Hunters and Anglers Applaud as Crucial Water Resources Legislation Heads to the President's Desk | Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

December 19, 2024

Hunters and Anglers Applaud as Crucial Water Resources Legislation Heads to the President’s Desk

The Water Resources Development Act provides investments in watershed restoration and healthy fish and wildlife habitat.

Yesterday, the U.S. Senate passed The Water Resources Developm ent Act (WRDA), advancing funding for fish and wildlife habitat improvements, enhancing aquatic connectivity and water-based recreation, and updating recreational access information for hunters and anglers. The Senate passage follows bipartisan passage in the U.S. House of Representative on December 10^th. The bill now awaits the president’s signature.

WRDA is a biennial piece of legislation that authorizes all civil works projects that are carried out by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

The USACE Civil Works division builds and manages a large amount of our nation’s dams, levees, waterways, and port infrastructure. They are also responsible for managing recreation on more than 400 lake and river projects across the United States that receive over 26 million visitors annually.

“TRCP applauds the passage of The Water Resources Development Act in both the House and the Senate,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “This crucial investment in watershed restoration and healthy fish and wildlife habitat is a win for hunting, fishing, and American communities. We look forward to it being signed into law.”

This year’s WRDA has numerous TRCP-led provisions that will benefit hunters and anglers.

Community Project Advisors

The USACE offers a variety of financial and planning assistance programs to support investments in fish and wildlife habitat improvements and resilience to natural disasters, but navigating these processes can be daunting for some non-Federal partners who lack capacity and experience in utilizing USACE resources. To address this challenge, the WRDA includes a provision requiring the USACE to designate and make publicly available a community project advisor at each district and division office of the USACE. The community project advisor would serve as a resource to non-Federal interests seeking USACE financial and technical assistance including assisting partners in securing resources that benefit fish and wildlife.

National Low-Head Dam Inventory

Low-head dams are small structures that consist of water diversions, flood control structures, and other in-river impoundments that are commonplace across the country. Low-head dams also pose public safety risks to boaters and can be barriers to fish passage. Several states and organizations have been working to inventory low-head dams to identify opportunities to rehabilitate these structures to address safety and environmental concerns, yet this information is not consistent across the country.

This WRDA includes a provision directing the USACE to add low-head dams to the existing national inventory of dams and to include information that can inform strategies to address public safety and fish passage issues at identified structures, which can help direct resources to improve overall aquatic connectivity and enhance water-based recreation.

MAP Army Corps

MAP Army Corps builds off the success of the MAPLand Act that passed last Congress amid an ongoing TRCP effort to make data about our public lands and waters more accessible to all Americans.

This provision would require the USACE to regularly update and make publicly available databases that detail information on USACE recreational sites including the operational status of, and the recreational opportunities available at, such sites.

Many USACE sites lack publicly accessible boating and fishing regulations, this requires boaters and anglers to go to the USACE site and find a posted sign that outlines the sites particular restrictions. It would be far better if boaters and anglers could simply look online ahead of their trip to discover what equipment, methods of take, and watercraft are allowed.

The 2024 version of WRDA has significant wins for hunters and anglers. It will make investments in Fish and Wildlife habitat easier for communities, it will make information on USACE recreation sites more accessible, and it will make boating safer in areas with low-head dams. TRCP will continue to advocate for hunter and angler priorities in end of Congress legislation.

TRCP works to maintain and strengthen the future of hunting and fishing by uniting and amplifying our partners’ voices in conserving and restoring wildlife populations and their habitat as challenges continue to evolve. Learn more about TRCP’s commitment to healthy habitat and clean water HERE.

The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.

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by: Ian Nakayama

posted in: Press Releases

December 12, 2024

Hunters and Anglers Cheer as Abandoned Mine Remediation Legislation Heads to the President’s Desk

House passage follows unanimous Senate passage earlier this year

On Tuesday, the United States House of Representatives passed the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024. This bill will help clean up pollution from abandoned mines by removing barriers and risks for state agencies, nonprofits, and other groups eager to help improve water quality impacted by abandoned hardrock mines. The bill now awaits the president’s signature.

There are an estimated 140,000 abandoned hardrock mine features throughout the United States; an estimated 22,500 of those pose environmental hazards. Many of these mines have been abandoned for decades, leeching toxic, heavy metals into water sources. This legislation authorizes a pilot program that grants permits to Good Samaritans, such as state agencies, local governments, and nonprofits, to remediate these mines. It also introduces liability protections that have hampered cleanup efforts in the past.

Trout Unlimited, a conservation organization and TRCP partner dedicated to cold water conservation and the conservation of wild and native trout and salmon, has long championed the need for Good Samaritan protections to accelerate cleanup efforts and played a pivotal role in advocating for the legislation, drawing on decades of on-the-ground restoration experience to raise awareness about the urgent need for action.

“The House’s passage of the bipartisan Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 represents a huge step forward for water quality and fish and wildlife habitat in areas surrounding abandoned hardrock mines,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “This legislation has been a priority for the hunting and angling community for a quarter century, and I look forward to seeing it signed into law.”

Photo credit: Kelly Michals

by: Noah Davis

posted in: Press Releases

TRCP Announces New Conservation Staff Member in Alaska

Alaska senior program manager will bolster organization’s expertise and capacity on key conservation issues

Today, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership announced the addition of Chelsea Pardo who will fill the vital role of Alaska senior program manager. This position will help the organization achieve its mission to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.

Pardo lives in the Mat-Su Valley of Alaska and holds an Associate of Applied Science in Fisheries Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Alaska. Most recently, Pardo managed the Governor’s Permit Program through the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Wildlife Conservation Division. In this role, she collaborated with non-profit organizations to raffle or auction hunting and bear viewing permits, raising funds for statewide wildlife management and research efforts.

As Alaska’s senior program manager, Pardo will work to strengthen TRCP’s partnerships with state and federal agencies, rural communities, Tribes, and hunting, fishing, and conservation groups to advance conservation priorities for hunters and anglers.

“I’m thrilled to join the TRCP and focus on conservation efforts for hunters and anglers in Alaska,” said Pardo. “Having grown up in Alaska with the privilege of fishing for salmon and hunting bears, I’m eager to help preserve these opportunities for all.”

Learn more about TRCP’s leadership HERE.

by: Dan Morgan

posted in: Press Releases

December 4, 2024

Hunters and Anglers Applaud House Passage of the Bipartisan ACE Reauthorization Act

The legislation aims to boost funding and provide vital enhancements to conservation programs benefiting fish and wildlife.

The America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act of 2024 passed the House on Tuesday December 3, 2024, in a 366-21 vote. The ACE Reauthorization act was sponsored by Representatives Wittman (R-Va.), Kiggans (R-Va.), Dingell (D-Mich.), and Thompson (D-Calif.) and would reauthorize multiple programs that benefit hunting and angling including, the National Fish Habitat Partnership, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, the Chesapeake Bay Program, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. It also helps address threats like chronic wasting disease. This reauthorization provides technical improvements, administrative streamlining, and increased authorized funds to improve these programs.

“The America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act will benefit fish and wildlife while enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities for millions of hunters and anglers,” said Joel Pedersen, CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “TRCP applauds the House’s passage of this important bipartisan legislation and looks forward to building on the success of these crucial conservation programs that will benefit hunters and anglers for generations to come.”

The original ACE Act was passed in 2020 and portions of it were sponsored by Representatives Wittman, Dingell, and Thompson. Many of its authorizations expire next year, necessitating the passage of the ACE Reauthorization Act to ensure these programs can continue to operate in good legal standing.

The legislation is endorsed by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Ducks Unlimited, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the National Wildlife Federation, American Sportfishing Association, the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the National Audubon Society.

The ACE Reauthorization Act of 2024 now heads back to the Senate, which passed a different version of the ACE Reauthorization Act by unanimous consent earlier this year.

by: Noah Davis

posted in: Press Releases

November 21, 2024

MAPWaters Act Advances Out of House Committee

Bill would modernize and increase transparency around public access to federal waters

This week, the House Natural Resources Committee chaired by Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) with ranking member Congressman Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) held a markup on several bills which could ultimately be included in an end-of-Congress package advancing public lands, outdoor recreation, wildlife conservation, forestry, and fisheries conservation legislation.

Among those bills passed by the committee was the MAPWaters Act, led by Representatives Moore (R-Utah) and Dingell (D-Mich.) and Senators Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and King (I-Maine). The MAPWaters Act would direct federal agencies to digitize and make readily available fishing access and recreational use information on federal waterways.

“TRCP thanks chairman Westerman and ranking member Grijalva for advancing this bipartisan, common-sense bill that would expand access opportunities for anglers, hunters, and outdoor recreationists nationwide,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “The hunting and fishing community stands ready to help advance the MAPWaters Act and countless other bills that could become law through a public lands and waters package this Congress.”

For more than 20 years, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership has been at the forefront of conservation, working diligently on behalf of America’s hunters and anglers to ensure America’s legacy of habitat management and access is protected and advanced. Learn more about TRCP’s efforts to enhance access to public lands and waters HERE.