u.s. fish & wildlife service partners for fish & wildlife ... › uploadedfiles › 17-21...

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

IllinoisIndiana

IowaMichigan

MinnesotaMissouri

OhioWisconsin

Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program Midwest Region Strategic Work Plan 2017-2021

“The landscape of any farm is the owner’s portrait of himself.” -Aldo Leopold

3

Region 3 Overview

Cover photo: Monarch butterfly on swamp milkweedJim Hudgins, USFWS Opposite photo: Monarch caterpillarRick Hansen, USFWS

Introduction 4 Background 4 Strategic Habitat Conservation 5 Plan Goals 7 Goal One: Conserve Habitat 7 Goal Two: Broaden and Strengthen Partnerships 10 Goal Three: Improve Information Sharing and Communication 11 Goal Four: Enhance our Workforce 12 Goal Five: Increase Accountability 13 State-by-State Focus Areas and Strategic Work Plans 14 ILLINOIS 15 Introduction and Overview Geographic Focus Areas and Five-Year Targets INDIANA 27 Introduction and Overview Geographic Focus Areas and Five-Year Targets IOWA 41 Introduction and Overview Geographic Focus Areas and Five-Year Targets MICHIGAN 53 Introduction and Overview Geographic Focus Areas and Five-Year Targets MINNESOTA 65 Introduction and Overview Geographic Focus Areas and Five-Year Targets MISSOURI 73 Introduction and Overview Geographic Focus Areas and Five-Year Targets OHIO 85 Introduction and Overview Geographic Focus Areas and Five-Year Targets WISCONSIN 103 Introduction and Overview Geographic Focus Areas and Five-Year Targets

CONTENTS

Dickcissel require grassland habitat Gar

ry T

ucke

r, U

SFW

S

Hea

ther

Pau

l

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Midwest Region Strategic Work Plan

4

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) mission is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (PFW program) supports this mission by engaging private landowners and land managers to voluntarily conserve, restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat on their property and in their communities. We do this by providing funding and technical support to strategically establish a mosaic of fish and wildlife habitat on the landscape to address conservation priorities.

BackgroundThe Midwest contains some of the richest farmland in the world and leads the nation in corn and soybean production. Historically, the wetlands and prairies that spread across the Midwest provided important breeding and brood-rearing habitat for waterfowl and grassland-dependent birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. The majority of these wetlands have been drained, and the wetland basins and prairie converted to crop production or other uses. Similarly, the streams and rivers of this region provided valuable spawning and rearing habitat for a myriad of fish and aquatic species. Nearly all these waterways have become altered, degraded, and impaired.

These habitat losses have led to population declines of many species of migratory birds, several species of fish, and a number of federally-listed endangered or threatened species that depend on wetlands, grasslands, and streams. As a result, in the Midwest the PFW program concentrates its work on wetland, grassland and stream/riparian restoration to benefit these species. We have identified a number of focal species in this plan, which help us to guide and report on our work.

Climate change is affecting the habitats of the Midwest and can also influence the success of our restoration efforts. To help meet the

This PFW Program Midwest Region Strategic Work Plan will set a direction and help to guide our actions for a 5-year period spanning 2017-2021. This plan is built on the foundation established by the two previous Strategic Plans (2007-2011 and 2012-2016) and guided by a framework of Strategic Habitat Conservation. We will use the goals, objectives and targets in this plan to direct our actions toward the effective and efficient delivery of habitat improvement that benefits fish, wildlife, and ultimately the American people.

Laur

ie J

ohns

on

Mallards benefit from wetland restoration

needs of wildlife into the future we select projects that help maintain and connect blocks of habitat, thereby contributing to a mosaic of conservation lands on the landscape. Additionally, we prioritize restoration of lands that will be permanently protected. As climate change impacts are understood on a local scale, the PFW program will use such information as we review and select projects.

Regal fritillary on showy milkweed

INTRODUCTION

5

Region 3 Overview

Landscape Conservation DesignAs the next part of SHC, the PFW Program is looking more closely at landscape conservation design when determining the types and locations of projects to be implemented. PFW Program biologists can work with partners to assess a broader landscape and identify opportunities to focus conservation action in an effort to maximize benefits to fish and wildlife and ultimately the public.

For example, the PFW Program in Minnesota and Iowa uses landscape conservation design models for planning within the Prairie Pothole Region. The Habitat and Population Evaluation Team developed Breeding Pair Accessibility Maps produced from long-term 4-square-mile survey data. These maps display predictions of the number of upland nesting duck pairs (mallards, blue-winged teal, gadwall, northern pintail, and northern shoveler) that could potentially nest in the upland habitats of every 40-acre block of the Prairie Pothole Region of Minnesota and Iowa. These maps are used to help identify priority grassland sites to acquire and/or restore to benefit breeding waterfowl.

Conservation Delivery through Landscape Scale InitiativesIn its 30-year history, the PFW program’s primary focus has been on conservation delivery, the next step of SHC. The program has been flexible in providing technical and financial assistance to effect on-the-ground habitat improvement. With this flexibility, the PFW program has helped, and will continue to help, in the delivery of major conservation initiatives, such as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and the Monarch Initiative.

Laur

ie J

ohns

on

Strategic Habitat ConservationIn the PFW program we follow Strategic Habitat Conservation (SHC) as the framework upon which the Service works with partners to connect project-specific work , such as that of the PFW program, to landscape-level biological goals and outcomes. SHC consists of five elements:

1) Biological Planning2) Conservation Design3) Conservation Delivery4) Monitoring and Adaptive Management5) Research (http://www.fws.gov/science/shc/index.html)

As a part of biological planning, the Service has worked with partners and identified focal species of fish and wildlife and is setting population goals for those species. We have also identified geographic focus areas, and have noted the biological planning and conservation design tools used to help guide our work. As of this writing, the availability of biological goals for focal species and conservation designs that are at a scale applicable to our focus areas is limited.

Duck Pairs per Square Mile

0-56-1011-2021-3031-4041-50>50


6

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) was launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the largest freshwater ecosystem in the world, holding over 20% of world’s surface freshwater. During FY15-19, federal agencies will continue to use Great Lakes Restoration Initiative resources to strategically target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem and to help achieve long-term goals. The PFW program receives GLRI funding to address the GLRI goal to restore habitat to protect native species. Emphasis has been placed on completing wetland and grassland projects within the watersheds of Great Lakes Areas of Concern and restoring coastal wetlands.

The Service, working in partnership with others, has taken on the challenge of conserving the monarch butterfly, which has declined by nearly 90% in the past 20 years. In 2015, the Service established the monarch butterfly as a national priority under the umbrella of the larger National Pollinator Health Strategy. The eastern population of monarch relies heavily on the Midwest for summer breeding habitat. In the Midwest, we hope that by increasing the number of milkweeds and nectar plants across the landscape, species the monarchs depend upon, we can increase breeding success and survival. Our actions will contribute to a broader goal, which is to restore the monarch

population to a size that occupies 15 acres of wintering habitat in Mexico and 225 million butterflies by 2020.

The Midwest PFW Program is a catalyst for monarch conservation on private lands given our technical expertise and, ability to build a network of conservation partners who leverage resources to strategically establish habitat to support monarchs. Additionally, PFW program staff are involved in national, regional, statewide and local decisions regarding U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Bill conservation programs that have immense potential to influence monarch conservation in the agricultural landscape. Furthermore, the PFW program helps to connect youth to conservation of monarchs through its school yard habitat partnerships.

7

Region 3 Overview

The primary goal, conserve habitat, is guided and strengthened by the four remaining goals: partnerships, communication, workforce, and accountability.

Monitoring and Research

As the PFW program completes habitat improvements staff continue to monitor outcomes of our work. We evaluate the construction or implementation success of our projects and use those reviews to improve our field techniques. We also work with partners, including state departments of natural resources and universities, to conduct monitoring and research to evaluate response by fish and wildlife.

GOAL ONE

Conserve Habitat

First and foremost, the PFW program is a results-driven program that delivers on-the-ground habitat conservation to benefit fish and wildlife. The PFW program has a rich history of being focused, yet adaptive to changing conservation priorities. To more effectively use our staff and resources, we have targeted our on-the-ground work to habitat types, geographic areas, and focal species.

Within the framework of this Strategic Work Plan we have reviewed and refined geographic focus areas, which will be where most PFW program work is focused over the next five years. With each revision of our plan, the focus areas have been refined based on partner input, shifting priorities and staffing, and improved understanding of resource opportunities and need. Focus areas are generally based on ecoregions and have high priority for benefitting both focal species and partnership opportunities. In some cases

PLAN GOALS

This five-year Strategic Work Plan for the Midwest PFW Program is built on the foundation established by the two previous Strategic Plans. Based on PFW program direction from Service Headquarters, the

SHC framework described above, and our successes in implementing the two previous five-year plans, we have set new five-year targets for each of five existing goals to guide our work from 2017-2021.

Establishment of native grasses and wildflowers is a focus in the Midwest Region

Jim

Hud

gins

, USF

WS

Table 1. Midwest Region focus areas and five-year habitat targets (2017-2021).

State Focus Area Wetland(acres)

Upland(acres)

Stream(miles)

Riparian(miles)

Structures(number)

ILLINOIS Cache River/Shawnee Hills 100 150 5 2.5

Lower Illinois River 100 500

Mississippi River 100 500

Northeast Illinois Outwash Plain 100 500

Northwest Illinois Driftless 50 200

Total 450 1850 5 2.5

INDIANA Blue River 25 250 1

Glacial Wetlands and Grasslands 350 450 1

Grand Kankakee/Northwest Moraines 200 250 1

Muscatatuck Flats and Lowland 75 250 1

Southwest River Corridors 150 550 1

Upper Tippecanoe River 150 200 1 5

Total 950 1950 6 5

IOWA Driftless 10 375 2.5 0.5

Loess Hills 100 1500

Prairie Pothole 200 1500

Southeast Iowa Lowlands 100 500

Southern Iowa Driftless 3000

Total 410 6875 2.5 0.5

Yellowlegs use restored wetland


8

a focus area may be large geographically to correspond to other key planning/design tools (e.g., the Prairie Pothole Focus Area in Minnesota links to the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan) or to encompass the work areas of multiple PFW program biologists. In other cases, an ecoregion that crosses state boundaries may be addressed separately in each state, but lack one overarching plan (e.g., the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois). In the absence of an overarching plan we will still coordinate our efforts across state lines.

Our discussion of Goal One, conserve habitat, is expanded upon in state-by-state overviews and focus area descriptions included later in this plan. Each focus area section identifies the focal species for that area,

strategic habitat conservation elements of conservation planning and design, types of conservation delivery, key partnerships and initiatives and five-year targets.

Objective 1: complete habitat improvements throughout all focus areas

Five-year regional targets:

�Wetland restoration/enhancement: 12,745 acres

�Upland restoration/enhancement: 34,750 acres

�River/stream/shoreline/riparian corridor restoration/enhancement: 63.5 miles

�Stream channel restoration/enhancement: 73 miles

�Structures: 17

Jim

Hud

gins

, USF

WS

State Focus Area Wetland(acres)

Upland(acres)

Stream(miles)

Riparian(miles)

Structures(number)

MICHIGAN Glacial Wetlands and Grasslands 500 800

Michigan Coastal Zone 300 400

Mid-Michigan Transition 500 600

Northern Michigan Stream 50 20

Saginaw Bay Lake Plain and Headwaters

200 150 15 1

Total 1500 1850 20 15 1

MINNESOTA Driftless 10 375 5 5

Mississippi Headwaters National Wildlife Refuges

250 750

Prairie Pothole 5000 10000 15 15

Total 5260 11125 20 20

MISSOURI Glaciated Prairie Plains 300 1500 5

Mississippi Cypress Swamps and Bends

200 100

Mississippi Plains and Forested Bluff-lands

500 700

Osage and Ozark Prairie Plains 100 2000 2

Tri-State Karst (AK-MO-OK) 1000 5

Total 1100 5300 5 7

OHIO Glacial Wetlands and Grasslands 200 200

Eastern Lake Erie Watershed 200 200

Lake Erie Marshes 200 100

Oak Openings 50

Upper Ohio River Watershed 200 10 4

Walhonding River Watershed 100 200 5

West Central Ohio Rivers 100 500 3

Total 1000 1250 18 4

WISCONSIN Driftless 50 2000 5 5

Great Lakes Coastal 300 400 4

Milwaukee Urban Conservation 50 50 1

Oak Pine Barrens Region 150 650 1

Upper Mississippi River & Great Lakes Joint Venture

350 750 1

Young Forest Initiative 225 700 5

Total 1125 4550 5 5 12

MIDWEST REGION TOTALS 12745 34750 63.5 73 17

9

Region 3 Overview


10

GOAL TWO

Objective 2: Leveraging funds

Five-year regional target:

�Across all on-the-ground projects, work with partnering landowners and organizations to leverage PFW program funding at least 2:1 with funding or in-kind contributions from other sources

PFW program biologist celebrates accomplishments on Saginaw Bay, Michigan with partners including Congressman Dan Kildee and Tribal Chief Frank Cloutier

Jim

Hud

gins

, USF

WS

PFW biologist reviews project site with a Wisconsin landowner

Kat

ie R

owe,

Wis

cons

in D

NR

Broaden and Strengthen Partnerships

Our partners are an essential component in the delivery of the PFW program. In addition to individual landowners, our partners include all levels of government, tribes, non-profit organizations, corporations, foundations and land trusts. It is through their cooperation and shared resources that collectively we are able to do so much to improve habitat and conserve fish and wildlife.

Objective 1: Cultivate new and maintain existing conservation partnerships

Five-year regional targets:

�Support 300 new or on-going partnerships with tribes, states, federal agencies, nongovernment organizations, or private sector entities

�Complete 2,200 agreements with landowners

11

Region 3 Overview

GOAL THREE

Objective 1: Increase communication with elected officials Five-year regional targets:

�Cumulatively, PFW program staff will lead or participate in at least 25 events, meetings, briefings or site tours with members of Congress or their staffs to share conservation success stories

Objective 2: Engage youth

Five-year regional target:

�Every PFW program staff person will engage in at least 10 activities that connect youth to nature, including but not limited to, community outreach events, environmental education presentations, development of schoolyard habitats or outdoor classrooms or involvement with youth group events

Jim

Hud

gins

, USF

WS

Improve Information Sharing and Communication

Communication and information sharing are critical to conservation success. Effective communication with the public, stakeholders and decision makers is essential to staying relevant and increasing support for the program. Providing opportunities to connect youth to nature increases the likelihood they will value, engage and support conservation in the future.

Laurie Johnson, PFW program participant from Wisconsin, discusses wetland conservation on private land with Speaker of the House, Congressman Paul Ryan

PFW biologist helping youth experience the natural world

Kat

ie D

onne

ll, L

egis

lativ

e D

irec

tor


12

Multi-agency/organization pollinator habitat workshop in Indiana

Kev

in T

unge

svic

k

In-service training of PFW field staff in Wisconsin

GOAL FOUR

Enhance Our Workforce

Successful implementation of the PFW program requires a highly-skilled and motivated workforce. The PFW program is committed to developing employees with the leadership skills and technical expertise to help ensure high quality habitat conservation is implemented on private land.

Objective 1: Ensure professional growth and development of PFW program staff

Five-year target:

�Annually, each PFW program staff person will receive at least 40 hours of professional development/training through formal coursework, participation in relevant workshops or conferences, or work details to other offices or programs Ji

m H

udgi

ns, U

SFW

S

13

Region 3 Overview

Jim

Hud

gins

, USF

WS

PFW biologist monitoring vegetative response on a restoration site

GOAL FIVE

Increase Accountability

An ultimate goal for the PFW program is to achieve improved fish and wildlife populations as a result of our habitat restoration work on private lands. Monitoring is critical to adaptive management and Strategic Habitat Conservation.

To track on-the-ground work, we record program accomplishments in a data tracking system, HabITS, which is meant to be open for viewing by partners and the public. This helps us ensure that project results are known, accurate, and meet objectives.

To ensure that stated objectives and accomplishments are met as required through financial assistance agreements, we conduct site visits during and after project implementation.

We will continue to work with others to try and determine population responses across the landscape to our conservation efforts. The primary goal of PFW program staff is to deliver on-the-ground habitat conservation as opposed to research. That means we will have to coordinate more closely with partnering groups, agencies and academia in order to document species response.

Jim

Hud

gins

, USF

WS

Objective 1: Report accomplishments

Five-year target:

�Annually produce a report of the region’s PFW program accomplishments for Goals One through Five

�PFW program staff will enter all projects (Habitat Improvement module) and related accomplishments (Strategic Planning module) via HabITS annually

Objective 2: Monitor projects

Five-year target:

�PFW program staff will complete implementation and compliance monitoring (Level 1 monitoring as defined by Headquarters) for all accomplishments

�Work with our partners in the scientific community to assist us in understanding the population-level effects on wildlife of habitat restoration on private lands

PFW biologist conducting site review with contractor


14

Map Designed by: Jacob Hernandez, USFWS

STATE-BY-STATE FOCUS AREAS AND STRATEGIC WORK PLANS

Figure 1. Midwest Region PFW Program focus areas.

In this section we provide a step down of this work plan for each of the eight states in the Midwest Region. For each state we have provided a two-page overview followed by two-page

descriptions of each focus area within the state. Together these focus areas provide a geographic focus for PFW program activities throughout the Midwest Region

(Figure 1). These targeted plans will help guide our delivery of habitat improvement projects over the next five years.

u.s. fish & wildlife service partners for fish & wildlife ... › uploadedfiles › 17-21...

Documents