Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: July 31, 2001

Contact: Mark Pfeifle or
Stephanie Hanna 202-208-6416

At Six Months: Secretary Norton's "4-C's" Making Positive Impact
"By listening to each other and working cooperatively, we are creating a model for
lasting solutions and achievement," Norton says

(WASHINGTON) - Calling it "the busiest and most gratifying six months of my career," Interior Secretary Gale Norton today looked back on her first 180 days as Secretary of the Interior, and detailed concrete examples of the Department working and listening to people to protect and conserve our nation's resources for future generations.

At every given opportunity - from meetings with conservation groups to major policy addresses across the nation - Secretary Norton has constantly stressed what she calls the "4-C's": communication, consultation and cooperation, all in the service of conservation. Today, she highlighted some of the most prominent examples that reflect her goals for the Department.

"In each instance, the accomplishments happened because of interest and support from local citizens, tribal leaders, local and national conservation groups and state and local government. By listening to each other and working cooperatively, we are creating a model for lasting solutions and achievement."

Establishing an Eastern flyway for highly endangered Whooping Cranes: Biologists from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey worked with seven state wildlife agencies and local and national conservation groups, local landowners and private citizens to set up a new crane migration route that will teach the birds - by following an ultralight aircraft - to migrate between Florida and Wisconsin. Once at the brink of extinction, with a population of less than 30, there are now more than 260 whooping cranes in the wild. The new Eastern flyway will be inaugurated this October when 10 young whoopers begin "avian ground school" behind an ultralight. The birds are beginning their "flight school" training at the Necedah Refuge in Wisconsin and will take flight for Florida to join an established non-migratory whooping crane flock. More than 40 local landowners have offered their land for overnight stops. Significant funding for the project has been provided by private donors.

Conserving native fish in the Lemhi River in partnership with Idaho: An agreement was signed on July 18^th by the Governor of Idaho among the State of Idaho, the Fish & Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service and other partners. The agreement sets a timetable and a series of milestones that will ultimately lead to a long-term agreement to conserve habitat for endangered bull trout, salmon and steelhead. The agreement improves stream flow, eliminates water diversions on the mainstem of the Lemhi River and enhances riparian habitat. The project is being substantially funded by Bonneville Power Administration and the Bureau of Reclamation, and includes an innovative water banking proposal endorsed by the Idaho Legislature. Irrigation districts and many private ranchers and farmers are cooperatively participating in the planning effort.

Restoring world-class bird habitat at the Bushley Bayou in Louisiana: Secretary Norton announced a new partnership in June that will benefit wildlife, enhance world-class migratory bird habitat, reforest marginal farmland and create an addition to the Catahoula National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana. Of the more than 18,000 acres acquired for the Refuge, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service purchased about 8,000 through the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, American Electric Power purchased more than 10,000 acres to transfer to the Refuge and establish a $300,000 reforestation and long-term hardwood forest management fund in return for carbon sequestration credits. The Conservation Fund initially purchased the land and greatly aided in putting together the innovative public-private partnership. As a result, the entire Bushley Bayou region will be protected and restored to its original hardwood forest and wetland ecosystem.

Balancing needs for growth and conservation in Southern Nevada: The Bureau of Land Management, using the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act of 1998, auctioned BLM lands in Clark County for development and used the proceeds for the conservation of environmentally sensitive Nevada land. The BLM received $58.4 million in competitive bids for land parcels, primarily in North Las Vegas. Eighty-five percent of the money will be used to acquire environmentally sensitive lands, improve federal recreation areas, parks, trails and natural areas in Clark County and provide $4.8 million for the development of the Clark County Multi-Species Habitat Management Plan for the desert tortoise and other at risk species. Ten percent of the land proceeds are distributed to the Southern Nevada Water Authority and five percent to the Nevada Permanent School Trust Fund.

Protecting fragile marine life and cultural resources at Dry Tortugas National Park: On July 27, Secretary Norton announced a new management plan for Dry Tortugas National Park that protects important coral reef habitat and improves the visitor experience in this offshore area about 70 miles west of Key West, Florida. The plan was developed with broad public outreach and participation from the State of Florida, fishing, diving andother organizations, interest groups and private citizens. The new management plan will protect submerged cultural resources including a significant number of shipwrecks. The plan makes about half of the 100- square-mile park available for recreational fishing and boating. The other half is for scientific research, education and wildlife viewing, while protecting fragile coral habitat, vital fish spawning and nursery areas. The Ocean Conservancy called the plan "a truly precedent-setting achievement."

"The first six months have shown that reaching out for collaboration and consensus is working. The power of the 4-C's is taking root in the daily work of Interior employees and those people whose lives we affect. The 4-C's are generating positive results from remote Alaska villages to the most visited natural treasures to private landowners who actively participate in voluntary conservation agreements that protect America's greatest special places and most at risk species," Secretary Norton concluded.

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