Arizona boaters and anglers have a special reason to celebrate the Aug. 10 signing of the Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (TEALU). The huge federal transportation bill included language reauthorizing the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund (ARTF), also known as the Wallop-Breaux Amendment.

The existing ARTF program captured 13.5 cents of the 18.3-cent federal tax on boating fuels and made this money available to the states in the form of matching-fund grants. The reauthorized version will capture the entire tax for state use, making more funds available for boating safety programs, infrastructure and boating access, programs for sport fish and sport fishing, and other important services.

"Without raising the existing tax by even a single penny, the ARTF has taken a huge step forward, ensuring that users will benefit from all the money they pay in federal motorboat fuel taxes," says Larry Riley, the Arizona Game and Fish Department's fisheries chief. "What this means to people who boat on our waterways and fish our lakes and streams is more money for projects that improve boating and fishing access and opportunity statewide."

In federal fiscal year 2005 (which began in October 2004), Arizona's share of the ARTF was $5,922,347. Now that Wallop-Breaux has been reauthorized, the additional federal funds expected to come into Arizona could amount to up to $2.2 million or more per year once the full impact of the reauthorization is felt.

It will be several years before the additional money comes to Arizona, as the federal budget process moves forward. Riley estimates that the additional dollars could reach Arizona in the summer of 2008. As in the past, federal dollars will be leveraged with money from license sales and other sources.

"From bigger and better docks and boat ramps to improved fish hatcheries to healthy rivers for the fish we love to chase, Arizonans will see and feel the impacts of this additional funding where it matters most: out where they boat and fish," says Riley. "The increased funding will benefit all boaters, anglers, boat and accessory manufacturers, marina operators, and everyone who enjoys our waterways."

The ARTF, plus money collected as a result of the Dingell-Johnson Act of 1950, comprise the national Sport Fish Restoration Program. This program collects federal excise taxes on boating fuels and fishing equipment and import duties on fishing equipment and boats. The revenue goes to creating fishing and boating opportunities.