Friends of Balcones Canyonlands NWR News

Benefits of Land and Water Conservation Fund to Central Texans

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:36:36 GMT

Submitted by Shelia Hargis, FRIENDS Government Relations Director

Our Hill Country is a treasure worth preserving, and at its heart is the 23,000-acre Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge. Tens of thousands of Texans depend upon the Refuge as a safe, affordable, and convenient place to enjoy the great outdoors. But this refuge and others like it are at risk of closing their doors unless our state’s congressional delegation stands up for public land conservation.

As a volunteer with the Friends of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, I’ve met many Central Texans who visit the Refuge for recreation and relaxation. They come to experience the Refuge’s remarkable views, hiking trails, and plentiful wildlife. Its prime location on a migratory bird flyway as well as breeding Golden-cheeked Warblers and Black-capped Vireos make the Refuge a premiere destination for birders from around the nation. The endangered Golden-cheeked Warblers and Black-capped Vireos are among the Refuge’s 270 bird species that rely on the Refuge, and protection of their breeding habitat inspired the creation of the Refuge nearly twenty years ago. The unique geologic features of the Hill Country also make it ideal habitat for a broad range of unusual subterranean wildlife, and these critters have their own dedicated enthusiasts as well.

Conserving the qualities that make this place so special is tremendously important for all of us who need a place to get outdoors. And, the ecotourism dollars that visiting nature lovers spend at the businesses in the area help support these businesses even in hard economic times.

I recently traveled to Washington,D.C.to bring that message to our congressional delegation and urge their support for a little-known program that has brought enormous benefits to Texas, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Since the fund was established in 1965, LWCF has protected more than seven million acres across the United Statesundefinedfrom neighborhood playgrounds and ball fields to the grandest national parks.

What’s especially impressive is that all this has been accomplished without using taxpayer dollars. Instead, a small portion of the royalties paid by oil and gas companies to drill in public waters offshore are set aside each year to purchase conservation lands.

LWCF has conserved many of our state’s jewels in the national park and refuge system, such as Balcones Canyonlands, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park, and Padre Island National Seashore. Although LWCF is essential to preserving these national treasures, cuts proposed by some in Washington would decimate the program. Zeroing out funding for land acquisition would threaten public access to recreation and strand landowners who want to convey natural areas for public use.

During my trip to the nation’s capital, I also reminded our delegation that cutting LWCF means cutting local tourism revenue and jobs. Nationwide, outdoor recreation supports one in every 15 jobs, and brings in more than a trillion dollars in revenue to local economies. In our state, 2.9 million sportspersons and 4.2 million wildlife watchers combine to spend $9.2 billion on wildlife-associated recreation.

As Congress looks for ways to reduce spending, LWCF might seem like an easy target. But as I told our delegation, now is not the time to cut a program that provides so many jobs and provides so much economic benefit to our communities.

I hope that Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn, and Representative Lamar Smith will defend LWCF. The places we protect today become tomorrow’s recreation jobs and tourist dollars, and they are part of the legacy of clean air and water that we’ll leave our children and grandchildren. That’s not something any of us should be willing to risk.

Conserving the Future Vision Online

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:26:05 GMT

The renewed vision for the growth and management of the National Wildlife Refuge System, entitled Conserving the Future: Wildlife Refuges and the Next Generation, is now available online at www.americaswildlife.org. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s vision was developed with extensive input from stakeholders through a transparent public process over the past 18 months.

“For more than 100 years, the National Wildlife Refuge System has conserved America’s great wildlife heritage and working lands for current and future generations, and this blueprint will ensure that a new era of conservation – one rooted in strong partnerships with the community – remains vibrant for the next 100 years,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “I applaud the Fish and Wildlife Service for its commitment to increasing the public’s access to open spaces and to inspiring a new generation to enjoy America’s great outdoors and get involved in conserving our nation’s wild things and wild places.”

Conserving the Future underscores the importance of building and expanding partnerships – working with other federal agencies, states, tribes, conservation organizations and citizens.

“The conservation challenges of the 21st century demand that the Service renews its commitment to our important relationship with state fish and wildlife agencies and with traditional partners such as anglers and hunters,” said Dan Ashe, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. “At the same time, we need to be creative and bold in forging new partnerships.”

Among the Conserving the Future’s recommendations, the Refuge System will:

launch an urban refuge initiative to increase the American people’s connection with their natural heritage, including wildlife refuges;
work with state fish and wildlife agencies to prepare a strategy for increasing quality hunting and fishing opportunities – especially for youth and people with disabilities – on wildlife refuges;
collaborate more with private and regional groups to conserve wildlife habitat;
undertake an inventory and monitoring of the Refuge System’s land and water resources to better protect against future threats;
develop a plan to guide refuges in assessing potential climate change impacts to refuge habitats and species; and
plan for strategic growth by prioritizing potential acquisition sites and assessing the status of current habitat protection efforts.

In describing the Refuge System’s role in addressing America’s conservation challenges, the vision document states: “Human demands on the environment combined with environmental stressors are creating an urgent need for conservation choices. The scale of issues and challenges we face is unprecedented and impacts us all; no single entity has the resources necessary to address these challenges on its own.

“Conserving the Future acknowledges that strategic, collaborative, science-based landscape conservation -- along with effective public outreach, education and environmental awareness -- is the only path forward to conserve America's wildlife and wild places.

WE CHANGED OUR MINDS! The Fall 2011 Crier is now available!

Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:42:22 GMT

I know, in the Spring we announced the end of a paper newsletter...due to raising costs and going green.yada,yada,yada...BUT the outcry from subscribers caused us to re-think the distribution and the benefits to reaching out to the public with multiple media tools. Yes, we LIKE facebook, twitter, emails,...but there is something to be said for those left behind AND we don't want to leave anyone behind! We actually expanded our distribution on the Canyonlands Crier!

We hope that you enjoy this issue.

FINAL PRINT PUBLICATION of the CRIER is Available!

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 13:14:06 GMT

With the high cost of production and our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint, we will no longer be publishing a paper newsletter. All our news releases will be produced on this blog and distributed via eblasts. You can RSS the NEWS if you prefer. See the button on this page!

WE have relied on many hard working volunteers in the effort to bring you the Canyonlands Crier and just want to express our sincere gratitude for all the time and talent that made gave us such a professional printed newsletter.

Our layout editor, Tess Sherman
Our news editor, Sharon Macut
Our Printer, Minuteman Press of Cedar Park
Out team of folks that licked stamps, managed lists and provided articles.
YOU ROCK!

You can read this by clicking the image.

Trail Work Day at Warbler Vista

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 16:53:18 GMT

The trail work day at Warbler Vista was a success. We had 24 volunteers that came out to help. The extension of the Cactus
Rock trail is all but done. I will hang the signs and take care of a couple of trip points next week.
Below are some pictures of the hard working volunteers.
Thanks to all the volunteers.

Dub Lyon

NWRA Applauds Congress for Supporting Wildlife Refuge Friends and Volunteers

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 09:55:59 GMT

For Immediate Release
December 21, 2010

Contact: Joan Patterson, (202) 292-2422
jpatterson@refugeassociation.org

NWRA Applauds Congress for Supporting Wildlife Refuge Friends and Volunteers

Washington, DC – The National Wildlife Refuge Association today applauded Congress for supporting volunteer programs on our national wildlife refuges. Passage of the National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Improvement Act will increase opportunities for citizens to volunteer on our national wildlife refuges and bolster the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s efforts to develop a national strategy for coordinating volunteer efforts.

“Refuge Friends and Volunteers are a cornerstone in helping the Fish and Wildlife Service achieve critical wildlife conservation and public outreach goals on our national wildlife refuges,” said Evan Hirsche, President of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. “Never has this been more apparent than in the overwhelming outpouring of Friends and volunteer support in connection with the BP oil spill this past summer.”

With 553 national wildlife refuges throughout all states and territories conserving a total of 150 million acres - the National Wildlife Refuge System is the world’s premier wildlife conservation system. America’s national wildlife refuges are invaluable to wildlife and offer outstanding opportunities for people to experience and appreciate our natural world - there’s a national wildlife refuge within just an hour’s drive of nearly every major metropolitan area.

Each year Refuge Friends and volunteers perform roughly 20% of all the work done on national wildlife refuges. In 2009 they contributed more than 1.4 million hours or the equivalent of 665 full-time employees - a value exceeding $28 million! From helping with habitat conservation projects and environmental education programs to organizing recreational opportunities like hunts and fishing derbies, Refuge Friends and Volunteers are vital to our national wildlife refuges.

Passed by both houses of Congress, the National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Improvement Act awaits final approval from President Obama before being enacted as law.

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America’s wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity.

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Copyright © 2010 National Wildlife Refuge Association.

The Fall Canyonlands Crier is OUT!

Sat, 16 Oct 2010 12:49:17 GMT

Read the Crier here

In this Issue:

Refuge News—Deep Water Horizon Oil Spill

While the news media reported the effects of the BP oil spill of the Gulf of Mexico, some people may be surprised how involved in the response the staff at Balcones was. Migratory birds are a trust species of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The Service also conducts, coordinates, and supervises search and capture
for oiled wildlife. read more.....

Land Acquisition

Balcones received $1 million from the Land and Water Conservation Trust Fund (LWCF) to purchase land within the Refuge’s acquisition boundary from willing sellers at fair market value. read more.....

Annual Campaign Announced

The Friends of Balcones Canyonlands NWR is pleased to announce the launching of an Annual Campaign to give all Texans, and others who have a passion for saving two endangered Texas songbirds, an opportunity to participate in an effort to protect and expand the refuge. read more.....

Facebook May Bring New Friends to Friends

As of mid-September, about 140 people have respondedto the Refuge System’s Facebook awareness campaign, which encourages people to go to the Refuge System Web site to find local refuges and Friends organizations. The Facebook notice, headlined “Love Wildlife?”, has been posted on more than 700,000 Facebook pages of those who have shown and interest in wildlife conservation. read more.....

Honoring Our Sustaining Business Members

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:21:17 GMT

Friends of Balcones honored the Lago Vista and Jonestown Chamber of Commerce with a plaque recognizing their ongoing support and contribution to The Balcones Songbird Festival. At one time a Chamber event, the festival is now presented each year by the Friends.

Ruth Lyon and Sharon Macut present Chamber president Chuck Wills a plaque which reads: In appreciation of your continuing commitment to land and habitat conservation in the pursuit of a balanced and healthy ecosystem.

Ceremony at City Hall honoring the life of Sam Hamilton - Austin City Council Meeting 7-29-10

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 11:35:32 GMT

Deborah Holle and I attended the Austin City Council meeting on July 29, where the BCCP Coordinating Chair, Mayor Lee Leffingwell and member, Commissioner Karen Huber presented the ordinance to rename the Balcones Preserve property known as Bull Creek Site to the Sam Hamilton Memorial Reserve, honoring Mr. Sam Hamilton, former Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to his family and friends in attendance. The ordinance was approved at the same meeting. Travis County is expected to approve a similar resolution for an adjourning tract in the watershed.

This excerpt from the Travis County Commisioners Court July 27 expresses our mutual appreciation of Sam Hamilton's legacy....

"...(With the) passing of Samuel "Sam" Davis Hamilton on February the 20th, 2010, the citizens of Travis county lost a true friends who contributed greatly to preserving the environmental legacy of central Texas through his efforts to establish the Balcones Canyonland Conservation Plan. Sam Hamilton's efforts to protect our natural resources, undertaken as Texas state administrator of the u.s. Fish and wildlife service from 1991 to 1995, often placed him at the center of controversial issues and in highly contentious circumstances. And whereas through his tenure in central Texas, Sam Hamilton also exhibited -- a willingness to listen fairly and an ability to deal evenhandedly in his professional undertakings. Supporting a vision of environmental quality and wildlife protection in balance with the community needs and during his 30 year career, as a senior biologist and manager for the u.s. Fish and wildlife service, Sam Hamilton consistently proved his commitment to the highest standards of public service and demonstrated an ability to effectively address important and complex issues."

We will miss him.......

Friends present Award to Lago Vista

Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:05:48 GMT

Cathy Harrington, immediately past president of Friends of Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, presents The City of Lago Vista with a plaque in appreciation for their continuing support of the annual Songbird Festival. Accepting the award is Mayor Randy Kruger.

Harrington acclaimed, "The City of Lago Vista has consistently been a valued partner in the Balcones Songbird Festival. We wish to express our gratitude for your continuous contributions throught the 10 years of the Festival."

The Songbird Festival encourages the preservation of the Refuge's critical habitat through the festival's education tours, exhibits, and children's activities which provide the opportunity to experience the animals, plants and habitats of the Texas Hill Country. Next year's event is already scheduled for April 29-May 2, 2011.

Other upcoming events are in celebration of National Refuge Week, October 23, 2010 and SparrowFest, February 2011.

NWRA Urges Donations to Aid Gulf Coast Refuge Friends Groups

Mon, 10 May 2010 14:48:36 GMT

Washington, DC- The National Wildlife Refuge Association, which works with tens of thousands of volunteers across the country in support of the 150-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, today launched a Gulf oil spill relief fund and volunteer registry. With oil expected to severely impact critical wildlife refuge habitat in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, funds and volunteers will be vital in supporting the efforts of local volunteer refuge "Friends" organizations.

"There are 20 national wildlife refuges in the immediate path of the oil spill, and they depend on Friends organization volunteers to provide critical support to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service professionals," said Evan Hirsche, President of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. "20% of the work done on our federal refuges is already being done by volunteers; the disaster in the Gulf is going to require an even greater volunteer commitment."

While BP must be held accountable for clean up costs, groups such as the Friends of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge on the Alabama coast are doing whatever they can to help refuge professionals now to prepare for oil which is expected to reach their refuge by the weekend. Friends groups and volunteers at refuges in the path of the spill will assist refuge staff gather as much baseline data as possible before the oil makes landfall. From water samples to bird, mammal and turtle counts, Friends will help refuge staff accurately detail what could be lost.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has identified an additional five national wildlife refuges that are under most immediate threat by the oil spill: Delta NWR, LA; Breton NWR, LA; Bayou Sauvage NWR, LA; Grand Bay NWR, MS and Mississippi Sandhill Crane NWR, MS. These refuges are historically and ecologically significant and the timing of the spill could not happen at a worse time. Birds that are nesting right now include wading birds such as egrets and herons, seabirds, and beach nesters that live in large colonies, such as gulls, terns and skimmers. Contact with a drop of oil as small a dime can cause fatalities in many birds.

The National Wildlife Refuge Association works with more than 220 Refuge Friends Groups throughout the country, of which 192 are affiliates. These local not-for-profit organizations along with dedicated volunteers nationwide are crucial to protecting our national wildlife refuges and Americas wildlife heritage.

To donate to NWRA's fund, register to volunteer, or learn about how oil will impact Gulf refuges and wildlife, visit:

http://www.refugeassociation.org/new-issues/delta.html

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge Association is to conserve America's wildlife heritage for future generations through strategic programs that protect, enhance, and expand the National Wildlife Refuge System and the landscapes beyond its boundaries that secure its ecological integrity.

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NWRA Presents Vision for 'America's Great Outdoors'

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 11:45:59 GMT

NWRA Presents Vision for 'America's Great Outdoors'

Washington, DC- At the White House Conference on America's Great Outdoors, the National Wildlife Refuge Association today commended President Obama for launching a nation-wide discussion on the future of conservation in America, and released "Conserving America's Great Outdoors," a report that presents a vision and set of guidelines to help inform the President’s vision. Read the Report here!

re-printed from the NWRA Press Release