ISSUES & ACTIONS

Obama nominates Salazar as Secretary of the Interior

Hunters and other outdoorsmen have been anxiously waiting the announcement of President-elect Barack Obama’s choice for Secretary of the Interior.  On December 17, 2008 Obama nominated Colorado Senator Ken Salazar to the post.  The Interior Secretary oversees critical federal agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Geological Service, National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Salazar comes from a farming family in Colorado, and serves on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.  He is also a member of the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus, which is dedicated to hunters and anglers and their commitment to conservation.

California Waterfowl, the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance and many other hunting and fishing organizations were promoting Congressman Mike Thompson (D-1st/CA) for the position, and are disappointed he was not nominated.  However, of the other rumored nominees besides Thompson, only Salazar has exhibited support of anglers and hunters.

To read about this appointment and others, visit the website www.change.gov
To learn more about Salazar, visit his website at http://salazar.senate.gov

Other Current Issues and Actions

The bullet points below are intended to bring our members and the public quickly up-to-date on the current hot-topics that California Waterfowl is working on or excited about. More information on many of these issues will be available in upcoming editions of the California Waterfowl Magazine.  Sign up for membership and have it delivered to your door bimonthly. Add your voice and show your support by clicking here>> 

Last Updated 12-19-08

• Join California Waterfowl, California Outdoor Heritage Alliance, DFG and USFWS and Provide Input on Refuge Hunting at ISE Shows this January.

Public area waterfowl and pheasant hunters are encouraged to offer their perspectives at an hour-long forum at the San Mateo and Sacramento International Sportsmen’s Expos on Friday, January 9th and Friday, January 16th, respectively.  The event is sponsored by the California Waterfowl Association and California Outdoor Heritage Alliance and will begin at 4:00 pm. 

Discussion topics will include waterfowl hunting strategies for Type A state and federal areas, as well as proposed changes to hunt programs such as assigned ponds, reservation overdraw, lottery purge, elimination of first come/first served access procedures, etc. The goal of the forum is to introduce newcomers to hunting public lands and identify ways to make the refuge system work better for all hunters.

• See the premiere of the film "Endangered Species: California's Game Warden's" at the Sacramento ISE Show on Saturday, January 17th at 1:30. Following the film there will be a panel discussion. To learn more, download the pdf press release by clicking here>>

• California Waterfowl recently commented on the Central Valley Vision Plan, put forth by the CA State Parks. COHA also participated in a public workshop on CA State Parks' efforts to increase recreational opportunities in the Central Valley. To read the written comments that were submitted by California Waterfowl and COHA to encourage CA State Parks to facilitate additional hunting opportunities download the pdf version of our letter by, clicking here>>
  
  To learn more about the plan, visit the CA State Parks website at www.parks.ca.gov