2009-2010 Annual Report - Alabama Department of Conservation ...

Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division
wildlife Section
A major longleaf pine
restoration project
continued on Barbour
WMA. Approximately 500
acres were reforested with
container longleaf seedlings
during December 2009. An
additional 500 acres were
site prepped in the summer
of 2010. When completed,
this multiyear project will
have restored longleaf pine
habitat on approximately
4,000 acres at Barbour WMA.
riverine habitat where possible. There is a need to develop a
comprehensive plan for the permitting, or managing of water
withdrawals, water discharges and instream flow changes as it
relates to the protection of aquatic habitat.
Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS):
n ANS pose a significant problem to the State of Alabama. These are
species introduced outside of their native ranges that can grow
in, or are closely associated with, aquatic environment. Alabama’s
ANS plan was been approved by Governor Riley and has been
submitted to the National Task Force for approval.
Fish Hatcheries:
n Many production ponds, including drain kettles, water supply
lines, drainage lines and power supply to the ponds, are in need of
renovation.
Future Plans
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Continue resurfacing parking lots at boating access areas
statewide as needed.
Construct new access areas at Wetumpka and McCarty’s Ferry.
Conduct a major ramp renovation at South Sauty Creek.
Expand parking areas at Bonners Landing.
Construct courtesy docks at Comer Bridge, Rotary, and others as
needed.
Construction of a fish propagation building.
Construction of intern, graduate student and faculty housing at
the AABC to support research and recovery efforts.
Monitor reservoir fish populations and riverine habitat.
Expand standardized fish population sampling in streams.
Expand efforts to introduce children to fishing and in raising
awareness of aquatic resources.
Maintain high quality state lakes fisheries, upgrade dilapidated
facilities, and develop partnerships with other agencies in order to
better operate rural lakes.
Wildlife
The mission of the Wildlife Section is to manage and enhance the
wildlife resources of Alabama and to provide for maximum public
benefit. The section maintains Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)
to provide public access for hunting and recreation; monitors wildlife
populations to determine management needs; provides the Division
of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries’ (WFF) Director recommendations
on hunting season lengths, dates, bag limits and restrictions; and
provides technical assistance to landowners, managers and hunting
clubs on wildlife and habitat management and harvest strategies to
improve wildlife resources, and on animal damage control to protect
crops and property as much as practical without undue damage to
wildlife resources. The section provides technical assistance to other
government agencies to help structure activities to avoid undue
damage to wildlife and to enhance those resources where possible. The
section also provides information to the public on the natural history,
problems and management needs of Alabama wildlife.
The section provides a Hunter Education Program to train the
public, especially beginning hunters, on safety, ethics and individual
responsibilities of wildlife conservation. The section provides
opportunities to get youth and individuals with physical disabilities
involved in hunting activities.
Wildlife Section operations involve ongoing projects such as
developing and maintaining wildlife openings, roads, buildings
and boundary lines on 37 WMAs, two wildlife refuges and one
sanctuary (approximately 763,000 acres); administering public
hunts on approximately 761,000 acres of WMA land; maintaining 17
sites for physically disabled hunters; developing and maintaining
shooting ranges (11 sites) and archery ranges (four sites and one in
development); participating on boards and committees to provide
input into plans and decisions affecting wildlife; conducting wildlife
research and surveys and publishing the results; cooperating with
universities to conduct wildlife research of mutual interest; authoring
and publishing articles and management books related to wildlife;
planning and coordinating environmental activities and review of
impact statements; and administering the Alabama Cooperative Deer
Management Assistance Program.
Facilities and Personnel
An administrative staff with offices in Montgomery coordinated and
monitored operations within the Wildlife Section. The staff consisted of
a Wildlife Chief, one Assistant Chief, one Forester, one Hunter Education
Program Coordinator, one Hunter Education Regional Coordinator, one
Nongame Wildlife Coordinator, two Wildlife Biologists, one Biologist
Aide, an Accounting Technician and three clerical personnel. One
Assistant Chief’s position remains vacant.
Five districts across the state are each staffed by a supervising
wildlife biologist, wildlife biologists, biologist aides, equipment
operators, clerical personnel and laborers. One nongame wildlife
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ALDCNR 09-10 Annual Report