Dear Friends, Supporters and Stakeholders of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge:
You are probably aware of the cost-cutting measures that the administration is making to different branches of the Federal government. We would like to share what we know about the current situation at the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
The staff of Aransas NWR are dedicated members of the United States Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) who are passionate about caring for this Refuge. What you may not know is that the Refuge staffing is already at a bare-bones level, such that they are barely able to manage and maintain the 116,000 acres of the Refuge. Two critical staff members have retired and there is a hiring freeze that will prevent the replacement of these positions. The loss of more staff members, in addition to possible budget cuts, would be severely detrimental to the Refuge. Plus, the staff members’ ability to make purchases to cover the basic operations and maintenance needs of the Refuge has been severely curtailed. No business can successfully achieve their mission under these severe restrictions.
The services that the Refuge provides can be grouped into five broad categories:
- 1) Maintenance and conservation of environmental resources, services, and ecological processes.
- 2) Protection of natural resources such as fish, wildlife, and plants, including the critically endangered Whooping Crane.
- 3) Protection of cultural and historical sites and objects.
- 4) Educational and research opportunities.
- 5) Outdoor and wildlife-related recreation.
The Refuge collaborates with different partner organizations for some of these activities, for example the Texas Youth Hunt Program, Serve Outdoors for veterans’ hunts, and The Nature Conservancy and local fire departments for prescribed burns. Outreach events also include partnerships, such as with the International Crane Foundation and the UT Marine Science Institute. More partners and volunteers will be needed going forward to maintain the services provided by the Refuge.
In addition to the environmental benefits of the Refuge, consider the economic impact for the local community and region. A study published in 2019 (based on data from 2017) determined that annual local economic contributions linked to visitors coming to the Refuge totaled $3 million, a figure that has likely increased substantially in the last eight years.
For now, we cannot predict what the impact of any further reduction of Refuge staff and budget might have on activities enjoyed by the community, such as bird and wildlife viewing and photography, guided Refuge Tours, fishing, youth hunts, public hunts, outreach events, Refuge Day activities, or on visitor center hours.
How can you help?
- Contact your congressional representatives and tell them how important the Refuge is to you and ask them to take action to prevent further damage to the Refuge System.
- Support the Refuge and tell your friends and family members what a beautiful place it is to visit.
- When you visit, tell the staff and volunteers how much you appreciate their work.
- Share your experience of the Refuge on social media.
- Become an active volunteer; help by working at the registration desk in the Visitor Center, in the Nature Store, or in the Pollinator Garden. Contact info@friendsofaransas.org to find out more about volunteering at the Refuge.
- Join or renew your membership in Friends of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge; consider becoming a life member (you won’t get those annoying renewal reminder messages again!)
Our Nation prides itself on our system of National Parks, Wildlife Refuges, National Forests and other protected Federal Lands. Many other nations have copied us. Do not let our National Treasures be destroyed due to insufficient staffing and budgeting to adequately operate and maintain them.
From the Board of Directors of Friends of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge.
