My Government "habitat" vent

[Glenn W]

I don't know if this should be in the Hunting forum or the Mix It Up forum, so when in doubt I put it where all will see

I recently had a situation of Governmental bureaucracy at its finest-- read on.

I'm a member of a duck hunting club and our focus is killing ducks--- we want as many ducks in our area as possible, plain and simple---

Ducks want 2 things--- food and sex. Since Anthony and Saxis Islander (CL) are not members of my club, we opted for providing as much food as possible--- legally.

Millet won't work as we don't have an inpoundment and the marsh & swamp is tidal. Wild Rice just feeds the Blackbirds. The long term solution?--- Wild Celery and Redhead Grass (both SAVs).
Do tell our area was full of both Wild Celery and Redhead Grass in generations past, and we are lucky (I guess) to have Hydrilla now. Ah, but to have some winter Celery tubers and Redhead grass seeds for the ducks--- who needs Anthony and CL's sex games?

So the duck club decides to look into a SAV restoration project. Celery cost $0.32 per seedling!!!!!--- can't even find a commercial supplier of Redhead Grass. So I call our Gevernmental Agency in charge of Restoring the Chesapeake Bay and its tributarys--- Va. Marine Resource Commission (VMRC). I get to the right person in charge of SAC habitat restoration and explain the motives, goals, and situation. The long and short is that the VMRC employee explains we are in a prime area and a good candidate for a restoration project. I explain that all we want is seeds to plant the stuiff our selves.

No,no,no, we must first do studies, surveys, then if approved, there is a project assigned. This project will establish SAV beds in grids with protective nets and measured squared ( 1 meter each I think) contraptions of nets and shit. So the first step is to apply for a project or go the research project route and apply for a Grant.---- "Dude, all we want are some seeds to plant the SAV and see if we get get some growing again on our area of the river".---- I guess that's not the way it is done.

The VMRC will send a "team" of people out, then survey, then study, then mark plots, then plant a few seeds, then study some more. This requires manpower, boats, equipment, and overhead. Hell, we just want some Wild Celery and Redhead Grass seeds--- we'll do all the work. I mean, stomping a seed in the mud shouldn't require a PhD in Botony.

So, for a couple hundred dollars in seeds ( or better yet, seddlings), we could restablish native SAV on our section of the Pamunkey River. Or, for tens of thousands of dollars, we can study the shit out of it. Hell, if it don't take we'll let you know and all you are out is a couple hundred bucks worth of seed.
Think about it, let's say our project is a flop, but there are 100 more similar projects were in seeds (or seedlings) are provided to various volunteer groups with VMRC expert advise on where and how to plant the SAV--- I guarandamtee you some of this stuff is going to take hold at a fraction of the cost of all this bureaucratic red tape. Indeed, alot more than has been done with all this "research".
It has been established that only about 20% of these SAV projects have long term sucess. Hmmm??--- seems to me then that the more you plant the more sucess you'll get--- assuming you're in the right area .

On a brighter note, I think we have a good shot at a non-governmental grant for our seeds-- no red tape.

Still can't see why corn ain't the solution @ $1,000 ton--- but hey, I ain't no researcher.

Vent over.

[WAHOONBOX]

FOR A SECOND THERE ....I THOUGHT YOU WERE TALKING TO THE NMFS....THEY USE THE SAME STUDY SPENDING PROGRAM AND WITH THE SAME FINAL CONCLUSION...."NOPE, CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THAT SIR"

NO.........NO NO NO NO .....

WE DON'T GIVE OR GRANT ANYTHING! IN FACT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN OUR OFFICE???!!! .....WE ARE HERE SOLEY TO TAKE AWAY YOUR PRIVILEGES...I MEAN RIGHTS

THIS REMINDS ME, I NEED TO PICK UP SOME CELERY FOR TODAYS GAME ....AND ADD SOME PIMENTO CHEESE IN THE WEDGE....AND SIT BACK AND DEVOUR

[gottaflylee]

I love red tape about as much as I love red X's/ Yep gotta love it when you have a great idea for a good cause and it has to "be studied" I wish you guys much success with you plan and hope that it brings you guys many ducks...

[SAXIS ISLANDER]

Glenn...

Corn futures look favorable for aquacultural usage in the coming year. Had little success in getting it to germinate due to increasing numbers of ducks who can't find anything else to eat on this bare bottom over here on the tump.

Speaking of wild celery. Survival rate of those transplants are low. I know that you will not like making this call, as a dyed in the wool resident of the Commonwealth, but University of Maryland at Horn Point, Salisbury University and Towson University have had much success in cross breeding saavy strains of the desired plant. The big problem in successful transplanting is the areas in which it likes to grow. The same areas that phragmite likes to be. That's a *****.

I'll see what else I can find..

[SAXIS ISLANDER]

Glenn...

Who is this Habitat Person at the VDGIF? How to I find them???

I need them on this VA STamp money issue!!!

Thanks.