NEWS

U.S. Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service
9173 W. Barnes Dr., Suite B
Boise, Idaho 83709

Media Contact:
Jody Fagan (208) 685-6978
Bob Bartholomew (208) 378-5703

Money Available for Native Fish Conservation Projects

BOISE, May 8, 2006—The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Idaho is holding a second Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) sign-up this year. About $200,000 will be available.

WHIP, reauthorized in the 2002 Farm Bill, is a voluntary program where NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to landowners to enhance upland, wetland, riparian and aquatic wildlife habitat areas.

Idaho’s second WHIP sign-up is open to all counties and will run from May 8—26, 2006. Projects must directly benefit native fish species that are recognized to be in population decline or on the Threatened and Endangered list.

“Due to our excellent partnership with various other organizations and agencies, such as the Idaho Department of Fish & Game, our funds went further than expected this year,” says Bob Bartholomew, NRCS assistant state conservationist for programs. “This gives us the opportunity to look for projects outside of our original priority areas.”

Originally, the 2006 WHIP sign-up was only open to areas along the Teton and Bear rivers, and known salmon habitat areas in the Idaho Panhandle.

WHIP conservation practices can include providing shade along streams, restoring gravel spawning beds, removing barriers to fish passages and reducing agricultural runoff.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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