Initiated in Texas in 1990, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) program restores and enhances fish and wildlife habitat on private lands.  The PFW program initially targeted wetland habitat for restoration and enhancement work.  However, the success of this landowner friendly program encouraged the Service to expand it to benefit habitats for all federal trust resources, including waterfowl, other migratory birds, and candidate, threatened, and endangered species.  Projects generally involve wetland, grassland, and/or riparian restoration activities.  The PFW program provides cost-sharing and technical assistance to non-federal landowners, including private landowners, local governments, native American tribes, educational institutions, and other entities.

Through 2004, the Service has entered into 1040 partnerships with private landowners, covering approximately 243,000 acres in Texas.  Approximately 61,000 acres of wetlands, 161 miles (5900 acres) of riparian corridors, 8 miles of instream habitat, and 175,000 acres of native prairie and other upland habitats have been restored and/or enhanced by the PFW program in Texas.  Throughout the State, the PFW program has also participated in projects seeking to educate the public regarding the benefits of wetland and other wildlife habitat by providing funds used to develop outdoor environmental classrooms.

	Landowner, NRCS personnel, etc. contacts appropriate FWS field office.
	FWS Private Lands Biologist conducts a site visit.
	Proposed project developed with landowner, often with NRCS input - especially if engineering required.
	Private Lands Agreement which stipulates FWS/ landowner’s cost-shares, project design, and management plan is signed by landowner and submitted to FWS field office.
	Once the project is approved at the field office level and based upon the availability of funds, the Agreement is sent to the Regional office (Albuquerque, NM) for final approval, archaeological clearance (if necessary), and other processing.
	Landowner receives signed agreement from FWS regional office; project construction may begin.
	Landowner reimbursed FWS cost-share amount after project completed.

For more information regarding the PFW Program in Texas, please contact:

Don Wilhelm, State PFW Coordinator 
711 Stadium Drive, Suite 252
Arlington, Texas 76011
(817) 277-1100
don_wilhelm@fws.gov