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Department Of Natural Resources Surplus Goes To Recreation, Conservation Projects

Justin Ladia
/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jrladia/

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources received more this year in their annual grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The extra money will be used for special, one-time projects.

 

Indiana’s share of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program comes to $16.5 million this year, $2 million more than last. Chief Fiscal Administrator for the Division of Fish and Wildlife Julie Kempf says the program is critical, even though not many people know about it.

 

"We use about $7-8 million on an annual basis," she says. "We're managing habitats, we're assessing populations, we're providing recreational factilities or areas for folks."

 

The divison’s received extra funding over the past few years. Kempf says that’s allowed them to work on more one-time projects, like buying more land for habitat conservation.

 

"We've also done a couple of unique projects, like an archery range at koteewi, near Noblesville," she says. "We also are working on two shooting ranges."

 

 

The Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program is funded by taxes paid by hunting and fishing businesses. The money is shared among the states based on their land area and unique number of hunters and anglers.

 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife distributed over $1.1 billion to states this year.

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