Oklahoma Ecological Services Field OfficeU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Jonna Polk, Field Supervisor

October 4, 2017

USFWS Mission Statement

Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

Oklahoma USFWS Offices

• Ecological Services Field Office

• Fish Hatchery

• Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office

• Law Enforcement Office

• Nine National Wildlife Refuges

Oklahoma Ecological Diversity

Ecological Services Field OfficePrimary Conservation Focuses

Threatened & Endangered Species Conservation

Conservation Planning Assistance

Environmental Contaminants

Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program

Federally Listed Species in OKBirds

Black-capped vireo (E)Interior least tern (E)Piping Plover (T)Red-cockaded woopecker (E)Whooping crane (E)

Fishes

Arkansas River shiner (T)Leopard darter (T)Neosho madtom (T)Ozark cavefish (T)

Insects

American burying beetle (E)

Plants

Harperella (E)

Mammals

Gray bat (E)Indiana bat (E)Ozark big-eared bat (E)Northern Long-eared bat (T)

Mussels

Ouachitarock-pocketbook mussel (E)

Scaleshell mussel (E)Winged mapleleaf mussel (E)Neosho mucket mussel (E)Rabbitsfoot mussel (T)

Arkansas River shiner

Red- cockaded woodpecker

Federally Listed Species by Quadrant in Oklahoma

Threatened & Endangered Species Conservation Under the ESA

Section 4

Candidate Conservation/pre-listing – Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances, status surveys, etc.

Listing -- Species, Populations, Critical Habitat, etc.

Recovery -- Planning, Implementation

Neosho madtom

Section 7(a)(1)

Is where agencies are guided to conserve

“All Federal agencies shall use their authorities in

the furtherance of the purposes of this Act by

carrying out programs for the conservation of

endangered and threatened species.”

Benefits of Implementing 7(a)(1)

• Ensuring that all Federal agencies are assisting in furthering the conservation of listed species, we will be more likely to fulfill the purposes of the Act;

• Ensuring that Federal agencies are addressing the conservation of listed species should streamline and improve consultation under section 7(a)(2).

• Providing a more comprehensive landscape-level approach to listed species conservation rather than a project-by-project approach.

Purpose of Section 10(a)(1)(B)

• Reduce conflicts between endangered species and economic activities;

• Develop “partnerships” between the public and private sectors.

What Are The BenefitsTo Early Involvement?

• Proactive vs. reactive approach to ecosystem protection

• Obtain agency and industry concerns early during the planning process

• Improve interagency coordination

• Ensure environmental mandates are met in a comprehensive manner

American Burying Beetle Recovery

• Species Status Assessment– Draft completed Spring 2017

• Industry Conservation Plan– Extended plan for additional three years

– Added Self-certification option• Project proponents assume 1)entire project area

is ABB habitat and occupied and 2) mitigation at highest level

• Limited Service review is needed

• Will evaluate annual reports for verification

Threatened and Endangered Species Program

PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFECOOPERATORS

• Landowners

• Oklahoma Department of Wildlife

Conservation

• Natural Resources Conservation

Service

• Conservation Districts

• Native American Tribes

• And Many Others

Primary Cost-share Practices

• Invasive species removal (target eastern red cedar and salt cedar)

• Brush control (mechanical/chemical)

• Native grass/forbs/legume/shrub plantings

• Wetland habitat (development/enhancement)

• Riparian Habitat (enhancement/protection)

• Outdoor Classrooms

Private Lands Restoration1990 - 2015

• 395,998 Upland Habitat Acres

• 28,026 Wetland acres

• 173 miles of Riparian habitat

• 424,024 Total Acres

• 1,232 Sites

• 148 Outdoor Classrooms

Prairie Restoration

2015 – 2016 Monarch Projects • $165,000 PFW funding in Oklahoma• 4 Projects ($65K) for landowner/outreach efforts• 1 Project ($100K)with the Oklahoma

Conservation Commission for Prairie Restoration

Wind Energy

• 29 projects in FY 2017

• Within the next 3-5 years in Oklahoma:

1,600-2,100 turbines

20 Counties

Questions?Questions ?Jonna Polk, Field Supervisor918-408-0850

Ken Collins, Assistant Field Supervisor918-382-4510

John Hendrix, Assistant Field Supervisor918-382-4506