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Range-wide Conservation Plan for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (LPC)
Opportunities to Learn About and Review Initial Draft Conservation Plan |
The Lesser Prairie-Chicken (LPC) Interstate Working Group of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) is developing a range-wide conservation plan to increase the population of the LPC, in partnership within federal agencies and others. The states include Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
 The conservation plan emphasizes tools and incentives to encourage landowners and others to voluntarily partner with agencies in LPC habitat conservation efforts, while also achieving their land use needs. WAFWA has engaged the Ecosystem Management Research Institute (www.emri.org) to assist with the development of the plan.
Background – The LPC is a North American grouse species that historically occupied sand sagebrush, shinnery oak, and mixed grass vegetation types of the southern Great Plains. LPC and the habitat upon which they depend have diminished across their historical range by about 90%. In 1998 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) determined that the LPC was warranted for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) but was precluded because of higher listing priorities. In December 2012, the USFWS released a proposed rule that indicates the agency is considering listing the LPC as “threatened” under the ESA, with a final determination to be made by September 2013. The range-wide LPC conservation plan is being developed to provide voluntary conservation for LPC, and hopefully preclude the need for final listing.
Planning Process to Date – An initial draft of the range-wide plan was provided for public review in mid-January 2013 and public/stakeholder meetings were held on January 23-24 in Oklahoma City to present and discuss that first draft. Links to the presentations given at each meeting are provided below:
- January 23 - Powerpoint Presentation – Present draft LPC conservation plan; address questions; hear comments; identify additional conservation opportunities to include in the plan.
- January 24 – Powerpoint Presentation - Detailed discussion of how LPC habitat mitigation will be addressed in the conservation plan, including discussion of mitigation metrics, Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAA), mitigation credits, conservation banking, and other habitat mitigation tools.
Third Draft of Range-Wide Conservation Plan for Lesser Prairie Chicken - The third draft of the range-wide LPC conservation strategy has been posted for public review on this website. Click here to view it now. The draft plan provides a range-wide population goal for the LPC, identifies focus areas in each state where LPC conservation efforts will be focused, lists actions that will be taken to help increase its population, and provides a system for mitigating impacts to LPC habitat.
Written Comments Due May 15, 2013 - Written comments on the third draft of the LPC conservation plan will be accepted through Wednesday, May 15. Comments can be sent via email to janc@gci.net or through the mail to Jan Caulfield Consulting, 114 S. Franklin St., Ste. 205, Juneau, AK 99801.
Next Steps – The final plan will be submitted to the USFWS in May 2013 to be taken into consideration as they make their final listing decision.
Please contact Jan Caulfield, Facilitation/Public Involvement at janc@gci.net or at 907-523-4610 with any questions regarding the public involvement.
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