Historic, Archive Document Do not assume content reflects current scientific knowledge, policies, or practices. A1C32 United States Partnerships for Department of Agriculture Forest Service Habitat Improvement Wildlife and Fisheries Staff - o ■ Washington, DC H Challenge Cost-Share Program ci 1992 Report 0 -.6 1 -4 May 1993 Partnerships for United States Department of Agriculture Habitat Improvement Forest Service Wildlife and Fisheries Staff Challenge Cost-Share Program 1992 Report Washington, DC May 1993 Acknowledgments The Wildlife and Fisheries Staff of the Washington Office, USDA Forest Service, thanks all who participated in the 1992 Challenge Cost-Share Program. In particular, we acknowledge the commitment and enthusiasm of the staff members on participating national forests and ranger districts for their outstanding efforts in building and strengthening the Challenge Cost-Share Program. This report was prepared by Beth Giron Pendleton, WO Wildlife and Fisheries Staff. Special thanks to Antoinetta Grant, Jill Anderson, and Donal Hogan, WO Wildlife and Fisheries Staff, for data compilation and production assistance. Contents Executive Summary. 3 Background. 3 Program Goal. 3 Accomplishments in 1992. 4 Partnership Initiatives. 4 Regional Project Highlights. 6 Northern Region. 6 Rocky Mountain Region. 7 Southwestern Region. 10 Intermountain Region. 11 Pacific Southwest Region. 13 Pacific Northwest Region. 15 Southern Region. 17 Eastern Region. 19 Alaska Region. 21 Appendix A—Figures.23 Appendix B—Partners 28 Partnerships for Habitat Improvement EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 1992, the Forest Service had active partnerships with thousands of people from hundreds of organiza¬ The Challenge Cost-Share Program made another tions and agencies like The American Fisheries strong showing in 1992. The Forest Service and its Society, Boy Scouts of America, Defenders of partners turned $11.5 million in congressionally Wildlife, Ducks Unlimited, Garden Club of America, appropriated funds into nearly $26.7 million in National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National completed habitat improvement projects. The Wild Turkey Federation, The Nature Conservancy, number of partners has grown from 57 when the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Sport Fishing program began in 1986 to nearly 2,500 in 1992. Institute, and Trout Unlimited. Partners also in¬ cluded representatives from government agencies on Partners helped make possible the completion of all levels, including 44 State fish and wildlife agen¬ 2,111 habitat improvement projects for wildlife, fish, cies, 43 State Natural Heritage Inventory Programs, and rare plants on national forests and grasslands. the Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Fish Projects included structural improvements such as and Wildlife Service. watering guzzlers for elk, roosting boxes for bats, and fencing fragile streamsides to protect rare plants. Fiscal year 1992 was our seventh year of sharing Non-structural improvements included use of pre¬ habitat improvement opportunities, and the accom¬ scribed burning to improve forage conditions for plishments of this program continue to indicate a white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and grouse and high level of support and commitment from the seeding roadsides to enhance turkey nesting and public for enhancing wildlife, fish, and rare plant brood-rearing habitat. habitats on national forests and grasslands. Background Program Goal In 1986, the United States Congress established the The goal of the Challenge Cost-Share Program is to Challenge Cost-Share Program—a unique venture in restore, improve, or maintain the fish, wildlife, and which the State and private sectors share in both the rare plant habitats on national forests and grasslands management and cost of Federal habitat improvement through active partnerships among the Forest Service programs. Congressional funding of Forest Service and conservation and service organizations, other Challenge Cost-Share projects is contingent upon government agencies, private groups, and individu¬ receipt of matching contributions from conservation als. Partnerships have proven to be a very successful, groups, private enterprises, individuals, or other and mutually beneficial, way of doing business. public agencies. An effective partnership requires a mutual interest in The program is designed to encourage direct public some goal or value on the part of participating involvement in managing wildlife and fish habitats parties. Participation is voluntary and mutual benefit on national forests and grasslands. The Forest is the driving force. As noted above, the types of Service, in partnership with the Wildlife Manage¬ projects are as diverse as the partners involved in this ment Institute, developed the “Join Us” campaign to exciting program. invite individuals, organizations, and agencies to In addition to improving habitats and our knowledge become partners in sharing the costs of wildlife and of wildlife, fish, and rare plants, the Challenge Cost- fisheries management. Partnerships can involve Share Program strengthens communication among matching monies, labor, and equipment or sharing Agency managers and individuals, conservation technical skills. But in all cases, the results are the groups, and other groups who care about national same—on-the-ground resource improvements to forest and grassland resources. The partnership benefit wildlife, fish, rare plants, and people. approach to getting the job done expands Agency resources while enhancing habitats for many values and uses. The Challenge Cost-Share Program is 1992 Challenge Cost-Share Program 3 Partnerships for Habitat Improvement truly the Forest Service mission in action: Caring for In 1992, the Forest Service and its partners com¬ the Land and Serving People. pleted 183,648 acres of habitat improvements for wildlife, fish, and threatened, endangered, and sensitive species. In addition, 705 miles of streams Accomplishments in 1992 were improved for inland fish, such as walleye and The Forest Service and 2,490 partners (appendix A, bass, and anadromous fish, such as salmon, steel- figure 1) completed 2,111 Challenge Cost-Share head, and sea-run cutthroat trout. projects (figure 2) in 1992. Total partners' contribu¬ Structural improvements totaled 6,146 and included tions of labor, materials, expertise, and cash exceeded nesting platforms for waterfowl and cave gates for $15.1 million (figure 3), more than matching the bats. Partners also assisted in the completion of more Forest Service's monetary contribution of $11.5 than 8.8 million acres of habitat inventories for million (figure 4). Combined contributions to the wildlife and threatened, endangered, and sensitive Challenge Cost-Share Program for fiscal year 1992 species. In addition, 2,040 miles of streams were were nearly $26.7 million. Trends in Forest Service inventoried in 1992. and partner contributions (figure 5) and contributions by region for fiscal year 1992 (figure 6) are also displayed in appendix A. Partnership Initiatives The Forest Service’s Wildlife, Fish, and Rare Plants The Forest Service has developed several major Program spent more than $11.5 million of appropri¬ program themes as part of its increased emphasis on ated funds for habitat management in four areas: fisheries, wildlife, and rare plants. Rise to the wildlife; inland fisheries; anadromous fisheries Future!, the fisheries program, coordinates aquatic (salmon, steelhead, and sea-run cutthroat trout); and habitat management goals, plans, and programs with threatened, endangered, and sensitive species (appen¬ State, Federal, and tribal agencies and fish interest dix A, figure 4). groups. Currently, Rise to the Future! management activities focus on inland fish—such as walleye, trout, bass, and nongame fish (e.g., various darters, shiners, and chubs)—mussels, aquatic insects, amphibians, and other aquatic species, as well as anadromous fish. Through Rise to the Future!, the Forest Service has developed strong partnerships with major fisheries conservation groups, government agencies, research¬ ers, and the angling public to protect, restore, and enhance aquatic habitats. Partnerships also support monitoring of river, stream, and lake habitats and interpretive, educational, and recreational opportuni¬ ties for forest visitors. In 1992, partners assisted the Agency in completing 483 Rise to the Future! projects. Get Wild!, the wildlife program, is designed to ensure continued availability of healthy habitats for all terrestrial wildlife species. Successful implementa¬ tion of this program involves coordination with State and Federal agencies, as well as wildlife interest groups, to inventory and improve habitats, survey Pine Marten. (Photo by USD A Forest Service) and monitor wildlife populations, provide education 4 1992 Challenge Cost-Share Program