The Fish and Boat Commission this week announced that $365,000 from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s State Wildlife Grants Program will be used to fund six projects to study and manage rare or declining species and their habitats.

“These grants are a vital part of our ability to conserve the fish, mussels, turtles and other non-game species managed by the Commission,” said Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Dr. Doug Austen. “Non-game species comprise nearly 90 percent of the species managed by the Fish and Boat Commission and these species serve as important indicators of the overall health of the environment. Thus, the condition of these animals and their habitats is often an early indicator of disease and pollution which affect us all. Conserving species before they become threatened or endangered is money well-spent as preservation is less costly then restoration.”

Dr. Austen noted that maintaining and improving the health of Pennsylvania’s waterways is vital to protecting aquatic life. “Increasing our understanding of these complex systems will help us more efficiently and effectively protect these waters for future generations,” Dr. Austen said.

The Fish and Boat Commission will be awarding grants to facilitate four of the projects, including:

Fishes of the Ohio River: The deep waters of the Ohio River will be sampled using a variety of study techniques to more fully understand the distribution of fish species and their habitats. The survey methods will help collect smaller, and potentially little known fish species which are not easily detected in these deeper habitats. With this intensive sampling the Commission will be better able to determine if these species should be considered for designation as threatened or endangered in Pennsylvania. This two-year study will be conducted by The Pennsylvania State University. A $99,000 SWG grant will help fund the $132,000 project.

Fishes of the Allegheny River: In addition to the above-mentioned project, another will sample fishes in the lower 62 miles of the Allegheny River. It is known that this river provides habitat for many species of fishes, yet little current information is available to help evaluate the conditions. The lower Allegheny River is an important waterway for commercial and recreational navigation as well as sand and gravel extraction.

Understanding the distribution of fish species and their habitats will help us to protect the critical areas. This two-year, $125,500 study is being conducted by California University of Pennsylvania, using $62,800 in SWG funding.

Effects of Dams on the American Eel in Delaware River Tributaries: In the eastern part of the state, another study is focusing on the American eel. Once a popular commercial and sport fish, in general along the east coast of the United States, the population of the American eel has declined significantly in recent years. The exact causes are not known, but loss of habitat for young eels to mature is considered to be important. Dams, which do not allow fish to pass upstream, are considered one cause of this habitat loss.

As an extension of current work on the distribution of this species in Delaware River tributaries, this study will evaluate characteristics of dams, effects of fishways, as well as dam removal, on the abundance of eels. This study, to be conducted by the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, will help provide information for management actions to protect and recover this species. A $45,750 SWG grant will offset the bulk of the $61,000, two-year study.

Range determination and population assessment of Red-bellied Turtles and the invasive Red-eared Slider: Populations of the native red-bellied turtle are under increasing pressure from habitat loss and competition from the invasive red-eared slider. This study, will determine the historical and current range of the state-threatened red-bellied turtle, as well as the distribution and population of the invasive red-eared slider, in southeastern Pennsylvania. Work on this three-year project will be conducted jointly by Drexel University and the Fish and Boat Commission. The $101,000 project will be funded primarily by a $76,000 SWG grant.

The Fish and Boat Commission will also be using SWG funding for two other critical projects:

Non-game Species Conservation, Planning and Recovery: This project will assess the effects of permit activities and develop recovery plans for aquatic species, with an emphasis on non-game fish such as rare darters and minnows. These animals serve as important indicators of environmental health, and thus are valuable to understanding the conditions of the habitats. This project, to be conducted by the Fish and Boat Commission, is an extension of an existing project collaboratively funded by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Wild Resources Conservation Fund and will provide much-needed support to protect and manage these important species.

Habitat Protection, Restoration and Enhancement: The Fish and Boat Commission, to help protect and manage the broad array of species under its jurisdiction, has established a Division of Habitat Management. The emphasis of this project will encompass a variety of aquatic species and habitats. Activities funded through the State Wildlife Grant Program will be directed to the protection and management of non-game species and will include such tasks as surveys to determine occurrence of species, pre-project conditions, designing and overseeing the construction of habitat restoration projects, post-project assessments and other related functions.

The State Wildlife Grants Program is the nation’s core program for preventing wildlife from becoming endangered; and, according to the report, titled, “State Wildlife Grants Five-Year Accomplishment Report,” is a model for conservation success.

Pennsylvania's Wildlife Action Plan is available online.

9/8/2006