REX East Migratory Bird Account - Indiana

Grant Recipients & Project Information

Rockies Express Grants:

Project: Blue Clay Falls & Lick Creek Hills Linkage Project
Grant Recipient: Whitewater Valley Land Trust
Grant Amount: $350,000
Acres protected: 351
Location: Wayne County
Quote: “The Lick Creek Hills Macrosite is presently split. The blessing of these funds is gratefully welcome. The funding will aid us in forming the largest cohesive preserve system in Southeastern Indiana. The fens, mature woods and river bottom will provide scenic beauty and recreation for the public and natural protection for the migratory birds of concern. The funding will jump start the Blue Clay Falls & Lick Creek Hills Linkage Project—the continued protection of our vital fens and riparian woodlands that are the origin of tributaries flowing through the Whitewater Valley Land Trust region and forms a lengthening protected refuge corridor north from Ohio River for our bird friends.” — Debbie Gross, Whitewater Valley Land Trust, Vice President

Project: Burnett Woods State Nature Preserve
Grant Recipient: Central Indiana Land Trust
Grant Amount: $69,787
Acres protected: 11 acres protected, 8 acres restored
Location: Hendricks County
Quote: “This project will greatly enhance the value of Burnett Woods Nature Preserve for migratory and resident bird populations. Additional funds have been awarded to restore habitat at one site and tackle invasive species at two other protected sites in Central Indiana. We are grateful for the support from the REX East Migratory Bird Account and pleased to be able to undertake projects at three different but equally valuable sites.” — Heather Bacher, Executive Director of the Central Indiana Land Trust

(Note: The Central Indiana Land Trust received an additional grant of $55,870 for three other restoration projects: Burnett Woods Bush Honeysuckle Eradication, 10 acres; Brush Creek Conservation Easement Forest Restoration Project, 50 acres; Oliver-Daugherty Bush Honeysuckle Eradication, 11 acres)

Project: Shawnee Bottoms Addition
Grant Recipient: NICHES Land Trust
Grant Amount: $50,000
Acres protected: 35
Location: Fountain County
Quote: “I and NICHES are very excited about the new addition to our Shawnee Bottoms property. The addition is an important block in restoring and enhancing the quality of the oak woodlands and bottomlands of the Portland Arch region. We look forward to the responsibility of ensuring the long term protection of the birds and wildlife that use these lands for their survival.” — Gus Nyberg, Executive Director, NICHES Land Trust

Background

The Conservation Fund established the REX East Migratory Bird Account (Account) as part of a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to receive monies to conserve and restore migratory bird habitat in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio. Money deposited in the REX Account is a result of an agreement entitled "Guidelines for Achieving Compliance with the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Executive Order No. 13186 Through the Voluntary Compensation Measures" developed by the Rockies Express Pipeline, LLC and the Service associated with the construction, maintenance and operation of the Rockies Express Pipeline-East in Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. These funds are non-Federal funds and can be used as matching funds for Federal funds.

The primary purpose for the REX East Account—Indiana Project will be conserving and/or restoring forest habitat for migratory birds with emphasis on riparian corridors and upland forest habitat. The conservation and restoration projects should target forest dwelling avian species impacted by the pipeline including: for example, the Cerulean Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Whip-poor-will, Red-headed Woodpecker, Black-billed Cuckoo, Acadian Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Louisiana Waterthrush, Prothonotary Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, and Rusty Blackbird. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Regional Office has developed guidelines on the use of the REX East Account Funds in collaboration with State Technical Teams.

In Indiana, a State Technical Team was established to determine proposal criteria, review proposals and determine which proposals will be funded with approximately $1,174,000. The state technical team consists of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the Bloomington Field Office of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Division of Migratory Bird Management and The Conservation Fund. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region III’s Regional Team will serve as project oversight. The first call for proposals will be to these agencies, conservation nonprofit organizations and land trusts.

Project Costs Eligible for Funding

The REX East Migratory Bird Account may only be used to cover the direct cost of land and/or forest habitat restoration. The Service wants to obtain the most habitat protection or restoration possible and as a result there is a preference that acquisition costs (such as closing costs, title search fees, survey costs, etc.) are paid by another agency or partner. No Service staff time or organizational overhead costs may be paid for by the REX East Account.