Untitled Document

SAVE OUR REFUGES
Only your efforts will make a difference!!!
Contact your Congress representatives today and let them know that recent budget cuts to the National Wildlife Refuge system are unsustainable and unacceptable.

Letters should address a two-fold crisis:

1) Reduced refuge funding; and

2) Deterioration of water quality in the surrounding estuary.
Individually written letters are by far the most effective, especially if they are hand-written.
Please sign, date and include your address.

BROAD POINTS TO ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMUNICATIONS: Use points 1) and 2) in your letter, and then select 2 or 3 supporting points below.
The National Wildlife Refuge System needs $451.5 million dollars in fiscal year 2007 to operate up to par.
Current appropriation levels will result in a 20% loss of staff from fiscal year 2004 to 2008.

J.N. “DING” DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE-SPECIFIC POINTS:

Without budget relief, “Ding” Darling will be down, by end of fiscal year 2007, six employees from staffing levels in fiscal year 2004.

Staffing cuts will include the loss of two park rangers unless the budget rebounds. These cuts are slated in the fields of environmental education, including crucial public awareness for endangered manatee preservation and habitat conservation in SW Florida.

The budget-induced loss of a refuge biology tech brings the biology staff down to one person, meaning a decreased ability to monitor water quality, sea grass beds, and other data critical to recovery from destructive algae bloom.

Reduction of resources handicap the refuge’s ability to properly and biologically deal with water quality impact, a crucial issue as Lake Okeechobee runoff destroys refuge habitat..

The refuge maintenance staff has been cut by 33%, including the loss of an equipment operator.

Refuge administration is considering closing the refuge one or two days a week to make up for budgetary shortcomings.

SOUTHEAST REGION-SPECIFIC POINTS:
Budget cuts to the NWR system in this region have resulted in the following regional consequences:
• Decreased science & conservation staffing; the loss of 23 staff biologists
• Decrease in invasive species removal projects
• Decreased law enforcement staff = decreased wildlife and public safety
• Partial closure of some refuges
• 16% loss of maintenance staff critical to maintaining infrastructure.

CONTACTS:

Honorable Connie Mack
804 Nicholas
Cape Coral, FL 33990
Fax 239-573-9125
Office 239- 573-5837
Contact through his Web site: http://mack.house.gov/

Senator Mel Martinez
3301 E Tamiami Trail
Building F, Suite 223
Naples, FL 34112
Fax 239-774-2906
Office 239-774-3367
Contact through his Web site: http://martinez.senate.gov

Senator Bill Nelson
Justice Center Annex Building
2000 Main St. Suite 801
Fort Myers, FL 33901
Attn: Kassandra Cerveny DC office
Fax 239- 334-7710
Office 239-334-7760
Contact through his Web site: http://billnelson.senate.gov

Gov. Charlie Crist
Office of the Governor
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Phone: 850-488-7146
Fax: 850-487-0801
Email: Charlie.Crist@myflorida.com

To contact your Congressional representatives in other states, visit http://www.senate.gov (click on “Senators) and http://www.house.gov. Or call the United States Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

	SAVE OUR REFUGES Only your efforts will make a difference!!! Contact your Congress representatives today and let them know that recent budget cuts to the National Wildlife Refuge system are unsustainable and unacceptable.
	Letters should address a two-fold crisis: 1) Reduced refuge funding; and 2) Deterioration of water quality in the surrounding estuary. Individually written letters are by far the most effective, especially if they are hand-written. Please sign, date and include your address. BROAD POINTS TO ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMUNICATIONS: Use points 1) and 2) in your letter, and then select 2 or 3 supporting points below. The National Wildlife Refuge System needs $451.5 million dollars in fiscal year 2007 to operate up to par. Current appropriation levels will result in a 20% loss of staff from fiscal year 2004 to 2008. J.N. “DING” DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE-SPECIFIC POINTS: Without budget relief, “Ding” Darling will be down, by end of fiscal year 2007, six employees from staffing levels in fiscal year 2004. Staffing cuts will include the loss of two park rangers unless the budget rebounds. These cuts are slated in the fields of environmental education, including crucial public awareness for endangered manatee preservation and habitat conservation in SW Florida. The budget-induced loss of a refuge biology tech brings the biology staff down to one person, meaning a decreased ability to monitor water quality, sea grass beds, and other data critical to recovery from destructive algae bloom. Reduction of resources handicap the refuge’s ability to properly and biologically deal with water quality impact, a crucial issue as Lake Okeechobee runoff destroys refuge habitat.. The refuge maintenance staff has been cut by 33%, including the loss of an equipment operator. Refuge administration is considering closing the refuge one or two days a week to make up for budgetary shortcomings. SOUTHEAST REGION-SPECIFIC POINTS: Budget cuts to the NWR system in this region have resulted in the following regional consequences: • Decreased science & conservation staffing; the loss of 23 staff biologists • Decrease in invasive species removal projects • Decreased law enforcement staff = decreased wildlife and public safety • Partial closure of some refuges • 16% loss of maintenance staff critical to maintaining infrastructure. CONTACTS: Honorable Connie Mack 804 Nicholas Cape Coral, FL 33990 Fax 239-573-9125 Office 239- 573-5837 Contact through his Web site: http://mack.house.gov/ Senator Mel Martinez 3301 E Tamiami Trail Building F, Suite 223 Naples, FL 34112 Fax 239-774-2906 Office 239-774-3367 Contact through his Web site: http://martinez.senate.gov Senator Bill Nelson Justice Center Annex Building 2000 Main St. Suite 801 Fort Myers, FL 33901 Attn: Kassandra Cerveny DC office Fax 239- 334-7710 Office 239-334-7760 Contact through his Web site: http://billnelson.senate.gov Gov. Charlie Crist Office of the Governor The Capitol Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001 Phone: 850-488-7146 Fax: 850-487-0801 Email: Charlie.Crist@myflorida.com To contact your Congressional representatives in other states, visit http://www.senate.gov (click on “Senators) and http://www.house.gov. Or call the United States Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.