THOMPSON APPLAUDS REVERSAL OF DANGEROUS PRAIRIE POTHOLE WETLAND ROLLBACK

St. Helena, CA - Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04), Chair of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus and a member of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC), applauded the U.S. Department of the Interior's decision to halt proposed changes that could have weakened longstanding protections for wetland easements in the Prairie Pothole Region. The announcement came after Rep. Thompson spoke out against the proposal and more than 200,000 Americans submitted comments on the proposal.

The proposed changes could have allowed increased drainage near protected wetlands, threatening critical waterfowl breeding habitat in the region that produces more than half of North America's migratory waterfowl.

"I'm glad the Administration reversed course on this dangerous proposal. I spoke out against these changes and urged the Administration to maintain these longstanding protections because these wetlands are critical to our migratory birds and waterfowl," said Rep. Thompson. "The Administration never should have put these protections at risk in the first place. This is a win for conservation, but we must remain vigilant to make sure these wetlands are protected for generations to come."

"Waterfowl nesting in the Prairie Potholes are critical for the continental migrations. Recent proposed changes from US Fish and Wildlife Service opening up voluntary conservation easements to tile draining could have been disastrous. Thank you to the wise conservation-minded hunters and fishers, and our own Congressman Mike Thompson who spoke up to defeat this sad proposed change," said Dr. Frederic Reid, Wildlife Ecologist.

BACKGROUND

The Prairie Pothole Region spans portions of Montana, the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Iowa and produces more than half of North America's migratory waterfowl. For more than 60 years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has maintained protections for wetlands covered by voluntary conservation easements.

In July, USFWS opened a 14-day public comment period on potential changes to its drain-tile setback policies. More than 200,000 comments were submitted during the review. On August 14, USFWS announced that "no further action is planned" at this time as it reviews the information received.

Rep. Thompson joined members of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission in sending a letter to the Administration urging it to maintain the existing protections and reject the proposed changes.

The full text of the letter can be found here and below.

The Honorable Doug Burgum

Secretary

U.S. Department of the Interior

1849 C Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20240

Dear Secretary Burgum:

As Members of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC), we write to express our strong support for maintaining long-standing and science-based U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wetland easement protections and the current drain tile setback standards that have allowed for the conservation of wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region for more than sixty years while providing benefits and certainty to participating landowners. These protections are essential to sustaining North America's migratory bird populations, protecting taxpayer-funded conservation investments, and preserving one of the continent's most important waterfowl breeding landscapes.

Congress established the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission to oversee and advance the conservation of migratory birds and their habitat through strategic federal investments and collaboration and partnership with private landowners. The Commission plays a central role in reviewing and approving land acquisitions, easements, and habitat conservation projects funded through the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, including revenues generated by the Federal Duck Stamp program, and the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund. Through these authorities, the Commission helps ensure that public conservation investments produce lasting benefits for waterfowl, other migratory birds, sportsmen and women, and the American public.

The Prairie Pothole Region produces more than half of the continent's migratory waterfowl. Wetlands protected through federal easement programs provide critical nesting and brood-rearing habitats that support waterfowl populations across the nation.

As Commissioners, we are concerned by recent actions that call into question the science-based, conservation-focused, and collaborative protections associated with permanent Fish and Wildlife Service wetland easements. These easements were voluntarily entered into by willing landowners and purchased using taxpayer resources to conserve wetlands in perpetuity. The value of these investments depends on maintaining the integrity of protected wetlands. Allowing activities that undermine wetland function would diminish both the biological benefits of these easements and the public return on decades of successful public-private wetland conservation spending.

The Commission has long championed the principle that conservation investments must be durable, provide benefits and certainty for private landowners, and manage vital waterfowl habitat using the best available science. We respectfully urge the Department of the Interior to maintain the science-based drain tile setback standards that have successfully protected Service easements for decades; uphold the integrity of voluntary easement agreements; prevent the drainage of protected wetlands; and provide landowners with legal safe harbor and the certainty necessary to fulfill their conservation commitments. Doing so will honor commitments made to willing landowners, protect taxpayer investments, support healthy migratory bird populations for generations to come, and build upon the success of this conservation model.

Thank you for your continued commitment to conserving America's wetlands and migratory bird resources.

Sincerely,

###

Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 4th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo Counties. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means. Rep. Thompson is Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus and a member of the fiscally-responsible Blue Dog Coalition.