Protect, preserve, understand, and conserve…
Legislative Alert
by Administrator - Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 @ 4:35 AM
Ask the Legislature and Governor Not to Sweep Wildlife Dollars
Issue: The Legislature and Governor's Office swept $7,560,695 dollars from Arizona Game & Fish to balance the 2008 budget deficit. Another $5.6 million was taken from State Lake Improvement and Off Highway Vehicle funds from State Parks. Negotiations between the Legislature and the Governors Office are occurring as we speak to address the projected $2.2 Billion budget shortfall for 2009. AGFD is being considered for more funding sweeps.
While $13 million was swept from the AGFD and State Parks 2008 Budgets, some agencies were not swept or only minimally affected and others appeared to have actually received net increases. The difference between the Arizona Game & Fish Department (AGFD ) and other state agencies is the manner in which it is funded. The AGFD does not receive one penny of general fund revenues.
Call and email your legislator today. Do not wait. Make contact today.
Time is of the Essence. Remember to be Respectful and Courteous.
How To Find Your Legislators:
- If you know your legislators... go to the Arizona State Legistative roster
- If you do not know your legislators...
- To find the Legislative District in which you live, enter your address and 5 digit ZIP CODE in the top right corner on the linked page... find your District
- Return to the Arizona State Legislator member list ... find your Legistative members
Contact the Governor at 602-542-4331 or email the Governor at azgov@az.gov
Key Talking Points:
- I am a member of your Legislative District,
- Please do not sweep AZ. Game & Fish Department Funds they are not general fund monies
- General Fund Agencies should be held accountable and not rewarded by getting wildlife dollars
- Arizona Game and Fish Department manages funds within means and does not have a deficit. Wildlife dollars should be used for the purpose for which they are earmarked.
Cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl Considered for ESA Listing
by Administrator - Friday, June 6th, 2008 @ 8:33 AM
Once again, the tiny predator known as the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-owl is being considered for threatened or endangered designation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The USFWS issued a 90-day finding and Status Review on June 1, 2008, which states that relisting may be warranted and seeks information as to the taxonomy, ecology, and biology of the pygmy-owl. Comments must be received by USFWS by August 1, 2008, and the Service seeks additional information regarding proposed critical habitat, in case it finds the listing is warranted upon completion of its 12-month finding.
Vehicles banned on section of monument
by Administrator - Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 @ 2:44 AM
Ginger D. Richardson
The Arizona Republic
May 13, 2008 12:00 AM
Sonoran Desert swath extensively damaged
Starting next month, a huge swath of the Sonoran Desert National Monument, one of the state's most prized parcels of public land, will be closed to off-road enthusiasts.
The federal Bureau of Land Management is banning all vehicular traffic, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, from 55,000 acres of the popular desert wilderness because of extensive environmental damage.Read More…
Transportation Initiative Filed
by Administrator - Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 @ 7:08 AM
You may have heard that the transportation initiative was filed Thursday, May 6, 2008. This is a huge step towards wise growth in Arizona and focusing transportation corridors.
The initiative creates a new fund estimated to generate about $42 billion over 30 years to be distributed as follows:
- 55% state highways (49% of this in counties with a population over 2.5 million persons; 39% to counties with a population under 1 million persons; and 12% on counties with populations between 1 million and 2.5 million persons). There is only one new highway included in the package and that is in Yavapai county for 89A.
- 18% for transit (8% of which goes to regional public transit in counties with a population over 2.5 million persons; 5% for regional public transit in counties with populations between 1 million and 2.5 million; and 8% for passenger rail)
- 20% for local transportation purposes (includes light rail, local roads, buses, etc)
- 4% for transportation enhancements (scenic easements, safe school routes, environmental mitigation, landscaping, pedestrian and bike trails, etc.)
- 3% to the Open Space Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Fund.
State Trust Land Initiative Filed
by Administrator - Monday, May 12th, 2008 @ 7:12 AM
A State Trust Land Initiative has been filed by The Nature Conservancy and the Arizona Education Association. The initiative will:
Designate ~570,000 as permanent conservation lands at no cost, with over 180,000 acres within Pima County. Development of these lands will be prohibited and will remain within the ownership of the State Land Department. All leasing activities that are consistent with conservation will be allowed on the conservation preserve. The State Land Department has the discretion to transfer ownership of these lands to other state agencies (parks) or jurisdictions at no cost if it is the best interest of the trust to do so. The attached document contains a map of the permanent conservation lands.
Legislative Alert
by Administrator - Sunday, June 22nd, 2008 @ 4:35 AM
Ask the Legislature and Governor Not to Sweep Wildlife Dollars
Issue: The Legislature and Governor's Office swept $7,560,695 dollars from Arizona Game & Fish to balance the 2008 budget deficit. Another $5.6 million was taken from State Lake Improvement and Off Highway Vehicle funds from State Parks. Negotiations between the Legislature and the Governors Office are occurring as we speak to address the projected $2.2 Billion budget shortfall for 2009. AGFD is being considered for more funding sweeps.
While $13 million was swept from the AGFD and State Parks 2008 Budgets, some agencies were not swept or only minimally affected and others appeared to have actually received net increases. The difference between the Arizona Game & Fish Department (AGFD ) and other state agencies is the manner in which it is funded. The AGFD does not receive one penny of general fund revenues.
Call and email your legislator today. Do not wait. Make contact today.
Time is of the Essence. Remember to be Respectful and Courteous.
How To Find Your Legislators:
- If you know your legislators... go to the Arizona State Legistative roster
- If you do not know your legislators...
- To find the Legislative District in which you live, enter your address and 5 digit ZIP CODE in the top right corner on the linked page... find your District
- Return to the Arizona State Legislator member list ... find your Legistative members
Contact the Governor at 602-542-4331 or email the Governor at azgov@az.gov
Key Talking Points:
- I am a member of your Legislative District,
- Please do not sweep AZ. Game & Fish Department Funds they are not general fund monies
- General Fund Agencies should be held accountable and not rewarded by getting wildlife dollars
- Arizona Game and Fish Department manages funds within means and does not have a deficit. Wildlife dollars should be used for the purpose for which they are earmarked.
Cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl Considered for ESA Listing
by Administrator - Friday, June 6th, 2008 @ 8:33 AM
Once again, the tiny predator known as the Cactus Ferruginous Pygmy-owl is being considered for threatened or endangered designation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The USFWS issued a 90-day finding and Status Review on June 1, 2008, which states that relisting may be warranted and seeks information as to the taxonomy, ecology, and biology of the pygmy-owl. Comments must be received by USFWS by August 1, 2008, and the Service seeks additional information regarding proposed critical habitat, in case it finds the listing is warranted upon completion of its 12-month finding.
Vehicles banned on section of monument
by Administrator - Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 @ 2:44 AM
Ginger D. Richardson
The Arizona Republic
May 13, 2008 12:00 AM
Sonoran Desert swath extensively damaged
Starting next month, a huge swath of the Sonoran Desert National Monument, one of the state's most prized parcels of public land, will be closed to off-road enthusiasts.
The federal Bureau of Land Management is banning all vehicular traffic, including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles, from 55,000 acres of the popular desert wilderness because of extensive environmental damage.Read More…
Transportation Initiative Filed
by Administrator - Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 @ 7:08 AM
You may have heard that the transportation initiative was filed Thursday, May 6, 2008. This is a huge step towards wise growth in Arizona and focusing transportation corridors.
The initiative creates a new fund estimated to generate about $42 billion over 30 years to be distributed as follows:
- 55% state highways (49% of this in counties with a population over 2.5 million persons; 39% to counties with a population under 1 million persons; and 12% on counties with populations between 1 million and 2.5 million persons). There is only one new highway included in the package and that is in Yavapai county for 89A.
- 18% for transit (8% of which goes to regional public transit in counties with a population over 2.5 million persons; 5% for regional public transit in counties with populations between 1 million and 2.5 million; and 8% for passenger rail)
- 20% for local transportation purposes (includes light rail, local roads, buses, etc)
- 4% for transportation enhancements (scenic easements, safe school routes, environmental mitigation, landscaping, pedestrian and bike trails, etc.)
- 3% to the Open Space Conservation and Wildlife Habitat Fund.
State Trust Land Initiative Filed
by Administrator - Monday, May 12th, 2008 @ 7:12 AM
A State Trust Land Initiative has been filed by The Nature Conservancy and the Arizona Education Association. The initiative will:
Designate ~570,000 as permanent conservation lands at no cost, with over 180,000 acres within Pima County. Development of these lands will be prohibited and will remain within the ownership of the State Land Department. All leasing activities that are consistent with conservation will be allowed on the conservation preserve. The State Land Department has the discretion to transfer ownership of these lands to other state agencies (parks) or jurisdictions at no cost if it is the best interest of the trust to do so. The attached document contains a map of the permanent conservation lands.