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Traversing tundra, mountaintops and the Yukon River, the Dalton Highway in Alaska provides public access to the Alpine Tundra and a myriad of opportunities for big-game hunting, fishing, rafting, canoeing and exploration (photo courtesy of Dennis R. Green, BLM volunteer, Alaska State Office).

Sportsmen Urge Congress to Renew Commitment to Conservation in Highway Bill

The TRCP is calling for a strengthening of conservation-related policies and funding as the new Highway Bill begins to take shape in Congress. On Aug. 7, President Obama signed a $7 billion short-term extension of the Surface Transportation Authorization Act. With this extension, the current bill is set to expire at the end of the September.

“Now is the perfect time for Congressional leaders to consider ways to strengthen the conservation components of this broad-reaching legislation,” said Geoff Mullins, TRCP policy initiatives manager. “The last Highway bill saw some key conservation gains in transportation policy, but there is so much more that can be done to protect crucial fish and wildlife habitat and promote sportsmen’s recreational use of public lands.”

In anticipation of the new legislation, the TRCP helped form the Transportation Conservation Coalition earlier this year. The coalition, made up of 54 sportsmen’s, conservation and other outdoor organizations, has provided a strong and unified voice for sportsmen’s issues in the transportation debate, educating and engaging key policy makers.

In particular, the TRCP emphasizes storm water management and public lands access as two key components of a conservation-minded and wildlife-friendly Highway Bill. Highways are a major source of storm water runoff and ultimately a leading cause of water quality degradation in lakes, rivers and estuaries across the nation. In order to diminish the harmful effects of unhindered storm water runoff, the TRCP believes that all new and reconstructed highway projects should be required to assess and mitigate storm water impacts, especially as they relate to sustainable fish and wildlife habitats.

Federal public lands and waters are vital destinations for American hunters, anglers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Nearly half of all hunters spend time hunting on public lands, and a lack of access to these areas is cited as the primary reason hunters stop participating in the traditional sport.  Those who enjoy fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hunting and hiking, would all benefit from improved access to our nation’s public lands rivers and streams.

“The Highway bill has a tremendous impact on the quality of our hunting and fishing habitats,” said Mullins. “Through proper planning and making science-based decisions, the policies set in this legislation can go a long way to conserving our fish, wildlife and the habitats on which they rely.”

Learn more about the TRCP’s work to ensure that fish, wildlife and the habitats they rely on are conserved in the Highway Bill.

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