Summer/Fall 1999

Conservation News

PICKERING INTRODUCES WETLAND RESTORATION ACT - Congressman Chip Pickering of Mississippi's 3rd Congressional District has introduced legislation to reauthorize the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP). The program received much praise from the North American Waterfowl Federation, an organization of state and provincial waterfowl organizations throughout Canada, Mexico and the United States, at its annual meeting in Manitoba, Canada. Congressman Pickering stated, "Across the country, thousands of private landowners have discovered that WRP is an attractive alternative to farming high-risk, high-cost, frequently flooded cropland. WRP provides landowners with a voluntary, financial incentive to restore wetlands." Pickering's legislation extends WRP to 2005 and replaces the current WRP acreage cap with a new 250,000-acre annual enrollment limit. "This will allow 4,000 to 5,000 additional landowners to enroll in WRP over the next five years," Pickering added. Dr. Bob McLandress, a member of the North American Waterfowl Federation's Executive Committee and Executive Director of the California Waterfowl Association stated, "Congressman Pickering's leadership in conservation of waterfowl habitat is very much appreciated throughout North America. His efforts will result in the largest and most successful wetland restoration program anywhere in the world." James L. Cummins, Chairman of the Board of the North American Waterfowl Federation and Executive Director of Wildlife Mississippi, said, "Congressman Pickering has long been a friend of wildlife enthusiasts in Mississippi. We are very grateful to him for introducing this legislation that's so critical to waterfowl wintering and nesting grounds throughout the United States." The North American Waterfowl Federation consists of waterfowl organizations in the United States and provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan in Canada. Its objectives promote waterfowl and wetland restoration, wise use and management of waterfowl populations and research to generate facts and educational outreach on wetland and migratory bird resources.

OIL SPILL VESSEL GOING TO COAST - The Marine Spill Response Corporation, the country's largest oil spill response organization, will relocate one of its 210' long oil spill vessels to Pascagoula. The vessel will be one of 16 positioned along the United States' coastline. It will be relocated from Corpus Christi, Texas, and renamed the Mississippi Responder. It will provide enhanced coverage in an area where increasing industry activity makes the possibility of an oil spill more real, officials said.

LIVINGSTON Performing Arts & Media CENTER OPENS – The new Livingston Performing Arts and Media Center at Roosevelt State Park, located south of Morton was recently dedicated. The building provides theater seating for 601 people with a lobby, public restrooms, auditorium, sound and light production rooms and dressing rooms. The new facility will also be used for radio and television production in conjunction with the Mississippi Educational Television Network and Mississippi Public Radio on special occasions. In the future, worldwide tele-conferencing will be available at this center. The 14,050 square foot facility was made possible through funding from the Mississippi Legislature.

COCHRAN FUNDS PARKWAY, FOREST SERVICE - Senator Thad Cochran has announced that the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, of which he is a member, has approved a bill, which includes $35.3 million for national parks and forestry projects in Mississippi. The bill contains $7.9 million for the Natchez Trace Parkway. The Corinth Battlefield will receive $3 million for construction of a new visitors' center. The Subcommittee provided $8.8 million for research facilities of the USDA Forest Service located in Stoneville, Starkville, Saucier and Oxford. Authority to pay for University of Mississippi forest lands in the amount of $15 million was also included in this legislation. Cochran said, "These projects will help to protect Mississippi's natural and historical resources and increase tourism for our State."

SELF APPOINTED To Commission - The Mississippi Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks recently welcomed its newest member, Peyton Self of Marks. Self, who is managing partner of Self and Company Farms in Marks, was appointed by Governor Kirk Fordice to fill the unexpired term of Howard Miller of Vicksburg who recently died. Miller was also a member of the Board of Trustees of Wildlife Mississippi; Self is the Foundation's president. As a member of the Wildlife Commission, Self's duties are to oversee state parks and the conservation of Mississippi's fish and wildlife resources. Self is a member of the Atlantic Salmon Federation and the National Audubon Society. Self, who is Chairman of the Board at the Citizens Bank of Marks and a farmer, is married to Grace Presley Self of Clarksdale. They have three children.

NATURALIST GROUP FORMED - Thirteen volunteers have educated and prepared themselves under a new program to be specialists on landscape and natural history. These people are Master Naturalists, a new volunteer program operated by the Mississippi State University Extension Service and sponsored by Chevron, U.S.A.'s Pascagoula refinery. According to Dr. Mark Lasalle, Extension Marine Resources Specialist, "The program was developed to fill a growing need for trained individuals to assist with environmental education programs and events in coastal Mississippi and to help expand these efforts." They conduct nature tours at National Parks and the Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge in Jackson County. Anyone interested in becoming a Master Naturalist should contact the Coastal Research and Extension Center in Biloxi.

FREE Cards Give Anglers TIPS - Free cards that give red drum anglers specific catch and release tips are available from the BOAT/U.S. Clean Water Trust, a national nonprofit education organization that provides practical environmental information. For anglers who tag and/or release red drum, the how-to card gives tips on reducing fish stress and injury, which is the primary reasons a released fish may not survive, such as using only wet hands or a wet cloth handling fish to avoid loss of protective slime. A wallet-sized summary of the tips and a red drum weight-length card can be torn off from the bottom of the card for easy reference. The card is part of the BOAT/U.S. Clean Water Trust's one-year Red Drum Tag and Release Outreach Project. For more information on the Red Drum Tag and Release Outreach project or to order the cards (available in bulk quantities of 50 or more), contact Pereira at 1-800-262-8872.

HUNTERS COLLECT FOOD – Mississippi Sportsmen Against Hunger (MSAH) collected and distributed over 11,000 pounds of pure, ground venison to over 22 collection centers to benefit the hungry of Mississippi through the 1998-99 Hunters for the Hungry Program from October 1, 1998, to March 31, 1999. Including the 1,500 pounds of deer meat collected at the 1998 Mississippi Wildlife Extravaganza Clean Out Your Freezer Food Drive, the Hunters for the Hungry program has collected and distributed over 130,000 pounds of pure, ground venison to benefit the hungry of Mississippi since August, 1992. Deer hunters, deer processors, charities and corporate sponsors make Mississippi Sportsmen Against Hunger possible.

WOMEN'S PUBLICATION LAUNCHED — The Women's Shooting Sports Foundation (WSSF) and Petersen, Inc., have joined forces to produce Petersen's Outdoors for Women, a quarterly publication that will introduce and educate women about hunting and target shooting. As the official publication of WSSF, Petersen's Outdoors for Women will feature association news, schedules and event coverage in addition to broader editorial topics pertaining to hunting, shooting, and the outdoors. Founded in 1993, the Women's Shooting Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing more women into hunting and target shooting and serving as the collective voice of female hunters and shooters.

DISABLED SPORTSMEN TO FORM CLUB IN LAUREL - The Wheelin' Sportsmen of America (WSA) is the largest organization of its kind. It was founded in 1996 by Kirk Thomas. To date, it has given over 2,500 people the opportunity to hunt and fish. WSA is now in eight states with Mississippi recently receiving its charter. A Laurel chapter is being led by Clint Smith. Over 14,000 acres of hunting land in Mississippi have been donated to the organization and plans are being made for a deer hunt this winter.

SERVICE PROPOSES NEW DUCK SEASON FRAMEWORKS - Last year, Congress approved language allowing six Southern states to extend their duck seasons past the approved closure date, the Sunday nearest January 20, in exchange for a reduction in season length. Based upon this language, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee chose to extend their seasons to January 31 to meet the desires of their hunting publics. Recognizing the desire of Congress and hunters in these three states, the proposed rule would establish a January 31 framework closing date for Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

MISSISSIPPIAN COMPLETES PRESIDENCY - Mississippians continue to excel in leadership positions throughout the world. Leland Speakes, Jr., of Bolivar County has recently completed his term as the President of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep. Some of Speakes' accomplishments include the commencement of a capital campaign to raise a $7 million endowment, the completion of a book on wild sheep in conjunction with the Boone and Crockett Club. The Foundation for North American Wild Sheep is a premiere wildlife conservation group dedicated to the enhancement of wild sheep populations on the continent. Mississippi has the luxury of having Leland Speakes, Jr., remain on the Foundation's Board to continue to offer his valuable ideas and counsel.