Oklahoma Ecological Services Field OfficeU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Jonna Polk, Field Supervisor
October 4, 2017
USFWS Mission Statement
Working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
Oklahoma USFWS Offices
• Ecological Services Field Office
• Fish Hatchery
• Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office
• Law Enforcement Office
• Nine National Wildlife Refuges
Oklahoma Ecological Diversity
Ecological Services Field OfficePrimary Conservation Focuses
Threatened & Endangered Species Conservation
Conservation Planning Assistance
Environmental Contaminants
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
Federally Listed Species in OKBirds
Black-capped vireo (E)Interior least tern (E)Piping Plover (T)Red-cockaded woopecker (E)Whooping crane (E)
Fishes
Arkansas River shiner (T)Leopard darter (T)Neosho madtom (T)Ozark cavefish (T)
Insects
American burying beetle (E)
Plants
Harperella (E)
Mammals
Gray bat (E)Indiana bat (E)Ozark big-eared bat (E)Northern Long-eared bat (T)
Mussels
Ouachitarock-pocketbook mussel (E)
Scaleshell mussel (E)Winged mapleleaf mussel (E)Neosho mucket mussel (E)Rabbitsfoot mussel (T)
Arkansas River shiner
Red- cockaded woodpecker
Federally Listed Species by Quadrant in Oklahoma
Threatened & Endangered Species Conservation Under the ESA
Section 4
Candidate Conservation/pre-listing – Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances, status surveys, etc.
Listing -- Species, Populations, Critical Habitat, etc.
Recovery -- Planning, Implementation
Neosho madtom
Section 7(a)(1)
Is where agencies are guided to conserve
“All Federal agencies shall use their authorities in
the furtherance of the purposes of this Act by
carrying out programs for the conservation of
endangered and threatened species.”
Benefits of Implementing 7(a)(1)
• Ensuring that all Federal agencies are assisting in furthering the conservation of listed species, we will be more likely to fulfill the purposes of the Act;
• Ensuring that Federal agencies are addressing the conservation of listed species should streamline and improve consultation under section 7(a)(2).
• Providing a more comprehensive landscape-level approach to listed species conservation rather than a project-by-project approach.
Purpose of Section 10(a)(1)(B)
• Reduce conflicts between endangered species and economic activities;
• Develop “partnerships” between the public and private sectors.
What Are The BenefitsTo Early Involvement?
• Proactive vs. reactive approach to ecosystem protection
• Obtain agency and industry concerns early during the planning process
• Improve interagency coordination
• Ensure environmental mandates are met in a comprehensive manner
American Burying Beetle Recovery
• Species Status Assessment– Draft completed Spring 2017
• Industry Conservation Plan– Extended plan for additional three years
– Added Self-certification option• Project proponents assume 1)entire project area
is ABB habitat and occupied and 2) mitigation at highest level
• Limited Service review is needed
• Will evaluate annual reports for verification
Threatened and Endangered Species Program
PARTNERS FOR FISH AND WILDLIFECOOPERATORS
• Landowners
• Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation
• Natural Resources Conservation
Service
• Conservation Districts
• Native American Tribes
• And Many Others
Primary Cost-share Practices
• Invasive species removal (target eastern red cedar and salt cedar)
• Brush control (mechanical/chemical)
• Native grass/forbs/legume/shrub plantings
• Wetland habitat (development/enhancement)
• Riparian Habitat (enhancement/protection)
• Outdoor Classrooms
Private Lands Restoration1990 - 2015
• 395,998 Upland Habitat Acres
• 28,026 Wetland acres
• 173 miles of Riparian habitat
• 424,024 Total Acres
• 1,232 Sites
• 148 Outdoor Classrooms
Prairie Restoration
2015 – 2016 Monarch Projects • $165,000 PFW funding in Oklahoma• 4 Projects ($65K) for landowner/outreach efforts• 1 Project ($100K)with the Oklahoma
Conservation Commission for Prairie Restoration
Wind Energy
• 29 projects in FY 2017
• Within the next 3-5 years in Oklahoma:
1,600-2,100 turbines
20 Counties
Questions?Questions ?Jonna Polk, Field Supervisor918-408-0850
Ken Collins, Assistant Field Supervisor918-382-4510
John Hendrix, Assistant Field Supervisor918-382-4506