Conservation in Action Plains and Prairie Potholes July 2010 Landscape Conservation Cooperative Purpose The Plains and Prairie Potholes Landscape Conservation Cooperative (PPP LCC) is dedicated to the conservation of a landscape unparalleled in importance to a vast array of unique species who’s populations are in steep decline. The LCC boundary transcends existing U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regional boundaries and the international border with Canada (see map.) Currently, the Service and our partners are working to develop and apply the scientific tools necessary to determine how climate change, coupled with existing stressors such as the conversion of native prairie for agricultural purposes may affect the health and productivity of shared natural resources in this landscape. The actions of the Plains and Prairie Pothole LCC will support and supplement State Wildlife Action Plans and enhance protection for fish and Plains and Prairie Potholes Landscape Conservation Cooperative Area (outlined in red) wildlife resources in the region. The Habitat Northern Great Plains – ecologically Rivers and Riparian Corridors – In The PPP LCC includes three main the Northern Great Plains is the most the PPP LCC the rivers function as sub-units, the Prairie Pothole Region, diverse subunit within the PPP LCC but ecological “magnets” and corridors not Northern Great Plains, and the riparian also the least protected with less than only for wildlife but also people as well. corridors of several major river systems two percent of the area’s 180 million Rivers in the Plains and Prairie Pothole including the Missouri, the Yellowstone acres managed for wildlife conservation. LCC are notorious for their extensive and the Red River of the North. Habitats vary from riparian wetlands flooding, meandering channels, and to isolated forested mountain ridges, for their ability to transport massive The Prairie Pothole Region - includes such as the Black Hills of South Dakota amounts of sediment. The upper Missouri millions of wetlands that constitute one and the sagebrush steppe east of the River system and its major tributaries, of the richest wetland and grassland Rockies. A combination of climate, such as the Yellowstone River, provide systems in the world. These “prairie grazing, and fire were ecological factors vital habitat for many threatened and potholes” and their surrounding that influenced the development of the endangered fish and wildlife species. grasslands are highly productive and diverse landscape. To date, more than support an incredible diversity of wildlife. 1,500 species of plants like blue grama, Adaptation Benefits The area provides habitat for both sagebrush and coneflower; 300 species of The Plains and Prairie Pothole LCC breeding and migrating birds, as well birds, including the greater sage grouse, builds off of and continues supporting as a host of other wetland and native golden eagle and sandhill crane; and 220 the outstanding conservation legacies grassland dependent species, including species of butterfly have been recorded established by 3 migratory bird joint waterfowl, shorebirds, grassland birds, in this region. The Northern Great ventures: the Prairie Habitat, the native stream fishes and big river Plains harbors more than 90 species of Prairie Pothole, and the Northern Great fishes such as the pallid sturgeon, and mammals, including the American bison, Plains Joint Ventures. The PPP LCC paddlefish. the prairie dog and the black-footed is one part of an even larger network ferret - the most endangered mammal in of conservation science partnerships North America. that provide an unparalleled geographic framework for successful, large scale conservation planning, design, delivery, monitoring and research – the fundamental elements of what we call On-going Projects Strategic Habitat Conservation. The As of July 2010, the PPP LCC’s support the efforts of on-going LCC has held two steering activities within the partnership by filling committee meetings to plan existing gaps in our science capacity and project priorities and associated helping us better respond to a changing funding. A few of the ongoing climate and other stressors. project include: Organization and Partnerships Capture and Interpretation Work in the LCC is accomplished through of Down-Scaled Climate a variety of Service and non-Service Change Models to Benefit partners. The Prairie Pothole, Prairie Avian Conservation ($150,000) Habitat and Northern Great Plains - In cooperation with the US capacity includes the Habitat and Joint Ventures, numerous Missouri Geological Survey, the National Center Population Evaluation Team (HAPET) River conservation and management for Atmospheric Research and the Offices in Fergus Falls, Minn., and organizations, and more than 20 other University Corporation for Atmospheric Bismarck, ND, and the Fish Technology conservation partners have served Research we are examining the effects of and Fish Health Center, in Bozeman, as founding members of this LCC. climate change on grassland and wetland Mont. The USGS operates the Northern The Plains and Prairie Potholes LCC bird distribution and abundance. This Prairie Wildlife Research Center and provides additional science support to project will provide down-scaled climate the South Dakota State University the conservation community, including models for use in determining where to Cooperative Research Unit and is supplying specialized expertise in best apply conservation actions. planning to establish an Intermountain landscape scale conservation planning West Regional Climate Change Hub. The and design. Regional Assessment of Fish Habitat U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Condition in Northern Great Plains Wildlife Refuge System, is providing We have a long history of collaboration ($150,000) - To enhance our ability to support to the LCC in the form of with USGS’s Northern Prairie Wildlife develop conservation delivery guidelines inventory and monitoring specialists who Research Center, and other USGS offices, we have also partnered with the State of will help the partnership to measure the as well as with universities throughout Montana and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife success of their efforts. North Dakota the LCC. The Service is working with Service to complete digital maps of State University has established a team these institutions to develop research wetlands such that we will have wall- of research scientists who are dedicated capacity to support this LCC. To date the to-wall coverage of National Wetland to providing support for addressing some USGS has committed to adding two new Inventory data for the LCC by the end of the science needs of the partnership. research appointments with expertise of September 2010. These wetland maps Other public and private partners have highly valued by the partnership. are essential for efficient conservation significant scientific capabilities that planning and delivery. will provide capacity for this LCC. As Capacity our understanding of the science need Completion of the National Wetland The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is continues to grow, the LCC may establish Inventory for the Northern Great Plains responsible for coordinating the LCC additional staff positions. and ensuring existing program functions ($175,000) - The Glacial Lakes and Great Plains Fish Partnerships, part of continue. However, the strength of Next Steps the PPP LCC lies in the expertise and the National Fish Habitat Action Plan The Service is co-locating new staff technological resources embedded within (NFHAP), are working to assess the resources acquired through the National the partnership. Existing Service science status of all priority aquatic habitats in Wildlife Refuge System Inventory and and strategic conservation planning the region. The LCC is collaborating Monitoring Program with the Plains and with the Midwestern and National Fish Prairie Pothole LCC. A data manager Habitat Partnership to assemble and will be added at the HAPET office in serve data layers that will allow us to Bismarck, ND and an Inventory and conduct fish habitat assessments on Monitoring Biologist will be stationed at streams and rivers, targeting restoration the Fergus Falls Wetland Management efforts where they are needed most. District Office, in Fergus Falls, MN and another stationed at Glacial Ridge Contacts National Wildlife Refuge in Erskine, Rick Nelson, USFWS, Mountain Prairie MN. The PPP LCC Steering Committee Region, LCC Coordinator, 701-355-8509, met in April and is in the process of [email protected] nominating staff to serve on a Technical Committee who will be charged with Additional information is available at: reviewing and prioritizing science needs. http://midwest.fws.gov/climate/lcc.cfm.