Contacts: Roger Gordon, (231) 584-2461 or Roger_Gordon@fws.gov
Annette Dombrowski, Annette_Dombrowski@fws.gov

FFS #R3PA, R3PB, R3PC, R3PF

Elmira, Michigan – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will host an open house and building dedication ceremony at Jordan River National Fish Hatchery (NFH) in Elmira, Mich., on Thursday, August 18. The event marks the completion of hatchery improvement projects including; construction of two fish rearing facilities, a geothermal heating system, and improvement of the fish hatchery effluent treatment system funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Invited guests include Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Service Regional Director Tom Melius, and multiple Great Lakes conservation partners.

Who:   U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Jordan River National Fish Hatchery
What:  Open house, building dedication, and ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate completion of fish rearing facility and other hatchery installations. The Jordan River Hatchery Friends Group will offer free kids fishing and BBQ luncheon at the event.
When:  August 18, 2011. The open house will be from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The building dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. August 18, 2011
Where: 6623 Turner Rd. Elmira, Mich.

The effluent project will allow the hatchery to minimize discharges of phosphorous into the Jordan River, which has been designated as a National Wildlife and Scenic River. Recovery funding also supported construction of a pre-engineered building to cover thirty-two of the hatchery’s raceways. The unheated, metal building is approximately 140 feet wide by 400 feet long, and is placed over raceway series 1 – 8, for a total square footage of approximately 56,000.

Installation of an energy efficient geothermal heating will also help offset the energy demands of the federal fish hatchery and save annual operational costs.

Jordan River NFH supports native species rehabilitation through production and stocking of lake trout for the Great Lakes, with a long-term goal of establishing self-sustaining lake trout populations. The hatchery annually propagates approximately three million lake trout, which are released into Lakes Michigan and Huron by the Service’s Great Lakes stocking vessel, the M/V Spencer F. Baird.

For more information about the Service’s Fisheries program and the Jordan River NFH, visit http://www.fws.gov/midwest/fisheries and http://www.fws.gov/midwest/jordanriver or you can visit the hatchery on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/i4jfDV

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, which is administered by the Department of Transportation and is not included in the Service’s $280 million appropriation that will be used to rebuild and improve roads on several national wildlife refuges.

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, 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://on.fb.me/i4jfDV for a list of Service projects, click on the Service’s logo at the bottom of the page.

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 http://www.fws.gov.

For more information, view the Event Invitation.

Contacts: Richard Shelton, Manager, 870-625-3912
Tom MacKenzie, 404-679-7291 tom_mackenzie@fws.gov

FFS# R4RB

Mammoth Springs, AK- Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery, in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas, will soon be home to one of the most energy efficient buildings ever built by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A ground-breaking ceremony will take place at the future site of the Aquatic Conservation and Education Center on March 23, 2011. The event begins at
10:00 a.m. at the hatchery, located at 302 Fish Hatchery Lane. The public is invited to attend.

The center will feature energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems, recycled and locally available building materials, educational exhibits and meeting space, storm water capture and re-use, and native plantings. It is expected to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification.

“But we’re shooting for Gold certification,” said Richard Shelton, manager of the hatchery for the past 26 years. “This building will be the bricks-and-mortar embodiment of our conservation mission. We are really proud of the design.”

LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system. In addition to its sustainable design features, the center will include an environmental education classroom, retail sales space, additional office space, fish habitat displays and interpretive exhibits, and outdoor features such as a display pond and viewing areas.

“This new state-of-the-art center will be something that the community can be proud of, a place where people, and especially children, can connect with nature and learn about conservation and environmental issues,” said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. “In addition, it will provide a boost to the local economy, creating new jobs with stimulus funds.”

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding enabled the project, which first received funds in 2005 for design and initial construction, to move forward and make the center a reality.

Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery has produced fish for fishing and population restoration for over a century. The hatchery was built in 1903, set where it is for the nearby railroad and the reliable, high-quality, gravity-flow water from one of the world’s largest springs. With its unique rearing system, the hatchery has the capability to produce a wide variety of aquatic species.

Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery is one of three National Fish Hatcheries in Arkansas together responsible for a total economic impact of $160.7 million and 1,765 jobs through their recreational fish production and stocking efforts. It is not part of the proposed FY 2012 budgetary proposals involving funding of mitigation hatcheries.

Visit http://www.fws.gov/mammothspring for more information about the hatchery.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Visit the Service’s websites at http://www.fws.gov/ and http://www.fws.gov/southeast.

Photos:

Contacts: Melanie Dabovich; USFWS; (505) 248-6428
Mark Hart; AZGFD; (520) 388-4445
Heidi Schewel; USFS; (520) 388-8343

FFS #R2UA

Safford, AZ— The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funded a project to stock more than a thousand Gila trout in native waterways in Arizona, creating the first-ever Gila trout season in the history of the state while continuing efforts to bring the native fish species from the brink of extinction.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) utilized nearly $140,000 in Recovery Act funds in 2010 and 2011 to stock Gila trout in Frye Creek and Frye Mesa Reservoir and conduct Gila trout restoration in the creeks of Ash and Marijilda in southeastern Arizona’s Pinaleño Mountains. The project was done in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) and U.S. Forest Service’s Coronado National Forest.

The Gila trout were stocked in Frye Creek and Frye Mesa Reservoir on Feb. 23 by the Arizona Game and Fish Department with the help of federal agencies and private organizations, including Trout Unlimited and Arizona-based San Pedro Flycasters.

The Service’s Mora National Fish Hatchery and Technology Center in Mora, New Mexico provided the fish stock. Service and AZGFD hatchery staff members transported the fish from hatchery trucks to 55-gallon drums that were airlifted by a Papillon helicopter to the high-elevation Frye Creek and reservoir. Around 800 Gila trout were stocked in the reservoir and an additional 650 were stocked at various places along the creek.

The native Gila trout is the focus of restoration and recovery activities at the Mora hatchery. The trout, found only in the headwaters of the Gila River Basin in Arizona and New Mexico, was upgraded from “endangered” to “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act in 2006, due to decades of conservation activities.

“Funding from the Recovery Act has allowed this strong cooperative effort between state and federal agencies to create the first Gila trout season in Arizona and further the Service’s mission to reestablish the Gila trout population in its native, historical range,” said Service Southwestern Regional Director Benjamin Tuggle.

Tuggle notes the Recovery Act project also created two wildlife technician positions with AZGFD to perform on-the-ground work duties related to Gila trout restoration efforts.

Frye Creek and Frye Mesa Reservoir is the third site in Arizona where Gila trout have been released. Gila trout were reintroduced to Frye Creek previously in November 2009. The Arizona Game and Fish Commission created the first-ever season on native Gila trout at Frye Mesa Reservoir with a one-fish bag and possession limit. The creek is currently off-limits to fishing.

Robert Woods of Flagstaff, Arizona caught the first state-record Gila trout at the reservoir on Feb. 28. The trout measured 19 ¼ inches long and weighed 3.35 pounds. AZGFD Fisheries Specialist S. Jason Kline says the project will continue to grow and thrive thanks to the hard work of a many different agency staff members and volunteers.

“Frye Mesa Reservoir is a blue-ribbon Gila trout fishery now. With the addition of the Gila trout, Mount Graham in the Pinaleño Mountains is the only place in the world where anglers can fish for five different species of trout,” Kline said. “This area could become a trout fishing destination.”

The new recreational fishing area could provide an economic boost to nearby communities. An economic impact study conducted by the Service shows that per fishing trip, resident anglers spend around $72 and non-resident fishermen spend about $116 on items such as food, gas, equipment and lodging.

Regional AZGFD supervisor Raul Vega is encouraged by this historic project and what it means for the survival of the Gila trout.

“It’s so amazing to think that the Gila trout was nearly extinct fifty years ago, but here we are now where fisherman can once again fish for the native species,” Vega said. “We wouldn’t have been able to do this without Recovery Act funds. It definitely helped elevate the scope of the project.”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $3 billion to the Department of the Interior. Of that amount, $280 million went to the Service to fund job-creating investments in critical infrastructure and facilities, habitat restoration, and energy efficiency and renewable energy.
The Service’s Southwest Region received $28.8 million for construction, energy-efficiency, habitat-restoration, and other improvement projects at national wildlife refuges, fish hatcheries, and other public and private lands.

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.

A Papillon helicopter carries a 55-gallon drum of native Gila trout up to Frye Creek on Feb. 23, 2011 in the Pinaleño Mountains of Arizona where the fish will be stocked. The project, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, created the first Gila trout season in Arizona. (Courtesy of Melanie Dabovich/USFWS)

A native Gila trout is shown as it is transported from Mora National Fish Hatchery holding tanks before being stocked into the Frye Mesa Reservoir in Arizona. (Courtesy of Melanie Dabovich/USFWS)

Jeremy Voeltz, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fishery biologist for the Arizona Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, transports native Gila trout into 55-gallon drums that will flown up the Pinaleño Mountains to Frye Creek by helicopter as part of a Gila trout stocking project on Feb. 23, 2011. The fish stock came from the Service

Arizona Game and Fish Department Fish Specialist Jason Kline releases native Gila trout into Frye Mesa Reservoir in the Pinaleño Mountains on Feb. 23, 2010. The project, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, created the first Gila trout season in Arizona. (Courtesy of Melanie Dabovich/USFWS)

Arizona Game and Fish Department Fish Specialist Jason Kline releases native Gila trout into Frye Mesa Reservoir in the Pinaleño Mountains on Feb. 23, 2010. The project, funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, created the first Gila trout season in Arizona. (Courtesy of Melanie Dabovich/USFWS)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today marked the resumption of an important habitat restoration project at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park near Destin, FL funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The project, which was temporarily delayed by the response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, is a joint effort with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Division of Recreation and Parks, and Three Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Council.

“The continuation of the Topsail Hill Preserve project is creating environmental and economic benefits for Florida’s Gulf Coast region,” said Acting Fish and Wildlife Service Director Rowan Gould. “This Recovery Act project is part of a long-range plan to restore Topsail Hill Preserve State Park to its natural state, restore the proper flow of water, and encourage plants and animals to return and flourish,” said Gould. “Our partnerships with multiple agencies on projects such as this are helping the Service to make a tremendous difference in the health of local communities across the nation, while making important contributions to the future of America’s wildlife and wild places.”

Located in Santa Rosa Beach, 10 miles east of Destin, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park encompasses 14 different natural communities, including wet prairie, scrub, beach dune and rare coastal dune lake habitat. It is also part of the dwindling habitat of the endangered Choctawhatchee beach mouse and endangered flatwoods salamander. The restoration work funded by ARRA will help reestablish the flow of surface and subsurface water, which is essential to the health of both upland and wetland natural communities within the Preserve.

“Restoration of the natural surface hydrology is essential to enhancing the wetlands and uplands in the watershed of two rare coastal dune lakes at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park,” said DEP Deputy Secretary Bob Ballard. “This state park provides a direct economic impact of more than $7 million to the local community. This project will further enhance the valuable natural resources at Topsail Hill that attract Florida residents and visitors to the Santa Rosa Beach area.”

In 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded $400,000 in ARRA funding to the Three Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Council of Milton, FL., to restore and enhance portions of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park. Three Rivers, in turn, awarded a contract to Middle Creek Contracting Co., a small construction company based in nearby Defuniak Springs, FL.

The project began in the summer of 2010, but was abruptly halted a short time later when Incident Command teams responding to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill needed to use Topsail Hill Road as an access road for beach clean-up and assessment teams. The project was on hold for several weeks and recently resumed.

“The Three Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Council is pleased to be participating in this ARRA-funded project that will help restore habitat at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park,” said Travis Davis, project leader for the Council. “This project greatly contributes to our mission of conserving the natural resources and improving the economic condition of citizens in Northwest Florida.”

For a full list of ARRA funded projects nationwide, go to the Department of the Interior’s Recovery Web Site at http://recovery.doi.gov. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department’s economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on the recovery web site, which will include an interactive map that enables 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.

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.

Created in 1935 by the Florida Legislature, the Florida State Park system has grown from eight to 160 parks in the last 75 years. Today, the Florida Park Service manages more than 700,000 acres of Florida’s natural environment, including 100 miles of beaches, eight National Historic Landmarks and 39 sites on the National Register of Historic Places. Florida State Parks has been recognized by the National Recreation and Park Association as the nation’s first and only two-time Gold Medal winner for the nation’s best park service. For more information about Florida’s state parks, visit www.FloridaStateParks.org.

Stratford, Conn. – A ceremony was held today to break ground for a project to restore Long Beach West, one of Connecticut’s longest stretches of barrier beach. The project, supported by nearly $1 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funding, involves demolishing the dilapidated remnants of a former summer community, removing debris and contaminants, and ultimately re-establishing 35-acres of beach to its natural state for people and wildlife.

U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro joined officials from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and numerous project partners for a groundbreaking ceremony this morning at the project site in Stratford, Connecticut. “I am very pleased to see the progress being made in improving Long Beach West, cleaning up or demolishing the cottages and restoring the local habitat. These long-needed repairs will enable Stratford to both protect and preserve Long Beach West and surrounding areas, which is why I worked to secure funding to make this project possible,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “I am so pleased to see these efforts and the addition funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act are helping to improve our shoreline and our local economy. I applaud the efforts that have been made so far, and look forward to seeing the project’s completion.”

In addition to supporting jobs and the local economy, the project will have significant environmental benefit. The restored beach, which is designated as an internationally significant area by the National Audubon Society, will provide an important environment for migratory birds including protected species such as the piping plover and least tern; rare plants; and other wildlife. Passive public access to the beach will be also restored.

Sharon Marino, Project Leader for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southern New England- New York Bight Coastal Program said , “The on the ground restoration of this site represents over two years of work with a large variety of partners to bring this project to fruition. This project will enhance the site for people and wildlife and is an excellent example of what the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding was meant to be used for, providing jobs and investing in the improvement of local communities.”

Connecticut-based LVI Environmental Services will, by the end of the year, demolish and remove 37 abandoned cottages that were last occupied in the late 1990s, as well as debris and contaminants such as asbestos, from the property. “LVI Environmental Services is honored to be working with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the Long Beach West project. We share a common concern for the environment and are committed to working together to preserve and protect the fish, wildlife and plants in the area,” said Business Development Manager Craig Lyons. “LVI’s experience with large, complex projects for the government and private industry-combined with our dedication to safety, trained work force and state-of-the art equipment make us uniquely qualified for this assignment.”

The Service received $909,000 under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to fund the Long Beach West restoration project. Additional funding totaling $233,000 was provided by the Environmental Protection Agency Long Island Sound Futures Fund, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Dissolved Oxygen Environmental Benefit Fund, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Long Island Sound Fund, and the Fairfield County Community Foundation Grant.

This ambitious and complex project represents a unique collaboration of nonprofit conservation organizations, for-profit firms, and local, state and federal agencies. Partners include The Trust for Public Land, the Town of Stratford, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Audubon Connecticut, Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Connecticut Audubon Society, Connecticut Fund for the Environment/Save the Sound, Connecticut Ornithological Association, Environmental Protection Agency Long Island Sound Study, Fairfield County Community Foundation, Land-Tech Consultants, Inc., SoundKeeper, The Nature Conservancy, Protect Your Environment, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

“The Town of Stratford is very excited to work with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and all project partners to restore this fragile coastal beach habitat and remove a dangerous blight condition from our shoreline. The restored barrier beach will help provide an economic benefit to the Town of Stratford while also preserving this valuable coastal resource”, said Mayor John Harkins, Town of Stratford, Connecticut.

Amey Marrella, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection said, “This important project will restore Long Beach to a more natural condition – rebuilding unique natural coastal habitat areas and creating new opportunities for public access and enjoyment. This is exactly the kind of work we should be doing to protect the long-term health of Connecticut’s coastline and I am pleased to join with our many partners today in getting this project underway.”

Whitney Hatch, Southern New England Director of The Trust for Public Land, said, “The Trust for Public Land is delighted to see the on-the ground work begin at Long Beach West after much planning and preparation. This project clearly demonstrates what can be accomplished when talented individuals from both the public and private sectors work towards a shared goal. With this, we will be restoring one of the true coastal gems in the state and ensuring that this unique landscape continues to benefit both people and wildlife.”

Tom Baptist, Executive Director of Audubon Connecticut, the state organization of the National Audubon Society said, “Today we celebrate a major success in restoring our coastline for people and for wildlife. We are honored to have partnered with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Town of Stratford to restore Long Beach West, and we are especially grateful to the broad coalition of stakeholders who have worked in support of this conservation effort. Long Beach West is a critical component of the Stratford Great Meadows Important Bird Area (IBA), one of only 27 sites so recognized in Connecticut,” Baptist continued. “The federal stimulus dollars employed here are not only benefitting the threatened and endangered wildlife that rely on this site – Connecticut’s largest remaining stretch of undeveloped barrier beach habitat – they are also providing jobs and restoring safe public access to one of our state’s natural treasures.”

During the summer of 2010, the Department of the Interior has started work on a $6.7 million project to stabilize the 120,000 square foot baggage and dormitory building and remove hazardous materials. The work will ensure the structure is protected from the elements and made safe enough for future exterior and interior rehabilitation.

The seawall around the edge of Ellis Island is also in disrepair. It has sagged over the years, and some of the granite

A Phoenix Marine diver emerges from the Ellis Island ferry slip during an inspection of the Ellis Island seawall under the watchful eye of another Phoenix employee. The company is inspecting the different areas around the island where the seawall is damaged prior to beginning the repair/rehabilitation process as part of the ARRA contract.

blocks have even fallen off. A $20.9 million project currently underway will complete the stabilization and repair of the entire 6,700 foot seawall. In total, the National Park Service is investing $29.1 million from the Recovery Act at Ellis Island to help preserve the historic landmark while also creating jobs for the local area.

Out west in Grand Canyon National Park, the Park Service is investing nearly $14 million in Recovery funds to make a myriad of repairs and improvements. Included in the funding are two projects that are improving housing for the Havasupai tribe at Supai Camp, the tribe’s ancestral home at the Grand Canyon. The National Park Service has a long-standing legal agreement with the tribe for recognition and occupancy at Supai Camp, and upgrades to their housing were long overdue. One of these projects will improve housing and living conditions for tribal members by rehabilitating six communal buildings. This includes replacing roofing and windows, repainting, improving interior walls, and installing fire sprinkler systems. In addition, the National Park Service will build six new housing units for use by the tribe.

Other projects at Grand Canyon include $550,000 to reconstruct the popular South Kaibab Trail. Reconstruction will include trail resurfacing; rebuilding steps; stabilizing and preventative maintenance treatments to retaining walls including replacing those that have been lost to floods, slides, or erosion; and repairing and aligning damaged water features. The reconstruction project will significantly improve conditions for the over 200,000 annual visitors that use the trail.

Workers on the popular South Kaibab Trail. Reconstruction will include trail resurfacing; rebuilding steps; stabilizing and preventative maintenance treatments to retaining walls including replacing those that have been lost to floods, slides, or erosion; and repairing and aligning damaged water features. The reconstruction project will significantly improve conditions for the over 200,000 annual visitors that use the trail.

The trails are a major part of the cross canyon corridor beat down daily by the feet of thousands of tourists and hundreds of mule hooves. Most of the trails in Grand Canyon National Park were originally constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps starting in 1933. That legacy continues today with work by the local Coconino Rural Environment Corps and the international American Conservation Experience. Both are associated with Americorps, leading President Obama’s call to service.

In 2008, mules made more than 9,000 trips in and out of the canyon just carrying visitors but they also serve as pack mules to carry supplies into the camps and concessions at the bottom of the canyon as well as carry trash out of the canyon.

You can read the Vice President’s entire report here.

Geis and his apprentices replaced non-grounded wiring, load centers, switch boxes and outlet boxes in all five buildings to provide a safer updated electrical supply to the complex. The upgrade ensures long-term functionality, the safety of employees and visitors, and the integrity of computer systems and other electrical office equipment.

Cottonwood is a small town of just over 1,000 residents located about 60 miles south of Lewiston. About 3,000 people live in nearby Grangeville, the county seat of Idaho County. The BLM currently employs 26 people in the Cottonwood Field Office, which opened in 1974.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department’s economic recovery projects. The public is able to follow the progress of each project on www.recovery.gov and on www.interior.gov/recovery. Secretary Salazar has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force to work closely with Interior’s Inspector General and ensure the recovery program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility, and transparency set by President Obama.

The contractor’s report on this project is available online at http://www.recovery.gov/Transparency/RecipientReportedData/pages/RecipientProjectSummary508.aspx?AwardIdSur=38417&AwardType=Contracts .

Find information about the re-wiring and other ARRA-funded projects at BLM-managed sites in Idaho at http://www.blm.gov/id/st/en/ARRA_idaho.html .

Construction and staffing of the Air Defense Radar Station are described in articles that appeared in the Cottonwood Chronicle newspaper and are collected online at http://www.radomes.org/museum/documents/CottonwoodAFSID58-60news.html , along with additional historical information and photos from the station’s era of operation at http://www.radomes.org/museum/showsite.php?site=Cottonwood+AFS,+ID .

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the Bureau of Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Region has awarded a $14.6 million contract under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for construction of the Delta-Mendota Canal/California Aqueduct Intertie Pumping Plant and Pipeline (Intertie).

“These stimulus funds will not only help the economy and provide jobs, but also will contribute to the actions being taken to help alleviate California’s water crisis,” said Secretary Salazar. “The Intertie adds flexibility through the use of existing facilities while increasing the reliability of water projects in California’s Central Valley.”

With this ARRA award, Reclamation is initiating the construction phase of the project. The $14.6 million award was issued to Shimmick Construction of Oakland, Calif. for building a pumping station and underground pipeline connection, installing four pumps and motors and building an electrical switchyard. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2010 and be completed by early 2012.

When completed, the Intertie will connect the Delta-Mendota Canal (DMC) and the California Aqueduct to relieve DMC conveyance limitations, allow for maintenance and repair activities, and provide the flexibility to respond to Central Valley Project and State Water Project emergency water operations. The project was identified as a proposed action in the August 2000 CALFED Bay-Delta Program Programmatic Record of Decision. The new facility will be located between the DMC and California Aqueduct approximately five miles west of the City of Tracy, California.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act enacted in 2009gave $3 billion to the Department of the Interior.
The ARRA funds represent an important component of the President’s plan to jumpstart the economy and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so the country can thrive in the 21st century. Under the ARRA, 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 American families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, the needs of American Indians, employing youth and promoting community service.

“With its investments of Recovery Act funds, the Department of the Interior and its bureaus are putting people to work today to make improvements that will benefit the environment and the region for many years to come,” Secretary Salazar said.

Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department’s economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on www.recovery.gov and on www.interior.gov/recovery. Secretary Salazar has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force to work closely with Interior’s Inspector General and ensure the recovery program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility, and transparency set by President Obama.

Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations and facilities in the 17 Western States. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit Reclamation’s website at www.usbr.gov.

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Summerton, S.C. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded contracts for major wetlands restoration and road repairs at Santee National Wildlife Refuge totaling more than $1.8 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

One contract, for $1,105,742, is awarded to Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure Inc. of Alpharetta, Ga., for repairs to public roads in the refuge. The second contract, for $724,377, is awarded to Ducks Unlimited for improvements to the refuge’s impoundment system that will help it to better manage waterfowl.

“These stimulus-funded improvements will provide needed construction jobs in the area and help boost the region’s economy,” Salazar said. “In addition, the public, including duck hunters, will see the benefits of better roads and better wildlife management.”

Ducks Unlimited is working with refuge staff to design the extensive wetland habitat rehabilitation projects. “This joint venture with Ducks Unlimited brings a second element of wetland management expertise and engineering to the Santee National Wildlife Refuge,” said refuge manager Marc Epstein. “There is a whole community of wildlife that is enhanced when we restore these wetlands.”

When these projects are completed, the refuge will be able to provide improved habitat conditions for numerous species of waterfowl and migratory birds that utilize the refuge as a wintering area, a stop-over point, or as summer nesting grounds. In turn, visitors will have increased opportunities to view these migratory birds undisturbed in their native landscape.

“Ducks Unlimited is happy to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on ARRA projects like this one, because it is a win-win-win situation,” said Dr. Scott C. Yaich, Director of Conservation Operations for Ducks Unlimited. “First, these ARRA funds are being used to address priority needs on national wildlife refuges, and studies have also documented that refuges are significant economic generators for local communities across the country. Second, these projects contribute significantly to meeting the conservation needs of waterfowl and many other wildlife species. And finally, this project puts people to work and directly benefits the local economy, just as ARRA intended. As in all Ducks Unlimited projects, our organization is committed to using local workers and companies as much as possible.”

On the refuge’s Cuddo Unit, the 125-acre Timber Island Field waterfowl habitat improvements includes redesigning the interior dikes, constructing 7,419 feet of new dikes, and rehabilitating 6,469 feet of existing perimeter dike. New water control structures will also be installed to enhance water delivery and management to the restored wetland complex. This project will allow impoundments and adjacent reservoirs to be managed more effectively for migratory bird populations. Additionally, a pumping system and engine will be replaced to allow proper drainage of the impoundment complex.

The refuge’s Bluff Unit is the most heavily used waterfowl area on the refuge. This unit consists of three primary wetland impoundments. The ARRA project will create a fourth impoundment and purchase a mobile pump to help service this system. In concert with the DU/ARRA projects, the refuge staff will be improving water delivery and drainage to these systems including installation of a planned six new water control structures.

The road improvement projects awarded to Shaw will include repairs on the Cuddo and Pine Island units. The roads, which are badly eroded, will be resurfaced and drainage will be enhanced. These roads are used by hunters during hunting season, as well as by the general public, including bicycles and pedestrian hikers.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed in 2009 gave $3 billion to the Department of the Interior.

The ARRA funds represent an important component of the President’s plan to jumpstart the economy and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so the country can thrive in the 21st century. Under ARRA, 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 American families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, the needs of American Indians, employing youth and promoting community service.

“With its investments of Recovery Act funds, the Department of the Interior and its bureaus are putting people to work today to make improvements that will benefit the environment and the region for many years to come,” Salazar said.

Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department’s economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on www.recovery.gov and on www.interior.gov/recovery.

Secretary Salazar has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force to work closely with 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. For questions, comments or concerns email us at recoveryact@fws.gov. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

Augusta, Ark. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has awarded a $2.8 million contract for three new visitor contact stations and a new maintenance building at central Arkansas national wildlife refuges under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

K-Con Inc., a small business in Charleston, S.C., will design and build the four new buildings under a contract for $2,815,365.

“These new buildings will provide wonderful new facilities to enhance the public’s enjoyment at three of our refuges, including new opportunities for environmental education for school groups,” Salazar said. “The construction project will also be an economic boost and provide much needed jobs for the local community.”

Construction will take place at Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge, Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge and Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge. All are part of the Central Arkansas Refuge Complex.

The three visitor contact stations will be very similar to one another, said Jonathan Windley, deputy project leader for the Refuge Complex. “Each one will be a great gateway to welcome the public visiting our refuges,” he said. “They offer a special room for school groups where we provide education on the environmental work being done at the refuge, as well as an information desk for volunteers to greet the public and help explain the refuge’s assets and activities. They will also have interpretive wildlife displays and office space for staff.”

The existing facilities at the three refuges are cramped and outdated. Knob’s headquarters has been a single trailer since the refuge opened in 1993. All existing buildings will be demolished as part of the contract.

In addition to the visitor facilities, K-Con will design and build a new maintenance building at Big Lake National Wildlife Refuge that will be used to store and repair the refuge’s equipment.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act passed in 2009 gave $3 billion to the Department of the Interior.

The ARRA funds represent an important component of the President’s plan to jumpstart the economy and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so the country can thrive in the 21st century. Under ARRA, 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 American families and their communities prosper again. Interior is also focusing on renewable energy projects, the needs of American Indians, employing youth and promoting community service.

“With its investments of Recovery Act funds, the Department of the Interior and its bureaus are putting people to work today to make improvements that will benefit the environment and the region for many years to come,” Salazar said.

Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department’s economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on www.recovery.gov and on www.interior.gov/recovery.

Secretary Salazar has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force to work closely with 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 questions, comments or concerns email us at recoveryact@fws.gov. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.