OARS funding Conservation

Background: Planning for the Bear Creek cooperative project, which consists of instream restoration and barrier culvert removal, began in 2009 with local land owners, Lane County planning/engineering, BLM fisheries staff and staff from the Long Tom River Watershed Council (LTWC). The project is located within the Long Tom River 5th Field Watershed Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC). Five phases have been proposed. Phase one (Lane County) was completed in the fall of 2014 and consisted of the removal of a barrier culvert and replacement with a fish friendly pipe on County Road 4096. Phase two consists of the replacement of a fish barrier culvert on road 19-5-22.1. This culvert will be replaced in the summer of 2015 with a fish passage culvert through a BLM contract. Phase 3 and 4 will be completed under this assistance agreement. Phase five is located upstream of the above mentioned restoration work. Phase five work has been initiated by BLM fisheries staff in the summer of 2014 and consisted of pulling trees and zip lining them into the stream channel and also falling stream adjacent trees into Bear Creek. Phase 5 would occur on BLM Section 21, of T19S R5W future similar work will continue to occur based on funding. NEPA has been completed for all phases of the Bear Creek project. Match funding for this project has been awarded to BLM and LTWC cooperators for phases 3 and 4. These funds cannot be used by any other recipients.

To reduce conflicts between livestock, grey wolfs, and grizzly bears during summer, and forest carnivore monitoring of Canada lynx, wolverine and fisher during winter.

The Bureau of Land Management has been working with the Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE) since 2001 to re-introduce and monitor the Pink Sand-verbena population at the North Spit. The population has been monitored every year since 1997 and has grown from 1,700 plants to over 350,000 plants currently. The Conservation Strategy for pink sand verbena was developed and employed by IAE in 2004. This research and work has been the foundation and guideline for the ongoing monitoring used by IAE that is crucial part of the conservation strategy for this species. Pink sand-verbena is a Species of Concern by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS), listed as Endangered by the State of Oregon, listed as threatened with extinction by the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, and listed as a BLM sensitive species. BLM manual 6840 for Special Status Species provides guidance to conserve listed species and the ecosystems on which they depend. The primary threats to the species include competition from European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria), habitat disturbance by off road vehicles (ORVs), and changes to the natural disturbance regime. Repeated seeding at Coos Bay North Spit since 1997 have resulted in the largest population of pink sand verbena in Oregon. Seed collected from the North Spit is currently the only seed source available in sufficient quantities for restoration efforts of the species throughout the State. Despite continued management treatments and seeding efforts at the North Spit, recent declines in the size and reproductive effort of plants at the site, and an increase in non-native species has been observed. Continued monitoring of this population combined with assessments of associated vegetation and substrate will allow for quantifying factors that influence successful re-introduction efforts for this dune species. At New River, 50,000-150,000 seeds have been dispersed within swales throughout the fore dune almost every year from 1997 to 2014. The population

The State Wildlife Grants Program provides States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealths, and territories (State(s)) Federal grant funds for the development and implementation of programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished. Eligible activities include both planning and implementation. Planning activities must contribute directly to the development or modification of the Stateÿfds current Wildlife Action Plan (Plan) approved by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). Implementation activities are activities that a State intends to carry out to execute their Plan. Priority for use of these funds should be placed on those species of greatest conservation need and take into consideration the relative level of funding available for the conservation of those species. Ineligible activities include wildlife education and law enforcement activities, unless the law enforcement or education component is a minor or incidental activity which is considered critical to the success of a project.

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative targets the most significant environmental problems in the Great Lakes ecosystem by funding and implementing federal projects that address these problems. One goal is to improve habitat and wildlife protection and restoration. Using appropriations from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) Program anticipates funding wetland and associated upland habitat restoration and enhancement projects for conservation of native Great Lakes fish and wildlife populations, particularly migratory birds. Restoration projects will be completed on privately owned (non-federal/non-state) lands. Emphasis will be placed on, but not limited to, completing projects within the watersheds of Great Lakes Areas of Concern. The PFW Program is not a traditional grants program; it is a direct federal assistance program. The PFW Program does not solicit projects through a request for proposals. Instead, projects are developed in collaboration and with substantial involvement from PFW field biologists. PFW biologists from eight Great Lakes states work directly with landowners to plan and implement projects based on priorities and geographic focus areas identified in a regional strategic plan. Substantial involvement on the part of the Service is anticipated for the successful completion of the activities to be funded. In particular, the Service will be responsible for the following: PFW biologists provide direct technical assistance to landowners to identify, design and implement voluntary habitat improvement projects, such as wetland restoration, or grassland establishment, on private lands. For more information, contact the local PFW Program office. For office contact information please visit: http://www.fws.gov/partners/contactUs.html.

Background: Counts of sage-grouse (primarily males) attending leks provides a measure of population trend over time and serves as the basis for making annual minimum population estimates. On average, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) with assistance from Oregon BLM annually surveys 36 percent of 733 known lek complexes in Oregon. Leks in remote areas or with other access issues are under-surveyed. The ODFW has identified the need to monitor sage-grouse population trends and to develop a more efficient method for estimating population size, especially for regions where only a subsample of leks can be monitored (2011 Greater Sage-Grouse Conservation Assessment and Strategy for Oregon). More complete and accurate population data will contribute to improved habitat management for sage-grouse in eastern Oregon. Objectives: The recipient and BLM will collaborate to: Survey a statistically valid sample of leks/complexes to achieve a minimum annual survey of two trend leks/complexes per stratum per Oregon PAC (Priority Area for Conservation), Evaluate and incorporate where appropriate new survey methodology (e.g., transect, infrared surveys) with current sage-grouse data, Annually assess the BLM's adaptive management triggers for sage-grouse population.

This RFP seeks cost effective proposals from eligible applicants to support national pollution prevention (P2) information needs. In this RFP the Agency is directing P2 information center activities toward three national P2 emphasis areas to more effectively achieve measurable results and demonstrable impact in these targeted areas. Work in the national P2 emphasis areas (NEA) should support the P2 technical assistance work of state programs in promoting use of source reduction techniques by businesses. Applicants will collaborate with other grantees as part of their work in the national P2 information network. Applicants must propose work in one or more of the national P2 emphasis areas and must propose work that addresses one or more regional priorities.

Background: The Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council completed field surveys of over 130 culverts within the watershed. They used data from the field surveys to identify culverts that pose a barrier to fish passage according to the USFS/BLM coarse-screen filter, and to prioritize culverts for replacement across the entire watershed. Geographic Information Systems were used to prioritize culverts based on fish use, barrier severity, available upstream habitat, the presence of impassable culverts downstream, and culvert condition. The Middle Fork Willamette Watershed Council received a grant which was used to generate engineering plans for the replacement of 7 high-priority culverts in the Lost Creek and Rattlesnake Creek basins to allow for the passage of juvenile and adult salmonids, and to identify appropriate sites for the addition of large wood structures to improve habitat conditions for fish in the streams where culverts will be replaced. Objectives: The objective of this agreement is to restore temporal and spatial connectivity within the Lost Creek Watershed.

The BLM has worked with the Institute of Applied Ecology for over 10 years demographic monitoring to determine the effects of climate and cattle grazing on Snake River goldenweed, Pyrrocoma radiata. This species, formerly known as Haplopappus radiatus, is listed as endangered by the State of Oregon, as a Species of Concern with the USFWS, and is a BLM Sensitive Species. Pyrrocoma radiata is endemic to eastern Oregon and western Idaho. 93 P. radiata locations are recorded in the GeoBOB database of which 83 of the sites have not been visited in over 13 years. Furthermore, population size has been recorded for only 7 of these sites thus the current status of P. radiata is unknown. There are significant threats to the Snake River goldenweed which include precipitation changes, livestock grazing, construction of wind energy turbines, power line construction, and noxious weed encroachment. Additionally the results of increasing wildfires have converted the Snake River goldenweed's habitat, sagebrush steppe, to annual grassland. It is unknown if the Snake River goldenweed will be able to persist under these altered habitat conditions. The objective of this project is to improve the management of Snake River goldenweed, Pyrrocoma radiata, currently listed as endangered by the State of Oregon, as a Species of Concern with the USFWS, and is a BLM Sensitive Species. This project is to determine the extent and population status of the species and to develop a Conservation Strategy and detailed management plan for maintaining viable populations of the species. Year one of this project will include re-locating and re-sampling of all ten monitoring plots for P. radiata. Monitoring results will be summarized in a report addressing species management options for improved protection, conservation, and preservation of the species. Additional surveys of at least 15 new sites per year will be done to document population size and threats currently affecting the Snake River goldenweed's h

The State Wildlife Grants Program provides States, the District of Columbia, Commonwealths, and territories (State(s)) Federal grant funds for the development and implementation of programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished. Eligible activities include both planning and implementation. Planning activities must contribute directly to the development or modification of the Stateÿfds current Wildlife Action Plan (Plan) approved by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). Implementation activities are activities that a State intends to carry out to execute their Plan. Priority for use of these funds should be placed on those species of greatest conservation need and take into consideration the relative level of funding available for the conservation of those species. Ineligible activities include wildlife education and law enforcement activities, unless the law enforcement or education component is a minor or incidental activity which is considered critical to the success of a project. Additional information about the State Wildlife Grants Program is on the web at ÿfdhttp://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/GrantPrograms/SWG/SWG.htm. If you do not have access to the Internet and would like to receive information by mail, contact the Service point of contact identified in the Agency Contacts section below.

The BLM is seeking a partnership with a State of Nevada department to collaborate with whose interest and expertise is to improve wildland vegetation conditions for the benefit of wildlife in Eastern Nevada. The recipient would combine their resources, contributed funds or in-kind contributions to advise, monitor and implement projects that benefit wildlife in Nevada.

Monitoring avian populations and their associated habitats is a priority for avian conservation and management throughout the BLM. The BLM has been working with Klamath Bird Observatory (KBO) on bird conservation projects and programs since 1992. Information gained from these efforts has been incorporated and disseminated as the latest knowledge and recommendations for avian conservation throughout Oregon and Washington. Over the past decade KBO, in cooperation with several other organizations and individuals, has been involved in the intensive monitoring and inventory of neotropical migratory birds in the region. Additionally KBO has brought scare resources to the table in the form of skilled avian conservation staff to implement research, environmental education, social science and monitoring efforts. Their expertise and skills to access, retrieve and utilize the data stored in the Avian Knowledge Northwest (AKNW) database has been used to make comparative analyses and management recommendations for ongoing avian data collection efforts in Oregon and Washington. This has provided the BLM the unique ability to assess the growing avian conservation needs. The primary objective of this program is to evaluate the population health of landbirds in various habitats, and for the continued monitoring, research, environmental education, social science and adaptive management projects of avian conservation throughout OR and WA. The recipient will cooperatively assess and determine the status and trends of avifauna throughout OR and WA and continue to seek opportunities to engage the BLM in bird conservation opportunities at regional and national scales. The recipient is required to monitor species presence/absence, estimate densities, create habitat associations for guilds of avifauna and monitor population trends for individual species across habitat types and management regimes. The ability to analyze, interpret, incorporate and disseminate the information into planning a

Whitworth University has been working with the BLM to monitor the long-term trend of translocated sage and sharp-tailed grouse habitat in Lincoln County, Washington beginning in 2014. An analysis of nested-frequency vegetation data has been completed by Whitworth University detailing how nesting habitat has changed in the study area over a 15-year period. In 2015, project partners expect to translocate up to 40 additional sage-grouse to the Lincoln County population, 20 of which will be fitted with radio collars. Previous studies have focused on nesting habitat and spring/summer movements, but little is known about how translocated grouse, in the study area, use mesic habitat, presumably important for brood-rearing. Vegetation maps of the translocation area have been jointly developed by WSU and BLM to provide a detailed habitat layer from which to base habitat selection models. Mesic habitat is identified on this map but not further described, classified or evaluated for importance to grouse. Since the re-introduction effort is continuing using radio collared birds, there is opportunity to learn more about these specific questions. The objective of this program is to study habitat use of sage-grouse and sharp-tailed grouse in the Crab Creek Management Area of eastern Washington. This work will be conducted in close coordination with project partners in a collaborative setting.

Per language in the Oregon Natural Heritage Act, the Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (ORBIC), currently located at Portland State University, is the State agency responsible for rare and endangered invertebrates in Oregon. As such, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has granted the program limited authority to administer and manage a program for federally threatened and endangered invertebrate species, as provided under Section 6 of US Federal Endangered Species Act. As ORBIC is the clearing house that provides the monitors and coordinates and maintains Oregon's most comprehensive database of rare, threatened and endangered species, the BLM has been partnering with ORBIC for the past 20 years to conduct monitoring of the Oregon Coast western snowy plover population. This monitoring is a recovery task identified in the Western Snowy Plover Recovery Plan (USFWS 2007) and the Oregon Conservation Program for the Western Snowy Plover (ODFW 1994). The objective of this program is to continue annual monitoring of the Oregon Coast population of snowy plover reproductive success to assess whether recovery goals under the Endangered Species Act are being met.

Washington State University has been working with the BLM since 2009 to study habitat selection and movement patterns of translocated sage and sharp-tailed grouse in Lincoln County, Washington. Vegetation maps of the translocation area have been jointly developed by WSU and BLM to provide a detailed habitat layer from which to base habitat selection models. In 2013 a Master's thesis on habitat selection of translocated grouse was published by WSU (Stonehouse 2013). Currently WSU has begun analyzing grouse movement data and home range size in relation to a recent fire in the study area. This work is ongoing, but will eventually compare grouse movement after the fire to the pre-fire results shown in Stonehouse (2013). In 2015, project partners expect to translocate up to 40 more sage-grouse to the Lincoln County population, 20 of which will be fitted with radio collars. Also in 2015, we expect to deploy up to 12 radio collars on native sage-grouse in Douglas County, Washington. Previous studies have focused on nesting habitat and spring/summer movements, but little is known about how movement and behavior affects survival, and how re-introduced grouse compare to residents. Since the re-introduction effort is continuing using radio collared birds, there is opportunity to learn more about these specific questions. To study movement and behavior of sage-grouse in the Crab Creek and Moses Coulee Management Areas of eastern Washington. This work will be conducted in close coordination with project partners in a collaborative setting.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION 1. Authority This Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Federal Financial Assistance Funding Opportunity is being announced under the following legislative authority: WATERSHED RESTORATION AND ENHANCEMENT AGREEMENTS (WYDEN AMENDMENT), Public Law 104-208, Section 124, as amended Public Law 105-277, Section 136, which states: "Appropriations made for the BLM may be used by the Secretary of Interior for the purpose of entering into cooperative agreements with the heads of other Federal agencies, Tribal, State, and local governments, private and nonprofit entities, and landowners for the protection, restoration, and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat and other resources on public or private land and the reduction of risk from natural disaster where public safety is threatened that benefit these resources on public lands within the watershed, and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat and other resources on public or private land and the reduction of risk from natural disaster where public safety is threatened that benefit these resources on public lands within the watershed." 2. Description of Program and/or Project a. Background: The Yuma Field Office includes many acres along the lower Colorado and Gila Rivers. Extensive damming and conversion to upland has re-characterized the lands along the river that once were natural system, but are now dominated by invasive species. An increase in wildland fires in these areas also greatly affect the reduction in native vegetation and increase in invasive species. Rehabilitation efforts to improve sites offer migratory birds and other wildlife species native habitat for foraging and potential nesting. The Walker Fire in December of 2014 burned 1,110 acres of native marsh and riparian habitat. This area is home to the largest population of the Federally endangered Yuma clapper rail. The native riparian habitat also provides migratory habitat for the southwestern willow flycatcher. The Walker ESR Plan outline

This program will support implementation of the Island Lake Fire Burned Area Rehabilitation (BAR) Plan. This BAR plan describes activities and treatments for lands and wildlife habitats burned during the Island Lake Fire. The fire burned wetland, riparian and upland vegetation composed of a mix of native and exotic species. The primary fire carrier was common reed (Phragmites australis), which allowed the fire to spread quickly throughout the river corridor. Dense stands of exotic saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) and areas with sparse and healthy stands of native mesquite, cottonwood, and willow were also consumed. Potential restoration sites were initially evaluated based on vegetation, site conditions, soils, water table depth, and fire severity. Sites were then prioritized based on the probability for restoration success. Strategic restoration efforts will be focused in areas encompassing about 6 percent (ca 200 acres) of the overall 3,304 acre fire. The identified restoration areas will be further refined through on the ground evaluation of desirable site characteristics listed above. The primary rehabilitation concern is re establishment of native wildlife habitats including riparian cottonwood and willow forest and mesquite woodlands. These habitats are increasingly rare and very productive for a diversity of wildlife species. This rehabilitation effort will focus on facilitated recovery of native species through integrated removal and herbicide treatment of exotics, cottonwood and willow pole planting, mesquite seeding, and flood irrigation. Activities under this funding opportunity will include, but are not limited to:Preparing restoration site boat accessAssistance with restoration site assessmentsRemoval of non-native saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) and common reed (Phragmites australis) through manual removal or herbicide treatmentsSite preparation activities such as raking, irrigating, and soil preparationMesquite seed collectionCottonwood and willow pole harvestingPol

The objective of this program is watershed wide restoration, conservation, protection, preservation and management of watersheds in the Coquille Watershed in Oregon. Projects may include, but are not limited to, the identification, planning, and implementation of watershed restoration projects such as culvert replacements, instream habitat improvement, road sediment abatement, and the control of invasive species in order to ensure species survival. Many of these programs will require educational outreach in order to achieve desired results.

The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) into NRCS technical manuals and guides or to the private sector. CIG is used to apply or demonstrate previously proven technology in order to increase adoption with an emphasis on opportunities to scale proven, emerging conservation strategies. CIG promotes sharing of skills, knowledge, technologies, and facilities among communities, governments, and other institutions to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users. CIG funds projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. CIG does not fund research projects, with the exception of on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is defined as an investigation conducted to answer a specified conservation-related question using a statistically valid design, while employing farm-scale equipment on farm fields. Specifically, a valid study design will use an appropriate number of replications and statistical analysis of results. To the extent NRCS funds research projects through CIG, the Agency will only fund research projects that stimulate innovative approaches to natural resource management in conjunction with agricultural production.

The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Lower Colorado Region, Yuma Area Office is requesting proposals to fund projects for activities in support of their Endangered Species and Environmental Restoration programs in federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 (October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015). The Yuma Area Office periodically makes funding available for conducting activities for Threatened and Endangered (T&E) species and their habitats under Section 7(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) under the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (FWCA). The objectives are to fund opportunities for collecting monitoring and research data of the Flat-Tailed Horned Lizard (FTHL) (Phrynosoma mcalli) and to perform habitat restoration or enhancement for riparian bird species (Yuma Clapper Rail, Southwestern willow flycatcher) in accordance with the FWCA.