U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Awards $19 Million in Grants to States to Help Private Landowners Conserve Wildlife Habitat

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced $19 million in competitive funding for 42 States and the Virgin Islands fish and wildlife agencies under the Bush Administrations innovative Landowner Incentive Program (LIP). The program supports collaborative efforts with private landowners interested in conserving natural habitat for species at risk, including Federally listed endangered or threatened species and proposed or candidate species, on private land while these individuals continue to engage in traditional land-use practices.

or example, the State of Nebraska will use LIP funding to restore more than 10,000 acres of prairie by providing landowners with technical and financial assistance to improve at-risk species habitat. Projects will include innovative and sustainable grazing techniques, haying, prescribed burning, tree and brush clearing, ecologically sensitive weed control, prairie restoration and the purchase of conservation easements.

LIP, funded through competitive grants with money from the Soil and Water Conservation Fund, establishes or supplements existing landowner incentive programs that provide technical or financial assistance to private landowners. All grants need to be matched by at least 25 percent from a non-federal source.

Landowners interested in participating in the LIP should contact their State fish and wildlife agency. For more information about the grant programs, please visit the Services Website at http://federalaid.fws.gov/lip/lipguidelines.html. You may also contact: Landowner Incentive Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Federal Assistance, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, MS-FA4020, Arlington, VA 22203. Phone: (703) 358-2156.

The Catalogue for Federal Domestic Assistance number is 15.633.

; -1 1. 1States with funding are: ; -1 1. 1 ; -1 1. 1ALABAMA ; -1 1. 1$180,000 ; -1 1. 1 ; -1 1. 1ARIZONA ; -1 1. 1$655,000 ; -1 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. ; -1 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.ARKANSAS ; -1 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$180,000

30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.

30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.CALIFORNIA

30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$157,787

07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.COLORADO 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$314,446 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.CONNECTICUT 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$180,000 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2DELAWARE 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2$655,000 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2FLORIDA 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2$655,000 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2GEORGIA 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2$180,000 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2HAWAII 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2$314,446 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2IOWA 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2$655,000 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2IDAHO 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2$180,000 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.ILLINOIS 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$705,000 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.KANSAS 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$180,000 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.KENTUCKY 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$705,000 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.LOUISIANA 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$180,000 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2MAINE 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2$655,000 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.MARYLAND 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$905,000

30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.

30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.MASSACHUSETTS

30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$655,000

02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.MICHIGAN 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$655,000 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.MINNESOTA 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$905,000 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.MISSISSIPPI 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$705,000 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.MISSOURI 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$420,900 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.NEBRASKA 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$780,000

30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.

30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.NEW HAMPSHIRE

30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$705,000

02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.NEW JERSEY 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$655,000 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.NEW MEXICO 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$180,000 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.NEW YORK 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$180,000 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.NORTH CAROLINA 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$180,000 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2OKLAHOMA 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2$180,000 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2OREGON 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2$705,000 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2PENNSYLVANIA 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2$180,000 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2RHODE 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2$180,000 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2TENNESSEE 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2$180,000 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2TEXAS 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2$705,000 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2UTAH 07.2; -107.2 35.2 71.2 107.2 143.2 179.2 215.2 251.2 287.2 323.2 359.2 395.2 431.2 467.2$705,000 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.VERMONT 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$180,000 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.VIRGINIA 07.2; -107.2 30. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$180,000 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.WASHINGTON 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$180,000 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.WISCONSIN 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$704,643 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.WEST VIRGINIA 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$180,000 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462. 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.WYOMING 02pt; -10230. 66. 102. 138. 174. 210. 246. 282. 318. 354. 390. 426. 462.$946,959

1.

1.VIRGIN ISLANDS

1.$75,000

1.
Under the LIP grants, some States, through a competitive process, will receive extra grant funds. For a list of those states and a brief description of how they intend to use the competitive LIP funding, please see below.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will conserve habitats for at-risk species of wildlife by providing technical and financial assistance to private landowners to conduct habitat improvement projects. An ancillary benefit is also expected from this program; private landowners will gain confidence in collaborative conservation, which will increase their willingness to participate in or support parallel actions on federal lands, including privately leased Federal lands. In addition, personal relationships between private landowners and the Department, the Service, and Federal Land Management Agencies may improve, which will result in long-term wildlife habitat benefits continuing well beyond the success of an individual project.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife will work with private landowners to conserve the Prebles meadow jumping mouse, short-grass prairie species, black-tailed prairie dog, mountain plover, burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk, greater sage grouse and the lesser prairie chicken.

The Delaware Division of Wildlife will use LIP funds to work with private landowners to acquire conservation easements, restore wetlands, control invasive species invasive species
An invasive species is any plant or animal that has spread or been introduced into a new area where they are, or could, cause harm to the environment, economy, or human, animal, or plant health. Their unwelcome presence can destroy ecosystems and cost millions of dollars.

Learn more about invasive species and conserve grasslands, hardwood forest and riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.

Learn more about riparian corridors.

The Florida Fish and wildlife Conservation Commission will use LIP funds to provide financial and technical support to private landowners interested in improving habitat conditions on their properties for species at risk. Biologists are working with private landowners to educate and promote long-term habitat management actions that benefit the needs of listed species. Private landowners will be able to apply to the state for cost-share programs of up to $20,000.

The Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife will use LIP funding by expanding landowner assistance programs to benefit the States 1,519 federally listed, proposed, or candidate species; and state species of concern when found on private lands.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resource will use LIP funds for two private landowner educational workshops will be conducted to provide technical assistance for noxious and invasive plant species and control and restoration of identified critical habitats. Wetlands, grasslands, bottomland forests, or oak savannas on 50 to 75 tracts of private land for more than 2,500 acres for species-at-risk will also be restored or enhanced.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will use LIP funds to provide a cost-share to purchase perpetual conservation easements from private landowners to conserve at risk species. The State will concentrate its efforts in areas around the Algific Talus Slopes, Misissippi alluvial plain, private lands near Shimik State Forest, Lotts Creek, and Wapsipinicon River.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will use LIP funding to conduct prescribed burns, use tree planting equipment, plant native warm season grasses, restoring glade or barren plant communities and applying herbicide to invasive exotic plant species while protecting species-at-risk.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife will use LIP funds to work with private landowners for habitat conservation projects that target habitat for Furbishs lousewort, a perennial wildflower endemic to the St. John River in northern Maine, and piping plover and least tern habitat on Maines privately owned beaches.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will use LIP funds to provide technical and financial assistance to private landowners around the state.

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife has established a partnership with private landowners interested in developing and maintaining wildlife habitat on their property and provides financial and technical assistance. The new funding will assist private landowners to reclaim and maintain early-successional, coastal and grassland habitats and restore unique natural communities. Projects planned include reclaiming and maintaining 200-acres of early-successional habitats per year, control of invasive exotic plants on 300-acres per year, and enhancing the habitat of at least 15 species-at-risk per year. In addition, natural community restoration efforts will benefit species-at-risk and provide technical advice and guidance to private land owners.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will use LIP funds to provide financial and technical assistance to more than 400 private landowners in four focus areas; southern Lower Peninsula grassland and wetland ecosystems, southern Lower Peninsula riparian ecosystems, northern Lower Peninsula jack pine forest and barren ecosystems, and the Upper Peninsula conifer forest ecosystem. Four biologists will provide direct assistance to landowners as well as to others through one-on-one assistance, workshops, training opportunities, and written materials. In addition, funding will fund grants to provide technical and implementation assistance, to purchase seed and material and for contract services.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will use LIP funds to enhance the capability of its existing private landowner programs to benefit species at risk as well as to establish a new, more targeted approach to the conservation of at-risk species on private lands. Minnesota DNR will support field staff that provide technical assistance to landowners including the development and implementation of habitat management plans, conduct habitat assessments and develop and implement project monitoring, and fund habitat enhancement, restoration, and protection projects through a variety of mechanisms such as reimbursement grants, contracts, and conservation easements.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is partnering with the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science Natural Heritage Program, the Mississippi Land Trust and the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The project will provide financial and technical incentives to support efforts by private landowners to protect, restore and perpetuate North Americas imperiled native prairies. This will not only provide habitat for rare, endangered, and threatened species, but also restore habitat for declining species such as the northern bobwhite. Efforts will take place in the longleaf pine region of south Mississippi, the Blackland Prairie regions found in the northeast and central sections of the state and the bottomland hardwood/wetland areas of the Delta. Funds will also provide landowners with technical assistance and stakeholder buy-in through outreach efforts, such as field days, presentations and education materials.

The Missouri Department of Conservation will use LIP funds to work with landowners to protect karst ecosystems in Southwest Missouri. The agency will work to protect subsurface habitat and reduce sedimentation and pollution entering karst systems through karst feature protection, improved on-site sewage treatment, conservation easements and erosion control practices, wildlife-friendly grassland management, invasive species control, riparian corridor protection, planned grazing and prescribed fire.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will use LIP funds to work with private landowners in four specific areas; conserving tall grass prairie, short grass prairie, and sandhills and well as public outreach.

New Hampshire Fish and Game

will use LIP funds to conserve 500-1000 acres of priority habitat for at risk species by purchasing conservation easements, restore 1,500 acres of priority habitat and provide technical expertise to landowners.

The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife will use LIP finding to build upon their highly successful Landowner Incentive Program initiated in 2003 that has already implemented more than 25 projects on private lands throughout New Jersey. With these additional federal funds and thousand of dollars in private matching funds, the State will partner with private landowners to conserve and restore forests, grasslands, and wetland habitats and protect federally endangered bog turtles, declining grassland birds, and other at-risk species.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife will use LIP funding to work with private landowners to conserve upland prairie, oak woodland and savanna, wetlands and riparian areas that support the at-risk Willamette Valley daisy, bull trout, and Fenders butterfly.

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will use LIP funding to work with private landowners to conserve the lesser prairie chicken, black-tailed prairie dog, swift fox, yellow-billed cuckoo, Texas horned lizard, Louisiana pine snake, Bachmans sparrow, cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl, Texas indigo snake, and others.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources will use LIP funds to work with private landowners to conserve sagebrush sagebrush
The western United States’ sagebrush country encompasses over 175 million acres of public and private lands. The sagebrush landscape provides many benefits to our rural economies and communities, and it serves as crucial habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including the iconic greater sage-grouse and over 350 other species.

Learn more about sagebrush steppe uplands that support the greater sage-grouse, Gunnison sage-grouse, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, pygmy rabbit, and several species of prairie dog. The Division will also work to conserve riparian corridors that support the Columbia spotted frog, least chub, several species of cutthroat trout, yellow-billed cuckoo, and migratory bird species.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will aid in the recovery and protection of rare species by restoring and managing habitat on private lands in prairie and savanna habitat and the northern Lake Michigan coastal ecological landscape The Landowner Incentive Program will be strengthened to help private landowners and other partners to manage and protect habitats that benefit species-at-risk. The focus will be on those areas not addressed by existing cost-share programs and those areas that have high biodiversity values on private lands that would benefit from the Landowner Incentive Program. Local and national conservation organizations are active in both program elements and will work closely with private landowners to ensure its success.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission will use LIP funds to be able to significantly increase our efforts to conserve and enhance sensitive wildlife species, such as the black-tailed prairie dog, swift fox, upland sandpiper, sage grouse, sage sparrow and Brewers sparrow, on private lands.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 63 Fish and Wildlife Management offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign gov