RISING TO A GREATER FUTURE - FOREST SERVICE FISHERIES PROGRAM ACCOUNTABILITY

The Sport Fishing Institute and U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service combined efforts to evaluate the perceived results of increase d funding for the Forest Service fisheries program. A stratified rando m sample of all administrative levels within the agency was asked to c omplete a questionnaire. Responses were received from 138 of the 177 u nits surveyed. Respondents generally agree that increases in funding h ave resulted in improved habitat conditions and customer satisfaction, and that funding is being expended to meet forest plan fish habitat o bjectives. However, respondents believe that direction provided by for est plans for fish habitat management is insufficient, and that inadeq uate emphasis is placed on monitoring to actually document changes in habitat condition and customer satisfaction. Many respondents believe that the Forest Service fisheries program needs to place greater empha sis on coordination with other resource management programs, inventory , maintenance of existing improvement structures, aquatic resource edu cation and marketing of program accomplishments. Six priority areas ar e identified for improving Forest Service fisheries program accountabi lity and effectiveness.