Kansas Residents Want Threatened & Endangered Species Protected.

     The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) is currently conducting the five-year review of the list of Kansas species that are threatened, endangered, or species-in-need-of-conservation (SINC). The five-year review is required by the Kansas Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1975. Any individual or group can petition KDWPT to propose an addition, deletion, or modification to the current lists by providing pertinent scientific information required within the petition.

     A recent survey conducted by Responsive Management, an internationally recognized research firm specializing in natural resource and outdoor recreation issues, found that conservation of threatened and endangered wildlife remains important among Kansans. Some interesting findings include:

• A majority of Kansas residents (91 percent) agreed that the department should continue to identify and protect habitat critical to threatened and endangered species.
• A majority (73 percent) of residents agree with the statement, “Wildlife that is threatened and endangered in Kansas yet abundant in other states should still be protected in Kansas.”

Petitions must be received by July 31, 2013 to be considered for the current five-year review. Petition forms can be downloaded at http://www.ksoutdoors.com/news/Services/Threatened-and-Endangered-Wildlife and must be submitted to the Office of the Secretary, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 200, Topeka, KS 66612-1327.

New Contest to Showcase Budding Outdoor Photographers

“Wild About Kansas,” a new junior photo contest, begins this week

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) is proud to announce the 1st Wild About Kansas junior photo contest. Designed to showcase Kansas outdoors through the lens of photographers age 18 or younger, Wild About Kansas will feature winning entries in the 2014 January/February issue of Kansas Wildlife & Parks magazine.

“This is a great opportunity for area youth to explore the outdoors on a completely different level,” saidKansas Wildlife & Parks magazine associate editor, Nadia Marji. “We hope this contest will showcase some of the wonderful talent that our youth have to offer, and possibly even be the start of a new hobby for some.”

Divided into three categories, participants can submit photos related to wildlife, outdoor recreation or landscapes. Participants can submit up to three photos and multiple entries can be submitted in the same category. Photos will be judged on creativity, composition, subject matter, lighting and overall sharpness of the photo.

Prizes will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each category, as well as one honorable mention per category.

Entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Oct. 25, 2013. An entry form must be submitted for each participant. Requested format for photos is JPEG, 8 inches by 10 inches, 300 dpi. File size should be a minimum of 1mb and not exceed 5mb.

For more information, or to submit an entry, e-mail Nadia Marji at nadia.marji@ksoutdoors.com. Enter “Junior Photo Contest” in the subject line.

Public Input Sought on Draft Lesser Prairie-chicken Management Plan

Anyone interested in lesser prairie chicken management encouraged to attend

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) has been working with the Lesser Prairie Chicken Interstate Working Group to produce a draft Range-wide Conservation Plan for the Lesser Prairie Chicken. The plan addresses the decline of the lesser prairie chicken in Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas andColorado and is intended to benefit the wildlife resources, people, and economies of these states by providing a framework for effective lesser prairie chicken management and habitat improvement. The ultimate goal is to increase the range-wide population of lesser prairie chickens. The draft plan emphasizes incentives and tools that encourage landowners to partner with agencies in conservation efforts while achieving their land use needs.

In December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to list the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species under the Endangered Species act. A final decision will be made next fall. The Interstate Working Group’s management plan could influence the USFWS’s decision if it can show that lesser prairie chicken populations can be managed at sustainable levels.

Public meetings were held in southwest Kansas in November to gain input from landowners, producers and other stakeholders as the plan was being developed. Now that a draft plan has been assembled, three additional public meetings are scheduled to continue the dialog.

March 5: WaKeeney, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., WaKeeney City Library, 610 Russell Ave.

March 6: Lakin, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Kearny County Library, 101 E. Prairie.

March 7: Greensburg, 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Community Center (by fairgrounds), 720 N Bay.

More information about the planning process can be found at the project website: http://www.ksre.k-state.edu/p.aspx?tabid=275  

Clean Water Act Protections Languish at White House

Clean Water Act Protections Languish at White House for One Year

Sportsmen Groups Call for Presidential Leadership

    A guidance document clarifying the Clean Water Act has been waiting for White House action for exactly one year today. The following coalition news release was sent to environmental, congressional and outdoor reporters earlier this morning. 

One year ago today, the White House received a final policy that would help protect America’s streams, wetlands, and other critical waters. However, that policy has languished at the White House for a full year awaiting approval. Now more than 20 million acres of wetlands and 2 million miles of streams are at risk of being drained or polluted. The nation’s leading sportsmen groups call for President Obama to take action to conserve these natural resources, which are important to fish and wildlife and crucial to sustaining America’s hunting and angling traditions.

Last February, the Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took the most meaningful action in a decade to begin restoring lost Clean Water Act protections. The agencies submitted to the White House the final draft of a policy firmly grounded in science and hydrology. This policy would replace existing guidelines that are inconsistent with the intent of the Clean Water Act.

Yet despite a public review process and widespread public support for this final draft, the White House has failed so far to do its duty in approving the EPA and Corps guidelines.

“Americans who hunt, fish and enjoy the outdoors have been waiting for a year for the White House to approve clean water policy,” says Scott Kovarovics, Executive Director of the Izaak Walton League of America. “As waters important to hunting and fishing, our economy, and public health face growing threats from tile drainage and nutrient runoff, President Obama needs to take action and issue the Clean Water Act policy.”

“This common-sense strategy will mean our children and grandchildren will have clean water to drink and safe streams to fish in,” says Jan Goldman-Carter, Senior Manager, Wetlands and Water Resources, for the National Wildlife Federation. “It’s time for the administration to take a stand for clean water and wildlife by making this policy a reality.”

The most recent report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows that small gains in wetland conservation have been reversed (“Status and Trends of Wetlands in the Conterminous United States 2004 to 2009”). Between 2004 and 2009, net wetland acres dropped by 62,300 nationwide – a 140-percent increase in the rate of wetland loss compared with the 1998-2004 timeframe. Forested wetlands declined by 633,000 acres, representing the “largest losses since the 1974 to 1985 time period.” And the full extent of natural wetland loss is masked by the growth of man-made retention and other ponds that are of limited value for fish and wildlife. The Fish and Wildlife Service report highlights two Supreme Court decisions as likely contributors to wetland losses (see “Background” section below).

“Each day that the administration delays finalizing Clean Water Act guidance means real losses in wetlands and streams,” says Steve Kline, Director of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “While it is true that a year has passed since the guidance was submitted for final review, a decade has passed since Clean Water Act protections for some of our most important waters were thrown into disarray. In the absence of a strong Clean Water Act, wetlands are being drained at an alarming rate. Waiting has ceased to be a viable option.”

"The bottom line is you can't have trout or salmon without clean water, so the Obama Administration needs to get this policy established soon," says Steve Moyer, Vice President of Government Affairs for Trout Unlimited. "Without more effective protections provided by the Clean Water Act guidance for headwater streams, entire watersheds could suffer – and America's anglers will pay the price."

While the White House hesitates to act, clean, safe drinking water; critical wildlife habitat; outdoor sports enjoyed by tens of millions of Americans; and an annual economic contribution of $145 billion by hunting, angling, and wildlife watching hang in the balance. To slow the rate of wetland loss and negative impacts to drinking water and flood control, the Obama Administration should promptly finalize clean water guidance. Doing so is a critical step toward restoring lasting protections to at-risk wetlands, lakes, and streams and putting us back on the path to clean, healthy waters and wetlands for all Americans.

Background

The strength and effectiveness of the Clean Water Act have been undermined by two ambiguous U.S. Supreme Court decisions (SWANCC and Rapanos). Damaging policy guidance issued by the Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers in 2003 and 2008 added confusion about the scope of Clean Water Act protections.

Families, communities, farmers, and businesses large and small depend on clean, healthy waters for their health, jobs, and prosperity. The Clean Water Act is essential to keeping our drinking water safe; providing millions of acres of fish and wildlife habitat across the country; ensuring abundant clean water for irrigating crops; and bolstering the robust fishery, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries. Millions of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity, as well as our hunting and angling traditions, are all at risk if Clean Water Act protections are not restored by the Obama Administration.

For more information, please contactDawn Merritt, Izaak Walton League, (703) 409-8526 (cell), dmerritt@iwla.org
Jan Goldman-Carter, National Wildlife Federation, (202) 797-6894, goldmancarterj@nwf.org
Katie McKalip, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, (406) 240-9262, kmckalip@trcp.org

Steve Moyer, Trout Unlimited, (703) 284-9406, smoyer@tu.org

Jane McCoy will sing at Kansas Wildlife Social Hour

                                           Annual Meeting Update
Jane McCoy of Emporia will sing country music and/or soft rock during the social hour of the annual meeting of the Kansas Wildlife Federation on Saturday February 23rd.
Also many of the items on the auction that day are featured in a photo album for you to visit at: http://www.kswildlife.org/photos.php
Just scroll down to the Auction Album. We just received some great stuff from Coleman.
If you haven't registered by mail yet, you can register at the meeting. Remember the afternoon talks are FREE even if you haven't registered.

Kansas Wildlife Federation Meeting Agenda

Kansas Wildlife Federation, 62nd Annual Meeting

February 22 and 23, 2013

Best Western, 3021 W. Highway 50, Emporia

Friday, February 22nd

6:30 pm           Registration

7:00 pm           2013 Legislation Presentation

                                    Chris Tymeson, KDWPT

                        2013 Resolution Review

Saturday, February 23rd

8:00 am                       Registration

9:00                 Opening of KWF Annual Meeting

                                    Pledge

                                    Presentation of Minutes of 2012 Annual Meeting

9:30                 Committee Reports

                                    Treasurer

                                    Issues and Action

                                    Education

                                    Membership

10:00               Affiliate Reports

10:15               Break

10:30               Resolution Adoption

11:00               NWF Report

11:15               Election of KWF Officers

12:00               Lunch  (included in cost of registration)

                                    About the Outdoors …… Ongoing Efforts

                                    Ed Augustine, Geary County Fish & Game Association

1:30 pm           What’s the Matter with Kansas?

                                    Rex Buchanan, Interim Director, KS Geologic Survey

2:30 pm           Break

2:45 pm           Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

                                    Kristen Hase, Biologist and Chief of Natural Resources           

3:45 pm           Break

4:00 pm           Water in Kansas

                                    Susan Metzger, Chief of Planning & Policy, Kansas Water Office                   

                       

                        2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards Banquet

5:30                 KWF Social Hour and Silent Auction

7:00                 KWF Annual CAP Banquet and Awards Program

Speaker: Bob Gress, former Director Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita

“Traveling Abroad Teaches Me About Home:

Tales of a wildlife photographer and exotic wildlife”

PLAN TO ATTEND THE KANSAS WILDLIFE FEDERATION ANNUAL MEETING IN EMPORIA. KS, Feb 23rd, 2013.

The Kansas Wildlife Federation invites everyone interested in wildlife, conservation and environmental education to attend their annual meeting at the Best Western Hospitality House and Conference Center, 3021 W. Highway 50 in Emporia. Afternoon presentations are FREE to attend.

                   Afternoon presentations are as follows:

1:30 pm: “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” by   Rex Buchanan,

Interim Director of the KS Geologic Survey.

2:30 pm Break.

2:45 pm “Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network at the Tallgrass

 Prairie National Preserve” by Kristen Hase.

3:45 pm Break.

4:00 pm “Water Issues in Kansas” by a speaker from the

Kansas Water Office.

         The highlight of the meeting is the 2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards Banquet acknowledging Kansans for their significant contributions to creating an awareness of wildlife and our environment. The CAP Award Banquet will be preceded by a social hour at 5:30 pm and Silent Auction. Proceeds from the auction will benefit important projects like KWF Conservation and Youth Education programs. Some of the auction items can be previewed on the KWF Photo Gallery by clicking on the link below and scrolling down to “Auction Items” http://www.kswildlife.org/photos.php.

The banquet will feature speaker Bob Gress, noted photographer and former Director of the Great Plains Nature Center. You may register using the form below. Just cut & paste it into a word document, fill it out, print it & mail it.  Download the Form in PDF

Kansas Wildlife Federation 2013 Annual Meeting Registration Form

Yes – I am registering for the KWF Annual Meeting to be held February 22 & 23 at the Best Western at 3021 W. Highway 50 in Emporia.

Name _________________________________________________

Address _______________________________________________

City __________________________ State ____ Zip ___________

Telephone _____________________ E-mail __________________

Meeting Registration (includes Lunch):            ______ @ $15 (before 2-15-13)

                                                            ______ @ $20 (after 2-15-13)

Conservation Achievement Banquet:  ______ @ $25 (before 2-15-13)

                                                            ______ @ $35 (after 2-15-13)

                                    Total Sent:       ______

I will bring an item to be auctioned for KWF’s education programs. 
    Yes ___           No ___

Please make checks payable to Kansas Wildlife Federation

MAIL TO: KWF Annual Meeting

Kansas Wildlife Federation

            P. O. Box 771282

            Wichita, KS 67277-1282