Landowners have new funds to improve their land to share it with at-risk species in Nevada. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently announced that the Nevada Department of Wildlife will receive over $849,000 to assist private landowners in conserving at-risk species. The 2007 Landowner Incentive Program (LIP) focus is the restoration and protection of riparian, aquatic and critical upland habitats severly impacted by recent fires. The Nevada Department of Wildlife placed among the top proposals submitted, and was one of only 17 out of 42 states that received funding.

Nevada Department of Wildlife's (NDOW) Landowner Incentive Program got its start in 2004 with $544,500 awarded to the State through a competitive funding process, and again received funding for the program in 2006 for over $436,000. LIP grants are funded through Congressional appropriations and are administered through the USFWS.

"NDOW is excited to continue its work with private landowners and ranchers around the state," said Connie Lee, LIP coordinator for NDOW. "Some of the most vital wildlife habitat occurs on privately owned land, and this funding opportunity is the first time NDOW has been able to work on a proactive basis with landowners to restore habitat on their private ground. The program is especially helpful now as we try to restore rangeland and riparian areas burned by fire over the last several years." Lee further said that "the program has been received very well by the state's landowners, and we hope that the collaborative opportunities will continue to over the next several years."

Current projects include:

Northern Nevada, Sage Grouse Conservation Easement: This easement is designed to protect an important meadow complex on private property and straddles the California/Nevada border. This property provides valuable habitat for sage grouse and other species.

Northeastern Nevada, Fire Rehabilitation: Over one million acres of land burned in Elko County during the 2006 fire season. Many important riparian and aquatic habitats occur on private land. LIP helped to fund aerial reseeding on private property to restore habitat important to Lahontan cutthroat trout, sage-grouse, redband trout, and numerous other species.

Northern Nevada, Elko County: Cooperative project with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to restore and revegetate a natural spring and control non-native species.

Northern Nevada, Elko County: Development of a workshop and landowner project using biological methods and materials to restore a redband trout stream, in cooperation with the NRCS.

Northern Nevada, Elko County: Cooperative conservation project with American Land Conservancy to purchase an agricultural easement along the Humboldt River to protect important wildlife habitat and preserve a family ranch.

Southern Nevada, Oasis Valley, Beatty: Collaborative project with The Nature Conservancy to enhance habitat for speckled dace, Oasis Valley springsnail, Amargosa toad, yellow-billed cuckoo, blue grosbeak, and least Bell's vireo.

Southern Nevada, Virgin River, Mesquite: Fish passage barriers will be installed to prevent migration of non-native fish species. Species benefits include Virgin River chub and the endangered woundfin fishes.

In addition, numerous other projects are in development.

Nationally, the USFWS awarded nearly $13 million under the Landowner Incentive Program. All grants must be matched by funding of at least 25 percent from a non-federal source. This can include time, labor or materials provided by the landowner.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW's wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen's license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. For more information, visit www.ndow.org.