What is Capacity?
The PLJV Perspective
Just what is capacity and why is the PLJV so concerned about it? For the purposes of the Joint Venture, capacity is defined as the partnership's collective ability to conduct on-the-ground habitat conservation work. Capacity at its best combines the right amount of biological planning, local interest, program availability, money and manpower to affect acres to benefit birds. It is the opposite of a bottleneck. Developing capacity to conduct habitat work is core to the PLJV mission, and the JV is committed to doing so for the long run.
Capacity is alive and well in the PLJV region, as evidenced by the thousands of acres 'turned on' for birds by our partners every year. The PLJV wants to ensure that our partners' capacity only grows stronger - and our biological planning certainly suggests this will be necessary. In an effort to see that it does, the JV is continuing its Capacity Grant program in 2006, which annually awards $20,000 to state-based partnerships to boost their ability to affect acres.
What the partnership has come to learn over the past four years of Capacity Grants is that developing capacity is a long-term investment, and that self-sustaining, locally-led initiatives are the most effective at making a difference on the ground - initiatives like the Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance, Wetlands Focus Area Committees of Colorado, and the Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams. In some cases capacity has come from more informal groups like burn associations, temporary project teams and coalitions that work on a project for a year or two.
Locally-led conservation is simply a matter of necessity in our region which is 90 percent privately owned. That is why the initiatives mentioned above spend so much time involving private landowners, community leaders and local representatives of conservation groups and natural resource agencies. These groups are self-sustaining - meaning they have steady funding to conduct meetings and initiate habitat projects, and an active and diverse membership that can adapt and respond to opportunities as well as create them.
Initiatives like this don't pop up overnight and start churning out new habitat. It took the Oklahoma Alliance three years until it started conducting habitat work. Many of these initiatives, if not all, got their start by a state agency which saw the need to develop capacity, but was unable to do so on its own. Most used a combination of state, federal and NGO funding to get partnerships off the ground. The PLJV is only one of many supporters of these initiatives.
The PLJV will continue to support states' efforts to develop capacity and expects that as the partnerships' capacity continues to grow, so too will the amount of habitat developed for birds. We look forward to seeing what 2006 brings!
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Jump-Starts Capacity in the Pine Ridge
Fresh off the heels of completing its state comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy - known as the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project - the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) is putting the plan into action and developing local committees focused on conserving biologically diverse areas of the state.
One such area is the Pine Ridge in northwest Nebraska. The Pine Ridge is a pine-dominated, rocky escarpment that rises several hundred feet from the surrounding Oglala and Panhandle Prairies. The Pine Ridge is a unique landscape in the PLJV region which is predominantly flat and rolling prairies. The Pine Ridge supports many at-risk species such as Lewis' Woodpecker and Pinyon Jay and is surrounded by some of the largest areas of intact, high-quality grasslands remaining in the state and PLJV region.
Recently, the NGPC hosted a meeting in the Pine Ridge and invited local landowners, community leaders and resource managers to learn more about the ecology of the area and form a committee to lead conservation efforts there.
"It is a great process which is devoted to creating capacity in biologically important landscapes," said PLJV Coordinator Mike Carter. "I was amazed to see about a dozen local folks volunteer to form a working group to move forward."
The Pine Ridge is one of 11 biologically unique landscapes identified by the NGPC in the PLJV portion of the state that the Commission is working on developing habitat conservation capacity. Other areas include the Wildcat Hills, North Platte River Wetlands, Sandsage and Kimball Grasslands.
For more information on Nebraska Natural Legacy Project happenings in the PLJV region, contact Emily Munter of the NGPC.
Playa Country Radio Features CRP and Mountain Plovers
This month Playa Country Radio will feature an interview with Randy Rogers of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on how the Conservation Reserve Program benefits birds and how strategic placement of CRP fields can further support birds. Also featured is an interview with Barth Crouch of Pheasants Forever and PLJV Vice-Chairman, who talks about why playas should receive greater attention and enrollment in the CRP now and in the future. Later in the month, Tammy VerCauteren of the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory tells about Mountain Plover conservation efforts in Colorado, and Russell Davis, a rancher from southeast Colorado, explains why he decided to conserve plovers on his land.
Playa Country Radio airs every Monday at 10:30am and Saturday at 11:15am on the High Plains Public Radio Network and Thursdays at 11:55am on KPAN radio in Hereford, Texas. (All times CST.) Archives of each show can be downloaded from the HPPR web site. Story ideas are welcome. Send them to PLJV Communications Team Leader Debbie Slobe. If you don't get Playa Country in your neck of the prairie, tell your local farm or public radio station about it and let us know.
Playa Post ©2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 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.
The PLJV Perspective
Just what is capacity and why is the PLJV so concerned about it? For the purposes of the Joint Venture, capacity is defined as the partnership's collective ability to conduct on-the-ground habitat conservation work. Capacity at its best combines the right amount of biological planning, local interest, program availability, money and manpower to affect acres to benefit birds. It is the opposite of a bottleneck. Developing capacity to conduct habitat work is core to the PLJV mission, and the JV is committed to doing so for the long run.
Capacity is alive and well in the PLJV region, as evidenced by the thousands of acres 'turned on' for birds by our partners every year. The PLJV wants to ensure that our partners' capacity only grows stronger - and our biological planning certainly suggests this will be necessary. In an effort to see that it does, the JV is continuing its Capacity Grant program in 2006, which annually awards $20,000 to state-based partnerships to boost their ability to affect acres.
What the partnership has come to learn over the past four years of Capacity Grants is that developing capacity is a long-term investment, and that self-sustaining, locally-led initiatives are the most effective at making a difference on the ground - initiatives like the Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance, Wetlands Focus Area Committees of Colorado, and the Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams. In some cases capacity has come from more informal groups like burn associations, temporary project teams and coalitions that work on a project for a year or two.
Locally-led conservation is simply a matter of necessity in our region which is 90 percent privately owned. That is why the initiatives mentioned above spend so much time involving private landowners, community leaders and local representatives of conservation groups and natural resource agencies. These groups are self-sustaining - meaning they have steady funding to conduct meetings and initiate habitat projects, and an active and diverse membership that can adapt and respond to opportunities as well as create them.
Initiatives like this don't pop up overnight and start churning out new habitat. It took the Oklahoma Alliance three years until it started conducting habitat work. Many of these initiatives, if not all, got their start by a state agency which saw the need to develop capacity, but was unable to do so on its own. Most used a combination of state, federal and NGO funding to get partnerships off the ground. The PLJV is only one of many supporters of these initiatives.
The PLJV will continue to support states' efforts to develop capacity and expects that as the partnerships' capacity continues to grow, so too will the amount of habitat developed for birds. We look forward to seeing what 2006 brings!
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Jump-Starts Capacity in the Pine Ridge
Fresh off the heels of completing its state comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy - known as the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project - the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) is putting the plan into action and developing local committees focused on conserving biologically diverse areas of the state.
One such area is the Pine Ridge in northwest Nebraska. The Pine Ridge is a pine-dominated, rocky escarpment that rises several hundred feet from the surrounding Oglala and Panhandle Prairies. The Pine Ridge is a unique landscape in the PLJV region which is predominantly flat and rolling prairies. The Pine Ridge supports many at-risk species such as Lewis' Woodpecker and Pinyon Jay and is surrounded by some of the largest areas of intact, high-quality grasslands remaining in the state and PLJV region.
Recently, the NGPC hosted a meeting in the Pine Ridge and invited local landowners, community leaders and resource managers to learn more about the ecology of the area and form a committee to lead conservation efforts there.
"It is a great process which is devoted to creating capacity in biologically important landscapes," said PLJV Coordinator Mike Carter. "I was amazed to see about a dozen local folks volunteer to form a working group to move forward."
The Pine Ridge is one of 11 biologically unique landscapes identified by the NGPC in the PLJV portion of the state that the Commission is working on developing habitat conservation capacity. Other areas include the Wildcat Hills, North Platte River Wetlands, Sandsage and Kimball Grasslands.
For more information on Nebraska Natural Legacy Project happenings in the PLJV region, contact Emily Munter of the NGPC.
Playa Country Radio Features CRP and Mountain Plovers
This month Playa Country Radio will feature an interview with Randy Rogers of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on how the Conservation Reserve Program benefits birds and how strategic placement of CRP fields can further support birds. Also featured is an interview with Barth Crouch of Pheasants Forever and PLJV Vice-Chairman, who talks about why playas should receive greater attention and enrollment in the CRP now and in the future. Later in the month, Tammy VerCauteren of the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory tells about Mountain Plover conservation efforts in Colorado, and Russell Davis, a rancher from southeast Colorado, explains why he decided to conserve plovers on his land.
Playa Country Radio airs every Monday at 10:30am and Saturday at 11:15am on the High Plains Public Radio Network and Thursdays at 11:55am on KPAN radio in Hereford, Texas. (All times CST.) Archives of each show can be downloaded from the HPPR web site. Story ideas are welcome. Send them to PLJV Communications Team Leader Debbie Slobe. If you don't get Playa Country in your neck of the prairie, tell your local farm or public radio station about it and let us know.
Playa Post ©2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 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.
Kansas Awarded NAWCA Grant for Jamestown Wildlife Area
The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission recently approved a $999,345 North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant for the first stage of a three-phase project to acquire, restore, enhance and manage 2,770 acres in the Jamestown Wildlife Area (JWA) wetland complex in north-central Kansas.
"The Jamestown Wildlife Area represents an important cornerstone for migrating waterfowl and other birds, connecting the breeding grounds to the north with wintering grounds in the south. Once completed, this multi-phase project will provide a seven mile corridor of wetland and native grassland habitat of tremendous wildlife value and spectacular beauty," said project leader Scott Manley of Ducks Unlimited.
The JWA is a historic series of wetlands associated with the lower Republican River. In the 1920s and 30s, the main watercourse that traverses the complex, Marsh Creek, was dammed at two areas. This caused the formation of two larger wetland areas and altered the course of the stream and intermittent nature of the wetlands. This project will restore wetland function and water quality, acquire and restore additional wetlands and grasslands along Marsh Creek and its tributaries, and help restore minimum stream flows to the lower Republican River.
The JWA is an important wetland habitat for migratory birds along the Central Flyway, as it links the Rainwater Basins to the north and the Cheyenne Bottoms, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge and McPherson Valley Wetlands to the south. Restoration and protection of this area will ensure that the wetland complex will continue to provide habitat for high priority migratory waterfowl such as Northern Pintail and other priority wetland-dependent migratory birds such as Sandhill Cranes, Short-eared Owls, Snowy Plovers and Black Terns.
Partners involved in this project include: Ducks Unlimited, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pheasants Forever, The Nature Conservancy and the Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams, and includes new partners such as CloudCorp, Cloud, Republic and Jewell County Boards of Commissioners, City of Jamestown, and Cloud County Tourism. Together, partners contributed $2.2 million to the project.
KAWS Seeks Landowners and Community Leaders for Playa Conservation
The Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams (KAWS) is hosting a series of informational meetings targeting playa landowners and community leaders in an effort to boost enrollment of the wetlands into conservation programs. So far, three meetings have been held in St. Francis, Goodland and Plains, each drawing about 20 attendees.
During the meetings, participants learn about playas and their value to wildlife and water, recommended conservation practices and programs such as the Wetlands Restoration Non-Floodplain Initiative (CP23a), Wetlands Reserve Program, Farmable Wetlands Program and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks' Playa Lease and Playa Signup Incentive Programs. Representatives from KAWS, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service are present to provide information and answer questions from landowners.
Since the meetings, about a dozen landowners have requested wetland evaluations be conducted on their playas - the first step toward enrolling them into a conservation program. The next meeting will be held April 17 in Colby, and several others are in the works. For more information, contact either Chris Berens or Mike Peterson of KAWS.
Follow the Money:
> State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Support Program:
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in partnership with the Doris Duke Foundation is accepting proposals for projects that develop and implement regional (multi-state) or national conservation approaches based on the State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies (SCWCs), with an emphasis on strategic coordination. The State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Support Program is a three-year grant program to enhance the effectiveness of the SCWCSs. Approximately $700,000 will be available in grant funds for this year (year 2) of the program. Projects must involve the coordination of conservation objectives/actions among at least two states, and should address priorities identified by at least two SCWCs (draft or final) developed by the respective participating states. Proposals are due May 15 and grant award notification will be announced by July 15. Grants will not exceed $100,000.
> State NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants: Several state NRCS offices in the PLJV region are accepting applications for the state-level Conservation Innovation Grant Program. CIG, a component of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, provides farmers and ranchers with the opportunity, through innovation, to address some of their states most pressing natural resource conservation needs. State, Tribal, and local governmental entities, non-governmental organizations, and individuals may apply. PLJV states currently accepting applications are listed below with links to additional information:
> Nebraska April 3
> New Mexico April 19
> Kansas April 28
> Colorado April 28
> NAWCA Small Grants Upped to $75K for 2007: The maximum grant request allowed for North American Wetlands Conservation Act Small Grants has been increased from $50,000 to $75,000 for the 2007 grant cycle for which applications are due December 1, 2006. If you are thinking of applying for this program in the PLJV region, please contact Joint Venture staff.
Happenings Around the PLJV:
> April 1 - May 1: Playa Exhibit at Sternberg Museum in Hays, KS.
> April 6 - 9: New Mexico's 5th Annual Lesser Prairie Chicken Festival in Milnesand, NM; contact Dawn Davis.
> April 11 - 13: Partners in Flight Conservation Design Workshop in St. Louis, MO; contact Jane Fitzgerald.
> April 11: KAWS Dakota Hills chapter meeting; contact Chris Berens.
> April 12: OWPHA meeting; contact Trapper Heglin.
> April 12: KAWS Solomon Valley chapter meeting; contact Chris Berens.
> April 13: KAWS Prairie Wetlands chapter meeting; contact Chris Berens.
> April 16 - 22: National Environmental Education Week
> April 17: KAWS Playa Conservation Meeting for Landowners and Community Leaders, Colby KS; contact Chris Berens.
> April 22: Earth Day
> April 29: Oklahoma Great Plains Trail Grand Opening; contact Trapper Heglin.
> April 29 - 30: Great Salt Plains Birding Festival
> April 29 - May 1: Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education's Teaching Outside the Box conference; Winter Park, CO.
The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission recently approved a $999,345 North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant for the first stage of a three-phase project to acquire, restore, enhance and manage 2,770 acres in the Jamestown Wildlife Area (JWA) wetland complex in north-central Kansas.
"The Jamestown Wildlife Area represents an important cornerstone for migrating waterfowl and other birds, connecting the breeding grounds to the north with wintering grounds in the south. Once completed, this multi-phase project will provide a seven mile corridor of wetland and native grassland habitat of tremendous wildlife value and spectacular beauty," said project leader Scott Manley of Ducks Unlimited.
The JWA is a historic series of wetlands associated with the lower Republican River. In the 1920s and 30s, the main watercourse that traverses the complex, Marsh Creek, was dammed at two areas. This caused the formation of two larger wetland areas and altered the course of the stream and intermittent nature of the wetlands. This project will restore wetland function and water quality, acquire and restore additional wetlands and grasslands along Marsh Creek and its tributaries, and help restore minimum stream flows to the lower Republican River.
The JWA is an important wetland habitat for migratory birds along the Central Flyway, as it links the Rainwater Basins to the north and the Cheyenne Bottoms, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge and McPherson Valley Wetlands to the south. Restoration and protection of this area will ensure that the wetland complex will continue to provide habitat for high priority migratory waterfowl such as Northern Pintail and other priority wetland-dependent migratory birds such as Sandhill Cranes, Short-eared Owls, Snowy Plovers and Black Terns.
Partners involved in this project include: Ducks Unlimited, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Pheasants Forever, The Nature Conservancy and the Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams, and includes new partners such as CloudCorp, Cloud, Republic and Jewell County Boards of Commissioners, City of Jamestown, and Cloud County Tourism. Together, partners contributed $2.2 million to the project.
KAWS Seeks Landowners and Community Leaders for Playa Conservation
The Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams (KAWS) is hosting a series of informational meetings targeting playa landowners and community leaders in an effort to boost enrollment of the wetlands into conservation programs. So far, three meetings have been held in St. Francis, Goodland and Plains, each drawing about 20 attendees.
During the meetings, participants learn about playas and their value to wildlife and water, recommended conservation practices and programs such as the Wetlands Restoration Non-Floodplain Initiative (CP23a), Wetlands Reserve Program, Farmable Wetlands Program and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks' Playa Lease and Playa Signup Incentive Programs. Representatives from KAWS, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service are present to provide information and answer questions from landowners.
Since the meetings, about a dozen landowners have requested wetland evaluations be conducted on their playas - the first step toward enrolling them into a conservation program. The next meeting will be held April 17 in Colby, and several others are in the works. For more information, contact either Chris Berens or Mike Peterson of KAWS.
Follow the Money:
> State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Support Program:
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in partnership with the Doris Duke Foundation is accepting proposals for projects that develop and implement regional (multi-state) or national conservation approaches based on the State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies (SCWCs), with an emphasis on strategic coordination. The State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Support Program is a three-year grant program to enhance the effectiveness of the SCWCSs. Approximately $700,000 will be available in grant funds for this year (year 2) of the program. Projects must involve the coordination of conservation objectives/actions among at least two states, and should address priorities identified by at least two SCWCs (draft or final) developed by the respective participating states. Proposals are due May 15 and grant award notification will be announced by July 15. Grants will not exceed $100,000.
> State NRCS Conservation Innovation Grants: Several state NRCS offices in the PLJV region are accepting applications for the state-level Conservation Innovation Grant Program. CIG, a component of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, provides farmers and ranchers with the opportunity, through innovation, to address some of their states most pressing natural resource conservation needs. State, Tribal, and local governmental entities, non-governmental organizations, and individuals may apply. PLJV states currently accepting applications are listed below with links to additional information:
> Nebraska April 3
> New Mexico April 19
> Kansas April 28
> Colorado April 28
> NAWCA Small Grants Upped to $75K for 2007: The maximum grant request allowed for North American Wetlands Conservation Act Small Grants has been increased from $50,000 to $75,000 for the 2007 grant cycle for which applications are due December 1, 2006. If you are thinking of applying for this program in the PLJV region, please contact Joint Venture staff.
Happenings Around the PLJV:
> April 1 - May 1: Playa Exhibit at Sternberg Museum in Hays, KS.
> April 6 - 9: New Mexico's 5th Annual Lesser Prairie Chicken Festival in Milnesand, NM; contact Dawn Davis.
> April 11 - 13: Partners in Flight Conservation Design Workshop in St. Louis, MO; contact Jane Fitzgerald.
> April 11: KAWS Dakota Hills chapter meeting; contact Chris Berens.
> April 12: OWPHA meeting; contact Trapper Heglin.
> April 12: KAWS Solomon Valley chapter meeting; contact Chris Berens.
> April 13: KAWS Prairie Wetlands chapter meeting; contact Chris Berens.
> April 16 - 22: National Environmental Education Week
> April 17: KAWS Playa Conservation Meeting for Landowners and Community Leaders, Colby KS; contact Chris Berens.
> April 22: Earth Day
> April 29: Oklahoma Great Plains Trail Grand Opening; contact Trapper Heglin.
> April 29 - 30: Great Salt Plains Birding Festival
> April 29 - May 1: Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education's Teaching Outside the Box conference; Winter Park, CO.