Williams faces questions in confirmation hearing for U.S. Fish and She was the first woman to serve in that role, where she managed nearly 700 full-time-equivalent employees and oversaw the administration of more than 50 state parks. Your contribution supports quality independent journalism no matter the season. President Joe Biden has nominated a Montanan and former state wildlife manager to lead the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service.. Martha Williams has informally led the Fish and Wildlife Service since January. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced $10 million in fiscal year 2023 funds from President Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Lawto support over 50 projects in western states to restore and conserve strategic areas within thesagebrushecosystem. Committee advances Williams' nomination to head U.S. Fish and Wildlife He was editor on the podcasts Shared State and Fireline, and producer on the podcasts Threshold and Richest Hill. It doesnt seem to fit what that law was created to do, Hawkaluk told me, reiterating that she was speaking for herself. Sign up for theCapitolizednewsletter and stay up-to-date on the latest legislative developments during the session. On July 20, the day The Intercepts wolf investigation went live, Cam Sholly, the superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, sent a letter to Montanas game commissioners arguing that using telemetry to hunt wolves violated the fair chase principle, which holds that human hunters do not take unfair advantage of nonhuman prey, and requested that this prohibition be re-inserted into your regulations.. Polly and Robert divorced in 1984, and in 1991, she sold the salon and moved to Helena, where she worked for the State of Montana as the salon inspector until her retirement in 1999, which was due to medical issues. Join Jeannie and other MTFP members in helping us reach our spring fundraising goal by setting up a recurring donation today. Search for volunteer opportunities around the country, News about wonderful wild things and places, FWS is taking steps to mitigate climate impacts, Search employment opportunities with USFWS. The couple married in 2003, and they remained there until late 2017, when he passed away. Prior to assuming the top job at FWP, Williams was an assistant professor of law and co-director of the Land Use and Natural Resources Clinic at the University of Montana. The nomination was celebrated by both environmental groups and an array of hunting interests. But Im hopeful that we can get to that more proactive stance and work with all our partners to prevent the need for listing where we can, and then to recognize the climate crisis and biodiversity crisis, we are going to have to continue to work to list species and get them to recovery. Martha Williams Montana's director of Fish, Wildlife & Parks is moving up to take similar reins at the federal level. Support homegrown news. Montana politics, elections and legislative news, PublishedJanuary 21, 2021 at 4:12 AM MST. Donate during our spring fundraiser and support quality independent journalism. After leaving the Forest Service in 2014, Amanda worked for Outside magazine as an editorial fellow before joining Outlaw Partners staff to lead coverage for Explore Big Sky newspaper and contribute writing and editing to Explore Yellowstone and Mountain Outlaw magazines. A long-held secret. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Sign up for theCapitolizednewsletter and stay up-to-date on the latest legislative developments during the session. I believe Montana and the country would be well-served with her at the helm of the U.S. How do you communicate conservation benefits of this initiative to skeptical rural constituents? The Intercept is an independent nonprofit news outlet. [5] Williams worked as associate professor of law at the University of Montana and co-director of the university's Land Use and Natural Resources Clinic.[6][7]. [4], From 1998 to 2011, Williams served as legal counsel to the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. Just $1 per month , Our hunting and conservation editor sits down with the new head of the USFWS to try to get some answers, By Though the work was tedious, it was also critical. lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances. Given her her legal experience and background in state-level resource management, and the Services wide-ranging authority and influence over Americas wildlife, habitats, and our hunting and fishing culture, Outdoor Life wanted to hear how Williams views both her new job and the priorities of the agency. Your contribution supports quality independent journalism no matter the season. There is at least some evidence that hunters may have attempted to take advantage of the new opportunity. Martha has a wealth of knowledge and experience in managing public wildlife, public lands and waters, and striking that balance between people and wildlife in the many complex issues around these incredible resources.. Your support helps quality Montana journalism thrive! Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Williams swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place in the coming weeks. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency that will soon have as its director a person shepherded by Jon Tester Martha Williams, former director of. These are maintenance action teams have really focused on the smaller infrastructure projects in communitiesfishing platforms or hunting blinds or nature trails or auto routes. Please reload the page and try again. Following those stints in government service, Williams returned to the University of Montana as an assistant professor specializing in public lands and wildlife. Get MTFP's in-depth, independent reporting sent to your inbox every weekday morning. Id love to get to the place where were on our front foot and can better prevent species from even needing to be listed. More recently, bison management has been on her radar. The Biden-Harris administration today announced that the Department of the Interiors U.S. Its what I think about, its what I see, smell, hear and dream about, she told the committee. Please subscribe to keep reading. Try to imagine Trump Act II and that law just thrown under the rug.. After leaving the Forest Service in 2014, Amanda worked for Outside magazine as an editorial fellow before joining Outlaw Partners staff to lead coverage for Explore Big Sky newspaper and contribute writing and editing to Explore Yellowstone and Mountain Outlaw magazines. How big it is, I dont know.. Fisheries and Wildlife Service director for the Biden administration. In DOIs announcement highlighting Williams hire along with that of 20 other Interior Department employees Jennifer Van der Heide, President Joe Bidens chief of staff, said, We look forward to working with the dedicated civil servants at the Department to fulfill Interiors missions, advance President Bidens vision to honor our nation-to-nation relationship with Tribes and uphold the trust and treaty responsibilities to them, address the climate and nature crises, and build a clean energy future that creates good-paying jobs and powers our nation. A man had pulled up in a pickup truck. The U.S. Senate confirmed Martha Williams to lead the U.S. The review followed dramatic regional changes in state hunting and trapping regulations. Categories are key to wildlife governance. Join Jeannie and other MTFP members in helping us reach our spring fundraising goal by setting up a recurring donation today. That following summer, Polly returned to Havre to be near her children and grandchildren. Preceding her appointment, she served as the Director of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks from 2017 to 2020. Amanda Eggert studied print journalism at the University of Montana. Fish and Wildlife Service. "The strength of this agency is it. She was appointed to that position in 2017 by former governor Steve Bullock. Ausband was among a group of officials from Idaho, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park who gathered each year to sort out which packs belonged to which jurisdictions. In the portion ofMontanathat abuts Yellowstone Park, the death toll of 19 wolves marked a342 percent increasefrom the previous decades annual average of four. Fish and Wildlife Service is a victory for Montana, our outdoor economy and heritage, and for every American that cares about what happens to our nations greatest natural treasures: our public lands and wildlife, he said. We cant take wolf recovery for granted, MacNulty said. Democrats said it will weaken Montanans right to participate in government decisions. Prior to teaching at the University of Montanas Alexander Blewitt III School of Law, she was the Interior Departments deputy solicitor for parks and wildlife. Williams has received the support of both of Montanas senators. . Get MTFP's in-depth, independent reporting sent to your inbox every weekday morning. When Williams appeared before lawmakers in November, the issue never came up. Basically, we have four times as many wolves in Montana as the wolf management plan calls for, he said. Its not all one or the other. Three state attorneys general, including Montanas, arguea Biden administration immigration policy set to go into effect later this month vio, The heritage muzzleloader hunt is the product of legislation earlier this year and the recent adoption of regulations by the Montana Fish and . Wolves learned to avoid the traps researchers used and, with the legalized hunting, the breakup of packs became increasingly common. The former Montana FWP director takes a high-profile post with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a victory for Montana, our outdoor economy and heritage, and for every American that happens to care about our nations greatest natural treasures: our public lands and wildlife., Martha Williams confirmation to lead the U.S. Book Description A scandalous past. Prior to joining Montana Free Press staff in 2021 Amanda was a freelance writer, researcher and interviewer. Guest opinion: Recovering America's Wildlife Act good for all Montanans Williams faces questions in confirmation hearing for U.S. Fish and Absolutely. Its awesome that [USFWS] got $95 million for deferred maintenance, but we have a $1.5 billion maintenance backlog. and last updated 12:22 PM, Mar 09, 2022. Published Apr 13, 2022 3:45 PM EDT. FWP dealt with a number of difficult and often contentious issues during her tenure grizzly bear management, the introduction of aquatic invasive species, and the spread of chronic wasting disease, to name a few. USFWS Director Martha Williams spoke about federal efforts regarding partnerships with local and state agencies to reconnect Warm Springs Creek with . Are those numbers correct, or should they be revisited? The former director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks will assume management of more than 8,000 employees and 567 wildlife refuges, and will oversee administration of the Endangered Species Act. Montana pick to lead U.S. Fish and Wildlife vows 'collaborative By, as second-in-command at the U.S. In many states, predators, like coyotes, can be killed anytime, anywhere without a license or a defined season. On the one hand, the Service provides access, essential fish and wildlife management and funding, and facilitates things like the federal duck stamp. William's replacement within Montana Gov. How many covert wars, miscarriages of justice, and dystopian technologies would remain hidden if our reporters werent on the beat? How many wolves roam the Northern Rockies and whether state policies promote recovery are the central questions Williamss endangered species review must consider. During her tenure, she also taught continuing legal education classes on real property law and on public participation in government. Polly was born on December 19, 1942, in Bagley, MN, to Olaf and Julia (Hanson) Amundson, the youngest of five girls. We secured a 30-minute phone interview with her, which has been edited below for brevity and clarity. Its wonderful and well put it to use really quickly, but when you own and manage these places for the public and the public trust, its an ongoing responsibility and commitment. And that social piecenot putting the onus just on the tolerance of communities that live with bears or wolves, but also those who dont like to see management-dependent speciesthey want to see species that arent reliant on state or federal management. MW: Were embracing access in an even larger contexthow do we support communities and allow people to feel like they belong on our wildlife refuges. Greg Gianforte nominated the agencys new director Hank Worsech, a 17-year FWP employee who most recently served as license bureau chief. Ecotourism guides werent the only ones concerned about the issue. Montana's independent nonprofit news source. Williamss review is probing the conduct, regulations, and science of a department she once led and shaped, in a state she still calls home. What does the community want? Two policy decisions from Williamss Montana years are central to the assessments she is making in her Endangered Species Act review. The department cannot enforce laws that are not applicable and did not wish to imply that the regulation applied to wolves, Wakeling wrote. Nick Mott is a reporter and podcast producer who focuses on wildlife, natural resources, and the environment. MW: Ive thought about this a lot. The initial complaint was against a company developing a mine near White Sulphur Springs that donated $285,000 to defeat a 2018 Montana ballot. Williams was the first woman to lead Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks under former Democratic Gov. FWP, meanwhile, said its Helena-based special investigations unit was conducting a separate investigation into the wolfs killing. Williams sworn in as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service director - KPAX She was a loving woman who enjoyed music and attending concerts, and watching sports, especially when her grandchildren were playing. Fish and Wildlife Service. The question is not whether wolves migrating across state and international borders are being double-counted by the states, its to what degree and whether the double-counting has meaningfully impacted the statistics being trotted out by lawmakers to justify extraordinarily aggressive wolf hunts. In the portion of the state that abuts Yellowstone Park where longstanding quotas on wolf kills were eliminated entirely the death toll of 19 wolves marked a 342 percent increase from the previous decades annual average of four. Sometimes I think the conflict is a perception, but I also know its real. But they want to know that theyre there. Williams was the first female director of Montana FWP. NPS declined to comment on the claims, citing an ongoing investigation. He added, The states were trying to come up with new, cheaper ways to keep monitoring their population but that wouldnt break the bank.. Walker of Kalispell and Kelly (Sabra Boucher) Brandon of Havre; grandchildren, Peyton, Jackson, and Robert Walker, and Tyson and Macy Brandon; sisters, Peggy (Larry) Bannor of Duluth, MN, San Dee Nan Eliason of Arizona, and Judy (Nick) Burns of Bemidji, MN; former daughter-in-law, Cindy Brandon of Havre; and numerous nieces, nephews, including Randy Bannor, and cousins. News apps are nice, but how many stories might you be missing? Were thinking about access across the board and how to we allow people to feel that they belong in the outdoors on our public lands and on our wildlife refuges. Williams joined Montanas game agency three years later and, over the next decade and a half, represented the state in its delisting efforts. It recognizes private property rights. Learn more about climate change , and wildlife, Williams co-directed the universitys Land Use and Natural Resources Clinic and co-supervised the Public Land and Resources Law Review and the Environmental Law Group. The balance is seeing the issue of predators in the Westgrizzly bears and wolvesfrom the perspective of the people who have lived there for generations coupled with the perspectives of others in the United States and the world who see it differently because theyre not living with those species. Time will tell if Williams, another veteran of the Wests wolf wars, agrees. This passion led her to the wild places of the West and a career spent fostering a love of the outdoors and stewarding the protection of natural resources. In a guest editorial appearing in the Billings Gazette a year ago, she wrote that FWP recognizes that bison restoration has a place in Montana, whether on tribal land, public land, or private lands of willing landowners. She advocated for a bison restoration proposal that would allow for collaboration and transparency and take into account the concerns of landowners and communities small and large.. Martha Williams Director Address U.S Fish and Wildlife Service 1849 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20240 United States (800) 344-9453 About Martha Williams Growing up on a farm in Maryland, Martha Williams gained an appreciation for open lands, waters, wildlife, and people. Montana FWP director selected by Biden for USFWS leadership role I have to broaden my context and yet remember to stay really grounded with what Ive learned throughout my career, understanding what it means to live in these communities with species like grizzly bears. Honor a loved one by planting trees in their memory. FWP game wardens looked into the report and found no functional telemetry equipment or evidence of violation, Morgan E. Jacobsen, a spokesperson for FWPs southwest region, said in an email in July.
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