TRCP Announces New Development and Conservation Leadership

posted in: General

January 6, 2025

Key positions filled to strengthen conservation and development programs

Today, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership announces changes to leadership positions that will help the organization achieve its mission to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.

Al Clark joins TRCP as the organization’s chief development officer, bringing over 21 years of development and conservation experience to the organization. In his most recent role as national director of development of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Clark advanced the nonprofit’s fundraising activities and major gift development. His professional background includes development leadership roles at Ducks Unlimited as well as in higher education at Furman University and Wofford College.

At TRCP, Clark will lead a talented team of development managers for growth in philanthropic and foundation giving, build corporate partner relationships, and oversee the organization’s hallmark annual event, the Capital Conservation Awards Dinner.

TRCP is also proud to announce the promotion of tenured staff to two senior leadership positions in the conservation program.

Joel Webster will serve as the Bill and Linda Demmer Chief Conservation Officer. In this role, he will work with TRCP’s policy team, external partners, and decision makers to further conservation and access priorities for private lands, public lands, marine fisheries, and water.

Webster has helped advance TRCP’s conservation portfolio since 2007 and is a member of the federal Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council, where he advises the secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture on habitat and access policy. He also serves as the vice chair of American Wildlife Conservation Partners, a coalition of 50 leading hunting and wildlife conservation organizations.

Madeleine West will lead as vice president of western conservation. First joining TRCP in 2019, West will work to advance a wide range of federal and state policies, including those focused on wildlife migration and winter range conservation, forest management, backcountry area conservation, energy policy, special places conservation, and expanded public access.

“I am pleased to announce these additions to TRCP’s leadership team. Al, Joel, and Madeleine each bring a strong passion for conservation and the TRCP mission and are proven leaders in our conservation community,” said Joel Pedersen, TRCP president and CEO. “I look forward to working with them as TRCP continues to build on our past successes. They will provide excellent stewardship to TRCP’s partners and community of hunters and anglers as we continue to advance America’s legacy of conservation, habitat, and access.”

Learn more about TRCP’s leadership 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.

by: Ian Nakayama

posted in: General

December 20, 2024

Why the ACE Reauthorization Act Becoming Law is Important for Hunters and Anglers

The legislation passed the U.S. Senate on December 18, 2024, and will reauthorize multiple programs that benefit hunting and angling.

The America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act of 2024 passed the Senate by unanimous consent on Wednesday December 18, 2024. The legislation was sponsored by Senators Carper (D-Del.) and Capito (R-W.Va) and Representatives Wittman (R-Va.), Kiggans (R-Va.), Dingell (D-Mich.), and Thompson (D-Calif.) and will reauthorize multiple programs that benefit hunting and angling including:

The National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP), which focuses on state-led, science-based, collaborative efforts to protect, restore, and enhance aquatic ecosystems across the United States. Since its founding in 2006 NFHP has provided over $320 million in funding support for fish habitat conservation projects.

The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), which authorizes grants to public-private partnerships to protect, enhance, restore, and manage waterfowl, and the wetlands they rely upon. NAWCA has provided $2.28 billion in grants that have helped conserve more than 32.6 million acres of vital habitat.

The Chesapeake Bay Program, which is a regional partnership that guides the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Since its inception in 1983 there have been billions of dollars in leveraged funds that have reduced nutrient pollution in the bay.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, a non-profit organization chartered by Congress, is dedicated to sustaining, restoring, and enhancing the nation’s fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats. Since its founding in 1984 it has grown to become the nation’s largest private conservation foundation.

The ACE Reauthorization Act also helps address threats like chronic wasting disease (CWD) by reauthorizing the CWD task force, which coordinates state, tribal, and federal efforts to limit the spread of CWD.

“America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act benefits fish and wildlife while enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities for millions of hunters and anglers,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “We look forward to this important bipartisan legislation becoming law and ensuring the continued success of 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 were expiring in 2025, necessitating the passage of the ACE Reauthorization Act of 2024 to ensure these programs can continue to operate in good legal standing.

The legislation was 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.

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.

by: Noah Davis

posted in: General

In The Arena: Taylor Sledge

TRCP’s “In the Arena” series highlights the individual voices of hunters and anglers who, as Theodore Roosevelt so famously said, strive valiantly in the worthy cause of conservation.

Taylor Sledge

Hometown: Ridgeland, Mississippi
Occupation: Business Owner / Financial Adviser
TRCP Role: Flyway Leadership Council member

Sledge has hunted in the far north for Dall sheep and fished the mouth of the Mississippi River. These diverse experiences in wild places have instilled a desire to help conserve wild places so his children and future generations might have the same experiences.

Here is his story.

TRCP: How were you introduced to hunting, fishing, and the outdoors? Who introduced you?

Sledge: I grew up being constantly taken into the woods and waters by my dad and both of my grandfathers. Hunting and fishing are certainly legacy items for me.

TRCP: Tell us about one of your most memorable outdoor adventures.

Sledge: There are so many to come to mind, but one that sticks with me happened when I was about ten years old. My dad, my brother, and I were fishing at the mouth of South Pass, right where the Mississippi River meets the Gulf of Mexico. It was springtime, and the river was high, running cool and fast. I set the hook on a redfish, and just as I did, I stepped right off the edge of the boat and fell into the river. Lucky for me, I was wearing a life jacket. My dad pulled up the anchor, fired up the motor, and had to chase me down—I’d been swept a good ways by the current! When he finally got me back on the boat, still clutching my rod, I cranked the reel and found that fish was still on. A few minutes later, I brought it in, and we had fresh redfish and speckled trout for supper that night. By morning, my clothes were dry on the railing of our houseboat’s porch, and at sunrise, we went out and caught ‘em all over again.

Sledge and his son Solomon with a trophy crappie.

TRCP: How does conservation help enhance your outdoor life? Why should conservation matter to the next generation?

Sledge: I’m focused on stewardship. The outdoors are a gift, and we get to enjoy it every day. I’m about legacy. Being thoughtful of the environment, the species at hand, and the overall experience of being a conservationist gives me a more grand perspective on what we are leaving for other generations. Being a conservationist has given my life more meaning, and I want that for the people that come after me.

Conservation should matter to the next generation of hunters and anglers because we’re all meant to live alongside nature, not apart from it. That’s a truth that doesn’t change. Passing down our respect and love for the outdoors means teaching the next generation to carry this legacy with purpose. Even in a world that feels more artificial every day, nature has the final say—she’ll always have her way in the end.

Photo credits: Taylor Sledge

by: Noah Davis

posted in: General

Hunters and Anglers Cheer EXPLORE Act Passage

Bill will expand access opportunities to a variety of public land users

The United States Senate passed the EXPLORE Act through unanimous consent, building on House passage from April and advancing the legislation to the President’s desk. The EXPLORE Act is a comprehensive legislative package that would expand access opportunities to a variety of public land users, streamline permitting processes for businesses focused on providing recreation opportunities, and modernize outdoor infrastructure. 

“TRCP joins hunters, anglers, and the millions of other Americans who recreate on public lands and waters in thanking the House and Senate for passing this important bipartisan legislation,” said Joel Pedersen, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “As recreation continues to evolve in the 21^st century, the EXPLORE Act ensures both the agencies and the public have the support and tools they need to make the most of their days outdoors.”

The EXPLORE Act was originally introduced by House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Ranking Member Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz) and advanced in the Senate by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Joe Manchin (I-WV) and Ranking Member John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).

The EXPLORE Act will:  

Expand availability of public target shooting ranges on BLM and Forest Land.

Allow states, counties, and Tribes to conduct recreation infrastructure enhancement or improvements on public lands through Good Neighbor Agreements.

Improve federal coordination and provide assistance to non-federal partners in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species.

by: Ian Nakayama

posted in: General

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.