THE SPORT FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION PROGRAM
IN TEXAS

One of the most successful examples of the user pay, user benefit philosophy is the Federal Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program (SFWR). Each year, federal excise taxes paid by sportsmen on hunting and fishing equipment and motorboat fuels total nearly $400 million. Texas' share is approximately $20 million. State fish and wildlife agencies use this money for fish and wildlife conservation through land acquisition, habitat improvement, research, education and other programs. PASSPORT TO TEXAS has received annual grants from SFWR since 1996 to fund a portion of its programming. Radio programs underwritten by SFWR are located in the Wildlife, Fishing and Conservation sections of the Listening Library.

Sport Fish Restoration Program. Sport fish restoration funds from the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program support such projects as public water stockings, aquatic education, fisheries management and research, resource protection and public boating access. Among the major programs receiving funding assistance from SFWR are Sea Center Texas and the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center, and wetland protection and restoration projects. See highlights.

Wildlife Restoration Program.Wildlife restoration funds from the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program (Pittman-Robertson Act) are used for wildlife-related projects and hunter education. Projects funded through this program include efforts to increase access to Wildlife Management Areas, the eastern wild turkey restoration program in East Texas, land acquisition for white-winged dove habitat and the desert bighorn sheep restoration program. Wildlife restoration monies are also used for big game and small game population and harvest surveys, waterfowl distribution studies and research. See highlights.

Since its inception, the Federal Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Program has provided more than $4 billion to states for wildlife restoration projects. The money is distributed to the states for projects proposed by the states and approved by the USFWS. Federal aid funds pay for up to 75 percent of the cost of each project while the states contribute at least 25 percent of the cost. Distribution of the restoration funds to the states is based on the land and water area and the number of license holders in each state. Texas receives the maximum 5 percent allowable under the program.