For Immediate Release: July 6, 2009
Contact: Jim Smith
(530) 527-3043
FFS #R8PK / R8PH
RED BLUFF, CA - Today Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife Office in California will receive $15,000 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to modernize their facilities.
This project replaces an inefficient air conditioning unit in the administrative office and adds a small ventilation system to the nearby warehouse roof. Both jobs have been awarded to local vendors. The roof ventilation will be handled by Tom Mehringer Construction of Red Bluff, Calif., and the air conditioner will be installed by Deer Creek Heating and Air Conditioning of Vina, Calif.
“These projects represent a great use of Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds,” said Jim Smith, Project Leader at the Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife Office. “It’s a win-win. We are able to get a much-needed upgrade to our facilities and benefit the community at the same time.”
The Red Bluff Fish and Wildlife Office is located in Northern California, approximately 135 miles north of Sacramento, Calif., just south of the Red Bluff Diversion Dam on the Sacramento River. The office provides biological expertise and assistance to those seeking to conserve and protect the ecosystems of North-Central California. The office was established in 1978 as part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s responsibility to facilitate restoration of Pacific salmonids. The staff are one of the primary investigators of fish passage issues at the Red Bluff Diversion Dam and have been instrumental in finding solutions.
Funding for these projects and hundreds more across the nation comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Of the $3 billion appropriated to the Department of the Interior, the Act provides $280 million for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – which includes $115 million for construction, repair and energy efficiency retrofit projects at Service facilities, and $165 million for habitat restoration, deferred maintenance and capital improvement projects. The Service will benefit from an additional $10 million, administered by the Department of Transportation and not included in the Service’s $280 million appropriation, which will be used to rebuild and improve roads on several national wildlife refuges. Projects will immediately create local jobs in the communities where they are located, while stimulating long-term employment and economic opportunities for the American public.
Recovery Act projects address long-standing priority needs identified by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through its capital planning process. The Service completed a rigorous merit-based process to identify and prioritize investments meeting the criteria put forth in the Recovery Act: namely, that a project addresses the Department’s highest priority mission needs; generates the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time; and creates lasting value for the American public.
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Department of the Interior is making an investment in conserving America’s timeless treasures – our stunning natural landscapes, our monuments to liberty, the icons of our culture and heritage – while helping middle class families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, employing youth and promoting community service.
For a full list of funded projects nationwide, go to the Department’s Recovery web site at http://recovery.doi.gov/. For a list of Service projects, click on the Service’s logo at the bottom of the page. Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department of the Interior’s economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on the recovery web site, which includes an interactive map that allows the public to track where and how the Department’s recovery dollars are being spent. In addition, the public can submit questions, comments or concerns at recoveryact@fws.gov.
Secretary Salazar also has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force. Mr. Henderson and the Task Force will work closely with the Department of the Interior’s Inspector General to ensure the Recovery Program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility and transparency set by President Obama.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
