PLJV Board Meets in Western Nebraska, Tours Project Sites
The PLJV Management Board met in Scottsbluff, Nebraska for its summer meeting June 10 - 12. It was the first time the Board has met in western Nebraska, which was adopted into the PLJV administrative boundaries in January 2003. During the meeting, the PLJV, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) and Nebraska Partnership for All-Bird Conservation signed a formal letter recognizing the organizations' new partnership, and NGPC representatives gave presentations on the different habitat types and bird species found within the state. The Board also heard a presentation from Dr. Warren Wood, hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey who is one of the leading researchers on playa lakes and aquifer recharge. In other business, the board allocated $20,000 to each of the Joint Venture's six member states, which will be used to increase capacity for developing and delivering habitat conservation projects. After the board meeting, Platte River Basin Environments (PRBE), a non-profit conservation partnership based in western Nebraska, hosted the PLJV on a tour of some of PRBE's habitat projects along the North Platte River. The next board meeting will be held January 20 - 22, 2004 in Woodward, Oklahoma.
Workshops Teach Landowners about Conservation Programs in Colorado
The Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory's (RMBO) Prairie Partners program has created a landowner workshop series that teaches farmers and ranchers about different habitat conservation programs available to them through various state, federal and non-profit organizations. The latest was held June 14 on a private ranch near Karval, Colorado, 50 miles south of Limon. About two dozen landowners attended and heard presentations from the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the PLJV on various grants and cost-share programs that benefit wildlife habitat on rangeland, cropland, riparian areas and playa lakes. The PLJV has recently donated $20,000 to RMBO to create focus area committees in southeast Colorado, and these workshops may interest landowners in joining these locally-based conservation partnerships. "The workshops provide a great opportunity to get direct feedback from landowners about playa management practices," said PLJV Communications Team Leader Debbie Slobe, who led the session on playa lakes. "Such feedback is essential to make sure the habitat management practices the PLJV recommends are practical and feasible for the landowner." The group toured several different habitat projects in the area, many of which were being developed on their neighbor's land. The next workshop will be held in Fowler, Colorado July 10. Contact RMBO at (970) 482-1707 for more details.
The PLJV Management Board met in Scottsbluff, Nebraska for its summer meeting June 10 - 12. It was the first time the Board has met in western Nebraska, which was adopted into the PLJV administrative boundaries in January 2003. During the meeting, the PLJV, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) and Nebraska Partnership for All-Bird Conservation signed a formal letter recognizing the organizations' new partnership, and NGPC representatives gave presentations on the different habitat types and bird species found within the state. The Board also heard a presentation from Dr. Warren Wood, hydrologist for the U.S. Geological Survey who is one of the leading researchers on playa lakes and aquifer recharge. In other business, the board allocated $20,000 to each of the Joint Venture's six member states, which will be used to increase capacity for developing and delivering habitat conservation projects. After the board meeting, Platte River Basin Environments (PRBE), a non-profit conservation partnership based in western Nebraska, hosted the PLJV on a tour of some of PRBE's habitat projects along the North Platte River. The next board meeting will be held January 20 - 22, 2004 in Woodward, Oklahoma.
Workshops Teach Landowners about Conservation Programs in Colorado
The Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory's (RMBO) Prairie Partners program has created a landowner workshop series that teaches farmers and ranchers about different habitat conservation programs available to them through various state, federal and non-profit organizations. The latest was held June 14 on a private ranch near Karval, Colorado, 50 miles south of Limon. About two dozen landowners attended and heard presentations from the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the PLJV on various grants and cost-share programs that benefit wildlife habitat on rangeland, cropland, riparian areas and playa lakes. The PLJV has recently donated $20,000 to RMBO to create focus area committees in southeast Colorado, and these workshops may interest landowners in joining these locally-based conservation partnerships. "The workshops provide a great opportunity to get direct feedback from landowners about playa management practices," said PLJV Communications Team Leader Debbie Slobe, who led the session on playa lakes. "Such feedback is essential to make sure the habitat management practices the PLJV recommends are practical and feasible for the landowner." The group toured several different habitat projects in the area, many of which were being developed on their neighbor's land. The next workshop will be held in Fowler, Colorado July 10. Contact RMBO at (970) 482-1707 for more details.
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.
U.S. Forest Service Steps Up Partnerships with JVs
The U.S. Forest Service is looking to enhance its involvement with joint ventures, and recently invited PLJV board member Ross Melinchuk to present information about joint ventures to top USFS officials June 12 in Washington, D.C. Melinchuk, along with three USFS representatives, presented information to the USFS National Leadership Team about bird conservation efforts in the U.S. and abroad, encouraged increased USFS involvement in bird conservation and promoted joint ventures as avenues to increase involvement. "We set the stage for enhanced USFS involvement in other joint ventures around the US," said Melinchuk, who is the director of state and federal coordination for the southeast regional office of Ducks Unlimited. The PLJV already benefits from a strong partnership with the USFS. Representatives from the USFS sit on the PLJV Management Board and on the Joint Venture's science team.
Waterfowl/Crane Working Group Takes Flight
The PLJV is kicking off its biological planning process to develop a revised, science-based implementation plan by forming new species- and habitat-based working groups. The first to form is the Waterfowl and Sandhill Crane Working Group and the new team will meet for the first time in Lubbock, TX July 9 -10. Among the group's many tasks will be to determine which species warrant habitat work, develop population and habitat objectives, determining limiting factors, identify important habitats and develop habitat management recommendations. Other working groups which will be formed in the near future include those for shorebirds, grassland birds and riparian birds. The development of working groups is the first stage in a multi-phase process to coordinate biological planning for all birds at the regional, state and local level of the PLJV.
KAWS to Host Wetland Protection Conference
The Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams (KAWS) will host "CPR for Wetlands and Streams: Practical Tools and Strategies to Create, Protect and Restore Kansas Wetlands, Streams and Riparian Areas" August 5 -7 in Overland Park, KS. The three-day conference includes expert presentations on the latest technology and practices in wetland and stream restoration and management, and tours of five wetland projects. For more information, visit the KAWS web site.
The PLJV is kicking off its biological planning process to develop a revised, science-based implementation plan by forming new species- and habitat-based working groups. The first to form is the Waterfowl and Sandhill Crane Working Group and the new team will meet for the first time in Lubbock, TX July 9 -10. Among the group's many tasks will be to determine which species warrant habitat work, develop population and habitat objectives, determining limiting factors, identify important habitats and develop habitat management recommendations. Other working groups which will be formed in the near future include those for shorebirds, grassland birds and riparian birds. The development of working groups is the first stage in a multi-phase process to coordinate biological planning for all birds at the regional, state and local level of the PLJV.
KAWS to Host Wetland Protection Conference
The Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams (KAWS) will host "CPR for Wetlands and Streams: Practical Tools and Strategies to Create, Protect and Restore Kansas Wetlands, Streams and Riparian Areas" August 5 -7 in Overland Park, KS. The three-day conference includes expert presentations on the latest technology and practices in wetland and stream restoration and management, and tours of five wetland projects. For more information, visit the KAWS web site.