For Immediate Release: August 21, 2009
Contact: Clay Harris; (505) 248-6428; Clay_Harris@fws.gov
FFS #R2EE

Albuquerque, NM - The Trinity River Basin will benefit from an agreement between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the Trinity Basin Conservation Foundation (TBCF) that uses Recovery Act funding to restore habitat on private lands.

As part of the Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program, $50,000 in Recovery Act funding and $60,000 in cooperative funding from TBCF will enhance more than 200 acres of wildlife habitat as part of the Trinity River Basin Environmental Restoration Initiative. The initiative focuses primarily on eight counties-Anderson, Ellis, Freestone, Henderson, Houston, Kaufman, Leon and Navarro-in the middle Trinity River Basin.

“This initiative has important long-term benefits for the Trinity River Basin and adjacent communities,” said Benjamin Tuggle, Ph.D., regional director for the Service’s Southwest Region, which includes Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona and New Mexico. “Private landowners are important partners in conservation efforts, and working with them on this initiative will restore crucial habitat and create work for local businesses and workers.”

With more than 5.5 million residents, the Trinity is the most populated river basin in Texas. The Trinity provides water for about nine million people and sustains substantial agricultural and ecological resources, including significant areas of wetlands, bottomland hardwoods, forests and grasslands.

The project is expected to begin in August 2009.

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. The Service’s Southwest Region, which includes Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma, received $29.9 million for 129 construction, energy-efficiency, habitat-restoration, and other improvement projects at national wildlife refuges, fish hatcheries, and other public and private lands. The projects represent priority needs, generate the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time, and create lasting value for the American public. For a full list of projects funded nationwide, visit the Department’s Recovery Web Site at http://recovery.doi.gov.

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. The Service is both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information, visit www.fws.gov.