Media Advisory
Secretary Salazar to Kick-Off Four State Swing to Highlight Conservation and Outdoor Recreation as Economic Engines for Local Communities
Will Discuss America’s Great Outdoors Initiatives to Boost Tourism and Fuel Local Economies
08/14/2012
Contact: Blake Androff (DOI) 202-208-6416
WASHINGTON, D.C.—This week, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will travel to four Midwestern states to highlight America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) initiatives to enhance conservation efforts, foster outdoor recreation opportunities, create jobs, and fuel local economies.
Outdoor recreation is an important factor in the nation's economy, supporting an estimated 6.1 million direct American jobs and generating $646 billion in direct consumer spending each year.
On Wednesday, August 15, Secretary Salazar will visit Milwaukee, WI, to meet with stakeholders to discuss the Administration’s conservation accomplishments and efforts to boost outdoor recreation. The Secretary will provide updates on the two Wisconsin AGO projects: Lake Michigan Water Trail and Ice Age Trail. Following the meeting, Secretary Salazar will hold a press conference to unveil the results of a comprehensive national survey on hunting, fishing, and wildlife-associated recreation over the last five years. Later in the day, Secretary Salazar will join U.S. Senator Dick Durbin to make an announcement regarding the proposed Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), which is part of the AGO initiative. The 11,200 acre refuge will span both Illinois and Wisconsin and will be established primarily through conservation easements, donations, and cooperative agreements.
On Thursday, August 16, accompanied by Senator Durbin and local leaders in Chicago, Secretary Salazar will announce new partnerships and commitments to the Millennium Reserve and a suite of projects to implement the AGO initiative in the Calumet Region. Secretary Salazar and Senator Durbin will travel to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore to tour the Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education.
On Friday, August 17, Secretary Salazar will join Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton on a boat tour of the Mississippi National River & Recreation Area before meeting with AGO stakeholders and then deliver a speech and host a town hall at the University of Minnesota, where he will discuss the potential impacts of unbalanced cuts to conservation, tourism, and the outdoor economy.
| WEDNESDAY EVENT #1 |
Conservation Stakeholder Meeting |
| WHO: | Ken Salazar, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Conservation leaders |
| WHAT: | Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Stakeholder Meeting |
| WHEN: | Wednesday, August 15, 2012 10:00 a.m. CDT |
| WHERE: | Urban Ecology Center 1500 East Park Place Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| WEDNESDAY EVENT #2 |
Press Conference / Press Conference Call |
| WHO: | Ken Salazar, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dan Ashe, Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service |
| WHAT: | Press Conference to Unveil National Hunting & Fishing Survey |
| WHEN: | Wednesday, August 15, 2012 11:30 a.m. CDT |
| WHERE: | Urban Ecology Center 1500 East Park Place Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| MEDIA: | Members of the credential media are invited to participate in the press conference call by dialing 1-888-810-5908 and entering access code: INTERIOR. |
| WEDNESDAY EVENT #3 |
Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge Visit |
| WHO: | Ken Salazar, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator |
| WHAT: | Announcement on the Proposed National Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge |
| WHEN: | Wednesday, August 15, 2012 4:15 p.m. CDT |
| WHERE: | Glacial Park - Lost Valley Visitor Center Route 31 & Harts Road Ringwood, IL |
| THURSDAY EVENT #1 |
Millennium Reserve Press Conference |
| WHO: | Ken Salazar, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator Cameron Davis, Senior Advisor to the U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson Marc Miller, Director of Illinois Department of Natural Resources Arnold Randall, General Superintendent of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County Chicago Area Conservation Organizations |
| WHAT: | Press Conference to Announce Millennium Reserve Projects |
| WHEN: | Thursday, August 16, 2012 10:00 a.m. CDT |
| WHERE: | Burnham Wildlife Corridor Plaza 3100 S. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL |
| THURSDAY EVENT #2 |
Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Site Visit |
| WHO: | Ken Salazar, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dick Durbin, U.S. Senator |
| WHAT: | Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Site Visit and Tour |
| WHEN: | Thursday, August 16, 2012 12:00 p.m. CDT |
| WHERE: | Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Paul H. Douglas Center for Environmental Education 100 North Lake Street Gary, IN |
| FRIDAY EVENT # 1 |
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area AGO Project Boat Tour |
| WHO: | Ken Salazar, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Mark Dayton, Governor of Minnesota Tom Landwehr, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |
| WHAT: | Boat Tour of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area |
| WHEN: | Friday, August 17, 2012 8:00 a.m. CDT |
| WHERE: | St. Paul Yacht Club 375 Water Street West Saint Paul, MN |
| MEDIA: |
Credentialed media interested in attending the boat tour must RSVP to Queen Muse (queen_muse@ios.doi.gov) no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on August 16 in order to secure space on the boat. |
| FRIDAY EVENT #2 |
Media Availability |
| WHO: | Ken Salazar, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Mark Dayton, Governor of Minnesota Tom Landwehr, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |
| WHAT: | Media Availability on the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area AGO Project |
| WHEN: | Friday, August 17, 2012 9:15 a.m. CDT |
| WHERE: | St. Paul Yacht Club 375 Water Street West Saint Paul, MN |
| FRIDAY EVENT #3 |
AGO Stakeholder Meeting |
| WHO: | Ken Salazar, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Mark Dayton, Governor of Minnesota Tom Landwehr, Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |
| WHAT: | Stakeholder Meeting to Discuss Minnesota AGO Projects |
| WHEN: | Friday, August 17, 2012 9:30 a.m. CDT |
| WHERE: | St. Paul Yacht Club 375 Water Street West Saint Paul, MN |
| FRIDAY EVENT #4 |
AGO / Conservation Town Hall |
| WHO: | Ken Salazar, U.S. Secretary of the Interior |
| WHAT: | Speech and Conservation Town Hall |
| WHEN: | Friday, August 17, 2012 11:00 a.m. CDT |
| WHERE: | University of Minnesota – Twin Cities Humphrey School of Public Affairs Cowles Auditorium 301 19th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN |