|
|
|
|
State of
DEPARTMENT
OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
|
|
JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM governor |
REBECCA A. HUMPHRIES director |
|
|
|
|
State of
DEPARTMENT
OF NATURAL RESOURCES |
|
|
JENNIFER M. GRANHOLM governor |
REBECCA A. HUMPHRIES director |
|
BILL
NUMBER: |
Senate Bill 0354 (PA 47), House
Bills, 4471 (PA 48) & 4614 (PA 49), |
|
TOPIC: |
These bills amend PA 451 of 1994
to create a “Great Lakes Cormorant Control Collaboration,” directs the
Department of Natural Resources to seek funds for cormorant control from the
Great Lakes Protection Fund and establishes a Cormorant Control Fund in the
State Treasury. |
|
SPONSOR: |
Senate
Bill 0354: McManus House Bill 4471: Booher HB 4614
Sheltrown |
|
CO-SPONSORS: |
Senate
Bill 0354: Cropsey House
Bill 4471: Palsrok, Moore, Nofs,
Law, Amos, Pearce, LaJoy, Ball, Sheltrown, Stahl,
Walker, Opsommer, Hansen, Moss, Hune,
Casperson, Lahti,
Bennett, Elsenheimer, Shaffer, Meekhof,
Gillard, Mayes, McDowell, Lindberg, Stakoe, Emmons,
Hammon. House Bill 4614:Booher, Stahl, Ebli,
McDowell, Espinoza, |
|
COMMITTEE: |
Senate
Bill 0354: Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs House
Bill 4471: Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources House Bill 4614-Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural
Resources |
|
Analysis Done: |
|
POSITION
The Department
supports these bills.
PROBLEM/BACKGROUND
The double-crested cormorant population has increased
significantly throughout the
The increased population has lead to concerns about impacts
to fish, vegetation, and other resources associated with cormorant nesting
colonies. Research has shown varying
degrees of impacts to these resources dependant on local conditions.
In 2003, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service promulgated
rules allowing the taking of cormorants, and/or their nests and eggs to reduce
or eliminate damage to natural resources at a local level.
Several control activities have been initiated targeting
local nesting colonies and spring migratory flocks.
DESCRIPTION OF BILL
HB 4471 adds definitions for “cormorant damage” and
cormorant depredation order” Section 40102 of Public Act 451 of 1994.
SB 0354 seeks to accomplish four items:
SUMMARY OF
ARGUMENTS
Pro
The Department of Natural Resources believes cormorant
management must be approached on a regional
These bills seek to identify sources of funding other than
current fund sources to conduct control activities.
Con
Based on the legislative findings, the Great Lakes
Protection fund is to "finance and support state and regional projects for
the protection, research, and clean up of the Great Lakes” and may not be the
best source of funding for cormorant control.
Further, the Great Lakes Protection Fund uses a competitive process and
there are no guarantees cormorant management projects will be selected or that
they would be funded over an extended period of time.
FISCAL/ECONOMIC
IMPACT
Are there revenue or
budgetary implications in the bill to the --
Budgetary:
Requires the Department to initiate
additional activities requiring commitment of staff time and funding.
Revenue:
The bills do not directly generate
any additional funds.
Comments:
The Department supports the
identification and establishment of additional sources of funding for this
activity.
|
|
|
Budgetary:
Establishes and requires the State
to maintain an additional funding source.
Revenue:
The bills will not directly generate
any additional funds.
Comments:
Should control efforts lead to
fishery improvements, local areas could experience increased tourism
revenue. There are no budgetary impacts
to local units of government.
OTHER STATE
DEPARTMENTS
The bills require the Department to consult with the
Department of Environmental Quality, but do not indicate the nature of those
discussions.
ANY OTHER PERTINENT
INFORMATION
Federal legislation has been introduced to give some
authority for management actions of cormorants to the International Joint
Commission.
ADMINISTRATIVE
RULES IMPACT
None
_______________________________
Rebecca A. Humphries
Director
_______________________________
Date
WLD
