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Stephen DeHart, Olathe, wins KWF Youth Conservationist Award

Stephen DeHart, left, from Olathe, received the 2012 Youth Conservationist of the Year award from Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Federation President. The Bundleflower Plant and Wildflower Preserve (the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney) sponsored the Youth Conservationist award.
The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) proudly announces winners of the 2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards (CAP). KWF honored thirteen recipients on February 23rd at a reception and banquet in their honor in Emporia.

For 49 years, the Federation has recognized Kansans who have devoted exceptional efforts for wildlife conservation in the state. Kansans, who wished to recognize the awardees for their contributions, supplied the nominations. 

The CAP awards are given in several categories including youth, land, water, wildlife, forest, education, farming and ranching. For 2012, 12 awards were given, along with the President’s special award for meritorious service to the KWF.

These are the most prestigious conservation-related awards given in Kansas and are patterned after similar awards in most other states through respective state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation. Long-time professor of biology at Kansas State University, Robert Robel of Manhattan won the overall award, Conservationist of the Year. Dr. Robel passed away last month so his wife, Anise, accepted the award in his place. 

Award sponsors for these awards included Westar, Inc., Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Geary County Fish and Game Association, the Watershed Institute, the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney, Kansas Farmers Union and the Emporia Area Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation.

The 2012 Youth Conservationist Award was presented to Stephen DeHart of Olathe. Two years ago Stephen was working on Olathe South High School‘s Ornate Box Turtle research project at the Prairie Center. Jeff Witters had founded this project at Olathe and then took Stephen under his wing to teach him the ways of birding.

Stephen’s dedication for wanting to be out in Kansas‘ summer heat while tracking turtles through the underbrush was noteworthy. His knowledge for Kansas‘ flora and fauna increased almost exponentially. He seemed to be like a sponge and soaked up information as fast as he could read or experience it.

Because of the expertise he developed that summer, Stephen was asked by Rene Gloshen, Student Naturalist Teacher at Olathe South High School, to be part of their Kansas Eco-meet team. He was unable to participate because he was already on the cross country team. Two weeks before the regional Eco-meet that fall, he stopped by Ms. Gloshen’s office asking if he could be on an eco-meet team. Due to an injury he could not run. Bad for cross country but great for Ms. Gloshen! She had not found enough students who wanted to do the Eco-meet but because Stephen wanted to do this they got busy and pulled together a team. Stephen took 1st place in Ornithology andWoodland at both regional and State after practicing as a team only twice!

This past fall, with Stephen leading the group, Olathe South not only had 3 regional teams, but his team qualified for State. Once again Stephen took 1st in Ornithology at State. What was amazing to watch was Stephen’s desire to teach the other team members about Kansas‘ birds. He went into great detail and made power point presentations and practice quizzes for everyone. He showed them the minute details between some of the more difficult species to identify.

Currently Stephen is in the Student Naturalist class. He has exhibited an amazing drive to learn the finest details not just in birds but in all areas of conservation and ecology. Other students want to sit next to him in class because he has a way of teaching new study methods and giving them confidence that they too can learn to identify our native species.

It is hard to say which area of the life sciences will end up winning Stephen over, but whatever path he chooses it will always be laced with a love of wildlife.

The Bundleflower Plant and Wildflower Preserve (the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney) sponsored the Youth Conservationist of the Year award. 

For his deep interested in wildlife conservation and ecology and especially for his teaching contributions to his fellow students, the Kansas Wildlife Federation is pleased to present our Youth Conservationist of the Year award for 2012 to Stephen DeHart.

Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, McPherson, wins KWF Conservation Organization Award

Bill Edwards, left, from Olsburg, receives the 2012 Organization of the Year award from Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Federation President. Bill is the Vice-Chairman of the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition, the award recipient.

The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) proudly announces winners of the 2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards (CAP). KWF honored thirteen recipients on February 23rd at a reception and banquet in their honor in Emporia.

For 49 years, the Federation has recognized Kansans who have devoted exceptional efforts for wildlife conservation in the state. Kansans, who wished to recognize the awardees for their contributions, supplied the nominations. 

The CAP awards are given in several categories including youth, land, water, wildlife, forest, education, farming and ranching. For 2012, 12 awards were given, along with the President’s special award for meritorious service to the KWF.

These are the most prestigious conservation-related awards given in Kansas and are patterned after similar awards in most other states through respective state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation. Long-time professor of biology at Kansas State University, Robert Robel of Manhattan won the overall award, Conservationist of the Year. Dr. Robel passed away last month so his wife, Anise, accepted the award in his place. 

Award sponsors for these awards included Westar, Inc., Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Geary County Fish and Game Association, the Watershed Institute, the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney, Kansas Farmers Union and the Emporia Area Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation.

The 2012 Conservation Organization Award was presented to the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition (KGLC) of McPherson.  The KGLC was organized shortly after the formation of the National Grazing Lands Coalition Initiative (GLCI) in 1991. Since its inception KGLC has accomplished many great things to better Kansas grazing lands through collaborative education such as range schools, coffee shop meetings, youth education contests, public education meetings, and videos covering management topics. 

KGLC organized as a not-for-profit in 2006. KGLC holds numerous meetings, special events, tours, implements two adult range schools each summer, and interacts with regional grazing groups such as the Tallgrass Legacy Alliance, Comanche Pool Prairie Resource Foundation, Smoky Hills Graziers Association, Kansas Graziers Association, and the Clark-Comanche-Meade Counties Grazing Group to support local efforts to solve priority grassland issues and concerns, primarily through educational efforts often keying on grassland wildlife species. 

The Coalition helped birth the Kansas Prescribed Fire Council (KS PFC) in 2008, and has supported it with staff assistance and finances.  The Coalition recently worked with KS PFC and the Comanche Pool to secure a $250,000 2012 Conservation Partners Grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to place two regional fire coordinators in the Lesser Prairie-chicken Initiative area of western Kansas to help start and support new local prescribed burning associations.

KGLC just updated its long-term strategy guiding its growth through 2015. It includes key elements of developing and helping to implement a comprehensive statewide grasslands invasive species plan, reducing the impacts of grassland fragmentation, continuing expansion and support for regional grazing groups where interest exists, continuing to support the use of prescribed fire as a grasslands management tool (through the KS PFC), and maintaining and expanding its cutting edge web site as a primary informational resource for ranchers, agency staffs, educators, and others. 

The Kansas Wildlife Federation is proud to present the 2012 Conservation Organization of the Year award to the Kansas Grazing Lands Coalition.

Tom Meek, Clay Center, wins KWF Water Conservationist Award

Tom Meek, left, from Clay Center receives the 2012 Water Conservationist of the Year award from Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Federation President. The Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society sponsored the Water Conservationist award.

The Kansas Wildlife Federation (KWF) proudly announces winners of the 2012 Conservation Achievement Program Awards (CAP). KWF honored thirteen recipients on February 23rd at a reception and banquet in their honor in Emporia.

For 49 years, the Federation has recognized Kansans who have devoted exceptional efforts for wildlife conservation in the state. Kansans, who wished to recognize the awardees for their contributions, supplied the nominations. 

The CAP awards are given in several categories including youth, land, water, wildlife, forest, education, farming and ranching. For 2012, 12 awards were given, along with the President’s special award for meritorious service to the KWF.

These are the most prestigious conservation-related awards given in Kansas and are patterned after similar awards in most other states through respective state affiliates of the National Wildlife Federation. Long-time professor of biology at Kansas State University, Robert Robel of Manhattan won the overall award, Conservationist of the Year. Dr. Robel passed away last month so his wife, Anise, accepted the award in his place. 

Award sponsors for these awards included Westar, Inc., Kansas State Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Kansas Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society, Geary County Fish and Game Association, the Watershed Institute, the Jim Ruder family of WaKeeney, Kansas Farmers Union and the Emporia Area Chapter of the Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation.

The 2012 Water Conservationist Award was presented to Tom Meek of Clay Center. Tom is the District Manager for the Clay County Conservation District in Clay Center. He administers the conservation district’s Water Resources and Nonpoint Source cost share programs. Tom assists the Clay County Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) staff with federal conservation programs such as the Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP).

Tom actively participates in Milford and Smoky Hill Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) groups. He has administered $83,000 in cost share funds approved in Clay County for projects in Milford WRAPS targeted areas. Tom assisted with development of the district’s 5-year plan which includes new initiatives that will focus on water quality through nutrient management and flood mitigation.

Tom was instrumental in starting the Clay County Water Festival in 2004, with a grant from the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE). The first Water Festival was a community-wide event associated with the Piotique Fall Festival in Clay Center. Water Festivals since then have been for allClay County 4th Graders. He has continued the annual 6th Grade Environmental Education Day.

The Kansas Wildlife Federation has relied on Tom to provide presentations on water quality with the district’s stream trailer at our Outdoor Adventure Camp for 10-12 year-old students at Camp Washunga. He gives other educational presentations on request throughout Clay County. Tom coordinates the Conservation District’s poster contest for elementary students – this year’s theme is “Where Does Your Water Shed?”.

This year Tom serves as Vice-Chair of the Kansas Envirothon Committee. He attended the Canon National Envirothon with the Kansas Team in 2012. Tom has served as a facilitator and/or presenter at many regional Environthons. He has helped with fund-raising for numerous local Envirothon teams and has served as a judge for the scavenger hunt for the Milford Eco-meet many times.

Tom serves on the Kansas Crossroads Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) and has helped that group coordinate water quality events for agriculture producers.

As a farm operator, Tom has implemented many water quality improvement practices including no-till crop production, filter strips and conservation buffers, and riparian forest improvement. He is conducting an on-farm research project on the use of cover crops for soil and water quality improvement in cooperation with the Kansas State University Extension and NRCS.

The Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society sponsored the Water Conservationist of the Year award.

For all he does for water conservation, Tom Meek is the Kansas Wildlife Federation Water Conservationist of the Year for 2012.


Tom Meek, left, from Clay Center receives the 2012 Water Conservationist of the Year award from Troy Schroeder, Kansas Wildlife Federation President. The Kansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society sponsored the Water Conservationist award.

"Wisdom" the Albatross Does it Again

If you didn’t already hear, “Wisdom,” the female Laysan Albatross on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, a bird who is at least 62 years old, is a mother again. Early on Sunday morning, 3 February, Wisdom’s most recent chick was observed in the nest, pecking its way out of the egg.
            You’ve probably heard about Wisdom and her chicks before. She was first banded in 1956, when she was incubating an egg in the same area of the refuge. She was at least five years old at the time.
For more on the blessed event, see here: www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3504

                                      Photo Credit: Pete Leary/ U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service                        
And here is a good interview from NPR’s “All Things Considered” for 6 February:
www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/02/06/171290097/oh-mama-worlds-oldest-bird-has-another-chick

Light Goose Conservation Order Provides Late-season Hunting

Special season set to reduce light goose populations

The dark and light goose regular seasons end Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013. However, from Feb. 11-April 30, 2013, hunters can hunt snow and Ross’ geese during the Light Goose Conservation Order. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established the special season 13 years ago to increase the harvest of light geese.

Since the mid-1970s, mid-continent light goose populations have increased more than 300 percent. These historic numbers of geese have denuded portions of their fragile tundra breeding habitat in the arctic, which may take decades to recover. This impacts other bird species that nest there, including semi-palmated sandpipers and red-necked phalaropes.

The harvest of light geese has more than doubled since the first conservation order in 1999, in turn reducing population growth. However, the management goal is to reduce the population of mid-continent light geese by 50 percent.

To increase hunter success, the conservation order authorizes hunting methods not allowed during the regular seasons, including the use of electronic calls and unplugged shotguns. Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset and there is no bag or possession limit for light geese.

For more information on goose hunting, visit www.ksoutdoors.com and click on “Hunting/When to Hunt/Migratory Birds.”

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 [email protected]. 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), [email protected]
Jan Goldman-Carter, National Wildlife Federation, (202) 797-6894, [email protected]
Katie McKalip, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, (406) 240-9262, [email protected]

Steve Moyer, Trout Unlimited, (703) 284-9406, [email protected]

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.

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