Reps. Kelly, Thompson, and Langworthy demand reconsideration of proposed French Creek National Wildlife Refuge

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Reps. Mike Kelly (R-PA), House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA), and Nick Langworthy (R-NY) led a letter calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to reconsider federal designations on private land without greater local input for the proposed French Creek National Wildlife Refuge. The proposed refuge would create new federal ownership and oversight of lands in Erie, Crawford, Mercer, and Venango counties in Pennsylvania; Chautauqua County in New York, along with French Creek and the French Creek Watershed.

"Local residents and landowners in this proposed wildlife refuge should have the biggest say in what happens on this land," Rep. Kelly said. "Like local residents, I believe a healthy, vibrant ecosystem along French Creek must continue to be protected. But, we have serious concerns about the impact this proposed wildlife refuge may have on farmers, homeowners, and property owners across the region. We are calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to engage with local residents and officials to learn about the real impact this could have on Western Pennsylvania and Western New York before any further action is taken by the federal government."

“Conservation of French Creek must include input from stakeholders on the ground who are dedicated to ensuring this land remains a healthy ecosystem," said Rep. Langworthy. "Local farmers and residents are better suited than Washington bureaucrats hundreds of miles away to dictate how this land is best protected. I urge the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reconsider this federal designation of private land and include the invaluable input of local property owners.”

In the letter, Reps. Kelly, Thompson, and Langworthy also call on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to assist with ongoing conservation efforts already established by local residents. Those efforts have twice led French Creek to be named Pennsylvania's "River of the Year," most recently in 2022.

BACKGROUND

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing the refuge to protect habitats for the creek’s mussels as well as the aquatic biodiversity of French Creek. French Creek spans 117 miles from Chautauqua County, New York to Venango County, Pennsylvania. Negotiations for any potential land acquisition for the new refuge wouldn’t begin until at least 2024, according to reports.

However, farmers and landowners remain concerned about potential land being taken by eminent domain and other land acquisition by the federal government. Local residents insist using local land trust and conservation groups, whose members have decades of experience in protecting the ecology of this vital community asset, is a superior method of promoting a healthy local ecosystem.