Team 8
The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA)
Purpose of the Act
The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934 and as amended to its current form authorizes the
Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce to “provide assistance to and cooperate with Federal and State
agencies to protect, rear, stock and increase the supply of game and fur-bearing animals, as well as study
the effects of domestic sewage, trade wastes, and other polluting substances on wildlife (fws.gov).
Additionally, the original law of 1934 requires the Bureau of Fisheries to use impounded waters as fish
stocking sites and migratory-bird nesting sites. The law requires consultation with the Bureau of
Fisheries whenever a new dam is proposed; this is to ensure the fish migration through dams (fws.gov).
The act also authorizes the creation of plans to protect wildlife and surveys of wildlife on public lands.
Federal agencies, with state consent are able to accept funds and lands.
Amendments
Major amendments of the act occurred in 1946 and 1958. In 1946 Congress delegated the
responsibilities of enforcement of the act to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the similar state
agencies requiring coordination where the, "waters of any stream or other body of water are proposed or
authorized, permitted or licensed to be impounded, diverted . . . or otherwise controlled or modified" by
any agency under a Federal permit or license. Consultation is to be undertaken for the purpose of
"preventing loss of and damage to wildlife resources" (fws.gov). The management of the lands made
available by the Fish and Wildlife Service are usually managed by the Secretary of Interior, other sites
management is done by a related state agency. The 1946 amendment also exempted to the Tennessee
Valley Authority from its provisions (fws.gov). The other major amendment in 1958 provided equal
evaluation of wildlife conservation with water resource projects (fws.gov).
Impacts of the Act
The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1934 (FWCA) has had multiple impacts on the future and
wellbeing of our nation’s fish and wildlife populations. There is no one impact the act has had on our
environment but has been beneficial in numerous regards and helped initiate new programs or regulations.
Reports by the FWCA have enhanced or resolved various issues such as harvest, habitat, and reducing
threats posed by humans. Wildlife refuges and hatcheries, as well as, conservation programs are able to
establish more effective programs by referencing FWCA reports to pinpoint focus areas. Also, the FWCA
covers construction, licensing, and permitting projects developed by governmental agencies such as the
United States Coast Guard, the Corps of Engineers, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Background
The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act provides the basic authority for the Fish and Wildlife
Service's involvement in evaluating impacts to fish and wildlife from proposed water resource
development projects. It requires that fish and wildlife resources receive equal consideration to other
project features. It also requires Federal agencies that construct, license or permit water resource
development projects to first consult with the Service and State fish and wildlife agency regarding the
impacts on fish and wildlife resources and measures to mitigate these impacts (usbr.gov).
History
1. Act of March 10, 1934, authorized the use of federal reservoirs for federal fish hatcheries and resting
places for migratory waterfowl.
2. In 1936, authorized the purchase of lands in Idaho for use as a game management supply depot and
laboratory.
3. Under the 1946 authority, the fish and wildlife impacts of many federal water projects were studied
in detail for the first time.
4. In 1947, authorized the transfer of lands in connection with the Crab Orchard Creek Project to the
Secretary of Interior.
5. In 1948, authorized the use of surplus Federal property for wildlife conservation purposes.
6. In 1949, authorized the exchange of lands within the Skagit National Wildlife Refuge.
7. The 1958 amendments recognize the vital contribution of wildlife resources to the Nation and to
require equal consideration and coordination of wildlife conservation with other water resources
development programs (fws.gov).
Future Deadlines
Draft Policy Brief - DUE April 17th
*Data Collection: by April 10th
-Overview of FWCA: Sam
-Placement on formal agenda, how it got there: Wu
-Primary stakeholders in policy process: Mikhail
-Formulated/considered alternative policies: Laura
-Selection criteria used in selecting chosen alternative: Sam
-Desired outcomes and policy instruments used to implement action: Mikhail & Wu
-Evaluation and monitoring methods of the policy: Laura
*Once information is collected, then we will combine parts and edit for cohesion in paper: all members,
by April 16th
Final Policy Brief - DUE May 3rd
*Once input on draft is received, responsibilities will be allocated
Note: We completed the abstract together via Google docs and each contributed at least two sources
for research toward a final project.
Works Cited
Carol S. Hale, C. G. (2005). Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report . Albuquerque, New Mexico :
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 2: Division of Ecological Services.
(n.d.). Digest of Federal Resource Laws of interest to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Fish and
Wildlife Coordination Act. Retrieved from http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/FWCOORD.HTML
Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Water Resource Developments-Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661 et
seq. 73rd Cong. (1934).
Michigan State University College of Law. (2012). STATUTES / LAWS. Retrieved from Animal Legal
and Historical Center: http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusfd16usc661_667e.htm#top
The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. Retrieved from
http://www.fws.gov/habitatconservation/fwca.html
The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act.(16 USC 661-666c) Retrieved from
http://www.usbr.gov/power/legislation/fwca.pdf
U.S. Department of Interior. (1999). Final Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act Report: Central and
Southern Florida Comprehensive Review Study. Vero Beach, FL: Southern Florida Restoration Office
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. FWCA- National Conservation Training Center. Retrieved from
www.training.fws.gov/bart/Resources/wetland_reg/...of.../FWCA.doc
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (1996). Protecting Wetlands for Fish and Wildlife: A framework for the
Fish and Wildlife Service’s role in wetlands regulatory programs. Retrieved from
www.fws.gov/.../Protecting%20Wetlands%20Framework.pdf
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2004). Water Resource Development under the Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act. Arlington, VA: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.