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The Roanoke River American Shad Restoration Program

At one time, annual  shad runs supported important commercial and recreational fisheries along the East Coast as millions of American shad  came in from the sea and up rivers to spawn; however, overfishing, water quality degradation and dam construction contributed to depleted  populations.

Due to the importance of American shad as a recreational and commercial fishery as well as juvenile American shad as a forage base,  several states have taken measures in the last two decades to restore the American shad population.  In 1998, N. Carolina Commission biologists, fearing that a population crash was inevitable, partnered with the USFWS to begin the  Roanoke River American Shad Restoration Program. In the 10 years since, the two agencies have stocked more than 18 million �OTC-marked� shad fry in the river in the hope of restoring the fishery. Before stocking the fry, hatchery staff immerse the tiny fish in OTC once if they will be stocked at Weldon and twice if they will be stocked upstream 

above the reservoirs and dams. 

Previously, biologists captured a total of three single-marked adult fish on the spawning grounds; one adult shad in 2005 and two adult shad in  2006. These adult American shad were the first documented hatchery-reared fish from the program that had survived to spawning age,  indicating that the propagation program was working and that a few of the stocked fish were surviving three to four years in the ocean and  then returning to the Roanoke River to spawn.

While the appearance of those fish was good news, the double-marked American shad captured in March 2007 is better news because shad fry  stocked in the upper Roanoke River are able to utilize nursery habitat that has long been blocked to the spring migration of spawning American  shad.  Prior to dam construction in the upper Roanoke River, American shad were able to migrate and spawn in the extreme headwaters of the  Roanoke River as far as Salem, Va.

Restoring American Shad on the Roanoke River One Fish at a Time

RALEIGH, N.C. � The American shad collected from the Roanoke River by N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission biologists in March  2007 looked like any other American shad. However, this fish was anything but ordinary.  The 20-inch female American shad, captured near Weldon, was the next chapter in an ongoing story about restoring a historic species in a river  that at one time harbored a thriving commercial and recreational fishery.

The fish�s otolith (ear bone), no bigger than the head of pencil eraser, told biologists a lot about this fish and its remarkable journey that lasted  three to four years and spanned thousands of miles. More importantly, the otolith told biologists that the Roanoke River American Shad  Restoration Program implemented more than 10 years ago to enhance the depleted fishery continues to demonstrate signs of progress.

The fish began its journey at the Watha State Fish Hatchery as a 1/2-inch long fry where it was marked twice with oxytetracycline (OTC), a  common antibiotic, to stain its otolith and then released in the upper part of the Roanoke River above John H. Kerr Reservoir near Alta Vista,  Va.  The journey ended in March 2007 when Commission biologists recaptured the fish and noted a double mark after examining the otolith under a  microscope. 

This first documented return of an adult American shad stocked in the upper Roanoke River indicates that stocked fry can pass downstream through three reservoirs and dams (Kerr Reservoir, Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Lake) and return upstream as adults to their  native spawning grounds.

�Capturing an adult American shad that was initially stocked at our upper location is exciting news,� said Kevin Dockendorf, district 1 fisheries  biologist. �With passage through the dams and the reservoirs, this fish outmigrated through the Roanoke River and Albemarle Sound, spent  three to four years in the ocean and came back up the Roanoke River, making it through the whole American shad life cycle.�

The life cycle of an American shad is an arduous one, beginning in the freshwater rivers of North Carolina, where adult shad spawn to produce  millions of eggs, which eventually hatch as fry. The fry then attempt to make their way hundreds of miles downstream to the Atlantic Ocean,  where they spend several years growing into adults before heading back up the rivers to spawn the next generation of American shad. 

 ï¿½Because the maturation period of American shad is rather long � returning three to four years after hatching to spawn � we would anticipate  a lag from stocking of fry to recapture of adults of hatchery origin,� Dockendorf said.

Bald Eagles Stay for the Winter�

How do you describe something that is almost too amazing to put into words?  While gliding high above the open water of the Missouri River,  a bald eagle searches for her next meal.  Like a fireworks display on the fourth of July, onlookers can�t help but stare in amazement as the  graceful bird dances in the currents of the wind.

At least 200 bald eagles were documented along the Missouri River in the 2008 mid-winter survey of wintering bald eagles.  Drawn by the open  water, abundant waterfowl, and proper nesting habitat, many of these birds of prey will take residence in the Mount Rushmore State year  round, with many more coming in the winter months.  Located on the Central Flyway, South Dakota is one of the best areas in the country to  view the nation�s symbol of freedom. 

There are four main areas to see bald eagles in South

Dakota.  Oahe Dam, Big Bend Dam, Ft. Randall Dam and Gavins Point Dam, all located on  the Missouri River, and provide excellent eagle viewing opportunities.  Their tailwaters remain unfrozen all winter long, allowing the eagles to easily  find dead or dying fish, waterfowl and a variety of mammals.  One of the best viewing areas in the state is at the Karl E. Mundt National  Wildlife Refuge, just south of Fort Randall Dam.  While the Refuge is closed to the public, these impressive birds may be seen from a variety of  observation points around the refuge. 

Due to population recovery, the bald eagle has been removed from the Endangered Species Act on a national level.  It is still, however, listed  and protected as threatened in the South Dakota.  The Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act  provide federal protection for the eagles. 

FWS to remove gray wolves from protection of ESA

A USFWS press release

The gray wolf population in the Northern Rocky Mountains is thriving and no longer requires the protection of the Endangered Species Act, Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett announced today. As a result, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will remove the species from the federal list of threatened and endangered species.

�The wolf population in the Northern Rockies has far exceeded its recovery goal and continues to expand its size and range. States, tribes, conservation groups, federal agencies and citizens of both regions can be proud of their roles in this remarkable conservation success story,� said Scarlett, noting that there are currently more than 1,500 wolves and at least 100 breeding pairs in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.

Service-approved state management plans will provide a secure future for the wolf population once Endangered Species Act protections are removed and the states assume full management of wolf populations within their borders.

The northern Rocky Mountain DPS includes all of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming, as well as the eastern one-third of Washington and Oregon, and a small part of north-central Utah.

�With hundreds of trained professional managers, educators, wardens and biologists, state wildlife agencies have strong working relationships with local landowners and the ability to manage wolves for the long-term,� said Lyle Laverty, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. �We�re confident the wolf has a secure future in the northern Rocky Mountains and look forward to continuing to work closely with the states as

we monitor the wolf population for the next five years.�

The minimum recovery goal for wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains was set at a minimum of 30 breeding pairs (a breeding pair represents a successfully reproducing wolf pack) and a minimum of 300 individual wolves for at least three consecutive years. This goal was achieved in 2002, and the wolf population has expanded in size and range every year since.

�These wolves have shown an impressive ability to breed and expand � they just needed an opportunity to establish themselves in the Rockies. The Service and its partners provided that opportunity, and now it�s time to integrate wolves into the states� overall wildlife management efforts,� said Service Director H. Dale Hall.

Gray wolves were previously listed as endangered in the lower 48 states, except in Minnesota, where they were listed as threatened.  The wolf population in the western Great Lakes was delisted in early 2007.  When the delisting of the Rocky Mountain population takes effect 30 days from its publication in the Federal Register on February 27th, the Service will oversee the only remaining gray wolf recovery program, for the southwestern U.S. wolf population.  The delisting announced today affects only the northern Rocky Mountain population of gray wolves.  Gray wolves found outside of the Rocky Mountain and Midwest recovery areas, including the southwest wolf population, remain protected under the Endangered Species Act and are not affected by actions taken today.

For more info: www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/species/mammals/wolf/

Administration strips legal protections from Northern Rockies Wolves

An environmentalist's perspective

SILVER CITY, NM � The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the removal of wolves from the Endangered Species Act's list of endangered and threatened species in a vast area of the northern Rocky Mountains and adjoining regions Thursday. The move will strip wolves of federal protections throughout all of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana and portions of Utah, Oregon, and Washington. Officials from both Idaho and Wyoming have made clear that they intend to dramatically increase the numbers of wolves that are shot and killed.

Over 85 percent of the area where wolves will soon be officially "recovered" has no wolves in it, but any wolves traveling to those regions may be subject to aerial gunning, trapping, and even poisoning.

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, decades before passage of the Endangered Species Act in 1973, exterminated wolves from the West," said Michael Robinson of the Center for Biological Diversity. "The Bush administration, acting on behalf of the livestock industry, is attempting to thwart recovery and bring wolves back to the brink of extinction."

Although there are more than 1,500 wolves in Idaho, Montana,

and Wyoming, only a fraction of those animals reproduce, since within each wolf pack only the alpha male and alpha

 female breed. Thus the genetically effective population is much lower than the total number of wolves. Furthermore, Wyoming and Idaho intend to kill approximately half their wolf populations, to reduce them to 15 breeding pairs in each state.

Wolves in Yellowstone are completely isolated; since reintroduction in 1995 there have been no wolves documented to have traveled from elsewhere into the Yellowstone ecosystem and successfully bred. Recent peer-reviewed research predicts genetic "inbreeding depression" and resulting lower litter sizes in wolf packs in Yellowstone within a few decades.

The Center for Biological Diversity and allied conservation organizations sued the Fish and Wildlife Service over its April 1, 2003 rule downlisting wolves from endangered to threatened - a prelude to removing them entirely from the list of protected species. A federal court reversed that downlisting on January 31, 2005.

"The Fish and Wildlife Service is making the same legal mistake now as it did in 2003, and imperiling wolves' survival," said Robinson. "This time, just like last time, this illegal action will not stand in court."

TWIC offers new website

The TWIC has launched a new website: http://twicinformation.tsa.dhs.gov .  This website was created to help stakeholders easily find information relating to TWIC Enrollment Center locations and hours of operation, access port-specific and generic communication materials that can be printed and distributed around the port community, and find answers to common FAQs relating to enrollment. It contains links to other important TWIC-related websites such as the TWIC Pre-Enrollment website, TSA's TWIC Program website, and the USCG Homeport website.

Included below are tips to help TWIC stakeholders navigate

the website:

1. Do not type "www" before the website address. The full address is http://twicinformation.tsa.dhs.gov  

2. Under the Schedule tab, ports are listed alphabetically. If a port is open for pre-enrollment, stakeholders will be able to click on the port's name and access port-specific materials as well as a map of the enrollment center location.  . Twicinformation.tsa.dhs.gov will continually be updated to reflect possible changes to enrollment center addresses and hours of operation. TWIC officials are asking you check in frequently for updates on the TWIC program and for your specific port location. www.tsa.gov/twic will continue to operate as an additional source of information for the TWIC program.

Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels  for Feb. 29, 2008

Weather Conditions

A storm system tracked along the Ohio River valley earlier this week and brought a good deal of new snow to the southern Great Lakes basin.  Colder temperatures also set in across much of the region following the storm.  The return to colder temperatures allowed ice cover to increase on all the Great Lakes.  An Alberta Clipper is forecasted to bring still more snow to most of the Great Lakes Thursday night and into Friday. A warm up is on tap for the weekend along with a chance for some significant rainfall.

Lake Level Conditions

Currently, Lake Superior and Lake St. Clair are 8 inches and 5 inches higher than they were at this time last year, respectively. The remaining Great Lakes are 2 to 5 inches below their levels of one year ago.  Lake Superior is predicted to hold steady over the next month.  Lake St. Clair is predicted to drop 2 inches over the next 30 days, but weather conditions such as ice or precipitation may cause the lake to fluctuate greatly.  Lakes Michigan-Huron and Ontario are predicted to rise 3 inches over the next month while Lake Erie is projected to rise 1 inch.  Lake Superior is predicted to stay above last year's water levels through July while the remaining lakes are forecasted to remain below their levels of a year ago over the next several months. 

Current Outflows/Channel Conditions

Outflow from the St. Mary's, St. Clair, Detroit, and St. Lawrence

Rivers was below average for January.  Outflow from the

Niagara River was above average for last month. Ice buildup in the connecting channels can cause large short-term water level fluctuations.

Alerts

Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron are below chart datum and forecasted to remain below datum through June.  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.  Ice information can be found at the National Ice Center's webpage.

Statistics Canada study confirms firearms and violent crime not linked

Ottawa � Saskatchewan M.P. Garry Breitkreuz says a new Statistics Canada study proves that hunters and sport shooters have nothing in  common with violent criminals. Breitkreuz started his fight against useless gun control laws in 1994 and part of that fight has been to  relentlessly expose the truth about the relationship between violent crime and guns.

Last week, Statistics Canada released its study for 2006 entitled: Firearms and Violent Crime. It reported that firearms  were used in only 2.4 % of all violent crime in Canada in 2006. It also reported that handguns (which have required registration since 1934)  made up nearly two-thirds of all firearms used.

CanWest news summarized the Statistics Canada report this way: �In 2006, three-quarters of all violent crime victims were attacked by people  without any weapons at all. Knives, clubs and other blunt instruments were used against 9.2 per cent of victims, while guns were used against  only 2.4 %. Knives were used to commit more murders, robberies, sexual assaults and assaults than guns.�

�In December 2006, I released unpublished Statistics Canada 

tables showing that of the total homicides committed between 1997 and 2005,  only 2.27 % were committed with a registered gun,� explains Breitkreuz. �Only 1.21 % were committed with a firearm registered to the  accused murderer, and 2.14 % were committed by a person that held a valid firearms licence. Obviously, law-abiding gun  owners aren�t the problem and yet the Government of Ontario and the City of Toronto want to ban the handguns owned by honest citizens.

�Why is there a Liberal, NDP and Bloc preoccupation with guns owned by citizens that aren�t the problem?� asks Breitkreuz. �Remember that  102 of 108 handgun homicides (94 %) in 2006 were committed with unregistered handguns or the registration status was unknown. We  need mandatory minimum sentences for using weapons in violent crimes. Knife and club attacks occur at a rate almost four times higher than  guns.

�That�s why the federal government introduced Bill C-2, our Tackling Violent Crime Act,� he adds. �Statistics Canada tables also show that  knives and clubs result in more injuries than guns. This study makes it obvious that we need all governments to focus on the  real problem of violent crime and especially target those criminals that use any type of weapon in the commission of an offence.�

Alton Jones Plays Pigskin to Win Bassmaster Classic

The Bassmaster Classic is often called the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing, so why not break out the Pigskin?  That�s what Alton Jones did, and his throws of BOOYAH�s new Pigskin Jig resulted in enough catches to earn Jones the title of Bassmaster Classic champion � along with a check for $500,000.

Jones used a � oz Pigskin Jig and a � oz AJ�s Go2 Jig, both of which will be available from BOOYAH this spring, as his primary weapons to bring 49 lbs, 7 oz the scales in Greenville, South Carolina�s Bi-Lo Center Feb. 22-24.

Jones also spent a little time jigging a �-oz Cotton Cordell CC Spoon, the same bait he used to find most of his key spots during the tournament�s official practice period. The CC Spoon produced an almost immediate limit on Day 1 to get things started, but the bulk of the fish Jones weighed came off the Pigskin Jig and AJ�s Go2 Jig, both coupled with a Black Blue Flake 3 �-inch YUM Chunk and fished at a painfully slow pace.

The Pigskin Jig utilizes BOOYAH�s existing Football Jighead, but is built with a hand-tied skirt that combines round rubber and silicone strands.  AJ�s Go2 Jig has a similar skirt but is tied on the head used for BOOYAH�s popular Boo Jig. Jones used a few different colors during the tournament, but his top producer was Ozark Craw, which utilizes brown and purple strands.

�The fish I was catching were right on the bottom, and an extremely slow presentation was critical to getting bit,� Jones said. �The skirts of the new jigs, combined with the profile and claw movement of the YUM Chunk, created a perfect imitation of a slow-moving crawfish.�

Jones fished both jigs on 14-pound-test Silver Thread Fluorocarbon, and he said the line was critical. �Any heavier, I wasn�t getting bit.  Any lighter, I couldn�t get the fish out of the trees.�   Jones is a five-time BASS winner, with more than $1.58 million in career BASS earnings.

Anglers, Hunters provide huge financial boost to local economies

Springfield, Missouri --According to a report by the Congressional Sportsman�s Foundation if the $76 billion sportsmen spend nationally on  hunting and fishing were the gross domestic product of a country, sportsmen as a nation would rank 57 out of 181 countries. Clearly, the  economic impact of sportsmen is a force to be reckoned with.

In fact, in many states, sportsmen spend more money, support more jobs and pay more taxes than most industries and attractions in the state.   For example, Florida sportsmen support more jobs than Disney World, and the annual spending by Florida anglers is three times greater than  the cash receipts from the state�s orange crop.  That spending results in some 85,000 jobs, $2.5 billion paid in salaries and wages, $608 million  in Federal taxes, and $484 million in state and local taxes.

In Texas, sportsmen support twice the jobs as Dell Computer

Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Electronic Data Systems, and Dow Chemical  Company combined (106,000 jobs vs 49,000).  Annual spending by Texas sportsmen is greater than the combined cash receipts from the state�s  cotton, greenhouse/nursery, broilers, dairy and corn production, ($6.6 billion vs. $6.1 billion).

These are big numbers.  And there�s a way to help build on this already huge economic impact � and help children � by supporting the  Anglers� Legacy program. Anglers� Legacy, which is a program created by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Alliance, asks anglers to  share their knowledge and expertise by taking a novice fishing in the next year. Every new person who takes up fishing funnels an average of  $268 into their community each year.

Statistics are from the Congressional Sportsman�s Foundation report �Hunting and Fishing: Bright Stars of the American Economy ~ A force  as big as all outdoors.� It can be accessed online at www.sportsmenslink.org .

Families Afield Progress Continues

Recent and Pending Legislation

The success of the Families Afield initiative continues.  Three states have enacted new laws to remove barriers to new hunters.

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine on Feb. 22 signed House Bill 1175 into law. The bill creates a two year apprentice hunting license to allow  newcomers to take to the field with a licensed adult hunter prior to the completion of hunter education. 

In Indiana, House Bill 1046 has passed both Chambers of the legislature and awaits the signature of Governor Mitch Daniels.  The bill creates  an apprentice hunting license allowing resident or nonresident newcomers, who are accompanied by a licensed adult hunter, to hunt for 3  years prior to the completion of a hunter education course.

South Dakota House Bill 1263 passed the Senate on Feb. 26 by a vote of 24 � 11 and will now head to the governor for his approval.  The  measure allows those aged 10 through 15 to hunt without a license if they are accompanied by a licensed 

hunting mentor.  The mentor must be  unarmed and any game taken by the youth counts against the mentor�s tag. 

In Maryland, House Bill 655 flew in the face of the national trend of removing barriers to hunting.  The measure would have instituted a  minimum hunting licensing age of 13.  It was scheduled for a hearing this week.  Due to pressure from sportsmen, the hearing has been  canceled and the sponsor has withdrawn the bill from further consideration, leading USSA to believe that the measure never had much support  in the first place.

The efforts in Virginia, Indiana, and South Dakota are part of the national Families Afield campaign, established by the USSA, National  Shooting Sports Foundation, and National Wild Turkey Federation to urge states to review and eliminate unnecessary hunting age  restrictions.  Together, with the support of the National Rifle Association and state and local sportsmen�s organization, the partnership has  worked to ensure support for these measures. With the addition of Virginia, a total of 22 states have now enacted Families Afield style bills  since the program was launched in 2004. 

Daylight Saving Time March 9

In 2007, the start and end dates for daylight saving time (DST) in much of the US and Canada was changed, extending the overall duration. DST now begins on the second Sunday of

March (in 2008, March 9), several weeks earlier than in years prior to 2007. DST will end later than usual, on the first Sunday of November (in 2008, November 2).

Earth Day in the Parks

Event for Illinois school children taking place in April

Earth Day in the Parks is an event to promote stewardship of our natural resources by Illinois school children. Last year, in the pilot phase of the project, 10 state parks participated and held events for 650 students.

This year, on April 17, 2008, students and their teachers from throughout Illinois will come to 26 participating Illinois state parks to take part in natural resources stewardship activities such as: planting native trees and wildflowers; building and installing nesting/roosting boxes; removing invasive exotic species; and constructing woodland ponds for salamanders.

Students will be helping the environment and wildlife, participating in outdoor activities to increase their fitness, and learning that their actions can make a difference in the world. Some of the student goals for Earth Day in the Parks include: learning the importance of habitat to wildlife; becoming shareholders in a natural resources stewardship activity; 

encouraging students, their teachers and parents to return to the park for further study of their work and its affect on wildlife; participating in a service learning activity; benefiting wildlife directly and the general public indirectly; assimilating techniques and skills that can be applied in other ways; and reducing fear of being outdoors.

Earth Day in the Parks is sponsored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in cooperation with the Illinois Conservation Foundation. The IDNR will allow the use of some park land for implementation of the projects, provide necessary materials and equipment, prepare the site as needed, and maintain the project as necessary.

Teachers can apply for participation now. The selection for each park will be determined by a random drawing on March 3, 2008. Applications must be mailed to the IDNR Division of Education and be received by February 29, 2008. More info, and the application: www.dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/CLASSRM/EDITPinstruct.htm

Spring trout releases provide fishing opportunities

Releases start March 6 and continue through mid-May

COLUMBUS, OH - Public fishing opportunities will be enhanced this spring when more than 80,000 rainbow trout, each measuring 10 to  13-inches long, are released into 45 Ohio lakes and ponds, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of  Wildlife. The releases will take place between mid March and mid-May; anglers are reminded that the daily catch limit for inland lakes is five  trout.

Some locations will feature special, youth-only angler events on the day of the scheduled releases. Anglers age 16 and older must have an  Ohio fishing license to fish the state's public waters. The 2008-2009 fishing license can be purchased now and is required on March 1. An  annual resident fishing license costs $19 and is valid through

February 28, 2009. A one-day fishing license is available and may be purchased  for $11 by residents or non-residents. The one-day license may also be redeemed for credit toward purchase of an annual fishing license.

Ohio residents born on or before December 31, 1937 may obtain a free fishing license where licenses are sold. Persons age 66 and older who  were born on or after January 1, 1938, and have resided in Ohio for the past six months, are eligible to purchase the reduced cost resident  senior license for $10.

Additional information about spring trout releases is available by calling toll-free 1-800-WILDLIFE. Information is also available from Division  of Wildlife district offices in Akron, Athens, Columbus, Findlay and Xenia.

North Pool launch ramp at Caesar Creek State Park closed for renovations

COLUMBUS, OH - The North Pool Boat Launch Ramp at Caesar Creek State Park in Warren County is closed for the upcoming recreational  season while workers upgrade and expand the popular recreational facility. The launch ramp will close April 1 and remain closed through the  Labor Day weekend, according to the Ohio DNR.

Boaters will have continued access to the park's four other launch ramps: Furnas Shores Ramp off State Route 73, Wellman Meadows Ramp off  Oregonia Rd, the ramp located

in the park's main campground, and the Haines Road Ramp, located in the adjoining state wildlife area.

Slated improvements include a new launch ramps, courtesy docks, vehicle and trailer parking, sidewalks, curbing and  lighting.  The traffic pattern will also be modified to accommodate access to the new parking.  Caesar Creek State Park's 3,741 land acres surround a 2,830-acre lake. It offers a variety of outdoor recreation, including fishing, hiking,  horseback riding, swimming, boating, hunting and camping, to nearly 2 million visitors annually.

Annual hunting and fishing licenses go on sale March 10

MADISON � 2008-09 Wisconsin hunting, fishing, trapping and other licenses and harvest permits for fish and wildlife activities in Wisconsin  go on sale Monday, March 10. Annual licenses are valid from April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009. Hunting and fishing licenses for the  2007-08 license year expire on March 31, 2008.

Hunting and fishing licenses can be purchased: over the Internet through the Online Licensing Center; at DNR service centers during their  regular business hours (check service center link for hours of operation, which vary by service center; service centers are closed Saturdays); at  automated license issuance system sales locations; or by calling toll-free 1-877-WI LICENSE (1-877-945-4236).