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April 2025 Legislative Watch List

 

Indiana bill takes aim at chronic wasting disease, but critics fear plan will hurt wild deer

ENVIRONMENT

Indiana bill takes aim at chronic wasting disease, but critics fear plan will hurt wild deer

Karl Schneider

Indianapolis Star

Published 5:18 a.m. ET Feb. 13, 2025

A state lawmaker’s proposal aimed at protecting Indiana’s wild white-tailed deer from a fatal disease is drawing support from deer farmers, but has many hunters and wildlife advocates concerned.

House Bill 1417, filed by Rep. Robert Morris, R-Fort Wayne, would create a pilot program to combat Chronic Wasting Disease by testing deer and looking for certain genetic markers that create a higher resiliency to the fatal disease. It also would require the state’s Board of Animal Health and Department of Natural Resources to create a program to “enhance the genetic durability of Indiana’s white-tail deer population.”

The bill passed its initial committee hearing but faces a Feb. 17 deadline for approval by the full House before it is sent to the Senate. It’s unclear if the bill will make the deadline.

The goal of the proposed project is to selectively breed deer with genetic markers that appear to provide more resiliency to CWD, effectively letting deer with infected with the disease live longer.

“With the newly collected data,” Morris said, “the state will be better informed and better able to address (chronic wasting disease) in the future.”

Where the discussion gets dicey is over the concept of releasing those new, genetically modified deer to mate with white-tailed deer in the wild.

The bill initially would have required DNR to release the deer with better resiliency to CWD into the wild, but the language — and directive — was dialed back at a committee hearing in late January to make releases optional rather than mandatory.

Still, the approach is concerning to Catherine Appling-Pooler, director of policy for the National Deer Association. She said the organization is not opposed to genetic research in deer, but the Indiana bill is putting the cart before the horse.

“We don’t support the release of captive deer into the wild,” Appling-Pooler said. “That’s not part of CWD management recommendations.”

The bill sounds great on paper, she said, but a deeper examination of the language causes concern and CWD management should not be forced through legislation.

“By mentioning the release of captive deer, it seems to me like the conclusion has been drawn before the research has been done,” Appling-Pooler said. “The last time I checked, that’s not how it works.”

What is chronic wasting disease?

Chronic wasting disease is a terminally fatal illness brought on by abnormal proteins — known as prions — in deer, elk and moose. The abnormal proteins can gather in an animal’s central nervous and lymphatic systems and cause degeneration, or “wasting-away” death, according to the USDA.

There are no cures or vaccines for the disease, and infected deer can spread the disease through saliva, feces and urine even before appearing sick. The abnormal proteins can stick to the soil and plants and remain infectious for years, according to the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab.

Indiana documented its first case of chronic wasting disease last April during deer season in LaGrange County. The infected deer likely crossed into the state from either Michigan or Ohio, according Chris Smith, deputy director of DNR.

 

The aim of the bill

Morris said HB1417 would help Indiana establish a baseline for its deer population by collecting more data. It also establishes rules for the pilot program to make sure it works best for the state.

Chris Seabury, a veterinary professor at Texas A&M University, testified during a House Natural Resources committee hearing. Seabury said he has worked with prion diseases for 25 years and developed a system that scores deer based on how resistant they were to CWD.

The scores can help selectively breed deer that can live longer with CWD.

Seabury said he and his colleagues used this system to successfully clean up a captive deer breeding operation suffering from CWD. Since then, Texas and Oklahoma have also tried this system on wild deer populations.

Gathering data on Indiana’s deer population is imperative, Seabury said. There is, however, no next step toward combating CWD and this bill would provide Indiana with a way to manage the disease.

Smith, the deputy DNR director, said one of the department’s main concerns is the cost of testing. Each test will cost $75, which does not include the staff time to collect the samples. DNR would require several thousand tests to get a genetic baseline.

Deer farmers in Indiana testified in support of the bill during hearing, but hunters and wildlife advocates remained opposed.

Buck Fever:Trophy deer industry linked to disease, costs taxpayers millions

Keeping wild deer wild

Gene Hopkins with the Indiana Sportsman’s Roundtable told state lawmakers the health of the state’s wild deer herd and the preservation of wild heritage genetics is important and opposed the bill.

“The Indiana deer herd is the envy of the Midwest and probably the nation,” Hopkins said. “We don’t want to risk what we have spent all these years building.”

Dan Boritt, executive director of the Indiana Wildlife Federation, told IndyStar there is no clear science that shows selective breeding prevents death when a deer has chronic wasting disease.

“Living longer sounds great, but if you are still being infected and living longer, you are further able to spread this highly contagious disease throughout the population,” Boritt said.

States like Pennsylvania, where estimates show there’s about a 75% occurrence of CWD in deer, might be better suited for this kind of project, Boritt said.

“In a state like Indiana where we have only this one instance documented in the wild, why would you risk spreading that disease further throughout the herd?” Boritt said.

Matt Wright, executive director at the Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma, said science at this time does not back these releases into the wild.

Oklahoma passed a nearly identical bill last year and is on track to begin releases into the wild. Wright said his organization did not support the Oklahoma legislation because it involved the state’s wild deer population. For now, he said, that work should remain in the lab.

“We have no problem with research to beat CWD,” Wright said. “But if you do release these deer into the wild population, there is no turning that back. They are out there.”

IndyStar’s environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust.

Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on BlueSky @karlstartswithk.bsky.social

2025 Legislative Watch List

As 2025 kicks off with many familiar faces, as well as numerous new faces, IWF continues to monitor the legislative session ensuring our members are well-informed of the multiple bills that could affect wildlife, natural resources, and public access. As always, this session is shaping up to be a mixed bag with a variety of bills advancing those issues we care about and some that we fear could be a detriment to our shared vision of Indiana. Below we will highlight eleven bills the Indiana Wildlife Federation plans to engage on, and in some cases call on you to lift up our voice, and a variety of bills we are currently tracking and will engage with should the need arise.

A full list of the bills we are tracking can be found on our website under the advocacy tab.

Photo by Aaron J Hill

Senate Bill 32: Prevention of Chronic Wasting Disease

IWF Opposes this Legislation

Senate Bill 32 was introduced by a long-time advocate of conservation in our state, Senator Sue Glick (R-13). Senator Glick, Assistant President Pro-Tempore and chair of the chair of the Natural Resources Committee introduced this legislation in reaction to the recently discovered cases of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in her district. While we applaud the Senator’s intent to find a solution to this serious threat to the white-tailed deer population in our state, IWF and our partners believe that this proposed solution would not only fail at protecting our wildlife it could potentially cause catastrophic harm to our herd.

This legislation, as written, would direct a state-wide program of breeding captive deer with a combination of alleles that have been shown to give deer a longer life once infected with CWD. While longer-lived deer are often a good outcome, in this case, infected deer have been shown in captivity to live marginally longer but continue to shed CWD prions until their inevitable demise. Not only does this combination of alleles not provide immunity to deer, it is highly probable that this mutation is shared with other physical traits that could reduce the survivability of white-tailed deer in the wild.

Lastly, the scientific community is in near consensus that the magnitude of captive-bred deer, possessing this trait, that would be required to meaningfully impact the wild population’s genetic makeup as it relates to CWD, would be so vast that it would be unfeasible to carry out.

With all this in mind, as well as the support of a variety of statewide and national sportsman and conservation groups, the Indiana Wildlife Federation has testified to the potential harm of this legislation in the Natural Resources Committee. Currently, this legislation has been tabled and IWF will continue to monitor it and will fight the release of any captive-bred deer into our thriving wild population.

Senate Bill 121:  Restrictions of Using Nets or Trapping Minnows

IWF Supports this Legislation (with recommendations for changes)

Senate Bill 121 was written by Senators Spencer Deery (R-23), Majority Whip Michael Crider (R-28), Scott Baldwin (R-20) and co-authored by James Thomes (R-49). SB121 looks to address a growing problem in our state, over-harvesting of aquatic life through netting. While netting can certainly play a role in responsible angling there has been a rise in the unsustainable harvest of numerous minnows, including many fish that are prohibited without proper permitting.

The Indiana Wildlife Federation applauds the authors of this bill for trying to find a solution to the increasing problem of netting in our tributaries and rivers. We support this legislation and are looking into ways we can help the authors improve the legislation and ensure that there is both enforcement and education to help ensure a thriving fish population throughout our state.

 

Senate Bill 538:  PFAS Chemicals

IWF Opposes this Legislation

SB 538, authored by Senator Zay (R-17) limits the ability of state agencies to regulate PFAS (forever chemicals) in a manner that is more restrictive than the Federal government. While this may not have been problematic in the current administration, with the incoming Presidential administration we expect environmental regulations to be greatly reduced. If this is the case Hoosiers will need our state to have the autonomy to properly protect our water, wildlife and population from harmful “forever chemicals.”

 

House Bill 1286:  PFAS Chemicals

IWF Supports this Legislation

HB 1286, authored by Representative Beck Cash (R-25) and co-authored by Representative Julie McGuire (R-93) requires the Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) to publish a registry of persons known to have discharged PFAS into the waters of Indiana. While this legislation would not seek to establish penalties for these discharges it will shed light on an increasing problem in our state, and we hope will be the first step towards limiting these discharges.

House Bill 1025:  Treated Seeds

IWF Supports this Legislation

HB 1025, authored by Representative Mike Aylesworth (R-11) requires the state seed commissioner to study the impacts of seeds treated with certain insecticides, reporting their findings to the interim study committee. While this legislation may seem out of the prevue of the Indiana Wildlife Federation, the impacts of this could have profound impacts on wildlife in our state. Certain insecticides are known to have deleterious effects on both terrestrial and aquatic insects. Studies have tied the drastic loss of aquatic insects, the basis of our rivers and stream’s food web, to particular insecticides used in agriculture. Learning the impacts of these potentially harmful compounds is a vital first step to correcting them.

 

House Bill 1234:  Conservation of Agricultural Land

IWF Supports this Legislation

HB 1234, authored by Representative Kendell Culp (R-16) seeks to establish a land protection program that allows the state of Indiana, or a country within the state, to accept agricultural land and hold it. Additionally, it seeks to provide funding for acquisition and management. Given the vast amount of agricultural land in our state and the amount being converted into low-grade construction, this bill would help to stem development and keep agricultural land, which can serve as wildlife habitat, from development.

 
Photo by Tyler Mascola

Senate Bill 211:  Clean Water Indiana program

IWF Supports this Legislation

SB 211, authored by Senator Glick (R-13) allows for the use of funds from the Clean Water Indiana fund to be utilized in the management of invasive species. Invasive species have the ability to contribute greatly to the decreased water quality and currently funds from the clean water Indiana fund are not permitted to combat invasives plants. In order to allow environmental stewards, like those working for our soil and water conservation districts (SWCD), environmental organizations and land trusts this legislation is necessary.

 

House Bill 1190: Water Quality

IWF Supports this Legislation

HB 1190, authored by Assistant Majority Caucus Chair David Abbott seeks to establish a permanent water protection and conservation fund and water quality board. This would be a great step in increasing funding for the protection of our natural waters in the state.

 

House Bill 1237: State Mammal

IWF Supports this Legislation

HB 1237, authored by Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-32) seeks to name the Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) the state mammal of Indiana. Currently, Indiana has no official state mammal and IWF believes the Indiana bat is an ideal candidate to represent Indiana’s natural heritage.

 

House Bill 1417:  Prevention of CWD

IWF Opposes this Legislation

HB 1417, authored by Representative Bob Morris (R-84) and co-authored by Representative Beau Baird (R-44) is very similar to SB 32, and the Indiana Wildlife Federation opposes it for the same reason.

 

 
Photo by Lucas Pezeta

House Bill 1557:  Prescribed Burning

IWF Supports this Legislation

HB 1557, authored by Representative Beau Baird (R-44) establishes a legal framework for the use of prescribed fire in the managing of natural landscapes. This legislation seeks to develop a safe framework for how land managers can safely use fire to combat invasive plants, improve forest stands and regenerate habitat throughout the state. HB 1557 also tasks the Indiana Department of Forestry with establishing a Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Program to ensure safe and standardized techniques for utilizing fire. This bill also clarifies liability concerns and reduces perceived risks associated with prescribed fire for landowners and practitioners and aligns the state with other Midwestern states that have similar laws. Prescribed fire is one of the most important tools for land managers to battle invasive plants while providing high quality habitat to wildlife throughout the state. Fire has shaped Indiana’s ecosystems, and numerous native plants and animals depend on periodic burning to thrive. It knocks back invasive plants, encourages the growth of native grasses and forbs, and creates open areas that benefit species like Ruffed grouse, Bobwhite and numerous grassland birds. Additionally fire reduces understory growth, improves sunlight penetration, allowing oak species to regenerate.

In addition to the eleven priority bills listed above, the Indiana Wildlife Federation will continue to monitor numerous bills, approximately forty, and constantly assess their impact on our wildlife and wild spaces. Throughout this legislative session, we will update you on the progress of these bills and more. We may also seek your help to convince your legislators to stand up for wildlife and their habitats.

 

Thank you for your continued support of IWF, without you, we could not do the work we do, standing up for wildlife throughout the state.

Senate Agriculture Chair Debbie Stabenow Releases Draft Farm Bill

Indianapolis, IN  (November 18, 2024) — Senate Agriculture Chair Debbie Stabenow’s newly released draft of the farm bill highlights the need to pass a full five-year bill as quickly as possible. 

 

“We are thrilled to see the Senate put forth a draft bill that gives certainty to the chamber’s dedication towards a strong Farm Bill,” said Dan Boritt, executive director for the Indiana Wildlife Federation. “This bill enshrines a strong system of conservation for working lands and gives certainty to Hoosier farmers. We hope that the House and Senate can come together quickly and pass a bipartisan Farm Bill that can allow producers throughout our state to breathe a sigh of relief that DC is working for them. With this draft the Senate shows a strong commitment towards ensuring continued funding for Federal programs that promote wildlife habitat improvements and encourage private land owners to open up their properties for public access. This bill would permanently authorize the conservation measures in the Farm Bill for the first time, granting certainty for the long-term conservation funding for private lands that allow wildlife to thrive. We hope that agricultural committee members Senator Braun and Representative Baird will support the passage of a bipartisan bill that commits to supporting Hoosier farmers and Hoosier wildlife.”

 

A summary of the bill is available here.
Bill text is available here.

 

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ERIN HOUCHIN, 9th DISTRICT OF INDIANA INSTALLED AS CO-CHAIR OF OHIO RIVER BASIN CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ERIN HOUCHIN, 9th DISTRICT OF INDIANA INSTALLED AS CO-CHAIR OF OHIO RIVER BASIN CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS

Indianapolis, Indiana, May 16, 2024 – “I am honored to serve as co-chair of the Ohio River Caucus, representing the vital interests of Southern Indiana. The Ohio River is not only a lifeline for commerce and industry but a symbol of our region’s rich history and potential for growth. As co-chair, I am committed to advocating for policies that promote economic prosperity and conservation along the Ohio River and beyond,” said Rep. Houchin.

Congresswoman Erin Houchin, 9th District of Indiana was recently installed as co-chair of the Ohio River Basin Congressional Caucus.

The Ohio River drains more than 80% of Indiana’s waterways and is home to about 30 million people – more than 8 percent of the United States’ population. Yet, the region doesn’t receive the attention given other regions such as the Mississippi River and Chesapeake Bay watersheds. With 55 Congressional districts in 14 states covering the basin.

The caucus was founded on October 21, 2009, by Rep. Shelley Moore Capito and Rep. Steve Driehaus to unite all members of Congress whose districts reside within the Ohio River Basin to work together to resolve issues faced by their constituents.

The caucus was formed in conjunction with the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission, which is an organization that was formed by multiple state governments to manage and maintain the environmental quality of the Ohio River Valley.

The caucus is tasked with raising awareness of the Ohio River Valley and highlighting the river’s impact on the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and agriculture. Major goals of the caucus will include securing funding for environmental restoration and cleanup, educational outreach, as well as discussing how pending legislation will affect the Ohio River Basin.

The Indiana Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation plan to continue to raise awareness around the plight of the Ohio River Basin and advocate for Federal funding support to restore and protect the waters that affect the 14 impacted states.

 

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It’s bird migration season in Indiana. Plant a native tree to keep biodiversity alive.

Check out the recent opinion piece by our Executive Director in the Indy Star.

 

A Testament to Trees, and Urban Rewilding.

 

My relationship with trees has always been one of admiration. Growing up in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania I was surrounded by them, and one, the Witness Tree, held a special allure for Gettysburgians and fans of American history. Despite this admiration, it is only in recent years that I have begun to truly appreciate the impact these magnificent sentinels can have on my wellbeing.

Upon moving to midtown Indianapolis in the early twenty-teens my wife and I were fortunate to buy a home in Oliver Johnson’s Woods, a small neighborhood with some fantastic old trees. One of the beauties of my neighborhood is it developed organically over time. The layout of the houses and landscaping plan was not contrived to maximize profits and minimize diversity. The houses don’t match, nor do the trees, and this is what makes it so magical! We have Black Walnut, Sycamore, Hackberry, Tulip Poplar, American Beech, Pignut Hickory and so many more! Compared to modern-day developments, they tend to have prescribed plantings, often just a single species, or if you’re lucky, two species throughout the entire neighborhood, a near monoculture. To make matters worse, these are often cultivars, or worse, non-native and often times invasive species like the omnipresent Bradford Pear, that wreak havoc on native ecosystems.

In the decade-plus since we moved to Indianapolis, we have done our fair share of plantings. We’ve added Sugar Maples, an Ohio Buckeye, a Catalpa, several Paw Paws, and a wide array of native flowers, grasses, and shrubs. While this planting has taken time, the benefits are beginning to show. Just this morning, as I sat on my back porch, I saw over fifty species of birds! Many of these are common to Indianapolis, local favorites like the Northern Cardinal, American Robin, House Wren, and Downy Woodpecker. Others however were visiting my backyard amid an epic journey, one that may have begun weeks ago as far away as Brazil and Venezuela!  As I sit on my back porch I’m delighted by the beautiful colors and calls of such vivid migrants as Great Crested Flycatchers, Magnolia Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Baltimore Orioles, Northern Parula, and Ovenbirds! These names may not mean much to everyone, but I promise if you see and hear them your spirits will rise and you’ll fall into a sense of calm.

As you can tell, I love birds. I always have, and I hope always will. Yet it is only in recent years I’ve truly begun to understand the importance of trees and other native plants to our avian friends. Yes, I have bird feeders, but nothing can replace the trees these animals have evolved to depend upon. If you love wildlife and want to help, one of the best things you can do is plant a native tree! Many are slow-growing, and they may not reveal their magic to you anytime soon. But, if you plant that tree I can assure you someday in the future a person will sit in wonder, experiencing the magic that tree has provided, and thank the person who planted it.

Right now, Indiana sits in the middle of one of nature’s great wonders, the northward migration of New World warblers. Grab a pair of binoculars, find a bird walk to join, download a free birding app, and get outside! This happens every year, and every year I’m reminded of the magic of nature as a sense of wonder reawakens inside of me. And oh yeah, while you’re out there marveling at these tiny jewels, don’t forget to thank a tree, without them this wouldn’t be possible!

 

Dan Boritt is Executive Director of the Indiana Wildlife Federation and a life-long lover of nature.

Protect Indiana’s Wildlife: Take Action Against HB 1399!

 

Wildlife lovers, it’s time to raise our collective voice! House Bill 1399, currently making its way through the legislature, poses a serious threat to wildlife and humans alike. The bill will receive its first Senate hearing on Monday, February 19th in the Senate Environmental Affairs Committee. We urge you to contact your State Senators this week and encourage them to oppose this harmful bill!

HB 1399 is a bill that is promoted by the business entities that manufacture toxic chemicals. PFAS can be bought for $50 – $1,000 per pound (according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) but costs between $2.5 million and $18 million per pound to remove and destroy from municipal wastewater! We have all seen the harm and cost borne out using toxic materials such as lead in our drinking water delivery systems, the cost of PFAS cleanup will dwarf these historic issues. If ever there is a time to heed the old saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” it is NOW!

  • HB 1399 weakens protections against PFAS contamination: PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment, are linked to numerous health problems in humans and wildlife:
    • Reproductive issues: Reduced birth rates, developmental abnormalities, and impaired fertility.
    • Immune system suppression: Making animals more susceptible to diseases and infections.
    • Organ damage: Affecting livers, kidneys, and other vital organs.
    • Endocrine disruption: Interfering with hormone function, impacting growth, metabolism, and behavior.
  • PFAS pollution has already made many fish unsafe to eat: A peer-reviewed article published by the Environmental Working Group (ESG) shows that PFAS contamination in freshwater fish far outpaces that of marine species. The highest levels of contamination are found in and around the Great Lakes. Fish in locations like Indiana are so polluted that eating a single freshwater fish will expose you to the same levels of PFAS as drinking highly contaminated water for an entire month!

 

  • Increases potential for future contamination: By reducing regulations on industrial polluters, HB 1399 could pave the way for more PFAS to enter our waterways and soil, impacting wildlife across the state for generations to come. This bill would make Indiana the most regressive state on PFAS regulation. Our legislature knows how harmful PFAS can be. Just last year they passed legislation aimed at protecting firefighters from these deadly chemicals, yet this legislation would increase Hoosier’s exposure to these cancer-causing agents.
  • We do not yet understand how severe the risk of PFAS pollution is in Indiana: Due to an overwhelming lack of data, we do not yet have adequate baseline information to understand how severe the problem of PFAS pollution is in Indiana. We do know that when we look for PFAS in our water we find it. States such as Michigan which have invested significantly more money in determining the levels of PFAS pollution have found extremely high levels of these forever chemicals in many fish, including several species of bass, walleye, and catfish, as well as white-tailed deer. This alarming level of pollution is making wild protein, often thought of as the healthiest source of protein, unsafe for human consumption.

What you can do:

  1. Contact your State Senator: Find your Senator’s contact information HERE.
  2. Express your concerns: Clearly explain why you oppose HB 1399 and highlight the specific dangers it poses to wildlife due to PFAS contamination.
  3. Urge your Senator to vote NO on HB 1399.
  4. Share this action alert: Spread the word to your friends, family, and fellow wildlife enthusiasts!

Together, we can make our voices heard and protect Indiana’s irreplaceable wildlife from the dangers of PFAS and other harmful pollutants!

Remember, your voice matters! Act today!

‘IDEM saying it’s a good bill is a lie’: state water regulators denounce wetlands bill

Sarah Bowman with Indianapolis Star reports on the latest controversial wetlands legislation.

“It’s a facade to say it’s a good bill, IDEM saying this is a good bill is a lie,” Shannon Flannigan, a senior wetlands program manager at IDEM, told IndyStar. “It’s not good for wetlands and it’s not good for water quality. If people want clean water, they should not support this bill.”

For the full article, click here.

Indianapolis Residents Tap into Need for Wetlands Protections and Action on Climate Change

Indianapolis Residents Tap into Need for Wetlands Protections and Action on Climate Change

Birds and Brews, presented by Audubon Great Lakes and Amos Butler Audubon Society, welcomed Indiana residents, local leaders for a discussion on the policy solutions that will protect birds and communities

INDIANA (September 28, 2023) – Indiana’s wetlands are at-risk, and so are its birds. Yesterday, Indianapolis residents gathered for Birds and Brews, presented by Audubon Great Lakes and Amos Butler Audubon Society, to hear from local leaders and policy experts on the steps we can take to protect the important habitat that birds depend on.

“Together, we have the opportunity to inform Indiana lawmakers about the value that wetlands—and the birds who depend on them—bring to the state,” said Marnie Urso, Senior Policy Director for Audubon Great Lakes. “Now is a critical time to enact wetland protections. The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a decision in Sackett v. EPA. It could place as many as 300,000 acres of wetlands in Indiana at risk of destruction without state protection.”

One-hundred Audubon members gathered at Upland FSQ Brewery in Indianapolis. The event included a panel discussion from environmental and policy experts on solutions that will protect Indiana’s wetlands and other natural spaces.

One-hundred Audubon members are seated at Upland FSQ Brewery in Indianapolis for Birds and Brews, facing a table of panelists with art on the wall behind them. Credit: Audubon Great Lakes
One-hundred Audubon members gathered at Upland FSQ Brewery in Indianapolis for Birds and Brews. Photo: Audubon Great Lakes

Indiana has lost more than 85 percent of its wetlands. Wetlands buffer communities against flooding, absorb carbon pollution, and provide habitat for vulnerable birds and other wildlife. Polling released by Audubon Great Lakes last year found that 94 percent of Indiana voters believe that state leaders should either strengthen or maintain Indiana’s current wetlands protections, and nearly three-quarters of voters (74 percent) favor expanding the use of renewable energy sources.

Panelists included David Bausman, Chief Legal Counsel for Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Dan Boritt,  Executive Director for the Indiana Wildlife Federation, Adam Forrer, Policy Director of Climate for Audubon Great Lakes, and Lindsay Trameri, Community Engagement Manager, Office of Sustainability for City of Indianapolis.

“Many of our endangered and threatened species call our wetlands home, including more than 200 bird species,” said Dan Boritt, Executive Director for the Indiana Wildlife Federation. “We’re profoundly disappointed in the Sackett v. EPA ruling – yet energized by Audubon members and Indiana residents who are taking steps to protect wetlands for both wildlife and humans.”

A brown, black, and gray Virginia Rail adult assists one of two black fluffy chicks with a worm in a wetland.
Virginia Rails are one of 49 Indiana bird species that are highly to moderately vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Virginia Rails. Photo: Shirley Donald/Audubon Photography Awards.

Two-thirds of North American bird species at risk of extinction due to climate change. During the event, panelists also discussed the importance of protecting birds from the looming threat of climate change, while creating resilient communities.

“Climate change is one of the biggest threats facing the wildlife community and our bird populations. In Indianapolis, we’ve made a commitment to eliminate carbon emissions to address climate change,” said Lindsay Trameri, Community Engagement Manager, Office of Sustainability for City of Indianapolis. “As we work towards this critical commitment, we recognize that our ability to thrive and reach a sustainable, resilient future is in all our hands.”

 

The farm bill looks after more than Indiana’s crops. It can help improve Hoosier lives

Check out this Op-Ed from our Executive Director in the Indy Star. In this op-ed he argues for an increase in conservation funding to ensure Hoosier farmers are able to take advantage of these programs that help increase the quality of life for Hoosiers statewide.

Link to Indy Star article

The farm bill looks after more than Indiana’s crops. It can help improve Hoosier lives

Dan Boritt
Indianapolis Star

The farm bill is one of the most important pieces of legislation for conservation in the United States.

This omnibus legislation is renewed every five years and is set to be renewed in 2023. It provides funding for a variety of programs that help protect our land, water and wildlife. In Indiana, the farm bill has been instrumental in supporting the conservation of iconic species like the white-tailed deer, the bald eagle and the monarch butterfly. The Indiana Wildlife Federation believes that the farm bill is a critical tool for conservation, and we’re committed to using it to its full potential to protect Indiana’s natural resources.

Here are some of the ways that the farm bill can help conservation in Indiana:

  • Protect wildlife habitat. The farm bill provides funding for programs like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which pays farmers to remove environmentally sensitive land from production and plant native grasses and other plants that benefit wildlife. In Indiana, CRP has protected over 1 million acres of land, providing habitat for a wide variety of species.
  • Improve water quality. The farm bill can also be used to fund programs that help reduce soil erosion, which can lead to pollution of waterways. The farm bill can also be used to fund programs that help improve water quality in wetlands, which are important filters for pollutants.
  • Increase hunter access. The farm bill funds programs that help improve public access to hunting and fishing areas. This can be a win-win for both hunters and conservationists, as it can help to increase public support for conservation efforts.

In addition to these provisions, the next farm bill should also include the following measures to improve equity, conservation and climate resilience:

  • Improve equity in the delivery of conservation program funds and technical assistance by supporting local employees who understand Indiana. Addressing historic inequities in agriculture conservation programs will profoundly boost the ability of farmers, ranchers, forest owners and communities across the country to build resilience, while enhancing soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat and livelihoods.
  • Strengthen the linkage between conservation compliance and crop insurance premium subsidies and improve enforcement of these provisions. In exchange for receiving certain farm program benefits, farmers must agree to fundamental soil and wetland conservation provisions to protect wetlands and reduce soil erosion.
  • Increase conservation title baseline funding to meet producer demand and protect and build on conservation funding provided in the Inflation Reduction Act. With farm bill conservation programs greatly over-subscribed, the funding provided in the Inflation Reduction Act is critical for meeting demand from farmers and ranchers. This funding must stay in conservation and climate-smart agriculture in order to address increasing demand for climate-smart conservation practices and long-term outcomes needed for a resilient agricultural economy.
  • Prevent conversion of native grasslands through a nationwide Sodsaver provision. Sodsaver correctly aligns the market risk of putting never-before-cropped grasslands into production by reducing federal premium subsidies for crop insurance on newly cropped, formerly grassland areas. Although currently active in six states, Sodsaver should be expanded nationwide to level the playing field and reduce taxpayer subsidization of risky production to help protect this endangered ecosystem.
  • Better align crop insurance with conservation practices that reduce risk and save money. Remove barriers to, and provide incentives for, adopting risk-reducing conservation practices within the crop insurance program to lower crop insurance costs and increase on-farm resilience.

By working together, we can ensure that Indiana’s wildlife and waterways have a bright future in our state.

Dan Boritt is executive director of the Indiana Wildlife Federation, which is committed to promoting common-sense conservation throughout Indiana.

Great News for Clean Water Indiana

Conservation Board doubles Clean Water Indiana funding

 

INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 22, 2023) — The State Soil Conservation Board (SSCB) is allotting over $2 million in Clean Water Indiana (CWI) grants for 2023, which is a $1 million increase over 2022.

“As Secretary of Agriculture, I know how hard Hoosier farmers work to be good stewards of the land,” said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “So, I was pleased to see the legislature acknowledge the importance of soil and water conversation in Indiana by providing additional funding to Clean Water Indiana this past legislative session.”

This increased funding was allocated by the Indiana General Assembly during the 2023 legislative session. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s (ISDA) Division of Soil Conservation was awarded over $5 million additional dollars this year. The SSCB recently voted on how to spend the money and declared to increase funding to key water quality and conservation programs, including Clean Water Indiana’s competitive grant program.

Clean Water Indiana was established to provide financial assistance to landowners and conservation groups and supports the implementation of conservation practices which will reduce nonpoint sources of water pollution through education, technical assistance, training and cost sharing programs. Programs under the Clean Water Indiana fund are administered by ISDA’s Division of Soil Conservation subject to direction from the SSCB.

“We are so grateful to the Indiana General Assembly who recognized the importance of water quality in our state and allocated these additional funds to Clean Water Indiana during the past legislative session,” said Don Lamb, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. “This increased funding for ISDA’s Clean Water Indiana program will assist soil conservation districts across the state as they work hand in hand with our Indiana farmers and landowners.”

There are more than double the amount of available funds to be awarded through a competitive grant process under Clean Water Indiana, with the State Soil Conservation Board voting to increase the grant pool to $2,000,000.

This funding will primarily be used to fund conservation projects and programs at the local level, with typical grantees being some of Indiana’s 92 Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and other conservation organizations. The SSCB expects grant application dollar requests to exceed the available funding. Typical projects include cost-share programs for on-farm conservation best management practices, staffing positions for direct landowner technical assistance and district administration, water quality and soil conservation education programs and more.

“The Clean Water Indiana grants go a long way in ensuring Hoosier landowners and local soil and water conservation districts have the funding they need to complete critical water projects,” said Brad Dawson, Clean Water Indiana grant committee member. “Each year it is amazing to see the types of projects brought to us for funding, and we notice that they are located all across the state, which in turn helps the waterways statewide. Last year we were able to grant a little over $600,000, so I am extremely excited to see increased funding and be able to award more projects, and clean more waterways, going forward.”

The members of the Clean Water Indiana grants committee are Amy Burris, Kenny Cain and Brad Dawson. The SSCB is accepting competitive proposals for targeted projects up to three years in length. Applications are open and are due Sept. 8, 2023 at 12 p.m. E.T. To apply please visit isda.in.gov.

Additional key funding from Clean Water Indiana will go towards expanding Indiana Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, matching dollars available to Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and as match for Inflation Reduction Act proposals through the United States Department of Agriculture.

For more information on soil conservation and water quality initiatives please visit isda.in.gov.

Hoosier Conservation Newsletter | August 2023

Read the August 2023 edition of the IWF Hoosier Conservation Newsletter. The Monarch Tagging Season is almost here! Dan has important legislative updates in his Letter from the ED. We have speakers for our upcoming Annual Conference and we’re very excited about what they have to share.

Great Reporting Surrounding the Proposed LEAP Project in Lebanon

The Journal & Courier, out of Lafayette, has printed two parts of a three part series on the proposed LEAP Project  proposed by the IEDC in Labanon.  Below are the first two articles, and we highly recommend you subscribe to the Journal Courier to support local reporting like this.

Below is the first part of the reporting by the Journal & Courier :

LEAP project proposes piping millions of gallons of water from Tippecanoe County aquifer

Story by Ron Wilkins, Lafayette Journal & Courier •2h

Editor’s note: This is the first in a three-part series that looks at the proposed use of water resources in Tippecanoe County to benefit economic development in Boone County.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. touts Lebanon as the ideal location for a 9,000-acre for a “megasite” that one day might be the work site for 50,000 people working in advance manufacturing, mixed-use and corporate campuses.

A project that large requires millions of gallons of water a day — reportedly between 10 million and 100 million gallons a day.

Lebanon’s water resources cannot support such a large site.

One possible solution is the LEAP project: a plan to buy land in the Wabash River aquifer in southwestern Tippecanoe County, and pipe water from there to Lebanon, a distance that is more than one-third the width of the state, according to discussions this spring and summer with natural resource experts.

Google estimates the distance between West Point in Tippecanoe County to Lebanon is nearly 50 miles. The state of Indiana is 140 miles wide.

LEAP project to take water from local aquifers

The Lebanon LEAP project is a proposed development of 9,000 acres of farmland mostly west of Interstate 65 and mostly north of Indiana 32, encompassing the four miles of land north of Boone County Road 50 South.

The LEAP project is 30 minutes from experts at Purdue Research Park and Purdue University, 30 minutes from the Indianapolis Airport and conveniently located within minutes of interstates running north, south, east and west, according to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. website.

The LEAP project developers will buy land over the Wabash River aquifer in order to tap into that underground resource. So far, they are eyeing land southwest of Lafayette, Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski said.

“I want to make clear to folks that we understand that we don’t own the water,” Roswarski said. “The water in the aquifer, in Indiana law, if you own the land above, you have the right to tap the water. We understand that.

The proposed wells are not the source of Lafayette’s water, Roswarski said.

The project proposes to construct a pipeline to take ground water from the Wabash River aquifer and pump it to Lebanon.

“We found out about this several several months ago, and had a quick meeting with the (Indiana Economic Development Corp.),” Roswarski said in May.

Reports estimate that the LEAP project will draw millions of gallons of water from Tippecanoe County aquifers, pumping it to Lebanon for use there.

“We originally heard about 10 million (gallons a day), but then we heard it could go up as high as 100 million (gallons a day),” Roswarski said. “When that number came out, we got a little bit more concerned.”

Three main water sources in the Lafayette area

On the surface, the Wabash River runs from northwestern Ohio, across northern Indiana, through Tippecanoe County as it winds its way to Indiana’s western border with Illinois. It eventually drains into the Ohio River, which in turns, feeds the Mississippi River.

Beneath the surface in the area of Tippecanoe County are two aquifers — the Wabash River aquifer and the Taeys River aquifer.

The Wabash River, the Wabash aquifer and the Taeys aquifer all touch in places, said Roswarski and Keith Cherkauer, Purdue professor of agricultural and biological engineering at Purdue University and the director of the Indiana Water Resources Research Center.

The aquifers are fed from falling rain that seeps through the ground into the aquifers.

Lafayette draws its water from the Taeys River aquifer, which is the remains of an ancient river.

“The Teays River existed on the surface historically and drained generally out of Ohio, through Indiana and kind of down to where the Mississippi River is now,” Cherkauer said.

“By the end of the last ice age, it got filled in with sand, gravel, clays, basically crushed parts of the landscape to our north. Then there was a new surface.”

The Taeys was covered up as the melting glaciers created what we know today as the Wabash River, Cherkauer said.

The proposed LEAP project created a stir among the state’s experts on Indiana’s watersheds, rivers, aquifers and its water resources. They met in April via a Zoom conference and discussed various issues raised by the proposed project.

Future reports will take a look at how pumping 100 million gallons of water from the Wabash River aquifer might affect the river down stream, as well as the unseen underground aquifers. The J&C also will report on the discussions about Indiana’s water laws.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: LEAP project proposes piping millions of gallons of water from Tippecanoe County aquifer

  

Here is the second entry of the three-part series 

A look at potential impact of transferring water from one part of the state to another

Ron Wilkins

Lafayette Journal & Courier

Editor’s note: This is the second in a three-part series that looks at the proposed use of water resources in Tippecanoe County to benefit economic development in Boone County.

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The proposed LEAP project in Lebanon west of Interstate 65 needs water.

The plan is to take it from the Wabash River aquifer in southwestern Tippecanoe County, and pump it one-quarter of the state’s width to the 9,000-acre development.

In reality, that water — 10 million to 100 million gallons a day — from the Wabash River watershed will never return to the state’s largest river.

Jane Frankenberger, a Purdue University agriculture and biological engineer professor and extension agricultural engineer, summarized the LEAP project’s proposal during an online conference in April.

“Large withdraws like this are not uncommon,” Frankenberger said. “There are locations around Indiana where water is withdrawn, used, then discharged back into the river.

“What’s unusual here is that after the water is used by industry, it would not return to the Wabash River, but rather, piped into a tributary of the White River, possibly Sugar Creek or Eagle Creek — down to the Eagle Creek Reservoir — or somewhere else.

“Thus, it’s not just a withdraw, but a water transfer.”

Frankenberger started the April conference by itemizing three issues: How will the transfer of water to Lebanon affect the Tippecanoe County ground water and future developments in Tippecanoe County? How will transfer of water affect the surface water and the Wabash River? Lastly, how will the water transferred to Boone County affect its creeks after it is used?

Frankenberger wondered if there was enough data to make informed decisions on the transfer of water before the project is set in motion.

The area’s water resources

Keith Cherkauer, a Purdue professor of agricultural and biological engineering and the director of the Indiana Water Resources Research Center, shed some light on Frankenberger’s questions.

The Tippecanoe County area has several surface water resources, including the Wabash River. But beneath the ground, the area has the Teays River aquifer, which is from where Lafayette draws its water, and the Wabash River aquifer, from where LEAP wants to tap.

The Wabash River, its aquifer and the Teays River aquifer all touch in some areas, Cherkauer said. This helps recharge the aquifers.

When the Teays River flowed on the surface, it was comparable in size to today’s Ohio River and flowed from the West Virginia area, north and through Ohio, across Indiana, and continued heading west towards what today is Missouri.

Glaciers from the last ice age pushed the water out of its channel, pressed rocks boulders and other debris on top of the river, then crushed the rocks and boulders into sand, silt and clay, Cherkauer said of the origins of the Teays River.

The aquifer is deepest in the ancient river’s channel, but its water spans areas wider than the old river channel, Cherkauer said.

The effects of transferring water to Lebanon

“If it’s a 10-million-gallon-per-day facility on the Wabash River, we’re probably barely going to notice it,” Cherkauer said.

By comparison, the city of Lafayette pumps between 10 million and 17 million gallons a day for use by its customers, Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski said.

But the city draws its water from the Teays River aquifer. The water is used here, treated here and returned to the Wabash River, which recharges the Teays and Wabash rivers aquifers.

“We are blessed here,” Roswarski said. “The aquifer here — the Teays Acquifer — is very strong. It charges well. We’re blessed to have that because not all places have that.”

News about the LEAP project caused some concern among local government officials.

“We originally heard about 10 million (gallons a day), but then we heard it could go up as high as 100 million,” Roswarski said, noting they just heard about the LEAP project late in 2022. “When that number came out, we got a little bit more concerned.

“There a lot of people who could potentially be affected.”

Cherkauer said, “If it becomes a 100-million-gallon-a-day facility, we will start to notice.”

The volume of Indiana’s ground water stored in aquifers is not well quantified.

“The surface water, in general, is increasing,” Cherkauer said. “There are some areas in the northwest part of the state that’s increasing. But much of the state has seen increases in surface water over the last 30 years. Whereas, ground water is very much a mixed signal.”

Test wells have not yielded the needed information about how much water is available in aquifers and how quickly aquifers recharge from surface water, Cherkauer said. This includes the Wabash River aquifer in southwestern Tippecanoe County where the LEAP project wants to tap.

As for taking the 10 million to 100 million gallons of water a day from the Wabash River aquifer, Cherkauer said, “Not a huge amount of the average amount of annual water is going to be transferred. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have an effect.”

The transfer of water would affect the Wabash River’s flow downstream from Lafayette during drought years or during times of less-than-normal rainfall, he said.

“The other thing we need to consider because this is a transfer from one watershed to another is: Once the industrial use is done, then that water is going to be returned to surface water,” Cherkauer said of the LEAP project.

“If they’re dumping it into — I think Prairie Creek runs very near this location in Lebanon — 10-million gallons a day will be a substantial in-flow to Prairie Creek,” Cherkauer said during an interview before the April Zoom conference. “A 100-million gallons a day will overwhelm Prairie Creek because it’s very small.”

For Sugar Creek, 100 million gallons a day will increase the flow up to 25%, Cherkauer said.

The need for more data on the effects to the aquifers

“Indiana has plentiful water resources,” Cherkauer said, “but they are not evenly distributed, and that is why we’re having these conversations about moving water from one watershed to another.

“In order to have a better understanding, we have to have better observational records,” he said of the need to gather data to quantify how much water is below the surface and how quickly those aquifers typically recharge.

Tapping the Tippecanoe County aquifer isn’t the issue. It’s the piping of the water across the state and ultimately putting it into a different watershed that might be problematic.

“When you’re considering where to put industrial sites that are heavy water users, there are certainly places in the state that are really good for that, and there are places in the state that are less good for that,” Cherkauer said.

“If you were to put this plant using 10- or 100-million gallons a day of water on the Wabash River, and it was treating it and returning it to Wabash River in about the same place, that would have very little impact,” he said.

“If they’re pulling from the aquifer and dumping to the surface river, then you’re getting a transfer from the aquifer to the surface water, which will lead to a diminished aquifer in time,” he said of the effects on the ground water. “But it’s a slow process. Since the river here is somewhat connected to the aquifer, it would have less impact.”

Tippecanoe County officials, including the cities, are working with the Indiana Department of Economic Development and want to help other parts of the state find the success that Tippecanoe County has found, Roswarski said.

“We need to make sure it’s done in a way that is sustainable and doesn’t cause problems here in our community,” Roswarski said.

“The elected officials that are here now feel like we have a responsibility to the people coming after us that this was done correctly and that our voice was heard and that we’ve done this in a way that is sustainable for everyone,” Roswarski said.

The project likely is five or six years away from construction, Roswarski said.

Reach Ron Wilkins at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

Let INDOT Know You Support Native Plantings Along Indiana Roadways

Do you think that the Hoosier state should do more to support native wildlife?
With over 60,000 acres of roadsides and medians INDOT is vitally important to supporting ecosystem health by creating wildlife habitat throughout the state. Take THIS SURVEY to to show your support for native plantings and help urge more native plantings to help clean our water and feed our wildlife!  Native plantings require less maintenance and can save taxpayers money, while providing beauty and functionality.  

 

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Latest Scrub Hub in the Indy Star

Have you ever wondered how you can help wildlife through the long cold winter?  Check out the Indy Star’s latest Scrub Hub to see an interview with our Executive Director Dan Boritt.

 

scrubhub_indystar

Cedar Waxwing Fledgling.

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Birders’ Rally (virtual)! 5/24/22

The National Wildlife Federation is hosting a special (and exciting) event with National Audubon Society to mobilize birders to support this legislation: the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Birders’ Rally! This event will be hosted by Corina Newsome and Tykee James, and we will be joined by special guests including Kenn Kaufman, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, American Bird Conservancy, and more. Take a look at the information below, register, and share widely with your networks!


JOIN US for the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Birders’ Rally (virtual)!

Tuesday, May 24, 2022

12 – 1 PM ET

Register Here

Calling all bird lovers! We need everyone who cares about birds to rally together for the passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S.2372/HR2773) With historic levels of funding and support from both sides of the aisle, this once-in-a-generation legislation is a rare bird. Join us as we flock together in support of this critical bill, which will help protect birds long into the future and make the enjoyment of birds more accessible for all! Hosted by Tykee James and Corina Newsome, this rally will feature leaders in avian conservation and give you an opportunity to take action to encourage your Members of Congress to vote YES on this bill. Bring your passion and excitement, because we need YOU to push Recovering America’s Wildlife Act over the finish line!

DC Legislative Update: April 4th – 8th, 2022

Check here for the 2022 Senate Calendar
Check here for the 2022 House Calendar

What’s Happening this Week

  • Both chambers of Congress are in session this week. Friday, April 8th, should be the last day of this work period for both chambers, with a two-week recess scheduled for the work weeks of April 11th and 18th.
  • The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works is expected to hold a markup that will include S. 2372, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act this Thursday, April 7th at 10 AM EST. Watch the livestream here.
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee voted this afternoon along party lines (11-11) to discharge the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has moved to discharge her nomination from committee and a final vote is expected be held this evening.
    • Members of the Senate could also vote on a potential COVID-19 supplemental funding measure – a slimmer version of the one that was removed from the FY22 Omnibus Spending Bill that passed in March. It’s also possible the Senate will vote on the compromise Russia trade relations bill this week.
  • The House is expected to consider two pieces of legislation: a bill with contempt charges for two individuals who have refused to testify before the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol and a piece of legislation with COVID-19 relief specific to restaurants.
  • The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a new report today; Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change.
  • NWF continues to work to advance our priorities on Capitol Hill, so please feel free to share NWF’s 117th Congress National Policy Agenda.

Upcoming Congressional Hearings

  • Senate Committee on the Judiciary
    • Monday, April 4, 2022 at 10 AM EST: Business meeting to consider the nomination of several judges to the federal bench and for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
  • Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
    • Tuesday, April 5th, 2022 at 10 AM EST: Implementation of the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act: Stakeholders’ needs and experiences
    • Wednesday, April 6th, 2022 at 10 AM EST: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Proposed 2023 Budget. EPA Administrator Michael Regan will testify.
    • Thursday, April 7th, 2022 at 10 AM EST: Committee Business Meeting to consider pending legislation, including S. 2372, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.
  • Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
  • Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
    • Wednesday, April 6th, 2022 at 2:30 PM: Hearing on treaties, including amendments to the Treaty on Fisheries between the US and Certain Pacific Island States and an Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
  • Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
  • House Committee on Natural Resources
    • Wednesday, April 6th, 2022 at 10 AM EST: Markup on a number of bills pertaining to public lands management and transfer and H.R. 6651, the Alaska Salmon Research Task Force Act.
    • Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
    • Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
      • Tuesday, April 5th at 10 AM EST: Investing in Wildfire Management, Ecosystem Restoration, and Resilient Communities: Examining the Biden Administration’s Priorities for Implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
    • Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife
  • House Agriculture Committee
  • House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
  • House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis

Congressional News

  • Last week, the House and Senate passed its version of the H.R. 4521, America COMPETES Act. The House and Senate will need to appoint a conference committee to reconcile their different versions of the legislation, a process that could take weeks.
  • NWF President & CEO Collin O’Mara testified before the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on the value of natural infrastructure last Friday. A full recording of the hearing can be found here.

Administrative News

  • Last Thursday, March 31st, President Biden announced he will order the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic reserves in an effort to combat rising gasoline prices. He has also called on Congress to add pressure to the oil industry to increase drilling on public lands.
  • See here for additional White House resources, including a comprehensive list of Executive orders to address COVID, the climate crisis, and environmental justice, among other topics. 

Spotlight: Bill of the Week

Safeguarding Treatment for the Restoration of Ecosystems from Abandoned Mines (STREAM) Act

  • Introduced by: Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) & Mike Braun (R-IN) in the Senate and Representatives David B. McKinley (R – WV 01) and Matt Cartwright (D – PA 08) in the House.
  • Overview: This bill allows states to set aside up to thirty percent of the funding for Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) restoration from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to address long-term acid mine drainage costs. The IIJA set aside $11.3 billion for the AML trust fund for state AML programs.
  • A fact sheet about the STREAM Act can be found here.

DC Legislative Update: March 28th – April 1st, 2022

Check here for the 2022 Senate Calendar
Check here for the 2022 House Calendar

Upcoming Congressional Hearings

  • Senate Committee on the Judiciary
    • Monday, March 28, 2022 at 3 PM EST: Business meeting to consider the nomination of several judges to the federal bench and for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.
  • Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
  • Senate Committee on the Budget
  • House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Highways and Transit
  • House Agriculture Committee
  • House Committee on the Budget
  • House Committee on Financial Services
  • House Committee on Energy and Commerce
  • House Committee on Natural Resources
    • Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife
      • Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 2 PM EST: Hearing to consider the following bills; Red River National Wildlife Refuge Boundary Modification Act, Keep America’s Refuges Operational Act of 2022 and the Advancing Human Rights-Centered International Conservation Act of 2022.
    • Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
    • Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples
      • Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 1 PM EST: Legislative hearing to examine; Quapaw Tribal Landowner Settlement Act of 2021, Advancing Equality for Wabanaki Nations Act and legislation to reauthorize the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund.
  • House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis

    • Friday, April 1, 2022 at 9:30 AM EST: Hearing on America’s natural solutions: the climate benefits of investing in healthy ecosystems. Collin O’Mara, NWF President and CEO, will testify.

Congressional News

  • Representative Don Young of Alaska, who passed away at age 88 last Friday, will lie in state on Tuesday.
  • Representative Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb) will resign on Thursday after being found guilty of lying to federal elections officers about illicit campaign contributions.
  • Last week, the Senate confirmed more judges to the federal bench and moved forward with a procedural vote on the America COMPETES Act. It will now move to cloture vote this week.

Administrative News

  • Today, President Biden released a summary of his Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 budget request. This “skinny” budget provides an outline for Congress to begin negotiations on FY 2023 funding and more details are expected to come. The Office of Management and Budget Director, Shalanda Young will be on the Hill to testify about the President’s budget this week before both the House and Senate. Highlights are below;
    • Increased funding for the Department of Energy, including $48.2 billion in discretionary funding.
    • Calls for funding for ecosystem restoration, including $407 million for the Florida Everglades restoration project.
    • A 25% increase in funding for the Department of Interior.
    • More funding to increase domestic renewable energy resources and to return to Obama-era levels of funding to help finance clean energy investments internationally.
  • After his trip to Germany last week, President Biden in conjunction with the European Commission announced plans to find 15 billion cubic meters of liquefied natural gas for imports to Europe.
  • Jessica Ennis will join the White House Council on Environmental Quality as its new public engagement director. Ennis previously worked for Earthjustice as the legislative director for climate and energy. She will help carry out the White House’s Environmental Justice priorities through work alongside activists and stakeholders.
  • The White House released a final rule on CAFE standards, increasing the penalties for automakers who do not meet fuel economy standards going back to model year 2019.
  • See here for additional White House resources, including a comprehensive list of Executive orders to address COVID, the climate crisis, and environmental justice, among other topics.

What’s Happening This Week

  • The Senate and House are in session this week.
  • The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a business meeting today to discuss a number of nominees to the federal bench as well as Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court. It is expected that the committee will postpone the vote on her nomination for about a week in order to leave the Congressional Record open for comments. Her nomination is still expected to come to the Senate floor before April 8th.
  • The Senate will hold a cloture vote this evening on the Senate substitute for the America COMPETES Act. This will bring the vote one step closer to a formal conference committee.
  • The Senate could take up the House-passed bill suspending normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus later this week. The bill had stalled following objections from Senator Paul.
  • The House is expected to vote this week on a bill to end federal prohibitions on marijuana. A full list of bills expected to be voted on by the House is here.
  • NWF continues to work to advance our priorities on Capitol Hill, so please feel free to share NWF’s 117th Congress National Policy Agenda.

Spotlight: Bill of the Week

Lead Safe Housing for Kids Act

  • Introduced by: Reps. Jesus “Chuy” García (IL-4), A. Donald McEachin (VA-04) & Ayanna Pressley (MA- 07)
  • Overview: This bill aims to reduce lead exposure to children living in federally-assisted housing. The bill will adopt measures such as comprehensive risk assessments, requiring the disclosure of lead paint usage by landlords, and providing a process and assistance for relocating families if lead hazards are found.
  • A full press release on the Lead Safe Housing for Kids Act can be found here.The logo of the National Wildlife Federation is circular and features a raccoon wearing a ranger hat.

New Report Examines Habitat Loss Impacts on Wildlife, Hunting, Fishing

 ‘America the Beautiful’ Initiative Recognizes Role of Sporting Community in Restoring Wildlife Habitat

DENVER (March 28, 2022) — Habitat loss is threatening the wildlife, lands, and waters that hunters and anglers rely upon — and sportswomen and sportsmen have a crucial role to play in seeking common-sense solutions, according to a new report from the National Wildlife Federation Outdoors.

The United States is losing nature at an unprecedented rate. According to this report, species lost, on average, 6.5 million acres of vital habitat over the last two decades. This loss varies by species with some iconic species, such as mule deer, well exceeding the average. 

The report examines effective solutions, including the America the Beautiful initiative and the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, that will conserve, restore, and reconnect our natural systems and reclaim degraded lands in order to recover wildlife and protect sporting traditions. As the report notes: “By conserving, connecting, and restoring 30% of our lands and water by 2030, we can slow the loss of habitat, provide important game and fish species with the room to stabilize and recover, and meet the needs of the sporting community today and in the future.”

As leaders in Congress consider historic investments in natural infrastructure and wildlife habitat, which includes restoration and resilience projects, the report urges hunters and anglers to take the lead and use their extensive knowledge from the field to speak out for wildlife decline and habitat loss. 

“Hunters and anglers are firsthand witnesses to nearly everything that happens in the fields, forests, and on the water,” said Aaron Kindle director of sporting advocacy for the National Wildlife Federation. “We have seen how habitat loss is a very real threat to our sporting future, and that we need to utilize all tools in the toolbox to incentivize the conservation of native landscapes and the restoration of degraded areas. We hope this report shines light on these issues and spurs investment as soon as possible.”  

Visit the National Wildlife Federation Media Center at NWF.org/News

The logo of the National Wildlife Federation is circular and features a raccoon wearing a ranger hat.

DC Legislative Update: Feb 28–Mar 4, 2022 

Check here for the 2022 Senate Calendar
Check here for the 2022 House Calendar

Upcoming Congressional Hearings

  • Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  • Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry Committee
    • Wednesday, March 2 at 10am EST: Hearing to consider the nominations of Christy Goldsmith Romero to be a commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Kristin Johnson to be a commissioner of the CFTC, Summer Mersinger to be commissioner of the CFTC, and Caroline Pham to be a commissioner of the CFTC.
  • Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
    • Wednesday, March 2 at 10am EST: Hearing on implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation, will testify.
  • House Agriculture Committee
  • House Homeland Security Committee
  • House Judiciary Committee
    • Tuesday, March 1 at 10am EST: Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Subcommittee hearing on discrimination against Muslim, Arab, and South Asian American communities.
  • House Natural Resources Committee
  • House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

Congressional News

  • With just under two weeks before government funding runs out on March 11th, details on an appropriations deal for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2022 remain scarce. Last week, President Biden requested an additional $6.4 billion to support Ukraine against the invasion by Russia. Congress could add this funding to a larger appropriations package, or we could see piecemeal funding bills passed up until the 11th. Given the amount of work on the appropriations committees’ plates, there could also be a very short funding extension to keep the government open beyond March 11th. Senator Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico remains absent from the Senate as he recovers from a stroke. His absence impacts Democrats’ ability to command a majority in the chamber. He is expected to recover and return to the Senate within a few weeks.

Administrative News

  • President Biden will provide his State of the Union address to Congress at 9pm EST on Tuesday, March 1. Even with the Russian invasion of Ukraine taking center stage, the President is expected to devote part of his speech to the need for climate action. The speech follows just a day after the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its latest installment of the sixth climate assessment, focused on how changes will affect humans and natural ecosystems. You can view NWF’s press release on the report here.
  • On Friday, President Biden announced his selection of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his nominee to succeed Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court. Judge Jackson will begin meeting with Senators this week as the chamber prepares for her confirmation proceedings. A confirmation hearing with the Judiciary Committee is expected to come quickly, although the exact timeline has not been announced.
  • See here for additional White House resources, including a comprehensive list of Executive orders to address COVID, the climate crisis, and environmental justice, among other topics.

What’s Happening This Week

  • Both chambers of Congress are in session this week.
  • The House will begin by considering 8 bills under suspension, and will likely move later in the week to consider legislation related to toxic exposures for military servicemembers under a rule. Action on a Fiscal Year 2022 funding bill or emergency supplemental funding to provide aid to Ukraine is possible.
  • The Senate is in session and will open the week by moving to consider a House-passed bill that protects the right of Americans to receive an abortion. A vote on the motion to consider is expected to fail, after which the chamber will take up the Postal Service reform that has been before Congress for a few weeks.
  • NWF continues to work to advance our priorities on Capitol Hill, so please feel free to share NWF’s 117th Congress National Policy Agenda.
    The logo of the National Wildlife Federation is circular and features a raccoon wearing a ranger hat.
    www.nwf.org

DC Legislative Update:  January 10–14, 2022

Check here for the 2022 Senate Calendar
Check here for the 2022 House Calendar

Upcoming Congressional Hearings 

  • Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
    • Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at 10am EST: Hearing to examine the opportunities and challenges for maintaining existing hydropower capacity, expanding hydropower at non-powered dams, and increasing pumped storage hydropower.
  • Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
    • Wednesday, Jan 12, 2022 at 2:45 PM EST: Business meeting to consider the nominations of David Uhlmann to be assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Henry Christopher Frey to be Assistant Administrator for the EPA’s Office of Research and Development, and Martha Williams to be Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
    • The Business Meeting will be followed by a hearing on Water Resources Development Act Oversight: USACE Implementation of Water Infrastructure Projects, Programs, and Priorities. The hearing and business meeting are both accessible at the link provided above.
  • House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  • House Agriculture Committee

Congressional News 

  • On January 3rd, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sent a letter to Senate Democrats stating his intention to again consider two pieces of voting rights legislation, the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Under Senate rules, these bills need 60 votes to advance – they have both failed to reach that threshold on previous attempts. In the letter, Senator Schumer indicates that the Senate will consider rule changes – likely including changes to the filibuster – if there is no bipartisan cooperation on advancing these bills. He set a deadline of January 17th, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, for debate on rules changes.
  • Further Senate consideration of the Build Back Better Act is expected to remain on hold while the chamber seeks a breakthrough on voting rights legislation.
  • As a reminder, the government is funded through February 18, 2022 by a continuing resolution that Congress passed in December. Congress must pass a new spending bill before midnight on Feb. 18 to avoid a government shutdown.

Administrative News

  • On Tuesday, January 11, President Biden will travel to Georgia to highlight his administration’s efforts to pass legislation protecting the right to vote. His remarks may shed further light on the degree of his support for filibuster reform in the Senate.
  • House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has invited President Biden to deliver his 2022 State of the Union address to Congress on March 1st.
  • Last week, President Biden re-nominated a batch of nominees whose nominations had expired when the Senate adjourned its 2021 session. The list includes Laura Daniel Davis, formerly of NWF, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior, and Martha Williams to be Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The full list is available here.
  • See here for additional White House resources, including a comprehensive list of Executive orders to address COVID, the climate crisis, and environmental justice, among other topics.

What’s Happening This Week 

  • The House and Senate will both be in session this week, with the House returning for the first time in 2022.
  • The Senate will consider Commerce Department nominees and continue work on voting rights legislation.
  • The House will consider a Veterans Affairs bill and a NASA Other legislation may be added to the schedule.
  • NWF continues to work to advance our priorities on Capitol Hill, so please feel free to share NWF’s 117th Congress National Policy Agenda.
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Public hearing on proposed wildlife rule changes set for Jan. 20

Public hearing on proposed wildlife rule changes set for Jan. 20

The Natural Resources Commission’s Division of Hearings has scheduled a virtual public hearing to accept public comments on proposed rule changes governing fishing tournament licenses/permits, trapping wild animals, and registering to be an organ donor through the DNR’s license system. More information about the proposed changes is at wildlife.IN.gov/rule-regulation-changes/

The virtual public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. ET on Jan. 20, 2022, using WebEx.

Individuals may join the public hearing in two ways:

Those who have never used WebEx should begin the process at least 10 minutes early because they will be prompted to download WebEx before joining the meeting. For technical assistance, contact Scott Allen at 317-232-4699 or sallen@nrc.IN.gov.

Public comments must be submitted to the NRC no later than Jan. 21, 2022, via www.IN.gov/nrc/rules/rulemaking-docket. Click on “Comment on this Rule” next to the “Fish & Wildlife and Law Enforcement Miscellaneous Rule Amendments.”

Comments can also be mailed to:

Natural Resources Commission
Indiana Government Center North
100 North Senate Ave., Room N103
Indianapolis, IN 46204

The NRC will review the public comments before voting on final adoption of the changes in March. Rule changes that are given final adoption by the NRC must still be approved by the Attorney General’s office and Governor’s office and filed with the Indiana Register before taking effect.

To view more DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.

Media contact: Linnea Petercheff, Licensing and Permits Supervisor, DNR Fish & Wildlife, 317-233-6527, LPetercheff@dnr.IN.gov

Saturday, January 29th Conference to be Fully Virtual

For the health and safety of our attendees, staff, and conference presenters, the Indiana Wildlife Federation board has decided to host a fully virtual conference  due to the rise in Indiana coronavirus cases. As you may recall, the event was originally scheduled to be a hybrid in-person/virtual event at the Garrison located at Fort Harrison State Park.

We have already seen a greater number of registrations for virtual attendance so we felt it best for our friends and partners to attend safely from home (sweatpants encouraged). While we will be sad to miss another year to gather together and enjoy time with other wildlife experts and enthusiasts, we are still very excited to host two incredible keynote speakers and one heck of a silent auction.

In an effort to respect everyone’s Zoom-attention span, we have reduced our full day agenda down to a hot 2.5 hours without losing any punch. We hope you will join us Saturday, January 29th from 9:30am-noon to hear from Dr. Mamie Parker and Jim McCormac.

>> GO HERE TO REGISTER <<

Dr. Mamie Parker sits at a large table with name plate Mamie A Parker.Dr. Mamie Parker is a professional fish and wildlife biologist and made history serving as the first African American U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) Regional Director of the 13  northeastern states after working in the Great Lakes and Big Rivers regions. She has received numerous conservation awards and is widely known for her tireless work on wildlife conservation and invasive species. Dr. Parker is a transformational speaker with incredible conservation experience ready to share a message on Our Pivotal Stretch to Make the Best Better.

Be sure to read the fantastic National Wildlife Federation blog post: Dr. Mamie Parker Leads the Way for Women in Conservation.

Jim McCormac  who servedOhio DNR (retired) botanist Jim McCormick at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for 31 years as a botanist, and later specializing in wildlife diversity projects, especially involving birds.  He shares his experience in nature through stunning photography and interpretive storytelling that captivates and inspires. Jim has authored or coauthored six books, including Birds of Ohio, and Wild Ohio: The Best of Our Natural Heritage. We are so pleased to host Jim speaking on Flora, Moths, and Birds: A Tangled Ecological Web.

There are at least 2,600 species of moths and approximately 150 butterfly species in Indiana. The conspicuous and often showy winged adults are but the short-lived finale of a four stage life cycle: egg, pupa, caterpillar, and adult. It’s caterpillars that make much of the natural world go around, and countless billions become food for other organisms, birds included. Without vegetation-eating caterpillars and the native plants that they require, most songbirds would vanish, insect diversity would plummet, and our forests would fall silent. This richly illustrated talk delves into the seemingly magical synergy between flora and caterpillars, and its ecosystem ramifications, especially for birds.

We hope to virtually see you there!
Registration is $25 for members/$35 non-members.

>> GO HERE TO REGISTER <<

(Psst…High school and college students can apply to attend at no cost through our scholar registration fund supported by IWF board members Rick Cockrum, Tina Mahern, and John Goss).

NWF Legislative Update: December 13 – 17, 2021

Check here for the 2021 Senate Calendar
Check here for the 2021 House Calendar

Upcoming Congressional Hearings  

  • Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
    • Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at 10am EST: Executive Session to consider a series of measures and nominations, including S. 46, the Restoring Resilient Reefs Act, and S. 3309, to Secure Semiconductor Supply Full list of items for consideration here.
    • Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 10am EST: Hearing to consider the following nominations: Ann Claire Phillips to be Administrator of the Maritime Administration; Steven Scott Cliff to be Administration of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and John Edward Putnam to be General Counsel of the Department of Transportation.
  • Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
  • Committee on House Administration

Congressional News 

  • Last week, the House passed two NWF-supported bills: R. 5608, the Indian Buffalo Management Act and H.R. 2074, the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act. Both bills will require further action in the Senate, where the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act has not yet been introduced. Click here for NWF’s press release on the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act, and here for the press release on the Indian Buffalo Management Act.
  • Last week, Congress passed and the President signed legislation creating a single-use, fast-track procedure for raising the Debt Ceiling, a major item on Congress’ end-of-year to-do list. The measure allows the Senate to pass a debt ceiling bill on a simple majority, without the two-thirds vote threshold typically required to end debate on legislation and move to a final vote. Legislation to actually raise the debt ceiling is expected in the House this
  • Last week, NWF CEO Collin O’Mara testified in support of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act during a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on the bill. Collin and the other witnesses fielded questions on the bill from the Senators in attendance, who demonstrated broad support for this NWF Click here for the NWF press release on the hearing, and here for the Committee’s website, where you can access a recording of the hearing, and copies of the written testimony from each witness.

Administrative News  

  • Last week, the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) released its Fall 2021 Unified Action Plan for upcoming regulatory In the plan, the administration outlines its intent to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry, improve safety and emissions standards for pipelines, restrict the use of Hydrofluorocarbons, encourage automakers to reduce emissions from vehicles and transition fleets to zero-emissions technologies, and more. You can read the White House statement on the plan here and view OIRA’s materials related to the plan here.
  • See here for additional White House resources, including a comprehensive list of Executive orders to address COVID, the climate crisis, and environmental justice, among other topics.

What’s Happening This Week 

  • The House and Senate are both in session this week.
  • The House has a short agenda, and is expected to introduce and quickly pass legislation to raise the Debt Ceiling. The debt ceiling legislation is expected to put off additional action on the federal government’s debt obligation until after the 2022 elections in
  • The Senate will work on confirming judiciary nominees, and will also take up consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act compromise, which passed the House last week.
    • Senate committees will continue meetings with the Senate Parliamentarian to review provisions of the Build Back Better Act and ensure that the legislation abides by the rules of the Budget Reconciliation process. This week’s meetings will likely include challenges from the minority to certain provisions in the bill. The majority may defend provisions’ inclusion, and the parliamentarian will begin issuing rulings for items that cannot proceed under the reconciliation
  • NWF continues to work to advance our priorities on Capitol Hill, so please feel free to share NWF’s 117th Congress National Policy Agenda.

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D.C. Legislative Update: December 6 – 10, 2021

Check here for the 2021 Senate Calendar
Check here for the 2021 House Calendar

Upcoming Congressional Hearings

Congressional News

  • Recovering America’s Wildlife Act – Collin O’Mara to Testify: On Wednesday, December 8 at 10am EST, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on S. 2372, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. NWF CEO Collin O’Mara will testify in support of the bill. He will be joined on the witness panel by Dan Ashe of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Sara Parker Pauley of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, and Jonathan Wood of the Property and Environment Research Center. Recovering America’s Wildlife Act has gained 32 Senate cosponsors – including 9 of the 20 members of the Environment and Public Works Committee – and 137 in the House. This hearing is a major step towards passing this key NWF priority, and it reflects the enthusiastic support of this bipartisan group of legislators, our partners, and the entire Federation Family.
    • More details on the hearing, including a livestream link are available at the Committee website here, and livestreams are also available on Twitter, and YouTube.
  • Last week, Congress passed and the president signed a stopgap government funding bill, preventing a government shutdown. The law funds the government at existing levels through February 18, 2022, with the addition of $7 billion to support Afghan evacuees. Congressional leaders are continuing to negotiate on a full-year spending package for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. The House and Senate appropriations committees have each posted their proposed funding bills for FY22, available here: Senate Committee; and House Committee.

Administrative News 

  • See here for White House resources, including a comprehensive list of Executive orders to address COVID, the climate crisis, and environmental justice, among other topics. 

What’s Happening This Week

  • The House and Senate are both in session this week.
  • The Senate is expected to consider nominees, and will be engaged with the House on efforts to pass a deadlocked National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022.
    • Senate committees will be meeting with the Senate Parliamentarian to review provisions of the Build Back Better Act and ensure that the legislation abides by the rules of the Budget Reconciliation process.
  • The House is expected to consider R. 5314, the Protecting Our Democracy Act. a possible Continuing Resolution for FY2022 appropriations given the current CR expires this week. In addition, the House is expected to work on a number of suspension bills, including H.R.2074, the Indian Buffalo Management Act, and H.R. 5608, the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act.
  • NWF continues to work to advance our priorities on Capitol Hill, so please feel free to share NWF’s 117th Congress National Policy Agenda.

    National Wildlife Federation Logo

Endangered Whooping Crane flying low over water.

MI Governor Whitmer leads Bipartisan Coalition of Great Lakes Governors to Protect America’s Wildlife 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 3, 2021
Contact: press@michigan.gov

Governor Whitmer leads Bipartisan Coalition of Great Lakes Governors to Protect America’s Wildlife

LANSING, Mich. — Governor Gretchen Whitmer led a bipartisan group of governors, including governors DeWine (R-OH), Evers (D-WI), Wolf (D-PA), Holcomb (R-IN), Walz (D-MN), and Pritzker (D-IL), in sending a letter to leaders of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources voicing their support for the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act.

“Our fish and wildlife and their natural habitats are one of our greatest assets, and any threats to them impact not only our environment but also our economy,” said Governor Whitmer. “The future of Michigan’s economy rests on our ability to come together and protect our wildlife and natural resources. That’s why I am proud to come together with a bipartisan coalition of governors to support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. I want to thank Congresswoman Dingell for her leadership on this issue and I look forward to working with anyone to put Michiganders first and working hard to protect our natural resources and environment for future generations.”

“The passage of RAWA would mark a big step forward for states like Michigan that continually struggle to secure long term support for species without dedicated sources of funding, including those that are threatened or endangered,” said Michigan Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Eichinger. “RAWA will allow Michigan to annually invest as much as $30 million more in managing and protecting species that are important to our ecosystems and Michiganders. The result will be even more conservation success stories for our state and the nation.”

Passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will help promote and enhance our nation’s conservation efforts and ensure the long-term health of fish and wildlife throughout the country.

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, sponsored by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12), would:

  • Fund conservation efforts for more than 12,000 species of wildlife and plants in need of assistance by providing $1.3 billion in dedicated annual funding for proactive, on-the-ground efforts in every state and territory.
  • Accelerate the recovery of 1,600 U.S. species already listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
  • Ensure wildlife recovery efforts will be guided by the congressionally-mandated State Wildlife Action Plans, which identify specific strategies to restore the populations of species of greatest conservation need.
  • Provide Tribal nations $97.5 million annually to fund proactive wildlife conservation efforts on roughly 140 million acres of land.
  • Include improvements to ensure funds are appropriately targeted to the areas of greatest need and facilitate additional investments in protecting at-risk plant species.

To view the full letter, click the link below:

D.C. Legislative Update: November 15-19, 2021

Check here for the 2021 Senate Calendar
Check here for the 2021 House Calendar

Upcoming Congressional Hearings 

  • Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
    • Tuesday, November 16 at 10am EST: Business meeting to consider pending nominations, including Laura Daniel-Davis to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior (Land and Minerals Management) and Sara Bronin to be Chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic
    • Tuesday, November 16 at 10am EST: “Hearing On Domestic And International Energy Price ”
    • Thursday, November 18 at 10am EST: “Business Meeting To Consider Pending Legislation,” including a number of public lands and forestry bills. See here for the full list.
  • House Foreign Affair Committee
    • Tuesday, November 16 at 10am EST: Subcommittee: Europe, Energy, the Environment and Cyber hearing on “National Security Implications of Climate Change in the Arctic.”
  • House Natural Resources Committee
    • Tuesday, November 16 at 10am EST: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hearing on “Oversight: Plugging in Public Lands: Transmission Infrastructure for Renewable Energy.”
  • House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  • House Agriculture Committee
  • Senate Finance Committee
    • Tuesday, November 16 at 10:15am EST: ”Hearing to Consider the Nominations of The Honorable Maria Louise Lago, of New York, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade and Lisa Wang, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce.”
  • House Energy and Commerce Committee
    • Tuesday, November 16 at 10:30am EST: Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change and the Subcommittee on Energy hearing on “Securing America’s Future: Supply Chain Solutions for a Clean Energy “
  • Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
  • Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  • House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
  • Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee
    • Wednesday, November 17 at 10:30am EST: “To consider the following nominations: Chavonda J. Jacobs-Young to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics, USDA and Margo Schlanger to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture, ”
  • House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
  • Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
    • Thursday, November 18 at 10:15am EST: “Nominations of Erik Hooks to be Deputy Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; the Honorable Michael Kubayanda to be a Commissioner, Postal Regulatory Commission; Laurel A. Blatchford to be Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget; and Ebony M. Scott and Donald W. Tunnage to be Associate Judges, Superior Court of the District of Columbia.”

Congressional News 

  • 2372, the Recovering Americas Wildlife Act, now has 33 Senate cosponsors. NWF will continue pushing for more cosponsors and advocating for this critical wildlife conservation bill.
  • In recent weeks, the Senate Appropriations Committee released the remainder of its appropriations bills for the fiscal year See the Committee’s website here for the full text of each bill.

Administrative News  

  • In previous weeks, the EPA issued its proposed rule strengthening, and expanding, methane limits on new oil and gas sector See here for NWF’s press release in support.
  • See here for White House resources, including a comprehensive list of Executive orders to address COVID, the climate crisis, and environmental justice, among other topics.

What’s Happening This Week 

  • The House and Senate are both in session this week.
  • The House is expected to consider, and vote on, the Build Back Better Act this week.
  • The Senate is expected to take up the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 this
  • NWF continues to work to advance our priorities on Capitol Hill, so please feel free to share NWF’s 117th Congress National Policy Agenda.

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Photo Credit: Emily Wood

CWD Bill Could Provide the Funding and Research Needed to Fight Deer Disease

View original blog at: https://www.nwf.org/Outdoors/Blog/11-03-2021-Chronic-Wasting-Disease

Nov 03, 2021

It seems to never fail in recent years that as Halloween approaches, someone writes about “zombie deer” in regards to Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), which affects cervids like deer, elk, and moose. As a deer hunter who cares deeply about the conservation of the species I hunt, I cringe every time I read this, as deer do not turn into zombies and trivializing the disease does little to stop it.  The new bipartisan CWD Management and Research Act, though, could help with what is really needed to combat CWD: research and funding.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a serious issue affecting wildlife and it has no easy solutions. CWD is a prion disease, related to “mad cow disease,” that leaves cervids like deer, elk, and moose emaciated, wasting away. It is always deadly, either directly or through the effects of its symptoms, though wildlife can be infected and spread the disease long before they show symptoms.

While it has not jumped the species barrier to humans yet, people are advised not to eat the meat of a deer or elk infected by CWD. Hunters in areas positive for CWD should test their game before cooking it. As the disease spreads, these concerns could also depress the hunting participation that pays for the bulk of wildlife conservation efforts. It will take scientific research into how its spread and funding for strapped state wildlife agencies trying to manage it. And that’s exactly what the recently-introduced bipartisan CWD Research and Management Act would provide.

CWD Research and Management Act
The Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act (HR 5608) authorizes $70 million annually in CWD funding, split evenly between management funding to be granted out to state wildlife and agriculture agencies and tribal nations, and funding for CWD applied research grants administered by the USDA. It was introduced by Reps. Ron Kind (D-Wis.) and Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.) and has already passed the House Agriculture Committee.

“Southwest Wisconsin has been ground zero for CWD in whitetail deer country for 20 years,” said Doug Duren, a southwest Wisconsin farmer and deer hunter who organized a carcass disposal program to reduce the spread of CWD. “For a variety of reasons, the disease continues to spread and grow in prevalence. In parts of the area prevalence has grown to 50% or more in bucks. Several counties are seeing 20-25% positive rates in all deer tested. Deer numbers are still high in many areas, but as disease prevalence grows, the deer herd is and will trend younger. We need to work on Healthy Deer Management and ensure this resource for the future.”

The management section of the act will prioritize funding where incidence of CWD is the highest, where jurisdictions have the highest financial commitment to managing, monitoring, surveying, and researching CWD, for efforts to develop comprehensive CWD management plans, to areas showing the greatest risk for initial occurrences of CWD, and to areas responding to new outbreaks of CWD.

“Although many hunters and concerned citizens have worked creatively and cooperatively with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to fight the disease by providing carcass disposal dumpsters, convenient testing drop-off kiosks and education on CWD, efforts have been limited by funding,” said Duren. “To fight CWD we need to ‘Buy time and Pay for science’ and the new funding included in the CWD Research and Management Act will help scientists, game managers, hunters and the public do just that.”

The research section will be administered by the USDA through cooperative agreements and prioritize methods to test CWD in live deer and the environment, testing methods on non-live cervids, genetic resistance to CWD, sustainable cervid harvest management practices to reduce CWD occurrence, and factors contributing to local occurrence of CWD.

The National Wildlife Federation adopted a resolution in 2017 calling for the creation of a federal Fish and Wildlife Disease Trust Fund to respond to wildlife diseases like CWD to provide rapid response funding to states for fish and wildlife disease outbreaks..

“Chronic wasting disease is one of the greatest threats facing deer, elk, and moose populations across the country, jeopardizing hunting opportunities, ecosystems, and our nation’s outdoor economy,” said Mike Leahy, director for wildlife, hunting, and fishing policy for the National Wildlife Federation. “We are grateful for Representatives Kind and Thompson’s steadfast leadership on this critical issue. The bipartisan Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act will help ensure state and Tribal agencies on the front lines of controlling this disease have the resources they need to better understand and stop its spread.”

The legislation is supported by the National Wildlife Federation, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, the National Deer Association, the Mule Deer Foundation, the Boone & Crockett Club, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

As a Michigan deer hunter living in a state with CWD, I’m encouraged that real solutions and funding are advancing. I’m looking forward to deer camp in November, hopefully harvesting some venison, and having the deer tested for CWD to ensure that it’s safe to eat. Research and management funding is what our deer and elk need, not sensational headlines about “zombie deer.” The real effects of CWD are scary enough.

National Wildlife Federation Logo
Drew YoungeDyke is the Director of Conservation Partnerships for the National Wildlife Federation Great Lakes Regional Center, strengthening the federation’s partnerships with independent affiliate conservation organizations in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, as well as managing media outreach and communications for the region. 

2021 IWF Annual Member Meeting: Proposed Bylaws Amendments

To maintain clear transparency of our organization, the IWF annually hosts a meeting with members to share updates, track progress on goals, and to make any amendments to our bylaws. Members are invited to attend this virtual meeting to be hosted on:

IWF Annual Member Meeting
Thursday, December 2nd, 2021
6:00-7:00pm 

 

>> Click to Review Proposed IWF Bylaws Changes<<
Proposed changes to bylaws were approved by the board on 10-27-21 and are shown in red. These bylaws changes in general are related to our board processes shifting largely to virtual communications during COVID 19. The redlined portions reflect in certain and limited cases, usually regarding legislation, the board may need an expedited vote via electronic means.   

To register and receive your meeting link, please send an RSVP email to: wood@indianawildlife.org

 

 

D.C. Legislative Update: October 18-22, 2021

Check here for the 2021 Senate Calendar
Check here for the 2021 House Calendar

Upcoming Congressional Hearings 

  • Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
    • Tuesday, October 19 at 10am EST: “Full Committee Hearing to Consider Pending Nominations” including Mr. Willie L. Phillips, Jr. to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Mr. Brad J. Crabtree to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Fossil Energy and Carbon Management), and Charles F. Sams III to be Director of the National Park Service.
    • Tuesday, October 19 at 2:30pm EST: Public Lands, Forests, & Mining Subcommittee Legislative See here for the full list of pending legislation.
    • Thursday, October 21 at 10am EST: Hearing to consider pending legislation on topics including public lands, forests, and See here for the full list of bills.
  • Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
  • House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack
  • Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
  • House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
    • Wednesday, October 20 at 10am EST: Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation hearing on “Achieving Mission Balance: Positioning the Coast Guard for the Future.”
  • House Energy and Commerce Committee
  • House Natural Resources Committee
  • House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis
  • Senate Judiciary Committee
  • Senate Indian Affairs Committee
    • Wednesday, October 20 at 2:30pm EST: Roundtable discussion on “Investing in Economic Sovereignty: Leveraging Federal Financing for New and Sustained Development in Native Communities”
  • House Foreign Affairs Committee
    • Thursday, October 21 at 10am EST: Subcommittee: International Development, International Organizations and Global Corporate Social Impact hearing on “Preparing for COP26: United States Strategy to Combat Climate Change through International Development”
  • House Judiciary Committee
  • House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
    • Thursday, October 21 at 10am EST: Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and Subcommittee on Energy hearing on “Judicious Spending to Enable Success of the Office of Nuclear Energy.”

Congressional News 

  • 2372, the Recovering Americas Wildlife Act, now has 29 Senate cosponsors. NWF will continue pushing for more cosponsors and advocating for this critical wildlife conservation bill.

Administrative News 

  • On Thursday, President Biden signed S. 1301, “which provides for authority to increase the debt limit by $480 billion, which is expected to be sufficient to allow the Federal Government to continue to meet its full commitments through early December.” The bill passed the Senate last week in a vote of 50-48.
  • See here for White House resources, including a comprehensive list of Executive orders to address COVID, the climate crisis, and environmental justice, among other topics.

What’s Happening This Week 

  • This week, the House and Senate are both back from recess.
  • The Senate is expected to focus on outstanding nominations this The Senate is also expected to vote on proceeding to consider the Freedom to Vote Act, which would advance critical reforms to ensure every American is able to exercise their right to vote, including by expanding early voting, making Election Day a federal holiday, and requiring states to have automatic voter registration.
  • The Senate Appropriations Committee released 9 of its 12 appropriations bills today, Monday 18, for the fiscal year 2022.
    • See the Committee’s website here for the full text of each bill. As a reminder, the House Appropriations Committee introduced and held markups on their versions earlier this year.
  • The House is expected to focus on a number of suspension bills.
  • As the White House and Congress continue work on the Build Back Better agenda, including the bipartisan infrastructure package and budget reconciliation, NWF continues to work to advance our priorities around these Please feel free to share NWF’s 117th Congress National Policy Agenda.

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Governor Holcomb announces IN Wetland Task Force

In a press release yesterday, Governor Holcomb announced the appointments to the Indiana Wetlands Task Force:

Indiana Wetlands Task Force

The governor made thirteen appointments to the new task force, who will serve until December 31, 2022:

    • The Honorable Zach Beasley (West Lafayette), Tippecanoe County Surveyor
    • Will Ditzler (Westfield), president of RiverBirch Executive Advisors, who will also serve as chair of the task force
    • Jill Hoffmann (Indianapolis), executive director of the White River Alliance
    • Jared Kakasuleff (Cicero), farmer at Kakasuleff Farms
    • Jeremy Kieffner (Evansville), environmental permit manager at Lochmueller Group
    • Dr. Sara McMillan (West Lafayette), associate professor of Agricultural & Biological Engineering at Purdue University
    • Matt Meersman (South Bend), director of the St. Joseph River Basin Commission
    • Michael Novotney (Valparaiso), Porter County Engineer and director of engineering
    • Commissioner Bruno Pigott, representing the Indiana Department of Environmental Management
    • Kyle Rorah (Dexter, MI), regional director of public policy for Ducks Unlimited
    • Joe Schmees (Fishers), executive director of the Indiana Association of Soil & Water Conservation Districts
    • The Honorable Richard Strick, Mayor of Huntington
    • Jeff Thomas (Fort Wayne), co-owner and vice president of Oakmont Development, LLC

D.C. Legislative Update: Sept 20-24, 2021

Check here for the 2021 Senate Calendar
Check here for the 2021 House Calendar

Upcoming Congressional Hearings 

  • House Foreign Affairs Committee
  • Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
    • Tuesday, September 21 at 10am EST: “Full Committee Hearing to Consider Pending Nominations” including Laura Daniel-Davis to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior (Land and Minerals Management), Camille C. Touton to be Commissioner of Reclamation, and Sara Bronin to be Chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
  • Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
    • Tuesday, September 21 at 3pm EST: Subcommittee on Tourism, Trade, and Export Promotion hearing on “Legislative Solutions to Revive Travel and Tourism and Create Jobs.”
  • Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
    • Wednesday, September 22 at 9:30am EST: “Business meeting to consider several of President Biden’s nominees, legislation to rename federal buildings, and several General Services Administration resolutions. Immediately following, the committee will hold a hearing on the importance of promoting a circular economy.”
  • Senate Finance Committee
    • Wednesday, September 22 at 10am EST: “Hearing to Consider the Nominations of Christi A. Grimm, of Colorado, to be Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services and Neil Harvey MacBride, of Virginia, to be General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury”
  • Senate Judiciary Committee
  • House energy and Commerce Committee
  • House Agriculture Committee
  • House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
    • Thursday, September 23 at 10am EST: Subcommittee on Environment hearing on “Advancing Earth System Science and Stewardship at ” This hearing will feature witness testimony from the Honorable Richard W. Spinrad, Ph.D., Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, and Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
  • Senate Homeland Security Committee

Congressional News  

  • Last week, components of the Build Back Better Act (budget reconciliation) bill passed out of the Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees. See here for NWF’s press release on passage through Ways and Means outlining support of the committee’s work to strengthen clean energy and technology. Additionally, see here for NWF’s tweet in support of the Energy and Commerce Committee’s work on the Build Back Better Act to advance climate action.
  • NWF sent this letter to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in support of Laura Daniel Davis’ nomination to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Lands and Minerals Management. Davis, NWF’s former s Chief of Policy and Advocacy, brings the leadership, skills, and experience needed for the role, and NWF supports her swift confirmation.

Administrative News  

  • Last week, NWF sent out a statement urging Congress to pursue needed and overdue reforms to the National Flood Insurance See here for NWF’s press release.
  • See here for White House resources, including a comprehensive list of Executive orders to address COVID, the climate crisis, and environmental justice, among other topics.

What’s Happening This Week  

  • Both chambers are in session this week. The House is expected to focused on a C.R. for FY2022 – to keep the government funded past the September 30 deadline and into, likely, December, 2021 – as well as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
  • The Senate is expected to work on judicial nominations this In addition, we are expecting this week a cloture and full Senate vote on the nomination of Tracy Stone-Manning for Director of the Bureau of Land Management.
  • As Congress continues to work to advance budget reconciliation, infrastructure, and appropriations, please feel free to share NWF’s 117th Congress National Policy Agenda.

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Recycle Used Printer Cartridges & Earn Cash for Indiana Wildlife

Image with cartoon icons and showing the 3 easy steps to recycle printer cartridges and raise money for IWF. Request your free shipping label from http://www.planetgreenrecycle.com/ and use the IWF program code 31793Every day over a million used ink cartridges are thrown away. Use this easy way to recycle your used printer cartridges and it will help us generate much-needed funds while doing our part to preserve the planet.

Click here to retrieve your FREE USPS shipping label to recycle your inks.

 

Be sure to type in Indiana Wildlife Federation code: 31793 when completing the shipping form.  

 

The more people who recycle their used ink cartridges with our Program ID Code: 31793 the more money we raise to protect wildlife and habitats across the state!

Brown County State Park, July 14, 2021. Photo by Abbie Gressley, IWF 2021 Summer Intern

Who needs the Indiana Wildlife Federation?

YOU do—that’s who!

For generations, Indiana has provided a diverse landscape for all who love to be outdoors.  Whether its hiking, biking, boating, fishing, hunting, camping, photography or wildlife watching—Hoosiers love to be outside.   As the population in Indiana grows, so does the pressure on our natural resources to support these cherished activities.

The mission of the Indiana Wildlife Federation (IWF) is to promote the conservation, sound management and sustainable-use of Indiana’s wildlife and wildlife habitat.  For over 82 years, IWF has been the statewide voice; loud, clear and strong speaking out for the interests of Indiana conservationists and for the preservation of our outdoor heritage so it may be enjoyed by generations to come.

Emily Wood and Aaron Stump pose after a long, wet day planting trees  and native woodland perennials at Oliver’s Woods Nature Preserve. Indianapolis, June 2, 2021. Photo by Abbie Gressley, IWF Summer Intern

How do we do it?  Through our 3 pillars of focus: Education, Advocacy and Action.  We work across Indiana delivering free environmental education programs that provide clear calls-to-action that encourage everyone to be better stewards of our natural resources and habitats.  IWF is also an agency watchdog in which our board and staff are frequently called upon to give views on bills pending before the legislature, on the actions of resource management leaders and on activities bearing upon our lands, forests, waterways or environment.  We also work to add habitat and expand access through on-the-ground volunteer projects that engage and activate a conservation network across the state.

If you are among those of us that love being outside, then you know it is more than just fresh air and sunshine.  It’s about clean water, healthy ecosystems, abundant habitat and a deep respect for the natural world. If that sounds right to you—then join us and add your support to the growing number of Hoosiers that value Indiana wildlife.

We invite you to join as a member or explore our website to find out more about upcoming events, campaigns, workshops, lecture series or projects that you can get involved with. Like us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay connected!

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Will Prevent IN Wildlife from Becoming Endangered

Right now, one-third of all wildlife species in the United States are at increased risk of extinction. In Indiana alone, more than 150 fish and wildlife species are in urgent need of proactive, on-the-ground conservation efforts before they pass the point of no return.

Congress just took the first step toward making those efforts a reality with the introduction of the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. This bill will fund proactive efforts led by state fish and wildlife agencies and tribes to address the nation’s looming wildlife crisis to prevent species from becoming endangered and will be the most significant investment in wildlife conservation in a generation. (Senate Version) (House Version)

At home here in Indiana, this could add over $14 million dollars to the DNR’s budget to restore native landscapes, protect and restore wetlands, and activate numerous species recovery projects that are outlined in our State Wildlife Action Plan that are in need of funding.

Whooping Crane in Flight

During August and September, congress is at home so this is a perfect time to reach out. Please join our efforts in asking your member of Congress to support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act to address severe wildlife conservation challenges such as habitat loss, competition from invasive species, disease, climate impacts, and other threats.

Due to committee assignments, US Senator Mike Braun’s support on this bill would be especially influential. We need your help in reaching him first. You can learn more with this IN factsheet, and funding Q & A factsheet; or simply say:  “Senator, please join your colleagues Senators Martin Heinrich and Roy Blunt in cosponsoring the transformative, common-sense bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S. 2372) today.”

 

EMAIL SENATOR BRAUN – see cosponsor request template below.
CALL: 202-224-4814
TWEET @SenatorBraun

EMAIL SENATOR YOUNG – see cosponsor request template below.
CALL: 202-224-5623
TWEET @SenToddYoung

Send a thank you email to U.S. House Representative Andre Carson, Indiana’s only #recoverwildlife congressional cosponsor.

EMAIL REPRESENTATIVE CARSON – See thank you template below.
Call: 202-225-4011
TWEET @RepAndreCarson

Need a template letter?

Subject Line: Please Co-Sponsor the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, S. 2372

Dear Senator,

America’s wildlife are essential for our national heritage and our $887 billion dollar outdoor economy. But thanks to challenges like habitat loss, invasive species, emerging diseases, and climate change we’re losing ground and species — and fast.

Right now, more than one-third of our fish and wildlife species are at-risk of becoming extinct. We have already lost more than 150 species that are presumed extinct and another 500 species are missing in action. State fish and wildlife agencies have identified more than 12,000 species of greatest conservation need. 

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will accelerate the recovery of these species, including the more than 150 U.S. species listed on Indiana’s State Wildlife Action Plan.

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is built upon the premise that the best way to save America’s wildlife is through collaborative, proactive, voluntary work before species need more expensive “emergency room procedures” through the Endangered Species Act. I urge you to create a bright future for America’s wildlife and natural heritage by supporting and co-sponsoring S. 2372.  

Sincerely,

Thank-you Letter Template

Subject line: Thank you for supporting the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act 

Dear Representative Carson,

I am writing to thank you for co-sponsoring H.R. 2773, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, and asking you to do all you can to ensure it passes and is signed into law. 

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act invests in proactive, on-the-ground, collaborative conservation efforts that match the magnitude of America’s wildlife crisis. Healthy wildlife populations are a vital component of our national heritage and our $887 billion dollar outdoor economy. But our diverse array of fish and wildlife is in crisis with more than one-third of all species at risk of becoming endangered. Challenges facing our fish and wildlife in the 21st century include habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, and emerging diseases. 

Thank you for standing up for wildlife through your support of this bipartisan legislation. I urge you to continue advocating for passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in the 117th Congress.

Sincerely,

 

New Video Indiana Climate Change: Fishing the White River

Indiana Wildlife Federation’s “Fishing the White River” shows the threat of climate change to the White River and the current impacts on some of Indiana’s best fly fishing locations.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN (August 23, 2021) – A new 4 min short video released this week explores how fly fishing on the White River in central Indiana has been impacted by climate-driven severe weather over the years. The film focuses on the ways that seasonal flooding and temperature increases are changing White River habitats and other Indiana river systems. Fishing the White River, was released by the Indiana Wildlife Federation (IWF), and features local fly fishing guide Jason DeArman of Two Forks Guide Service.

In addition to the video IWF has added online resources at www.indianawildlife.org/climate outlining how equitable policies and programs can create jobs, tackle climate change, and harness the power of nature to enhance long-term health for people and wildlife alike.  “Hunters and anglers are often times the first to notice changes in the environment because of their intimate knowledge of a natural place,” says Emily Wood, executive director of the Indiana Wildlife Federation. “As heavy rain events, hotter summers, and milder winters, become more frequent throughout the Midwest, the IWF hopes to galvanize these outdoor users to take action for climate before these places are gone.”

This video was filmed, produced, and edited by Leslie Lorance of Indianapolis and supported by a grant from the National Wildlife Federation.

Fishing the White River can seen below or viewed on YouTube and the Indiana Wildlife Federation’s Facebook Page.

Goble shows multiple caterpillars on a leaf in one of her cages designed to keep them safe July 18, 2021. The caterpillars eat anywhere from fourteen to twenty before curving into a J and forming their cocoon.

Monarchs have a friend in Indiana

Monarchs have a friend in Indiana

Story and photos by Abbie Gressley, Indiana Wildlife Federation 2021 Summer Habitat Intern

When Amanda Goble first started raising monarch butterflies three years ago, she only knew there weren’t many in her area. Little did she know the process she loves so much would soon be making a larger impact on the monarch population.

“I realize it is a small part to help, but any small thing could make a big impact eventually,” says the 46-year-old from Marion, Indiana.

The eastern migratory population of monarch butterflies decreased by 84% between the winters of 1996–1997 and 2014–2015, and the much smaller western monarch population has declined 74% since the late 1990s, according to the Indiana Monarch Conservation Plan (IMCP).

The IMCP was influenced by those interested in monarch butterfly conservation and habitat restoration in an attempt to reverse the population decline of North American monarchs.

Goble says they had almost lost monarchs in the area due to chemical spraying for bugs on crops and people using them at their own homes without the pollinators. So, she planted milkweed seeds for the monarchs to lay eggs on and had her husband build screened in cages to protect the caterpillars and cocoons from other bugs.

“I have an abundance of praying mantis in my yard, and they will eat them, so this gives them a safe place to stay in hopes that they will make it to butterflies,” she says.

Goble starts her process in the spring to make sure the milkweed is growing and plant more if needed. In July, the monarchs start showing up for nectar and begin laying eggs on the plants. She then watches for caterpillars and takes them to the cages to finish growing. It takes about fourteen to twenty days for them to eat before creating a J with their bodies and forming a cocoon. The cocoon will hatch within seven to nine days.

“Finding the caterpillars and letting the butterflies go is about all the hands-on work you need to do, the rest they do on their own,” Goble says. “I try not to interfere with their process too much.”

Goble says she loves the whole process and only wishes to help them grow to adulthood.

“I think it’s fascinating how an egg the size of a pinhead can grow to a caterpillar then change into a butterfly out of a small cocoon,” she says. “Watching them fly away is my favorite part; I say goodbye to each one and wish them well on their journey.”

According to the IMCP, Indiana, along with other Midwestern states, comprises a particularly important portion of the range of the eastern population of monarch butterflies, supplying much of the breeding and migrating habitat that produces the migratory generation of the eastern monarch population.

Goble is one of many in Indiana playing a small role for a much bigger cause for these butterflies.

“I just let the butterflies fly away in hopes that they will live to make new caterpillars and butterflies,” she says. “I hope to continue to give the butterflies a chance to survive and keep coming back to our area.”