The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide employment opportunities at a wide variety of locations and make a major contribution for needed improvements to Fish and Wildlife Service facilities. A total of about $227 million will be devoted to construction or repair of over 650 constructed assets across the country. Over $117 million will be devoted to the repair or replacement of deteriorated mission critical facilities in the National Wildlife Refuge System and the National Fish Hatchery System.

These 531 projects are widely dispersed geographically and will help reduce the Service’s $2.6 billion deferred maintenance backlog. In addition, about $105 million will be devoted to construction activities that build new capacities or make major renovations to existing assets. Of this amount, $54 million will be devoted to providing headquarters/visitor buildings at field units of the National Wildlife Refuge System, $45 million will be used for major renovations, and $5 million will be devoted to energy conservation improvements at the National Conservation Training Center.

Recovery Act funding will be used to repair a kiosk that blew over due to high winds at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. This is one of many infrastructure improvement projects.

All projects deemed worthy of funding meet three key criteria:

• They address the highest priority mission needs for the Service.
• They create the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time.
• They create lasting value for the American public.

These projects will provide much needed improvements that enable better stewardship of fish and wildlife and also provide for more enjoyable visits for the over 40 million people who visit refuges and hatcheries every year. Among assets to be improved are visitor buildings, maintenance facilities, fish rearing facilities, water systems, wetland management impoundments, and trails.

Headquarters offices/visitor centers on 11 national wildlife refuges and one national fish hatchery will be built in 12 states – providing local jobs in some of the states currently experiencing the highest unemployment, including Arkansas, California, North Carolina and Tennessee. All buildings will incorporate energy efficient design. Many of these projects will also eliminate expensive annual lease costs. These buildings provide an orientation point for visitors and an operating base for staff and volunteers. They serve as a springboard into the future by helping engage local communities in hands on conservation work that benefits both present and future generations.

The following projects are among the refuge headquarters/visitor buildings to be built using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds:

San Luis National Wildlife Refuge in the San Joaquin Valley of California

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The refuge rents office space in a mall, which is increasing its annual leasing rate to as much as $300,000 in 2012. The one-story headquarters/visitor center, to be located on refuge land, will service the nine million citizens who live within a two-hour drive of the refuge, which is wintering ground for migratory waterfowl along the Pacific Flyway. Herons and egrets nest in the magnificent oaks and willows, and visitors can take any of the three self-guided auto tour routes to observe and photograph wildlife. Visit the San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters and Visitor Center project page to learn more!

Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in the Outer Banks of North Carolina

The design of the new headquarters and visitor center at Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge

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Established to protect the unique pocosin wetland habitat, the refuge acquired the land for the headquarters/visitor center 18 years ago. Once built, the center will be a gateway to welcome visitors to explore nine national wildlife refuges in the area. The refuge is home to the red-cockaded woodpecker and migrating songbirds, among other wildlife, and offers both fishing and hunting. Visit the Pea Island and Alligator River National Wildlife Refuges project page for more information about the headquarters and visitor center being constructed.

Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery in the Ozark Foothills, northeast Arkansas

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The new visitor and environmental education center at Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery will include office space, an environmental education classroom, visitor contact area, auditorium, public rest rooms, and associated support facilities, such as parking and utilities. The new building will improve the outreach capability and function of Mammoth Spring NFH. For more information about this visitor center, check out the Mammoth Spring National Fish Hatchery project page!