Greg Hoch – Prairie Habitat Team Supervisorfiles.dnr.state.mn.us/fish_wildlife/roundtable/2016RT_Pheasant.pdf · State of Grasslands and Wildlife. Since 2007 we’ve lost 655,000

Pheasant Summit Action Plan

Kevin Lines – Pheasant Action Plan Coordinator

Greg Hoch – Prairie Habitat Team Supervisor

MN Pheasant Summit• Governor Dayton held a

Pheasant Summit to address concerns about pheasants and hunting.

• Held Dec. 13, 2014 at SW MN State University in Marshall.

• 300 attendees and 700 online responses helped identify priorities, action items, and strategies

State of Grasslands and Wildlife

Since 2007 we’ve lost 655,000 acres of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands in MN and another 398,000 acres will expire in the next 3 years

Losing native prairie, pastures, hayfields, etc. but harder to track

Pheasant populations and harvests remain well below historic levels1942 Harvest = 1,749,000 / 1963 – last 1 million bird harvest2007 Harvest = 655,400 / 2014 Harvest = 152,800

Waterfowl harvests well below historic levels, even recent history1995-97 avg. harvest = 1,155,000 / 2012-14 avg. harvest = 746,000

Songbirds, monarch butterflies, and honeybees/native pollinators have all seen dramatic declines in recent years

10 Action Items from Pheasant Action Plan

1. Identify Habitat Complexes2. Increase conservation program (CRP) and easement

enrollments3. Enhance the Farm Bill Assistance Program4. Increased habitat management on public and private lands5. Accelerate WMA and WPA acquisition6. Implement a buffer program7. Improve roadside management for wildlife8. Expand the Walk-In Access (WIA) program9. Expand public education on grassland and

pheasant conservation10. Expand monitoring and research efforts

WMA – DNR Wildlife Management AreaWPA – US Fish and Wildlife Service Waterfowl Production Areas

Habitat Complexes

When it comes to habitat, bigger is better160 acres is better than 40 acres

Most recent scientific literaturelandscape context – landscape being 6-16 square milesWildlife do best when areas this large ~25-40% grassland habitat

DNR WMAUSFWS WPARIM

Habitat Complexes IIWorking with partners to identify 9 square mile areas that are just below

25-40% permanently protected habitatInvest conservation $$ where we already have a conservation/habitat base

Don’t want to exclude other areas, but focus on these areasGoal: get multiple complexes in each county to that 25-40% habitat level

DNR WMAUSFWS WPARIM

Habitat Complexes IIIProvide a large habitat baseEnough room to manage for nesting, brood-rearing, and winter habitat

managing for multiple species

Multiple habitat typesUpland prairie, lowland wet prairie, wetlands and cattailsBrushy areas Different crop types in surrounding ag matrix and winter food

Increased management optionsPrescribed burns in part of area or different seasons

Have a mix of burned/unburned within complexRotational grazing and haying

Worthington Wells – An Example Habitat Complex

Worthington Wells area in Nobles County showing complex of WMA, WPA, and surrounding agricultural matrix

10 Action Items – Accomplishments to Date

1. Identify Habitat ComplexesIn Progress

2. Increase conservation program (CRP) and easement enrollmentsCREP III submitted and pending approval

3. Enhance the Farm Bill Assistance ProgramDeveloping a formal MOU

4. Increased habitat management on public and private landsOHF funding

5. Accelerate WMA and WPA acquisitionOHF Funding

6. Implement a buffer programPassed a Buffer Bill last legislative session

7. Improve roadside management for wildlifeHiring a new Roadsides CoordinatorWorking with legislators to improve roadside mowing laws

8. Expand the Walk-In Access (WIA) programReceived $1.7M USDA grant to continue program

9. Expand public education on grassland and pheasant conservation10. Expand monitoring and research efforts

Continuing ChallengesLoss of General CRP acres due to Federal caps on program

36M >> 24M acres by 2018 nationally

Decline in pheasant hunters

Continued funding of WIA program after grant

Getting private lands habitat work funded

Emerging OpportunitiesIncreased focus on clean water (Governor’s Water Summit)

Grassland is one of the best ways to keep water clean

National, regional, and state focus on monarchs and other pollinatorsThey need diverse grassland habitat, just like pheasants

CREP III – 100,000 acres of permanent habitat acresPending approval

Potential roadside legislation on timing of mowing this Sessioncall your local Representative and Senator

Implementing the PlanThis will be a COLLABORATIVE process with local, state, and federal agencies as well as conservation partners, landowners and conservationistsThis is a Plan based on the input and ideas of Minnesotans

Clean Water Fund Report Card

Clean Water Fund Report Card 2014