Jontie Aldrich Oral History Transcript (Partners for Fish and Wildlife)

Jontie explains how the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program was conducted in Oklahoma, starting with wetland restoration on private lands and evolving into other habitat restoration projects including native grassland restoration, riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

Learn more about riparian restoration, stream crossings and prescribed burning.  Jontie worked with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to design restoration projects. The Partners program was very well received in Oklahoma. Landowners would sign an agreement with the Fish and Wildlife Service, contract for the work to be done, and then be reimbursed by the FWS when the restoration was complete. He discusses working with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, federally recognized tribes and tribal members throughout the State, Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy. He also discusses the outdoor classroom projects that were implemented at almost 100 schools throughout Oklahoma. Many of these had a wetland restoration project associated with them. Finally, Jontie provides very important history on how the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Act was developed, supported by Senator Jim Inhofe, and passed in Congress in 2006, officially authorizing the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program and establishing a permanent funding source.