DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE & BOARD OF WILDLIFE COMMISSIONERS

DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE & BOARD OF WILDLIFE COMMISSIONERS 2017 Legislative Joint Subcommittee Natural Resources February 9, 2017 EXHIBIT C Senate Committee on Natural Resources Date: 2-9-2017 Total pages: 42 Exhibit begins with: C1 thru: C42 1

Wildlife as Public Trust Resource Several key landmark Supreme Court rulings have made it clear the wildlife belong to no one but are to be held in trust by government for the benefit of present and future generations. This Public Trust Doctrine has become the legal bedrock for government to establish regulatory authority over wildlife Federal agencies recognize that the states possess broad trustee and police powers over fish and wildlife within their borders, including fish and wildlife found on federal lands within a state. 43 C.F.R. 24.3 Through federally levied excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment, states are able to leverage non-federal funds at a ratio of 3:1 ($3 federal dollars/$1 state dollar) in the name of fish and wildlife management Nevada Department of Wildlife s statutory authorities and responsibilities are outlined in NRS 501-506 (wildlife) and 488 (boating) C2

North American Model of Wildlife Conservation Seven Principles: Wildlife is held in the public trust Regulated commerce in wildlife Hunting & fishing laws created through public process Hunting & fishing opportunities for all Non-frivolous use of wildlife Wildlife is an international resource Scientific management of wildlife C3 3

The Public Process Legislative Statutes Department of Wildlife (recommendations) County Advisory Boards Wildlife Commission (county appointed) (Governor appointed) Policies & Regulations General Public Implement & Enforce Policy & Regulations C4

Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners 9-Governor appointed members represent: one-farming, one-ranching, oneconservation, one-general public and five-sportsmen. C5 5

Wildlife Commission Duties NRS 501.181: Establish broad policies for wildlife management and boating safety Provide guidance to NDOW Adopt regulations for wildlife management and boating safety Adopt regulations specific to hunting, trapping, and fishing Considering NDOW recommendations, County Advisory Boards and public views at an open meeting C6 6

Nevada Department of Wildlife C7 7

NDOW Mission Statement To protect, preserve, manage and restore wildlife and its habitat for its aesthetic, scientific, educational, recreational, and economic benefit to citizens of Nevada and the United States, and to promote the safety of persons using vessels on the waters of this state. NRS: 501-506 (wildlife), 488 (boating) C8 8

Nevada s Wildlife Responsibilities 893 different species regularly occurring in Nevada 456 species of birds 173 species of fish 161 species of mammals 79 species of reptiles 24 amphibian species ESA Listing Activities Candidates(0) Threatened(8) Endangered(20) C9

FY 2018 NDOW Operations Funding By Source Other, $1,118,091, 3% State General Fund, $838,386, 2% License and Tags, $20,173,341, 49% Grants, $19,106,912, 46% State General Fund Grants Fees and Tags Other Note Other: Motor Boat Fuel, Rental, License Plate, Dispatch Contract, Tahoe EIP C10

Department Structure 256.63 Full-time Employees (approx. 50 seasonals, 30 contractors) 120 Buildings 38 Radio Towers 11 Wildlife Management Areas (120,000 ac.) 8 Major Facilities 7 Unique Divisions 4 Fish Hatcheries 3 Regions C11 11

Operations Division Operations (32.63 positions) Licensing February 9, 2017 Business Services Customer Support Engineering & Facilities C12 Boating Access Information Technology 12

Operations Program Areas Licensing Application Hunt System (AHS) Supports tag application process and random game tag drawings throughout the year 217,000 applications for June 2016 Big Game Tag Draw Nevada Wildlife Data System (NWDS) Customer service counters, online and license sales agents 144,000 licenses and 133,000 stamps sold in 2016 42,000 vessels registered in 2016 C13 13

Conservation Education Division Conservation Education (19 positions) Hunter Education Angler Education Archery Education Wildlife Education And Urban Wildlife Media and Public Relations Volunteer Program C14

Conservation Education Program Areas Hunter Education Using 300 NRA certified volunteer instructors, NDOW certifies 4,000 hunter students annually. Angler Education Staff coordinates clinics, seminars, and Free Fishing Day events to over 8,500 youth and adult participants. Archery Education 30 volunteer instructors state wide, going to over 100 schools with active National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) in the state of Nevada across 11 counties. Wildlife Education Averages 1,000 opportunities a month (school groups, community programs, park visitors). C15

Conservation Education Program Areas Urban Wildlife Program Federal U.S. Fish and Wildlife grants do not fund urban wildlife or human- wildlife conflict activities. Urban development issue, not a hunting or wildlife management issue Current activity is limited to response to public safety threats. In the 2017 Legislative session, two seasonal positions were created to handle the large volume of calls regarding human wildlife conflicts. Education, outreach and response. Information campaigns and seasonal positions. The Urban Wildlife Coordinators spend their time educating public on the behaviors of wildlife, how to prevent conflicts from arising and steps they can take to minimize the chance of an unpleasant wildlife encounter. Log, record and map calls and incidents. Contact media with current issue to assist public. GIS mapping framework developed for documenting human-wildlife conflicts to better understand geographical areas of concern. C16

Conservation Education Program Areas Volunteer Program In 2016 NDOW volunteers donated an estimated 21,000 labor hours on projects and drove close to150,000 miles. This donated labor and miles is valued at almost $900,000 that allowed the Department to bring in over $1,750,000 in federal funds with no cost to the state. The matching funds alone are vital to NDOW s mission, but it is only a portion of the value volunteers contribute to the conservation of Nevada wildlife. Volunteer Project Examples: Bighorn Sheep Trap and Transplants Sage-grouse lek surveys Planting projects Raptor surveys Fish Electroshocking Water Development Builds Marlette Lake Spawning C17

Law Enforcement Division Law Enforcement (52 positions) Wildlife Enforcement February 9, 2017 Boating Enforcement Boating Education Operation Game Thief C18 Guide Licensing Dispatch & Radio Communications Public Safety 18

Law Enforcement Program Areas Wildlife Law Enforcement Enforcement of hunting, fishing, and trapping laws and regulations Seasons Bag limits Methods of take Licenses, tags and stamps Non-game wildlife protection Protected species Threatened species Endangered species C19 19

Law Enforcement Program Areas Boating Safety Enforcement: Chapter 488 of NRS Boating Safety Education Operating under the influence Reckless operation Safety equipment: PFD s, fire extinguishers, etc. Boat accident investigation and reconstruction Boating education certificate mandatory on interstate waters for anyone born after January 1, 1983 Public outreach for media Boating safety advertising campaigns and promotions Loaner life jacket stations at 14 locations on Nevada waterways 2014: Accidents-56; Injuries-23; Fatalities-6 2015: Accidents-46; Injuries-23; Fatalities-5 2016: Accidents-53; Injuries-27; Fatalities-3 C20 20

Law Enforcement Program Areas Operation Game Thief Callers can remain anonymous and collect reward money Like Secret Witness for wildlife crime 154 calls assigned an OGT Case Number in 2016 Operation Game Thief Citizen s Board: The non-profit board that pays the reward money Master Guide and Subguide Licensing 106 licensed master guides for hunting and fishing in NV Over 400 licensed subguides employed by master guides C21 21

Game Management Division Game Management (34 positions) Big and Upland Game Management February 9, 2017 Wildlife Health Management Landowner Conflict Resolution C22 Predation Management Air Operations 22

Game Management Program Areas Big and Upland Game Management Surveys and monitoring Season setting and tag quota recommendation Translocations and augmentations Upland and big game Investigations and studies C23 23

Game Management Program Areas Wildlife Health Management Disease surveillance Translocations Wildlife commonly involved Bighorn sheep Gila Monsters, Desert Tortoise Fisheries Coordination with Department of Agriculture Coordination among states C24 24

Game Management Program Areas Landowner Conflict Resolution Elk damage compensation Elk incentive program Deer and antelope damage compensation Providing technical advice, materials, compensation, and incentives to reduce conflicts with wildlife C25 25

Game Management Program Areas Predation Management Managing predators in concert with other wildlife species Management consistent with existing statute Investigations to reduce or mitigate effects of predation Lethal reductions in predator numbers C26 26

Game Management Program Areas Air Operations Two Bell helicopters, operating about 1,400 hours annually Serving multiple divisions Big game survey Raptor surveys Fish stocking Reseeding Guzzler monitoring and construction Communication Towers maintenance C27 27

Fisheries Management Division Fisheries Management (43 positions) Sport Fish Production February 9, 2017 Fisheries Management Native Aquatics C28 Aquatic Health Monitoring Aquatic Invasive Species 28

Fisheries Program Areas Sport Fish Production Fisheries Management Three hatchery facilities produce ± 1M fish per year, mostly rainbow trout Annual stocking in ± 100 waters statewide to maintain angling opportunities Management and monitoring of sport fisheries statewide Restoration and creating new opportunities Conservation and recovery of native trout species (LCT, Bull trout, etc.) Sport fishing generates over $138M in economic activity annually statewide Native Aquatic Species Program Conservation and recovery of Nevada s native aquatic species Nevada has 24 ESA listed fishes, 20 State protected 130 aquatic species ID d as priority species in the Nevada Wildlife Action Plan (51% of total) Multiple emerging issues including native amphibians, springsnail listing petitions for 30+ species C29 29

Fisheries Program Areas Aquatic Health Monitoring Monitoring of contaminants in fish tissue (Mercury, etc.) in cooperation with NDEP Development of consumption advisories for wild-caught fish cooperatively with NDEP and NV Board of Public Health Aquatic Invasive Species Program Two program focus areas Containment limiting quagga mussels to the Colorado River system Prevention statewide outreach to boaters, free inspection and decontamination of watercraft, fixed and roving stations Active monitoring of waters statewide for early detection of quagga and other invasives C30 30

Wildlife Diversity Division Wildlife Diversity (16 positions) State Wildlife Action Plan February 9, 2017 Non-Game Species Management Threatened & Endangered Species C31 Tahoe Environmental Improvement Geographic Information Systems 31

Wildlife Diversity Division Program Areas State Wildlife Action Plan Blueprint for keeping common species common and preventing rare species declines 256 Species of Greatest Conservation Need 1 Mollusk 69 Gastropods 51 Fishes 9 Amphibians 26 Reptiles 60 Birds 40 Mammals 22 Key Habitat Types C32 32

Wildlife Diversity Division Program Areas Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program o Long term plan to improve the environment at Lake Tahoe o Implementation by the Nevada-Tahoe Resource Team, including Wildlife Diversity o Wildlife habitat improvement projects and species monitoring Crucial Habitat Analysis Tool - CHAT o Cooperative effort of 16 western states o Provides the public and industry with a consistent high level overview of important habitat in the west C33 33

Habitat Division Habitat (39 positions) Development Project Review February 9, 2017 Industrial Ponds Habitat Conservation & Restoration Nevada Partners Program C34 Water Development Wildlife Management Areas 34

Habitat Division Program Areas Development Project Review Comment within National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis of projects with a federal nexus Supported by all resource divisions within NDOW Avoid, minimize and mitigate project related impacts to wildlife or their habitats > 500 projects reviewed annually Position on the Sagebrush Ecosystem Technical Team C35 35

Habitat Division Program Areas Industrial Pond Permitting Program Manage and monitor 88 Industrial Artificial Pond Permits C36 36

Habitat Division Program Areas Nevada Partners for Conservation and Development Program Promoting collaborative project funding and implementation with partners including state and federal agencies, private landowners, conservation districts, and universities > 80 major projects across >50,000 acres (wildfire restoration, Pinyon Juniper projects) Merging and managing partner resources in excess of $5 million Private Lands Program with three dedicated biologists Co-funding two Sage Grouse Initiative positions C37 37

Habitat Division Program Areas Water Development Program Two water development crews responsible for locating, clearing, installing and maintaining water developments More than 1,700 water developments across the state C38 38

Habitat Division Program Areas Wildlife Management Areas 11 designated wildlife management areas across the state Totaling 119,212 acres owned or managed under long-term lease agreements Primarily wetland/waterfowl habitat Managed for wildlife values and public recreation (fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, camping, hiking, trapping and nature studies) C39 39

Opportunities and Issues Opportunities SB 75 Department Clean-up Paper reduction Modernize posting Public safety Protection of personal information BDR17A7021147 License Simplification Reduce the number of licenses and privileges (from 28 to 7) Reduce inadvertent errors (such as, not holding the appropriate stamp) Remain revenue neutral Greater value to the customer as licenses will be valid 365 days from date of purchase C40 40

Opportunities and Issues Issues Shed Antlers What are they? Annually shed deer and elk antlers Demand/Value Furniture and Accessories $16-$20 per pound Methods Walking, Driving, ATV, Snowmobiles Impacts Animal stress Energy depletion Habitat destruction Current Status 25% non-residents, 10% commercial Utah emergency statewide closure S.B. 102 mandate in 2011 session 2014 deferred by Legislative Commission C41 Price tag $8,500 41

Thank you for your time! Contact: Tony Wasley, Director Nevada Department of Wildlife Phone: (775) 688-1599 email: twasley@ndow.org Grant Wallace, Chairman Nevada Board of Wildlife Commissioners Phone: (775) 572-3154 email: hay4you@veawb.coop C42