Program Authorization: Const. Art. IX, Sec. 7; R.S. 56:1 et seq.; 36:601 et seq.
The goal of this program is to provide a quality outdoor experience for those citizens going afield to pursue both consumptive and non-consumptive recreational and commercial wildlife oriented activities on both private and public lands while ensuring that wildlife populations remain at sustainable levels and habitats are present in sufficient quantity and quality to support this wildlife. It is the mission of this program to develop, maintain, propagate, manage, and promote the wildlife resources of the state for public recreation and commercial opportunities. This program assures that these wildlife resources remain available through proper management. This program has only one activity, Wildlife.
OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
1. In FY 1998-99, the Wildlife Program will operate and maintain the state's 1.3 million plus acres of land managed for wildlife conservation and recreation. While providing valuable habitat for many species of Louisiana's plants and animals, these areas will provide over 1,128,000 user-days of public recreation.
This data includes citations issued by program personnel. As of October 1996 the enforcement powers for personnel in this program were discontinued.
2. In FY 1998-99, the Wildlife Program will manage upland game (small game) to maintain populations and provide maximum outdoor recreation and harvest success each trip.
3. In FY 1998-99, the Wildlife Program will manage waterfowl, wetland habitats, provide adequate winering habitat, and provide recreational opportunities that will allow an average harvest level of at least 2 ducks per hunter day.
4. In FY 1998-99, the Wildlife Program will maintain and manage a healthy population of white-tailed deer in Louisiana and provide quality outdoor recreation and a harvest of at least 200,000 deer.
5. In FY 1998-99, the Wildlife Program will restore wild turkey in all suitable unoccupied habitats, manage and enhance existing population to provide an average harvest of .5 birds per hunter annually.
6. In FY 1998-99, the Wildlife Program will manage the American Alligator to provide for a harvest of 29,000 wild alligators while ensuring that alligator farming efforts are consistent with maintaining the wild population.
Market Prices cannot be accurately projected.
7. In FY 1998-99, the Wildlife Program will manage the states' furbearer populations to provide a harvest of 625,000 animals for pelts and meat and to prevent populations from exceeding carrying capacity of their respective habitats.
8. In FY 1998-99, the Wildlife Program will ensure that none of the 550 rare, threatened or endangered species, and other elements of natural diversity in Louisiana decline in status.
9. In FY 1998-99, the Habitat Conservation Program will ensure no net loss of existing acres of wetlands, riparian and other valuable wildlife habitat over which the program has authority or control by requiring environmental impacts to be mitigated by avoidance, habitat enhancement, or habitat replacement.
RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM
This program is funded with the state general fund, interagency transfers, statutory dedications, and federal funds. The Interagency Transfers are derived from the Department of Natural Resources and are for Environmental Monitoring and the Nutria Demonstration and Eradication Projects. The Statutory Dedications are derived from fees, mineral royalties, licenses etc. and are distributed into the Conservation Fund, Louisiana Alligator Resource Fund, the Louisianan Duck Stamp Fund, the Louisiana Reptile/Amphibian Research Fund, the Marsh Island Operating Fund, the Natural Heritage Account, the Rockerfeller Wildlife Refuge, and Game Preserve Fund, Russel Sage Fund #2, the Scienic Rivers Fund, and the La. Fur and Alligator Education Fund. These Statutory Dedications are used for wildlife and wildlife habitat management, and the promotion and enhancement of the Alligator industry in Louisiana (Per R.S.39:32B.(8), see table below for a listing of expenditures out of each statutory dedicated fund). Federal Funds are derived from Dire Emergency Appropriations - Racoon Island, Hurricane Andrew, Impact of Hurricane Andrew on Coastal Wetlands, Impact of Hurricane Andrew on Avian Species, a US Fish and Wildlife Service Box Turtle Grant, and a Mineral Management Service Grant.
The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 101.0% of the existing operating budget. It represents 99.4% of the total request ($15,552,605) for this program.
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Veterinary examinations and treatment as needed on injured and sick wildlife |
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ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS
16 DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES