The PLJV Management Board and teams were treated to a tour of Oklahoma Panhandle playas and a warm welcome from the town of Woodward during their winter meeting January 20 - 22. At the meeting, the board reviewed major PLJV accomplishments for 2003, including one NAWCA award and the submission of four additional proposals, GIS development, and proposed Farm Bill provisions for playas. States also reported on PLJV capacity grant accomplishments, which include developing a NAWCA small grant proposal in Texas, continuing support of focus area committees in Oklahoma, Colorado and Kansas, developing new playa projects on private land in New Mexico and providing seed money for habitat projects in Nebraska. This is the second year of the PLJV's state capacity grant program, which awards $20,000 to each member state to increase partners' ability to identify and deliver conservation projects that address PLJV priorities.
The board also heard presentations from USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Biologist Stephanie Harmon on the High Plains Partnership, and Trapper Heglin, Coordinator of the Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance (OWPHA). The PLJV's Monitoring, Evaluation and Research Team (MERT) and Education and Outreach Team (EOT) presented funding recommendations for the 17 habitat, research and outreach project proposals submitted to the PLJV-ConocoPhillips grant program. Of those, six habitat, one research and three outreach projects received approval for total funding of $78,652. The combined projects will leverage an additional $267,512 from other funding sources.
Prior to the meeting, OWPHA hosted a tour of playa projects in the works near Gate in Beaver County. Everyone was treated to a sighting of about a dozen Lesser Prairie-Chickens which made a wide, low circle around the group as they explored the uplands around Gate.
PLJV Partner Profile:
Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance
The Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance (OWPHA) was organized in the summer of 2002 with the goal of increasing western Oklahomans' awareness of wildlife, and providing information and opportunities for landowners to carry out habitat conservation work. OWPHA is made up of a diverse representation of local landowners, business owners, wildlife biologists, conservationists and sportsmen dedicated to preserving and protecting the wildlife heritage of Oklahoma's High Plains. The PLJV provides seed funding and advisory support for the organization, as does the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, US Fish and Wildlife Service and Pheasants Forever, among other organizations.
During the past year, OWPHA has launched an intensive outreach campaign, and to date has given more than 20 presentations, made 23 landowner visits, and hosted and attended more than 80 meetings - reaching thousands of people across western Oklahoma. Coordinator Trapper Heglin, who was hired to lead the organization in December 2002, has become a highly-recognized personality in the area, regularly conducting radio interviews and making the rounds at farm shows and resource manager seminars. His phone number is plastered on billboards across the Oklahoma Panhandle promoting OWPHA and the conservation of wildlife.
"Growing up in the panhandle has given me a unique perspective for the country, appreciation for its wildlife, respect for the people that live here and the understanding of the livelihood that makes us what we are," Heglin said.
Among some of the projects OWPHA is engaged in includes developing the Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma, a wildlife viewing and cultural trail consisting of 12 loops which include more than 130 sites covering 33 counties in western Oklahoma, all nominated by local communities and wildlife and conservation professionals. The organization is also working with landowners in Beaver and Texas Counties to create a large-scale playa, upland and riparian conservation project in conjunction with the PLJV. OWPHA also recently began a membership campaign to recruit individual, corporate and organizational support. To get involved in OWPHA, or learn more about the organization, visit their newly-launched web site or contact Trapper Heglin at (580) 735-2322.
Playa Post ©2003 Playa Lakes Joint Venture. Submission deadlines are the 15th of each month for publication the following month. Send press releases, comments and subscription inquiries to Debbie F. Slobe.
Teacher wins grant for playa program; More education resources on PLJV.org
"My students will some day be in charge of my community and I will be relying on them to be stewards of this environment," Pipkin said. "My job is to show them that the world exists right outside that door. Their job is to step out and touch it with appreciation, joy and responsibility."
Pipkin was assisted in preparing the project proposal by Tish McDaniel of Phalarope Consulting, who receives support from New Mexico's state capacity grant awarded by the PLJV. Pipkin has arranged for a variety of science experts to help teach her students, including David Haukos, a USFWS biologist at Texas Tech University, who is a longtime PLJV partner and member of the Joint Venture's biological planning teams.
Other teachers seeking educational materials on playas need only to look on the PLJV web site for a wealth of resources. The PLJV's Educator Resource Guide is a detailed index of books, activity guides, magazine articles, videos, field programs and more focused on playas, associated uplands and wildlife. The Guide has recently been updated with several new sources, including a playa activity guide, video on Mountain Plovers, and pocket guides to prairie birds and raptors. If you have additional educational resources to include in the Guide, contact Debbie Slobe.
USFWS seeks NAWCA, Private Stewardship Grant Program proposals
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced the agency is seeking proposals for the Private Stewardship Grant Program which supports on-the-ground conservation projects on private land that benefit federally listed, proposed, or candidate species, or other at-risk species. This is the second year of the program, and last year USFWS awarded more than $9 million for 113 projects, nine of which were in the PLJV region. Approximately $7.1 million is available this year. For more information on how to apply, visit the Private Stewardship Grant Program web site. In addition, the deadline for North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) standard grant proposals is March 5.
PLJV coordinator meets with key partners in New Mexico
PLJV Coordinator Mike Carter traveled to New Mexico January 13 - 16 to meet with principal partners from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF), U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Region 2. Carter visited with NMDGF's new Director Bruce Thompson, and expressed the PLJV's appreciation for the state's recent successes in protecting playas and landowner outreach. Later, Carter gave a presentation about playas and the PLJV to the New Mexico State Game Commission.
"Our new Director has emphasized the importance of creating partnerships for more effective conservation," said Bill Dunn, PLJV board member representing NMDGF. "The presentation by Mike to the State Game Commission and follow-up conversations with the Director were important opportunities to show them what a valuable venue joint ventures are for successful conservation partnerships."
Carter also held talks with top regional managers of the U.S. Forest Service to discuss potential cooperation with the PLJV on a USFS Grassland Plan revision, and connected with USFWS Region 2 partners in Albuquerque.