Planning Tools for Conservation

The Playa Lakes Joint Venture (PLJV) has developed a suite of biological planning tools to help partners target and evaluate bird habitat conservation efforts and increase conservation efficiency. Partners are encouraged to download the available tools below and contact PLJV Science Director This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. at 303-926-0777 for help in using one or more tools in planning for a particular project.

Area Implementation Plans

Area Implementation Plans provide guidance on recommended habitat management actions that, if implemented, should result in all priority birds reaching population goals. There are nine plans — one for each portion of Bird Conservation Regions (BCR) 18 and 19 in our six states.

Hierarchical All-Bird Conservation System Database

The Hierarchical All-Bird Conservation System database was created to determine the current carrying capacity of the PLJV landscape for birds. The database is used to compare carrying capacity to stepped-down national and international bird plan objectives to determine what kind of and how much habitat work needs to be done, such as in the Area Implementation Plans above. This system is also used to evaluate large-scale habitat programs (e.g. Farm Bill programs, burn councils) and their potential affect on bird species.

Species for Management Action Database

The Species for Management Action database provides information on all birds that have occurred within the PLJV boundaries. Information includes bird population estimates for North America, shortgrass prairie (BCR 18) and central mixed-grass prairie (BCR 19), as well as the various statuses of birds from national bird conservation plans and government entities. The database also includes population trends provided principally by the Breeding Bird Survey and other sources. The PLJV uses this information to help prioritize species for different conservation actions such as monitoring or habitat work. A draft of proposed species for habitat action can be found in the Access reports in the Species for Management Action database.

Southern Plains Wind and Wildlife Planner

The Southern Plains Wind & Wildlife Planner provides best management practices for priority natural resources in Colorado and New Mexico. The tool is designed to help wind energy developers reduce potential impacts to wildlife and ecosystems during the planning and development of projects in these states.

The Playa Lakes Joint Venture (PLJV) is one of the partners involved in the Colorado Renewables and Conservation Collaborative and New Mexico Wind and Wildlife Collaborative, the groups that developed the state resource priorities featured in the Southern Plains Wind and Wildlife Planner, and hosts the online tool for both groups. Partners in each state worked together to develop a science-based site selection and mitigation framework that can help guide the placement of renewable energy development facilities and the transmission of that energy so that wildlife resource concerns may be avoided, minimized or mitigated.

Visit the Southern Plains Wind & Wildlife Planner to identify what resources are important for conservation, where to locate potential project sites in relation to resources of conservation concern, and how to develop offsets for potential impacts if avoidance is impractical.

Southern Great Plains Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool

The Southern Great Plains Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool can be used region-wide to inform the pre-planning of large-scale energy, transportation, and land-use projects and guide industry in making siting decisions that avoid sensitive areas for Lesser Prairie-Chicken. It can also help state and federal agencies and other organizations target research and conservation programs for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken.

The tool was developed as a collaborative effort between the wildlife departments in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, along with the US Geological Survey and Playa Lakes Joint Venture and was funded through a Western Governors' Association grant. The assessment tool will continue to be updated as new information becomes available and will be expanded to include a suite of shared species of greatest conservation need.

Lesser Prairie-Chicken Calls

Each month, PLJV hosts a Lesser Prairie-Chicken phone meeting to facilitate communication about state and regional efforts to conserve this species. The meeting is held the third full week of the month and lasts about an hour. Agenda items are solicited before each meeting. Although each state is responsible for working within their own boundaries, we all need to know and understand what is happening across the region in order to successfully work together and create a win for this bird. If you’d like to participate in the calls, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , PLJV Conservation Policy Director, and request to be added to the mailing list.