Management Plans Wildlife Conservation Wildlife Conservation

Purpose: To Develop Objectives and Plans For Either Landscapes or Specific Species

Colorado Conservation Plan for Grassland Species Goal: “ The goal of the plan is to insure at a minimum, the viability of the black-tailed prairie dog and associated species (Mountain Plover, Burrowing Owl, swift fox and Ferruginous Hawk) and provide mechanisms to manage for populations beyond minimum levels, where possible, while addressing the interests and rights of private landowners”. Goal: “ The goal of the plan is to insure at a minimum, the viability of the black-tailed prairie dog and associated species (Mountain Plover, Burrowing Owl, swift fox and Ferruginous Hawk) and provide mechanisms to manage for populations beyond minimum levels, where possible, while addressing the interests and rights of private landowners”.

The plan includes a continuous process of planning, acting, monitoring and evaluating designed to take into account changes in ecological and social systems, identify and evaluate new information, and make adjustments in actions to achieve specific goals and objectives

Working Group Member Representation CDOW CDOW Colo. Department of Agriculture Colo. Department of Agriculture Colo. Cattlemen’s Assoc. Colo. Cattlemen’s Assoc. Colo. Livestock Growers Colo. Livestock Growers National Wildlife Federation National Wildlife Federation Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory Private Wildlife Mgmt. Private Wildlife Mgmt. Consultants Consultants USFWS USFWS Boulder Co. Nature Assoc. Boulder Co. Nature Assoc. Colo. Assoc. of Homebuilders Colo. Assoc. of Homebuilders TNC TNC Colo. Farm Bureau Colo. Farm Bureau County Commissioner County Commissioner Environmental Defense Environmental Defense

Description of Conservation Colorado’s Conservation Efforts Colorado’s Conservation Efforts Role of Black-tailed Prairie Dog in Grassland Ecosystems Role of Black-tailed Prairie Dog in Grassland Ecosystems Status of Black-tailed Prairie Dog and Associated Species Status of Black-tailed Prairie Dog and Associated Species

Statements of Broad Policy Legislative Direction Legislative Direction Agency Mission Agency Mission Vision for Species Conservation Vision for Species Conservation

Management Principles Multi-state Conservation Plan for the Black-tailed Prairie Dog in the US Multi-state Conservation Plan for the Black-tailed Prairie Dog in the US Policy for Evaluation and Conservation Efforts when Making Listing Decisions Policy for Evaluation and Conservation Efforts when Making Listing Decisions CDOW Strategic Plan CDOW Strategic Plan Adaptive Management Adaptive Management

Objectives and Actions Black-tailed Prairie Dog Acreage and Distribution Black-tailed Prairie Dog Acreage and Distribution

Objective #1 Population Monitoring and Analysis Population Monitoring and Analysis Plague Monitoring Plague Monitoring Associated Species Populations Associated Species Populations Associated Species Monitoring and Analysis Associated Species Monitoring and Analysis

Objective #2 Management Response Management Response Habitat Considerations and Engaging Private Landowners Habitat Considerations and Engaging Private Landowners

Objective #3 Public Outreach and Education Public Outreach and Education

Objective #4 Regulatory Considerations Regulatory Considerations

Objective #5 Management Tools Management Tools

Objective #6 Research Research

Objective #7 Management on Federal, State and Local Government Lands Management on Federal, State and Local Government Lands

Objective #8 Management on the Front Range Management on the Front Range The Black-tailed Prairie Dog The Black-tailed Prairie Dog The Burrowing Owl The Burrowing Owl The Ferruginous Hawk The Ferruginous Hawk The Mountain Plover The Mountain Plover The Swift Fox The Swift Fox - Local Governmental Influence on Conservation Within the Front Range

Objectives # 9-11 FundingSources

Objective #12 - Relevance in Addressing Listing Factors 1. Present or threatened destruction, modification or curtailment of species habitat or range 2. Over-utilization for commercial, recreational, scientific or educational purposes

Objective #12 Continued… 3. Disease or Predation 4. Inadequacy of regulatory mechanisms 5. Other natural or man-made factors affecting the species’ continued existence

In Summary….. The plan focuses on high quality science, development of partnerships, voluntary non- regulatory incentives, and uses an adaptive management approach. The plan focuses on high quality science, development of partnerships, voluntary non- regulatory incentives, and uses an adaptive management approach.