Playa Festival Storms Through Oklahoma Panhandle
Dozens of youngsters in Oklahoma and Texas now understand first hand the meaning of 'ephemeral wetland,' thanks to Mother Nature's moodiness at a recent playa lakes festival. The weather shifted from blistering heat to pouring rain during the four-day event which brought together students from Boise City, Texhoma, Stratford, Griggs, Sunray, Guymon, Straight and Goodwell in the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles. But the sporadic weather didn't spoil the fun.
About 40 students entering 4th through 7th grades participated in the festival which took place July 20 - 23 at the Oklahoma Panhandle Research & Extension Center and Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell. The weather provided apt 'teaching moments' during the festival which was focused on the water cycle and preserving water resources.
"We call this a 'Playa Lakes Festival' but it is really a learning process focused on our entire water cycle," said festival director Darryl Birkenfeld of the Ogallala Commons. "Playas are a unique feature of the Southern High Plains, and can serve as a tool to teach students, adults and communities about a healthy and functioning water cycle."
PLJV Management Board Welcomes New Members
The PLJV Management Board appointed two new members during its June 10 meeting in Colby, Kansas. Nancy Gloman, Assistant Regional Director for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will be replacing Greg Esslinger; and Cindy Correll, Natural Resources and Planning Staff Officer for the U.S. Forest Service, will be replacing Larry Cosper.
In other business, the board discussed the development of a playa lakes protection bill making its way through congress, and heard presentations from Brandon Houck of the National Wild Turkey Federation and from the PLJV staff on the status of Joint Venture biological planning and GIS. Staff also briefed the board on the NAWCA grant program, and urged partners to submit more grants to the program. The next PLJV board meeting will take place February 22 - 24 in Amarillo in conjunction with the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society meeting.
Science Circular Chronicles PLJV Planning Efforts
This spring, the PLJV staff conducted meetings with its six member states to exchange biological planning and implementation information and resources. Representatives from more than 20 organizations attended the two-day meetings which were held throughout April and May. A summary of the presentations, meeting handouts and other bird research resources are available on the latest issue of the Science Circular. The Circular is an electronic publication intended for planning partners, resource managers and biologists involved or interested in PLJV science issues.
Playa Post ©2004 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.
Dozens of youngsters in Oklahoma and Texas now understand first hand the meaning of 'ephemeral wetland,' thanks to Mother Nature's moodiness at a recent playa lakes festival. The weather shifted from blistering heat to pouring rain during the four-day event which brought together students from Boise City, Texhoma, Stratford, Griggs, Sunray, Guymon, Straight and Goodwell in the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles. But the sporadic weather didn't spoil the fun.
About 40 students entering 4th through 7th grades participated in the festival which took place July 20 - 23 at the Oklahoma Panhandle Research & Extension Center and Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Goodwell. The weather provided apt 'teaching moments' during the festival which was focused on the water cycle and preserving water resources.
"We call this a 'Playa Lakes Festival' but it is really a learning process focused on our entire water cycle," said festival director Darryl Birkenfeld of the Ogallala Commons. "Playas are a unique feature of the Southern High Plains, and can serve as a tool to teach students, adults and communities about a healthy and functioning water cycle."
During the festival, students explored playas and the water cycle through science and art. Nationally-acclaimed artists and musicians led sessions on painting, photography and poetry. Expert biologists and water conservation specialists led field trips to a playa lake, the Beaver River, Guymon wastewater lagoons and Optima Lake.
"These kids received a crash course on water issues with some of the region's best teachers," Birkenfeld said. "By the fourth day, students knew more about the local water cycle than most adults. This festival would rival any water class taught in a university."
The festival was organized by the Ogallala Commons, a non-profit group aimed at creating sustainable environments, economies and communities in the eight-state region that overlies Ogallala Aquifer. This was the third playa festival put on by the Commons. Funding for the festivals was provided by the Playa Lakes Joint Venture/ConocoPhillips grant program, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Environmental Defense, Oklahoma Farmers Union, High Plains RC&D, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Texas Tech University and many other local sponsors.
PLJV Management Board Welcomes New Members
The PLJV Management Board appointed two new members during its June 10 meeting in Colby, Kansas. Nancy Gloman, Assistant Regional Director for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, will be replacing Greg Esslinger; and Cindy Correll, Natural Resources and Planning Staff Officer for the U.S. Forest Service, will be replacing Larry Cosper.
In other business, the board discussed the development of a playa lakes protection bill making its way through congress, and heard presentations from Brandon Houck of the National Wild Turkey Federation and from the PLJV staff on the status of Joint Venture biological planning and GIS. Staff also briefed the board on the NAWCA grant program, and urged partners to submit more grants to the program. The next PLJV board meeting will take place February 22 - 24 in Amarillo in conjunction with the Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society meeting.
Science Circular Chronicles PLJV Planning Efforts
This spring, the PLJV staff conducted meetings with its six member states to exchange biological planning and implementation information and resources. Representatives from more than 20 organizations attended the two-day meetings which were held throughout April and May. A summary of the presentations, meeting handouts and other bird research resources are available on the latest issue of the Science Circular. The Circular is an electronic publication intended for planning partners, resource managers and biologists involved or interested in PLJV science issues.
Playa Post ©2004 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.
Partnerships Benefit Birds along Texas' Canadian River
Great things are happening for bird habitat along Texas' Canadian River, thanks to partnerships that have developed between state and federal wildlife agencies, a conservation group and local landowner alliance.
Starting in 2000, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) launched the Southern Great Plains Riparian Initiative. In Texas, the initiative began by removing salt cedar at Lake Meredith along the Canadian River north of Amarillo. Removing invasive plants helps restore hydrology, creating more wet meadows which are used by waterfowl during migration and winter. Planting native trees restores pockets of cottonwood forests that once dotted riparian areas and are important to wading birds, Mississippi Kites, wild turkey and migrant landbirds.
"After that, things just started to snowball as landowners and other agencies saw the work that was being done," said NWTF Director of Partnership Programs Bobby Maddrey. Some of those other agencies were the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Soon, these organizations began cooperating on small projects such as the PLJV-funded Oasis Creek Ranch in 2002 which fenced riparian areas and removed invasive salt cedar.
Resource managers soon realized that if they wanted to work on a larger scale project, they required the expertise of a local landowner group. They enlisted the help of the Texas Prairie Rivers Region, Inc. (TPRR), a landowner cooperative. TPRR helps support the local economy by developing eco-tourism, wildlife conservation and other projects.
"Texas Prairie Rivers made it easy for landowners to access funds and helped to raise awareness of other funding sources beyond Farm Bill programs," said John Hughes of the USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.
Recently, larger grants have been garnered for habitat work on private land in the area from the Environmental Protection Agency and USFWS' Private Stewardship Grant Program. Last year, using TPWD's Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area adjacent to the Canadian as a focal point, the organizations strategized on the best ways to leverage funding. Their effort resulted in two successful small NAWCA proposals; one awarded to TPWD for work on Gene Howe, and one to fund TPRR landowners along the Canadian to improve habitat. TPRR also used a portion of the 2003 Capacity Grant awarded to Texas by the PLJV to support developing the NAWCA proposal.
"This is the great kind of partner activity we are hoping to help foster with Capacity Grants," said PLJV Coordinator Mike Carter.
Today, partnerships are expanding along the Canadian river capitalizing on past successes. For more information, contact John Hughes of USFWS, Remelle Farrar of TPRR or Bobby Maddrey of NWTF.
McPherson Valley Wetlands Gains NAWCC Approval
The North American Wetland Conservation Council included Kansas' McPherson Valley Wetlands in their slate of recommended projects to receive North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) funding. The Kansas proposal asks for a $660,000 NAWCA grant to be matched with $1.3 million in partner funds to restore 700, enhance 100 and acquire 300 acres of wetlands.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and Ducks Unlimited began restoring McPherson Valley Wetlands in 1987. This is the fifth and final NAWCA grant proposal to complete the project. McPherson is located in central Kansas, close to other larger wetlands of Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. The complex is an important stopover habitat for migratory and wetland-dependent birds.
The next deadline for submitting a standard NAWCA grant will be in March 2005; and the next deadline for small NAWCA grants is December 3 of this year. The PLJV is urging partners to increase the number of proposals submitted. Prospective applicants are advised to contact the PLJV staff well before submitting a proposal.
Nature Conservancy Protects New Mexico Prairie-Chickens
New Mexico's core population of Lesser Prairie-Chickens now has a permanent home thanks to The Nature Conservancy and the owners of Creamer Ranch outside of Milnesand. The Nature Conservancy is buying the 18,500-acre ranch in southeast New Mexico which is prime breeding habitat for the birds which are a candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act.
The ranch has what likely is the highest known density of prairie-chicken breeding grounds on the eastern New Mexico plains, and the purchase will almost double the number of acres protected for the rare birds in the state, according to an Albuquerque Journal report July 28.
The Lesser Prairie-Chicken has disappeared from half of its historic range in New Mexico and from more than 90 percent of its total five-state range.
Starting in 2000, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) launched the Southern Great Plains Riparian Initiative. In Texas, the initiative began by removing salt cedar at Lake Meredith along the Canadian River north of Amarillo. Removing invasive plants helps restore hydrology, creating more wet meadows which are used by waterfowl during migration and winter. Planting native trees restores pockets of cottonwood forests that once dotted riparian areas and are important to wading birds, Mississippi Kites, wild turkey and migrant landbirds.
"After that, things just started to snowball as landowners and other agencies saw the work that was being done," said NWTF Director of Partnership Programs Bobby Maddrey. Some of those other agencies were the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD). Soon, these organizations began cooperating on small projects such as the PLJV-funded Oasis Creek Ranch in 2002 which fenced riparian areas and removed invasive salt cedar.
Resource managers soon realized that if they wanted to work on a larger scale project, they required the expertise of a local landowner group. They enlisted the help of the Texas Prairie Rivers Region, Inc. (TPRR), a landowner cooperative. TPRR helps support the local economy by developing eco-tourism, wildlife conservation and other projects.
"Texas Prairie Rivers made it easy for landowners to access funds and helped to raise awareness of other funding sources beyond Farm Bill programs," said John Hughes of the USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.
Recently, larger grants have been garnered for habitat work on private land in the area from the Environmental Protection Agency and USFWS' Private Stewardship Grant Program. Last year, using TPWD's Gene Howe Wildlife Management Area adjacent to the Canadian as a focal point, the organizations strategized on the best ways to leverage funding. Their effort resulted in two successful small NAWCA proposals; one awarded to TPWD for work on Gene Howe, and one to fund TPRR landowners along the Canadian to improve habitat. TPRR also used a portion of the 2003 Capacity Grant awarded to Texas by the PLJV to support developing the NAWCA proposal.
"This is the great kind of partner activity we are hoping to help foster with Capacity Grants," said PLJV Coordinator Mike Carter.
Today, partnerships are expanding along the Canadian river capitalizing on past successes. For more information, contact John Hughes of USFWS, Remelle Farrar of TPRR or Bobby Maddrey of NWTF.
McPherson Valley Wetlands Gains NAWCC Approval
The North American Wetland Conservation Council included Kansas' McPherson Valley Wetlands in their slate of recommended projects to receive North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) funding. The Kansas proposal asks for a $660,000 NAWCA grant to be matched with $1.3 million in partner funds to restore 700, enhance 100 and acquire 300 acres of wetlands.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and Ducks Unlimited began restoring McPherson Valley Wetlands in 1987. This is the fifth and final NAWCA grant proposal to complete the project. McPherson is located in central Kansas, close to other larger wetlands of Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. The complex is an important stopover habitat for migratory and wetland-dependent birds.
The next deadline for submitting a standard NAWCA grant will be in March 2005; and the next deadline for small NAWCA grants is December 3 of this year. The PLJV is urging partners to increase the number of proposals submitted. Prospective applicants are advised to contact the PLJV staff well before submitting a proposal.
Nature Conservancy Protects New Mexico Prairie-Chickens
New Mexico's core population of Lesser Prairie-Chickens now has a permanent home thanks to The Nature Conservancy and the owners of Creamer Ranch outside of Milnesand. The Nature Conservancy is buying the 18,500-acre ranch in southeast New Mexico which is prime breeding habitat for the birds which are a candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act.
The ranch has what likely is the highest known density of prairie-chicken breeding grounds on the eastern New Mexico plains, and the purchase will almost double the number of acres protected for the rare birds in the state, according to an Albuquerque Journal report July 28.
The Lesser Prairie-Chicken has disappeared from half of its historic range in New Mexico and from more than 90 percent of its total five-state range.