DAILY BULLDOG • September 5, 2023
Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge protects approximately 5,600 acres within a 14,800-acre acquisition zone. The Fish and Wildlife Service brings money into local municipalities through the Land, Water and Conservation Fund (LWCF), which uses revenues generated from offshore energy leases (not taxpayer dollars) to pay for new refuge lands. The FWS also supports infrastructure improvements through its operating budget. In Maine, we are lucky to have six National Wildlife Refuges: Aroostook, Sunkhaze Meadows, Moosehorn, Maine Coastal Islands, Umbagog, and Rachel Carson. There are many studies that have been published detailing the economic benefits of conserving refuge lands. ~ Bill Durkin, The Friends of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge