Wildlife refuge expansion bill passes U.S. House.
The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved legislation (H.R. 289) authored by Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI) to expand the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge along the Lake Erie shoreline to encompass more critical wildlife habitat.
The innovative legislation encourages public-private partnerships for conservation and restoration of wildlife habitat along the Detroit River and southern shore of Lake Erie while placing special emphasis on the protection of private property rights. Landowners will have the opportunity to enter into cooperative management agreements, sell and even donate land to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who will manage the refuge lands for public recreation, wildlife observation, hunting and fishing.
Wetlands info just in...
Send support to your legislators to help preserve water quality and provide a home for frogs, birds and other forms of life. According to an April 30 Free Press editorial a bill was introduced by Rep. Paul Condino, D-Southfield, "would have the state, the federal government and municipalities be role models in in working around wetlands, even small ones. Wetlands less than five acres have no protection under current law, whether they are in public or private hands."
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