USFWS Seeks Public Input to Improve Access to Federal Lands

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is asking the public to identify service-managed lands where people would most like to see new or improved public recreation access. This effort’s goal is to expand public access to federal lands and ensure everyone has access to the outdoors.

“We are committed to ensuring all Americans have access to hunting and fishing and other recreational activities on our public lands,” said Cynthia Martinez, National Wildlife Refuge System chief. “By enhancing and increasing public access on national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries, people can visit and enjoy quality outdoor recreation experiences in these remarkable places.”

The John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act, signed into law in 2019, directs the service and other federal land management agencies to develop and publish a priority list of public lands where access for fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreation could be improved. The Dingell Act directs each agency to update their priority list every two years, and to seek nominations when developing the list. The public is encouraged to identify service-managed lands, including national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries that meet the complete criteria.

USFWS has increased public access through this priority direction by the Dingell Act for nearly 7,000 acres, including several national wildlife refuges. Acreage adjacent to the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland, for example, was acquired to remedy limited access to a 1,785-acre hunt unit. At the Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas an inaccessible public area of 1,100 acres of the refuge now has added public access through the acquisition of 1,020 acres. This has increased public recreational use on a total of more than 2,000 acres for hunting and fishing.

Nominations of public lands for consideration by the USFWS began on Dec. 16 and will be accepted until Jan. 16, 2025. Certain criteria must be met for qualification under the program, including that the land is managed by the service, has at least 640 contiguous acres and currently has significantly restricted access, or no, public access. In addition, they must be open under federal or state law to hunting, fishing or use of the land for other public recreational purposes and should have potential for public access and the likelihood of changing the current lack or restriction of public access.

The public is encouraged to provide additional information as to why a nominated parcel deserves consideration. Once the nomination period closes, USFWS will review the submissions to determine which lands meet the requirements and considerations specified by the Dingell Act.

Nominations are being accepted by email at [email protected]. Submissions need to include the location and acreage of the land or parcel, description or narrative about the land’s access restrictions—or complete lack of access—and any additional information to weigh when determining if the land should be on the priority list.