Prepared By: Mark Fowden
Key Contact: Butler/Fowden

Beginning in 1991, habitat extension biologists were placed in the NRCS offices at Sheridan and Wheatland. Through cooperative funding with USFWS, WACD, and G&F, two additional positions were placed in Farson (1995) and Casper (1996) NRCS offices. Besides technical assistance, Habitat Extension Bulletins, development and wildlife habitat workshops, the extension program has emphasized implementation of major wildlife habitat improvement projects with private landowners including: ranch grazing systems that benefit wildlife and livestock, stream, wetland and vegetation/forage enhancements.

Initiated in 1996, the Habitat Grant program complements extension efforts. The Habitat Grant program provides matching grants to assist local entities - landowners, land managers and conservation groups - with their habitat improvement projects. It frees the department from project maintenance obligations and has opened access to private lands for hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing. The G&F Wildlife Trust account is the sole source of funding for the Habitat Grant program. These non federal sources of dollars are desperately needed for matching against other funding sources.

Current Status:
In 1998 there were $5 million available in Wyoming either directly or indirectly for wildlife habitat improvement projects from private foundations and federal programs. Funding from these sources continues to increase annually. Without the involvement of the Habitat Extension biologists, the department would not have sufficient personnel to steward the grant program and would be unable to utilize the extensive outside funding to complete major habitat enhancement projects on private lands. Crucial habitat work currently being accomplished would be unrealized.

In FY99, over $370,000 was allocated for Habitat Grants and with an average matching ratio of 5:1, the habitat grant funds assisted in funding projects totaling nearly $2 million. Currently, funds are allocated for Riparian Enhancement, Water Development and Upland Habitat enhancements. The Industrial Water Development program is the fourth leg of the grant program that encourages enhancement of habitat associated with water produced through industrial water development.

Commission/DepartmentPosition:
The Habitat Extension and Grant programs have been well received, especially by the private sector, and have successfully developed great cooperation with the agriculture community. For many private and federal cooperators, the grants are an essential component in the funding mix needed with cooperative projects. These funds have been integral in successfully implementing projects by habitat extension biologists as well as regional wildlife, fish and habitat biologists.

We will continue the Habitat Extension and Habitat Grant programs, both of which have produced measurable benefits to wildlife habitat.

Where Do We Propose To Go From Here:
The Habitat Extension program is staffed by biologists under temporary, contractual arrangements. The program has suffered from persistent turn-over of well trained and qualified people who seek more financial security. This has hampered program effectiveness, forcing continual rehiring, retraining, time for trust building with partners, loss of time and efficiency relearning landowners and partners, and time lost to relearn programs and large geographic areas.

Provide permanency and increase productivity of the Habitat Extension program by converting at least two contract positions to permanent positions; costing an additional $8,076/year/position.

Continue to fund the Habitat Grant program at about $400,000/year.

Date Prepared: 10/15/98
Last Modified: 10/22/98