Congressman Simpson Meets with Local Conservation Groups

Congressman Mike Simpson got a firsthand look last Thursday at how a partnership of private landowners, local conservation groups and state and federal agencies are benefitting wetlands and wildlife in eastern Idaho.  Simpson, the Chairman of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, joined local farmers and ranchers and representatives of Ducks Unlimited, the Teton Regional Land Trust, The Nature Conservancy, and Idaho Department of Fish and Game on a tour at the Chester Wetlands Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near St. Anthony, Idaho. The tour and presentations highlighted how cooperative funding for protection of private lands and restoration of wildlife habitat benefits everyone— landowners, hunters, anglers and conservationists, as well as fish and wildlife.

"It's obvious when you see the work being done on the ground how important these programs are to waterfowl, [to] wildlife and to future generations," said Simpson. "It's important to maintain funding for them, even in tough economic times.

"Future generations are the ones [that are] going to benefit from the conservation work being done now. Hopefully, Congress will find support for NAWCA and LWCF, and other conservation funding, that's critical to maintaining these programs."

Simpson's interest in learning more about local conservation partnerships comes as Congress considers cutting funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). For more than 20 years, NAWCA and LWCF have served as cost-effective, match-based conservation programs that generate more than three non-federal dollars for every one federal dollar invested.  Both programs have been used extensively along the South Fork and Henry’s Fork to keep farms and ranches in production and local landowners on the land.

"[Federal Support] makes it possible for landowners to work in partnership with organizations like the Land Trust and Ducks Unlimited and achieve more than what they could do as individuals," said Val Chambers, a fourth-generation landowner and conservation easement donor from Rexburg, Idaho. "Most farms, ranches and the wild lands around them would be sold—houses built over them—if it weren't for these programs. That's pretty important when you realize that's irreversible."

The Chester Wetlands Restoration Project is a classic example of NAWCA grant money being put to good use. Ten years ago the Teton Regional Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy purchased the property from a developer and passed it to Idaho Department of Fish and Game to own and manage for the public’s benefit and use. Ducks Unlimited and Idaho Department of Fish and Game have worked tirelessly to restore and enhance the property, especially the wetlands. Without the support of NAWCA, neither the protection nor the restoration would have been possible.