High Plains Landowners Care about Playas, Study Finds
A recent opinion poll of farmers and ranchers in the playa lakes region found that 68 percent of landowners who had playas on their properties viewed them as a positive feature on the land, primarily because they attract wildlife and recharge groundwater.
The finding comes from the new High Plains Landowner Survey which was conducted this spring by DJ Case and Associates for the Playa Lakes Joint Venture. The survey was sent to 1,800 individual commodity farmers and ranchers throughout the PLJV region primarily to assess landowners' understanding of and willingness to conserve playas and other wetlands.
Preliminary results of the survey, wherein 429 landowners responded, found that landowners are fairly knowledgeable about playas (50 percent had heard of playas), view playas and wetlands favorably, and are willing to implement several different types of conservation practices if doing so helped their bottom line. The survey contained 21 questions, the responses to which reveal interesting insights into landowners' thoughts on a range of conservation issues. Such as, among 13 possible choices - including wetlands, rivers, grasslands and the Conservation Reserve Program - the Ogallala Aquifer stood out as the one resource which most landowners would support more conservation of.
Survey findings were presented by Dan Witter of DJ Case and Associates to the PLJV Management Board during their summer meeting in Nebraska. Opinion surveys such as this are called for by the PLJV Master Plan, and will help the JV evaluate the effectiveness of its outreach efforts over time. A similar survey is planned to be conducted five years from now. Also, results of this survey will help PLJV partners and resource managers more effectively market and design playa and wetland conservation programs for landowners, as well as provide powerful data for outreach efforts to policy-makers and conservation program administers.
Complete survey results will be available on the PLJV web site in early August.
New Playa Film Screened for Outdoor Writers Association
The PLJV premiered its new film "The Playas - Reflections of Life on the Plains" at the Outdoor Writers Association of America conference in Lake Charles, Louisiana June 17-21. The film was shown to about 25 attendees consisting of newspaper and magazine reporters and editors, radio and TV producers, conservation organizations and agencies, and even a playa landowner who also happens to be a freelance writer. Each attendee received a free copy of the film, and an additional 50 films are being distributed to other attendees who could not make the screening but have interest in covering the playas.
"By getting this film out in front of the outdoor media, we hope to generate interest in and coverage of playas which have had little regional coverage and pretty much zero national coverage," said Debbie Slobe, Communications Team Leader for the PLJV. "The playas are a natural fit for the outdoor news beat as the wetlands can be linked to hunting, bird watching, and wildlife and natural resource conservation all in the same story."
Follow the Money:
> Department of Defense Legacy Fund: The Department of Defense is accepting pre-proposals now until Sept. 15 for the Legacy Resource Management Program. Any individual or organization can apply for Legacy funding, which supports projects involving regional ecosystem management initiatives, habitat preservation efforts, archaeological investigations, invasive species control, Native American consultations, and/or monitoring and predicting migratory patterns of birds and animals. Successful proponents are usually in contact with military installations prior to submitting an application, and projects that target multiple installations are preferred.
> Colorado Wildlife Habitat Protection Program: The Colorado Wildlife Habitat Protection Program provides an avenue for private landowners, land trusts or other conservation organizations to conserve critical habitat throughout the state. Open enrollment for all program applications will be from June 1, 2006 to July 31, 2006. Up to $20 million will be made available. The main priorities for the program are important habitat for sage-dependent species including critical winter range and migration corridors for big game species, Gunnison and greater sage grouse habitat, Front Range riparian communities, important access for wildlife recreation opportunities, critical wetlands, shortgrass prairie species and lesser prairie chicken habitat.
> Wildlife Habitat Policy Research Program: The WHPRP uses a competitive grants program to fund eight projects in 2006 related to the challenges of implementing State Wildlife Action Plans and accelerating the conservation of wildlife habitat in the United States. The competition is open to anyone to apply and awards range from $25,000 to $250,000 per project. The deadline to submit letters of intent is July 10.
A recent opinion poll of farmers and ranchers in the playa lakes region found that 68 percent of landowners who had playas on their properties viewed them as a positive feature on the land, primarily because they attract wildlife and recharge groundwater.
The finding comes from the new High Plains Landowner Survey which was conducted this spring by DJ Case and Associates for the Playa Lakes Joint Venture. The survey was sent to 1,800 individual commodity farmers and ranchers throughout the PLJV region primarily to assess landowners' understanding of and willingness to conserve playas and other wetlands.
Preliminary results of the survey, wherein 429 landowners responded, found that landowners are fairly knowledgeable about playas (50 percent had heard of playas), view playas and wetlands favorably, and are willing to implement several different types of conservation practices if doing so helped their bottom line. The survey contained 21 questions, the responses to which reveal interesting insights into landowners' thoughts on a range of conservation issues. Such as, among 13 possible choices - including wetlands, rivers, grasslands and the Conservation Reserve Program - the Ogallala Aquifer stood out as the one resource which most landowners would support more conservation of.
Survey findings were presented by Dan Witter of DJ Case and Associates to the PLJV Management Board during their summer meeting in Nebraska. Opinion surveys such as this are called for by the PLJV Master Plan, and will help the JV evaluate the effectiveness of its outreach efforts over time. A similar survey is planned to be conducted five years from now. Also, results of this survey will help PLJV partners and resource managers more effectively market and design playa and wetland conservation programs for landowners, as well as provide powerful data for outreach efforts to policy-makers and conservation program administers.
Complete survey results will be available on the PLJV web site in early August.
New Playa Film Screened for Outdoor Writers Association
The PLJV premiered its new film "The Playas - Reflections of Life on the Plains" at the Outdoor Writers Association of America conference in Lake Charles, Louisiana June 17-21. The film was shown to about 25 attendees consisting of newspaper and magazine reporters and editors, radio and TV producers, conservation organizations and agencies, and even a playa landowner who also happens to be a freelance writer. Each attendee received a free copy of the film, and an additional 50 films are being distributed to other attendees who could not make the screening but have interest in covering the playas.
"By getting this film out in front of the outdoor media, we hope to generate interest in and coverage of playas which have had little regional coverage and pretty much zero national coverage," said Debbie Slobe, Communications Team Leader for the PLJV. "The playas are a natural fit for the outdoor news beat as the wetlands can be linked to hunting, bird watching, and wildlife and natural resource conservation all in the same story."
The 28-min film, which was completed this summer, illustrates the values of playas to wildlife, water and people, threats to the wetlands and how people are working to conserve them. The film features sweeping aerial footage of playas captured by hot air balloon and interviews with playa experts, biologists, landowners and community leaders throughout the six-state playa region.
The film is now available on DVD or VHS. There is no charge for the film except for shipping. To obtain a copy or quantity of films, contact Debbie Slobe.
Follow the Money:
> Department of Defense Legacy Fund: The Department of Defense is accepting pre-proposals now until Sept. 15 for the Legacy Resource Management Program. Any individual or organization can apply for Legacy funding, which supports projects involving regional ecosystem management initiatives, habitat preservation efforts, archaeological investigations, invasive species control, Native American consultations, and/or monitoring and predicting migratory patterns of birds and animals. Successful proponents are usually in contact with military installations prior to submitting an application, and projects that target multiple installations are preferred.
> Colorado Wildlife Habitat Protection Program: The Colorado Wildlife Habitat Protection Program provides an avenue for private landowners, land trusts or other conservation organizations to conserve critical habitat throughout the state. Open enrollment for all program applications will be from June 1, 2006 to July 31, 2006. Up to $20 million will be made available. The main priorities for the program are important habitat for sage-dependent species including critical winter range and migration corridors for big game species, Gunnison and greater sage grouse habitat, Front Range riparian communities, important access for wildlife recreation opportunities, critical wetlands, shortgrass prairie species and lesser prairie chicken habitat.
> Wildlife Habitat Policy Research Program: The WHPRP uses a competitive grants program to fund eight projects in 2006 related to the challenges of implementing State Wildlife Action Plans and accelerating the conservation of wildlife habitat in the United States. The competition is open to anyone to apply and awards range from $25,000 to $250,000 per project. The deadline to submit letters of intent is July 10.
PLJV Management Board Meets in Nebraska, Welcomes new Members
The PLJV Management Board met June 15-17 at Fort Robinson State Park in the Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska. New board members Jim Douglas of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) and Melanie Woolever from the USDA Forest Service were officially added to the roster, and Jeff Ver Steeg of the Colorado Division of Wildlife was voted to take over chairmanship of the JV next January. Also during the meeting, NGPC staff updated the partnership on the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project and Dan Witter of DJ Case and Associates presented data from the PLJV's new High Plains Landowner Survey.
The afternoon before the meeting, NGPC staff and the U.S. Forest Service hosted a tour of a riparian restoration project along Ash Creek, which will benefit several priority species in the JV, including Upland Sandpiper, Grasshopper Sparrow and Lewis's Woodpecker. Evening receptions and dinners were sponsored by Platte River Basin Environments, Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy of Nebraska. The PLJV extends a hearty "thank you" to our Nebraska partners for hosting a great gathering!
Playa Country Radio Tackles Endangered Species Act
This month on Playa Country radio, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist John Hughes of Canadian, Texas, talks about the Endangered Species Act and how his agency is working to dispel landowners fears about the ESA, and is working cooperatively with farmers and ranchers on habitat conservation projects to benefit threatened and endangered species. The following week, cattle rancher Jay O'Brien, who has worked with Hughes on Lesser Prairie-Chicken conservation on his land, shares his views about the ESA.
Tune in to Playa Country every Monday at 10:30am and Saturday at 11:15am CST on High Plains Public Radio or Thursdays at 11:55am on KPAN in Hereford, Texas. If you don't get Playa Country in your neck of the prairie, you can listen online. Archives of shows can be found on the HPPR web site. Send story ideas to Debbie Slobe.
Private Stewardship Grants to Benefit Interior Least Terns, Prairie-Chickens
PLJV partners recently garnered $170,000 in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Private Stewardship Grants for habitat work in eastern Colorado and the Texas Panhandle. An additional two grants totaling $170,000 went to projects being conducted in the PLJV portion of Kansas by other groups.
The two projects from PLJV partners include the Private Lands Habitat Enhancement for Riparian and Grassland Species At-Risk in Colorado submitted by the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, which was awarded $50,099. RMBO will work with two ranchers in eastern Colorado to restore riparian habitat that transects shortgrass prairie by fencing livestock out of the riparian areas and providing alternative watering sources and improved grazing management for them. This restoration will benefit numerous bird and fish species, including Scaled Quail, Lark Bunting and Arkansas darter.
Texas Prairie Rivers Region, Inc. was awarded $120,000 for the Riparian Restoration on the Pease River Watershed in Foard County, Texas. This project will provide financial and technical assistance to private landowners who wish to voluntarily remove invasive plant species and restore native riparian habitat along the Pease River in Foard County, Texas. The project will benefit the federally listed Interior Least Tern and at-risk species that occupy suitable riparian habitat, including the American Woodcock (wintering), Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red-headed Woodpecker, Loggerhead Shrike, Grasshopper Sparrow, Painted Bunting, and Eastern Meadowlark. Riparian restoration work will also benefit water quality and quantity and the associated aquatic species that depend on it.
The two Kansas projects, being conducted by the Comanche Pool Prairie Resource Foundation and Audubon of Kansas will benefit Lesser Prairie-Chickens, Arkansas Darter, Red Spotted Frog and Black-tailed Prairie Dog.
Happenings around PLJV:
> July 8: German Festival and playa tour, Nazareth, TX; contact Darryl Birkenfeld
> July 11: Playa exhibit heads to Woodward Public Library; contact Trapper Heglin
> July 12: Playa Lakes Forum, Clovis, NM; contact Cindy Wall
> July 12: Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance meeting; contact Trapper Heglin
> July 13: Canadian River Restoration meeting, Canadian, TX; contact Luke Lewis
> July 16-21: Central Flyway Council and Technical Committees, Estes Park, CO; contact Jim Gammonley
> July 22-26: Soil and Water Conservation Society International Conference Keystone, Colorado
> Aug 8-10: Joint Ventures of the Great Plains meeting; Fort Robinson, NE; contact Steve Moran
> Aug. 11: Discovering New Ranch Dollars through Eco-Tourism, Bueyeros, NM; contact Tuda Libby Crews
> Aug 25-27: Oklahoma Wildlife Expo
The PLJV Management Board met June 15-17 at Fort Robinson State Park in the Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska. New board members Jim Douglas of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) and Melanie Woolever from the USDA Forest Service were officially added to the roster, and Jeff Ver Steeg of the Colorado Division of Wildlife was voted to take over chairmanship of the JV next January. Also during the meeting, NGPC staff updated the partnership on the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project and Dan Witter of DJ Case and Associates presented data from the PLJV's new High Plains Landowner Survey.
The afternoon before the meeting, NGPC staff and the U.S. Forest Service hosted a tour of a riparian restoration project along Ash Creek, which will benefit several priority species in the JV, including Upland Sandpiper, Grasshopper Sparrow and Lewis's Woodpecker. Evening receptions and dinners were sponsored by Platte River Basin Environments, Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy of Nebraska. The PLJV extends a hearty "thank you" to our Nebraska partners for hosting a great gathering!
Playa Country Radio Tackles Endangered Species Act
This month on Playa Country radio, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist John Hughes of Canadian, Texas, talks about the Endangered Species Act and how his agency is working to dispel landowners fears about the ESA, and is working cooperatively with farmers and ranchers on habitat conservation projects to benefit threatened and endangered species. The following week, cattle rancher Jay O'Brien, who has worked with Hughes on Lesser Prairie-Chicken conservation on his land, shares his views about the ESA.
Tune in to Playa Country every Monday at 10:30am and Saturday at 11:15am CST on High Plains Public Radio or Thursdays at 11:55am on KPAN in Hereford, Texas. If you don't get Playa Country in your neck of the prairie, you can listen online. Archives of shows can be found on the HPPR web site. Send story ideas to Debbie Slobe.
Private Stewardship Grants to Benefit Interior Least Terns, Prairie-Chickens
PLJV partners recently garnered $170,000 in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Private Stewardship Grants for habitat work in eastern Colorado and the Texas Panhandle. An additional two grants totaling $170,000 went to projects being conducted in the PLJV portion of Kansas by other groups.
The two projects from PLJV partners include the Private Lands Habitat Enhancement for Riparian and Grassland Species At-Risk in Colorado submitted by the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, which was awarded $50,099. RMBO will work with two ranchers in eastern Colorado to restore riparian habitat that transects shortgrass prairie by fencing livestock out of the riparian areas and providing alternative watering sources and improved grazing management for them. This restoration will benefit numerous bird and fish species, including Scaled Quail, Lark Bunting and Arkansas darter.
Texas Prairie Rivers Region, Inc. was awarded $120,000 for the Riparian Restoration on the Pease River Watershed in Foard County, Texas. This project will provide financial and technical assistance to private landowners who wish to voluntarily remove invasive plant species and restore native riparian habitat along the Pease River in Foard County, Texas. The project will benefit the federally listed Interior Least Tern and at-risk species that occupy suitable riparian habitat, including the American Woodcock (wintering), Mourning Dove, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Red-headed Woodpecker, Loggerhead Shrike, Grasshopper Sparrow, Painted Bunting, and Eastern Meadowlark. Riparian restoration work will also benefit water quality and quantity and the associated aquatic species that depend on it.
The two Kansas projects, being conducted by the Comanche Pool Prairie Resource Foundation and Audubon of Kansas will benefit Lesser Prairie-Chickens, Arkansas Darter, Red Spotted Frog and Black-tailed Prairie Dog.
Happenings around PLJV:
> July 8: German Festival and playa tour, Nazareth, TX; contact Darryl Birkenfeld
> July 11: Playa exhibit heads to Woodward Public Library; contact Trapper Heglin
> July 12: Playa Lakes Forum, Clovis, NM; contact Cindy Wall
> July 12: Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance meeting; contact Trapper Heglin
> July 13: Canadian River Restoration meeting, Canadian, TX; contact Luke Lewis
> July 16-21: Central Flyway Council and Technical Committees, Estes Park, CO; contact Jim Gammonley
> July 22-26: Soil and Water Conservation Society International Conference Keystone, Colorado
> Aug 8-10: Joint Ventures of the Great Plains meeting; Fort Robinson, NE; contact Steve Moran
> Aug. 11: Discovering New Ranch Dollars through Eco-Tourism, Bueyeros, NM; contact Tuda Libby Crews
> Aug 25-27: Oklahoma Wildlife Expo
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.