US Fish and Wildlife Service: National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Services ACE Task Order 2

The baseline data collected by this effort will be particularly valuable when compared with previously collected visitor survey data from the National Visitor Survey (NVS) effort conducted on 78 refuges during 2010-2011 (http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/685/) and 2012
(http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/754/), and U.S. Census data. For example, in combination, these data can address the question of whether the demographics of visitors to specific refuges mimic the demographics of surrounding communities and, if not, who are the additional audiences that might be reached beyond current efforts. Finally, this collection of information from refuge visitors will help the Service to track and understand how some of the complex changes occurring within American society (e.g., demographic changes, stakeholder preferences) are likely to affect the future of the Refuge System.

Funds under this award are to be used to hire one fellow and six interns to coordinate and conduct onsite visitor sampling for the national wildlife refuge visitor survey.

This award is made through the Service⿿s CFDA (15.676) Youth Engagement, Education, and Employment under the authority of Powers and Duties of the Secretary of the Interior (16 U.S.C. 460 Sec. 460l (lower case ⿿L⿝)-1(d) and (f); Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended by the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 ( 16 U.S.C. 742a-754j-2, as amended; Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 U.S.C. 661); National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-360); National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997; National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Community Partnership Enhancement Act of 1998 ( 16 U.S.C. 742j); Public Lands Corps Act of 1993, as amended 2005 (16 U.S.C. 1721-1726, P.L. 109-154); Youth Conservation Corps Act of 1972 (P.L. 93-408).