NRCS Offers Assistance to Enhance Lesser Prairie Chicken Habitat in Northwestern Oklahoma

STILLWATER, OKLA.,  — The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Oklahoma is now accepting applications until June 18, 2010, that will assist landowners with the maintenance and enhancement of habitat for the lesser prairie chicken in the northwestern portion of the state.

The lesser prairie chicken is a ground nesting bird present in regions of Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. The lesser prairie chicken is best known for its unique courtship displays and “gobbling” grounds. Once present in large numbers, the lesser prairie chicken population and its original distribution have declined significantly since 1800. Human influences such as the conversion of native rangelands to cropland, decline in habitat quality due to herbicide use, petroleum and mineral extraction activities, and excessive grazing of rangelands by livestock have contributed to this decline.

In an effort to curb this decline and increase suitable habitat for this important upland bird species, the NRCS has developed a five-state initiative. The initiative provides conservation assistance to landowners throughout the lesser prairie chicken range for the protection and enhancement of suitable habitat. “NRCS has a history of assisting landowners with the development and improvement of habitat for a variety of wildlife species” Ronald L. Hilliard, Oklahoma state conservationist said, “this initiative will allow us to focus efforts on a species in our state that is a candidate for protection under the threatened and endangered species act.”

Landowners in Alfalfa, Beaver, Beckham, Cimarron, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Harper, Major, Roger Mills, Texas, Washita, Woods, and Woodward counties are encouraged to visit with their local NRCS field office and inquire about available assistance to incorporate practices to enhance lesser prairie chicken habitat while maintaining a grazing system that will manage forage for livestock. Additionally assistance will be available to encourage the maintenance of expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands in native vegetation through enhancements to allow these lands to become productive grazing lands. Assistance is available for a variety of practices including: range planting, brush management, prescribed grazing, prescribed burning, water developments, and much more.

This opportunity is also being offered in Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas because these states currently have rangelands to support the lesser prairie chicken. NRCS will utilize both the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) to implement this initiative. All programs and services of the NRCS are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner.

For additional information about the lesser prairie chicken initiative and how to apply, please contact your local NRCS Field Service Center or visit the NRCS Oklahoma Programs webpage.

NRCS is an equal opportunity provider and employer. All programs and services of NRCS are provided in a nondiscriminatory manner. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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