Kansas North Montana Dakota South Dakota Wyoming Nebraska Utah Colorado Kansas Kansas Partners Program Conservation Focus Areas Introduction and Overview visible on global satellite images. “Natural Kansas” edited by Joseph It is within this prairie landscape, T Collins, University Press of Kansas is known as the “Prairie where PFW program is needed. Kansas. State.” Often, people will drive With 97% of the state in private through and have the perception ownership (Kansas Department Focus Area Selection of miles and miles of nothing, not of Wildlife and Parks 2008), there even a tree. The lack of trees, are ample opportunities for the Through continued communication cities, and crop fields, or rather, the PFW program to assist ranchers with our conservation partners we presence of vast intact grasslands and farmers with voluntary fish established four focus areas for the is exactly what makes Kansas and wildlife habitat restoration KS PFW program. The Southwest unique. This feature provides an projects. Over time, invasive Kansas Prairies and Playas, North extraordinary view of the past and species, fragmentation, and poor Central Prairies, Flint Hills, and what the landscape can continue land management have led to Central Wetlands and Prairies to look like in the future. The fact degradation and loss of prairie prioritize our conservation efforts. that someone can drive and see only habitats, contributing to the decline Using Geographic Information miles and miles of unaltered terrain of numerous Federal trust species. Systems (GIS) technologies, we is beautiful to many. A landscape Through educational efforts and incorporated datasets created void of trees, forms the unique the application of appropriate by conservation partners that character of the prairie and hosts a land management strategies, the included; species habitat models, vast amount of native wildlife. remaining 17 million acres of native strategic plans, satellite imagery, vegetation can provide much and statewide landuse/landcover Certain areas of Kansas represent needed habitat for these resources. data to create our focus areas. the last stronghold of Tallgrass Some of the facts and information prairie on the continent. Many of used to describe Kansas land areas these areas are so large they are were inspired by passages from 31 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan Kansas Native Prairie. USFWS Photo. of mixed-grass, shortgrass, sand Hills and Smoky Hills comprise the Southwest Prairies prairie and sage-steppe that extend mixed-grass portion of this focus and Playas Focus Area throughout western and south area. The red-colored Permian central Kansas. Portions of this soil of the Red Hills with its many focus area are also home to the buttes and mesas supports Kansas’ highest densities of playa lakes in second largest intact tract of native the state. Physiographic regions prairie (second only to the Flint within this focus area include the Hills). The Smoky Hills, so named Red Hills, the Smoky Hills, the for their dark shales that produce a Arkansas River Lowlands and the “smoky” heat haze when viewed by High Plains of Kansas. Each of settlers approaching from the east, The Southwest Prairies and these regions is defined by unique comprises rolling to nearly level Playas Focus Area is a complex soil characteristics, topography Tallgrass and mixed grass prairie. and diverse landscape composed and plant communities. The Red Red Hils are an area dominated by mixed-grass and sand-sage prairie within the Southwest Kansas Prairies and Playas Focus Area. Photo by Greg Kramos, USFWS. 32 Kansas Eastern red cedar is a major threat to Kansas prairies and is controlled through mechanical removal and periodic fire. Photo by Tony Ifland, USFWS. Within this focus area the Smoky Threats of fragmentation and Canada geese, greater yellowlegs, Hills can be considered a transition invasive species are major concerns. long-billed dowitchers, whooping zone between the Tallgrass and Two of the key priorities for the cranes and sandhill cranes. Playas shortgrass prairies. Just south of program in this focus area are provide important migratory stop- the Smoky Hills lie the Arkansas controlling invasive trees such as overs for these birds to rest and River Lowlands. This area includes Eastern red cedar and promoting refuel, some traveling thousands sand and sandsage prairies proper prairie management. This of miles between breeding grounds composed of sandy soils supporting will be done in cooperation with and wintering sites. Precipitation is grassland covered (and at times several partners and through inconsistent in the playa region and exposed) sand dunes. Finally, the organized grazing groups such drought is a common occurrence. short-grass prairie portion of this as the Comanche Pool Prairie Playa lakes may be the most area includes the High Plains Resource Foundation (Comanche important wetland habitat type for region. To some, this area seems Pool). The Comanche Pool is a birds in the region. The KS PFW a bleak and featureless expanse. producer driven interest group program is working with producers Early settlers stated “You can see that promotes proper grassland to increase awareness of the value so far…it hurts”. The High Plains management throughout the Red playas hold and assists landowners are more functionally dynamic than Hills. Ranching is one of the major in establishing a wetland buffer to a cursory view can assess. The land-use patterns in this focus area help maintain these sites. geology of the High Plains paints and ranchers have been receptive a picture of river borne sands and to conservation strategies that also From the waterways of the gravels, windblown silts, volcanic incorporate their overall objectives. Arkansas, Cimmaron and Smoky ash beds and diatomite deposits. The lesser prairie-chicken, who’s Hill rivers to the spring-fed The diversity of the Southwest numbers have dropped by over streams that dissect the Red Hills, Kansas Prairies and Playas Focus 90% since the 1800’s, is just one of the Southwest Kansas Prairies Area topography, geology and plant the species the PFW program is and Playas Focus Area is home communities supports a multitude working to conserve in the area. to many aquatic and riparian of Federal trust species. From species. Through proper prairie waterfowl and shorebirds using Across western Kansas, management PFW program staff its playa lakes, to lesser prairie- depressions that formed years ago, and their conservation partners chickens inhabiting its grasslands, store precious water from seasonal have already detected increased the wildlife species that occur rains and provide a temporary flows and better riparian habitat in this area can be as diverse as oasis to wildlife on the semi-arid conditions due to the installation the landscape, making this a high landscape. When flooded, these of proper grazing systems, fire priority for conservation. depressions, called playas, attract return intervals and invasive woody ducks, geese, shorebirds, and species removal. waterbird species such as mallards, 33 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program Mountain-Prairie Region Strategic Plan The Southwest Kansas Prairies and Playas focus area contains some of the best habitat for lesser prairie-chickens, such as this male performing on a lek. Photo by Greg Kramos, USFWS. Priority species Southwest Kansas Prairies and Playas Focus Area Five Year Targets • Lesser prairie-chicken Upland Restoration/Enhancement 15,000 acres • Ferruginous hawk Wetland Restoration/Enhancement 40 acres • Grasshopper sparrow River Miles 2 miles • Loggerhead shrike • Cassin’s sparrow Partnerships • Western burrowing owl Landowners 40 • Northern pintail Technical Assistance 125/days • Long-billed curlew • American bittern The primary objective for KS PFW in the Southwest Kansas Prairies • Upland sandpiper and Playas focus area is to coordinate with USDA, KDWPT, TNC, and • American avocet other conservation partners to enhance/restore native habitat on large • Whooping crane tracts of land in order to provide adequate habitat for Federal trust • Texas horned lizard species. This collaboration enables KS PFW program to work with • Arkansas shiner organized producers such as the Comanche Pool Resource Foundation (Threatened) on large tracts of land owned by several landowners involved with • Arkansas darter many different programs, all with common goals. (Candidate) Cost-share 3% (KDWP) 34% FWS Funds 58% Landowners and In-Kind 5% Other Partners Implementation strategy: Both upland and wetland objectives will be met by conducting technical assistance and on-the-ground conservation efforts on private land within this focus area. Many stream and wetland areas are in need of enhancement and/or restoration and will be a primary target for the KS PFW program. One of the top conservation practices promoted by the program is prescribed fire. Through the organization of burn associations our cooperators can share information, equipment, and techniques with others in the conservation community to better facilitate the enhancement/ management of our native prairies. The KS PFW program will deliver information concerning how to get involved with these conservation efforts through landowner workshops, other organizations, such as the Comanche Pool, and the communication of participating landowners. 34 Kansas North Central Prairies Focus Area The North Central Kansas Prairies