Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act

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The Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA) provides the basic authority for the Fish and Wildlife Service's (FWS) involvement in evaluating impacts to fish and wildlife from proposed water resource development projects. It requires that fish and wildlife resources receive equal consideration to other project features. It also requires Federal agencies involved with water resource development projects to first consult with the FWS and State fish and wildlife agencies regarding the impacts on fish and wildlife resources, and provide for measures to mitigate these impacts.^[1]

The original Act, enacted on March 10, 1934, authorizes the Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce to provide assistance to Federal and State agencies for protecting and increasing the supply of game and fur bearing animals, as well as to study the effects of pollution on wildlife. The Act authorizes the preparation of plans to protect wildlife resources, including wildlife surveys on public lands. In addition, it directs the Bureau of Fisheries to use water resources for fish culture stations and migratory bird resting and nesting areas, and requires consultation with the Bureau of Fisheries prior to the construction of any new dams, to provide for fish migration.

Amendments in 1946 require consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service and the fish and wildlife agencies of States where any body of water is controlled or modified by any Federal agency, in order to prevent loss and damage of wildlife resources. The amendments specifically exempted the Tennessee Valley Authority from its provisions.

The 1958 amendments add provisions to require equal consideration and coordination of wildlife conservation with other water resources development programs, and authorized the Secretary of Interior to provide public fishing areas and accept donations of lands and funds.^[2] These amendments also modified the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act.