Ruffed Grouse Society

RESULT IN EMPLOYMENT OF FOREST WILDLIFE SPECIALISTS (OR SIMILAR) STAFF POSITIONS THAT WILL PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE USDA-NRCS FARM BILL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS.

GRANT TO IMPLEMENT EXISTING PLANS THROUGH DYNAMIC FOREST RESTORATION BLOCKS FOCUSING ON IMPROVING WILDLIFE HABITAT THROUGH OAK REGENERATION AT TWO STATE FORESTS. WORK WITH TWO SMALL, ADJOINING COMMUNITIES TO HELP THEM BETTER PROTECT DRINKING WATER QUALITY AS WELL AS A NEARBY SCOUT CAMP TO IMPROVE HABITAT AND OAK REGENERATION. FACILITATE FUTURE IMPLEMENTATION IN OTHER STATE FORESTS TO ADVANCE RESILIENCY AND HABITAT DIVERSIFICATION AT LANDSCAPE SCALES.

PROJECT AREA IS 1,494,000 ACRES ACROSS 6 COUNTIES IN UPSTATE WESTERN SC. RECIPIENT WILL PROVIDE DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, INCLUDING FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANNING, TREATMENT LAYOUT AND MARKING, AND INSPECTIONS AND MONITORING. THIS AGREEMENT IS ASSOCIATED WITH A BROADER USDA JOINT CHIEFS PROPOSAL SUBMITTED IN 2023.

DYNAMIC FOREST RESTORATION AT DUPONT STATE RECREATIONAL FOREST

THIS PROJECT WILL RESTORE UPLAND HABITATS AND IMPROVE TERRESTRIAL CONNECTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE BAYFIELD PENINSULA INCLUDING LAKE SUPERIOR TRIBUTARY STREAM HEADWATERS AND AREAS THAT SERVE AS IMPORTANT GROUNDWATER RECHARGE AREAS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE 203 ACRES OF UPLAND RESTORATION IN OULUS GRASSLANDS AND HEADWATER WETLANDS AND 5 MILES OF FIREBREAK CONSTRUCTION ACROSS THREE PUBLIC LAND SITES TO SUPPORT RESTORATION THROUGH PRESCRIBED FIRE. LED BY THE NORTHWEST SANDS WORKING GROUP A COALITION OF PARTNERS THE PROJECT ALIGNS WITH ESTABLISHED CONSERVATION PLANS AND BUILDS ON STRONG COMMUNITY INTEREST. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE UPLAND HABITAT RESTORATION INCREASED FIRE MANAGEMENT CAPACITY AND LASTING PARTNERSHIPS FOR LANDSCAPE SCALE STEWARDSHIP. PROJECT DELIVERABLES INCLUDE 3500 ACRES OF UPLAND HABITAT RESTORED OR ENHANCED AND 4 HABITAT ASSESSMENTS. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE OUTDOOR RECREATIONISTS SUCH AS UPLAND GAME HUNTERS FISHERMAN AND BIRDWATCHERS.

LANDSCAPE SCALE RESTORATION: MASSACHUSETTS DYNAMIC FOREST RESTORATION INITIATIVE

LAND SCAPE SCALE RESTORATION IN EASTERN KENTUCKY

AGREEMENT FOR RECIPIENT TO COMPLETE EQIP ELIGIBLE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANS TO LANDOWNERS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF KY.

TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PRIVATE LANDOWNERS AND FINANCIALASSISTANCE THROUGH NRCS’S ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAM(EQIP) AND WORKING LANDS FOR WILDLIFE (WLFW) PROGRAM.

RESTORING BOREAL HABITAT FOR AMERICAN MARTEN IN THE NEMADJI RIVER WATERSHED IS A PROJECT TO RESTORE AND RESEARCH 860 ACRES OF BOREAL FOREST TO AID IN THE CREATION OF A CONSERVATION CORRIDOR FOR THE WISCONSIN STATE-ENDANGERED AMERICAN MARTEN (MARTES AMERICANA), HEREAFTER CALLED MARTEN. THE PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE NEMADJI RIVER TERRACE AND UPPER NEMADJI FLOODPLAIN FOREST STATE NATURAL AREA, DOUGLAS COUNTY, WISCONSIN. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT WILL BE PERFORMED BY RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY AMERICAN WOODCOCK SOCIETY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DOUGLAS COUNTY FORESTRY DEPARTMENT. TREES WILL BE PLANTED AT A RATE OF 50 SEEDLINGS PER ACRE, TOTALING 43,000 TREE SEEDLINGS PLANTED IN THE 860 ACRE PROJECT AREA. THE TREE PLANTING IS DESIRABLE TO CREATE CANOPY CLOSURE WHICH, COMBINED WITH DOWN WOODY DEBRIS, IS DESIRABLE FOR MARTEN TRAVEL CORRIDORS. RESTORING BOREAL FOREST IN THIS STRATEGIC LOCATION IS INTENDED TO ENHANCE THE MARTEN TRAVEL CORRIDOR BETWEEN ESTABLISHED POPULATIONS OF MARTEN IN MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN. IN ADDITION TO THIS PROJECT CREATING MARTEN TRAVEL CORRIDOR, IT IS ALSO INTENDED TO SLOW THE FLOW OF RUNOFF IN THE WATERSHED, PROTECT NEMADJI RIVER WATER QUALITY, WHICH IS UTILIZED FOR SPAWNING BY LAKE SUPERIOR FISHES, AND ENHANCE HABITAT FOR THE STATE-THREATENED WOOD TURTLE (GLYPTEMYS INSCULPTA).

ARRA AUTUMN OLIVE REMOVAL

WISCONSIN EARLY SUCCESSIONAL HABITAT

THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AND RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY AMERICAN WOODCOCK SOCIETY WILL ENHANCE FOREST HABITAT AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ON THE 258-ACRE WESTVILLE UNIT OF THE MISSISQUOI NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. IN FY 2024, WE WILL WORK TOGETHER TO DEVELOP A HABITAT MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT WILL GUIDE FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WILDLIFE HABITAT ENHANCEMENTS, CREATE A 2-3 VEHICLE PARKING AREA (GRAVEL) AT A SITE MUTUALLY AGREED UPON TO IMPROVE RECREATIONAL ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY AND IMPLEMENT 2-3 ACRES OF WILDLIFE PATCH CUTS AS AN INITIATION OF THE HABITAT WORK GUIDED BY THE MANAGEMENT PLAN.

DEVELOP A VIDEO WHICH PROMOTES YOUNG FOREST HABITAT MANAGEMET

IMPROVE HABITAT FOR WOODCOCK

ENHANCE FOREST HABITAT RESILIENCY IDENTIFY PLAN AND DELIVER SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT ON PUBLIC PRIVATE AND CONSERVATION EASEMENT PROPERTIES IN SEVERAL COUNTIES THROUGHOUT NEW YORK