KDFWR is now seeking letters of intent for the 2008 competitive granting process for State and Tribal Wildlife Grant funding.

Background and Purpose of Program

The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program (STWG), and its predecessor, the State Wildlife Grants Program (SWG), were created by Congress to protect and manage fish and wildlife species of greatest conservation need (SGCN). This proactive approach supports projects that help prevent fish and wildlife from declining to the point of being threatened or endangered.  Similar federal efforts exist for state fish and wildlife agencies for sport fishes (Sport Fish Restoration or Dingell-Johnson program) and game species (Wildlife Restoration or Pittman-Robertson program).

The primary emphasis of this program is on conservation of non-game fish and wildlife. Federal funding is presently annually apportioned to the states in a formula based on land area (1/3) and population (2/3). No State may receive more than 5% or less than 1% of the available funds.  The STWG program provides annual appropriations to the state wildlife agencies for the management, protection, and conservation of imperiled species and has resulted in more than $340 million in conservation funding since its inception in 2000.

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) developed a "Wildlife Action Plan” (WAP) in order to identify and conserve Kentucky’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need and to comply with the requirements of the STWG Program.  This document represents a proactive plan for sustaining the diversity of species and habitats found in Kentucky.  KDFWR acted as the lead agency in this effort but many partners provided crucial input.  The general public was also invited to participate and provide input.  This is not KDFWR’s plan, but rather a plan for Kentucky’s SGCN, as well as for all interested Kentuckians.

Applicant Eligibility

KDFWR is providing an opportunity for non-profit organizations, universities, and consulting firms to receive a portion of the STWG program funds through a competitive granting process

Project Eligibility

Projects must focus on the conservation and management of certain native species of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mollusks, or fish and their associated habitats.  Projects should emphasize Kentucky’s SGCN, and have a duration of one to three years.  Other organisms not currently listed as SGCN in Kentucky, such as crayfish, will be considered if the proposed project will provide baseline data that will assist in determining if those organisms should be listed. 

  Appropriate projects include those that:

• benefit native species or assemblages on our SGCN list and their habitats
• include implementation activities (e.g., “on-the-ground” management, technical guidance, population monitoring, some public outreach efforts (please contact KDFWR if interested in a public outreach project, because only certain outreach projects are applicable), laboratory and field research, etc.)
• work to conserve an area of unique biodiversity 
• investigate factors that may contribute to the decline of listed species or habitat  
• provide data to determine status, distribution, or develop conservation recommendations for native species via surveys, inventories, and monitoring activities  

Funding Constraints

Legislation requires a 50:50 match of these federal funds for implementation. These federal funds may be matched using state or private funds.  Any applicants considering contributions (e.g., services, equipment, etc.) must adhere to federal guidelines on eligible match.  Successful applicants will be considered sub-grantees of KDFWR and must agree to follow federal laws and requirements.

·        These federal funds are available on a reimbursement only basis.

·        Costs accrued prior to grant approval by the US Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) are not eligible for use as match or for reimbursement.

·        Federal funds cannot be used to match other federal funds.

·        Law enforcement is ineligible for STWG funding.

·        Projects focusing on public education and outdoor recreation are ineligible for funding.

Reporting Requirements

Project investigators must submit quarterly financial reports reflective of the expense categories listed in the proposed budget, quarterly progress reports, interim federal reports (for grants > 1year), final reports, and electronic copies of data to KDFWR.  Reports can be submitted electronically and should be in scientific format, including abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and literature cited.  Quarterly progress reports should state general results, to-date accomplishments, and justify any needed changes to the approach or budget (formats for progress, interim, and final reports will be provided to successful applicants).  Prior to the first field season, a detailed methods section and timeline will be provided to KDFWR.  In addition, KDFWR personnel may conduct other methods of monitoring progress, including on-site visits and scheduled meetings with project investigators.

Selection Criteria

Project proposals will be evaluated on the following:

• Focus on implementation activities (creation, protection, enhancement, or restoration of habitats within Kentucky’s priority conservation areas).
• Focus on species of greatest conservation need and their habitats as identified in Kentucky’s Wildlife Action Plan.
• Projects assessing the impacts and success of management actions upon species of greatest conservation need listed in Kentucky’s Wildlife Action Plan.
• Provide 50% match or greater
• Involve multiple partners
• Achieve multiple management objectives and provide tangible benefits
• Possess a reasonable project timeline and efficient budget
• Adhere to format/application guidelines

Although letters of intent will be reviewed for all projects meeting the above criteria, funding priority will be given to the following specific projects:

Reptiles and Amphibians

a) Hellbender survey work focusing on the Green River drainage (including Barren River, Nolin River and checking out the suitability of the Rough River) and Cumberland River (including the Little River in western Kentucky).  Tygarts Creek, Kinniconick Creek, and the Little Sandy River need to be included as well.

(b) Population demographics and habitat use of the Western Cottonmouth at Clarks River. 

(c) Corn snake habitat use in Powell, Menifee, and Wolfe counties. The corn snake population in this area seems to have declined greatly since the 1970's and we desperately need more information on habitat use.

(d) Reptile monitoring in the Priority Reptile Conservation Area. Includes the establishment and monitoring of artificial cover (tin sites, etc.) and the use of various trapping techniques, as well as visual encounter surveys and the examination of road kills, to track reptile distribution and abundance. 

(e) How are copperbelly water snakes using surface mined habitats in and around Peabody WMA?  Can surface mines be reclaimed in such a way as to provide really good habitats for these snakes? 

Fisheries

A.  Top research needs for ten prioritized SWG fishes (see table below):

1. Presence-absence and population densities (within KY)
2. Life history
   1. When and where spawning occurs, with detailed information on spawning habitat
   2. Age and growth
   3. Feeding habits/diet
   4. Seasonal movement patterns
3. Ecology and conservation
   1. Identification of best remaining habitat and populations
   2. Identification of environmental attributes affecting distributions
   3. Evaluation of habitat threats
   4. Predictive habitat models
4. Establishment of monitoring protocols for long-term trend assessment
5. Conservation genetics

B.  Conduct fish community and habitat assessments for watersheds within Aquatic Species Priority Conservation Areas that would:

• Compile and synthesize all known data on the fish assemblage within the watershed
• Assess current fish community data using quantitative methods
• Document new distributional records and changes in species composition and abundance compared with previous data (if possible)
• Assess habitat conditions
• Establish baseline fish assemblage data using quantitative methods that are repeatable over time
• Provide information necessary for conservation and management (e.g., where habitat improvement/enhancement or restoration could be applied)

Suggested watersheds:

• Nolin River drainage above Nolin River Lake (Green River drainage), Hardin, Larue and Hart Counties
• West Fork Clarks River (lower Tennessee River drainage), McCracken, Graves, Marshall, and Calloway Counties
• Upper Barren River drainage:  Skaggs Creek, Peter Creek, and Barren River (above reservoir) in Barren, Metcalfe, Allen and Monroe Counties (*Note: this could complement a life history and status assessment of the Blackfin Sucker (Thoburnia atripinnis)

C.     Implementation projects

• Land acquisition
• Conservation easements
• Habitat improvement/enhancement
• Establish and begin implementing long-term monitoring plans

1.      Terrapin Creek watershed, especially from Hwy 1485 bridge to KY/TN state line, Graves County; private land, except for Nature Preserve

2.      Wolf Creek (tributary of Clear Fork, upper Cumberland River drainage), Whitley County, which supports a strong population of Cumberland Darter (Etheostoma susanae); private land.

3.      Pitman Creek (upper Cumberland – Lake Cumberland drainage), Pulaski County, which supports one of the few (and perhaps best) populations of Sawfin Shiner; private land.

Avian Projects

• Response of Wildlife Action Plan species (especially Swainson’s Warbler) to cane restoration
• Impacts of Hemlock Wooly Adelgid on Wildlife Action Plan species in Kentucky
• Effects of management practices (native warm season grass conversion, timber stand improvement, burning regimes, creating snags for cavity nesters etc.) on Wildlife Action Plan species
• Distribution, demographics, habitat selection,life history, and habitat improvement of Wildlife Action Plan species that current surveys do not capture (e.g. Sedge Wrens and Swainson’s Warbler)

American Woodcock:

• Identify habitats used by woodcock in Kentucky during the breeding     season and develop management strategies for these habitats.
• Evaluate/develop methods to survey for breeding American woodcock in Kentucky.
• Identify habitats used by woodcock in Kentucky during autumn/winter and develop management strategies for these habitats.
• Develop methods to stimulate habitat creation and management for woodcock on private lands in Kentucky.

King Rail:

• Identify nesting populations of king rails in Kentucky
• Identify techniques to create/manage king rail habitats in Kentucky

Shorebirds:

• Create stopover habitats for migrating shorebirds.
• Examine stopover dynamics of shorebirds migrating through Kentucky.

Quail*

• Genetic structure and gene flow of Northern Bobwhite in Kentucky. Does Kentucky have meta-populations of bobwhite?
• Basic life history investigations for quail in focus areas (Livingston County and Hart County)
  • Survivorship
  • Productivity
  • Life cycle chronology
  • Habitat use and response to management
  • Hunting effects

*  Additional funding, aside from State Wildlife Grant funding, may be available for these projects.

Grant Selection

Applications will be reviewed by an internal technical review committee and will be scored based upon adherence to guidelines, project eligibility, incorporation of selection criteria, projects deemed most critical to state wildlife needs, and any additional criteria. Partial funding may be awarded for projects if it is determined that the project will be successful with decreased funding.

Submission Deadlines

Letters of intent must be received by November 15 of the current calendar year. Applications received after this date, or incomplete applications, will not be considered for funding.  Applications may be sent electronically or via mail.  A confirmation of receipt will be sent to the applicant.  After careful review of letters of intent, select applicants will be asked to submit full project proposals for review.  Full proposals will be due December 31, 2008.

Award Notification

Successful applicants will be notified by February 15 of the subsequent calendar year.  Following state agency acceptance, successful applicants will work with the agency to submit application for federal approval.

Availability of Funds

It is expected that funds will be available by July 1 of the year in which the successful applicant is notified, but is contingent upon an approved USFWS grant and availability of funds. Only those costs and contributions accrued during the grant period are reimbursable (must have federal approval prior to initiation of grant period).

Formatting Guidelines for Letters of Intent

Letters of intent should be no more than one page in length and should include the following:

• Name, title, organization, address, phone number, and e-mail address of principal investigator
• Project objectives as they relate to Kentucky’s Wildlife Action Plan
• Importance of project in a natural resource management context
• Brief description of project methodology
• Estimated cost of project
• Project partners and source of required 50% matching funds

Feel free to contact Danna Baxley (danna.baxley@ky.gov) with any questions about the application process, or to discuss potential state wildlife grant proposal ideas:

Danna Baxley

State Wildlife Grants/Research Coordinator

#1 Sportsman's Lane

Frankfort, KY 40601 

PH: 800-858-1549 ext. 4521

State Wildlife Grant Projects Funded in 2007

            The 2007 competitive granting process for State Wildlife Grant (SWG) funding has drown to a close, and The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is proud to present several new projects that have been accepted for funding, pending federal approval.  The quality and quantity of proposals submitted made for a challenging task of allocating limited funding, and we currently plan to fund 8 out of 20 submitted proposals, allocating approximately $342,000 to these projects.  The following is a list of proposals approved by KDFWR:

• Analysis of the Environmental Requirements for Etheostoma cinereum and Percina squamata in the Rockcastle River

• A survey of the Eastern Hellbender in the Licking and Kentucky River Watersheds

• Bottomland Hardwood and Riparian Restoration in Obion Creek/Bayou de Chien Watersheds

• Freshwater Mollusk Monitoring in the South Fork Kentucky River System

• Habitat Management and Reproduction of Endangered Interior Least Terns in Kentucky

• Natural Grassland Survey of the Interior Low Plateau Karst Priority Conservation Area

• Status, Life History, and Phylogenetics of the Amblyopsid Cavefishes in Kentucky

• Status survey of the Northern Madtom (Noturus stigmosus) in the lower Ohio River

Analysis of the Environmental Requirements for Etheostoma cinereum and Percina squamata in the Rockcastle River

Michael Compton, Texas Tech University

Stretch.compton@ttu.edu

Etheostoma

This project is an effort to gain knowledge and provide the subsequent information needed for Elements 1 - 4 outlined in the Kentucky Wildlife Action Plan.  Two SGCN fishes, Etheostoma cinereum and Percina squamata, will be targeted within the Rockcastle River watershed.  Collections of fish and measurements of environmental variables will be made to correlate and model the environmental requirements for target species persistence in the Rockcastle River.  Analysis will be made at three spatial scales (microhabitat, macrohabitat, and watershed) to provide a broad scope of habitat use and a holistic understanding of target species persistence.  In addition, GIS analysis of the watershed landscape will be made to determine landscape patterns and identify threats that may affect the target species and stream integrity.  Lastly, recommendations concerning conservation, restoration and resource management within the Rockcastle River watershed will be provided.

A Survey of the Eastern Hellbender in the Licking and Kentucky River Watersheds

Hellbender

Gregory Lipps, Gregory Lipps, LLC

greglipps@aol.com

We plan to conduct a survey of the Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) salamander, at and in proximity to, previously documented occurrence points within the Licking River and Kentucky River HUC-6-digit watersheds, in order to: 1) determine the number of these populations that remain extant; 2) begin to acquire baseline demographic information and determine the extent to which reproduction is occurring in these waterways; 3) identify threats to population persistence and recommended management actions; 4) identify robust populations to be targeted for conservation management; and, 5) locate previously unknown populations by opportunistically surveying areas of suitable Hellbender habitat.

Surveys will be conducted using a combination of visual encounter surveys and skin diving.  At each site visited, the substrate condition will be quantified using a pebble count procedure to quantify siltation and embeddedness at each location.  Each captured salamander will be weighed, measured and inspected for the presence of external anomalies.  Also, the sex of each animal will be determined (when feasible) and each animal >50 grams will receive a unique electronic identification tag.  Each of the historical localities will be visited and surveyed on two separate occasions.  

Bottomland Hardwood and Riparian Restoration in Obion Creek/Bayou de Chien Watersheds

Obion Cypress

Nathaniel Hicklin, The Nature Conservancy

nhicklin@tnc.org

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Obion Creek/Bayou de Chein project area lies within the Tier 1 “Mississippi-Ohio Valley Plains Conservation Priority Area” as identified by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). The project area is within the Fish, Bird, Mammal, Reptile, and Amphibian Conservation Areas as outlined by the SWAP.  This is also a priority area for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service “Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program” and the KY Division of Water Four Rivers Watershed Watch.  The Nature Conservancy requests assistance to fund the position of project manager in this area for two years as well as provide incentive money for implementation of conservation practices on private lands.  The project manager will work with local landowners and partners to implement various practices that will benefit species of greatest conservation need such as the Relict Darter and Indiana Bat, by reducing sedimentation and restoring terrestrial and aquatic habitat. The project area lies within the Grassland Bird Conservation Area and the project manager will also assist TNC and KDFWR with prescribed fire to help improve early successional habitat for grassland songbirds TNC has worked with conservation partners to develop a Conservation Action Plan and identify focus areas with in the actual project area.  These focus areas have been identified as the areas with the most need for conservation.

Freshwater mollusk monitoring in the South Fork Kentucky River system

Ryan Evans, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission

Ryan.Evans@ky.gov

Freshwater Mollusk

This project is designed to revisit previously sampled mussel sites in the South Fork Kentucky River 8-digit HUC.  Streams of focus will include but not be limited to Red Bird River, Collins Fork, and South Fork Kentucky River.  The goals of the mussel sampling are to monitor previously sampled mussel beds and to derive rough demographic estimates of the community in the Red Bird River and South Fork Kentucky River.  As time permits, other streams will be visited in the watersheds that harbor known mussel populations.  In addition, collections will be made of freshwater snails in order to gain a better knowledge of this poorly known group. 

Habitat Management and Reproduction of Endangered Interior Least Terns in Kentucky

Robert Frederick, Eastern Kentucky University and John Brunjes, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

Bob.Frederick@eku.edu, john.brunjes@ky.gov

Tern

            Interior least terns (Sterna antillarum athalassos) were listed as federally Endangered in 1985 due to low population levels and concern for riverine nesting habitats.   The primary causes of these population declines were the loss of suitable nesting habitat and human disturbance.  Interior least terns require isolated islands with bare substrates.  These bare substrates are maintained by the scouring action created by regular flooding of river systems.  Changes in flooding regimes due to channelization, dam and weir construction, irrigation, and reservoir creation have reduced the number of suitable nesting sites available to interior least terns range wide. Least terns nesting on islands on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers in Kentucky have lost natural islands or seen their quality degraded.  In the absence of natural islands, least terns have nested on islands created by dredging operations of the US Army Corps of Engineers.  While least terns readily nest on these islands, their success is not known. By using daily observations on multiple islands, nesting success will be calculated for both natural and man-made islands to evaluate the value of these islands for nesting least terns. We will also examine the quality of the islands for nesting terns by using a Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) model for least terns. We will correlate the model index for each site with observed reproductive success. Our results will be used to determine factors that may be limiting reproductive success of least terns. From the results of this study, management techniques will be developed to improve least tern reproductive success in Kentucky.

            Middle Bar Sandbar, Hickman Co, KY has hosted the largest nesting colonies of least terns in Kentucky.  Lack of flooding has allowed vegetation to grow on the southern portion of the island.  This vegetation has reduced the number of terns nesting on the island from >300 nests to a low of 72 nests.  We will retard vegetation with an aerial application of herbicide in spring followed by removal of major woody vegetation by a ground team.  The combination will retard succession and allow the continued use of the island by least terns.
 

Natural Grassland Survey of the Interior Low Plateau Karst Priority Conservation Area

Brian Yahn and Marc Evans, Kentucky State Nature Preserves Commission

brian.yahn@ky.gov

Grassland

At the time of early settlement, Kentucky had an estimated 2.5 to 3 million acres of natural grasslands (prairies) and open woodlands (barrens) that were common in the Pennyroyal/ Mitchell Plain and the Coastal Plain regions and scattered throughout surrounding areas (including the Eastern and Western Highland Rim).  These prairies and open woodlands supported a wide diversity of wildlife species. Many of these species are now rare or declining in Kentucky because the grassland habitat that supported them has been destroyed.  This includes species such as the Henslow's sparrow, Lark sparrow, Short-eared owl, Northern Harrier, Eastern corn snake, Eastern slender glass lizard, and Six-lined racerunner, as well as many others. These species are listed by KDFWR as species of greatest conservation need (SGCN).

We propose to identify remaining natural grassland and woodland habitats that harbor and sustain these rare and declining wildlife species (SGCN). We will focus this inventory within the Interior Low Plateau Karst Priority Conservation Area (ILPCA). Identifying grassland habitats via aerial photography and aerial surveys will provide a current distribution across the ILPCA. Ground-truthing these sites will further identify the highest quality habitat remaining in the area and provide information to refine and delineate regions of conservation focus.

Large conservation areas (up to several thousand acres) with existing patches of native grassland habitat and those with potential for restoration can provide the future habitat needed for SGCN to increase and maintain sustainable levels (see figure 1). Focusing protection in these defined conservation areas will connect and increase the viability of these prairie/woodland systems for the targeted SGCN species.  With this focused approach, small groups of landowners maybe in ideal situations to protect or restore habitat. Working with these landowner groups to apply conservation tools (i.e. acquisition, conservation easement, state-administered government programs (CREP, CRP, GRP, EQIP, WHIP, HIP), etc.) may prove to be extremely effective.

Status, Life History, and Phylogenetics of the Amblyopsid Cavefishes in Kentucky

Benjamin Fitzpatrick, University of Tennessee

benfitz@utk.edu

Cavefish

Despite the importance of subterranean ecosystems to human life, subterranean biota have received considerably less attention than their surface counterparts. Unfortunately, the status and distribution of cave-obligate species is incomplete or lacking entirely, making conservation and management decisions difficult. Therefore, a need exists to document subterranean diversity, as well as the threats that impinge upon the continued survival of these species. Here we propose to investigate the status, distribution, ecology, phylogenetic relationships, and threats to populations of three cave-associated fishes in the family Amblyopsidae in Kentucky: Spring Cavefish (Forbesichthys agassizii), Northern Cavefish (Amblyopsis spelaea), and Southern Cavefish (Typhlichthys subterraneus). Although the Northern Cavefish has received considerable attention in the past, comparatively little data has been obtained for the other two species in Kentucky. Moreover, the proposed research will generate much needed data on the status, distribution, and threats to other non-target subterranean fauna, several of which are state listed. Pursuant with Kentucky's priority research and survey needs, the objectives of the proposed research include: 1) conduct baseline surveys and status assessments for each species to determine the distribution of each species in the state; 2) conduct life history studies to obtain basic information, such as habitat requirements, ecology, and population dynamics of each species with an emphasis on Southern Cavefish populations;3) identify potential threats to existing populations and develop recommendations for status evaluations and monitoring with an emphasis on Southern Cavefish and Spring Cavefish; 4) Collect and preserve specimens and tissue samples of all species for genetic analyses to resolve the taxonomic status of disjunct populations and examine the extent of gene flow among populations both within and between hydrologic drainages; 5) conduct baseline surveys for non-target cave-dwelling fauna to determine distribution and community associations; 6) and collect and preserve specimens and tissue samples of non-target cave-dwelling fauna for future genetic analyses. This study will provide a clearer understanding about the status, distribution, ecology, abundance, and phylogenetics of amblyopsid fishes in Kentucky. Moreover, data obtained will be valuable when making conservation and management decisions concerning each species and can be applied to other endemic subterranean species.

Status survey of the Northern Madtom (Noturus stigmosus) in the Lower Ohio River

Donovan Henry and Lennie Pitcher, Three Rivers Environmental Assessments LLC

dhenry@treallc.com

Northern Madtom
 

The Northern Madtom is a small catfish species which is relatively uncommon and disappearing from the margins of its range (Page and Burr 1991, Thomas and Burr 2004). It is listed as a species of concern in Kentucky by KDFWR’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, is considered a Species in Greatest Need of Conservation (SGNC), and has a global rank of G3 (Vulnerable).  This species is sporadic and rare in the upper Kentucky and Big Sandy Rivers, with isolated but apparently stable populations in the Licking and Salt Rivers (Burr and warren 1986), and appears to be extirpated from the upper Green River. In the Ohio River there were only three records of this species before 1997. Since 1997, four collections of Northern Madtoms have been made on the lower Ohio River where it borders Kentucky.  This population has likely been overlooked for many years due to difficulty sampling large, dynamic systems such as the Ohio River.  More recent surveys have been conducted on eastern Kentucky populations (Scheibly, J.F. 2003), but the Ohio River population, which is on the western periphery of the species range, has not been investigated. This population may be at risk due to further habitat degradation by the construction of a new lock and dam near Olmsted, Illinois at river mile (RM) 964.4. To facilitate future management implications, a focused and thorough survey, geared specifically toward this benthic dwelling species, is needed to determine the conservation status of the Northern Madtom in the lower Ohio River along Kentucky shores.