Wednesday, Nov. 17, 1999 | 11:34 a.m.
Paula DelGiudice's outdoors notebook appears Wednesday. Reach her at [email protected].
Last Wednesday marked an important day for wildlife and funding for wildlife. In a rare show of bipartisan cooperation, the House Resources Committee voted to pass H.R. 701, the conservation funding bill.
The committee's vote was not without controversy, however. Its passage was preceded by four hours of heated debate. Some of the most strident conservatives in the House, such as Helen Chenoweth of Idaho (who recently married Nevada Sagebrush Rebellion activist and former rancher Wayne Hage), sit on the committee. So you wouldn't expect the debate to be anything less than controversial.
The committee approval of the bill is a testament to the broad support that permanent conservation funding has gained during this session of Congress.
While this is a welcome step forward, it is a benchmark, not an end point, said Mark Van Putten, CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.
"We still have a way to go, but this bill puts the goal clearly in sight. From this framework, we can secure a legacy of wildlife and wild places that will enrich our nation's life for generations to come. We are committed to working with this Congress and the Administration to make that legacy a reality."
While this bill isn't all conservationists had hoped for, it is a good place to start. It provides $2.4 billion annually for the next 11 years for coastal conservation, state wildlife agencies and urban parks from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. It will also provide new programs for federal and Tribal land restoration, easements and endangered species recovery efforts.
There are several drawbacks, including that the bill only provides for funding from the LWCF for 11 years and is therefore subject to reauthorization and the whims of an uncertain political future.
Supporters of conservation funding measures hope that the passage of the bill in committee will provide positive energy to move the bill onto the House floor next year.
* DU BANQUET: The Las Vegas Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is holding its annual banquet on Friday at the Rio Hotel. Cocktails will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the dinner is scheduled for 7. Tickets are $100 per person and include a one-year membership in Ducks Unlimited. Each year, the Las Vegas Chapter raises thousands of dollars to benefit waterfowl and conserve waterfowl habitat.
* STILL IN THE HUNT: Waterfowl hunters continue to patiently await changes in the weather that will help move ducks along their migration. That weather change didn't pan out last weekend as temperatures in all parts of Nevada set new high records. Hunters may get their wish in the next few days as weather predictions call for cooler temperatures and some wind.
Keith Brose, acting manager of Overton Wildlife Management Area in Clark County, said hunting success has been low with approximately one duck per outing being taken last week. He attributes the poor hunting to mild fall weather along the Pacific Flyway.
Unless there is a change of weather, hunters should find few geese at Overton for the opening of goose season in Clark and Lincoln counties on Saturday. Brose said only 63 geese were counted at Overton last week.
Equally poor duck hunting has been found in recent days at Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area and Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge in Lincoln County. Bart Tanner, manager of Key Pittman, said many hunters have been unsuccessful at both areas, according to Geoff Schneider, NDOW spokesman.
Goose hunting is expected to be slow with only a few resident birds available for the opener. Snow and Ross geese may not be harvested in Pahranagat Valley, which includes Key Pittman and Pahranagat.
Results have been only slightly better at Wayne E. Kirch Wildlife Management Area in Nye County. Last week's harvest was about two or three birds per outing with most being diving ducks.
* TROUT RELOCATED: In an effort to help increase the population and distribution of bonneville cutthroat trout, 101 of the fish were relocated last Saturday in Deep Creek in Nye County by the Nevada Division of Wildlife.
Fish for the plant came from Goshute Creek in White Pine County, according to Jack Clifton, NDOW fisheries biologist. Approximately 30 of the fish were around one inch in size while the others ranged from 4-10 inches.
Bonneville cutthroat trout are primarily found in Utah and are a species of concern due to population declines and habitat loss. It is unknown if they are native or were introduced into Goshute Creek.
No fish were found in Deep Creek prior to the cutthroat trout release. Clifton believes habitat conditions are idea for the trout to survive and reproduce in the small stream.
The relocation was a joint effort involving a number of state and federal agencies and volunteers from Trout Unlimited. Deep Creek is located near Nyala on the west side of the Quinn Canyon Range.
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