Enhanced Grassland Management 2017

This project is intended to increase the ability of the US Fish and Wildlife Service (F&WS) to manage grasslands on Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) and National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs) in the prairie regions of MN. Management would be primarily by prescribed (Rx) fire, and to a lesser extent mechanical/chemical treatment of woody vegetation. Grant funds would be used to contract with the F&WS to bring in staff from outside the local offices (detailers) and also to hire local personnel who are trained in wildland fire and who would work on a day by day basis (ADs). F&WS would also have the option to contract with federally qualified fire contractors. These additional fire personnel would supplement existing local F&WS fire personnel. F&WS fire personnel across the state, region, and at the national scale have been reduced over the past 3-4 years with a reduction in the ability of the F&WS to continue to manage its grasslands in a timely manner. Grasslands must be periodically disturbed (burned, grazed, mowed) to maintain their productivity. In the absence of regular disturbance, the litter layer builds up, woody plants invade, and the vegetation changes to a less desirable state with respect to plant species composition and biologic productivity.