Lesser Prairie Chicken
Initiative Council
Meeting
Saturday, July 18, 2015
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDT
Sorrento 1
Chairman:
8:00 AM
Ross Melinchuk, Deputy Executive Director, Natural Resources,
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
1) Call to Order
Ross Melinchuk
2) Welcome and Introductions
Representatives of WAFWA and interested
Conservation banking groups as well as other
Ross Melinchuk
conservation NGO’s and state partners. All
LPCIC members were present except for
Richard Hatcher of Oklahoma; In his place
was Allan Janus who had his Proxy for any
action items.
8:15 - 8:45 am
3) LPC Implementation Team Update
LPC Team
1) Staffing update
Cal Baca
2) NRCS SWAT biologist update
Jim Pitman
3) WAFWA financial update
Deb Von De Bur
WAFWA staff updated the LPCIC on progress
to date regarding implementation of the RWP,
to include staffing and financials. Jim Pitman
updated the LPCIC as to the work towards the
cooperative funding agreement with Pheasants
Forever and NRCS to staff SWAT biologists in
the range of LPC to assist in LPCI and RWP
implementation.
Wayne Walker of Common Ground Capital
asked whether WAFWA is going to take their
recent permanent acquisition through the
USFWS approval process. Mr. Walker was
informed the WAFWA process is identified in
the Range-wide Plan, which was approved by
the USFWS.
However, as of the meeting date, the
documentation regarding the acquisition was
provided to the USFWS and WAFWA has
not heard any word from the USFWS. Mr.
Walker then made the comment about the
states having the ability to self-proclaim
accomplishments to meeting these goals
(permanent).
8:45 - 9:05 am
4) Database Development
A presentation that included cost estimates
and a timeline for implementation was
presented. The LPCIC gave approval for
WAFWA staff to enter into a contract with the
Timmons group to develop a fully interactive
database that incorporates GIS and mobile
device input.
Cal Baca
9:10 - 9:30 am
5) Communications and Outreach Contract
The LPCIC heard a proposal to retain Lydia
Saldana as the WAFWA LPC RWP
communications contractor to assist WAFWA
in developing timely news release and
communication pieces without needing to use
State staff to accomplish needed outreach and
communication materials.
Cal Baca
9:30 - 9:45 am
6) NRCS LPCI
Dr. Hagan gave a detailed presentation of the
Jon Ungerer &
Christian Hagan
status of NRCS’ LPCI program.
9:45 - 10:00 am
7) Lesser Prairie Chicken Advisory Committee
Update
Myles Culhane
10:00 - 10:30 am 8) Recommendations from LPCAC (Action Items) Myles Culhane
a) Electrical Substation Proposal
(Attached)
Myles Culhane presented the substation
proposal for action by the LPCIC. It was
accepted Unanimously. Wayne Walker;
Common Ground Capital expressed concern
over extending exemptions to one group that it
would possibly open the door for other groups
to request changes to the plan.
b) Scale, precision and evaluation units
(Attached)
Myles Culhane presented the proposal on
refining the evaluation units. Questions
regarding the Aerial survey portion and also
the scale as to the small portions of unsurveyed areas were asked by the LPCIC.
Kevin Rigsby; RiverBank ecosystems, asked
questions regarding some of the proposed
information. Mike Houts pointed out that the
aerial survey sliver proposal was actually
closer to 5% rather than the presented 1%.
The LPCIC passed the proposal unanimously
with direction for the aerial survey slivers to be
re-evaluated by the Science Subcommittee at
the 5% level and a recommendation to the
LPCIC revising the methodology to be brought
forward at a future meeting of the LPCIC if
warranted for change.
10:30 - 10:40 am
10:40 am
9) Recommendation for WAFWA Executive
Committee appointment to LPCIC
Tim McCoy, Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission was brought forward as the
WAFWA executive committee council member
to replace Virgil Moore of Idaho Fish and
Game. This will be approved by WAFWA at
the business meeting.
Ross Melinchuk
Adjourn regular meeting For Executive Session Ross Melinchuk
10:40 - 11:50 am 10) Closed Executive Session
11:50am – 12:00pm 11) Resume regular meeting
LPCIC appointed Steve Riley; Pheasants
Forever to replace Terry Riley; North American
Grouse Partnership as one of the Conservation
organizations on the LPCAC.
Ross Melinchuk
Agreed to send a letter of support to allow A
wind energy company to receive the
appropriate permits to conduct research on
impacts wind turbines have on LPC.
Election of LPCIC Chair
Alexa Sandoval; New Mexico Game and Fish
was nominated, accepted and elected as the
incoming chair of the LPCIC, transition is
underway for her formal taking the position in
November 2015.
12:00 PM
Special notes:
12) Adjourn
This is a brief synopsis of the meeting to
include any actions taken by the LPCIC
Ross Melinchuk