreds more across the nation comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Of the $3 billion appropriated to the Department of the Interior, the Act provides $280 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – which includes $115 million for construction, repair and energy efficiency retrofit projects at Service facilities, and $165 million for habitat restoration, deferred maintenance and capital improvement projects. The Service will benefit from an additional $10 million, which is administered by the Department of Transportation and is not included in the Service’s $280 million appropriation that will be used to rebuild and improve roads on several national wildlife refuges. Projects will immediately create local jobs in the communities where they are located, while stimulating long-term employment and economic opportunities for the American public.

Recovery Act projects address long-standing priority needs identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through its capital planning process. The Service worked through a rigorous merit-based process to identify and prioritize investments meeting the criteria put forth in the Recovery Act: namely, that a project addresses the Department’s highest priority mission needs; generates the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time; and creates lasting value for the American public.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Department of the Interior is making an investment in conserving America’s timeless treasures – our stunning natural landscapes, our monuments to liberty, the icons of our culture and heritage – while helping middle class families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, employing youth and promoting community service.

For a full list of funded projects nationwide, go to the Department’s Recovery Web Site at http://recovery.doi.gov/. For a list of Service projects, click on the Service’s logo at the bottom of the page. Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department of the Interior’s economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on the recovery web site, which will include an interactive map that enables the public to track where and how the Department’s recovery dollars are being spent. In addition, the public can submit questions, comments or concerns at recoveryact [at] fws [dot] gov.

Secretary Salazar also has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force. Henderson and the Task Force will work closely with the Department of the Interior’s Inspector General to ensure the Recovery Program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility and transparency that President Obama has set.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov

“Public involvement is important to successfully achieve a balance between the protection and use of California’s valuable marine environment,” said Don Benninghoven, chair of the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force, a policy body that oversees the planning process. “Our goal is to help the state implement the law through an open and transparent planning process where all members of the public are invited to participate.”

The open houses will be held in the MLPA North Coast Study Region, the coastline stretching from the California border with Oregon to Alder Creek near Point Arena in Mendocino County. The three public events are scheduled for:

Eureka on Monday, July 20, 2009: 5 – 8:00 p.m., Wharfinger Building, #1 Marina Way

Fort Bragg on Tuesday, July 21, 2009: 5 – 8:00 p.m., Dana Gray Elementary School, 1197 Chestnut St.

Crescent City on Wednesday, July 22 2009: 5 – 8:00 p.m., Cultural Center, 1001 Front St.

Using an “open house” format, attendees may choose to visit at any time during the three hours and walk through informational stations, including an overview of the MLPA Initiative, a description of existing marine protected areas in the study region, how the science of MPAs is applied in the planning process, and how the public can become involved. Staff will be available at each station so that attendees may ask questions and provide feedback on the process for the north coast.

“This is a stakeholder-driven process that is dependent on local knowledge of the marine environment,” said Ken Wiseman, executive director of the MLPA Initiative, a public-private partnership designed to help the State of California implement the MLPA. “We hope to see a large turnout of local residents who want to bring their ideas to the table.”

The MLPA, enacted into law in 1999, directs the state to reexamine and redesign California’s system of MPAs, which are discrete geographic marine or estuarine areas designed to protect or conserve marine life and habitat. The goals of the act are to increase the coherence and effectiveness at protecting the state’s marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems, and marine natural heritage, as well as to improve recreational, educational and study opportunities in marine ecosystems that are subject to minimal human disturbance. MLPA Initiative staff seek to ensure that the planning process includes input from scientists, resource managers, experts, stakeholders and members of the public.

The next steps in the planning process will be to appoint a science advisory team, a panel of highly-distinguished science advisors who will provide scientific support for the MLPA Initiative in the north coast study region process. The science team will be appointed in September by the director of the California Department of Fish and Game.

A regional approach is being used in the MLPA Initiative process, where California’s 1,100- mile coastline has been divided into five study regions. In September of 2007, regulations for the first of the five study regions were implemented for the central coast (Pigeon Point in San Mateo County to Point Conception in Santa Barbara County). In the second study region, four proposals for redesigning MPAs in the north central coast (Alder Creek in Mendocino County to Pigeon Point in San Mateo County) were submitted to the California Fish and Game Commission in December 2008 and specific regulations are expected to be adopted by the commission next month.

The MLPA Initiative’s south coast study region planning process (Point Conception in Santa Barbara County to the California border with Mexico, including offshore islands) is expected to result in a set of alternative MPA proposals by late 2009. The fifth and final study region, San Francisco Bay (from the Golden Gate Bridge northeast to the Carquinez Bridge), is expected to begin following the north coast process.

The MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force will make a final recommendation regarding north coast MPA proposals to the commission near the end of 2010.

For additional information about the MLPA Initiative, visit www.dfg.ca.gov/mlpa.

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California Marine Life Protection Act Initiative
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 654-1885

Kayla Lien, 19, and Macy McCormick, 18, both of Foley, were riding an ATV in a housing development near Duelm and east of St. Cloud, on July 2, when the ATV left the road and struck a tree. Neither was wearing a helmet. Neither had completed ATV safety training.

McCormick, the driver of the ATV, was treated for non-threatening injuries. Lien, the passenger, died. She was the sixth Minnesotan and second teenager to die in an ATV incident this year.

Capt. Mike Hammer, DNR Education Program coordinator, said many fatalities could be avoided if people followed safety guidelines and took advantage of ATV safety training classes.

“Operators require special knowledge and training to be able to use an ATV safety,” Hammer said. “ATV safety training is important for everyone, regardless of age.”

Anyone who wants to operate an ATV on public lands in Minnesota and is16 or older and born after July 1, 1987, must successfully complete the independent study ATV Safety Training CD.

Those ages 12-15 must complete the ATV Safety Training CD and attend an ATV Safety Class before riding on public lands. Request a Youth/Adult ATV Training CD by calling 651-296-6157 or toll free 888-646-6367.

The DNR provides guidelines for reducing the risks involved with ATVs:

• Do not drive ATVs with a passenger or ride on one as a passenger.
• Do not drive ATVs on paved roads. They are unstable on paved roads because the big, low- pressure tires can cause the machine to flip.
• ATVs are not toys and can be hazardous to operate. Supervise your youngster’s operation of the ATV at all times.
• ATV operators less than 18 years old must wear an approved safety helmet, except when operating on private property. To prevent head injuries, everyone should wear a helmet.
• An ATV handles differently from other vehicles. Even routine maneuvers such as turning and driving on hills and over obstacles, can lead to serious injury if you fail to take proper precautions. With preparation and practice, operators can safely develop and expand their riding skills.
• Youth need to “fit” the machine. A 60- to- 120 pound youth and a 600-pound ATV are a  mismatch.
• The 2008-2009 Off-Highway Vehicle Regulation booklet is available online.