Landowners learn guidelines for managing habitat

By MANDY SPIKES | Central Texas Edition

December 18, 2003 -- The Leon River Restoration Project (LRRP) is a project that helps provide landowners and land managers in the Leon River watershed with technical and financial assistance to apply conservation measures to improve the quality and quantity of water.

The project also helps establish guidelines in the treatment of regrowth of Ashe Juniper, while improving wildlife habitat and populations, including the endangered Black-capped Vireo and Golden-cheeked Warbler.

Participants interested in being a part of the LRRP were invited to attend the certification training on Dec. 8-9 in Gatesville.

"These guidelines apply across the state. With this project, though, we are trying to push the envelope in various areas," explained Steve Manning, project coordinator. "We are going into areas for the first time and doing work and still taking out very little of the habitat in the areas."

He stated that project participants must manage the habitat "the right way." Under the guidelines given, they can go into the Golden-cheeked Warbler's habitat at an earlier date and can take out the mature juniper that are over 15 feet tall. There is also great value in going in the Black-capped Vireo's habitat where there is too much brush. "All the species will then come back to a better habitat."

It took people a long time to get this project where it is now, Manning said. "You all are the next stage. We are starting something that we hope will spread throughout the state. This certification gives you the knowledge so you don't have so many questions."

"In order to be eligible for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), a producer must complete an application to be ranked based on their location relative to priority watershed, the amount of acreage, the percent of regrowth Ashe juniper, and the Wildlife Management Plant, which must be approved by Texas Parks and Wildlife," stated Dalton Merz, with the National Resources Conservation Service. "Producers must complete an application before June 13."

The three resource concerns to be addressed, Merz said, are the water quality, water quantity, and the wildlife habitat for the Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo. The field eligible for the cost-share assistance must have an invasion of Ashe juniper and must lie within the Leon River drainage in Hamilton and Coryell counties.

"An applicant must have their land lying within a priority watershed when 51 percent or more of the proposed treated acres lie within the watershed."

All applications in a high priority watershed will be ranked. Applications in medium priority watershed will be accepted but not ranked unless funds are available after all high priority applications are funded. Applications in low priority watershed will be accepted but not ranked unless funds are available after all high and medium priority applications are funded.

"Remember, this is a legal contract. You will expect the Secretary of Agriculture to fulfill his obligations by providing you with the needed technical assistance and cost-share payments as outlined in your contract.

"In turn, you will be expected to fulfill your commitment of the contract by doing each job as planned and when scheduled," he explained.

"The key to their project is the precise removal of the right plant and leaving the desirable vegetation alone," stated Wayne Hamilton, with Texas A&M University (TAMU).

"This project is a success already. In the past, I have never seen anything come close in cooperating with different vested investors. That is what makes this project unique because ranchers, Extension agents, and a lot of other people are working on this project together with the same goal. I see this project getting a lot of attention."

The TAMU research components of this project include water, wildlife, range, and economics. "Right now there is ongoing research with this project. You will these various components being tested at the different sites where the research is taking place."

He said that there is strong reason to believe that water yield can make a positive impact on Ashe Juniper while maintaining or enhancing endangered species habitat.