Centennial Anniversary of National Wildlife Refuge System

CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM

Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I join my colleagues from Florida in commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the National Wildlife Refuge System. One hundred years ago, President Teddy Roosevelt established the first wildlife refuge, Florida's 3-acre Pelican Island. This small beginning has given rise to more than 500 National Wildlife Refuges throughout our country, demonstrating that Americans want unique places for wildlife to flourish and allow for recreation.

While Florida is home to the first refuge, my state of Vermont home to two refuges, the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge and the Silvio O. Conte National Wildlife Refuge.

The Missisquoi Refuge, founded in 1943, was established to provide a resting feeding area for migratory waterfowl, and as a general wildlife refuge. It spans 6,592 acres on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain. It is a mix of hardwood forests and open fields and home to the largest heron rookery in Vermont. More than 200,000 ducks converge on the refuge each fall and most of Vermont's black terns nest on the refuge. Osprey nest on the refuge and Missisquoi River and the shoreline of Lake Champlain provide outstanding fishing opportunities.

Our Silvio O. Conte Refuge, founded in 1997, is shared with New Hampshire and Massachusetts. It was established to protect the abundance and diversity of native species throughout the 7.2 million-acre Connecticut River watershed. In addition to protecting rare species, native plants and animals and their habitat, managers of this refuge are working with partners throughout New England to help control invasive species.

The wildlife and recreation opportunities provided by our refugees are made possible by the dedication of the Fish and Wildlife Service employees, who I could like to congratulate today. Without their expertise and dedication to providing visitors with hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, photography, interpretation and environmental education opportunities, our refuge system would not be enjoying the success we are celebrating today. They provided this public service to more than 55,000 annual visitors at our 2 refugees and I hope that these classrooms of natural continue to provide children and adult alike a unique educational experience.

In addition, I would like to acknowledge the thousands of volunteers nationwide who give their time and expertise to making the National Wildlife Refuge experience a memorable one for all of us.

Congratulations to all involved in the National Wildlife Refuge System.