The following is a letter from RMEF President & CEO M. David Allen regarding the Grand Canyon Watershed, followed by a letter from the Arizona Game and Fish commission.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Arizona RMEF Members,<\/p>\n
It is imperative that we as hunters and conservationists raise our voices
\nwhen issues arise that trigger vital conservation concerns. One of those
\nissues is happening right now within the borders of your home state.<\/p>\n
The Obama administration is considering a presidential designation to
\ncreate a 1.7 million-acre Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument. Such a
\nmove could have a detrimental impact on wildlife, wildlife management,
\nhunter access, water rights and other associated issues, and all without
\nany public input or Congressional oversight whatsoever.<\/p>\n
Please read over the letter below from the Arizona Game and Fish Commission
\nregarding a federal initiative and take action.<\/p>\n
Sincerely, PROPOSED GRAND CANYON WATERSHED NATIONAL MONUMENT: The Arizona Game and Fish Commission opposes the unilateral Presidential Creating another national monument, without input from Arizona The proposed monument would add to a funding shortfall the federal Forested areas within the proposed monument are at risk of catastrophic Current management of areas within the proposed monument is sustainable and Extensive tracts of public land near or within the proposed monument are Designation will add new layers of bureaucratic process and delay needed Designation will impede proactive and effective management of wildlife The proposed monument includes some of the most socially and economically Monument designation sets the stage for future, more restrictive land use Conclusion: Unless consensus can be reached among Arizona stakeholders, Please contact the various government representatives below to let them Representative Ann Kirkpatrick Representative Raul Grijalva Representative Ruben Gallego President Barack Obama The Honorable Sally Jewell The Honorable Tom Vilsack The following is a letter from RMEF President & CEO M. David Allen regarding the Grand Canyon Watershed, followed by a letter from the Arizona Game and Fish commission. Arizona RMEF Members, It is imperative that we as hunters and conservationists raise our voices when issues arise that trigger vital conservation concerns. One of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":136,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-with-thumbnail","post-with-thumbnail-icon"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/huachuca-archers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/azgfd.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/huachuca-archers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/huachuca-archers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/huachuca-archers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huachuca-archers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huachuca-archers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=454"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/huachuca-archers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":455,"href":"https:\/\/huachuca-archers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/454\/revisions\/455"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huachuca-archers.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/136"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/huachuca-archers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huachuca-archers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/huachuca-archers.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<https:\/\/cid:image002.jpg@01D09B15.B35DECC0<\/a>>
\nM. David Allen
\nRMEF President & CEO<\/p>\n
\nRED FLAGS AND POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES<\/p>\n
\ndesignation of a new 1.7 million acre National Monument in the Grand Canyon
\nWatershed (Monument). This designation, which would incorporate lands
\ncurrently managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest
\nService (USFS) in a multiple-use framework, would have potential adverse
\nimpacts to wildlife and resource management, traditional land uses, and
\nassociated economic activity. Several environmental organizations, along
\nwith three of Arizona\u2019s nine U.S. Representatives, are advocating for this
\nunilateral executive designation. Several key points illustrate why this is
\nwrong for Arizona:<\/p>\n
\nstakeholders, denies a voice to those most affected. No designation of a
\nnational monument should take place without public discussion and approval
\nof Arizona residents, stakeholders, and Congress. Such an important
\ndecision deserves a transparent process with a robust discussion of the
\nconsequences that such a designation brings.<\/p>\n
\ngovernment is already struggling to overcome. The current estimated
\nshortfall in deferred maintenance at existing national parks and monuments
\nis $11.5 billion; Grand Canyon National Park is 5th on that list with
\nbacklogged projects totaling $330 million. Adding an additional 1.7 million
\nacres to that system is fiscally irresponsible.<\/p>\n
\nwildfire and in need of restoration. The proposed monument includes some of
\nthe most extensive tracts of old-growth ponderosa pine forest in the
\nSouthwest. Decades of fire suppression and hands-off management have
\ncreated conditions ripe for unnaturally large and intense wildfires that
\ncan devastate old growth forests, wildlife habitat, and watershed function.
\nOne such event (the 2006 Warm Fire) has already occurred within the area.
\nUnder the current multiple-use framework, restoration efforts that include
\nmechanical thinning and prescribed burns have been delayed by
\nadministrative appeals and controversial litigation. Placing the area under
\na more restrictive designation will make essential restoration projects
\neven more litigious and difficult to implement.<\/p>\n
\nhas public and partner support. Multiple-use management of BLM and USFS
\nlands within the proposed monument is driven by resource management plans
\nincorporating extensive public involvement, the best available science and
\nexpertise provided by the state wildlife agency. Designating a new monument
\nvia unilateral executive authority undermines extensive prior
\ncollaboration, agency planning, and public support for existing management
\nof this area.<\/p>\n
\nalready protected by special designations. These include the Grand Canyon
\nGame Preserve (600,000 acres), 8 National Parks\/Monuments (4.9 million
\nacres) and 9 Wilderness Areas (400,000 acres). Additional special
\ndesignations like the proposed monument will adversely impact sustainably-
\nmanaged working landscapes that are central to the social and economic
\nfabric of Arizona.<\/p>\n
\nmanagement actions. Once designated, the responsible federal bureaucracy
\nwill need to develop a new resource management plan for the Monument, a
\nprocess that has taken an average of 10 years for other recently designated
\nArizona monuments. Until the plan is completed and has withstood potential
\nadministrative and legal challenges, many management actions will be placed
\non hold, compromising wildlife habitats, wildlife populations and forest
\nhealth.<\/p>\n
\npopulations and habitats within the monument. Wildlife management
\nactivities will require more complex planning by agencies that are already
\nunderstaffed, and will face challenges from special interest groups
\nphilosophically opposed to active management to benefit wildlife and other
\nresources. Wildlife translocations, maintenance\/development of water
\nsources, and habitat restoration projects may be delayed or prohibited,
\nimpeding the state\u2019s ability to meet its trust responsibilities and
\ndiminishing Arizona\u2019s wildlife management authorities. Designation also
\nallows federal monument managers to make management of wildlife resources a
\nsecondary concern to maintaining \u201csolitude, \u201cnaturalness,\u201d and other
\ncharacteristics associated with national parks and wilderness areas.<\/p>\n
\nimportant hunting areas in the United States, including the iconic Kaibab
\ndeer herd range, portions of the Arizona Strip that produce trophy mule
\ndeer and areas south of the Grand Canyon known for trophy bull elk. Over
\ntime, an inability to properly manage these populations and their habitats
\nmay result in decreased wildlife populations, reduced hunter opportunities,
\nand loss of revenues that directly support conservation and Arizona
\ncommunities.<\/p>\n
\nallocations and designations, further impeding public access, hunting, and
\nmanagement flexibility. Areas within the proposed monument determined to
\nhave \u201cwilderness characteristics\u201d would face activity restrictions
\nsimilar to wilderness designation. USFS and BLM lands within the proposed
\nmonument could be transferred to the National Park Service, in which case
\nthat agency\u2019s narrower mission and even greater restrictions on management
\nand recreational activities may be applied, including the prohibition of
\nhunting. Further, national monuments in Arizona have historically been
\nconverted to national parks.<\/p>\n
\ndedicated funding is allocated to overcome existing and future maintenance
\nshortfalls, traditional land uses are protected, and proactive wildlife and
\nforest management actions can go forward unimpeded, the Arizona Game and
\nFish Commission remains opposed to unilateral Presidential designation of
\nthe proposed Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument.<\/p>\n
\nknow of your concern:<\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/kirkpatrick.house.gov\/contact\/email-me<\/a>
\n<http:\/\/newsletter.rmef.org\/CT00159108MzMzMjc1.HTML?D=2015-05-27<\/a>>
\n201 Cannon House Office Building
\nWashington, DC 20515<\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/grijalva.house.gov\/email-raul<\/a>
\n<http:\/\/newsletter.rmef.org\/CT00159109MzMzMjc1.HTML?D=2015-05-27<\/a>>
\n1511 Longworth House Office Building
\nWashington, DC 20515<\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/rubengallego.house.gov\/contact\/email<\/a>
\n<http:\/\/newsletter.rmef.org\/CT00159110MzMzMjc1.HTML?D=2015-05-27<\/a>>
\n1218 Longworth House Office Building
\nWashington, DC 20515<\/p>\n
\nhttps:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/contact<\/a>
\n<http:\/\/newsletter.rmef.org\/CT00159111MzMzMjc1.HTML?D=2015-05-27<\/a>>
\n1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest
\nWashington, DC 20500<\/p>\n
\nfeedback@ios.doi.gov<\/a>
\n<http:\/\/newsletter.rmef.org\/CT00159112MzMzMjc1.HTML?D=2015-05-27<\/a>>
\nSecretary, U.S. Department of the Interior
\n1849 C St., N.W. Washington, DC 20240<\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.usda.gov\/wps\/portal\/usda\/usdahome?navid=CONTACT_US&navtype=MA<\/a>
\n<http:\/\/newsletter.rmef.org\/CT00159113MzMzMjc1.HTML?D=2015-05-27<\/a>>
\nSecretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture
\n1400 Independence Ave., S.W. Washington, DC 20250<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"