[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 25, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CAHABA RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE EXPANSION ACT

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                               speech of

                          HON. SPENCER BACHUS

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 24, 2006

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the leadership, Chairman Pombo, 
Subcommittee Chairman Gilchrest and Ranking Member Pallone for allowing 
the House to consider this legislation. The bill before us today, H.R. 
4947, represents a 2nd major step by this Congress in protecting and 
preserving one of the most biologically diverse areas of the United 
States.
  In 2000, I introduced the legislation that created the Cahaba River 
National Wildlife Refuge. That bill passed this Congress and was signed 
into law. Since that time, each year the Appropriations Committee has 
dedicated funding for land acquisition. The initial 3,500 acres 
authorized in that bill have been completely purchased by the U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service.
  The strong support of local elected officials and property owners, 
coupled with that of many environmental organizations such as The 
Nature Conservancy, The Cahaba River Society, and The Land Trust has 
fostered plans to expand the existing boundaries of The Cahaba River 
National Wildlife Refuge.
  Alabama is the 5th most biologically diverse State in the country, 
but it also has the unfortunate distinction of being the most 
extinction-prone State in the continental United States, with at least 
98 species extinct. The Cahaba River basin alone supports 69 rare and 
imperiled species. The river is recognized nationally for its unique 
biological diversity; the Cahaba Shiner, a federally endangered species 
is just one of more than 131 species of fish that call the Cahaba home. 
That is more species of fresh water fish than inhabit the entire State 
of California. The Cahaba's wealth of fish species is greater than any 
other river of its size in North America.
  The Cahaba River also harbors the world's largest population of the 
imperiled shoals lily, known locally as the ``Cahaba Lily.'' Recently a 
population of Cahaba pebble-snails was discovered in the refuge. Once 
thought to be extinct, this marked the first time this species had been 
seen since the 1960s, an accomplishment that can be attributed to the 
protection offered by the Cahaba's designation as a Wildlife Refuge.
  The proposed expansion of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge 
would:
  Increase direct protection of the banks of the mainstem Cahaba River 
from the current 3.5 miles to approximately 8 miles, thereby giving 
additional protection to additional large populations of the globally 
imperiled shoals spider lily (aka Cahaba lily), and many other rare 
species.
  Provide large enough areas of forest to support viable breeding 
populations of declining Neotropical migratory birds, both in the 
longleaf pine forests (e.g. Northern Bobwhite Quail, Brown-headed 
Nuthatch) and in hardwood forests (e.g. Swainson's Warbler, Louisiana 
Waterthrush, Acadian Flycatcher).
  Provide significant increase in public access to the Cahaba River for 
canoeing, fishing and other riverine recreational activities.
  Provide a significant increase in acreage available to the public for 
hunting, hiking, birding and other outdoor wildlife-based activities 
(Alabama has only about 3 percent public land, less than most other 
States in the Nation).
  Provide a significant boost in revenue to Bibb County, one of the 
poorest counties in the Nation. Due to low prevailing property tax 
rates, the revenue to the County coffers from the Federal Refuge 
Revenue Sharing Program (payments in lieu of taxes) have averaged about 
$6 per acre per year (versus a yield of about $1 per acre per year as 
privately owned timberland).
  H.R. 4947 authorizes the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to purchase 
up to an additional 3,600 acres of land and waters. This would double 
the number of protected acres of the Cahaba, all of which will be 
purchased from willing sellers. Protecting the land upstream from the 
original refuge will add to the buffer zone needed to shield this 
critical habitat and watershed.
  The bill before us will help protect one of the greatest natural 
treasures in my State of Alabama and I urge a ``yes'' vote.

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