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DepartmentalHighlights DH-35 TreasuredLandscapes

As custodians of our Nations natural, cultural, and historicresources, we have a duty to protect the places that Americans love,and to help all Americans connect with their land and heritage.

Ken Salazar, Secretary of the InteriorJanuary 14, 2010

TreasuredLandscapes

AmericansarelosingandlosingtouchwiththelandsandplacesthatsetourNationapart.ThegreatoutdoorsthatfuelstheAmericanspiritand

theAmericaneconomyisdisappearingunderthepressuresofpopulationgrowth,habitatfragmenta-tion,andclimatechange.Everyyear,Americansloselargeareasofopenspacetodevelopment.

ThankstotheforesightofgreatconservationleadersincludingJohnMuir,PresidentTheodoreRoosevelt,StephenT.Mather,andmanyothers,theNationenjoysadiverse,awe-inspiringbountyofnaturalplacesandopenspaces.TheDepartmentoftheInteriormanagesmuchof thisnational treasure,including 392 park units, 551 national wildliferefuges,andtheNationalLandscapeConservationSystemthatcomprisesover27millionacres.

Secretary Salazar has placed an emphasison treasured landscapes, implementing wisestewardship,sciencebaseddecisions,andforward-lookingpoliciesthatwillhelpprotecttheNationsland,water,andwildlifeforfuturegenerations.

The 2011 Presidents budget request will allowInterior to intensify efforts to manage thesepreciousresources;tooperateprogramstomaintainlandscapesandfacilitiesandtoparticipateinmajor

restorationeffortsthatrestore,protect,andpreservekeyecosystemsandidentifynewareasforprotection.

Interiors2011budgetincludes$445.4million,anincreaseof$106.0millionforFederallandacquisitionand State and Tribal grants funded through theLandandWaterConservationFund.Thebudgetalsoincludes$288.2million,anincreaseof$71.4milliontargetedtokeyecosystemsforrestorationandrenewalincludingtheEverglades,Californias

Bay-Deltaecosystem,theGulfCoastofLouisianaandMississippi,andtheChesapeakeBay.Additionally,the2011EnvironmentalProtectionAgencybudgetincludes$50.2milliontargetedforInterioragenciesparticipation in the Great Lakes Restorationinitiative,adecreaseof$37.2millionfromthe2010enactedlevel.

invesTingin ameriCa The land

and waTer ConservaTion fund

In 1964, Congress created the Land and WaterConservationFundtofulllapromisetoprotecttheNationsnaturalandrecreationalresourcesforfuturegenerations.InaFebruary14,1963,lettertransmittingtheinitialLWCFlegislationtoCongress,PresidentJohnF.KennedynotedtheneedforalandacquisitionprogramtopreserveFederalandStateareastoprovideareliablesourcefornationalparks,monuments,forests,andwildliferefuges.

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TreasuredLandscapes DH-36 DepartmentalHighlights

Actions deferred are all too oftenopportunities lost, particularly insafeguarding our natural resources.

President John F. KennedyFebruary 14, 1963

Since1964,formorethan40years,LWCFhasbeenafundingsourceforFederal,State,andlocallandacquisitionandotherconservationprograms.Atotalof$15.5billionhasbeenappropriatedforFederalandStateprograms.Everyyear$900.0millioniscollectedintothefund,andisavailable,subjectto

appropriation, to fund Federal land acquisition;conservethreatenedandendangeredspecies;andprovide grants toStates for recreation planning,acquiring lands and waters, and developingrecreationfacilities.Thetrustfundreceivesrevenuesprimarilygeneratedfromoutercontinentalshelfoilandgasdrillingactivities.Although$900.0millionisdepositedannuallyintothefund,appropriationshavebeenprovidedatthislevelonlytwiceduringtheprograms40-plusyearhistory.

We do not inherit the Earth from ourancestors, says a familiar Native Americanproverb, we borrow it from our children.

Secretary Ken SalazarJanuary 15, 2010

PresidentObamas2011budgetprotectsopenspaces,

forests, andwildlifehabitat byproviding $619.2millionfromtheLandandWaterConservationFundforkeyconservationandlandacquisitionprogramsintheDepartmentsoftheInteriorandAgriculture.Thisisa29percentincreasein2011overthe2010enactedfunding.The2010enactedlevelwasa58percentincreaseoverthe2009enactedlevel.Withtheseconsecutive increases, appropriations fromtheLWCFareontracktoreach$900.0millioninfullfundingannuallystartingin2014.

Treasured landsCapes(dollars in millions)

2010 2011 Change

landand waTer ConservaTion fund

Department of the Interior

FederalLandAcquisition.... .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... 214.4 310.4 +96.0

StateLWCFGrants-NPS..................................... 40.0 50.0 +10.0 CooperativeEndangeredSpecies ConservationFund-FWS1/.............................. 85.0 85.0 +0.0

Subtotal, Interior .................................................. 339.4 445.4 +106.0

Department of Agriculture, Forest Service

FederalLandAcquisition..................................... 63.5 73.7 +10.2 ForestLegacy.......................................................... 76.5 100.1 +23.6

Subtotal, Agriculture ........................................... 140.0 173.8 +33.8

ToTal, landand waTer ConservaTion fund 479.4 619.2 +139.8

1/ For comparability, numbers display enacted levels for CESCF. Congress funded $56.0

million from LWCF in 2010.

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The2011budgetfundsFederalLandAcquisitionforInteriorbureausat$310.4million,anincreaseof $96.0 million over the 2010 level. The 2011budgetincludes$50.0millionfortheDepartmenttoassistStates,local,andtribalgovernmentswiththe protection and creation of park lands, openspace,andwildlifehabitatthroughcompetitivelyawardedStateLWCFgrants.Thisisanincreaseof$10.0millionoverthe2010level.TheCooperativeEndangeredSpeciesConservationFundisfundedat$85.0million,levelwith2010.ThesefundswillbeusedtoprovidegrantstoStatesfortheconservationofthreatenedandendangeredspecies.

Federal Land Acquisition TheBureauofLandManagement, Fish and Wildlife Service, andNationalParkServiceacquireimportantpropertiesavailable for sale bywilling sellers through feetitleandeasement.Landsarenormallyacquiredatfair-marketvalueorthroughpartialoroutright

donationsofproperty.Landownerscanalsosellordonateeasementsontheirpropertywhilekeepingthelandinprivateownership.Mostlandsacquiredbythesebureausareadditionstoparkunits,nationalwildliferefuges,nationalmonuments,andnationalconservation areas. Acquisition also results inadditionstootherareasincludingNationalWildand Scenic Rivers, NationalHistoric Trails, andWildernessareas.Landsandwatersareacquiredtoprotectimportantnaturalandculturalresources,to consolidate lands within the boundaries ofexistingunits,toprovidepublicaccesstoFederalmanagementunits,andtoimproverecreationaluse.

ThethreeInteriorlandmanagementbureaususeprioritizationsystemsthatconsidermultiplefactorswhendeterminingwhichlandstoacquire.Thesecriteriaincludethemissionvalueoftheirplannedacquisitions,feasibilityofacquiringandoperatinglands,theavailabilityofwillingsellers,thepotentialfor imminent development of the property, andtheparticipationofpartners.Withinthebureaus,thereisasignicantdegreeofcoordinationattheeld and local level in developing conservationgoals.However,forthersttime,in2011,Interiorisproposingalistoflandacquisitionprojectsthatdemonstrateintegrationacrossthebureaususingconsistentandmerit-basedcriteria.Thisnewapproachtotheprioritizationofprojectswill significantly advance projects that arecollaborativeandintegratetheeffortsofmultipleentitiesandfocusonhighestpriorityconservationobjectives.ThisapproachbeginstoaddressrepeatedrequestsfromtheHouseandSenateAppropriations

lwCf

invesTmenT CriTeria

AspartoftheSecretarysreformagenda,InteriordevelopedinitialDepartment-wide

criteriathatthebureaususedtoselectproj-ectsthatmeetcommonconservationgoals.Thesegoalsincludeoptimizinglandscapeconservationforwildlifeandtheirhabitat,developingadditionalrecreationalopportu-nitiesinurbanandruralareas,preservinghistoricalandculturalassets,andleveragingprivatefundsanddonations.

Projects should demonstrate how theyadvancethefollowing:

Project Types

Landscapelevelconservation. Projects that achieve goals on a

landscape or ecosystem level withparticularemphasison: -Rivers,riparian,andnaturalwaterbodies.

-Landconservationforwildlifeandtheirhabitat.

Greaturbanparksandopenspaces.

Historicalandculturalpreservation.

Project Criteria Leveraging:Theamountofmatching

fundsanddonationsthatnon-Federalpartnersbringtotheproject.

Partnerships:Thenumber,diversity,and relevance ofall of the partnersinvolvedinadvancingandsupportingtheproject.

Interior Integration: The degree towhichprojectsinvolvemorethanone

Interiorbureau.Interiorwillalsoen-gageotherFederallandmanagementpartners,suchastheForestService,inpursuing common land acquisitionandconservationgoals.

Urgencyofcompletingtheproject.

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Committees to evaluate opportunities to betterintegratetheprioritiesofthethreeInteriorbureausand the Forest Service, to implement nationalconservationstrategies,andtoconsidertheneedtoadaptandmitigateforclimatechangeimpacts.Workwillcontinueonthisapproachtoharmonizelandacquisitionstrategies.

The BLM request of $83.7million includes $3.9million in acquisition management, inholdings,exchanges,andemergencyacquisition and$79.8millioninline-itemprojects.Thisincludes$42.5millionfortheproposedplanningandacquisitionofawildhorsepreserve,apartoftheDepartmentsWildHorseandBurronationalmanagementstrategy.TheBLMplanstoestablishwildhorsepreservesonproductivegrasslandsthatcanbettersustaintheseanimalsincontrasttowesternStateswherewaterandforageareextremelylimited,anddroughtandwildrethreatenbothrangelandandanimalhealth.

Thesenewpreserveswouldbelocatedonlands,orinterestsinlands,acquiredbyBLM,orpartners,andwouldbehometonon-reproducingherdsofwildhorses.Theywouldprovideexcellentopportunitiestoremoveanimalsfromshort-termholdingfacilities,celebratethehistoricsignicanceofwildhorses,showcasetheseanimalstotheAmericanpublic,andserveasnaturalassetsthatsupportlocaltourismandeconomicactivity.

ThebalanceoftheBLMlandacquisitionrequest,$37.8million,willbeusedtoacquire25,679acresofhighprioritylandsinArizona,California,Colorado,

Idaho,Montana,NewMexico,Oregon,Utah,andWyoming. These acquisitionswill focus on theprotectionoflargeblocksofhabitatimportantforthepreservationofnaturalandculturalresourcesandforrecreation.

TheBLMstoppriorityfor2011isacquiring450acresalongtheTrinityNationalWildandScenicRiver.EncompassedbytheKlamathregion,theacquisitionparcels are included in the landscape systemofthe43-mileTrinityNationalWildandScenicRivercorridorandGrassValleyWatershed.Withintheselandscapesystems,extensivewatershedandforestrestorationtreatmentshaveoccurredandcontinuetooccur,throughpartnerships,tosupportthehabitatandmanagement of threatened andendangeredshandwildlifespecies,promoteforesthealth,andprotectcommunitieswhileprovidingandpromotingamixofrecreationalopportunitiesfromhikingtowhite-waterrafting.Theserestorationeffortsareaimedathealingalandscapedamagedbyhistoricminingandextensivedredgingactivitywithintherivercorridor.

TheFWSrequestof$106.3millionincludes$21.6million in acquisition management, inholdings,

exchanges,andemergencyacquisition and$84.8million in line-item projects. The FWS projectsaddressprotectionof106,678acresofsignicantandhighprioritywildlifeandtheirhabitatandwillmakeinvestmentsinsignicantriverandriparianhabitatthatwillprotectaquaticandterrestrialspeciesthataredependentonthesehabitats.IncludedintheFWSrequestis$5.0millionforgrantstotheStatesofNewYork,NewJersey,Connecticut,andPennsylvaniaauthorized by the Highlands Conservation Act.ConservationoftheHighlandsregionprotectssomeof the last remaining natural habitat nearmajormetropolitanareasinthisregiontoprotectwildlife,

providerecreationalopportunities,andprotectthewatershed,whichisanimportantsourceofwaterfornearbycommunities.

One of the FWS largest single requests in 2011willacquire lands inVermont,NewHampshire,Massachusetts,andConnecticutfortheSilvioO.ConteNationalFishandWildlifeRefuge.The$6.0millionrequestwillbeusedtoacquiretractsintheFortRiverdivisionthatwillcontributetowardtheprotectionofalargegrasslandproject.Recoveryandlong-termviabilityofhabitatsfortheuplandsandpiper,dwarfwedgemussel,andshrelyonthelongest,unobstructedtributarytotheConnecticutRiverinMassachusetts.TractsintheNulheganBasinDivisionofthenorthernborealforestandassociatedwetland complex and tracts in the PondicherryDivisionwillprovidewildlife-dependentrecreationandeducationopportunities.

TheNPSrequestof$106.3millionincludes$30.5million in acquisition management, inholdings,

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exchanges,emergencyacquisition,andAmericanbattleeld grants and $82.4 million in line-itemprojects.TheNPSprojectsaddresstheprotectionof high priority natural, cultural, and historicalproperties.Therequestincludes$6.0millionfortheAmericanBattleeldProtectionprogram,whichwillbeusedtoprovidematchinggrantstoStatesandlocalcommunitiestopreserveandprotectAmericanbattleeldsites.

AnimportantacquisitionforNPSin2011isinthePetriedForestNationalPark.Theparkcontainsglobally signicant fossils fromtheLate TriassicPeriod.Theparkisavirtuallaboratoryofferingopportunities for paleontological research andvisitorunderstandingthatareunparalleled.The$7.5million requestwouldbeused to completeacquisitionofTwinButtesRanchandacquirethe

PaulsellRanch.Theseranchesincludenumeroussignicantculturalsites,suchasrockartpanels,as well as structures from thePuebloanperiodoftheSouthwest.ThislargeecosystemacquisitioninNortheastern Arizona consists of35,960acres,includingninemilesofthePuercoRiverRiparianArea.ThePuercoRiverRiparianAreaprovidescrucialhabitatformanylocalspecies,frominsectsandrodentstoraptorsandmigratingelk.

NPS State LWCF Grants Since1965,NPShasapprovedmorethan41,300 matching grants to StatesandTerritoriesfortheacquisition,development,andplanningofout-doorrecreationalfacilitiesandlandsintheUnitedStates.Thesegrantssupportedthepurchaseandprotec-tionof2.6millionacresofrecreation

landsandtheacquisitionordevelopmentofover40,000sitesandfacilitiestoproviderecreationop-portunitiesineveryStateandTerritory.Approxi-mately66percentofthetotalfundsobligatedhavesupportedlocallysponsoredprojectsthatprovideclose-to-homerecreationopportunities.

The2011budgetincludes$50.0millionforgrantsfortheprogram,anincreaseof$10.0millionover2010.Excludingadministrativecostsof$2.8million,thebudgetincludes$47.2millionforgrantsthatwillbeallocatedtoStatesandTerritoriesinconjunctionwith$740,000inmandatoryfundingpaidintotheLWCFthatisavailablefromcertainOuterContinentalShelfleasingrevenues.

Cooperative Endangered Species ConservationFund The2011budgetincludes$85.0million,thesameas2010,forgrantstoStatesandTerritoriesfor theprotection of endangeredandthreatened

species.Statescanpassfundingontomunicipalities,Tribes,andprivatelandownerstosupportspeciesconservationpartnerships.The2011budgetincludes$2.9millionforadministration,withthebalanceoffundingforthefollowingprogramcomponents:

Conservation GrantsThe2011CooperativeEndan-geredSpeciesConservationFundprogramincludes$11.0millionforconservationgrantstoStatesthatareusedtoimplementrecoveryactionsforlistedspecies,developandimplementconservationmeasuresforcandidatespecies,implementrecoveryactionsforlistedspecies,andmonitorspeciestoensurecon-

servationactivitiesarehavingthedesiredoutcome.

Habitat Conservation PlanningAssistance Grants The 2011programincludes$10.0millionforStatestoassistlocalgovernmentsand planning jurisdictions todevelopregional,multi-specieshabitat conservation plans.Through the development ofregional,multiple-speciesHCPs,localgovernmentsandplanningjurisdictionsincorporatespeciesconservationintolocallanduseplans, which streamlines theprojectapprovalprocess.Habitat Conservation PlanningLand Acquisition The 2011programincludes$41.0millioningrantfundsthatwillbeusedby States and non-Federal

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entities to acquire habitats from willing sellersand are meant to complement, but not replace,themitigationresponsibilitiesofHCPpermittees.StatesandTerritoriesreceivegrantfundsforlandacquisitionsassociatedwithapprovedHCPsbecauseoftheirauthoritiesandcloseworkingrelationshipswithlocalgovernmentsandprivatelandowners.Species Recovery Land Acquisition The2011programincludes$15.2millioningrantfundsthatwillbematched by States and non-Federal entities toacquirehabitatessentialforrecoveryoflistedspecies.Lossofhabitatistheprimarythreattomostlistedspecies.Landacquisitionisoftenthemosteffectiveandefcientmeansofsafeguardinghabitatsbeforedevelopmentorotherlandusechangesimpairordestroykeyhabitatvalues.Nez PerceThe2011programincludes$5.0milliontofundwatersupplyandhabitatrestorationprojects

in theSnakeRiverbasin as part ofa settlementagreementwith theNez PerceTribe, theUnitedStates,theStateofIdaho,andlocalcommunitiesandwaterusersinIdaho.

resToraTionof ameriCas

greaT eCosysTems

The Everglades remains one of our worldsmost treasured and most threatened places. The Federal government must onceagain stand up and meet its responsibilities

to Everglades restoration.

Secretary Ken SalazarJune 24, 2009

Everglades WaterinsouthFloridaonceowedfreelyfromtheKissimmeeRivertoLakeOkeechobeeandsouthwardoverlow-lyinglandstotheestuariesof BiscayneBay, the TenThousand Islands, andFloridaBay.Thisshallow,slow-movingsheetofwatercoveredalmost11,000squaremiles,creating

a mosaic of ponds, sloughs, sawgrass marshes,hardwoodhammock,andforesteduplands.Forthousandsofyears,thisintricatesystemevolvedintoanelybalancedecosystemthatformedthebiologicalinfrastructureforthesouthernhalfoftheStateofFlorida.However,earlycolonialsettlersanddevelopersturnedtheriversofgrassintofarmlandandcommunities.Bytheearly1900s,thedrainageprocesstotransformthewetlandswasunderway.

The remaining Everglades no longer exhibit thefunctions,richness,andsizethathistoricallydenedtheecosystem.Mostofthenegativechangesinthe

ecosystemareadirectresultofwatermanagementactivitiestocontroloodsandprovideforwatersupply.Today,waterowstotheEvergladesareoftentoomuch,ortoolittle,andfrequentlyatthewrongtimesoftheyear.WaterqualitythroughoutsouthFloridahasalsodeterioratedoverthepast50

Treasured landsCapes(dollars in millions)

2010 2011 Change

Ecosystems

Everglades............................................................ 68.4 74.5 +6.0 CaliforniaBay-Delta... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... 104.7 155.2 +50.6 GulfCoast............................................................. 22.1 26.9 +4.8

ChesapeakeBay.... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. .. ... .. ... 21.6 31.6 +10.0

ToTal, eCosysTems.............................................. 216.8 288.2 +71.4

GreatLakes1/....................................................... [87.4] [50.2] [-37.2]

1/Non-add. Funded through the EPA budget.

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years.Morethanonehalfofthewetlandsthatactasnaturalltersandretentionareasaregone.Someuntreatedurbanandagriculturalstormwaterissentdirectlytonaturalareasandestuaries.Toomanynutrients are entering the Everglades that favorinvasivespecies atthe expenseofnative speciesadaptedtothisuniqueenvironment.

Despite this damage, the Everglades is still atreasured landscape. The Department, throughNPS, FWS, the U.S. Geological Survey, and theBureauofIndianAffairs,isakeyplayerinrestoringthisecosystem.In2011,thebudgetincludes$74.5million,anincreaseof$6.0millionoverthe2010enactedlevelforrestorationoftheEverglades.

Included in the request is $8.0 million for theModied Water Deliveries program, a decreaseof $400,000 from the 2010 enacted level. Thisecological restoration project will improve the

quantity,quality,timing,anddistributionoffreshwatertotheEvergladesNationalPark.Fundingsupportsconstructionoftheone-milebridgeontheTamiamiTrail, thelargestconstructionproject inNPShistoryandakeycomponentoftheModiedWatersDeliveryProject.TheprojectwillrestoremorenaturalwaterowtoNortheastSharkRiverSlough,aportionofEvergladesNationalPark,whichCongressaddedin1989;whilestillallowingtheTrailtoserveitsimportanttransportationfunctionforthepeopleoftheStateofFlorida.Thelevelrequested,alongwithexistingbalances,coversalloftheobligationsin2011fortheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineerstokeep

theprojectontrackforcompletionin2013.

The2011requestalsoincludes$12.3millionforFWSecologicalservicesinSouthFlorida,anincreaseof$1.8millionoverthe2010enactedlevel.In2011,FWSwilltakeactionthatwillhelptorestorethe

ecosystem,including:developconservationplansandstrategiestoprotectimperiledspeciessuchastheFloridapanther,seaturtles,andvariousavianspecies;undertakerecoveryactionsinsupportof67listedspeciesinsouthFloridathroughmonitoringspecieshealthandaddressingthreatssuchastheBurmesepython,aninvasivespeciesthatisquicklyexpanding its range in Florida; and study thepotentialdistributionandimpactofenvironmentalcontaminantsfoundinformeragriculturallandsthatarebeingrestoredtotheiroriginalwetlandstate.

California Bay-Delta OnDecember22,2009,theAdministrationannouncedanewInterimFederalActionPlanfortheCaliforniaBay-Delta.Theplannoted that the Bay-Delta is in crisis and furtherdescribed the current status as follows: theecosystemhas reached a pointof collapse, withimperiledshspeciesatall-timelowpopulationlevelsandthreatsfromclimatechangeandassociated

sea-levelrise,seismicrisks,andotherstressorssuchas pesticides, pollutantdischarges, and invasivespeciesunderscoringthesystemsvulnerability.Good quality water and water availability forirrigators,shers,andotherusersarealsoatriskduetoacontinuingmulti-yeardrought.

TheAdministrationannouncedintheInterimPlanthatitisgivingpriorityattentiontoBay-Deltawaterissuesinanaggressiveandcoordinatedwaybecausethe Sacramento/San Joaquin River Delta-SanFranciscoBayEstuaryisamongthemostimportantecosystems in the Nation. The Bay-Delta is thehuboftheNationslargestwaterdeliverysystem,providingdrinkingwaterto25millionCalifornians.Itsustainsabout$400billioninannualeconomicactivity,includinga$28billiondollaragriculturalindustry and recreational opportunities. Untilrecently,ithadsupportedathrivingcommercial

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andrecreationalshingindustry.Theclosureofthe commercial salmonshingseasonin2009 isestimated to have caused the loss of 2,690 jobsand $279million, as cited in theApril21, 2009,proclamationbyGovernorArnoldSchwarzenegger,StateofEmergencyChinookSalmon.TheBay-Deltaishometo55speciesofshand750speciesofplantsandwildlifethatareinneedofprotectionfromtheconsequencesofdrought,climatechange,andurbanization.

TheInterimPlanistheresultofaMemorandumofUnderstandingsignedbysixFederalagenciesInterior,Commerce,Agriculture,theArmy,theEnvironmentalProtectionAgency,andtheCouncilon Environmental Quality that established aFederalLeadershipCommitteeto coordinate theFederalresponsetotheCaliforniawatercrisisandtodeveloptheInterimPlan.TheInterimPlancallsfor:

CommittingtoworkcloselywiththeStateofCaliforniaandlocalauthorities.

Promotingscience-baseddecisions.

Ensuringeffectiveperformance.

Agencieswillalso:

EncouragethesmartersupplyanduseofBay-Deltawater.

EnsurehealthyBay-Deltaecosystemsand

improvewaterquality.

Helpdeliverdroughtreliefservices.

Ensureintegratedoodriskmanagement.

Interior,throughtheBureauofReclamation,FWS,andUSGS,hasakeyroleinthisplan.In2011,Interiorisrequesting$155.2millionforstudies,projectsand

othereffortsdirectlyintheBay-Delta,anincreaseof$50.6millionabove2010.Thisrequestwillfundecosystems, habitat and anadromous restorationefforts, the developmentofshscreens and shladders, efforts to eradicate ormitigate invasivespecies,wateracquisition,increasesinwaterrecy-clingandreuseprograms,variouswaterqualityandquantitystudiesandassessments,endangeredspeciesprograms,landacquisition,andotherefforts.TheseeffortsareanintegralpartoftheAdministra-tionsplantodevelopbothshort-termactionsanda long-term strategy for providing a sustainablewatersupplyandsuccessfulecosystemrestoration.

Gulf Coast Ecosystem Interiorplays a criticalroleintherestorationofwetlandsalongtheGulfCoastofLouisianaandMississippi.TheFWSownsandmanagestennationalwildliferefuges,totaling300,000acresalongthecoast,whichareimportanttotheoverallrestorationprogramandcanserve

asdemonstrationareasfortherestoftheimpactedcoast.Anincreaseof$5.0millionwillsupporttherestorationofkeyshandwildlifehabitatalongtheGulfCoastofLouisianaandMississippi.Theserefuges are some of the last havens for speciesthat depend uponhabitats in the Louisiana andMississippigulfarea.TheFWSisanactivepartnerwiththemanyFederalandStateagenciesworkingon coastal protection and restoration projects,includingtheU.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineers,theNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration,EPA,NPS,andUSGS.AsamemberoftheLouisianaand Mississippi Coastal Ecosystem Restoration

WorkingGroup,FWSwillplayasignicantrolein coastal Louisiana and Mississippi restorationakintothecollaborativeroleplayedinEvergladesrestorationefforts.AdetailedscienticassessmentonthecoastalrefugeswillbecompletedbyFWStoidentifytheland-buildingrestorationmeasuresthatwillsustainresourcesintothefuture,takingintoconsiderationsea-levelriseandotherpotentialimpactsofclimatechange.

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The national wildlife refuge system manages aconsiderableportionofthisareaascoastalmarshthatneedsrestorationandprotectionfromsealevelriseandimpactsofstormsandclimatechange.Keyplantandwildlifespeciesmustbeinventoriedandmonitored to document impacts on their statusashabitats change and as the basis for plannedrestorationefforts.Signicantoilandgasreserveswith active production and seismic explorationoccur on these refuges. Oversight is needed toavoidnegative impacts to these sensitivemarshandcoastalhabitats.

TherequestedfundingwilldirectlycontributetoFWSeffortstodesignandimplementanacceleratedGulfCoastrestorationprogram.ItwillenableFWStoworkwithpartnerstodevelopsharedscienticandtechnicalcapacityforbiologicalplanningandconservation design to address landscape-scaleconservationissuesandtheassociatedimpactson

shandwildliferesourcesalongthenorthernGulfCoastinLouisianaandMississippi.Theabilitytounderstand,design,anddriveconservationacrossbroadscalesisfundamentaltotheabilitytosuccess-fully restoresustainable ecosystemsandaddressclimatechangealongthenorthernGulfCoast.

Fundingwillalsobeusedtofacilitatedevelopmentof a spatially-explicit decision-support tool thatidentiesfocusedgeographicprioritiesforcoastalLouisianaandMississippitoachievesustainablelandscapelevelrestoration,whilemaximizingthebestuse ofhuman, scal,and natural resources.

Thistoolwillincorporatekeyinformation,includingFederallands,shandwildlifetrustresources,andotherinformationthatwillallowtheServiceanditspartnerstoidentifythoseareaswhichexhibitthehighestprobabilityforsustainablerestorationandgreatestcontributiontotrustresourceconservationand protection. From this, the most feasiblerestoration strategies will be applied across thespectrumof prioritized landscapes formultiple-agencyactions.

We at the Department of the Interior are

proud to have joined with our partners at alllevels of government and the private sectorto move forward with President Obamasvision to restore and protect the ChesapeakeBay.

Secretary Ken SalazarSeptember 10, 2009

Chesapeake Bay TheChesapeakeBaywatershedencompasses64,000squaremiles,partsofsixStates,and the District of Columbia. The ChesapeakeBayisthelargestestuaryinNorthAmericaandisecologically, economically, and culturally criticaltotheregionandthecountry.Nearly17millionpeopleliveinthewatershed,anditisalsohometomorethan3,600speciesofsh,plants,andanimals,frombluecrabstobaldeagles.TheregionincludescountlessculturalandhistoricalsitesfromCivilWarbattleeldstoAmericasrstpermanentEuropeansettlementatJamestown,Virginia.

On May 12, 2009, President Obama signed anExecutive Order on Chesapeake Bay ProtectionandRestoration.TheOrdercallsforarenewedshared leadership action to control pollution,protectandrestorehabitat,improvenaturalresourcemanagement, and accelerate water quality andecosystemhealthimprovements.Theeffortsofthepast25yearstoreducepollutionandcleanuptheBayanditstributarieshaveyieldedsomeprogress.However, the Chesapeake Bay andmany of itstributariesremaininpoorhealth.TheBaycontinuestobepolluted,primarilybynitrogenandphosphorusfromagriculture,andrunoffanddischargefromcities, towns, and wastewater plants. Airbornecontaminants also adversely impact the Bay.Humanactivityanddevelopmenthastransformedthenaturallandscape.Forestsandwetlandsthatpreviouslylteredpollutionandprovidedwildlife

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habitathavebeenlosttodevelopment.Farmshavebeenconvertedtosubdivisions,andsuburbansprawlhasledtoaproliferationofroads,parkinglots,androoftops,intensifyingrunoffandnon-pointsourcepollution.OverharvestingofshandshellshhascontributedtothedeclineofkeyspeciesintheBay.ThesedeclineshavehadaverysignicantimpactontraditionalBayuses,likeoysteringandcrabbing.Populationsofoystersareatanall-timelow,andhabitatssuchasunderwatergrassbedsandwetlandsare degraded. Climate change is anticipated toresultinincreasedsealevels,temperaturechangesinthewaterandair,andincreasedfrequencyandintensityofstorms.

The2011budgetincludes$31.6million,anincreaseof$10.0millionoverthe2010enactedleveltoexpandtheDepartmentseffortstoconserveandprotecttheBaysresourceswithinthebudgetrequestsforUSGS,FWS,andNPS.

The2011budgetforUSGSincludesanincreaseof$3.6milliontorestorewaterqualitybymonitoringandassessingtheeffectivenessofcurrentpracticestoreducenutrientandsedimentloadsfromagriculturalandurban/suburbanlandsintheBaywatershed;restorehabitatsandsustainspeciesbydocumentingtheoccurrenceofemergingcontaminantsinwater,sediment,andsh,evaluatingpotentialcausesofintersexconditionsofshandshkills;andworkwithFWSonpotentialmanagementsolutionsandinteractwithEPAonimplicationsforreducingtoxicdischargesintheBaywatershed.

The2011budgetforFWSincludesanincreaseof$5.0millionandaredirectionof$394,000inbasefundingtorestorehabitatsforpriorityspeciesonandoffFWSlands,investigatewildlifeimpactsfromcontaminantdischarges, develop and expand migratory birdmonitoringprotocolsandshsurveys,andexpandopportunitiesforChesapeakeBay-orientedwildlifeobservationandpubliceducation.

The2011budgetforNPSincludesanincreaseof$1.0milliontoprovidematchinggrantstoState,local,and non-governmental partners throughout theChesapeakeBaywatershed,particularlyalongtheBay,SusquehannaRiver,andothermajortributaries.ThisfundingwillbeusedtofacilitateadditionalorexpandedpublicaccesstotheBayandtributaries.Inaddition,NPSwillassistpartnersinenhancingpublicinterpretationandeducationofwatershedresourcesandstories,strengthenheritagetourismwithintheregion,andpromotecitizenstewardshipoftheBay.

Great Lakes TheenvironmentoftheGreatLakesregion isblessedwithwideswathsofforestandwildernessareas,richagriculturalland,hundredsof tributaries, thousands of small lakes, andextensive mineral deposits. The regions sanddunes,coastalmarshes,rockyshorelines,lakeplainprairies,savannas,forests,fens,wetlands,andotherlandscapescontainfeaturesthataregloballyunique.The regions glacial history and the inuenceofthelakesthemselvescreateuniqueconditionsthatsupportawealthofbiologicaldiversity,includingover200globallyrareplantsandanimalsandmorethan40speciesthatarefoundnowhereelseintheworld.TheGreatLakesenvironmentsupportsaworld-classshery,withanestimated180speciesofnativesh.

Yetforalltheirsizeanddiversity,theGreatLakesarenotasresilientastheyappear,andtheyfaceanumberofseriouschallenges.Historyhasshown

thattheGreatLakesarehighlysensitivetobiologicalandchemicalstresses.Themostsignicantoftheseinclude toxic substances, invasive species, non-pointsourcepollutionandnearshoreimpacts,andhabitatandspeciesloss.Betterinformationaboutmitigatingtheseeffectsisalsonecessarytoguidedecisionmaking.Collectively,theseproblemshaveseriouslycompromisedtheenvironmentalhealthoftheGreatLakes.Asaresult,thereisanewsenseofurgencyforactiontoaddressthehighestprioritiesforrestoringandprotectingtheGreatLakes.

AspartoftheGreatLakesinitiativeledbyEPA,Interior bureaus are instrumental in helping torestorethisecosystem.The2011EPAbudgetrequestincludes$300.0millionfortheGreatLakesinitiative,$175.0 million less than the 2010 level. Of thisamount,$50.2millionisplannedforallocationtoInteriorbureausforavarietyofactivities.TheFWSwouldreceive$32.5millionprimarilyforhabitat

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andwildlifeprotection and restoration, invasivespecies,and toxicsubstances. TheUSGSwouldreceive$10.3millionprincipallyforaccountability,education,monitoring,evaluation,communicationandpartnerships,andfornearshorehealthandnon-pointsourcepollution.TheNPSwouldreceive$4.7millionmainlyforhabitatandwildlifeprotectionandrestorationandforinvasivespecies.TheBIAwouldreceive$2.8millionforhabitatandwildlifeprotectionandrestoration.Ongoingprogramsinthethreebureauswillprovide$66.7millionin2011forGreatLakesactivities,anincreaseof$761,000over2010.

proTeCTing, promoTing, and

resToring Treasured landsCapes

As Americans, we possess few blessingsgreater than the vast and varied landscapes

that stretch the breadth of our continent.Our lands have always provided greatbounty: food and shelter for settlers andpioneers, the raw materials that grewour industry, the energy that powers oureconomy. What these gifts require in returnis our wise and responsible stewardship.

President Barack ObamaMarch 30, 2009

Asmanager of nearly one-fth of the land area

of the United States, the Department protectsAmericaslandscapes.Itslandsandwatershostmorethan450millionvisitorsperyear.TheworkofInteriors70,000employeesiscomplementedbytheeffortsof242,000volunteers.Whileprovidingrecreationalopportunitiesandprotectingsignicantnaturalandculturalresources,thelandsandwatersInteriormanagesalsogenerate$14billionannually

inrevenuefromcommercial,recreational,andotheruses.TheselandsandwatersmaintainhistoricusesandsupportthelivelihoodofmillionsofAmericans.Arecenteconomicstudyreportsthatin2008Interiorlandsandwatersgenerated$370billioninbenetsnationwide.

AmongthevastarrayoftreasuredlandscapesthattheDepartmentmanagesareunitsoftheNationalLandscape Conservation System, the nationalwildliferefugesystem,andthenationalparksystem.Respectively, BLM, FWS, andNPS protect thesetreasuredlands.

National Landscape Conservation System TheNational Landscape Conservation System iscomprisedofover27million acres, including 37national monuments and national conservationareas,223wildernessareas,545wildernessstudyareas,69wildandscenicrivers,and16national

scenicandhistorictrails.Unitsincludered-rockdeserts,ruggedoceancoastlines,deeprivercanyons,andAlaskantundra.Theseareassupportextensiverecreational use, cultural and paleontologicalresearch,andpreserveawe-inspiringlandscapes.The NLCS units offer primitive backcountryexperiences,andothersarejustminutesfrommajormetropolitanareas.

TheOmnibusLandManagementActof2009addednearly 929,000 acres ofwilderness, one nationalmonument,fournationalconservationareas,362milesof wild andscenic rivers, and40miles of

nationalscenictrails.

ThebudgetfortheNationalLandscapeConservationSystem in2011 is$65.4million,a net increaseof$1.3million over the 2010 enacted level. Theseamountsrepresenttherecurringbasefundingforthesystem;theydonotincludeone-timefunding.Thenetincreaseincludesanincreaseof$414,000intheNationalMonumentsandNationalConservationAreas subactivity for high-priority operatingneeds.Thereareoffsettingreductionsof$198,000inthissubactivityforInterior-widemanagementefciencies.Thebudgetalsoincludesanincreaseof $1.3 million in the Wilderness Managementsubactivity targeted to new wilderness areasdesignedbytheOmnibusLandManagementAct.There are offsetting reductions of $201,000 forInterior-widemanagementefciencies.

National Wildlife Refuge System The refugesystemiscomprisedof551unitsthatareineveryStateintheUnion.Thisnetworkof150million

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acresoflandandwaters,includingnearly53millionacresofsubmergedlandinfourmarinenationalmonuments, provides habitat for many speciesofshandwildlife,sanctuaryforthreatenedandendangered species, and secure spawning areasfor native sheries. There are also numerousrecreationalopportunitiesonrefuges.

The 2011budget for the nationalwildlife refugesystem is$499.5million, a net reduction of $3.3million.The2011budgetincreasesrefugeclimatescienceinventoryandmonitoringby$8.0million,and adds $2.0 million for youth programs.Reductions include unrequested congressionalincreasestotaling$4.5million,discontinuationofthe$6.5millionChallengeCostShareprogram,Interior-widemanagementefcienciesthatareexpectedtoachievesavingsof$4.6millionintherefugeprogram,andFWSspecicefcienciesof$459,000.

National Park System TheNationalParkServiceoperates392units,comprisedof84millionacresin49States, the DistrictofColumbia,AmericanSamoa,Guam,PuertoRico,theNorthernMarianaIslands,andtheU.S.VirginIslands.TheparksystemcelebratestheNationshistorybyinterpretingandpreservingnaturalandculturalsitesandprovidingopportunities forrespite, reection, andoutdoorrecreation. The system includes sites that are atestamenttotheearlyidealsofconservationistswhostrovetoprotecttreasuredlandscapes.JohnMuir,

forexample,wasadrivingforceinthepreservationoftheYosemiteValley.

The 2011 budget for operation of the nationalparks is$2.3billion,anincrease of$35.3millionabovethe2010level.Newfundingforoperationswill address mission-critical needs at existingandnewparks, improvevisitor services,protectnational icons, and maintain the facilities andinvestments restored with Recovery Act funds.IncreasesforService-wideprogramswillbeusedforresourcestewardshipprojectsnationwideandwillalsofacilitatecollaborativeeffortstoimproveadministrativeservicesandemployeedevelopment.These increasesareoffset byreductionsof$13.8million in Interior-widemanagement efcienciesthatareexpectedtoachievesavings.

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wild horseand burro iniTiaTive

The2011budgetrequestwillbeginimplementinganewnationalmanagementstrategyforprotectingAmericasiconicwildhorsesandtheopenlandsonwhichtheyroam.

Since1971,whenCongresspassedtheWildFree-Roaming Horses and BurrosAct, the BLM hasproudlymanaged the Nationswild horses andburros.InfourdecadesunderBLMprotection,wildhorsepopulationsthatwereoncefastdisappearingfromtheAmericanscenehaverapidlygrown.

Thissuccess in revivingwild horsepopulations,however,hascreatedanewsetofchallengesforBLM

andthelandscapestheymanage.Thetotalwildhorseandburropopulationisnowapproximately69,000,including37,000roamingthepubliclands,and32,000heldinexpensiveshort-termcorralsandlong-termpastures.Withnonaturalpredators,wildhorsepopulationsontherangecontinuetogrow.This population growthhas been a contributingfactorinsteadilyincreasingprogramcostsfrom

$36.4millionin2007,to$51.6millionin2009,toanestimated$66.1millionin2010.Additionally,aridwestern landsandwatersheds cannot support apopulationthislargewithoutsignicantdamagetotheenvironmentthatthreatensallwildlifespeciesthatdependonhealthyrangelands,includingwildhorses. Toprevent starvationofanimalsand toprotectthelandsfromover-grazing,theBLMeach

yearmovesthousandsofwildhorsestoshort-termcorralsandlong-termpastures.

TheBLMsmanagementstrategyuptothispointhasprimarilyfocusedonremovinganimalsfromtherangeinanefforttoreachappropriatemanagementpopulationlevels,offeringthesegatheredanimalsupforadoption,andplacinganyunadoptedhorsesinholdingfacilities.However,decliningadoptionratesoverthelastseveralyearsandrisingfeedandfuelscostshaveledtoskyrocketingholdingcosts.Thecurrentpathofthewildhorseandburroprogramisnotsustainablefortheanimals,theenvironment,orthetaxpayer.

Torespondtothesechallenges,onOctober7,2009,SecretarySalazarannouncedanewcomprehensivelong-term plan toput the wild horse and burro

program ona sustainable track. Fullimplementation of the plan requires

increased funding in the short termand additional legislative authorities.Theplanidentiesthreemanagementstrategiestoimprovetheprotectionandmanagementofwildhorses:managingsustainableherdsonwesternrangelandsthrough theaggressive application offertilitycontrolmeasures;establishingnew wild horse preserves, primarilyin the Midwest and East for horsesthat must be removed from westernrangelands; and providing specialdesignationsforselectedtreasuredherds

intheWest.

Wild horse population growth ratesmust be brought into balance with

adoptiondemandtoensurethattheherdsonthewesternrangelandsarekeptatmoresustainablelevels.Onlybyreducingbreedingpopulationswillthisprogramcomeintobalance.TheSecretarysplanwillachievesustainablepopulationsontherangethroughfarmoreaggressiveuseoffertilitycontrolthaniscurrentlypracticed,activemanagementofsexratiosontherange,andpossiblytheintroductionofnon-reproducing herds in some existingherdmanagementareas.Atthesametime,thesuccessoftheplandependsontheplacementofmoreanimalsintogoodhomesbymakingadoptionsmoreexiblewhereappropriate.

TheBLMwill establish anew set ofwild horsepreserves across the Nation, particularly on theproductivegrasslandsoftheMidwestandinthe

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East.SitingthesepreservesinareasoutsidethewesternStatesisnecessarybecausewaterandforageareextremelylimitedintheWest,anddroughtandcatastrophicwildrethreatenbothrangelandandanimalhealth.ThesenewpreserveswillbelocatedonlandsacquiredbyBLMorpartners,andwouldbehometonon-reproducingherdsofwildhorses.Theywillprovideexcellentopportunitiestoreducethenumberofanimalsinshort-termholding,celebratethehistoricsignicanceofwildhorses,showcasetheseanimals totheAmericanpublic,and serveasnatural assets that support local tourism andeconomicactivity.

Lastly,theSecretarysplanwillshowcasecertainunique herds on public lands in the West thatdeserve special recognition. These select herds

wouldbehighlightedwithSecretarialorpossiblycongressionaldesignations.ThespecialdesignationswouldhighlighttheuniquequalitiesofAmericaswildhorses,providinga focalpointforpublicity,environmentaleducation,andincreasedeco-tourismthatcouldboosteconomiesandcreatejobsinnearbyruralcommunities.

The 2011 BLM budget request includes $75.7million,anincreaseof$12.0millionfortheWildHorseandBurroManagementprogramtosupportimplementationoftheSecretarysplan.Inaddition,theBLMbudgetincludesanincreaseof$42.5millioninlandacquisitionfundingtoplanandpurchaselandforonewildhorsepreserve.TheplanwillenableBLMtoachieveappropriatemanagementpopulationlevelsontherangeby2013.

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