Making the Farm Bill Work
for Playa Lakes
PLJV partners are making great strides to protect playa lakes through the Farm Bill. Last month, President Bush and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) announced the new Wetlands Restoration Initiative of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Among its provisions, the Initiative specifically calls for the protection of playa lakes and allocates 56,600 acres to PLJV states for enrollment starting October 1st. The Joint Venture estimates that the Initiative could bring up to $35 million over 15 years to the playa lakes region if states take full advantage of the program.
The impetus for the initiative began more than a year ago when PLJV partners began developing a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program proposal focused on the playa lakes region. U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) took note of the proposal and in November 2003 introduced legislation to expand the Farmable Wetlands Program of CRP to work better for playas. Soon after, companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) in the House. The legislators' urging resulted in an administrative action to increase eligibility for playa lakes under the CRP through this new initiative.
Although playas are eligible for other Farm Bill provisions such as the Farmable Wetlands Program (under CRP) and Wetland Reserve Program, very few, if any, have ever been enrolled (see story at right, "Texas Set to Enroll First Playa into WRP"). This is due in part to a lack of knowledge about playa lakes by landowners and resource managers in the field. This new Initiative marks the first time that playa lakes have been specifically named and defined by the USDA, which PLJV hopes will help raise awareness of these vital wetlands and increase their enrollment.
The PLJV is urging partners to learn more about the new Wetlands Restoration Initiative, Farmable Wetlands Program and Wetland Reserve Program, how they can work for playas, and pass that knowledge onto landowners. The Joint Venture is also reaching out to the USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which administer the programs, and offering its assistance to help make the programs a success for playas.
Expiring CRP Acres Given Second Chance
More than 8 million expiring CRP acres in PLJV states were given a lifeline from the USDA which will offer early re-enrollment and contract extensions to landowners. The move prevents a massive loss of created grasslands on former croplands that benefit wildlife in the PLJV region.
Across the nation, more than 22 million CRP acres are set to expire in 2007 and 2008 - constituting about half of the entire program. Of that, approximately 1.7 million acres in Colorado, 2 million in Kansas, 700,000 in Nebraska, 500,000 in New Mexico, 800,000 in Oklahoma and 3 million in Texas are set to expire, according to the FSA. Other changes to CRP that will benefit wildlife in the PLJV region include the Northern Bobwhite Quail Initiative which makes 56,600 acres of habitat buffers available for PLJV states and the Wetlands Restoration Initiative (see story above, "Making the Farm Bill Work for Playas.")
The USDA is seeking comments on the future of the CRP program by December 8, 2004.
Landowners Learning the
Birds and Bees
A new, innovative training program is teaching landowners how to identify birds, bugs and other wild residents to become better "tour guides" on their properties. Texas Prairie Rivers Region, Inc. (TPRR) launched the program this summer with the intent of providing landowners, wildlife agency field staff and chamber of commerce members, among others, the skills necessary to take advantage of the growing nature tourism market and educational interest in the natural environment. The program also targets landowners who have participated in habitat conservation projects who are willing to open their land to visitors.
TPRR, based in Canadian, Texas, has created a unique certification program in cooperation with Miles Phillips, instructor for the National Association for Interpretation, and so far has hosted two training sessions that brought in participants from Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. TPRR plans to host four training sessions each year and also make the program available to any organization that wants it. Funding for the program was provided through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and PLJV state capacity grants. For more information, contact TPRR Director Remelle Farrar. Also, look for an upcoming article in Texas Monthly about the turnaround of Canadian from ghost town to one of the most happening places in the Panhandle.
for Playa Lakes
PLJV partners are making great strides to protect playa lakes through the Farm Bill. Last month, President Bush and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) announced the new Wetlands Restoration Initiative of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Among its provisions, the Initiative specifically calls for the protection of playa lakes and allocates 56,600 acres to PLJV states for enrollment starting October 1st. The Joint Venture estimates that the Initiative could bring up to $35 million over 15 years to the playa lakes region if states take full advantage of the program.
The impetus for the initiative began more than a year ago when PLJV partners began developing a Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program proposal focused on the playa lakes region. U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS) took note of the proposal and in November 2003 introduced legislation to expand the Farmable Wetlands Program of CRP to work better for playas. Soon after, companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) in the House. The legislators' urging resulted in an administrative action to increase eligibility for playa lakes under the CRP through this new initiative.
Although playas are eligible for other Farm Bill provisions such as the Farmable Wetlands Program (under CRP) and Wetland Reserve Program, very few, if any, have ever been enrolled (see story at right, "Texas Set to Enroll First Playa into WRP"). This is due in part to a lack of knowledge about playa lakes by landowners and resource managers in the field. This new Initiative marks the first time that playa lakes have been specifically named and defined by the USDA, which PLJV hopes will help raise awareness of these vital wetlands and increase their enrollment.
The PLJV is urging partners to learn more about the new Wetlands Restoration Initiative, Farmable Wetlands Program and Wetland Reserve Program, how they can work for playas, and pass that knowledge onto landowners. The Joint Venture is also reaching out to the USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which administer the programs, and offering its assistance to help make the programs a success for playas.
RELATED LINKS:
> USDA Fact Sheet: Wetlands Restoration Initiative
> USDA Public Notice: Wetlands Restoration Initiative (PDF file)
> USDA Fact Sheet: Farmable Wetlands Program
> USDA Fact Sheet: Wetlands Reserve Program
> PLJV News Release: Farm Bill Changes to Benefit Playa Lakes
Expiring CRP Acres Given Second Chance
More than 8 million expiring CRP acres in PLJV states were given a lifeline from the USDA which will offer early re-enrollment and contract extensions to landowners. The move prevents a massive loss of created grasslands on former croplands that benefit wildlife in the PLJV region.
Across the nation, more than 22 million CRP acres are set to expire in 2007 and 2008 - constituting about half of the entire program. Of that, approximately 1.7 million acres in Colorado, 2 million in Kansas, 700,000 in Nebraska, 500,000 in New Mexico, 800,000 in Oklahoma and 3 million in Texas are set to expire, according to the FSA. Other changes to CRP that will benefit wildlife in the PLJV region include the Northern Bobwhite Quail Initiative which makes 56,600 acres of habitat buffers available for PLJV states and the Wetlands Restoration Initiative (see story above, "Making the Farm Bill Work for Playas.")
The USDA is seeking comments on the future of the CRP program by December 8, 2004.
Landowners Learning the
Birds and Bees
A new, innovative training program is teaching landowners how to identify birds, bugs and other wild residents to become better "tour guides" on their properties. Texas Prairie Rivers Region, Inc. (TPRR) launched the program this summer with the intent of providing landowners, wildlife agency field staff and chamber of commerce members, among others, the skills necessary to take advantage of the growing nature tourism market and educational interest in the natural environment. The program also targets landowners who have participated in habitat conservation projects who are willing to open their land to visitors.
TPRR, based in Canadian, Texas, has created a unique certification program in cooperation with Miles Phillips, instructor for the National Association for Interpretation, and so far has hosted two training sessions that brought in participants from Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. TPRR plans to host four training sessions each year and also make the program available to any organization that wants it. Funding for the program was provided through National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and PLJV state capacity grants. For more information, contact TPRR Director Remelle Farrar. Also, look for an upcoming article in Texas Monthly about the turnaround of Canadian from ghost town to one of the most happening places in the Panhandle.
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.
Texas Set to Enroll First Playa in Wetlands Reserve Program
After four years in the works, Texas is close to enrolling its first playa lake into the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) under the USDA Farm Bill. Located a few miles north of Lubbock, the 37-acre playa and surrounding native prairie provides high-quality habitat year round for wetland-dependent bird species, as well as burrowing owls, ferruginous hawks, prairie dogs and numerous other species. Once enrolled into the WRP, the playa would be protected in perpetuity.
"This playa is probably in the top five for wildlife habitat in the Southern High Plains," said Dr. David Haukos of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who has shuttled the project through the WRP process. Haukos says playas generally have a difficult time competing in the WRP partly because they are ranked statewide, which puts them alongside coastal and other wetlands which tend to garner more points. So Haukos and the landowner developed a playa project that would maximize points, which took about four years to accomplish.
The number and diversity of partners helped the project score higher. Financial partners include: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Playa Lakes Joint Venture, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, The Nature Conservancy of Texas and Llano Estacado Audubon Society which jointly contributed $6,000 toward restoration of the site. The playa's value to wildlife, proximity to other private lands projects and permanence of the project also contributed to its point value.
Above all, landowner willingness was essential, and Haukos had already established a good working relationship with the landowner through his work on a Texas Tech University research project to study Northern Pintails. The landowner allowed Texas Tech researchers to study the birds on his property, which is visited by thousands of pintails when the playa is flooded each year. The landowner's involvement in the project piqued his interest in wildlife and clinched his willingness to protect his playa.
"Once the landowner started watching us work down there catching and releasing ducks and putting on radio transmitters, he started helping out and just loved it - especially holding the ducks," Haukos said.
In early August, the USDA accepted the playa project for funding. All that needs to be done now is an appraisal of the land, after which the landowner will make his final decision to continue or not. If the deal goes through, this will be the first playa protected through the WRP in Texas - a state which has the largest number of playas in the PLJV region with about 30,000 wetlands.
Kansas is the only other PLJV state which has utilized WRP for playas with six projects on the books. Kansas NRCS has recently launched an outreach campaign to landowners and its field staff to increase playa enrollment in the program.
Deadlines Near for NAWCA, Neotrop, and Colorado Grants
December 3rd is the deadline to submit proposals for the next round of North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) small grants. Matching grants of up to $50,000 are available for wetlands acquisition, creation, enhancement, and/or restoration projects. The PLJV Management Board has challenged partners to submit up to 8 proposals JV-wide by this deadline. Prospective applicants should submit proposal drafts to the PLJV staff at least one month in advance of the deadline.
Proposals are also due December 3 for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act grant program. The program provides matching funds for projects that promote the conservation of these birds in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Projects must have a 3:1 partner to grant request funding ratio and may include activities to benefit bird populations and their habitats, research and monitoring, law enforcement, and outreach and education. Congress appropriated $4 million for the grants program in 2004. The 2005 appropriation has not yet been determined.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) is currently accepting applications for the Colorado Species Conservation Partnership (CSCP) program through the end of September. The CSCP program offers landowners perpetual or term easements with accompanying management agreements. Currently, the CDOW is focusing the program on landowners whose property contains habitat for species such as Gunnison sage grouse, Preble's meadow jumping mouse, greater sage grouse, lesser prairie chicken, and other shortgrass prairie species. About $6 million is available for projects for this round. Prospective applicants are encouraged to work with their local CDOW biologist before submitting a proposal. Contact CSCP Coordinator Ken Morgan for more information.
"This playa is probably in the top five for wildlife habitat in the Southern High Plains," said Dr. David Haukos of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who has shuttled the project through the WRP process. Haukos says playas generally have a difficult time competing in the WRP partly because they are ranked statewide, which puts them alongside coastal and other wetlands which tend to garner more points. So Haukos and the landowner developed a playa project that would maximize points, which took about four years to accomplish.
The number and diversity of partners helped the project score higher. Financial partners include: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Playa Lakes Joint Venture, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, The Nature Conservancy of Texas and Llano Estacado Audubon Society which jointly contributed $6,000 toward restoration of the site. The playa's value to wildlife, proximity to other private lands projects and permanence of the project also contributed to its point value.
Above all, landowner willingness was essential, and Haukos had already established a good working relationship with the landowner through his work on a Texas Tech University research project to study Northern Pintails. The landowner allowed Texas Tech researchers to study the birds on his property, which is visited by thousands of pintails when the playa is flooded each year. The landowner's involvement in the project piqued his interest in wildlife and clinched his willingness to protect his playa.
"Once the landowner started watching us work down there catching and releasing ducks and putting on radio transmitters, he started helping out and just loved it - especially holding the ducks," Haukos said.
In early August, the USDA accepted the playa project for funding. All that needs to be done now is an appraisal of the land, after which the landowner will make his final decision to continue or not. If the deal goes through, this will be the first playa protected through the WRP in Texas - a state which has the largest number of playas in the PLJV region with about 30,000 wetlands.
Kansas is the only other PLJV state which has utilized WRP for playas with six projects on the books. Kansas NRCS has recently launched an outreach campaign to landowners and its field staff to increase playa enrollment in the program.
Deadlines Near for NAWCA, Neotrop, and Colorado Grants
December 3rd is the deadline to submit proposals for the next round of North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) small grants. Matching grants of up to $50,000 are available for wetlands acquisition, creation, enhancement, and/or restoration projects. The PLJV Management Board has challenged partners to submit up to 8 proposals JV-wide by this deadline. Prospective applicants should submit proposal drafts to the PLJV staff at least one month in advance of the deadline.
Proposals are also due December 3 for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act grant program. The program provides matching funds for projects that promote the conservation of these birds in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Projects must have a 3:1 partner to grant request funding ratio and may include activities to benefit bird populations and their habitats, research and monitoring, law enforcement, and outreach and education. Congress appropriated $4 million for the grants program in 2004. The 2005 appropriation has not yet been determined.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) is currently accepting applications for the Colorado Species Conservation Partnership (CSCP) program through the end of September. The CSCP program offers landowners perpetual or term easements with accompanying management agreements. Currently, the CDOW is focusing the program on landowners whose property contains habitat for species such as Gunnison sage grouse, Preble's meadow jumping mouse, greater sage grouse, lesser prairie chicken, and other shortgrass prairie species. About $6 million is available for projects for this round. Prospective applicants are encouraged to work with their local CDOW biologist before submitting a proposal. Contact CSCP Coordinator Ken Morgan for more information.