Western Native Trout Initiative

Contact: Robin Knox
Coordinator, Western Native Trout Initiative
rknox@westernnativetrout.org

The Western Native Trout Initiative(WNTI) announces a call for western native trout habitat and management projects that could be funded in 2010 through the National Fish Habitat Action Plan.

The Western Native Trout Initiative, a venture of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and a National Fish Habitat Partnership, is requesting the submittal of project proposals for the 2010 National Fish Habitat Action Plan 2010 funding cycle.

The Initiative, as in past years, requests that native trout conservation and recovery teams, local native trout support groups, and interested parties work with state, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and National Park Service biologists to review the various species needs, and submit project requests that address habitat or other management needs of the 15 native trout served by WNTI.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service and WNTI maintain a list of projects that is over 4 years old, and is in constant need of revision as projects are completed or revised, and new projects are added. Also, one of the goals of the Initiative is to serve as a clearing house for matching projects to funding sources beyond just what is provided by the National Fish Habitat Board. The list of WNTI projects can also be helpful in seeking Congressional funding is the future.

Other funding opportunites not directly managed by WNTI come from sources such as the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The FishAmerica Foundation, Trout Unlimited, Patagonia, and others. Information about these funding sources can be found under the "Projects" tab on the WNTI webpage - www.westernnativetrout.org.

The Western Native Trout Initiative works closely with the western states and 5 US Fish and Wildlife Service Regions to prioritize the project requests each year as funding becomes available. Decisions on what projects are moved forward for funding take place in late Fall, in accordance with the guidance provided by the National Fish Habitat Board.

For further information please contact the WNTI Coordinator, your state fish and wildlife management agency, or one of the five US Fish and Wildlife Service offices listed below.

US Fish and Wildlife Service Region 1
Attn: Mark Bagdovitz
Habitat and Science Division
911 NE 11th Avenue
Portland, OR 97232
ph: (503) 872-2763

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 2
Attn: Jim Brooks
New Mexico Fishery Resources Office
3800 Commons Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
Office: 505/342-9900, ext. 102

US Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6
Attn: Morgan Elmer
Fisheries Program Branch
134 Union Blvd., Suite 665
Lakewood, CO 80228
Ph. 303-236-4512

US Fish and Wildlife Service Region 7
Attn: John DeLapp
1011 East Tudor Road
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Ph. (907) 271-1799

US Fish and Wildlife Service Region 8
Attn: John Engbring
2800 Cottage Way, Suite W2606
Sacramento, CA 95825-1846
Ph. 916-987-6178