WANTED: Playa Buffer Research Cooperators
Sedimentation is a major threat to playas situated in croplands. The PLJV has a long history of promoting and funding projects to protect these playas by establishing grass buffers. Many playas also have been buffered through Farm Bill programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program. Buffers are assumed to adequately protect playas from sedimentation, but have not been formally studied. Some observers report that buffers may greatly reduce the volume of runoff water reaching playas, reducing their value to wetland birds. Given this incomplete understanding of the ecological values of playa buffers, the PLJV seeks to develop a research partnership to address this issue.

"Understanding playa buffers is the highest priority research topic identified by our Monitoring, Evaluation, and Research Team, and we're hoping to initiate a project this year," said Brian Sullivan, PLJV's Biological Team Leader. "We'd like to hear from researchers interested in studying playa buffers, and also from potential funding partners," Sullivan said.

Researchers seeking funding for a playa buffer study are encouraged to apply for a PLJV ConocoPhillips grant. The PLJV is seeking proposals for this grant program now through November 15. The program awards grants for habitat, outreach and research grants, and extra incentive funding is available for playa buffer research projects. To provide partners with background information on this topic, the PLJV cooperated with U. S. Geological Survey scientists Cynthia Melcher and Susan Skagen to produce a literature synthesis and annotated bibliography on playa buffers. These publications can be downloaded from the USGS web site or requested from PLJV staff.

---

Kansas Administers 'CPR' for Wetlands and Streams
Dozens of landowners, resource managers and conservationists from across Kansas showcased strategies for resuscitating wetlands and streams during the "CPR" (Create, Protect and Restore) for Wetlands and Streams Conference September 27 - 29 in Wichita. The gathering was the second CPR conference hosted by the Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams, and featured presentations and interactive sessions with experts in stream and wetland restoration technology, wildlife conservation, education, and project and partnership development.

During the conference, PLJV Coordinator Mike Carter demonstrated the Joint Venture's Hierarchical All-Bird Planning Strategy (HABS) database, which can be used to model the effects of wetland, stream and other habitat conservation projects on bird numbers and regional bird population goals. The PLJV has developed a user interface for the database, which will make it more straightforward for project developers to navigate the system. The new HABS interface was unveiled for the first time during the KAWS conference.

---

Guide to Playa Educational Resources Available Online
Teachers wanting to incorporate playa education into the classroom should check out the PLJV's Educator Resource Guide. The Guide is a detailed index to dozens of educational materials on playas and related bird habitats, including books, activity guides, audio/visual materials, articles, field programs and more. The Guide has recently been updated and there are more than 100 entries listed. If you know of a resource not listed in the Guide, please let us know.

---

Following Ferruginous Hawks An international investigation is underway of Ferruginous Hawks in Canada, the United States and Mexico. Currently in its third year, the Ferruginous Hawk Satellite Telemetry Project is a collaborative effort among a wide variety of non-profit groups and governmental and academic institutions. The project seeks to better understand the migratory biology of the birds, which have declining populations in many parts of the species' range. The project includes PLJV partners such as The Nature Conservancy, USDA Forest Service and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.

---

Playa Post ©2003, 2004, 2005 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.

---

The Nature Conservancy and PLJV Collaborate on Planning
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and PLJV are working together to ensure the long-term conservation of native bird species in the shortgrass prairie. Over the past year, TNC has been working on an ecoregional assessment of the Central Shortgrass Prairie to identify a set of areas for conservation that best represent the biodiversity of the region. As the team designs a network of sites, TNC scientists are using the PLJV's GIS data on playa locations to target areas for habitat work, as well as the Joint Venture's bird planning database, HABS, to assess how conservation of these areas will affect regional bird population objectives.

Central Shortgrass Prairie Ecoregion. Map courtesy TNC.

"We are thrilled to be working with the PLJV on this important project. The PLJV is a leader in bird conservation and brings tremendous expertise for integrating regional bird goals into the shortgrass prairie assessment," said Team Leader Betsy Neely of TNC. Partners working with TNC on the assessment include, the Department of Defense, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado Division of Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other federal and state agencies, non-governmental organizations and private landowners. For more information, contact Betsy Neely.