Interior Secretary Salazar Declares Award of $9 million in Grants to States for Imperiled Species Conservation
Category:Grants and Awards Type: News Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Date: Monday, April 20th, 2009
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today the award of in excess of $9 million to twelve state wildlife agencies to help conserve and recover imperiled fish and wildlife species through the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Competitive Program. The federal backing will be matched by in excess of $7 million in non-Federal funds provided by states and their partners for plans helping imperiled fish, wildlife and plant species.
The SWG Competitive Program, part of the U.S.F.W.S.'s State Wildlife Grants Plan, awards grants to plans that implement strategies and actions to conserve imperiled species contained in approved State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Projects (also known as State Wildlife Action Plans). Grants are scored using criteria developed by a team of Service and state wildlife agency directors. Backing for the grants comes from Fiscal Year 2008 and 2009 appropriations for the SWG Competitive Program.
"The plans funded by these grants target some of the most imperiled species and habitats in the United States. They're also among the most effective, because they are tied to well thought-out conservation Projects that identify the highest priorities in each state - as well as the areas where we can make the biggest difference for imperiled species," said Salazar.
All 56 states and territorial wildlife agencies have approved State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Projects which collectively provide a nationwide blueprint for actions to conserve imperiled species. The Projects were created through a collaborative effort among state and federal agencies, biologists, conservationists, landowners, sportsmen and the general public. Each project was then reviewed and approved by a countrywide team that included members from the U.S.F.W.S. as well as directors from state wildlife agencies.
Funded plans include:
Arizona Game and Fish Department: Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Grassland Initiative- Conserving the Grassland Ecosystem - This plan will help enhance the status of more than12 species of concern found in portions of twelve western States (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas).
Federal funds awarded: $484,780; non-federal match: $217,800
GeorgiaDepartment of Natural Resources: Multistate Sandhills Ecological Restoration Plan - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina - This Plan will increase the quality, quantity, and connectivity of priority Sandhill sites on public and private lands in 4 States for the benefit of 55 species of concern, including the gopher tortoise, by restoring in excess of 38,500 acres of habitat through prescribed burning, hardwood/invasive species removal, and planting longleaf pine.
Federal funds awarded: $1 million; non-federal match: $1,663,587
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife: Establishing a 2nd Maui Parrotbill Population -Logistical and Research Support - This Plan will fund the collection of biological information, captive breeding and reintroduction efforts, and the habitat restoration for the Maui Parrotbill - a bird listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. This Plan will also benefit ten other imperiled species in the State of Hawaii.
Federal funds awarded: $500,353; non-federal match: $406,800
Michigan Department of Natural Resources: Prairie Fen and Associated Savanna Restoration in Michigan and Indiana for Species of Greatest Conservation Need - This grant will restore and enhance 200 acres of prairie fens and associated savannas to benefit the federally endangered Mitchell's satyr butterfly, as well as another 400 acres for the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, a candidate species for protection under the Endangered Species Act. Thirty-two other imperiled species will also benefit from this project.
Federal funds awarded: $864,020; non-federal match: $600,421
Missouri Department of Conservation: State Wildlife Implementation Resources and Capacity Building Tools for Amphibian and Reptile Conservation - This Plan will evaluate amphibian and reptile species of concern for vulnerabilities to climate change, priority habitats, and monitoring needs; and will provide capacity building opportunities for state wildlife agencies with respect to amphibians and reptiles. The Plan includes partners from 14 States and represents a countrywide cooperative effort to address amphibian and reptile conservation needs.
Federal funds awarded: $319,833; non-federal match: $145,585
MontanaFish, Wildlife & Parks: Clearwater Lands Plan - The Clearwater Lands Plan comprises a 24,311-acre parcel within the Blackfoot River Aquatic Focus Area and the Mission/Swan Valley & Mountains Terrestrial Focus Area. This Plan will secure a conservation easement over 560 acres within the 24,311-acre parcel. The 560-acre portion contains important bull trout spawning habitat and high-quality, unprotected Canada lynx habitat. Plan lands include high quality habitat for twelve species of concern, including bull trout, grizzly bears, Canada lynx, and gray wolves.
Federal funds awarded: $640,640; non-federal match: $524,160
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Nebraska Natural Legacy Project Implementation - At-risk Species Conservation on Private Lands - This Plan will help to stabilize or enhance populations of a large number of at-risk species by enhancing and restoring native prairies, wetlands, and woodlands on private lands in Nebraska. This objective will be accomplished by providing private landowners with the technical and financial assistance to enhance at-risk species habitat on nearly 20,000 acres and by conducting Plan monitoring.
Federal funds awarded: $1 million; non-federal match: $663,334
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department: Rangewide New England Cottontail Initiative -This Plan will restore 1,200 acres of habitat, creating 50 new habitat patches across the New England cottontail rabbit's range. The long-term goal of this initiative is to address the needs of the and over 100 other at-risk species that depend on early-successional habitats.
Federal funds awarded: $731,975; non-federal match: $315,299
New Hampshire Fish and Game Department: Staying Connected in the Northern Appalachians - Mitigating Fragmentation & Climate Change Impacts on Wildlife through Functional Habitat Linkages - This Plan will maintain, enhance, and restore habitat connectivity for 41 wide-range and forest-dwelling species of concern including Canada lynx, American marten, wolf, black bear, and bobcat across the Northern Appalachians Ecoregion in order to mitigate the impacts of habitat fragmentation and climate change.
Federal Funds Awarded: $992,592; Non-Federal Match: $719,519
PennsylvaniaGame Commission: White Nose Syndrome - Multi-State Coordination, Investigation and Rapid Response to an Emerging Wildlife Health Threat - This Plan will support a region-wide coordinated approach to the spread of White Nose Syndrome (a syndrome causing unprecedented mortality among cave bats in the Northeast). The Plan will investigate the causative agent(s), transmission, and control; detect new occurrences and manage the threat to adjoining regions; and implement response and control strategies. 11 states (CT, DE, MD, NH, NJ, NY, PA, VA, VT, WI, WV) are participating as active partners.
Federal funds awarded: $940,870; non-federal match: $431,940
Utah Department of Natural Resources: June Sucker Recovery and Ecosystem Restoration through Carp Removal at Utah Lake - The Utah Department of Natural Resources will systematically remove one million invasive common carp per year from Utah Lake in order to help the endangered June sucker recover. The June sucker's range is limited to Utah Lake and several small tributaries, while common carp are estimated to comprise 90 percent of the lake's biomass -posing the biggest threat to June sucker recovery. Other species of concern will also benefit from this project, including Bonneville cutthroat trout, least chub, and spotted frogs.
Federal funds awarded: $1,000,000; non-federal match: $510,000
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife: Multistate Recovery of the Oregon Spotted Frog and the Species Assemblage Associated with Warmwater Marshes - This Plan will support and help transform numerous ongoing plans into a cohesive, range-wide recovery Plan for the Oregon Spotted Frog. The Oregon spotted frog is currently an endangered species in Washington State, a red-listed species in British Columbia, and a species of concern in both Oregon and California. By working across the Oregon spotted frog's geographic range and engaging private landowners, the Plan will help optimize efforts to conserve its habitat and increase the resilience of frog populations to human disturbance and other threats.
Federal award: $841,872; non-federal match: $754,409
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: Restoration Incentives and Assessments for Private Lands in the Driftless Region - This Plan will benefit the 16,203 square mile Driftless Area in southwest Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and northwest Illinois. The Driftless Area supports disproportionately high plant and animal biodiversity due to its unique habitat mosaic of bluffs, savanna, hill prairie, hardwood forest, and coldwater limestone streams. The Plan will provide financial and technical assistance to private landowners to voluntarily manage their property for the benefit of species of concern and will support efforts to locate new properties with restorable native habitat.
Federal funds awarded: $559,602: non-federal match: $397,486
The mission of the U.S.F.W.S. is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
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