AGFC extends $777,800 to Arkansas schools

LITTLE ROCK — At today’s regular meeting of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission commissioners unanimously voted to offer more than three-quarters of a million dollars from money collected through wildlife and boating violations fines to Arkansas schools through conservation education grants for the current school year. The money will be available through grants administered by the AGFC’s partner, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Department of Rural Services. 

Contrary to popular belief, the AGFC doesn’t use any of the fine money collected from wildlife and boating infractions. Instead, that money is collected at the county level and earmarked for schools to use toward conservation and outdoor recreation programs to help strengthen students’ appreciation for the natural world. 

“Many schools use these grants to support some of the great archery and shooting sports programs we offer through our Recreational Shooting Division,” AGFC Education Chief Mary Beth Hatch said at a briefing on Tuesday. “We anticipate many applications for these grants from our schools participating in our School of Conservation Leadership Program to help fund some of the activities required for that designation.” 

An application for this grant money will be available on the Department of Rural Services website (www.arkansassedc.com/rural-services) soon. Visit www.agfc.com/educationgrants for more information about the program and qualifying activities.

Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock to complete a land exchange with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to trade the Service’s currently landlocked Oakwood Unit in Desha County with a portion of Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita Wildlife Management Area in Ashley County. Under the exchange, the former Beryl Anthony Lower Ouachita WMA property would be absorbed by the bordering Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge and remain open to public hunting opportunities, and the AGFC would add the Oakwood Unit to its WMA system, effectively increasing public hunting opportunities in this portion of the state by more than 2,200 acres.

AGFC Assistant Chief of Wildlife Management Matthew Warriner said the exchange will help the USFWS complete a vital corridor of property, spanning from Felsenthal NWR in Arkansas to the Lower Ouachita NWR in Louisiana and was a focus of former AGFC Director Pat Fitts, who recently died. 

“Opening this area to public access in Desha County was very important to Pat, who spent most of his career in Southeast Arkansas,” Warriner said. “This exchange has been a long time in the making, and we’re excited to open this land up to outdoors enthusiasts in Desha County upon its completion.”

The Commission voted to approve a budget increase of $51,000 from unobligated Marine Fuel Tax funds to build a canoe and kayak access on Lake Atkins in Pope County. The access will be constructed on the north side of the lake, near the dam, and will be used exclusively for canoes, kayaks and other watercraft capable of being launched by hand.

AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock highlighted the efforts of the agency’s Recreational Shooting Division during his report to the Commission, noting that August is National Shooting Sports Month.

“Recreational shooting has a very strong link to conservation,” Schoenrock said. “A portion of the purchases of firearms, ammunition and archery equipment is being allocated back to the states for conservation support.” 

In addition to highlighting some of the special promotions being conducted at AGFC ranges, Schoenrock explained how the Recreational Shooting Division and AGFC Research Division are working together to learn more about people’s attitudes toward efforts to expand shooting sports like trap and skeet shooting as collegiate sports offerings.

“This is a fast-growing segment of education experiences, and AGFC Recreational Shooting Chief Jose Jimenez and his team are at the forefront of the charge to make it a reality in more Arkansas schools and colleges,” Schoenrock said. 

The Commission also formally agreed to send a letter of support to the Arkansas Department of Transportation, requesting the new Arkansas Highway 88 bridge over Little Bayou Meto in Reydell be named in honor of former Commissioner Joe Morgan when it is completed. The new bridge is needed to increase flow through the bayou and improve drainage to George H. Dunklin Bayou Meto WMA. Morgan served on the Commission from July 2017 until his death on the opening day of duck season 2020 and was a stalwart advocate of improving public hunting opportunities on Bayou Meto.

In other business, the Commission:

• Heard a presentation from Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation President Deke Whitbeck about the Arkansas Outdoors Hall of Fame, scheduled for Aug. 23 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock. 
• Approved a budget increase of $221,000 from unobligated federal wildlife restoration funds and AGFC state funds to renovate a water-control structure on Galla Creek WMA in Pope County. This water-control structure is required to flood the greentree reservoir on the WMA, offering vital wetland habitat to waterfowl in this portion of the state.
• Approved a budget increase of $573,000 from unobligated federal wildlife restoration funds and AGFC state funds for the removal and replacement of a water-control structure at Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA in Conway County. The water-control structure is essential to management of moist-soil units that provide wildlife habitat for wetlands species and migrating waterfowl popular with hunters on the WMA. The total cost of the project is estimated at $1.3 million. 
• Approved a minute order to remove a stolen firearm from inventory with an original value of $424 and a current net book value of $0. 

A video of today’s meeting is available on the AGFC’s YouTube Channel.

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CUTLINES:

AT DESK
AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock and AGFC Chairman Anne Marie Doramus share a smile after the Commission approved a grant for more than $777,000 to Arkansas schools at today’s meeting. AGFC photo.

SPEAKING TO COMMISSION
Commissioners Chris Caldwell (middle) and Bill Jones (right) listen as AGFC Chief of Construction Mike Cantrell (left) presented a trio of construction projects to improve boating access and wetland management in Arkansas. AGFC photo.

DIRECTOR SPEAKS
AGFC Director Doug Schoenrock highlighted the efforts and importance of the AGFC’s Recreational Shooting Division at Thursday’s meeting. AGFC photo.