Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Monday, March 17, 2003

WASHINGTON, DC - Senator Kit Bond announced today that he secured more than $20 million in federal dollars for important Missouri conservation projects in the fiscal year 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which the President signed into law two weeks ago.

"The efforts we put into the preservation and creation of critical habitat for our fish and wildlife today will pay great dividends into the future," said Bond. "Like many Americans, I am proud of my conservationist and sportsman's heritage."

"Senator Kit Bond has long been an advocate for the preservation of critical wildlife habitat. Whether it is the $4.5 million he has delivered to expand the Big Muddy Wildlife Refuge over the last 3 years, or his efforts to increase habitat along the Mississippi River, or his continuous support of the Wetland Reserve Program, Senator Bond is a true conservationist at heart," said Ken Babcock, Ducks Unlimited Director of Operations for the Southern Region. "DU, on the behalf of conservationists and sportsmen, thank Senator Bond for his efforts."

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee Bond has considerable leverage in directing federal funds to valuable projects in Missouri. He secured $22.9 million in funds for the following conservation projects:

* $12.2 million for the Upper Mississippi River Environmental Management Program, an effort to improve habitat for fish and wildlife on the upper reach of the Mississippi River;

* $6.1 million to help restore shallow water habitat along Missouri River. Money will also be used for routine maintenance of dike and revetment structures. The effect of this additional money is to make the river more hospitable for fish, wildlife and water vessels;

* $5.5 million for the Natural Resource Conservation Service watershed conservation projects.

* $1,000,000 for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to buy and preserve sensitive wetlands in the Big Muddy Wildlife Refuge and the Great River Wildlife Refuge;

* $1,750,000 for the U.S. Forest Service to buy and preserve treasured forestlands for the Mark Twain National Forest;

* $500,000 for the Columbia Environmental Research Center to study the insufficiently understood life-cycle and environmental requirements of the Pallid Sturgeon;

* $305,000 to reforest lower Ozark land with indigenous Shortleaf Pine, returning this land to the unique state which existed prior to turn-of-the-century harvesting.

Bond served Missouri twice as Governor and now continues his service to Missourians in the United States Senate.