REX East Migratory Bird Account - Ohio

Grant Recipients & Project Information

Rockies Express Grants:

Project: Raccoon Ecological Management Area / Vinton Furnace Experimental Forest
Grant Recipient: The Nature Conservancy
Grant Amount: $1.5 million
Acres protected: 15,896
Location: Vinton County
Quote: “With these funds, the conservation community can help the Ohio Department of Natural Resources protect the largest remaining block of privately owned forest left in the state for current and future generations of Ohioans,” said Josh Knights, executive director of The Nature Conservancy in Ohio.

Project: Camp Pioneer Conservation Easement
Grant Recipient: Black Swamp Conservancy
Grant Amount: $136,800
Acres protected: 985
Location: Williams County, OH / Hillsdale County, MI
Quote: “This funding will help facilitate the permanent protection of one of the most significant natural areas in northwest Ohio,” said Rob Krain, stewardship manager for Black Swamp Conservancy. “The Pioneer property features a variety of natural habitats that support a diverse and vibrant biological community. More than 170 birds have been recorded here, including 22 state-listed species. Rare plants, amphibians, reptiles and mammals are also known to inhabit the property. Black Swamp Conservancy is excited to partner with the Erie Shores Council of BSA and The Conservation Fund to ensure that this important natural resource is protected in perpetuity.”

Project: Wayne National Forest, Athens Unit
Grant Recipient: USDA Forest Service, Wayne National Forest
Grant Amount: $630,935
Acres protected: 2,438
Location: Athens County
Quote: “This project will help us consolidate our landownership pattern and conserve habitat for forest-interior species such as the Cerulean Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Indiana bat and timber rattlesnake,” said Jo Reyer, forest supervisor for Wayne National Forest. “The $1.3 million dollar matching award will also help us compete for limited Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars.”

Columbia Gas Grants:

Project: Wayne National Forest, Athens Unit, Sunday Creek Coal Lands Phase 2
Grant Recipient: USDA Forest Service, Wayne National Forest
Grant Amount: $631,500
Acres protected: 1,044
Location: Athens County
Quote: See above.

Project: Bakers Fork & Rocky Fork Riparian Corridor Project
Grant Recipient: Arc of Appalachia Preserve System
Grant Amount: $140,500
Acres protected: 239
Location: Highland County
Quote: “Both properties are significant in that they will not only contribute to the science of bio-diversity preservation, but, because they are contiguous to pre-existing preserves that already allow visitation, they will provide additional outdoor education and hiking opportunities for the general public,” said Nancy Stranahan of the Arc of Appalachia Preserve System. “The staff and board at the Arc of Appalachia are deeply grateful for the opportunity to work in partnership with The Conservation Fund and Columbia Gas on these two sites.”

Background

The Conservation Fund established the REX East Migratory Bird Account as part of a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 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 Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio. These funds are non-Federal funds and can be used as matching funds for Federal funds.

Riparian corridors are considered important habitat for many migrating land birds. Given the current pressures of climate change, the management of north/south riparian corridors is likely to provide transitional habitat as species ranges are shifting northward. Therefore, the first priority for the REX East Account will be conserving and/or restoring north/south riparian corridors and the second priority is conserving and/or restoring upland forest habitat that benefit migratory birds. The conservation and restoration projects should target forest dwelling avian species impacted by the pipeline including the Cerulean Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler and Kentucky Warbler where these species were found in the vicinity of the pipeline. 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 Ohio, a State Technical Team was established to determine proposal criteria, review proposals and determine which proposals will be funded with approximately $2,349,985. The state technical team consists of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Ohio 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 was to these agencies, conservation nonprofit organizations and land trusts.

Projects Eligible for Funding

The REX East Migratory Bird Account will be used for land acquisition and/or restoration projects in Ohio using the following criteria:

• Document that the land acquisition or restoration targets riparian or forest dwelling avian species impacted by the pipeline focusing on Cerulean Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, and Kentucky Warbler.

• Project is targeted for completion on August 1, 2010 for land acquisition and for restoration by August 1, 2011.

• Projects may involve land acquisition in fee with environmental covenants or the acquisition of a perpetual conservation easement as well as restoration of forest in suitable un-forested areas along riparian or forest corridors.

• Fee title to land or a conservation easement may be acquired by a governmental agency, nonprofit or land trust. If a conservation easement is proposed, there must be no timber management proposed that impacts the target forest dwelling species.

• The Service’s goal for the funds is to maximize the use of these non-Federal funds. Therefore a proposed project should have greater than one to one matching funds.  In-kind match can be considered but in kind match must be necessary for the project.

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.

For more information contact:

Peg Kohring at 616-510-1221 or pkohring@conservationfund.org