Acquisition and rental of areas $5.900.000: For costs of acquisition or rental of areas, including water rights, rights-of-way, easements, relocation expenses of occupants, and other direct costs of acquiring the areas or rights therein. The estimate of $7,500,000 will be merged with and supplement the $5,000,000 estimate for the Migratory Bird Conservation Account from the sale of Federal migratory bird hunting stamps (16 U.S.C. 718d) and will provide an estimated total of $12,500,000 for fiscal year 1971. This amount will provide for the acquisition of an estimated 139,000 acres of land comprising 20,000 fee acres for refuges and 119,000 acres of waterfowl production area lands, of which 51,000 acres will be fee acquisitions and 68,000 acres will be placed under easements. The total amount available will be used for payment of the purchase price of the land, direct land acquisition costs, and salaries and expenses for the appraisal of 250,000 acres of land, negotiations with 10,000 owners, and boundary surveys of 500 ownerships. Location and ascertainment work will also be carried on to provide basic data on 85,000 acres of lands proposed for acquisition in 1971 and future years. Long-Range Goals History: It was estimated that as of June 30, 1961, 3,500,000 acres of land and water had been acquired, contracted for, or reserved in Federal ownership for waterfowl use, and that an additional 4,500,000 acres should be acquired by the Federal Government. Included in this total are 1,750,000 acres of waterfowl production areas in the prairie States of Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota (600,000 acres to be purchased in fee, and 1,150,000 acres to be preserved through easements); and 2,750,000 acres for national wildlife refuges, 780,000 acres of which will be acquired as part of water resource projects under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, and 1,970,000 acres will be acquired with revenue from the sale of hunting stamps. Accelerated Program Goals. Acquisitions in the accelerated 15-year program have been set at 1,350,000 fee acres and 1,150,000 easement acres for a total accomplishment of 2,500,000 acres. It is now estimated that at current rates of acquisition, only 2,200,000 acres will have been acquired through June 30, 1976. Problems. The cost of lands being acquired has steadily increased, partly because wetlands once considered wastelands have in recent years become valuable for conversion to uses other than wildlife. According to Department of Agriculture statistics, the national average of farm prices has steadily increased at an average rate of six percent per year over the last five years. Our experience shows some of the land types that are important waterfowl habitat are increasing in value at an even greater rate. Funding. Several large acreages of habitat in single ownerships have become available for acquisition in recent years. The $7,500,000 advance is essential for scheduled purchases deferred to accommodate the opportunity to acquire these large tracts to preserve needed habitat in the National Wildlife Refuge System, as well as to accelerate acquisition of waterfowl production areas. Accomplishments and Future Program. Shown below is a tabulation of accomplishments through fiscal year 1969 and estimated accomplishments through fiscal year 1971 and future years. The acquired refuge acreage includes 38 newly established refuges and lands to complete some refuges. If the total estimated acreage is acquired through fiscal year 1971, this will represent 59 percent of the goal. ▲ chart illustrating accomplishments and goals of the accelerated land acquisition program is shown on the next page. 317,768 359, 768 ACQUIRED OR CONTRACTED F.Y. 1970 GOAL F.Y. 1971 GOAL UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE ACCELERATED FEDERAL WATERFOWL FISCAL YEARS 1962 - 1976 GOAL AND ACCOMPLISHMENT |