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Note: Session titles beginning with an asterisk (*) have student presenters.
AUTHORS: Jeff Raasch, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Mike Carloss, Ducks Unlimited Inc.; Todd Merendino, Ducks Unlimited Inc.; Barry Wilson, Gulf Coast Joint Venture-US Fish and Wildlife Service
ABSTRACT: In 1991, Ducks Unlimited, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service partnered to create the Texas Prairie Wetlands Project (TPWP). The partnership was established to help deliver the habitat objectives set forth by the Gulf Coast Joint Venture (GCJV), with the primary goal of providing habitat for wintering waterfowl that would improve survival rates and body conditions before spring migration. TPWP works with private landowners to restore, enhance and create shallow-water wetlands through a 28-county focus area along the Gulf. _x000D_
TPWP projects focus on harvested croplands, moist-soil areas, emergent wetlands and other created wetlands to increase biodiversity for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent species. In return, landowners sign a minimum-10-year wetland development agreement and commit to managing and maintaining the wetlands. TPWP works closely with rice producers to improve fields and infrastructure for water conservation, production and habitat management. Each year, TPWP projects provide critical staging and wintering habitat for thousands of waterfowl, including white-fronted geese, snow geese, northern pintails, green- and blue-winged teal, gadwalls, northern shovelers and redheads. Resident fulvous and black-bellied whistling ducks, as well as mottled ducks, rely heavily on permanent and semi-permanent wetlands for nesting and brood rearing during the spring and summer. _x000D_
This presentation will discuss the history and success of the TPWP as well as details about the scientific underpinnings of the program that drive our continued habitat delivery and monitoring in areas of the Texas Coast where we still find winter waterfowl habitat deficits.
Monday October 30, 2017 2:00pm - 2:20pm EDT
Breathitt