The goal of the Sandhills Task Force Sandhills Task Force is to enhance the Sandhill wetland grassland ecosystem in Strategic Plan a way that sustains Where the People and Land are One profitable private ranching, wildlife and vegetative diversity, BYKENBOUC PHOTO and associated water supplies. The Sandhills of Nebraska provide important habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including this ornate box turtle. The Sandhills Task Force Strategic Plan is also available online at http://www.SandhillsTaskForce.org Art layout and printing services for this plan were provided by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, NE. SANDHILLS TASK FORCE STRATEGIC PLAN • 2014 3 Sandhills Task Force Strategic Plan Where the People and Land are One Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................ 5 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 7 Landscape Description ......................................................................................8 History of the Sandhills Task Force ..............................................................12 Board Organization ..........................................................................................13 Guiding Principles .............................................................................................14 Accomplishments .............................................................................................15 Vision, Mission, and Goal ................................................................................17 Comprehensive Strategies ..............................................................................18 Legislation ...........................................................................................................18 Education and Outreach .................................................................................19 Technical Assistance .........................................................................................19 Research ..............................................................................................................20 Landscape Objectives and Strategies .........................................................21 Shorter Term Private Land Projects .............................................................21 Longer Term Voluntary Acquisition Projects .............................................23 Staffi ng Objectives and Strategies ...............................................................26 Funding Objectives and Strategies ..............................................................27 References .............................................................................................................28 Note – This Sandhills Task Force Strategic Plan represents a major update and revision to the Sandhills Management Plan that was published in 1993. The contents of this Plan do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of any of the agencies or organizations represented on the Sandhills Task Force (STF) Board. Cover photo by Ted La Grange Inside front cover photo (opposite page) by Dr. David Loope/UNL Drawings provided by the Thedford Art Guild. SANDHILLS TASK FORCE STRATEGIC PLAN • 2014 3 This Plan was prepared by the ad hoc Strategic Planning Committee of the Sandhills Task Force that included: Homer Buell, Kenny Dinan, Kyle Graham (USFWS), Mike Executive Summary Kelly, Ted LaGrange, and Jim Van Winkle (STF Coordinator). Dr. Martin Massengale (Center for Grassland Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln) facilitated a November 2012 meeting of the Sandhills Task Force Board that preceded the development of this plan, The Sandhills comprises one of the largest contiguous tracts of grassland and the Board greatly appreciates the leadership he provided. remaining in the United States. This landscape supports a strong ranching economy and community, and provides important habitat for a wide array of This Plan was peer reviewed by numerous individuals from our partner agencies and native plants and animals. organizations. It was approved by the Board of the Sandhills Task Force at their October 13, 2013 meeting. The Sandhills Task Force (STF) was formed in 1993, and is a 501(c)(3) non- profi t organization and a Land Trust. The STF currently has 15 Board members and at least nine shall make their primary livelihood from ranching within the Sandhills. The STF tries to follow seven Guiding Principles that are described in this Plan. This has allowed the STF to be viewed in many circles as a credible Members of the Sandhills Task Force Board and Staff organization that represents the needs and goals of the ranchers, as well as the (at the time of plan approval) agencies and organizations involved. As a result, since its inception, the STF has accomplished numerous projects and provided help to many ranchers. A.B. COX (President) Rancher, from Mullen HOMER BUELL (Vice President) Rancher, from Bassett MIKE KELLY (Secretary/Treasurer) Rancher, from Sutherland Following are the Vision, Mission, and Goal for the Sandhills Task Force: JACK ANDERSEN County Commissioner/Rancher, from Lakeside Sandhills Task Force’s Vision of the Sandhills: BEN BAILEY Rancher, from Lakeside An intact rolling prairie landscape intermixed with wetlands, meadows, and streams, where diverse native plant and animal life prospers along MELODY BENJAMIN Nebraska Cattlemen/Rancher, from with robust communities supported by a thriving ranching economy. Lakeside DOUG CHRISTENSEN Natural Resources Conservation Mission of the Sandhills Task Force: Service, from Lincoln To partner with Sandhill ranchers; local communities, groups, and organizations; and local, state and federal agencies to identify, prioritize, BARB COOKSLEY Rancher, from Anselmo plan, and implement mutually acceptable projects that benefi t private KENNY DINAN U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, from ranching, wildlife and vegetative diversity, and associated water supplies. Grand Island BYRON EATINGER Rancher, from Thedford Goal of the Sandhills Task Force: To enhance the Sandhill wetland-grassland ecosystem in a way that ERIC HANSEN Twin Platte NRD/Rancher, from sustains profi table private ranching, wildlife and vegetative diversity, and North Platte associated water supplies. MICK KNOTT Rancher, from Hyannis TED LAGRANGE Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, from Lincoln JIM LUCHSINGER The Nature Conservancy, from This Plan describes the human and natural landscape of the Sandhills and Valentine identifi es six threats to this landscape. To address these threats and seek JOHN RAVENSCROFT Rancher, from Nenzel opportunities to work toward accomplishing our goal, this fi ve-year plan identifi es Comprehensive Strategies, and Landscape Objectives and Strategies. JIM VAN WINKLE (Projects Coordinator) Rancher, from Wood Lake Four Comprehensive Strategies are identifi ed that are necessary for the STF to accomplish the Landscape Objectives. The Comprehensive Strategies are: Legislation, Education and Outreach, Technical Assistance, and Research. Two major Landscape Objectives are identifi ed and include: Shorter Term Private Land Projects, and Longer Term Voluntary Acquisition Projects. The Landscape Objectives are listed below, and the strategies to accomplish these objectives are provided in the Plan. 4 SANDHILLS TASK FORCE STRATEGIC PLAN • 2014 SANDHILLS TASK FORCE STRATEGIC PLAN • 2014 5 Landscape Objective 1 Introduction Restore/enhance 5,000 acres of wetland/wet meadows in the next fi ve years. The Sandhills is a contiguous 19,300 square-mile sand dune formation Landscape Objective 2 located in north-central Nebraska and comprises one of the largest contiguous Restore/enhance 25 miles of streams and associated riparian habitat in tracts of grassland remaining in the United States (fi gure 1). The area consists the next fi ve years. of approximately 11 million acres of grassland (Sandhills prairie) and 1 million acres of wetlands. This landscape supports a strong ranching economy and Landscape Objective 3 community. Restore/enhance 40,000 acres of upland habitat in the next 5 years. Landscape Objective 4 Preserve with conservation easements and fee title acquisition 10,000 acres of wetlands and/or associated upland habitats following the easement guidelines listed in this Plan. In addition, eff orts will be made to improve groundwater management and restore and manage destroyed wetland, wet meadow, and stream/riparian habitats located on these preserved sites where technically feasible. Accomplishing these objectives will only be possible if the STF has adequate staffi ng and funding. This Plan addresses objectives and strategies to allow the STF to address the challenges and opportunities in the next fi ve years so that we can accomplish our Landscape Objectives and continue to maintain our credibility and to grow as an organization. Figure 1 Sandhill ranchers, along with a diverse group of partners including organizations, and local, state, and federal agencies, are interested in the conservation of the Sandhills and share much common ground. All parties: • Desire to maintain a grassland/wetland ecosystem and to improve wildlife populations and the habitat that support them. • Recognize the role ranching has played in maintaining the diversity and abundance of the fl ora and fauna of the Sandhills. • Are concerned about the quantity and quality of the groundwater and the Ogallala Aquifer. The challenge of successfully maintaining