The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is the lead Federal agency responsible for conserving and managing the nation’s fish and wildlife resources. The Service provides grants and technical assistance to agencies and private landowners. Those undertakings involving ground-disturbing activities and having the potential to affect historic properties are subject to review under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

USFWS lands in Arizona: USFWS administers roughly 1.8 million acres of land in Arizona, as National Wildlife Refuges and National Fish Hatcheries. Construction or resource management activities on these lands are subject to the NHPA. Contact the National Wildlife Refuge Manager or National Fish Hatchery Manager at the respective field station.

USFWS Permits: USFWS issues permits for construction activities on private, municipal, and state lands in Arizona. these permits are issued under the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and other authorities. In many cases, the USFWS permit is the only federal nexus to the construction, such as the development of a new wind or solar energy project. The issuance of the USFWS permit is a federal action that renders the proposed construction of a federal undertaking under the NHPA. Contact USFWS Ecological Services Offices in Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff, or the Migratory Bird Office in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Wildlife Sport Fish & Restoration Program (WSFR). The nation's most successful wildlife restoration program was established in 1937 by the Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson Act). The Act funds wildlife research, species reintroduction, habitat acquisition, management and restoration, and hunter education and safety. The federal Wildlife Restoration grant program has granted more than $4 billion to state fish and wildlife agencies during the past 75 years. Contact: Nicole Jimenez, Wildlife Grant Manager, 505.248.7466

Partners for Fish and Wildlife (Partners). This program helps the Service fulfill its mission to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants by providing technical and financial support to private landowners in Arizona who want to improve fish and wildlife habitat on their land. Contact: Jennifer Kaplan, Acting State Coordinator, 602.242.0210