States could get more conservation funding

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A possible partial solution to funding shortfalls at wildlife management agencies in Pennsylvania and other states has been rolled out in Washington, D.C.

In the House, legislation introduced in December would authorize annual Congressional appropriations to states struggling to bankroll fish and wildlife management expenses. House Bill 4647 has gained strong bipartisan co-sponsorship from more than 80 representatives, including Rep. Mike Doyle, DForest Hills, and five others from Pennsylvania. In the Senate, similar legislation was introduced a month ago by a group including Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.

Combined, the bills encompass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which proposes to draw from $1.3 billion in existing revenue from the development of energy and mineral resources on federal lands and waters. Supported by a panel assembled by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, it would provide sufficient funding to states to conserve imperiled species identified in State Wildlife Action Plans.

Pennsylvania currently gets about $1.5 million annually in federal State Wildlife Grant funding to manage 664 fish and wildlife species that are of greatest conservation need and their respective habitats.

John Arway, executive director of the state Fish and Boat Commission, said the federal proposal’s cost-share formula would require Fish and Boat to change spending priorities and match 25 percent of the new federal funding.

“One of the good things about this plan,” he said, “is that the species that are at risk or imperiled often share habitat with more common species that hunters and anglers are interested in pursuing.”

Fish and Boat operates on an annual budget of $52 million.

Bryan Burhans, executive director of the state Game Commission, said Pennsylvania wildlife would benefit immediately from new dedicated federal funding.

“It would … improve monitoring of these species and their habitat to ensure they don’t slip further toward more expensive ‘emergency-room care’ that siphons money from other species management,” he said.

The Game Commission’s budget is $100 million per year.

While continuing to press the state General Assembly to raise license fees, Arway and Burhans said their agencies are working with state and national conservation partners to push Congress to vote on the new funding bills.

Teen fly fishing

The U.S. Youth Fly Fishing Team recently returned from world championship competition in Myczkowce, Poland, ranked No. 5 after teams from Poland, Spain, Czech Republic and France. The Americans dropped two places below their position after the 2017 finals in Slovenia, landing 101 trout and grayling with their biggest stretching 481 centimeters (nearly 19 inches).

Team member Mike Komara, 18, of Allison Park dropped from 13th best teen fly angler in the world to 17th, bringing in 21 fish. His largest was 372 centimeters, or just over 14½ inches. Coaches on the traveling squad included Josh Miller of Ross.

Labor Day specials

Two special fishing opportunities will debut next month as the state Fish and Boat Commission attempts to bring kids and adults to the water on Labor Day.

Adult residents and nonresidents are being offered a special one-day fishing license for $1, valid on Labor Day only. The Monday holiday also is designated Mentored Youth Panfish Day when youth anglers with a free mentored youth permit or $1 voluntary youth license have an opportunity to fish on 19 Panfish Enhancement lakes including Indian Lake, Northmoreland Lake and upper and lower Twin Lakes (Westmoreland County); Cross Creek Lake, Peters Township Lake No. 2 (Washington); Quemahoning Reservoir (Somerset) and Bridgeport Reservoir (Westmoreland, Fayette). Check the regulations at fishandboat.com.