Oregon, Idaho Awarded Nearly $5M To Expand Wildlife Conservation

Via NRCS, USDA is investing more than $52 million to expand public access to private lands for hunting, fishing and wildlife recreation, and Oregon and Idaho are among the recipients.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will receive $3 million to restart and expand its Open Fields program. Officials said the effort could restore public hunting access to as many as 300,000 acres of private farms, ranches and forestlands after the previous program ended when federal funding expired.

In Idaho, Fish and Game is getting nearly $1.7 million to expand its Access Yes! Program. The funding will help enroll about 155,000 acres of private land for hunting and fishing, while also supporting wildlife viewing opportunities for sandhill cranes and waterfowl in the Teton Valley.

“As the Chief of NRCS, one of my top priorities is to expand wildlife conservation and outdoor access; the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program is a key part of our strategy to execute that priority,” said NRCS Chief Colton L. Buckley. “This program – made possible by the Working Families Tax Cuts Act – prioritizes farmers and ranchers while strengthening rural economies through support of wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation. These projects encourage landowners to allow the public to access their land for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-dependent recreation.”

Click Here for a complete list of projects receiving funding nationwide.

Projects are up to three years. Selected projects will receive from $1.5 to $3 million in funding. Project sponsors can use up to 25% of funds to provide incentives to landowners to improve wildlife habitat on enrolled public access program lands.

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