Arkansas Aquatic Resources Education Program

Need

There is a need to increase participation, awareness, and appreciation of angling and aquatic resources in Arkansas. According to the 2011 National Hunting and Fishing Survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, angling participation and aquatic resources awareness are declining nationwide. In Arkansas, angling participation is not keeping pace with the state’s population growth. A decline in angling participation and aquatic resources awareness will escalate as Arkansas’ population shifts from rural areas to urban and suburban communities.  It is vital to provide opportunities for youth to learn about aquatic resources and angling techniques as organized sports, television, and video games compete for their interest. Arkansas’ ability to sustain participation in and appreciation for angling and aquatic resources will be significantly compromised unless angling skills and educational strategies are cultivated.

Purpose 

The purpose of this grant is to increase aquatic resources awareness/appreciation and angler participation in Arkansas.

Objectives

The objectives of this grant are to:

1. 25,000 students complete training by June 30, 2017.  (NOTE: TRACS strategy - Training/Education)
2. Train 450 instructors by June 30, 2017.  (NOTE: TRACS strategy - Training/Education)
3. Conduct 250 training events by June 30, 2017.  (NOTE: TRACS strategy - Training/Education)

Results and Benefits Expected

• Increased awareness and appreciation of aquatic resources.
• Increased angling participation.
• Increased responsible/ethical behavior towards aquatic resources.
• Fewer angling regulation violations.
• Improved angling skills and knowledge of fisheries management and aquatic ecology.

Approach

Three full-time professional aquatic resource education staff will be maintained to develop, coordinate, and operate the aquatic resource education program.

Activities addressing all Objectives

The Aquatic Resource Education staff will:

• Assure that the Aquatic Resource Education Program courses are widely advertised by providing program information to Department employees and the public via the internet on Facebook, Twitter, and the Department’s website.
• Review, evaluate, and provide relevant input to aquatic education programs, initiatives, and materials and determine their use and effectiveness in programmatic approaches towards recruitment and retention of anglers.

Activities addressing:

Objective 1: 25,000 students complete training by June 30, 2017

The Aquatic Resource Education staff will:

• Develop course content and implement multiple course delivery methods. Courses will be scheduled and conducted in strategic locations where demand is highest.
• Implement a fishing tackle loan program to provide rods, reels and equipment to state, county, and municipal parks, schools, libraries and other partners for use by those that wish to try fishing.
• Develop and maintain an online student course registration and record management and tracking system by securing the services of a private vendor.

(NOTE: TRACS activity tags for reporting purposes).
TRACS Activity Tag 1: Aquatic education (# of students) 
TRACS Activity Tag 2: Aquatic ecology education
TRACS Activity Tag 2: Fishing skills

Activities addressing:

Objective 2: Train 450 instructors by June 30, 2017

The Aquatic Resource Education staff will:

• Implement the Passport to Fishing aquatic education and angling skills training program. This program trains teachers in Arkansas schools to teach angling methods, aquatic awareness and form school fishing clubs.
• Recruit, train, develop and maintain a volunteer corps of at least 450 instructors. This includes conducting a minimum of 2 new instructor training workshops annually that will provide training on lesson plan development, records management, public speaking, learning styles, educational theory, use of teaching aids, interactive teaching methods, conducting skill-based training exercises, program policy and procedures, child protection and sexual harassment education. 
• Acquire, distribute and maintain teaching aids, course materials, volunteer supplies and equipment used in the recruitment, training, recognition and management of all aquatic resource education program instructors.
• Develop and implement an incentive program for volunteer instructors. Instructors will be presented awards based upon established performance standards, such as "number of classes taught", "number of training events attended", etc.

(NOTE: TRACS activity tags for reporting purposes).
TRACS Activity Tag 1: Aquatic education (# of instructors)
TRACS Activity Tag 2: Aquatic ecology education
TRACS Activity Tag 2: Fishing skills

Activities addressing:

Objective 3: Conduct 250 training events by June 30, 2017

The Aquatic Resource Education staff will:

• Conduct 250 fishing clinics and derbies annually. Participants will fish public bodies of water that have been stocked with catchable channel catfish or rainbow trout. Clinics will provide basic instruction on angling technique, safety and ethics and the basics of fish biology as it relates to catching fish.
• Acquire training equipment, event supplies and materials to conduct all aquatic education programs and activities.
• Inspect, clean and repair all training equipment annually.

(NOTE: TRACS activity tags for reporting purposes).
Objective 3 Conduct 250 training events by June 30, 2017
TRACS Activity Tag 1: Aquatic education (# of events)
TRACS Activity Tag 2: Aquatic ecology education
TRACS Activity Tag 2: Fishing skills

Useful Life

No capital improvements over $10,000 will be made with this project proposal.

Geographic Location

Statewide.

Principal Investigator(s), for Research Projects

Not Applicable.

Program Income

None anticipated.

Budget Narrative

Funding for this project shall be provided by the Aquatic Resources Education subprogram of the Sport Fish Restoration Act (subaccount 9511).

Total project cost is estimated at $267,440

Federal Share shall be $200,580 (75%)

State Share shall be $66,860 (25%)

NOTE: Applicants may provide the budget information using the SF 424A (Budget Information for Non-Construction Programs), SF 424C (Budget Information for Construction Programs), or using the applicant’s created budget displaying an equivalent or greater level of detail.

¹ Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has an approved NICRA of 14.00% applied to the base of salaries.  AGFC will not be charging any indirect costs to this grant.

Personnel - budget estimate comprised of staff (3-4) in the following classifications: (1) Aquatic Resource Education Coordinator and (2) Aquatic Resource Education Specialist.

Fringe benefits -consists of the required employer contribution of Social Security, Medicare, unemployment tax, retirement, and employee health insurance, and is estimated at 47.65%.

Travel - staff will travel to and assist with training events (both student and instructor events), fishing events held throughout the state.  Staff will also attend city and county government meetings that involve aquatic resources education trainings or fishing events.   

Supplies - budget estimate includes general office supplies, fishing rods/reels, monofilament line, terminal tackle, live and artificial bait, raingear, rubber boots, and cameras.  Additionally, catchable size channel catfish and bluegill sunfish may also be purchased, as needed, for fishing events.

In-Kind Match: $66,860.  The State Share shall be provided by non-federal funds from donated services of volunteer aquatic education instructors. Volunteer services will be valued at the FY 2016 hourly rate of $24.75 plus fringe (base salary of Wildlife Officer 1).

Pre-Award Costs: No pre-award costs are requested for this grant.

Indirect Cost Statement: “We are (1) a U.S. state government entity receiving more than $35 million in direct Federal funding each year with an indirect cost rate of 14.00%.  We submit our indirect cost rate proposals to our cognizant agency.  A copy of our most recently approved rate agreement/certification is on file in the Region 4 Headquarters Office.”

Single Audit Reporting Statement: The state of Arkansas was required to submit a Statewide Single Audit report for its most recently closed fiscal year and that report is available on the Federal Audit Clearinghouse Single Audit Database website.  The report is filed under the state of Arkansas’ EIN (99-9999999).

Conflict of Interest Statement: Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, at the time of this application, is not aware of any actual or potential conflicts of interest that may arise during the life of this award which may affect the AGFC, its employees, or its subrecipients.  Should an actual or potential conflict of interest arise during the period of performance, then AGFC will notify the WSFR Regional Office.

Multipurpose Projects

Not applicable.

Relationship with Other Grants

Not applicable.

Timeline

• July 2016 - August 2016: All equipment, supplies and materials procured.
• August 2016 - September 2016: Two volunteer instructor training courses conducted regionally.
• One in-service instructor training course and recognition event conducted bi-monthly.
• Aquatic education clinics and workshops conducted monthly.

General

NOTE: 50 CFR 80.82 (c) requires that a project statement must include information pertaining to 13 data elements.  Element 13 (General) requires that information be included in the project statement that (a) shows that the proposed activities are eligible for funding and substantial in character and design and (b) enables the Service to comply with applicable requirements under NEPA, ESA, and NHPA, and other laws, regulations, and policies.  If information is not provided in the project statement, please attach additional documentation regarding NEPA, ESA, and NHPA compliance. 

Related Pages

Sport Fish Restoration Eligible Activities

Aquatic Resource Education

Sport Fish Restoration Program Apportionments

Resources

Project Statement - Aquatic Education (Word file)

Sport Fish Restoration Funding diagram

WSFR_Quick Reference_SFR

References

§ 50 CFR 80.51 What activities are eligible for funding under the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act?

§ 50 CFR 80.62 What limitations apply to spending on the Aquatic Resource Education and the Outreach and Communications subprograms?

§ 50 CFR 80.82 What must an agency submit when applying for a project-by-project grant?