FWS budget matrix for fiscal year 2001 (FY93-2000 included)
(thousands of dollars)
Function/Project name	1993 Actual	1994 Actual	1995 Actual	1996 Actual	1997 Actual	1998 Actual1	1999 Enacted	2000 Enacted2	2001 PB
AREA MANAGEMENT
A.R.M. Loxahatchee  National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)	1,420	1,140	1,392	1,501	1,544	1,658	1,482	1,476	1,482
Florida Panther NWR	251	263	336	338	479	657	517	515	517
J.N. "Ding" Darling NWR	399	524	657	654	767	912	750	747	750
Florida Keys NWRs Complex3	565	476	524	567	713	896	1,009	1,005	1,009
Pelican Island NWR/Archie Carr NWR	0	0	0	0	75	105	105	105	105
Endangered Species/Recovery	18	18	20	20	20	40	40	40	0
Habitat Conservation/Project Planning	0	0	20	20	20	40	40	40	0
Subtotal: FWS	2,653	2,421	2,949	3,100	3,618	4,308	3,943	3,928	3,863
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Endangered Species/ Candidate Cons.; Listing (FY95);  Consultation (FY01)	16	0	50	40	40	40	40	40	535
Endangered Species/Recovery	343	557	728	778	1,045	1,025	1,025	1,021	1,065
Habitat Conservation/Coastal Program	0	0	499	499	503	503	503	501	0
Environmental Contaminants	60	120	120	120	120	120	120	120	120
Law Enforcement	620	637	637	637	637	637	637	637	637
Migratory Bird Management	44	44	104	104	104	104	104	104	104
Fisheries (Panama City FRO)	90	100	100	100	100	100	100	100	100
Subtotal: FWS	1,173	1,458	2,238	2,278	2,549	2,529	2,529	2,523	2,561
WATER QUALITY & HABITAT PROTECTION
Endangered Species/Consultation	180	312	411	411	495	495	495	493	0
Habitat Conservation/Project Planning; Environmental Coordination	170	170	169	169	324	304	304	303	344
Habitat Conservation/Coastal Program	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	503
Subtotal: FWS	350	482	580	580	819	799	799	796	847
INFORMATION MGMT/ ASSESSMENT
Habitat Conservation/Project Planning	100	100	100	100	0	0	0	0	0
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
Habitat Conservation/Project Planning	0	55	55	55	0	0	0	0	0
LAND ACQUISITION
Archie Carr NWR	1,983	1,390	1,996	0	0	2,000	0	0	6,000
Crocodile Lake NWR	0	0	0	0	0	400	0	0	500
Florida Panther NWR	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	200
J.N.  “Ding” Darling NWR	0	0	0	0	0	1,500	0	4,000	9,000
Florida Keys NWRs Complex3	1,983	0	0	0	0	2,400	0	0	6,000
Lake Wales Ridge NWR	0	2000	998	0	500	0	1,000	0	2,000
Pelican Island NWR4	0	1,720	250	1,450	0	2,000	0	4,500	6,300
Subtotal: FWS	3,966	5,110	3,244	1,450	500	8,300	1,000	8,500	30,000
TOTAL,  FWS	8,242	9,626	9,166	7,563	7,486	15,936	8,271	15,747	37,271

 

Footnotes from previous table:

¹ FY98 column includes the following Title V funds appropriated to the Department of the Interior in FY 99; and transferred to FWS in FY 1999: J.N. “Ding” Darling, 1,500; Keys Complex, 2,000; Pelican Island, 2,000.  FY98 also includes 400 in migratory Bird Conservation Funds for Keys Complex.

² Includes recissions authorized by the FY 2000 Interior & Related Agencies Appropriations Act

³ The Florida Keys NWRs Complex includes the National Key Deer NWR, Key West NWR, and White Heron NWR

4 FY 2000 includes $2.5 million in Title VI funding in the FY 2000 Interior & Related Agencies Appropriations Act.  This funding was released after submission of the Administration’s FY 2001 Budget to Congress.

 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) administers 16 national wildlife refuge units in South Florida. The Service manages all actions under the Endangered Species Act, provides comments on comprehensive wetland programs (including permitting), carries out authorities of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and enforces federal wildlife laws.  As a member of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, the FWS will continue to undertake important on-ground restoration activities.

 

 

The Service administers four major (staffed) National Wildlife Refuges (NWR) within the South Florida ecosystem (A.R.M. Loxahatchee, Florida Panther, J.N. "Ding" Darling, and National Key Deer) and 12 national wildlife units.  Hundreds of thousands of people visit the refuges annually.  Funding will be used for Refuge operations and maintenance, public education, and outreach to increase public awareness of the issues facing the South Florida ecosystem, control of exotic species, and protection of listed species.

 

l        A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (including Hobe Sound NWR) ($1,482,000)

 

A major facet of Everglades ecosystem restoration is to improve the hydro pattern of surface water in the Everglades.  Funding will be used to comply with the 1992 Everglades Federal Consent Decree (water quality monitoring, cooperating on a multi-year dosing study to determine the appropriate nutrient limits for the Everglades), map the vegetation changes caused by nutrient pollution, initiate research to determine the effects on vegetation caused by the revised water regulation schedule, and contract with consultants for water quality data analysis.  Funding will also be used to provide environmental education to visitors through the Visitor Center, on the trails, and in the local community.  Eradication of invasive exotic plants is a major on going management activity.

 

l    Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge (including Ten Thousand Islands NWR) ($517,000)

 

The funding will be used to maintain efforts at control and eradication of exotic species, continue research efforts aimed at improving land management techniques and restoring South Florida’s endangered species, and continue to monitor a project to restore historic water flow to Lucky Lake Strand.  Funding will also be used to address the needs of the newly established Ten Thousand Islands NWR, particularly for law enforcement and biological projects to protect and survey the natural resources of the mangrove island ecosystem.  Funding will also be used to implement the recently approved Comprehensive Conservation Plans for both Refuges.

 

l    J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge  (including Caloosahatchee, Matlacha Pass,  Island Bay, and Pint Island NWRs) ($750,000)

 

This funding will be used specifically to minimize further loss of ecologically functioning fish and wildlife habitats in the South Florida ecosystem by  (1) initiating new, and by expanding existing, invasive exotic plant species control programs, (2) enhancing and restoring ecological function and habitat values to degraded fish and wildlife habitat, and then by (3) expanding existing exotic plant control programs to those habitats.  Additionally the funding will be used to protect non-listed indigenous fish and wildlife and plants by, (1) increasing hours expended for law enforcement, (2) enhancing public awareness and ethic of shared responsibility for a sustainable environment in South Florida implementing an environmental education and outreach program, and (3) by increasing the interpretation and recreation programs through the addition of exhibits and a new visitor center.

 

l    National Key Deer Refuge (including Great White Heron, Key West. and Crocodile Lake ($1,009,000)

 

These four refuges contain over 415,000 acres of terrestrial and marine habitat for nearly 100 federal or state listed endangered/threatened plant and animal species.  This funding will allow for the increased protection of existing lands and marine and coral reef habitat; protection and inventory of new acquisitions; expanded exotic plant control program; planning to reduce impacts of harmful terrestrial and marine recreational activities; restoration of degraded/modified habitat; conducting of important surveys/censuses; coordination of activities; inventory and assessing coral reef and associated marine habitats; enhancement of partnerships with other agencies/organizations, and continued planning and management efforts through the use of tools, such as GIS.

 

l    Pelican Island/Archie Carr Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuges  ($105,000)

 

These funds will be used to stabilize the shoreline of Pelican Island.  Excessive wave action from boats has reduced the island to one-half its original size, thus threatening the historic island and the bird rookery it sustains.  These waves are being generated in the Intracoastal Waterway and the only means of protecting the island is through the placing of a breakwater composed of natural materials.

 

 

 

 

l    Endangered Species ($1,600,000)

 

These funds will enable the Service to continue implementing the multi-species recovery plan in 2000.  The recovery plan will provide the federal, state, tribal, and local government agencies with a blueprint for protecting, conserving, and managing the threatened and endangered fish and wildlife resources of South Florida.  This information will become particularly important as the Corp of Engineers develops plans for restoration of the south Florida ecosystem.  In addition to salaries and other expenses, the Service will use the funds to initiate or continue recovery actions on the endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow, wood stork, and American crocodile as part of the Experimental Program of Modified Water Deliveries to Everglades National Park.  The Service will also fund recovery actions and field investigations for several other Federally listed species in South Florida, including the Florida grasshopper sparrow, Florida scrub jay, Garber’s spurge, Lake Wales plants, Pine Rockland plants, Red-cockades woodpecker, and several species in the Florida Keys.  This work will support the Florida Keys Carrying Capacity Study and other studies and investigations affecting listed species and their habitats. 

 

The Service will use these funds to consult with the Corps and other agencies relative to those agency activities that potentially affect federally-listed species.  These consultations occur on over two thousand Corps permits issued annually. In 2001, the Service will continue consultation with the Corps on the Central and South Florida Restudy, in addition to other ongoing or new federal projects and permits.

 

Additionally, The Service will evaluate the potential need to list additional species pursuant to the ESA, and develop cooperative agreements with landowners for the protection and conservation of listed species through Candidate Conservation Agreements, Safe Harbor Agreements, and Habitat Conservation Plans.

 

l    Environmental Contaminants ($120,000)

 

Primary emphasis will be placed on ensuring that all lands identified for restoration purposes are reviewed for potential environmental contaminants prior to acquisition.  Additionally, evaluation of the extent and effects of mercury contamination will remain a high priority.

 

l        Fisheries Assistance ($100,000)

 

Efforts will be directed toward restoration of anadromous and coastal fish species in South Florida.  Emphasis will be placed on ensuring that non-indigenous fish species are adequately evaluated for potential effects on restoration activities.

 

l    Law Enforcement ($637,000)

 

Funding will be used to enhance law enforcement’s ability to handle the quickly escalating regional workload.  There has been a marked increase in the illegal trafficking of exotic protected species and the unlawful “taking” of endemic species protected by the ESA and MBTA throughout South Florida.  Southwest Florida is one of the most ecologically sensitive and rapidly growing areas of the State, requiring the highest priority for establishing an increased law enforcement presence. Funding will allow the purchase of vehicles, boats, and marine equipment needed by law enforcement personnel to conduct investigations in remote areas.  Additional personnel will be detailed to “task force” enforcement operations within the ecosystem as needed.  Increased efforts to educate the public regarding the law and illegal activities will be emphasized.

 

l    Migratory Bird Management ($104,000)

 

These funds will be used to study migratory birds and their habitat in South Florida.  Attention will be placed on surveying the location, extent, and duration of migrations of neo-tropical birds.  Ecologically significant habitats to support these species will be identified and prioritized for protection.      

 

 

 

The FWS will use these funds to continue to focus on protection of fish and wildlife resources by providing assistance to the Corps Regulatory Program for the permitting of placement of fill in waters of the United States.  The FWS focuses on minimizing impacts to wetlands and other important habitat, especially for Federally listed species.  Further, the FWS works with others to ensure mitigation for wetland losses and to provide consistency and predictability for permit reviews. The FWS will also have a key role in development of the Comprehensive Conservation, Permitting, and Mitigation Strategy for the South Florida ecosystem, including the Southwest Florida EIS.

 

The Coastal Habitat Restoration Program is also funded within this category. The South Florida Coastal Program actively forms partnerships with other federal and state agencies, local governments, non-governmental entities, and private property owners to implement “on-the-ground” restoration projects as well as to conduct research, monitoring and public outreach activities.  The Coastal Program complements the larger, more comprehensive South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Initiative by implementing immediate “on-the-ground” actions designed to protect, conserve, and restore coastal living resources.  Since its implementation in FY95, the South Florida Coastal Program has provided funding support and technical assistance for 17 projects totaling $2,005,726 in project costs.  FWS funding contribution for these projects totaled $743,745, which represents a 37 percent share.  For the past several years, the importance of “on-the-ground” restorative actions has been reflected by the distribution of half of the Coastal Program’s budget toward actual habitat restoration.  In FY 2000 the Coastal Program will emphasize increased use of funding for “on-the-ground” habitat restoration.

 

 

l        Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge ($6,000,000)

 

Funding will be used to preserve and protect critical sea turtle nesting habitat from rapidly escalating land development. A 20.5 mile stretch of beach on the Atlantic Ocean, between Melbourne Beach, Florida and Wabasso Beach, Florida represents some of the last remaining natural beach habitat for nesting sea turtles and barrier island ecosystems.  This area is recognized as among the most significant nesting areas for loggerhead sea turtles in the world and is among the most significant nesting area for green sea turtles in North America.  Continuous growth along the beach front has brought development and the accompanied seawalls, revetments, rip-rap or other measures to mitigate erosion.  These measures tend to destroy or significantly degrade the quality of the beach for sea turtle nesting.  Preservation and protection of these prime nesting beaches are vital to the stability of the breeding population of sea turtles in the United States.

 

l        Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge ($500,000)

 

Funding will be used to protect and preserve critical habitat of the endangered American crocodile and other threatened and endangered species. Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge was established  to preserve mangrove wetlands, tropical West Indian hardwood hammocks, and open water areas on Key Largo, which are critical feeding and nesting habitat for the endangered American crocodile.  The Refuge is within the designated Critical Habitat for the species and contains one-third of all crocodile nests found in Florida. The Refuge boundary includes about 5,300 acres of mangrove swamp, 1,200 acres of upland hardwood hammock, and 300 acres of open water.  The uplands are vegetated with the last remaining remnants of unspoiled West Indian hardwoods in the United States. The Refuge is inhabited by a number of other endangered or threatened species including the eastern indigo snake, the bald eagle, the West Indian manatee, the Key Largo woodrat, the Key Largo cottonmouse, and the Shaus swallowtail butterfly. The crocodile has little tolerance to human activities. Wetland areas are less threatened, but severe alteration and damage has occurred. The major threat to this habitat is conversion of the uplands to residential or commercial developments.  Acquisition of a trailer park inholding in FY 1998 has helped to minimize this threat.

 

 

 

l        Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge ($200,000)

 

The funds will be used to preserve and protect critical habitat for the endangered Florida panther. The unique and environmentally sensitive Fakahatchee Strand area has been designated Critical Habitat for the endangered Florida panther.  The Florida panther is one of the most endangered mammals in the Nation, with perhaps only 20 to 30 individuals inhibiting the Big Cypress-Everglades region. The ecosystem within the target boundary is absolutely essential to the survival of the Florida panther. The Fakahatchee Strand is one of the largest remaining wilderness habitats in Florida and supports a wide variety of wildlife including the Florida black bear. The Strand is also known for its abundant and diverse "air" plants. Over 45 species of orchids can be found on these lands, many of which are considered to be rare. The increasing human population in south Florida and the resulting urban expansion is jeopardizing the Strand's ecological integrity.  Thus, essential habitat for the survival of the Florida panther is being threatened by conversion for agricultural projects, residential development, oil field activities, lumbering, and road construction.

 

l        J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge Complex ($9,000,000)

 

The funds will be used to protect and preserve a portion of Sanibel Island’s unique subtropical vegetative complex for shore birds, wading birds, and migrating waterfowl and endangered species as well as that of other important habitat in the surrounding vicinity. Acquisitions within the complex will project a portion of Sanibel Island’s unique subtropical habitat for shore birds, wading birds, and migrating waterfowl.  The refuge complex, provides habitat for approximately 291 species of birds, more than 50 types of reptiles and amphibians, and at least 32 different mammals.  Threatened and endangered species including the southern bald eagle, West Indian manatee, peregrine falcon, indigo snake and gopher tortoise.  Several tracts within the acquisition boundary of the Refuges that remain in private ownership may eventually be developed if left unprotected.

 

l        Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex ($6,000,000)

 

Funding will be used to preserve and protect critical habitat for endangered species, notably the endangered key deer. Acquisitions are for the purpose of protecting and maintaining habitat extensively used by the endangered key deer.  Preservation of the major habitats contributes to the overall faunal diversity of Florida.  No Name Key and Big Pine Key are the two most extensively used keys in the range of the key deer.  Several other rare, endangered, and "special  emphasis" species are also found here including the white-crowned pigeon, the  mangrove cuckoo, the osprey, the brown pelican, the West Indian manatee, and  the American alligator.

The greatest threat to key deer habitat in key deer range is habitat modification by land clearing.  Residential development is rapidly proceeding as demand increases for the dwindling supply of acreage that will support construction.  Unfortunately, this same land is prime key deer habitat.  An observable consequence of the residential development of these lands is the incidence of deer kills by vehicle traffic.  An expansion of the Refuge to acquire a system of no-development corridors on the south half of Big Pine Key is underway.  The objective is to assure the continued existence of habitat reserved for deer movement throughout the island.  Safe crossings are in need of development at two locations on U.S. Highway 1 (Overseas Highway) where the highway bisects the corridors.

 

l        Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge ($2,000,000)

 

The Service will use the funds to protect and preserve a nationally significant scrub habitat containing an extensive inventory of threatened and endangered plant species endemic to the region.The Lake Wales Ridge is in south-central Florida.  It includes approximately 400,000 acres of which half are historically xeric habitats, primarily scrub and "high pineland" with longleaf pine and wiregrass.  At the present time, only about 18,000 acres of unique virgin scrub remain and that figure is steadily shrinking. The need to purchase as many sites as quickly as possible led to cooperation among private, State, and Federal organizations to develop and manage a scrub preserve networth, namely The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Archbold Biological Station and The Nature Conservancy. The Service portion of this effort, the Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge now contains approximately 1,900 acres of scrub habitat along the Lake Wales Ridge in both Highlands and Polk Counties. The objectives of this refuge are: (1) to significantly enhance the recovery of 13 federally listed plant species, (2) to enhance recovery of other federally listed animal species associated with scrub, and (3) to support prelisting recovery of 13 candidate plant species. Through this cooperative network, the two federally threatened plant species could be delisted and six of the federally endangered plant species could be downlisted to threatened status or perhaps even delisted.

 

l        Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge ($6,300,000)

 

The funds will be used to preserve and protect breeding habitat for the endangered wood stork and numerous other migratory birds and lagoon habitat for the endangered manatee and juvenile sea turtles. Pelican Island was established as the Nation's first National Wildlife Refuge in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt.   Acquisition of the remaining lands would protect lagoonal waters that are utilized as grazing/feeding areas for the endangered West Indian manatee.  These lagoons serve as nursery habitat for juvenile sea turtles.  The remaining lands include mosquito control impoundments that are rich feeding ponds for colonial water birds, especially those nesting at Pelican Island.  Also remaining is a 365 acre boundary expansion area, of mangroves that provide for nesting sites utilized by the endangered wood stork, also provides roosting sites for white and brown pelicans, anhingas, tropical birds, cormorants, egrets, and herons.