Her new desk might be in Helena, but Martha Williams sees her new job as director of Montana's Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks more as a road trip. Montana Free Press is rooted in Montana, and its thanks to readers like you who love our state that our nonprofit newsroom continues to grow. In the portion ofMontanathat abuts Yellowstone Park, the death toll of 19 wolves marked a342 percent increasefrom the previous decades annual average of four. Before the transfer of management authority could happen, however, the states needed to prove that they had a regulatory framework in place to support continued wolf recovery. There was a lot of wrangling to figure out whose packs were whose, Ausband said, but they were explicitly accounted for., During the transition to state wolf management, Montana and Idaho relied on millions of dollars from the U.S. FWS for the resource-intensive work of monitoring radio collars in the field. The supervised delisting period and the resources that came with it ended in 2016. FWP dealt with a number of difficult and often contentious issues during her tenure grizzly bear management, the introduction of aquatic invasive species, and the spread of chronic wasting disease, to name a few. Get MTFP's in-depth, independent reporting sent to your inbox every weekday morning. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. When Williams appeared before lawmakers in November, the issue never came up. Martha Williams, the former director of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, was nominated to the U.S. Williams pointed to the court decisions, saying that while populations are robust, the USFWS must also meet those other criteria. As a Montanan and nonpartisan wildlife expert, Martha has time and again demonstrated her ability to bring sportsmen and conservationists together to find collaborative, science-based solutions to tough problems., Steve Daines, Testers Republican counterpart in the U.S. Senate, also supported Williams nomination. Wolves learned to avoid the traps researchers used and, with the legalized hunting, the breakup of packs became increasingly common. A long-held secret. If you wish to give again during our spring fundraiser, know that your additional gift, be it one-time or recurring, makes a monumental impact in helping quality independent journalism thrive. More by Amanda Eggert. Instead of bestowing protections, the designation made the animals vulnerable to a tactic used for the culling of feral hogs. Fish and Wildlife Service,the former director of Montanas state wildlife agencypledged adherence to the law, science and collaboration during a Wednesday committee hearing. Montana Free Press is rooted in Montana, and its thanks to you, Jeannie and all our members that our nonprofit newsroom continues to grow. Montana politics, elections and legislative news, PublishedJanuary 21, 2021 at 4:12 AM MST. Were thinking about access across the board and how to we allow people to feel that they belong in the outdoors on our public lands and on our wildlife refuges. Federal statute requires that the director of FWS have scientific education and experience and be knowledgeable in the principles of fisheries and wildlife management., While Williamss experience is undeniable, her educational background is in philosophy and law, not science. What Montana has done is they basically turned that regulatory mechanism on its head, and they are now using it effectively as a threat to wolves, not as a protection, Dan MacNulty, associate professor of wildlandresources at Utah State University, told me. President Joe Biden has nominated a Montanan and former state wildlife manager to lead the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service.. Martha Williams has informally led the Fish and Wildlife Service since January. Williams has essentially served as acting director of the wildlife agency since Jan. 20, 2021, when she was named principal deputy director. . Love you guys!!. Williams was appointed to become the federal agencys principal deputy director in January 2021. These issues are hard but we are lucky that people care about them, so that we have engagement so that even if it seems tense at first, I learned how key it is to just loosen that knot and to just get conversations started, she said. Previously, Williams was an Assistant Professor of Law at the Blewett School of Law at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana. Fish and Wildlife Service is a victory for Montana, our outdoor economy and heritage, and for every American that happens to care about our nations greatest natural treasures: our public lands and wildlife., Martha Williams confirmation to lead the U.S. Williams faced an array of questions from senators sitting on the committee. Amanda Eggert studied print journalism at the University of Montana. How Williams navigated the requirement is unclear. Senate revives, and advances, charter school bills, Gianforte signs gender-affirming care ban for transgender minors, Senate majority leader falls short in anti-pork crusade, guest editorial appearing in the Billings Gazette, Abortion clinics sue state over new restrictions on Medicaid coverage, Bill banning greenhouse gas analysis from permitting decisions heads to governor, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. Refine Your Search Results All Filters 1 Martha Ann Williams, 68 Resides in Fort Worth, TX Lived In Monticello MN, Keller TX, Glendive MT Under the terms laid out by FWS, wolves in the Northern Rockies Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming would be considered recovered once there were 30 breeding pairs raising at least two pups each for three consecutive years. During her time with FWP, which also included a legal career with the agency from 1998 to 2011, she worked on controversial issues that are resurfacing in her new post, including wolf, bison and grizzly management. Opinion: The truth on wolves - Missoulian And then how can we support these efforts? I interviewed the guides and reviewed their statements to FWP, then asked the department about the claims and whether hunting wolves with telemetry equipment was now legal. Used only in Montana and only for wolves, iPOM was the states answer to the problem of diminished resources, supplementing reduced radio-collar tracking with an increased reliance on hunters reporting wolf sightings in the wild. Whether someone likes the initiative or not, I think its principles are so solid because they build on what weve all collectively learned works. She had once again joined a government agency facing a historic moment for wolves. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Committee advances Williams' nomination to head U.S. Fish and Wildlife One of the easiest ways that anyone can support bird habitat conservation is by buying duck stamps. Sometimes I think the conflict is a perception, but I also know its real. Local led, locally initiated projects are the way to go. She was a loving woman who enjoyed music and attending concerts, and watching sports, especially when her grandchildren were playing. Montana news with context and care. Williams, Haaland highlight Montana projects - Independent Record Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Steve Bullock, a post she held from 2017 to 2020. The first wolf arrives at Yellowstone National Park in a pen carried by, from left, Mike Phillips, Yellowstone Wolf Project leader; Jim Evanoff, Yellowstone environmental protection specialist; Molly Beattie, U.S. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. October 27, 2020 Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team Meeting Summary 2 00:13:12 Senator Mike Lang, Senate District 17 Frequent summer travel in Valley and Phillips Counties revealed a good sage grouse hatch. MW: Im excited to have resources that we havent had in a long time, and not just dollars. For years, MacNulty believed that the regions wolf population was secure. Revenue comes fr. Donate during our spring fundraiser and support quality independent journalism. Wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho under the law in 1995, after a government extermination campaign led to their near-total extirpation decades before. In addition to writing He had neither the uniform nor the vehicle of a government official. USFWS Director Martha Williams spoke about federal efforts regarding partnerships with local and state agencies to reconnect Warm Springs Creek with . The specific concern is that prohibitions like that run counter to the Services ambition to expand hunting and fishing opportunities on its properties. It seems to me that sportsmen and women have a conflicted relationship with the USFWS. Candidate Conservation Agreements (CCA & CCAA), Coastal Barrier Resources Act Project Consultation, Coastal Barrier Resources System Property Documentation, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: 2022 Annual Report, President Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Provides $10 Million to Sagebrush Projects in the West, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funds Lake Tahoe Aquatic Invasive Species Projects, Martha Williams Sworn In as Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. She was confirmed in a bipartisan 16-to-4 vote in February. Martha Williams confirmation to lead the U.S. On Wednesday, Gov. Wildlife and natural resource conservation rests with all of us, she said. Previously, Martha was an Assistant Professor of Law at the Blewett School of Law at the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana where she co-directed the university's Land Use and Natural Resources Clinic. Both efforts would play key roles in the wolf review she is now overseeing as director of the nations most important wildlife agency. With end of federal supervision, the efforts to sort out border packs ended too. DOI and the bureaus do not guarantee that outside websites comply with Section 508 (Accessibility Requirements) of the Rehabilitation Act. Republican Sen. Steve Daines also wrote a letter of support, saying he believes Williams will bring a pragmatic and balanced approach to USFWS. Two policy decisions from Williamss Montana years are central to the assessments she is making in her Endangered Species Act review. Williams was the first woman to lead Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks under former Democratic Gov. I think its just so convoluted now that it would take an overhaul to crack that, and I think a lot of folks of whatever view on wolves are probably a bit concerned about opening the can of worms, she said. Williams is the second Montana woman to assume a high-profile leadership role in President Bidens Interior Department. OL: While were on the topic of recovery and management of predators, lets talk about wolves, which were removed from federal protection but which have been aggressively managed under state authority, to the degree that some have petitioned that Western wolves be returned to federal protection. Ausband was among a group of officials from Idaho, Montana, and Yellowstone National Park who gathered each year to sort out which packs belonged to which jurisdictions. I think it will help for people to know that this administrationthe Department of the Interior and Fish and Wildlife Serviceare still really committed to increasing access to the outdoors. He added, The states were trying to come up with new, cheaper ways to keep monitoring their population but that wouldnt break the bank.. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Fish and Wildlife Service. Will they trust in their love? Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency that will soon have as its director a person shepherded by Jon Tester Martha Williams, former director of. Montana Sage Grouse Oversight Team (MSGOT) March 24, 2021: 4:00 p.m Donate during our spring fundraiser and support quality independent journalism. In his letter over the summer, Sholly, the Yellowstone superintendent, described a lack of scientific data and low confidence in Montanas wolf-counting methodologies. MW: Our charge is implementing the Endangered Species Act, so were always going to pay close attention, and the fact that we are in litigation, that we have a 12-month finding that were currently working on, means that were even more involved in thinking through management alternatives. In January, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public works approved her nomination as director of the U.S. Join Facebook to connect with Martha Williams and others you may know. Martha Williams, nominee to lead the U.S. Get MTFP's in-depth, independent reporting sent to your inbox every weekday morning. Many questions focused on conservation issues unique to their respective states, from habitat restoration in Chesapeake Bay to water in California to the spread of invasive plants in Arizona. In the closing days of the session, a duel or a duet? Steve Bullock. [1], Williams graduated from Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills, Maryland,[2][3] then earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Virginia and a Juris Doctor from the Alexander Blewett III School of Law at the University of Montana. The second is the unique category that wolves occupy under Montana law: Originally designed as a protection during Williamss years as an FWP attorney, the special category paradoxically made wolves more vulnerable to controversial hunting techniques following her tenure as FWP director. Once wolves were recovered, the states game commissioners would decide which of Montanas more conventional categories fit the animals best. In her tenure, terms such as social justice, racial equity, and the logo The Outside Is In Us All entered FWPs lexicon. Thats what America the Beautiful is all about. Among the prohibitions were the use of aircraft and radio telemetry equipment the kind of gear biologists use to find and monitor wildlife. Ryan Devereaux[emailprotected]theintercept.com@rdevro. In Montana, the solution Williams and her colleagues came up with was to categorize wolves as a species in need of management. The special designation had surfaced a year before, in a bill passed by the Montana Senate, which aimed to carve out a space for wolves once they were removed from the states endangered species list. But there are international wildlife affairs, theres refuges, theres fisheries and aquatic conservation, theres science application, theres the Partners program. Martha Williams confirmed as USFWS director - KTVH They are recovered, every single objective criteria has been met, Lummis said, asking if USFWS will require additional criteria to delist the bears. During her tenure, she also taught continuing legal education classes on real property law and on public participation in government. As principal deputy director of FWS, Williams will oversee a federal agency tasked with managing wildlife and habitat across the country, and in charge of more than 150 million acres of land in the National Wildlife Refuge System. How do you communicate conservation benefits of this initiative to skeptical rural constituents? You will be directed to the following website in 5 seconds: We hope your visit was informative and enjoyable. The ranger told me that, following his kill, he became the subject of a National Park Service investigation in which he and other Yellowstone law enforcement officials were accused falsely, he said of sharing location information on collared wolves with hunters outside the park. A Maryland native and graduate of the University of Virginia, Williams received her law degree from the University of Montana and then went to work as an attorney for Montana FWP. Your contribution supports quality independent journalism no matter the season. Get your insiders look into what's happening in and around the Capitol. Martha Williams Montana's director of Fish, Wildlife & Parks is moving up to take similar reins at the federal level. Montana's Martha Williams nominated to lead the - Montana Public Radio There were fewer packs and the ones that were on the landscape usually had collared members, which made them easier to find. Gianforte stacked the most important posts in Montanas wildlife decision-making apparatus from Williamss old job atop FWP to the commissioners who create policy for the department with campaign contributors, a former running mate, and representatives of aggressively pro-wolf hunting interests. Williams is President Joe Biden's. As State Director, Williams delivered leadership that embraced the diversity of Montanas natural resources and outdoor recreational values that also incorporated public expectations and values into the agencys direction. It just got harder to keep collars out, Ausband said. Despite the many opportunities already offered under the law, Republican lawmakers and a subset of hunters and trappers had long argued that Montanas regulations did not go far enough. Basically, we have four times as many wolves in Montana as the wolf management plan calls for, he said. MW: The FWS does so much more than implement the ESA. Unfortunately, you and I both know that climate change is a wallop and will challenge that. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). Following those stints in government service, Williams returned to the University of Montana as an assistant professor specializing in public lands and wildlife. Another piece of the Great American Outdoors Act is that it also funded 70 wage-grade positions around the country. Whoops! Polly graduated from Bemidji High School in 1961, and began attending the Duluth School of Beauty Culture soon after. How many covert wars, miscarriages of justice, and dystopian technologies would remain hidden if our reporters werent on the beat? In many states, predators, like coyotes, can be killed anytime, anywhere without a license or a defined season. If you dont know how many wolves there are on the land, he asked, then how are you going to evaluate the threats to that population?. By signing up, I agree to receive emails from The Intercept and to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Martha Williams is at a crossroads. We are ready to get to work on behalf of the American people.. Williams is President Joe Biden's. Williams created a review committee in 2018 to study whether the array of hunting and trapping regulations that FWP produced each year were in line with state law. In that role, she mediated a number of contentious issues, including implementing a wolf hunting season and expanding visitor services. Polly enjoyed fishing, so much so, that she and Oakley spent their honeymoon ice fishing. To plant Memorial Trees in memory of Paulette Martha Williams, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. You just put your head down and do good work and try to recognize it and build trust along the way. For nearly a year, Parsons, along with Bob Aland, a retired attorney and environmental activist, have been waging a two-man campaign to remove Williams from the position. Though the work was tedious, it was also critical. What does the community want? He then went on to sign Browns bill and a half dozen other measures targeting the states most iconic predator. Ecotourism guides werent the only ones concerned about the issue. Montana news with context and care. Its an ambitious idea, but its been controversial in some rural communities, who view this as federal overreach. As for using telemetry in wolf hunts, Jacobsen added: This would not be lawful while in the act of hunting under Montanas statute on two-way communication.. As the truck pulled away, a third guide recognized the driver as one of the areas most well-known proponents of aggressive wolf hunting north of Yellowstone. Prior to joining Montana Free Press staff in 2021 Amanda was a freelance writer, researcher and interviewer. That agency also guides how the state deals with federally-protected species like grizzly bears, bull trout and Canada lynx, and other thorny wildlife issues such asmanaging the spread of chronic wasting disease and brucellosis.