Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Faces Tough Budget Cuts

(Article based on information from Richmond Times Dispatch, January 11, 2002 and February 27, 2002)

Despite House efforts to salvage funding for the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Senate's proposed budget will likely result in the curtailing of many DGIF functions. The Senate has proposed a $4.6 million annual cut, not as severe however, as the original budget proposed by the outgoing Gilmore administration. Gilmore's final state budget had proposed taking nearly $9 million annually for the next two years from DGIF and allocating those funds to other state agencies.

Citizens and representatives met in Richmond on January 10 to protest the Gilmore cuts. Many opposed the state's plans to take funds from an agency not supported by general tax money and applying that money towards shortfalls of tax-supported agencies. DGIF monies come from hunting and fishing licenses, boat titling and registration fees, and a state excise tax on outdoor equipment. Gilmore's budget called for taking almost 18 % of DGIF funds and giving them to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the Department of Conservation and Recreation and applying some towards state deficit reduction.

Persons present at the January 10th meeting felt it is unfair for the legislature to load the car tax problem on the back of the game commission, especially when DGIF's responsibilities have increased while its dedicated funding has stagnated.

The cuts proposed by the House "are something that we can adjust to and not destroy the programs, service, warden force, staff, etc. of the department" says Carson Quarles of Roanoke, chairman of the agency's civilian board. The Senate proposal of a $4.6 million annual cut "places us right back where we were - looking at a partial liquidation of the VDGIF," Quarles says. "The only thing we can do is hope and pray that the joint committee will have enough combined wisdom to head off what could be the worst calamity to hit the agency since it came into being."

William Woodfin, Executive Director of DGIF reports that decreased funding could result in layoffs of game wardens, closing of boat ramps and a reduction of trout stocking.

DGIF staff includes 448 full-time employees and numerous part-timers who conduct a variety of programs. DGIF programs include development of Virginia's Birding and Wildlife Trails, shad restoration, trout stocking, management of fish hatcheries and fee fishing areas, providing a hunter education program, making capital improvements such as dam repairs and construction of shooting ranges, providing wildlife management work in National Forests, providing

saltwater fishing and boating enforcement as well as boat access in saltwater areas, and maintenance of 90 boat ramps statewide at lakes and rivers such as the Rappahannock, James, New, Shenandoah, Potomac, York and South Anna.

Editor's note:
What does all of this mean to us? The closing of DGIF boat ramps will directly affect some of our put-in and take-out options. Limited stocking and cessation of restoration efforts will reduce the number of fish our anglers can pursue. An ugly ole problem could also resurface. A few years ago, when DGIF was facing funding difficulties, one suggestion for raising additional revenue was that ALL watercraft be licensed. This includes our canoes, kayaks and other water float-upons which are not used for fishing, but floatin' and big droppin'.

Some of us own a boat for every occasion. Would each and every boat have to bear a decal or could we carry a license that is transferable from boat to boat? If each boat requires a decal, this could get rather expensive. A license, on the one hand, would be more reasonable. As many of us use DGIF landings, a minimal license fee seems a fair way to support DGIF. On the other hand, some of our more radical members who don't like taxation however it's labeled, might go to great lengths to avoid DGIF landings (and licensing), especially those who resent problems caused by the car tax reduction/elimination issue being addressed in ways that seem to penalize a few.

Wetlands and Water Quality
Suffer Under Budget Woes

House budget bill (HB 30) eliminates all state funding for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. CREP is a federal - state program that pays farmers to restore wetlands and natural stream shorelines. In addition to improving water quality, restored wetlands and buffers also provide great habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.

The Senate's budget bill includes $6.1 million for CREP. Under this highly successful program, farmers are reimbursed up to 100 percent of their costs, receive a $10 per acre per year "signing bonus," and a $100 an acre annual payment for up to 15 years from CREP. A farmer can make more money restoring wetlands and stream buffers than by growing crops or grazing cows. If the General Assembly adopts the Senate version, Virginia stands to receive $26.1 million more from matching federal funds

If the House budget gets adopted, CREP will cease to exist in Virginia. Eliminating CREP will mean a huge loss for water cleanup efforts since agriculture run-off is responsible for a significant amount of the nutrient, bacteria and sediment pollution in Virginia waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. CREP is key in solving the problem. It has been one of the largest conservation programs in Virginia - but is now on the endangered list.