Weekly News Archives

                         or

       New Product  Archives

USFWS sued for not listing foreign species

SAN FRANCISCO (ENS) - The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a lawsuit in federal court against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to provide protection for scores of the world�s most imperiled bird species, in violation of the Endangered Species Act.

Listing for foreign endangered species restricts buying and selling imperiled wildlife. It can increase conservation funding and attention, and brings a higher level of scrutiny to projects proposed by the U.S. government and multilateral lending agencies such as the World Bank. The species include the rare Okinawa Woodpecker in Japan and 55 other vanishing birds from around the planet.

Endangered Species Act protection is crucial for the Okinawa woodpecker, due to ongoing destruction of its forest habitat. A small number of woodpeckers remain in undisturbed subtropical forests in the northern mountainous region of the island of Okinawa, Japan. The primary threat to woodpecker habitat is a joint U.S. and Japanese military proposal to construct additional helicopter training landing areas, including roads and infrastructure.

Also at issue is protection for five of the world�s rarest and most beautiful butterfly species, including the Harris� Mimic

Swallowtail of Brazil, and Kaiser-I-Hind butterfly of Nepal and China.

At least 11 additional bird species not included in the lawsuit have already gone extinct due to long delays in protecting them, according to Peter Galvin, conservation director with the Center. Other bird species in the suit include the Giant Ibis of Laos and Cambodia, the blue-throated macaw of Bolivia, the black stilt of New Zealand, the caerulean paradise-flycatcher of Indonesia, and the slender-billed curlew of Russia, Europe and North Africa.

The lawsuit argues that the Service first determined that protection is warranted under the Endangered Species Act more than 20 years ago for many of these species. Two dozen of the bird species have been waiting for final action since 1984, and 27 have been waiting since 1994. It has been more than a decade since the USFWS received a petition to list the foreign butterflies.

"The U.S. has a responsibility to help protect these magnificent birds for future generations," says Galvin. "We can limit trade in these vanishing species, and better assist with conservation and recovery efforts if they are listed under the Endangered Species Act."

WRDA Passage to be reviewed in November

Funding of Electronic Barrier online

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The top U.S. House and Senate negotiators on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) legislation highlighted their commitment toward passing a comprehensive bipartisan bill when Congress returned in November.

For the first time in six years the House and the Senate have passed WRDA bills in the same Congress.  The Water 

Resources Development Act authorizes civil works projects for the Corps of Engineers.  These are navigation projects that keep U.S. ports and waterways open to commercial traffic, flood damage reduction projects that protect homes and businesses, and environmental restoration projects that enhance the quality of life. 

Most importantly the Act authorizes funding for the Chicago Waterway Electronic Barrier.

USDA amends VHS fish order

Now allows for interstate movement of VHS-susceptible live species of fish under certain conditions

WASHINGTON � The U.S. Department of Agriculture�s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on November 14 modified an Oct. 24, 2006, emergency order prohibiting the importation of 37 species of live fish from two Canadian provinces into the United States and the interstate movement of the same species from the eight states bordering the Great Lakes.

These modifications will allow Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin to move interstate live species of fish susceptible to viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) if they can meet certain conditions designed to prevent the spread of the disease, which isn�t harmful to people but can be deadly to fish.

The latest announcement acts on the recommendations presented to APHIS during the recent two-day state and industry meeting.  These new requirements allow fish industries in the eight Great Lake states to move susceptible species interstate while also protecting against the spread of VHS.

With the exception of Salmonids, the movement of susceptible species of live fish from Quebec and Ontario into the United States remain prohibited under the revised Federal Order.  APHIS will be drafting an interim rule to further address the movement of fish from Canada and the Great Lakes states.

Under the revised Federal Order, conditions for the interstate movement of VHS-susceptible species vary depending on

whether the live fish are being transported for slaughter,  

research or other purposes.

In order for VHS-susceptible species to move interstate for slaughter, the fish must be:

  ► Intended for human consumption

  ► Transported to a state-inspected slaughter facility that discharges waste water into a municipal sewage system that includes waste water treatment.  As an alternative, the facility can also dispose of waste water in a non-discharging, settling pond or a settling pond that disinfects according to federal and state requirements.  Offal, including carcasses, from the slaughter facility must be either rendered or composted.

  ► Accompanied by the proper USDA documentation for the movement of restricted animals if not tested for VHS.

In order to move VHS-susceptible species for purposes other than slaughter, research or diagnostics, the fish must be transported with documentation from appropriate state, tribal, or federal authorities for aquatic animal health stating that the fish have tested negative for the VHS virus under existing national and international standards specified in the Federal Order.

These restrictions do not apply to live species of VHS-susceptible fish originating from non-restricted states.  Fish from states not included in the Federal order can transit the affected Great Lakes states without oversight.

The modified and the original emergency orders putting these protections into place can be found on our Website at www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/aqua/.

Maiden voyage on the M/V Spencer Baird

During the month of October, two cruises were made with the M/V Spencer F. Baird to perform annual lake trout spawning surveys on two offshore reefs in Lake Huron. On October 18th, the Baird departed the federal dock in Alpena and traveled to Six Fathom Bank. Three gangs of gill nets were deployed on this reef and retrieved on October 19th after anchoring for the night off the reef. On October 20th, the vessel departed for Yankee Reef where two gangs of gill net were deployed and lifted the following day after anchoring for the night off the reef. In recent years, it has been difficult to conduct the assessment 

at both reefs given the tumultuous weather that October brings and safety issues surrounding the aging vessel M/V Togue.

This year FWS biologists were able to complete surveys at both reefs in a single week while working off the more stable and comfortable work platform provided by the M/V Baird. The difference between the two vessels is night and day and the M/V Baird will be an excellent vessel for fulfilling the Fish and Wildlife Service obligations towards lake trout restoration and enhancing the ability to contribute to the lakewide assessment program.

Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for Nov 17, 2006

Lake Level Conditions: 

Lake Superior is currently 12 inches lower than it was a year ago, while Lake Michigan-Huron is at the same level as it was this time last year.  Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are all higher than the previous year.  Currently, all of the lakes are in their period of seasonal decline.  Over the next month, the water level in Lake Superior is projected to fall 3 inches while the level in Lake Michigan-Huron is expected to decline 2 inches. Lakes St. Clair and Erie are also predicted to drop 3 inches during the next 30 days while Lake Ontario is forecasted to fall 4 inches.  Over the next few months, Lake Superior is expected to remain well below last year�s levels, while Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are predicted to remain near or slightly above the water levels of a year ago.  See our Daily Levels web page for more water level information.

Current Outflows/Channel Conditions:

The Lake Superior outflow through the St. Marys River into Lake Huron is expected to be below average in November.  Flows in the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers also are expected to be below average during November.  Flow in the Niagara River, as well as the St. Lawrence River is expected to be above average.

Alerts:

Due to abnormally dry conditions over the last five months, Lake Superior is currently below chart datum and is expected to remain below datum through April. 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.

USFWS Meets to discuss outlook for Alpena Federal Bldg

Alpena USFWS Project Leader Jerry McClain met with Mr. Harold Chase, District Office Manager for Senator Carl Levin, on Oct 25 to discuss the future of the Alpena Federal Building and progress in locating alternatives for housing the Alpena USFWS FRO.

Levin closed his office in the Alpena Federal Building in 2004 but remains concerned about the conditions for remaining tenants in the building. At the present time only the Alpena FRO and the U.S. Coast Guard are occupying space in the building and both are seeking alternate locations due to the deteriorating environmental and personnel safety conditions of the aging building. Chase held a similar meeting with the Coast Guard in early October.

Although the Senator is not seeking a specific resolution to the issue he has committed that his staff will assist the two agencies in working with GSA to meet their office needs. Mr. Chase indicated that he would be drafting a letter of inquiry for the Senator's signature that would go to GSA and the regional or district offices of the two agencies seeking an update on progress in the search for new space.

Continued interaction between the Alpena FRO and district congressional offices is important in keeping the legislators and their staff aware of the important work being done by Service staff in their districts and states. Meetings such as this are important for addressing the Service's Fisheries program Vision for the Future priorities of �Partnerships and Accountability� and �Workforce Management�.

Lt. Gov. John Cherry elected to chair Great Lakes Commission

ANN ARBOR � Michigan Lt. Gov. John Cherry has been elected chair of the Great Lakes Commission. Cherry was

elected by unanimous vote of his fellow Commissioners on October 25 at the close of the Commission�s 2006 Annual Meeting in Duluth, MN. Illinois Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn was elected vice chair.

Bass Pro Shops to open 2nd Virginia store

Richmond, VA � Bass Pro Shops has announced plans to build an outdoor superstore at the intersection of I-95 and Lewistown Rd in Hanover County. It will anchor a 180 acre destination retail project being developed by Holladay

Properties. The store may also include their famous Islamorada Fish Company restaurant. More information about the store and date of opening will be released in the near future.

DNR announces national safe boating contest

Deadline for entries is January 1

SPRINGFIELD, IL � The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is accepting entries for the second annual Boating Safety Sidekicks contest.  This year�s theme is �I�m a Safe Boater, Are You?�  The Boating Safety Sidekicks contest is sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC).  Expanding on the �Why I Wear My Life Jacket� contest from 2005, the NSBC has partnered with West Marine and Within Reach, NSBC member organizations, to expand the contest to include not only essay, but poster and video entries alerting others what kids can do to be safe on the water. 

Stories should be between 150 and 750 words in length and tell about a particular boating experience or safe boating habit in which you wear your life jacket and follow other practices to

be a safe boater.  Posters should be 8.5� x 11� or 8.5� x 14� and contain a simple message to inspire others to boat

safely.  Computer generated submissions must be submitted as one jpg, tiff or eps file.  Videos can range from 30 seconds to 2 minutes in length and must show life jacket wear.  They can be submitted as mpeg files on CD or DVD.  The title of all entries should be �I�m a Safe Boater, Are You?� and demonstrate what youth can do to be safer on the water.

Youth between the ages of 4 to 15 are eligible to enter anytime between now and January 1, 2007. First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded in each of three age groups.   First place winners will receive a $100 savings bond, a life jacket, one NSBC member donated prize, a Sidekicks cap and DVD and recognition on the Sidekicks website. For more info: www.boatingsidekicks.com .

Elk hunters have great season

HARRISBURG - As part of the state's sixth modern-day elk season, which ran from Nov. 6-11, 40 licensed elk hunters harvested 33 elk: 14 antlered and 19 antlerless.  The 40 hunters awarded licenses were selected at a public drawing from a field of nearly 19,000 entrants on Sept. 23.

"Elk are one of North America's premier big game animals," said Carl G. Roe, Pennsylvania Game Commission executive director.  "Pennsylvania is privileged to offer this unique hunting opportunity, a product of successful wildlife management that helps to finance wildlife conservation and supports Pennsylvania's rich hunting heritage.  It's an unparalleled experience for hunters, particularly those who can't afford to go on an expensive one- or two-week guided elk hunt out West."

Jon DeBerti, Game Commission elk biologist, said that this year's hunting season went well.  "Harvest was well distributed across the range," DeBerti said.  "It is important that we continue to harvest elk in areas where elk/human conflicts can arise, and keep elk densities at levels that will not degrade habitats. 

"While providing a recreational opportunity for sportsmen and sportswomen, hunting has been a useful management tool for reducing elk populations in areas that elk/human conflicts have been an issue in the past," DeBerti said.  "This year, we received very few complaints from residents within the elk management area."

The largest antlered elk, in terms of weight and the largest rack, was taken by John A. Shirk, of Goodville, Lancaster County.  He took an 849-pound, 10x8 on Nov. 6, in East Keating Township, Clinton County. The heaviest antlerless elk was taken by Sarah L. Campbell, Landisburg, Perry County, who harvested a 559-pound antlerless elk on Nov. 6, in Gibson Township, Cameron County.

DeBerti noted that Patrick M. Vivona, York, York County, took a 468-pound elk on Nov. 7, in Gibson Township, Cameron County.  This elk was at least 21 years old, and was originally captured in 1993. "This elk has been re-collared two times since 1993, and has been part of many Game Commission studies," DeBerti said.

For the September 2007 hunt, which will be held September 17-22, 2007, nine licenses were awarded to Pennsylvania hunters and one to a hunter from South Carolina, who received an antlerless elk license.  The two either-sex license recipients were from Allegheny County and Northumberland County.  Seven antlerless elk licenses were awarded to Pennsylvania hunters living in the following counties: Allegheny; Berks; Butler; Elk; Northumberland; Tioga; and Warren.

For more info: www.pgc.state.pa.us, choose "Hunting," then click on the photograph of an elk.