• Young Anglers Win Lifetime Freshwater/Saltwater Fishing Licenses

• Graham Allison, former assistant secretary of defense

• 2007 Waterfowl Survey Shows 14 % increase

• NRA to Sponsor 20th Youth Wildlife Art Contest

• DHS to force Real ID Act on states

• Rifle, pistol competitors aim to excel

• How to Detect and Confirm VHS Virus in Fish

• Florida leads U.S. in boating deaths, second for accidents

• Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for July 20, 2007

• Musky Fishing Seminar Sept 15

• DNR Joins Partnership to Address Growing Invasive Species Issues

• Mississinewa Lake Hosts Children�s Day July 30-Aug 3

• New Invasive Insect Confirmed in Michigan

• Coast Guard rescues man on disabled sailing vessel

• DNR to hold public meeting on new fishing regulations Aug 23

• DEC Temporarily Closes Shellfishing Areas in Nassau and Suffolk Counties

• Federal Court denies Shawnee claim for Ohio lands

• Commission moves to improve access, harmonize regs

• Coast rescues 2 from sinking boat

Young Anglers Win Lifetime Freshwater/Saltwater Fishing Licenses

 RALEIGH, N.C. (July 9) � In addition to catching several bream during a kids� fishing event at Salem Lake Park on June 9, Andrew Lemmons  reeled in a lifetime fishing license, courtesy of Progress Energy and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.

The 12-year old Kernersville resident was one of three young anglers across the state who won a lifetime fishing license � the grand prizes offered in a statewide drawing for participants in 42 �fish for fun� events held during National Fishing and Boating Week, June 2-10. The licenses, donated by Progress Energy, are valued at $450 each. The other two grand prize winners and the event locations where they registered are:  Miranda Paige Thomas, 10, Hare�s Millpond and Malik Jones, 12, Rocky Mount City Lake

In addition to the three grand prize winners, 150 other young

 anglers netted prizes at the fishing events. A complete list of winners, which includes their ages, fishing event locations and their prizes, is posted on the Commission�s Web site, www.ncwildlife.org .

Bass Pro Shops donated 50 prizes, including tackle boxes, rods and reels and spools of fishing line. The Wildlife Resources Commission also contributed prizes, including mini tackle boxes, fishing towels and decks of cards featuring the 13 top freshwater fish species in North Carolina.

The events, coordinated by the U.S. Forest Service and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, gave kids and their parents opportunities to learn about protecting and conserving aquatic resources while enjoying the thrill of reeling in a variety of game fish.  For more info: www.ncwildlife.org  or call (919) 707-0220.

Photo courtesy of:  N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

Words to Ponder

�A nuclear terrorist attack on the U.S. is better than an even bet

in the next 10 years�Graham Allison, former assistant secretary of defense

2007 Waterfowl Survey Shows 14 % increase

Canvasbacks, redheads, and northern shovelers break traditional survey area records

Preliminary results from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service�s Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey indicate a total duck population estimate of more than 41 million birds in the traditional survey area.  This represents a 14 percent increase from 2006 and is 24 percent above the 1955-2006 average.

�There�s a lot of good news in the survey this year for the total duck population and waterfowl breeding habitat,� said H. Dale Hall, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. �We have five species that are at record or near record highs, including canvasbacks, and there are good breeding conditions on the prairies.  However, we remain concerned that pintails and scaup are well below long-term averages.�

Annual survey results help guide the Service in managing waterfowl conservation programs under authority of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The Service works in partnership with State representatives from the four Flyway Councils - the

Atlantic, Mississippi, Central and Pacific - to establish regulatory frameworks for waterfowl hunting season lengths, dates and bag limits.

For the eastern survey area -- which includes Maine, Maritime Canada, Newfoundland, Labrador, eastern and northern Ontario, and Quebec -- estimates for all species were similar to last year. Estimates for American black ducks and ring-necked ducks were significantly above

their long-term (1990-2006) averages.

This preliminary report does not include information from surveys conducted by State or Provincial agencies or information on the status of geese and swans.  The entire 2007 Report is available at  www.fws.gov/migratorybirds/ .  The 2007 Waterfowl Status Report will be available at the same site in late July.  This report will include information from State and Provincial surveys as well as goose and swan information.  Interviews with the pilot/biologists and video of the conditions can be see at: www.fws.gov/video/wmv/statusprelim2007a.wmv

NRA to Sponsor 20th Youth Wildlife Art Contest

Entries may be submitted in one of four categories, based on school grade. Category I includes grades 1 through 3. Category II is for grades 4 through 6. Category III covers grades 7 through 9, and Category IV includes grades 10 through 12. Entries may portray any North American game bird or animal that may be legally hunted or trapped. Endangered species and non-game animals, such as eagles and snakes, are not eligible subjects. Call (703) 267-1595 if you need to confirm whether a certain animal or bird is eligible.

Contestants are limited to one entry each. Entries may be in a medium of the artist�s choice (oil, water color, pastels, pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, etc.). Submissions should be on good quality bond or drawing paper, or illustration board. Preferred sizes for the image are 8-1/2� x 11� or 11� x 14�; matting is optional. Entries need not be framed. Composition must be original. Photographs may be used for reference, but artwork determined to have been traced or copied from an existing photograph or work of art will be disqualified.

Entries must arrive at NRA by October 8, 2007, and must be

accompanied by a brief statement signed by the student�s parent, guardian, or teacher attesting to the originality of the work and verifying the artist�s grade level as of October 8, 2007. In addition, the artist�s name, age, home address, phone number, and grade must be printed on the back of the entry or on a note attached to the back of the entry. Entries will be judged on effort, creativity, anatomical accuracy, and composition.

Send entries to: NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. Entries will be returned if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. NRA assumes no responsibility for lost or damaged artwork, and reserves all rights to reproduce entries. The immediate families of NRA staff members are not eligible to enter. Questions regarding the contest may be directed to (703) 267-1595, [email protected] or visit www.nrahq.org/youth/wildlife.asp .

The contest is supported through a generous gift from Jim Broering, President of AcuSport Corporation, for the creation of the James and Kathleen Broering Endowment.

DHS to force Real ID Act on states

despite legislative efforts to circumvent it

Despite several state and federal efforts to force noncompliance with the new federal identification law, or Real ID Act, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has continued work on the law's guidelines and warned states that they face consequences for failing to comply.

The Real ID Act, passed by Congress in 2005, mandates national standards for all state driver's licenses and other official documents. The DHS hasn't released a final version of the law, but the agency has said that it will require the documents to include a digital photograph and a bar code that can be scanned by electronic readers.  The initial compliance deadline is next year, with full compliance required by 2013.

Despite the criticism, the DHS continues to insist that the law be implemented on schedule. "I think residents of states that

choose not to comply are going to be displeased with their leadership's decision when we get closer to full implementation," a DHS spokesman said. "They'll no longer be able do certain things that carriers of state-issued drivers� licenses take for granted today."

He noted that residents of states whose identification cards don't comply with the law will be prohibited from entry to airports and federal buildings. It could also block access to "certain critical infrastructure sites" such as a power plants or dams, he said.

Critics won a small victory against the law last month when Montana's two Democratic senators, Max Baucus and Jon Tester, successfully called on colleagues to cut language from a now-stalled immigration bill that would have required all employers to check the eligibility of any potential employee by using Real ID documents.

Rifle, pistol competitors aim to excel

PORT CLINTON -- Ex p e r t shooters from around the country are making their annual pilgrimage to the shores of Lake Erie for the 100^th edition of the NRA National Rifle and Pistol

Matches at Camp Perry, the spacious Ohio National Guard installation that will host more than 6,000 competitors over the next month.

How to Detect and Confirm VHS Virus in Fish

A new fact sheet by scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey�s Western Fisheries Research Center describes the best methods for resource managers and others to detect and confirm a new and virulent strain of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) virus in fish, including popular game fish and bait fish.

The recent spread of this sometimes devastating new strain -- called VHSV Genotype IVb -- has resulted in very large die-offs of thousands of fish in four of the five Great Lakes since 2005. Significant die-offs have occurred in populations of muskellunge, freshwater drum, yellow perch, round goby, emerald shiners and gizzard shad. Fishery-resource managers are quite concerned that this new strain could spread into native freshwater fish or into the private aquaculture industry, leading to trade restrictions as well as direct losses from the disease.

As of spring 2007, this strain has been isolated from fish in Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, the St. Lawrence River, and inland lakes in New York, Michigan, and Wisconsin, as well as the coastal areas of eastern Canada. This is the first time the new strain has been reported to cause an infectious disease in freshwater fishes of North America. So far, the virus has not been identified in Lake Superior, although experts fear the disease could enter the lake and from there potentially spread to the 31 states of the Mississippi River basin.

USGS fishery-disease experts conducted the genetic typing

that identified the new virus strain responsible for these outbreaks. The first confirmed isolation of VHSV occurred in  

fish collected in 2003 in Lake St. Clair within the Great Lakes region, yet no disease outbreaks were evident in the Great Lakes until 2005. A recent report revealed that this strain was also initially isolated from mummichog and Threespine stickleback in New Brunswick, Canada, in May 2000. This report included additional isolations of VHSV from striped bass in 2002 and 2004 in New Brunswick and brown trout in 2004 in Nova Scotia.  It is still unclear exactly how or when the virus was introduced to the Great Lakes.

Researchers at the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center characterize the virus as quite virulent in affected host fish. The VHSV Genotype IVb has an exceptionally broad host range -- thus far, the strain has been isolated from more than 25 species of finfish. The disease causes internal bleeding in fish, but is not believed to be harmful to people.

Regulatory agencies in the United States and Canada have already placed restrictions on the movement of fish or fish products that could pose a risk for the spread of VHSV to regions outside of the currently known geographic range. These restrictions include requirements for viral examinations by standard methods. The new USGS fact sheet reviews important factors in how to isolate VHSV Genotype IVb using cell culture assays and its identification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay.  The fact sheet can be downloaded at http://biology.usgs.gov/faer/

Florida leads U.S. in boating deaths, second for accidents 

Florida led the nation in boating fatalities last year, according to statistics just released by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

There were 69 boating fatalities in Florida in 2006, compared to 47 for Texas and 44 for California. All but eight of the 69 fatalities were the result of drowning, and none of the victims were wearing life jackets.  Overall, Florida�s boating accident rate of 671 for 2006 was second only to California�s 757. The FWC said the high numbers reflect the reality that Floridians own more than 1 million registered recreational vessels, and they use them throughout the year.

The most likely county for boaters to be in an accident was

Monroe, followed in order by Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Pinellas, Lee, Broward,  Collier, Brevard, Escambia and Duval. The most likely month for the accident to happen was July. The most likely time of day was 4-6 p.m., and the most common type of accident was a collision with another vessel or a fixed object.

Accidents occur most frequently on rivers or creeks, but the number of accidents on the ocean or gulf, or in a bay or sound, is almost as high, according to the FWC. Nearly 600 of the state�s accidents occurred while the vessel was cruising, and more than 400 of them occurred when the operator was not trying to change direction while cruising. Small vessels, especially those under 18 feet, were the most likely to be involved in accidents.

Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for July 20, 2007

Weather Conditions

Average mid-summer temperatures and scant precipitation prevailed in the Great Lakes basin earlier in the week. Temperatures dipped slightly on Thursday, and all but the most upper regions of the basin experienced at least some rain showers.  The weekend is expected to be sunny, hot and dry and this weather will continue into early next week.

Lake Level Conditions

Lake Superior is presently 12 inches below its level of a year ago, while Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are 3 to 6 inches lower than last year�s levels.  Lake Superior is predicted to rise 2 inches over the next 30 days. Lake Michigan-Huron is expected to decline an inch, while Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are projected to drop 4 to 5 inches over the next month. All of the lakes are forecasted to be below their water levels of a year ago during the next few months.  See our Daily Levels web page for more water level information.

Current Outflows/Channel Condition

Outflow from the St. Marys River is predicted to be well below average for July. Flows through the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers are also predicted to be lower than average this month. Flows in the Niagara and St. Lawrence Rivers are expected to be below average as well.

 Alerts

Due to abnormally dry conditions on the Lake Superior basin over the last several months, | Lake Superior�s water level is currently below chart datum and is expected to remain below datum over the next six months.  Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels.  Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings.

Musky Fishing Seminar Sept 15

GURNEE, IL � What swims, has sharp teeth and lives in a lake? For the answer attend Bass Pro Shops Musky Fishing seminar with Bass Pro Shops Fishing team member Lenny Szulc.

Lenny will discuss the great fish of the north and also provide tips and tackle information on how to catch these monsters of the deep. Whether you are new to musky fishing or have been chasing them for years, Lenny�s discussions will include

something for everyone.

The class will be held at Bass Pro Shops located at 6112 Grand Ave in Gurnee Mills Mall on Saturday, September 15, 2007 at noon. This class is free but seating is limited. For more information on the Musky Seminar, to register or for other events and activities at Bass Pro Shops in Gurnee, contact Tisma Juett, Promotions Manager by phone at 847-856-1229 or via email at [email protected] .

DNR Joins Partnership to Address Growing Invasive Species Issues

SPRINGFIELD, IL - World trade and travel moves plants around the globe, resulting in the unwanted spread of non-native, potentially harmful plants across the United States including Southern Illinois.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is joining a unique local partnership of 13 state and federal agencies, The  Nature Conservancy and Southern Illinois University, called the River to River Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA), are working  together to coordinate efforts against invasive species in Southern Illinois.

The CWMA�s mission is to establish a framework for cooperatively addressing the short and long term effects of non-native invasive plants across jurisdictional boundaries within eleven counties: Alexander, Gallatin, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Williamson and Union.

Numerous non-native invasive species have been identified in Southern Illinois. Plants, like bush honeysuckle, invade woodlands and forests.  As a result, they can displace native species, reduce the habitat for native wildlife to thrive, and even prevent tree seedlings from establishing, potentially harming future generations of Southern Illinois oak and hickory forests.

Other species can invade aquatic habitats. The curly-leaved 

pondweed, for example, is invading lakes and streams, choking out native species and making it difficult for anglers to fish through the thick mats of vegetation. Exotic invasive species are reported to cause over $137 billion of environmental damages and economic losses every year in the United States.

�Most people aren�t aware of the impacts invasive plants are inflicting on our wildlife habitat, fisheries, and native plants,� said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood. �These plants are choking out and out-competing with our native species. This is a serious problem and probably the  greatest conservation challenge of our time.�  The Cooperative Weed Management Area was formed to try to stop this tide of invaders.

�Previously, managers were limited to controlling invasive species on their own property and if the infestation spread to an adjacent land, you had to stop controlling at the boundary,� said IDNR regional administrator Jody Shimp. �Now, through the River to River CWMA partnership, we can work together to take the steps necessary to get the invaders under control, on both sides of the fence.�

The CWMA is trying to reach out to everyone in Southern Illinois.

�Many people recognize the problem of invasive species, but don�t realize that they can help out,� says CWMA Coordinator Chris Evans.  �We want to work with these folks and anyone else in the area on how best to battle these invasive plants.�

DEC Temporarily Closes Shellfishing Areas in Nassau and Suffolk Counties

Shellfish Closures Follow Heavy Rainfall

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) on July 18 announced that it has designated shellfish harvesting areas  in Nassau and Suffolk Counties as temporarily closed to shellfishing. These temporary emergency closures are in response to the large volume of stormwater runoff caused by locally heavy rainfall associated with the thunderstorms that passed over Long Island during the morning and afternoon of Wednesday, July 18.

This precautionary action was taken to protect public health

following the unusually heavy rainfall event that affected Long Island throughout Wednesday. Rainfall exceeded three inches in the affected areas. The extraordinary volume of stormwater runoff may cause shellfish in the affected areas to be hazardous for use as food.

DEC will re-open areas as soon as possible based on the results of bacteriological analyses of water samples that will be collected during the week. A taped message advising harvesters of the status of these shellfish areas may be heard at (631) 444-0480. The message will be updated during the course of the temporary closures.

Commission moves to improve access,

harmonize regs

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission took action to harmonize fishing regulations on two border waters and improve access to Lake Erie tributaries during its summer quarterly meeting in Harrisburg.

Utilizing funds generated from the sale of the special Lake Erie fishing permits, the Commission opted to move forward with two property rights acquisitions on popular Erie County steelhead trout fishing waters.  The first, a 1,885-linear-foot easement will provide access to Walnut Creek in Millcreek Township.  The easement covers two contiguous parcels located between 38th Street and State Highway 832 (Sterrettania Rd).  One parcel will provide access to 1,000 linear feet on both sides of the creek.  Another 885 feet will be along the south side of the creek.  The easements will be for public fishing, boating, riparian buffer and fisheries management and will include the stream corridor and extend at least 25 feet back from the top of the bank.  An additional easement for parking along State Highway 832 and an existing trail are also part of the $27,000 deal.

The second easement covers more than 1,400 linear feet of

Elk Creek as it flows across property in Girard Township.  The

easement will be for public fishing, boating, riparian buffer and

fisheries management and will include the stream corridor and extend at least 25 feet back from the top of the bank.  The easement parcel is located between Routes 5 and 20, along Elk Park Road.  This easement is being offered to the Commission for no fee by Mercyhurst College.

The Commission also took action to harmonize fishing regulations season, size and creel limits on the Delaware River and the Conowingo Pool of the Susquehanna River to make Pennsylvania regulations more consistent with other border jurisdictions.

The Delaware River is regulated jointly in various stretches by Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.  In order to make Pennsylvania regulations consistent with other jurisdictions, effective in 2008, a no-harvest season for largemouth and smallmouth bass will run from 12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after April 11 to 12:01 a.m. the first Saturday after June 11.  A 12-inch minimum size limit, five-fish-per-day creel limit will be in place the remainder of the year.  The muskellunge season will be open year round, with a daily limit of one fish at least 40 inches in length.

Coast rescues 2 from sinking boat

BAYFIELD, Wis. - The Coast Guard rescued two people after their boat sank 100 yards off shore outside Siskiwit Bay Wednesday evening, July 18.  Station Bayfield arrived on-scene with a 30-foot Utility Boat and tried to pump water out of

the 39-foot motor vessel Toy House Two.  When the pump

failed they took the two passengers on board and brought them to shore with the intentions of returning with an additional pump. By the time they returned, the vessel had already sunk.