A longtime partner of the PLJV, ConocoPhillips has contributed greatly to the Joint Venture's conservation programs and strategic planning over the past 13 years. From providing in excess of $1.25 million which has helped fund more than 200 conservation projects, to providing a business foundation for Joint Venture operations, ConocoPhillips has been an invaluable PLJV partner.
"By partnering with the Playa Lakes Joint Venture, ConocoPhillips is able to sit at the same table with all stakeholders - wildlife agencies, conservation groups and scientists - and jointly develop projects that benefit birds and local communities where the company does business," said Bob Ridge, Vice President of Health, Safety and Environment for ConocoPhillips and PLJV Board Member.
Recently, ConocoPhillips has contributed funds to a number of projects developed and procured by the PLJV, including a region-wide Geographic Information System (GIS) to inventory playa lakes and other wildlife habitats, landowner incentive programs to protect playa lakes in Kansas and Oklahoma, and an award-winning playa exhibit that is touring museums and exhibit areas throughout the PLJV region. ConocoPhillips' contributions have made it possible for the PLJV to leverage funds and enhance partnerships with state and federal wildlife agencies, conservation groups, foundations and landowners - more than quadrupling the conservation impact of the company's dollars.
"The partnership between ConocoPhillips and the PLJV has produced wonderful projects that probably would not have happened with either group working independently," said Mike Carter, PLJV Coordinator."
In addition to providing funding for projects, ConocoPhillips representatives on the PLJV Management Board have instilled a keen business sense in Joint Venture operations and communications, and contributed greatly to the development of the new PLJV Master Plan, which lays out a business approach to bird conservation.
PLJV partners have formally recognized ConocoPhillips on numerous occasions for the company's commitment to bird conservation, and most recently, Ducks Unlimited presented ConocoPhillips with the Diamond Legacy award in 2001 for the company's contributions to waterfowl and wetlands conservation. In 1996, ConocoPhillips received the National Great Blue Heron award from the National Waterfowl Management Plan for the company's long-term partnership with PLJV.
Landowner Success Story:
Ranger Creek Ranch, Texas
Wildlife habitat at the Ranger Creek Ranch in Seymour, Texas is thriving thanks to the owners' dedication to improve their land and diversify their ranching and farming business.
"Diversification is the key to survive today in agriculture," said Ranell Walker, one of the owners of the family-run ranch that incorporates wildlife recreation into agricultural operations. There is something for everyone at the ranch - anglers, big and small game hunters, wildlife photographers and nature lovers - over thousands of acres of prairie, canyon lands, rolling mesquite flats, lakes and rivers in Knox, Baylor and Archer Counties.
Walker says declining agricultural commodity prices forced ranch owners to identify other values their land had to offer. The ranch had a long history in hunting, and the owners decided to return to their roots, establishing a premiere hunting and nature tourism lodge and participating in several habitat-improvement projects, including a recent PLJV project completed August 2003.
The PLJV project involved finishing the development of a 10-acre shallow water area to encourage growth of native moist-soil plants for use by waterfowl, shorebirds and other wading birds. Two terraces were constructed to divert rainfall into the basin, a pump was installed and well drilled and cased so that the basin could be filled during periods of little rainfall, and the project area was fenced off to control grazing.
The entire project cost $7,002, of which the PLJV contributed $3,399 through its ConocoPhillips funds. Other financial and technical assistance was provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the landowners also contributed $2,283.
"The PLJV did take out some acres of production, and the fence involved some expense to construct. However the wildlife benefits and increased income far outweigh the expense and inconvenience of the fence," said Walker.
This past season, Walker says the enhanced wetland area was covered by teal. Other wildlife she has seen on the ranch includes nine species of ducks, five species of geese, whitetail deer, quail, Rio Grande turkeys and doves. She advises other landowners interested in improving their land for wildlife to analyze their land, interests and goals.
"Our mind set is to make ranching and wildlife management work together to increase our income by improving wildlife habitat," Walker said. "The PLJV has been a great program to be involved with in improving our land and helped us accomplish our goals."
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.
Deadlines for Conservation Grants Approaching Fast
On the state level, landowners in New Mexico have until December 15, 2003 to apply for a Wildlife Partnership Grant through the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF). This year, $40,000 in matching funds is available to landowners who submit project proposals that aim to enhance and improve wildlife habitats on private land. For more information on these grants, contact Robyn Tierney of NMDGF.
The PLJV is also seeking grant proposals for the ConocoPhillips/PLJV Grants program by November 15, 2003. Two times per year, the PLJV awards grants in three categories: habitat management, research and outreach/education.
Colorado's bird conservation professionals are pooling their expertise, resources and connections with the formation of two new local and statewide partnerships. The local group - the Southeast Colorado Wetlands Focus Area Committee (FAC) - had its second meeting October 24 in Limon which provided a forum for local wildlife and natural resource agency representatives, non profit groups and landowners to discuss incentive programs to conserve wildlife habitat on private land. Funding for the FAC, which is being organized by the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO), was provided in part by the PLJV through the Joint Venture's state capacity grant program. For more information about the FAC, contact Tammy Vercauteren of RMBO.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) is spearheading the development of the statewide effort - the Colorado Bird Conservation Partnership. The Partnership formed this summer to expand opportunities to benefit bird populations and their habitats throughout the state. Representatives from The Nature Conservancy, Pheasants Forever, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, Ducks Unlimited, Audubon, Playa Lakes and Intermountain West Joint Ventures, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service, among others, are involved in the Partnership, and bring a wealth of cumulative knowledge and experience.
"We are not starting from scratch," said David Klute, All-Bird Coordinator and Partnership leader for the CDOW. "The goal for all-bird conservation is to take the knowledge we already have, and integrate the information and expertise to use the resources most effectively." Among the actions of the Partnership is to participate in state and region-wide all-bird biological planning. The Partnership recently hosted a planning workshop on the west slope in conjunction with the Intermountain West Joint Venture, and is identifying bird experts to join the PLJV biological planning teams. For more information about the Colorado Bird Conservation Partnership, contact David Klute.
New Book Details Natural History, Ecology of Playa Lakes
Distinguished playa researcher and former PLJV board member Dr. Loren Smith has authored a new book, Playas of the Great Plains, which synthesizes decades of research on the wetlands. Smith rigorously examines playa functions, origins, values and ecology in an accessible writing style that can be appreciated by scientists as well as the general public. Copies of the book are available through University of Texas Press.
