Outdoor News Daily

On Monday, Feb. 13, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting a public meeting for those interested in sharing their comments and ideas about the Goose Lake State Game Area (SGA) in Sylvan Township, Washtenaw County. The public meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Grass Lake Town Hall, 373 Lakeside Drive, Grass Lake, MI 49240.

The DNR Wildlife Division is responsible for managing the Goose Lake SGA. In order to manage lands more effectively, the Wildlife Division is developing 10-year management plans, called Master Plans, for each of its areas. These plans will include information on species of interest, and long-term habitat management goals.

Goose Lake SGA is approximately 200 acres in size and consists of Goose Lake (37 acres) and a large wetland system. About 50 acres of the SGA are in sharecrop rotation, primarily corn and soybeans, and almost 60 acres is forested or brushy field. Some hunting occurs at the SGA for waterfowl, deer, turkey and small game. Other notable species include pheasant and muskrat.
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) joins the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), and other partners at the 2012 SHOT-SHOW to announce the start of a yearlong celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program (WSFR), one of the most significant and successful partnership approaches to fish and wildlife conservation in U.S. history.

The “WSFR 75 – It’s Your Nature” celebration brings together federal and state fish and wildlife agencies; the hunting, shooting, angling, and boating industries; and conservation groups to mark a milestone of partnership success that has led to 75 years of quality hunting, fishing, shooting, boating and wildlife-related recreation. The occasion also marks the beginning of a new era in wildlife conservation, during which the partners will establish new goals for fostering and maintaining partnerships to continue conservation and outdoor recreation into the next 75 years and beyond.
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the San Diego County Water Authority have entered into a long-term agreement that will help conserve San Diego County’s natural heritage for future generations while providing a more efficient endangered species permitting process for the Water Authority as it builds and maintains vital water supply infrastructure.

The Water Authority and the state and federal wildlife agencies signed an Implementing Agreement for a multiple species conservation plan, known as a Natural Community Conservation Plan/Habitat Conservation Plan (NCCP/HCP), that meets the requirements of the state’s Natural Community Conservation Planning Act and the federal Endangered Species Act.
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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced $20.5 million in grants to support 24 projects in 13 states to conserve and restore coastal wetlands and their fish and wildlife habitat. The grants, awarded under the 2012 National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program, will be matched by nearly $21 million in partner contributions from state and local governments, private landowners and conservation groups.

“Coastal wetlands serve as some of nature’s most productive fish and wildlife habitat while providing storm protection, improved water quality, and abundant recreational opportunities for local communities,” Salazar said. “I am pleased that with these grants we are able to help our state partners implement some of their high-priority projects that support both conservation and recreation along their coasts.”
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