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She later co-directed the law schools Land Use and Natural Resources Clinic. Among the prohibitions were the use of aircraft and radio telemetry equipment the kind of gear biologists use to find and monitor wildlife. In his letter over the summer, Sholly, the Yellowstone superintendent, described a lack of scientific data and low confidence in Montanas wolf-counting methodologies. But how do we get over that worry? Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, at Messiah Lutheran Church with Pastor Sean Janssen officiating. The first has to do with how wolf populations in the region are estimated. Pollys family has suggested that memorial donations be made in her memory to the Spokane Shriners Hospitals for Children, 911 W. Fifth Ave, Spokane WA 99204, or to the charity of the donors choice. And then how can we support these efforts? In the departments view, the warnings amounted to an ongoing, decadelong mistake. Polly enjoyed fishing, so much so, that she and Oakley spent their honeymoon ice fishing. The nomination was celebrated by both environmental groups and an array of hunting interests. Republican lawmakers supported the bill, saying it will help unwind a recent court decision over a gas plant under construction. A long-held secret. Interior Department. In March, Daines, the Republican senator and proud backer of last winters wolf hunt, urged Williams to take bold action on the Endangered Species Act not to relist wolves but to delist grizzly bears. Wolves at Blacktail Pond at Yellowstone National Park, in 2019. Ultimately, I think we address conflict by getting more people to care and getting more people engaged. Montana politics, elections and legislative news, PublishedJanuary 21, 2021 at 4:12 AM MST. OL: Id like to pivot to a topic thats been top of mind in the hunting and shooting community. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency that will soon have as its director a person shepherded by Jon Tester Martha Williams, former director of. 'CHANGING HUNTING IN MONTANA' Martha Williams is an American attorney and government official who is the current director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. She was appointed to the FWP post in 2017. Three state attorneys general, including Montanas, arguea Biden administration immigration policy set to go into effect later this month vio, The heritage muzzleloader hunt is the product of legislation earlier this year and the recent adoption of regulations by the Montana Fish and . Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. 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. ), In December, Parsons wrote an op-ed describing how every FWS director going back to the Nixon administration had met the scientific education requirement. Martha Williams Director Address U.S Fish and Wildlife Service 1849 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20240 United States (800) 344-9453 About Martha Williams Growing up on a farm in Maryland, Martha Williams gained an appreciation for open lands, waters, wildlife, and people. Both efforts would play key roles in the wolf review she is now overseeing as director of the nations most important wildlife agency. In October, President Joe Biden announced he was nominating her to take the agencys top post, which oversees 567 national wildlife refuges and about 8,000 employees. 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. Hydrologists are looking to this winter and spring for a potential rebound from Montanas widespread drought this year. Advocacy organizations soon noticed the prohibition on aerial hunting had disappeared and called on a Montana judge to issue an injunction to stop the practice. Steve Bullock, will be taking a high-profile position with the U.S. Paulette M. Pidge Williams, 78, passed away due to natural causes at Northern Montana Hospital on Sunday, May 16, 2021. A man had pulled up in a pickup truck. On July 20, the day The Intercepts wolf investigation went live, Cam Sholly, the superintendent of Yellowstone National Park, sent a letter to Montanas game commissioners arguing that using telemetry to hunt wolves violated the fair chase principle, which holds that human hunters do not take unfair advantage of nonhuman prey, and requested that this prohibition be re-inserted into your regulations.. Growing up on a farm in Maryland, Martha Williams gained an appreciation for open lands, waters, wildlife, and people. Aimee Hawkaluk was a staff attorney at FWP from 2012 until January of this year. 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. Martha Williams, the former head of Montanas Fish, Wildlife and Parks Department has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the new director of the U.S. We dont have ads, so we depend on our members 35,000 and counting to help us hold the powerful to account. At the same time, the results of Williamss review committee came to fruition in the form of the states 2021 wolf regulations. and last updated 12:22 PM, Mar 09, 2022. Lucky for us at USFWS, it fits squarely within our wheelhouse in delivering conservation. There is at least some evidence that hunters may have attempted to take advantage of the new opportunity. And I talk about the America the Beautiful a lot because its such a priority for this administration. She was the first woman to serve in that role, where she managed nearly 700 full-time-equivalent employees and oversaw the administration of more than 50 state parks. She has been serving as principal deputy director for USFWS since January of 2020. Rich Janssen is director of Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Natural Resources Department. In the closing days of the session, a duel or a duet? The Intercept is an independent nonprofit news outlet. 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. HELENA Former Montana Fish, Wildlife and Park Director Martha Williams was sworn in as Director of the U.S. U.S. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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. Ms. Martha Williams, Montana Department of Wildlife, Fish and Parks, Director (Absent, no proxy) Senator Mike Lang, Senate District 17 . Williams was the director of FWP in Montana from 2017 to 2020. How many wolves roam the Northern Rockies and whether state policies promote recovery are the central questions Williamss endangered species review must consider. Prior to her appointment, Martha served as the Director of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks from 2017 to 2020. The review followed dramatic regional changes in state hunting and trapping regulations. The move was unprecedented and political: Tester was up for reelection in one of the most important races of 2012, facing an opponent who claimed that he was out of touch with rural voters on the wolf issue. Polly graduated from Bemidji High School in 1961, and began attending the Duluth School of Beauty Culture soon after. You have permission to edit this article. Sign up for theCapitolizednewsletter and stay up-to-date on the latest legislative developments during the session. Thats no longer the case. Last years changes in wolf hunting and trapping regulations were felt particularly hard in Yellowstone National Park, which weathered its deadliest season in living memory. 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. Martha Williams is director of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. In 2009, the Obama administration announced the delisting of wolves in Montana and Idaho, but not Wyoming, which continually failed to come up with a plan that didnt involve treating the animals as predators that could be shot on sight. Now a top federal official, Williamss supporters are pulling her in divergent directions, while critics are questioning her credentials and calling on her to step down entirely. She also told the Missoulian that while she is not a biologist, shes spent [her] career translating science to decision makers and courts, and said she takes particular pleasure in teaching students about the intersections of science, law and policy. Montana did an outstanding job of describing, in detail, its regulatory framework and its commitment to wolf management, FWS noted in its rule. They were hoping to spot a mountain lion when a flash of unusual human activity caught their attention instead. Williams is President Joe Bidens nominee for the directors post. Steve Bullock, according to a . It just got harder to keep collars out, Ausband said. 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, appointed to become the federal agencys principal deputy director, nominating her to take the agencys top post, took the helm of the Bureau of Land Management, 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. Montana news with context and care. We still understand now more than ever after COVID, just how important it is to people and communities for their well-being, for food, for physical and emotional well-being, for that economic support for communities. Martha Williams Montana's director of Fish, Wildlife & Parks is moving up to take similar reins at the federal level. In annual reports required under the act, the experts highlighted the existence of border packs as opposed to resident packs whose potential for double-counting could throw off the accuracy of population estimates. Thats very concerning, and I think it should concern the Fish and Wildlife Service in terms of whether or not Montana is living up to the commitment it made with respect to that delisting rule.. 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.. He parked, stepped out of the vehicle, and raised above his head what looked like a radio antenna. Please reload the page and try again. MTFP is rooted in Montana, and its readers like you who help our newsroom grow. Its what I think about, its what I see, smell, hear and dream about, she told the committee. She had once again joined a government agency facing a historic moment for wolves. My life is steeped in conservation. When Williams appeared before lawmakers in November, the issue never came up. With a new Montana wolf hunting season underway and park researchers studying the unprecedented levels of human-caused mortality, the deadline for the federal governments review has now passed, and environmental groups have filed suitdemanding that Williams take action. During the Obama Administration, Williams served as Deputy Solicitor Parks and Wildlife at the Department of the Interior for two years, providing counsel to the National Park Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service on issues arising in parks and recreation, fish and wildlife, environmental protection, natural resources assessment and restoration, and land and water conservation law. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Biden Administration, Greg Gianforte nominated the agencys new director, Abortion providers sue state over Medicaid coverage restrictions, Child care spending bill passes Montana Legislature, Bill would enforce constitutional mandate to teach students about Native American cultures, Capitol briefs: Gender-affirming care, charter schools and foster care, Record-breaking warm, spring weather could hit Montana this weekend, BNSF Plan Aims To Reduce Train-Related Grizzly Bear Deaths, Groups Ask Court To Restore Protections For US Gray Wolves, Gianforte Announces New Health Department Director. 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. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Steve Bullock, a post she held from 2017 to 2020. I feel like weve come a long ways, from saying this is who we are and you can join us or not. We want everyone to feel welcome, and do what we can to feel they belong in the outdoors. The question is not whether wolves migrating across state and international borders are being double-counted by the states, its to what degree and whether the double-counting has meaningfully impacted the statistics being trotted out by lawmakers to justify extraordinarily aggressive wolf hunts. Support homegrown news. Polly was born on December 19, 1942, in Bagley, MN, to Olaf and Julia (Hanson) Amundson, the youngest of five girls. Become a sustaining member for as low as $5/month, Make an annual or one-time donation to support MTPR, Pay an existing pledge or update your payment information, The BNSF Railway Company Tuesday published a long-awaited habitat conservation plan intended to reduce grizzly bear mortalities in Northwest Montana.Eight, Wildlife advocates on Thursday asked a federal court to overturn a U.S. government decision that stripped Endangered Species Act protections for wolves, Republican Montana Gov. The department cannot enforce laws that are not applicable and did not wish to imply that the regulation applied to wolves, Wakeling wrote. How will that money be spent? Without public notice, the prohibition against using radio telemetry equipment was also gone. View the profiles of people named Martha Williams. Honor a loved one by planting trees in their memory. We are ready to get to work on behalf of the American people.. Following the 2009 delisting, FWP issued regulations each year explaining to hunters and trappers what they could and could not do in pursuit of wolves. I believe Montana and the country would be well-served with her at the helm of the U.S. Its an ambitious idea, but its been controversial in some rural communities, who view this as federal overreach. The infrastructure will support many of these America the Beautiful projects, funding things like fish passage structures and habitat restoration projects that help create jobs and help build communities. Once wolves were recovered, the states game commissioners would decide which of Montanas more conventional categories fit the animals best. Wolves on Fountain Flats at Yellowstone National Park, in 2020. on about your day, ask yourself: How likely is it that the story you just read would have been produced by a different news outlet if The Intercept hadnt done it? Has your perspective of grizzly management changed with your office? In an emailed statement about Williams confirmation, Montana Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, said the agency is in good hands. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Consider making an additional one-time gift during our spring fundraiser. Martha Williams, who until recently served as the director of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks under former Gov. Fish and Wildlife Service, the agency tasked with conserving and protecting fish, wildlife and plants. When she was named director of FWP, she highlighted her background working in several different agency divisions: law enforcement, parks management, wildlife conservation and public education. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. He added, The states were trying to come up with new, cheaper ways to keep monitoring their population but that wouldnt break the bank.. Martha Williams, the former director of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, was nominated to the U.S. Id love to get to the place where were on our front foot and can better prevent species from even needing to be listed. She also convened a major rebranding of FWP, designed to make the fish-and-wildlife agency relevant to customers who might never fish or hunt but who appreciate and advocate for Montanas wild places. What does the community want? Fish and Wildlife Service today announced $10 million in fiscal year 2023 funds from President Bidens Bipartisan Infrastructure Lawto support over 50 projects in western states to restore and conserve strategic areas within thesagebrushecosystem. Prior to teaching at the University of Montanas Alexander Blewitt III School of Law, she was the Interior Departments deputy solicitor for parks and wildlife. )both have voiced their support for Williams after she was nominated by President Biden in October. Our focus right now is that maintenance backlog. Representative Rhonda Knudsen, House District 34 . Your support helps quality Montana journalism thrive! If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Williams will become the second major Montana appointee to work under U.S. Gianforte has. At FWP, Williams was at the helm of fishing and hunting policy in Montana. The new tool should aid in snowpack and drought monitoring. Will they trust in their love? In that role, she mediated a number of contentious issues, including implementing a wolf hunting season and expanding visitor services. [5] Williams worked as associate professor of law at the University of Montana and co-director of the university's Land Use and Natural Resources Clinic.[6][7]. 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. Polly and Robert divorced in 1984, and in 1991, she sold the salon and moved to Helena, where she worked for the State of Montana as the salon inspector until her retirement in 1999, which was due to medical issues. She also served as legal counsel to FWP from 1998 to 2011, when wolf reintroduction was a hot-button issue for the agency. 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. For Hawkaluk, the trajectory of wolves within Montanas bureaucracy reflects the contentious politics that surrounds the animals. And that social piecenot putting the onus just on the tolerance of communities that live with bears or wolves, but also those who dont like to see management-dependent speciesthey want to see species that arent reliant on state or federal management. More recently, bison management has been on her radar. Williams was the director of FWP in Montana from 2017 to 2020. Learn more about climate change , and wildlife, Williams co-directed the universitys Land Use and Natural Resources Clinic and co-supervised the Public Land and Resources Law Review and the Environmental Law Group. Montana news with context and care. The Biden administration announced last Thursday that it is nominating former Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks director Martha Williams to become director of the U.S. OL: Population numbers are generally the triggers for listing species as threatened or endangered, and population numbers are also the benchmark for recovery of those species. As director of U.S. Greg Gianforte announced on Wednesday his pick for state health department director.Gianforte tapped Adam Meier to lead the, Montana Public Radio | Fish and Wildlife Service and write to you in support of advancing her nomination quickly.. But Williams was also unafraid of inviting entrenched opponents to talk through issues, according to those who worked with her. Paulette M. "Pidge" Williams, 78, passed away due to natural causes at Northern Montana Hospital on Sunday, May 16, 2021. 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. Fish and Wildlife Service. No shouting. Williams was the first woman to lead Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks under former Democratic Gov. I have always been fascinated by what recovery means, and what does it mean for the FWS to ensure that these species stay recovered. In January, the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public works approved her nomination as director of the U.S. In the weeks leading up to Williamss confirmation hearing, he and Aland informed aides on Capitol Hill that Williams lacked a scientific background. On the one hand, the Service provides access, essential fish and wildlife management and funding, and facilitates things like the federal duck stamp. Burial will be at a later date with her late husband Oakley in Nary, MN. Your contribution supports quality independent journalism no matter the season. Greg Gianfortes cabinet was also named today. Martha Williams is the new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Martha Williams speaking at a hearing of the Senate Environment and Public Works committee, in Washington, D.C., in November 2021. 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. Share your thoughts and memories of Paulette, Share your thoughts and memories with family and friends of Paulette. The federal agency manages wildlife and habitat across the country and is in charge of more than 150 million acres of land in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Williams was the first woman to lead Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks under former Democratic Gov. 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. By most accounts, grizzly bear populations have reached levels where they could be removed from federal protection. Unbridled Montana Passion Author: Ramona Flightner Publisher: Grizzly Damsel Publishing ISBN: 1945609257 Category : Fiction Languages : en Pages : 297 Get Book. 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). Get your insiders look into what's happening in and around the Capitol. She was confirmed in a bipartisan 16-to-4 vote in February. Your support helps quality Montana journalism thrive! Donate during our spring fundraiser and support quality independent journalism. Martha Williams in Montana 13 people named Martha Williams found in Helena, Missoula and 13 other cities. Thank you for supporting homegrown news. Though there have been previous periods of climatic change, since the mid-20th century humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale. Just award-winning local journalism for the people, by the people. lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances. "The strength of this agency is it. Your contribution supports quality independent journalism no matter the season. I have to broaden my context and yet remember to stay really grounded with what Ive learned throughout my career, understanding what it means to live in these communities with species like grizzly bears. Click a location below to find Martha more easily. Polly is survived by her children, Candi (D.J.) Unfortunately, you and I both know that climate change is a wallop and will challenge that. Interior received a large amount of funding from the federal infrastructure bill. After leaving the Forest Service in 2014, Amanda worked for Outside magazine as an editorial fellow before joining Outlaw Partners staff to lead coverage for Explore Big Sky newspaper and contribute writing and editing to Explore Yellowstone and Mountain Outlaw magazines. 2023 Montana's independent nonprofit news source. Voters elected Greg Gianforte as Montanas first Republican governor in a decade and half. Basically, we have four times as many wolves in Montana as the wolf management plan calls for, he said. Montana and Idaho now under legal obligation to reduce their wolf populations, and lawmakers have made clear their intent to cut those numbers to the bone. The committee has not yet scheduled a vote on Williams nomination. Amanda Eggert studied print journalism at the University of Montana. Generally, game animals, like elk or deer, can be hunted but not trapped, while furbearers, like otters or bobcats, can be trapped but not hunted. 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. At its core, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is a significant investment in the nations infrastructure and economic competitiveness. 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. Williams was appointed to head FWP by former Gov. Right-wing politicians could push for predator-style management, but they were likely to fail.
