ConocoPhillips honored by North American Waterfowl Management Plan
PLJV partner Conoco Phillips was awarded with a National Great Blue Heron award by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) committee for the company's commitment to conservation. The award was announced at the NAWMP 20th Anniversary celebration on March 20, 2006, in Columbus, Ohio.
ConocoPhillips is a founding member of the PLJV, and has funded more than 250 conservation projects in the six-state playa lake region since 1990. This year, the company contributed matching funds to several projects including: an incentive payment program to encourage landowners in Kansas to enroll playas into the Conservation Reserve Program, wildlife viewing trails in Colorado and Oklahoma, a research project to inventory playas in southwest Nebraska, and teacher trainings on playas in Texas and New Mexico. ConocoPhillips also helped guide the creation of the PLJV's plan of operations in 2003, and is a major contributor to a new film on playas being produced by the PLJV.
It is worth noting that Phillips Petroleum, before the corporate merger with Conoco, was also a recipient of the National Great Blue Heron Award in 1996. It is a testament to the company's longstanding commitment to conservation that it would carry its award-winning sense of stewardship into its new life as ConocoPhillips. The PLJV and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, who nominated ConocoPhillips for the award, will honor ConocoPhillips with an award-presentation ceremony at a later date.
PIF Hosts Conservation Design Workshop
Partners in Flight hosted a Conservation Design Workshop in Saint Louis in April that brought together bird conservation professionals from around the nation to present and learn about a variety of landscape-level models and methods to help estimate bird populations and habitat objectives to reach regional bird populations goals. The PLJV was invited to present its planning process and Hierarchical All-Bird Strategy database.
"This workshop showed some exciting models and offered a national perspective on the PLJV's efforts in the last few years," said Christopher Rustay, Bird Conservation Region 18 Coordinator for the PLJV. "There was a lot of interest in our methodology to get off of ground zero with habitat objectives, and I think it shows that we are on the right track with our work."
PLJV's Summer Meeting Set for Northwest Nebraska
The PLJV Management Board and teams will meet June 13-15 at Fort Robinson State Park in the Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska. Fort Robinson State Park, with its miles of hiking and biking trails and boating and fishing opportunities, will be a 'working retreat' for attendees.
Happenings Around the PLJV
> May is American Wetlands Month
> May 4: New Mexico National Resources Conservation Service State Technical Committee meeting, Albuquerque, NM; contact Michael Neubeiser
> May 8 - 10: Playa Festival at Highland Park Elementary, TX; contact Darryl Birkenfeld
> May 9 - 10: Rainwater Basin Joint Venture Research Symposium, Grand Island, NE; contact Steve Moran
> May 11: Playa exhibit moves to Cimarron Heritage Center in Boise City, OK
> May 14: International Migratory Bird Day
> May 16 - 17: Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams Annual Meeting, Junction City, KS; contact Tim Christian
> Now through May 20: Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory and Colorado Division of Wildlife lead bird banding field trips at Chico Basin Ranch in Hanover and Willow Creek Education Station in Lamar, CO; contact Pat Grove or Linda Groat
> May 22 - 24: Playa Festival at Cactus Elementary, TX; contact Darryl Birkenfeld
> June 1: Federal and Junior Migratory Bird and Conservation Stamps (Duck Stamps) go on sale
> June 12: Nebraska Partnership for All Bird Conservation steering committee meeting, Ogallala, NE; contact Kelly Rezac
> June 13 - 15: PLJV Management Board meeting, Fort Robinson State Park, NE; contact Mike Carter
> Now through July 4: Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Mountain Plover nest-marking hotline (1-888) 575-6837
> Plan ahead: 4th North American Ornithological Conference, "Wings Without Borders," Oct 3-7, 2006, Veracruz, Mexico
PLJV partner Conoco Phillips was awarded with a National Great Blue Heron award by the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) committee for the company's commitment to conservation. The award was announced at the NAWMP 20th Anniversary celebration on March 20, 2006, in Columbus, Ohio.
ConocoPhillips is a founding member of the PLJV, and has funded more than 250 conservation projects in the six-state playa lake region since 1990. This year, the company contributed matching funds to several projects including: an incentive payment program to encourage landowners in Kansas to enroll playas into the Conservation Reserve Program, wildlife viewing trails in Colorado and Oklahoma, a research project to inventory playas in southwest Nebraska, and teacher trainings on playas in Texas and New Mexico. ConocoPhillips also helped guide the creation of the PLJV's plan of operations in 2003, and is a major contributor to a new film on playas being produced by the PLJV.
It is worth noting that Phillips Petroleum, before the corporate merger with Conoco, was also a recipient of the National Great Blue Heron Award in 1996. It is a testament to the company's longstanding commitment to conservation that it would carry its award-winning sense of stewardship into its new life as ConocoPhillips. The PLJV and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, who nominated ConocoPhillips for the award, will honor ConocoPhillips with an award-presentation ceremony at a later date.
PIF Hosts Conservation Design Workshop
Partners in Flight hosted a Conservation Design Workshop in Saint Louis in April that brought together bird conservation professionals from around the nation to present and learn about a variety of landscape-level models and methods to help estimate bird populations and habitat objectives to reach regional bird populations goals. The PLJV was invited to present its planning process and Hierarchical All-Bird Strategy database.
"This workshop showed some exciting models and offered a national perspective on the PLJV's efforts in the last few years," said Christopher Rustay, Bird Conservation Region 18 Coordinator for the PLJV. "There was a lot of interest in our methodology to get off of ground zero with habitat objectives, and I think it shows that we are on the right track with our work."
Bird-habitat modeling is in its infancy but there are already a variety of techniques used to develop habitat objectives, from fine point-count based models to habitat-suitability index models to the coarser density/forage-by-habitat model utilized by the PLJV. A number of modeling techniques showcased were relevant to the PLJV and could take advantage of work already completed by the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory within the Joint Venture, especially with BCR 18 (shortgrass prairie) section surveys.
PLJV's Summer Meeting Set for Northwest Nebraska
The PLJV Management Board and teams will meet June 13-15 at Fort Robinson State Park in the Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska. Fort Robinson State Park, with its miles of hiking and biking trails and boating and fishing opportunities, will be a 'working retreat' for attendees.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is organizing the meeting, which will include presentations from NGPC staff on habitat conservation and partnership efforts in the Panhandle and southwest areas of the state. Attendees will also hear from Dan Witter of DJ Case and Associates, who will present results and analysis from the PLJV's six-state landowner survey that was conducted this spring.
Accommodations include five cabins (each sleeps six) with a shared bathroom, and 16 individual lodge rooms with private baths. Cabins must be paid for by one source, so the PLJV is encouraging multiple attendees from a single organization to reserve a whole cabin for their entire group. The block of rooms and cabins are being held until May 15 under the name Playa Lakes Joint Venture. To make a reservation, call Shelly Kummer at (308) 665-2900.
Happenings Around the PLJV
> May is American Wetlands Month
> May 4: New Mexico National Resources Conservation Service State Technical Committee meeting, Albuquerque, NM; contact Michael Neubeiser
> May 8 - 10: Playa Festival at Highland Park Elementary, TX; contact Darryl Birkenfeld
> May 9 - 10: Rainwater Basin Joint Venture Research Symposium, Grand Island, NE; contact Steve Moran
> May 11: Playa exhibit moves to Cimarron Heritage Center in Boise City, OK
> May 14: International Migratory Bird Day
> May 16 - 17: Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams Annual Meeting, Junction City, KS; contact Tim Christian
> Now through May 20: Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory and Colorado Division of Wildlife lead bird banding field trips at Chico Basin Ranch in Hanover and Willow Creek Education Station in Lamar, CO; contact Pat Grove or Linda Groat
> May 22 - 24: Playa Festival at Cactus Elementary, TX; contact Darryl Birkenfeld
> June 1: Federal and Junior Migratory Bird and Conservation Stamps (Duck Stamps) go on sale
> June 12: Nebraska Partnership for All Bird Conservation steering committee meeting, Ogallala, NE; contact Kelly Rezac
> June 13 - 15: PLJV Management Board meeting, Fort Robinson State Park, NE; contact Mike Carter
> Now through July 4: Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Mountain Plover nest-marking hotline (1-888) 575-6837
> Plan ahead: 4th North American Ornithological Conference, "Wings Without Borders," Oct 3-7, 2006, Veracruz, Mexico
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.
Oklahoma Cuts Ribbon on Great Plains Trail
Oklahoma celebrated the grand opening of its new road-based wildlife viewing trail, the Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Jet on April 29 in conjunction with the Crystal and Birding Festival.
The Great Plains Trail consists of 13 highway-based, driving loops that span the entire western portion of the state. Each loop guides travelers through areas with the best opportunities to view wildlife and includes designated stopping points on both public and private areas. For example, the Playa Lakes Loop takes visitors to playas around the towns of Guymon, Hooker, Hardesty and Turpin in Texas and Beaver Counties.
"People don't realize all the treasures we have in western Oklahoma," said Kenny Knowles, chairman of the Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance (OWPHA). "To help sustain our way of life, we're hoping to increase tourism in the area. Any increase will be a boon to our communities."
The trail is a collaborative effort of the OWPHA, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, PLJV, Oklahoma Economic Development Authority, High Plains RC&D, Great Plains RC&D, and the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. To request a copy of the trail map, visit the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department's website or call 1-800-652-6552. The map is also available at any Oklahoma Tourist Information Center.
Listen to Playa Country Radio in May
This month, Playa Country radio features an exciting line-up of guests from U.S. Congressman Jerry Moran of Kansas to renowned playa researcher Dr. Loren Smith and recharge expert Dr. Ken Rainwater of Texas Tech University.
Tune in May 1 to get the scoop on the new Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma; May 8 to hear about Playa Festivals happening this spring in Texas; May 15 and 22 to learn how playas contribute to the agricultural and wildlife-recreation economies; and on May 29 hear from U.S. Congressman Jerry Moran on his commitment to playa and other natural resource conservation on working lands.
Playa Country radio is broadcast on High Plains Public Radio stations across the PLJV region, as well as KPAN radio in Hereford, Texas. If you don't get Playa Country in your neck of the prairie, tell your local public or farm radio broadcaster about it. You can also listen online.
Follow the Money:
> EPA Grants for Wetlands and Watersheds: EPA headquarters and EPA Region 7 (KS, NE) are currently soliciting applications for the Wetlands Program Development Grant program by May 17 and 18, respectively. WPDGs can be used to build and refine any element of a comprehensive wetland program. Priority will be given to funding projects that address monitoring and assessment, mitigation, and protection of vulnerable wetlands and aquatic resources. EPA Region 7 is also soliciting proposals for the Watershed Improvement Grant Program until May 11. This program supports projects that improve water quality in a watershed. Priority will be given to projects that have an active watershed group and strong partnerships, include environmental results, contain explicit and environmentally-based performance measures, and exhibit the connection of improved water quality and integrated pesticide management with critical ecosystems, sensitive populations and/or agriculture.
> North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants: The next round of NAWCA Standard Grant proposals are due to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Division of Bird Habitat Conservation by July 28. The NAWCA program awards up to $1 million in matching funds to projects led by public-private partnerships that protect, restore and/or enhance wetlands and associated uplands for the benefits of all wetlands-associated migratory birds. Multi-partner projects of this magnitude take several months and/or years to develop, and the PLJV encourages its partners to prepare well in advance for this program.
> Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Multistate Conservation Grant Program: The AFWA is currently accepting applications for the Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MCGP) which is jointly administrated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. MCGPs award funds to multi-state projects that address one or more of the National Conservation Needs identified by AFWA. Up to $6 million is available for this funding cycle.
> Natural Resources Conservation Service Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program: Through the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, the NRCS provides matching funds to help acquire conservation easements on agricultural lands to protect them from development and keep them productive. Proposals are due May 11 for this program.
> Patagonia Environmental Grants Program: Patagonia outdoor apparel company supports small, grassroots activist organizations with provocative direct-action agendas, working on multi-pronged campaigns to preserve and protect the environment. They seek local, innovative groups that produce measurable results, and have specific goals, objectives and action plans, and measures for evaluating success. Most grants are in the range of $3,000 to $8,000, and applications are due Aug 31.
> New Mexico Dept of Game and Fish Landowner Incentive Program Grants:
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) is soliciting proposals for the Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) through May 31. The program funds on-the-ground habitat projects on private lands that benefit species of concern/species of greatest conservation need for New Mexico. This year, NMDGF will be awarding up to $700,000 for projects in the eastern plains and up to $250,000 for projects state-wide. Contact Steve Anderson, NMDGF LIP project leader at 505-892-6773 for more information or view the solicitation online.
> Colorado Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs: The USDA Farm Service Agency recently announced the launch of two Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs (CREP) available to landowners in eastern Colorado - the High Plains and the Republican River CREPs. The High Plains CREP targets the enrollment of 30,000 acres in eastern Colorado to increase upland wildlife populations and public recreational opportunities. In addition to CREP payments, the state of Colorado is offering an incentive payment geared to enhance upland habitat and recreational access. The Republican River CREP targets the enrollment of 35,000 acres in the Republican River Basin to reduce irrigation water use and contaminants. In addition to CREP and non-federal payments, the Republican River Water Conservation District will offer an incentive payment to permanently retire irrigation water use for CREP-enrolled irrigated cropland. Signup for both CREPs begins June 12 and continues through Dec. 31, 2007 or when fully enrolled.
> Colorado Species Conservation Partnership: The Colorado Division of Wildlife administers the Colorado Species Conservation Partnership program which uses habitat conservation easements to protect the state's declining species on private land. The CDOW will soon be announcing target areas for species conservation along with a call for applications for 2006. For more information, contact CDOW's Private Lands Habitat Specialist Ken Morgan.
Oklahoma celebrated the grand opening of its new road-based wildlife viewing trail, the Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge in Jet on April 29 in conjunction with the Crystal and Birding Festival.
The Great Plains Trail consists of 13 highway-based, driving loops that span the entire western portion of the state. Each loop guides travelers through areas with the best opportunities to view wildlife and includes designated stopping points on both public and private areas. For example, the Playa Lakes Loop takes visitors to playas around the towns of Guymon, Hooker, Hardesty and Turpin in Texas and Beaver Counties.
"People don't realize all the treasures we have in western Oklahoma," said Kenny Knowles, chairman of the Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance (OWPHA). "To help sustain our way of life, we're hoping to increase tourism in the area. Any increase will be a boon to our communities."
The trail is a collaborative effort of the OWPHA, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, PLJV, Oklahoma Economic Development Authority, High Plains RC&D, Great Plains RC&D, and the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. To request a copy of the trail map, visit the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department's website or call 1-800-652-6552. The map is also available at any Oklahoma Tourist Information Center.
Listen to Playa Country Radio in May
This month, Playa Country radio features an exciting line-up of guests from U.S. Congressman Jerry Moran of Kansas to renowned playa researcher Dr. Loren Smith and recharge expert Dr. Ken Rainwater of Texas Tech University.
Tune in May 1 to get the scoop on the new Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma; May 8 to hear about Playa Festivals happening this spring in Texas; May 15 and 22 to learn how playas contribute to the agricultural and wildlife-recreation economies; and on May 29 hear from U.S. Congressman Jerry Moran on his commitment to playa and other natural resource conservation on working lands.
Playa Country radio is broadcast on High Plains Public Radio stations across the PLJV region, as well as KPAN radio in Hereford, Texas. If you don't get Playa Country in your neck of the prairie, tell your local public or farm radio broadcaster about it. You can also listen online.
Follow the Money:
> EPA Grants for Wetlands and Watersheds: EPA headquarters and EPA Region 7 (KS, NE) are currently soliciting applications for the Wetlands Program Development Grant program by May 17 and 18, respectively. WPDGs can be used to build and refine any element of a comprehensive wetland program. Priority will be given to funding projects that address monitoring and assessment, mitigation, and protection of vulnerable wetlands and aquatic resources. EPA Region 7 is also soliciting proposals for the Watershed Improvement Grant Program until May 11. This program supports projects that improve water quality in a watershed. Priority will be given to projects that have an active watershed group and strong partnerships, include environmental results, contain explicit and environmentally-based performance measures, and exhibit the connection of improved water quality and integrated pesticide management with critical ecosystems, sensitive populations and/or agriculture.
> North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grants: The next round of NAWCA Standard Grant proposals are due to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Division of Bird Habitat Conservation by July 28. The NAWCA program awards up to $1 million in matching funds to projects led by public-private partnerships that protect, restore and/or enhance wetlands and associated uplands for the benefits of all wetlands-associated migratory birds. Multi-partner projects of this magnitude take several months and/or years to develop, and the PLJV encourages its partners to prepare well in advance for this program.
> Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Multistate Conservation Grant Program: The AFWA is currently accepting applications for the Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MCGP) which is jointly administrated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. MCGPs award funds to multi-state projects that address one or more of the National Conservation Needs identified by AFWA. Up to $6 million is available for this funding cycle.
> Natural Resources Conservation Service Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program: Through the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, the NRCS provides matching funds to help acquire conservation easements on agricultural lands to protect them from development and keep them productive. Proposals are due May 11 for this program.
> Patagonia Environmental Grants Program: Patagonia outdoor apparel company supports small, grassroots activist organizations with provocative direct-action agendas, working on multi-pronged campaigns to preserve and protect the environment. They seek local, innovative groups that produce measurable results, and have specific goals, objectives and action plans, and measures for evaluating success. Most grants are in the range of $3,000 to $8,000, and applications are due Aug 31.
> New Mexico Dept of Game and Fish Landowner Incentive Program Grants:
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) is soliciting proposals for the Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) through May 31. The program funds on-the-ground habitat projects on private lands that benefit species of concern/species of greatest conservation need for New Mexico. This year, NMDGF will be awarding up to $700,000 for projects in the eastern plains and up to $250,000 for projects state-wide. Contact Steve Anderson, NMDGF LIP project leader at 505-892-6773 for more information or view the solicitation online.
> Colorado Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs: The USDA Farm Service Agency recently announced the launch of two Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs (CREP) available to landowners in eastern Colorado - the High Plains and the Republican River CREPs. The High Plains CREP targets the enrollment of 30,000 acres in eastern Colorado to increase upland wildlife populations and public recreational opportunities. In addition to CREP payments, the state of Colorado is offering an incentive payment geared to enhance upland habitat and recreational access. The Republican River CREP targets the enrollment of 35,000 acres in the Republican River Basin to reduce irrigation water use and contaminants. In addition to CREP and non-federal payments, the Republican River Water Conservation District will offer an incentive payment to permanently retire irrigation water use for CREP-enrolled irrigated cropland. Signup for both CREPs begins June 12 and continues through Dec. 31, 2007 or when fully enrolled.
> Colorado Species Conservation Partnership: The Colorado Division of Wildlife administers the Colorado Species Conservation Partnership program which uses habitat conservation easements to protect the state's declining species on private land. The CDOW will soon be announcing target areas for species conservation along with a call for applications for 2006. For more information, contact CDOW's Private Lands Habitat Specialist Ken Morgan.