Capacity Grants Drive Local Conservation Partnerships
In 2002, the PLJV began a program of capacity grants to state-based partnerships to increase the ability of our partners to deliver bird habitat conservation projects in the PLJV region. More recently we have concluded that successful state capacity grants result in sustainable local conservation partnerships that implement projects contributing to PLJV habitat objectives. Successful partnerships include focus area committees, state action committees, or groups focused on ongoing resource concerns such as burn committees or Farm Bill implementation groups.
What are the hallmarks of a successful local conservation partnership? Here is a checklist for what should be in place to deliver habitat:
• Direction from a habitat, resource or species conservation plan.
• A strategic plan to deliver conservation at local level.
• A team for building and delivering projects.
• A diverse representation of, or strong connection to, local interests, community leaders, landowners and resource professionals.
• Regular partnership meetings.
• Partnership ability to identify and seize upon funding.
• Partnership ability to identify and remove programmatic roadblocks.
• Partnership is self-sustaining via common objectives, stable funding and rewarding work.
The PLJV believes the capacity grant program has become a huge success as evidenced by the number of active local conservation partnerships popping up all over the JV that meet these criteria and we will continue capacity grants especially to these partnerships.
Scientists Plan for Monitoring of Interior Least Terns
Researchers studying the Interior Least Tern met in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last month to coordinate and plan for continued monitoring of this endangered species. The Interior Least Tern, which breeds mostly on sandbars of the Mississippi, Missouri, Platte, Arkansas, and Red River systems, was listed as an endangered species in 1985. This population has not been well monitored in the past, especially along the Red, Cimarron and Canadian Rivers.
Happenings Around the PLJV:
> Dec. 5: Presentation abstracts due for the Soil and Water Conservation Society's international meeting being held July 22 - 26, 2006 in Keystone Resort, Colorado; contact Deb Happe.
> Dec 14 - Jan 5: Christmas Bird Counts taking place throughout PLJV region. Contact your state wildlife department or local Audubon chapter for local count information.
> Dec - Jan : Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams and Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks are hosting several community and landowner meetings on CP23a throughout western Kansas. Contact Mike Peterson or Chris Berens for details.
> Jan: Colorado Birding Trail landowner meeting hosted by the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, La Junta, CO; Contact Dana Ripper for date and time details.
> Jan 17 - 19: PLJV Management Board Meeting, Denver, CO; contact JV Coordinator Mike Carter.
> Jan 23 - 25: Colorado Wind and Wildlife Symposium hosted by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Ft. Collins, CO; contact David Klute.
> Jan 1 - April 1: Playa exhibit on display at the Prairie Museum of Art and History in Colby, KS; contact Museum Director Sue Taylor.
> Feb. 2: World Wetlands Day.
In 2002, the PLJV began a program of capacity grants to state-based partnerships to increase the ability of our partners to deliver bird habitat conservation projects in the PLJV region. More recently we have concluded that successful state capacity grants result in sustainable local conservation partnerships that implement projects contributing to PLJV habitat objectives. Successful partnerships include focus area committees, state action committees, or groups focused on ongoing resource concerns such as burn committees or Farm Bill implementation groups.
What are the hallmarks of a successful local conservation partnership? Here is a checklist for what should be in place to deliver habitat:
• Direction from a habitat, resource or species conservation plan.
• A strategic plan to deliver conservation at local level.
• A team for building and delivering projects.
• A diverse representation of, or strong connection to, local interests, community leaders, landowners and resource professionals.
• Regular partnership meetings.
• Partnership ability to identify and seize upon funding.
• Partnership ability to identify and remove programmatic roadblocks.
• Partnership is self-sustaining via common objectives, stable funding and rewarding work.
The PLJV believes the capacity grant program has become a huge success as evidenced by the number of active local conservation partnerships popping up all over the JV that meet these criteria and we will continue capacity grants especially to these partnerships.
Scientists Plan for Monitoring of Interior Least Terns
Researchers studying the Interior Least Tern met in Tulsa, Oklahoma, last month to coordinate and plan for continued monitoring of this endangered species. The Interior Least Tern, which breeds mostly on sandbars of the Mississippi, Missouri, Platte, Arkansas, and Red River systems, was listed as an endangered species in 1985. This population has not been well monitored in the past, especially along the Red, Cimarron and Canadian Rivers.
This year, the first range-wide species survey was conducted, which included an aerial survey of these three rivers funded by the Army Corps of Engineers and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Around 17,500 Interior Least Terns were counted range-wide. Together, the Red and Arkansas River (and its tributaries) host around 23 percent of the range-wide population of adult birds and about 50 percent of all known breeding colonies.
During the meeting, biologists discussed ways to standardize survey methods and increase survey coverage to improve long-term coordinated monitoring of the species. All three of the rivers in greatest need for increased survey effort are within the Playa Lakes Joint Venture: the Red River (including the Prairie Dog Town Fork) upstream of Lake Texoma, the Canadian River west of Eufaula Lake, and the Cimarron River west of Keystone Lake.
Resource professionals and agency representatives interested in assisting with the Interior Least Tern monitoring effort should contact Interior Least Tern Monitoring Program Coordinator Casey Lott of the American Bird Conservancy.
Happenings Around the PLJV:
> Dec. 5: Presentation abstracts due for the Soil and Water Conservation Society's international meeting being held July 22 - 26, 2006 in Keystone Resort, Colorado; contact Deb Happe.
> Dec 14 - Jan 5: Christmas Bird Counts taking place throughout PLJV region. Contact your state wildlife department or local Audubon chapter for local count information.
> Dec - Jan : Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams and Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks are hosting several community and landowner meetings on CP23a throughout western Kansas. Contact Mike Peterson or Chris Berens for details.
> Jan: Colorado Birding Trail landowner meeting hosted by the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, La Junta, CO; Contact Dana Ripper for date and time details.
> Jan 17 - 19: PLJV Management Board Meeting, Denver, CO; contact JV Coordinator Mike Carter.
> Jan 23 - 25: Colorado Wind and Wildlife Symposium hosted by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Ft. Collins, CO; contact David Klute.
> Jan 1 - April 1: Playa exhibit on display at the Prairie Museum of Art and History in Colby, KS; contact Museum Director Sue Taylor.
> Feb. 2: World Wetlands Day.
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.
PLJV Boundary to Expand to Northeast Colorado
The PLJV, Intermountain West Joint Venture, Colorado Division of Wildlife and South Platte Wetland Focus Area Committee are in the process of finalizing a PLJV boundary change in northeast Colorado (see map above). The expansion of PLJV's Colorado boundary will result in the entire Shortgrass Prairie Bird Conservation Region (BCR 18) portion of the state coming under the PLJV. The move will allow conservation partnerships from northeast Colorado to take advantage of PLJV resources such as the ConocoPhillips grant program, Geographic Information System, habitat planning tools, and other JV resources.
The expansion will be formalized at the PLJV Management Board meeting in January, during which representatives of the South Platte Wetland Focus Area Committee, the primary local conservation partnership for the area, will give a presentation to the board.
PLJV Management Board to Meet in Denver in January
The PLJV Management Board will hold its winter meeting in Denver January 17-19 at the Marriott Renaissance hotel. The meeting will bring together partners from around the region to highlight year end accomplishments of the PLJV and set direction for 2006. Among meeting activities, a special celebration is planned to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and honor PLJV partners who have participated in its development. The deadline to book a room at the hotel is Dec. 19. Call 1-800-468-3571 or 303-399-7500 to make a reservation. For meeting agendas and other details, contact PLJV Coordinator Mike Carter.
Follow the Money:
> The Lois Webster Fund:
The Lois Webster Fund of the Audubon Society of Greater Denver was established in 1995 specifically to support Colorado non-game wildlife research and related education projects. The LWF is interested in funding projects designed to lead to conservation of non-game species that are declining or under stress or suffering loss or degradation of habitat. Approximately $5,000 will be available for project funding in 2006 from the LWF. Applications are due January 20, 2006. Contact Polly Reetz for more information.
> Tribal Wildlife Grants (TWG) and Tribal Landowner Incentive Programs (TLIP):
These two programs, which are similar to the Landowner Incentive and State Wildlife grants programs, are designed to conserve and restore the habitat of threatened, endangered and at risk species on private lands. TWG, in fiscal year 2006, has $5,971,000 available for grants that will benefit wildlife and wildlife habitat, including species that are not hunted or fished. The maximum award under this program is $250,000. In fiscal year 2006, $2,388,600 is available through TLIP for federally recognized Indian tribes to address protection, restoration, and management of habitat to benefit species at risk, including federally listed endangered or threatened species, as well as proposed or candidate species. The maximum award under this program is $150,000. Grant applications must be postmarked by January 31, 2006. For grant application kits, please visit http://www.fws.gov/grants/tribal.html or contact Patrick Durham, Office of the Native American Liaison (202) 208 4133.
> Private Stewardship Grant Program:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking proposals for conservation projects on private lands through its Private Stewardship Grants Program. For FY 2006, approximately $6.5 million is available through this grant program to support on-the-ground conservation efforts on private lands. Proposals must be submitted to the Regional Offices of the Service by January 23, 2006.
> Wetlands Reserve Program (CO):
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of Colorado recently announced the availability of $2.1 million dollars to help private landowners restore, enhance and protect one of our most precious natural resources - wetlands - through the Wetlands Reserve Program. Applications received through December 16, 2005 will be considered for the limited 2006 funding. For more information on how to apply for WRP funds, contact your local conservation district or NRCS field office located in the USDA Service Center in your community.
The PLJV, Intermountain West Joint Venture, Colorado Division of Wildlife and South Platte Wetland Focus Area Committee are in the process of finalizing a PLJV boundary change in northeast Colorado (see map above). The expansion of PLJV's Colorado boundary will result in the entire Shortgrass Prairie Bird Conservation Region (BCR 18) portion of the state coming under the PLJV. The move will allow conservation partnerships from northeast Colorado to take advantage of PLJV resources such as the ConocoPhillips grant program, Geographic Information System, habitat planning tools, and other JV resources.
The expansion will be formalized at the PLJV Management Board meeting in January, during which representatives of the South Platte Wetland Focus Area Committee, the primary local conservation partnership for the area, will give a presentation to the board.
PLJV Management Board to Meet in Denver in January
The PLJV Management Board will hold its winter meeting in Denver January 17-19 at the Marriott Renaissance hotel. The meeting will bring together partners from around the region to highlight year end accomplishments of the PLJV and set direction for 2006. Among meeting activities, a special celebration is planned to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and honor PLJV partners who have participated in its development. The deadline to book a room at the hotel is Dec. 19. Call 1-800-468-3571 or 303-399-7500 to make a reservation. For meeting agendas and other details, contact PLJV Coordinator Mike Carter.
Follow the Money:
> The Lois Webster Fund:
The Lois Webster Fund of the Audubon Society of Greater Denver was established in 1995 specifically to support Colorado non-game wildlife research and related education projects. The LWF is interested in funding projects designed to lead to conservation of non-game species that are declining or under stress or suffering loss or degradation of habitat. Approximately $5,000 will be available for project funding in 2006 from the LWF. Applications are due January 20, 2006. Contact Polly Reetz for more information.
> Tribal Wildlife Grants (TWG) and Tribal Landowner Incentive Programs (TLIP):
These two programs, which are similar to the Landowner Incentive and State Wildlife grants programs, are designed to conserve and restore the habitat of threatened, endangered and at risk species on private lands. TWG, in fiscal year 2006, has $5,971,000 available for grants that will benefit wildlife and wildlife habitat, including species that are not hunted or fished. The maximum award under this program is $250,000. In fiscal year 2006, $2,388,600 is available through TLIP for federally recognized Indian tribes to address protection, restoration, and management of habitat to benefit species at risk, including federally listed endangered or threatened species, as well as proposed or candidate species. The maximum award under this program is $150,000. Grant applications must be postmarked by January 31, 2006. For grant application kits, please visit http://www.fws.gov/grants/tribal.html or contact Patrick Durham, Office of the Native American Liaison (202) 208 4133.
> Private Stewardship Grant Program:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking proposals for conservation projects on private lands through its Private Stewardship Grants Program. For FY 2006, approximately $6.5 million is available through this grant program to support on-the-ground conservation efforts on private lands. Proposals must be submitted to the Regional Offices of the Service by January 23, 2006.
> Wetlands Reserve Program (CO):
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) of Colorado recently announced the availability of $2.1 million dollars to help private landowners restore, enhance and protect one of our most precious natural resources - wetlands - through the Wetlands Reserve Program. Applications received through December 16, 2005 will be considered for the limited 2006 funding. For more information on how to apply for WRP funds, contact your local conservation district or NRCS field office located in the USDA Service Center in your community.