FY 2016 Appropriation

Mission: To serve the people of Utah as trustee and guardian of the state's wildlife.

The division manages all fish and wildlife species, regulates hunting, fishing and trapping, and conducts non-consumptive activities. The Division employs staff in five regional offices in Ogden, Springville, Vernal, Price, Cedar City, and Salt Lake City.

Funding History

Funding Issues

Coyote Control

Some of the most critical mule deer units need additional help with predator control. The division is requesting additional funds from the restricted account to expand coyote control efforts and ensure that the removal takes place at the right time of the year and is targeting the right animals.

Federal Grants

Requests for approval to apply for additional federal grants with details included in the Issue Brief, "Agencies' Requests for Federal Funds."

Lake Powell Quagga Mussel Containment and Prevention

Funding to provide more staff and additional measures to prevent the spread of quagga mussel from Lake Powell to the rest of Utah.
Appropriation Overview

During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $75,773,700 from all sources for Wildlife Resources. This is a 14.9 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $7,633,100 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 27.3 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.

Appropriation Adjustments

In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:

DescriptionOngoingOne-Time Attorney General Dedicated Credit Adjustments$4,900$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$4,900$0GFR - Wildlife Resources
This item designates additional funding appropriated to an agency to pay higher costs for Attorney General services, due to statewide and AG-specific compensation increases.
Coyote Control$200,000$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$200,000$0GFR - Predator Control
Some of the most critical mule deer units need additional help with predator control. The division is requesting additional funds from the restricted account to expand coyote control efforts and ensure that the removal takes place at the right time of the year and is targeting the right animals.
DWR Current Expense and Travel ($17,000)$0
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
($17,000)$0General Fund
The division will implement efficiency measures that will reduce the amount of staff travel. This will also factor in the savings from the drop in gasoline prices.
Federal Grants$0$6,695,600
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$6,695,600Federal Funds
Requests for approval to apply for additional federal grants with details included in the Issue Brief, "Agencies' Requests for Federal Funds."
Invasive Species Inspections, Quagga, Bear Lake$0$300,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$300,000General Fund, One-time
Funding from the Sovereign Lands Management Account for additional inspections points/services for quagga mussels at the Bear Lake.
Lake Powell Quagga Mussel Containment and Prevention$0$740,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$740,000General Fund, One-time
Funding to provide more staff and additional measures to prevent the spread of quagga mussel from Lake Powell to the rest of Utah.
Nonlapsing Balance$0$400,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$400,000Beginning Nonlapsing
No Description
Northern Utah Community Fisheries$0$20,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$20,000GFR - Wildlife Habitat
No Description
Utah Prairie Dog Management Appropriation$0$400,000
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$0$400,000General Fund, One-time
Enactment of this legislation likely will not materially impact state revenue. This legislation appropriates $400,000 one-time from the General Fund in FY 2016 to the Division of Wildlife Resources for implementation of the Utah prairie dog management plan.

The following are the top measures chosen by the division management to gauge the success of its programs.

Cougar/Bear Claims

This performance measure tracks the claims for cougar and bear livestock damage over time. The figure below presents the total claims, the amount appropriated, and the actual amount paid. In FY 2008 and FY 2009 the appropriated amount (red line) was more than the claims received (green line) and division paid (blue line) for all the requested damages. In the last four years, however, the appropriated amount of $140,000 was not sufficient to cover the total claims submitted. In these cases, DWR had to prorate the claim payments to 84% in FY 2010, 74% in FY 2011, 66% in FY 2012, 86% in FY 2013, and 95% in FY 2014. cougar

Average Costs for Cougar/Bear Claims

There is an increase in the number of claims per year for cougar/bear damages in the last four years. Average Costs for Cougar and Bear Claims

Depredation Payments

This performance measure tracks the total amount for submitted claims and the actual payments for depredation or crop loss over time.crops depredation

Depredation Average Costs

This measures shows the number of claims and average cost per claim over time. number of claims and average cost

Statute

The following laws govern operation of the division:

  • UCA 23-13-3 states that all wildlife not privately owned and legally acquired is legally considered property of the state.
  • UCA 23-14-1 creates the Division of Wildlife Resources under the Department of Natural Resources. The Division is the wildlife authority of the state. Subject to the Wildlife Board, the division shall protect, propagate, manage, conserve, and distribute protected wildlife. DWR may initiate civil and criminal proceedings.

Belief statement: The Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) maintains sustainable and diverse wildlife populations that are valuable to all citizens of Utah.

Resource goal: Expand wildlife populations and conserve sensitive species by protecting and improving wildlife habitat.

  • Protect existing wildlife habitats and watersheds and improve an additional 500,000 acres of critical habitat by 2019.
  • Increase fish and game populations to meet management plan objectives, and expand quality fishing and hunting opportunities.
  • Conserve sensitive species to prevent them from becoming listed as threatened or endangered.

Agency goal: Improve the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Division of Wildlife Resources.

  • Increase programs that promote teamwork, provide leadership training opportunities, and motivate employees to be more productive, efficient and successful.
  • Increase programs to effectively recruit and retain new employees.
  • Improve the image of the Division by maintaining high standards of conduct and professionalism among division employees.
  • Increase efforts to simplify rules, regulations and guidebooks.

Constituency goal: Achieve broad-based support for division programs and budgets by demonstrating the value of wildlife to all citizens of Utah.

  • Increase public awareness of wildlife as a quality-of-life issue in order to expand our support base and achieve stable funding.
  • Improve communications with wildlife organizations, public officials, private landowners and government agencies to obtain support for division programs.
  • Expand programs to recruit and retain young hunters, anglers and wildlife watchers.

Intent Language

HB0003: Item 103

Under the terms of 63J-1-603 of the Utah Code, the Legislature intends that appropriations provided for the Wildlife Resources line item in Item 7, Chapter 5, Laws of Utah 2014, shall not lapse at the close of FY 2015. Expenditures of these funds are limited to projects funded from the Mule Deer Protection Restricted Account $300,000; and projects funded from the Predator Control Restricted Account $200,000.


HB0003: Item 103

The Legislature intends that up to $180,000 be spent on livestock damage. $90,000 will be from the General Fund and up to $90,000 will be from the General Fund Restricted - Wildlife Resources account. The Legislature also intends that this appropriation shall not lapse at the close of FY 2015.


HB0003: Item 103

The Legislature intends that up to $700,000 of Wildlife Resources budget may be used for big game depredation expenses. The Legislature also intends that half of these funds be from the General Fund Restricted - Wildlife Resources account and half from the General Fund. The Legislature also intends that this appropriation shall not lapse at the close of FY 2015.


License revenue is deposited into the Wildlife Restricted account. Federal funds primarily come from excise taxes on sporting goods.

Special Funds

The figures below show the division's major restricted funds over time: each fund's activities, the appropriated amount for the current fiscal year, as well as the average revenues, expenditures, and balances.

DWR

habitat

hatcheries

predator control

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COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.