Wildlife refuges reorganizing because of staff, program cuts

MISSOULA (AP) — Federal wildlife regulators are planning to reorganize the National Wildlife Refuge system in Montana and several other states, including Wyoming and Colorado, because of staff and program cuts.

A draft report from U.S. Fish and Wildlife concluded some of the affected areas will have to rely on private landowners.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials said the draft document has been in the works for three years.

“Status quo is not an option,” said the report. “We cannot operate with high numbers of vacant positions on organizational charts while we try to continue to do the work of those vacant positions — it is simply not sustainable.”

Will Meeks, assistant regional director for the Mountain Prairie region that covers Montana, the Dakotas, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas, said it comes down to priorities.

“We’re looking at larger landscapes. ... Engaged private landowners are now a key component of our conservation mission,” Meeks said.

“With our growing workloads and budget realities, we will have to look for creative solutions and an increased reliance on volunteers,” U.S. Fish and Wildlife Public Affairs specialist Ryan Moehring said.

One proposal calls for Montana to be carved into three large wetland management districts in western, central and northeast Montana where staff would be shared among refuges.

Instead of assigning some staff members to specific refuges, the positions could be pooled and headquarters shared.

Opponents say volunteers still need someone to lead them and some positions still need to be filled.

Lee Metcalf Refuge Manager Tom Reed said the refuge’s environmental education programs will be eliminated, including one that involved about 2,000 students.

Meeks said the current recommendations are just the first phase and it could take five years to complete the reorganization.