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White House Conference Sets Stage for New Era of Conservation l The White House Page 2 of L • Community Engagement:Today,EPA Administrator Jackson joined with federal and community partners to announce the first Urban Waters Ambassador of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. The Partnership,an innovative federal union comprised of 11 agencies is an effort to help cities,particularly those that are underserved or economically distressed,connect with their waterways and work to improve them.The ambassador,serving the Los Angeles River location of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership,is the first of seven to be sponsored by EPA,USDA and DOI for each of the Urban Waters locations across the country. Urban Waters Ambassadors will accelerate and coordinate on-the-ground projects that are critical to improving water quality and public health,and fostering community stewardship in urban watersheds. • Protecting and Restoring our Waterways and Fisheries:Through the National Fish Habitat Partnership, Federal agencies are helping state and local governments,landowners,and community groups to protect and restore our waterways and fisheries. This national effort has spawned regional and local partnerships.Today the Secretaries of Interior,Agriculture and Commerce committed to signing an agreementto promote collaborative,science-based conservation of our waterways and fisheries. The agreement ensures that Federal resources are effectively focused on locally supported conservation strategies developed by fish habitat partnerships. "President Obama launched the America's Great Outdoors Initiative to create a 21st century conservation agenda with American people,"said Nancy Sutley,Chair of the While House Council on Environmental Quality.From investing billions of dollars to restoring places like the Everglades and the Great Lakes,to partnering with private landowners to conserve tens of millions of acres across the country,the Administration is making it a priority to protect and restore the places communities depend on." "People across the country are coming together to protect and preserve the places that nurture our souls,provide opportunities for recreation,and power our economies,"said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar,who hosted the conference at the Interior Department."We know that an investment in conservation now is a direct investment into our nation's economy—and one that will benefit generations to come.Today we heard from the people who are making a real difference in their communities and discussed how we can be better partners in fulfilling a shared vision for conservation in the 21st century." "President Obama launched the America's Great Outdoors Initiative to foster a 21st century approach to conservation that is designed by and accomplished in partnership with the American people,"said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack."Protecting our natural resources creates jobs in rural communities,preserves habitat for fish and wildlife,and ensures that our nation's outdoor heritage will continue to be enjoyed by future generations." "Expanding access to outdoor recreation and green spaces can benefit the health and economies of people and communities across the nation.That's especially true in our nation's cities where parks and waterfront areas can inject new life into urban communities,"said EPA Administrator Lisa P.Jackson."We're glad that agencies throughout the administration are bringing their expertise to this important initiative,and we're excited that the 21st century conservation strategy we're building continues to be shaped by meeting people where they live,and finding out how we serve their needs." The Corps of Engineers is proud to have been a part of this important White House conference on conservation,"said Jo-Ellen Darcy,Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works."We look forward to continuing restoration efforts throughout the country.Our role in restoration and expanding opportunities for communities to participate in it is why we are here today.We look forward to strengthening our local partnerships and advancing job and volunteer opportunities related to conservation and outdoor recreation." The conference featured panels and breakout sessions panels led by conservation leaders such as Kirk Bauer from Maryland,a disabled Vietnam Veteran who has been serving as Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA for more than thirty years,and Dave Koehler from California,who oversees conservation land transactions,river restoration, and environmental education as the Executive Director of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust. A full conference agenda is available here. Locally-led conservation,preservation and outdoor recreation initiatives have been an important part of the Obama administration's work. Through President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative(AGO),the administration is opening up access to millions of acres for recreation,designating thousands of miles of new land and water trails, increasing youth employment in conservation jobs,helping parks and green space become more accessible and clean in urban areas,and making historic investments in large landscapes such as the Everglades. The initiative is empowering locally-led conservation and outdoor recreation efforts,from supporting the working landscapes of the Dakota Grasslands and the Flint Hills in Kansas,to designating the Fort Monroe National Monument in Virginia,to countless other success stories across the country. Click here to read a fact sheet on the Obama administration's conservation record. _ http://www.whitehouse•gov/administration/eop/ceq/Press_Releases/March 2_2012 3/13/2012