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Sportsman's Alliance of Maine Events Raffles Merchandise Contact us 205 Church Hill Road, Augusta ME 04330 Telephone: 207-622-5503 FAX: 207-622-5596 |
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Governor Baldacci’s Accomplishments
Prepared by the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
During the bear referendum, the governor supported the department in its effort to defeat the referendum. The governor was vocal in his disdain for the proposed ban, appeared at funding events and allowed employees to speak against the referendum and appear in political advertisement.
The Management Assistance Team (MAT) Report of the fisheries division has been reviewed and many of the recommendations have been adopted. The process is ongoing and will continue to be looked at as the division plans its future management program. In addition, the recently completed MAT review of the whole Department is serving as a template for the direction the Department will take as it plans for the future.
Construction of a new, state-of-the-art hatchery in Emden was completed this year. The hatchery can (now) raise 400% more fish. Money from the general fund allows for additional funds for the state hatcheries to implement and support the fish hatchery enhancements which will increase the number of fish stocked throughout the state. This additional money will allow our hatcheries to operate at their peak. Voters had approved a $7 million bond issue in 2002 which represents phase one of a three phase program that Governor Baldacci supports.
The budget allows for an additional $1 million for state hatcheries, which will allow the department to implement fish hatchery enhancements which will increase the number of fish stocked throughout the state.
Working with the governor, IFW and municipalities, the Department’s “Beginning with Habitat” program has helped preserve habitat for game animals such as deer, turkey and waterfowl in over 100 municipalities throughout the state. This program ensures that game populations will have enough habitat to sustain them 100 years from now.
The governor, in his budget, secured over $3.5 million for the department. This money has helped fund hatcheries, secure access, preserve wildlife habitat, and fund protection of Maine’s fish and wildlife.
The governor, working with the Department, helped pass a law that will protect wetlands throughout the state. These wetlands are vital habitat not only for waterfowl but a variety of wildlife as well.
Expanded hunting opportunities for turkey and deer. All hunters now get turkey permits because the number of applicants was close to the number of permits the Department issued and superpack license holders get a second deer in the zones that have an abundant supply.
The cost of hunting and fishing licenses for residents were rolled back by $1 last year.
The Department is working with the Department of Economic and Community Development to expand markets for hunting and fishing in Maine. There are a limited number of hunters and anglers in the region, and we need to convince them that Maine is the place to hunt and fish. The Department, working with DECD, will be better able to spread the word about all the opportunities that Maine offers.
Additional funds of approximately $900,000 have been earmarked for capital improvements, i.e.> security fencing at the new storage facility in Greenville, the fuel depot, and the place where Department planes are stored, a storage building at the Enfield Regional Headquarters, and a replacement of the Eagle Lake plan docking facility.
Soon, sportsmen will be able to purchase a sportsman’s license plate. The plate will be similar in cost to the loon or lobster plate, but 100 percent of the proceeds will go to the Department’s lifetime license fund, ensuring additional long term funding for the department. This is different than the loon plate where 60 percent of the proceeds go to the Department of Conservation and 40 percent goes to IFW.
Supported the heritage trout program, protection of wild trout in all lakes and ponds. Trout Unlimited recently released a report citing our state as the last stronghold for brook trout in the eastern United States. These innovations under Governor Baldacci will help to keep it that way.
At the SAM Sportsmen’s Congress, the governor promised to pursue alternative funding mechanisms such as a percentage of the sales tax for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. This would ensure that support of the Department does not fall solely on the shoulders of sportsmen.
As a result of the Governor’s ATV Task Force, the contentious issues surrounding that fast growing sport have been dealt with. It is expected that the ATV growth is going to produce in the vicinity of $300 million to the economy of Maine. There are now 130 organized clubs and 4,400 miles of ATV trails.
Under the Governor’s leadership, IFW has improved its performance in the eyes of its core customers, SAM members. According to the survey: for the first time ever in the survey, more SAM members rated the fishing as excellent or good than fair or poor; 79 percent rated the work of IFW wildlife biologists as good or great; 65 percent rated the work of IFW fisheries biologists as good or great; and 81 percent rated the work of IFW game wardens as good or great.
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