Ensuring reliable, accessible science for decision-making on national wildlife refugesthe ensuring reliable, accessible science for decision-making on national wildlife refuges project will enhance…

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Region 8 awarded Ducks Unlimited Inc. a $416,244 Cooperative Agreement under the National Wildlife Refuge System Enhancements program (CFDA 15.654) effective September 1, 2025, through March 1, 2027. This partnership enhances scientific monitoring capacity across National Wildlife Refuges in the Pacific Southwest Region (California and Nevada) by deploying two or more Ducks Unlimited biologists co-located with Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program staff at refuge field offices. The deployment model promotes direct collaboration between Ducks Unlimited personnel and USFWS staff to ensure refuge-specific monitoring needs are addressed, with deployed staff traveling approximately 10–25% of the time depending on seasonal schedules.

Deliverables under this agreement include developing science-based survey protocols for consistent, defensible monitoring of species, habitats, and ecological outcomes; analyzing and managing ecological data to improve restoration tracking, migratory bird assessments, and trend detection; and integrating monitoring results into refuge management plans to support adaptive management decisions. Specific refuges to be prioritized are determined quarterly through joint meetings between Ducks Unlimited and the I&M Program. Annual progress reports will document protocols, data management activities, and evidence-building outcomes. This work advances two objectives within the Department of the Interior's FY 2026–2030 Strategic Framework: Conservation and Species Protection (Objective 3.2) and Reliable, Accessible Science for Decision-Making (Objective 4.3).

Ensuring reliable, accessible science for decision-making on national wildlife refugesthe ensuring reliable, accessible science for decision-making on national wildlife refuges project will enhance scientific monitoring capacity across national wildlife refuges in the pacific southwest region, which includes california and nevada (referred to hereafter as region 8).activities will be directed by the inventory and monitoring (i m) program of the national wildlife refuge system (nwrs), pacific southwest region, based in sacramento, california, in partnership with ducks unlimited (DU).two or more biologists from ducks unlimited will be CO-located with i m staff or stationed at individual refuge field offices to promote collaboration and ensure that refuge-specific needs are met. Staff are expected to travel approximately 1025% of the time, depending on the schedule and time of year. The specific refuges to be prioritized will be determined quarterly through joint meetings between ducks unlimited and the i m program.target protocols, data management, and evidence-building activities will depend on the availability of refuge staff, which may vary throughout the projects period of performance. Annual deliverables will be documented in yearly progress reports.project objectivesproject work, in coordination with ducks unlimited and nwrs i m program staff, will assist refuges with:developing science-based survey protocols that support consistent, defensible monitoring of species, habitats, and ecological outcomes.advances objective 3.2 (conservation and species protection) of the draft U.S. Department of the interior (DOI) fiscal year (FY) 20262030 strategic framework.analyzing and managing ecological data to improve restoration tracking, migratory bird assessments, and trend detection.advances objective 4.3 (reliable, accessible science for decision-making) of the draft DOI FY 20262030 strategic framework.integrating monitoring results into refuge management plans and adaptive decision frameworks, thereby improving transparency, habitat resilience, and resource prioritization across refuges.aligned with objectives 3.4 (resilience) and 4.2 (collaborative decision-making) of the draft DOI FY 20262030 strategic framework.additionally, the project emphasizes making collected information accessible to the public and improving the longevity and relevance of ecological data. The overarching goal is to refine wildlife and habitat monitoring methods, ensuring that the information is both effective and widely shared for the benefit of all.