Playa Lakes Joint Venture

THE PLAYA LAKES JOINT VENTURE (PLJV) STAFF AND BOARD HAVE IDENTIFIED NINE AREAS OF TOP IMPORTANCE IN THE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF BIRD SPECIES AND THEIR HABITATS IN OUR REGION. THESE FOCUS AREAS - CONSERVATION DELIVERY, BIOLOGICAL PLANNING, COMMUNICATIONS, GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SYSTEMS, FUNDING, GRANTING, EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND ANNUAL REVIEW - COMPRISE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR ORGANIZATION, AND ALLOW US TO BUILD STRONG, MUTUALLY SUPPORTIVE AREAS OF EXPERTISE THAT ELIMINATE CONSERVATION DELIVERY BOTTLENECKS. FOR EXAMPLE, BIOLOGICAL PLANNING CANNOT BE EFFECTIVE WITHOUT RESEARCH; RESEARCH IS INEFFECTIVE UNLESS RESULTS ARE COMMUNICATED TO LAND MANAGERS AND LOCAL CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS (LCPS); AND LCPS AND LAND MANAGERS CANNOT IMPLEMENT PROJECTS WITHOUT FUNDING AND PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT THEIR WORK. REMOVING THESE BOTTLENECKS REQUIRES A MAJOR COORDINATION EFFORT WHICH WE PROPOSE TO CONTINUE UNDER THE PARTNERSHIP MODEL PLJV HAS REFINED OVER THE LAST 33 YEARS THROUGH FUNDING FROM THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, AS WELL AS FROM ITS STATE AND REGIONAL PARTNERS.

PLAYA LAKES JOINT VENTURE

PLAYA LAKES JOINT VENTURE COORDINATED DELIVERY OF MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION

TREE-AGE: DST FOR WILDLIFE PRACTICES. A DECISION SUPPORT TOO TO HELP TARGET BRUSH MANAGEMENT AND OTHER WILDLIFE PRACTICES TO BENEFIT RANGELAND MANAGEMENT. USDA-NRCS-NHQ-CIG-20-GEN0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000010808

THIS PROPOSED PROJECT WILL IMPROVE FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE IMPACTS AND EFFICACY OF MESQUITETREATMENTS AND SO INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONSERVATION OF LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKENS(LPC, TYMPANUCHUS PALLIDICINCTUS) AND OTHER DECLINING GRASSLAND SPECIES IN THE BLM PECOS DISTRICT INSOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO. WE WILL USE A COMBINATION OF OUTREACH WITH GRAZING PERMITTEES, COORDINATIONWITH PARTNERS, AND MONITORING TO COLLECT AND COMMUNICATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MESQUITETREATMENTS FOR MULTIPLE AUDIENCES (E.G., PARTNERS, PERMITTEES, PUBLIC). ULTIMATELY, THIS COORDINATION,MONITORING, AND COMMUNICATION EFFORT WILL INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW TREATMENTS ARE CONTRIBUTING TOTHE RECOVERY OF LPCS AND OTHER GRASSLAND SPECIES, WHERE RESTORATION AND MANAGEMENT CAN BE MOSTEFFECTIVE FOR CREATING AND MAINTAINING GRASSLAND CORES, AND BUILD SUPPORT FOR SUCH ACTIONS AMONGSTAKEHOLDERS.THIS PROPOSED PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION AND DOI PRIORITIES:ADMINISTRATION: EXECUTIVE ORDER 13985: ADVANCING RACIAL EQUITY AND SUPPORT FOR UNDERSERVEDCOMMUNITIES THROUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTDOI: CENTERING EQUITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.AS A COMPONENT OF THIS PROJECT, WE WILL ENSURE THAT CONSIDERATIONS OF EQUITY ARE INTEGRATED IN OURENGAGEMENT BY INTEGRATING SOCIAL SCIENCE BASED APPROACHES TO UNDERSTAND THE DIVERSITY OF PEOPLETHAT LIVE AND WORK IN OUR PROJECT REGION. WE WILL USE THIS UNDERSTANDING TO DEVELOP CULTURALLYAPPROPRIATE MESSAGES AND OUTREACH STRATEGIES.ADMINISTRATION: EXECUTIVE ORDER 14008: TACKLING THE CLIMATE CRISIS AT HOME AND ABROAD: SECTION 216:CONSERVING OUR NATIONS LANDS AND WATERSDOI:WORKING TO CONSERVE AT LEAST 30 EACH OF OUR LANDS AND WATERS BY THE YEAR 2030.THIS PROJECT WILL EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENTS TO CONSERVE GRASSLAND AND IMPROVECONDITIONS FOR GRASSLAND BIRDS. IN ADDITION, MODELS OF MESQUITE COVER WILL ALLOW BLM ANDPARTNERS TO EVALUATE WHERE TREATMENTS TO REMOVE MESQUITE HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE AND TO TARGET FUTURETREATMENTS TO EXPAND AREAS OF HIGH QUALITY GRASSLAND.THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE MONITORING, COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION AND OUTREACH CAPACITY TO THEMESQUITE REMOVAL PROJECT THAT BLM IS IMPLEMENTING IN THE PECOS DISTRICT. WE WILL USE IMBCR BIRDSAMPLING PROTOCOLS TO MEASURE GRASSLAND BIRD RESPONSE TO SHORTGRASS PRAIRIE AND SHINNERY-OAK HABITATRESTORATION AT SELECT PROJECT SITES IN EASTERN NEW MEXICO AND SO DEMONSTRATE HOW HONEY MESQUITEREMOVAL, IN AREAS WHERE IT IS ENCROACHING INTO NATIVE HABITAT, INFLUENCES THE ABUNDANCE OF GRASSLAND BIRDS.WE WILL WORK WITH BLM AND OTHER PARTNERS TO UPDATE A POPULAR AND USEFUL VEGETATION MODEL THAT ESTIMATESPERCENT COVER OF HONEY MESQUITE IN THE BLM PECOS DISTRICT. THIS MODEL IS USED IN PLANNING TREATMENTLOCATIONS OF HERBICIDE TREATMENT FOR MESQUITE REMOVAL. WE WILL USE THE MONITORING DATA AND THE VEGETATIONMODEL IN A COMMUNICATION STRATEGY TO BUILD INTEREST, SUPPORT, AND COLLECTIVE ACTION FOR MESQUITE REMOVALIN THE BLM PECOS DISTRICT AND IN REGIONS AFFECTED BY HONEY MESQUITE ENCROACHMENT MORE GENERALLY.THIS PROJECT BENEFITS THE PUBLIC THROUGH INCREASED AWARENESS OF THE PERFORMANCE OF CONSERVATION PRACTICESFOR INCREASING THE POPULATIONS OF PRIORITY BIRD SPECIES. WE WILL DESCRIBE AND COMMUNICATE OUR FINDINGS TOINCREASE THE GENERAL PUBLICS UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACTS OF MESQUITE ENCROACHMENT ON BIRDS OF CONCERNAND GAME BIRDS, AS WELL AS RESTORATION PRACTICES THAT BENEFIT THESE WILDLIFE POPULATIONS. BLM RECEIVESBENEFIT BY GAINING A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACTS OF THEIR RESTORATION WORK ON WILDLIFE AS WELL ASACCURATE MODELS OF MESQUITE COVER FOR PLANNING AND TARGETING FUTURE RESTORATION TREATMENTS. IN ADDITION,THIS PROJECT WILL HELP COORDINATE IMPLEMENTATION AND COMMUNICATE TO INCREASE IN THE PUBLICSUNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPACTS OF MESQUITE TREATMENTS ON BIRD COMMUNITIES WILL INCREASE THEIR SUPPORT FOR,AND INTEREST IN, SUCH MANAGEMENT.

IRRIGATION PLANNING FOR WESTERN KANSAS COMMUNITIES; 60000155000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000007

PLAYA LAKES JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP BASE OPERATIONS

FY 2017 PLAYA LAKES JOINT VENTURE BASE OPERATIONS

FY18 PLAYA LAKES JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP BASE OPERATIONS SUPPORT

FY2019 PLAYA LAKES JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP BASE OPERATIONS SUPPORT

JV8 CENTRAL GRASSLANDS INITIATIVE

PROJECT APPROACH WILL IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO ADOPTION THROUGH AUSER-CENTERED DESIGN APPROACH, DEVELOP AND TEST COMMUNICATION MESSAGES,AND CONDUCT FOCUSED OUTREACH TO INCREASE PROACTIVE BRUSH MANAGEMENTBEHAVIORS TO CONSERVE GRASSLAND ECOSYSTEMS.

FY16-17 PLAYA LAKES JOINT VENTURE BASE OPERATIONS

PLAYA LAKES JOINT VENTURE PARTNERSHIP BASE OPERATIONS

INTEGRATING SOCIAL SCIENCE AND COMMUNICATIONS TO DRIVE INVASIVE WOODY PLANT MANAGEMENT IN TEXAS

GREAT PLAINS LCC (GPLCC) LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION DESIGN (LCD)

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAM

PLAYA LAKES SOCIAL SCIENCE INITIATIVE

THE LANDSCAPE IN WHICH THE PLAYA LAKES JOINT VENTURE (PLJV) PARTNERSHIP FUNCTIONS IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE BREADBASKET OF NORTH AMERICA. IN THE PAST, THIS PHRASE MOSTLY REFERRED TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION THAT FED THE WORLD. TODAY, HOWEVER, THE BREADBASKET HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MINING AND SELLING OF WATER, WIND AND SOLAR DEVELOPMENT, OIL AND GAS DEVELOPMENT, TRANSPORTATION, BIOFUELS, AND HABITAT RESTORATION FOR ENDANGERED AND ECONOMICALLY IMPORTANT SPECIES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE DEMAND FOR FOOD AND FIBER HAS ACCELERATED, CLIMATE CHANGES ARE TAKING EFFECT, AND CONCERNS OVER GROUNDWATER AND AQUIFER DEPLETION GROW.WATER, AS IT RELATES TO WILDLIFE, IS A PRIORITY FOR ALL, BUT WITH OUR EMPHASIS ON WATER AND AQUIFER RECHARGE IT SEEMS TO BE AN ESPECIALLY POWERFUL DRIVER IN FURTHERING PLAYA CONSERVATION. SPECIFICALLY, SOCIAL SCIENCE LEARNING IS NEEDED IN DEALING WITH 1) PROTECTING AND ENHANCING SOURCE WATER FOR FARMS, RANCHES AND TOWNS, 2) AGRICULTURAL TRANSITION, AND 3) IMPROVING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO PRODUCERS FOR PLAYA MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION.WE BELIEVE SOCIAL SCIENCE HAS PROVEN INCREASINGLY CRITICAL TO CONSERVATION DELIVERY AND RESPECTFULLY REQUEST ADDITIONAL FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF 50,000 TO SUPPORT THE SOCIAL SCIENCE LEAD POSITION AND ASSOCIATED COSTS TO 1) FIND AND TRANSLATE EXISTING SOCIAL SCIENCE IN SUPPORT OF THE PARTNERSHIPS WORK 2) CONDUCT APPLIED RESEARCH ACTIVITIES (NOT ACADEMIC RESEARCH) TO ANSWER IMMEDIATE AND PRESSING QUESTIONS AND 3) MANAGE AN ADVISORY TEAM COMPOSED OF EXPERTS FROM UNIVERSITIES, OTHER INITIATIVES, AND AGENCIES THAT WILL HELP GUIDE AND INFORM THE WORK. THE SOCIAL SCIENCE LEAD HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN SERVING ON NATIONAL WORKING GROUPS, SUCH AS NABCI ANDNAWMP HUMAN DIMENSIONS COMMITTEES, AND ALL WORK UNDER THIS POSITION WILL CONTINUE TO BE HIGHLY APPLIED USING ESTABLISHED HUMAN DIMENSIONS TECHNIQUES, INCLUDING SURVEYS, FOCUS GROUPS, AND INTERVIEWS TO HELP ANSWER THE PARTNERSHIPS QUESTIONS.THE SOCIAL SCIENCE LEAD HAS A SIGNIFICANT LEADERSHIP ROLE IN PLJVS SIX -STATE PARTNERSHIP. IT CONTINUES TO GUIDE AND ADVISE PLJV STAFF AND PARTNERS ON HOW TO APPLY SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH TO DELIVER HABITAT CONSERVATION AND INTEGRATES WITH OTHER PLJV DEPARTMENTS INCLUDING BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE, HABITAT DELIVERY, GIS, COMMUNICATIONS, AND FINANCE.PRINCIPALLY, THIS LEVEL OF CAPACITY PROVIDES IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO AND BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF EXISTING SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH PERTAINING TO BIRD HABITAT CONSERVATION IN THE REGION. SECONDLY, THE DAY-TO-DAY WORK OF THE PARTNERSHIP IS INFORMED BY A TRAINED SOCIAL SCIENCE PROFESSIONAL WHO IS HELPING TO GUIDE OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN A PREDOMINANTLY PRIVATE LANDSCAPE. AND FINALLY, THE PARTNERSHIP IS ABLE TO CONDUCT ITS OWN APPLIED SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH FOCUSED ON THE NUANCES OF PLAYA, GRASSLAND, AND RIPARIAN CONSERVATION AND CONSERVATION DELIVERY, PARTICULARLY AS IT RELATES TO SUSTAINABLE FARMING AND GROUNDWATER RECHARGE (BOTH OF WHICH ARE HIGHLY RELEVANT TO OUR SOCIETY AND DECISION-MAKERS).

NM GRASSLAND AND GAME BIRD RESPONSE TO MESQUITE REMOVAL IN EASTERN NEW MEXICO

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF GRASSLAND RESTORATION THROUGH MESQUITEREMOVAL TO INCREASE ABUNDANCE OF GRASSLAND BIRDS ON TREATED AREAS COMPARED TO CONTROL, UNTREATED AREASIN THE BLM NEW MEXICO PECOS DISTRICT. WE WILL USE THE INTEGRATED MONITORING IN BIRD CONSERVATIONREGIONS PROTOCOL TO COLLECT DATA ON THE PRESENCE OF BIRDS ON 50 GRIDS SPLIT EVENLY BETWEEN CARLSBAD ANDROSWELL FIELD OFFICE AREAS. IN EACH AREA, 15 SAMPLE LOCATIONS WILL BE PLACED ON PASTURES THAT HAVE BEENAERIALLY TREATED WITH HERBICIDE TO KILL MESQUITE AND TEN WILL BE PLACED ON PASTURES THAT HAVE A HIGHMESQUITE CANOPY COVER. IN ADDITION, IN YEAR THREE, WE WILL UPDATE A MODEL OF MESQUITE CANOPY COVER THATIS USED TO PLAN FUTURE HERBICIDE TREATMENTS. WE WILL USE A DEEP LEARNING, NEURAL NETWORK, MACHINGLEARNING TECHNIQUE TO TRAIN A COMPUTER TO IDENTIFY MESQUITE CANOPY. THE RESULT IS A RASTER FILE WITH CANOPYCOVER CLASSIFIED INTO FOUR CATEGORIES IMPORTANT FOR GRASSLAND AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT. THIS MODEL WILLALSO BE USED AS A COVARIATE IN ANALYSES TO TEST FOR DIFFERENCES IN BIRD DENSITY IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OFMESQUITE CANOPY COVER. WE WILL DELIVER ANNUAL REPORTS WITH STATISTICAL ANALYSES EVALUATING DIFFERENCES INDENSITY OF GRASSLAND BIRDS BETWEEN TREATMENTS (CONTROL AND TREATMENT) AND AMONG PRIMARY HABITAT TYPES(GRASSLAND, MESQUITE SHRUB, OTHER SHRUBS, SHINNERY OAK, ETC.) AND LEVELS OF MESQUITE CANOPY COVER (15 ). IN THE FINAL YEAR, WE WILL DELIVER AN UPDATED MODEL OF MESQUITE CANOPYCOVER. BLM AND OTHER RESTORE NEW MEXICO PARTNERS WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS WORK BY BETTER UNDERSTANDINGTHE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE GRASSLAND RESTORATION WORK BEING DONE IN SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO.

THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE SHOREBIRD 3BB TEAM HAS IDENTIFIED A NEED TO IMPLEMENT FIELD-BASED SHOREBIRD CONSERVATION WORKSHOPS IN AREAS CRITICAL TO SHOREBIRDS TO HELP IMPROVE AND ENSURE THAT SUITABLE HABITAT CONDITIONS ARE PROVIDED AT APPROPRIATE TIMES ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS ACROSS THE US. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THAT NEED AND SEEKS TO INCREASE HABITAT QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY FOR DECLINING SHOREBIRDS BY INCREASING COMMUNICATION AND EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION AND COLLABORATIVELY IDENTIFY INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS WITH LAND MANAGERS, DECISION MAKERS, AND OTHERS TO HELP IMPROVE THE QUANTITY, QUALITY, AND AVAILABILITY OF SHOREBIRD HABITAT ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATELY OWNED SITES.MANY STATE WILDLIFE AREAS AND OTHER MANAGED SITES HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESS MANAGING WATERFOWL HABITAT AND HAVE HELPED WATERFOWL POPULATIONS INCREASE. THOSE MANAGEMENT ACTIONS OFTEN SUPPORTED SHOREBIRDS, BUT THESE SHOREBIRD CONSERVATION WORKSHOPS WILL PROVIDE FURTHER SUPPORT FOR MANAGERS ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LANDS TO EXPAND THEIR MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS TO INCLUDE SHOREBIRDS MORE INTENTIONALLY WHERE APPROPRIATE.WORKSHOPS ARE AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEVERAGE WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT SHOREBIRD POPULATION STATUS, HABITAT USE, TIMING OF USE, AND THREATS TO HELP ENSURE THAT VITAL INFORMATION IS IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE WHO DELIVER HABITAT CONSERVATION. THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE AN INTERACTIVE FIELD AND CLASSROOM SETTING WHERE A COMMUNITY OF PRACTITIONERS FROM A DEFINED AREA IMPORTANT TO SHOREBIRDS COME TOGETHER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHY AND HOW TO SUPPORT SHOREBIRDS IN THAT LANDSCAPE, AND TO SHARE INFORMATION. ADDITIONALLY, THESE WORKSHOPS COULD HELP BUILDRELATIONSHIPS AND SUBSEQUENT COLLABORATION AMONG PRACTITIONERS.WITHOUT THESE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS, LAND MANAGERS AND PRACTITIONERS MAY NOT BECOME AWARE OF THE URGENCY TO INTENTIONALLY PROVIDE SUITABLE HABITAT CONDITIONS FOR SHOREBIRDS.

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAM

20181AJ802 PLJV MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION EFFORTS

NCE TO 9/30/2021, COVID 19

PLAYA CONSERVATION INITIATIVE - PLAYA WETLAND RESTORATION

OUTREACH - PLAYA LAKES JOINT VENTURE

TO SUPPORT CONSERVATION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR PLAYA OUTREACH AND EDUCATION TO SPANISH-SPEAKING PRODUCERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN EASTERN NEW MEXICO.