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<DIV STYLE="text-align:Left;"><DIV><DIV><P><SPAN>The Lesser Prairie Chicken Priority Areas are mapped polygons designating high priority habitat, both focal areas (CHAT 1) and connectivity areas (CHAT 2) as defined in the Lesser Prairie Chicken Rangewide Plan. These were mapped with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Bird Conservation Coordinator and the Area 12 Wildlife Biologist (only area in the state that the bird is present). Current lek location data, soil type, vegetation and CPR data were used to aide in the mapping effort.</SPAN></P><P><SPAN><SPAN>As a component of the 5-Year Review of the Range-wide Conservation Plan (Van Pelt et al. 2013), the Interstate Working Group (IWG) evaluated and re-mapped (as necessary) the Estimated Occupied Range (EOR) along with the Focal Areas (CHAT 1) and Connectivity Zones (CHAT 2) across lesser prairie-chicken (LPC) range in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. The IWG used the criteria below to adjust the EOR and Focal Area and Connectivity Zone delineations. The proposed mapping revisions are based on best available science and local knowledge. The IWG presented the initial proposed mapping changes to the LPC State Implementation Teams for review in late 2019 and early 2020. Recommended changes to the range-wide EOR boundary will be included in the 10-year review of the RWP. The current 5-year Review will only recommend changes to Focal Areas (CHAT 1) and Connectivity Areas (CHAT 2) such that there is no change to the EOR+10 in the RWP (Van Pelt et. al 2013) and associated area of coverage for the LPC Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances (CCAA) (USFWS 2014). However, individual states may decide to use the updated EOR mapping for land-use recommendations and targeting habitat conservation and restoration. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) will use current biologically-based mapping for LPC conservation in Colorado. </SPAN></SPAN></P><P><SPAN><SPAN>IWG Criteria for Changes to the Focal Area Zones (CHAT 1) and Connectivity Zones (CHAT 2):</SPAN></SPAN></P><UL STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;padding:0 0 0 0;"><LI><P><SPAN><SPAN>Additions were based on:</SPAN></SPAN></P><UL STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;padding:0 0 0 0;"><LI><P><SPAN>1) Newly documented leks</SPAN></P></LI><LI><P><SPAN><SPAN>2) Newly created or restored habitat conditions</SPAN></SPAN></P></LI><LI><P><SPAN><SPAN>3) Restoration opportunities</SPAN></SPAN></P></LI></UL></LI><LI><P><SPAN /><SPAN /></P></LI><LI><P><SPAN><SPAN>Deletions were based on:</SPAN></SPAN></P><UL STYLE="margin:0 0 0 0;padding:0 0 0 0;"><LI><P><SPAN><SPAN>1) New and cumulative anthropogenic developments</SPAN></SPAN></P></LI></UL></LI></UL><P STYLE="margin:0 0 11 0;"><SPAN /></P><P STYLE="margin:0 0 11 0;"><SPAN STYLE="font-size:16pt">Colorado Parks and Wildlife revised LPC mapping was completed by Liza Rossi (Bird Conservation Coordinator), Jonathan Reitz (Lamar Terrestrial Biologist), and Michelle Flenner (GIS Specialist) in July 2019. </SPAN></P><P><SPAN><SPAN>The proposed changes were presented at the Colorado LPC State Implementation Team Meeting in Lamar on November 14, 2019. The group there was supportive of the changes and thought we should reflect our biological understanding of LPC distribution rather than being confined by the 2013 RWP covered area. CPW is proposing these changes to reflect current distribution of LPC in Colorado. CPW updates Species Activity Mapping (SAM) every four years across Colorado. SAM mapping will be updated for the CPW SE Region in 2020 and the updated Colorado EOR as well as proposed CHAT 1 and CHAT 2 will be incorporated in CPW mapping. The proposed changes were reviewed and agreed to by CPW Area 12 personnel at an Area Meeting on February 5, 2020. Although CPW will move forward with this mapping for Colorado conservation efforts, formal changes to the covered area of the RWP (2013 EOR +10, Van Pelt et al. 2013) or the Range-wide Oil and Gas Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (CCAA, USFWS 2014) will be evaluated through the 10-Year Review of the RWP or an update to the CCAA). Changes to the CHAT mapping will be presented as part of the 5-year Review to the Lesser Prairie-Chicken Initiative Council. </SPAN></SPAN></P><P /><P><SPAN><SPAN>USFWS. 2014. Range-Wide Oil and Gas Candidate Conservation Agreement with Assurances for the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN STYLE="font-style:italic;"><SPAN>Tympanuchus pallidicinctus</SPAN></SPAN><SPAN><SPAN>) in Colorado Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. 78 FR 76639.</SPAN></SPAN></P><P><SPAN><SPAN>Van Pelt, W.E., S. Kyle, J. Pitman, D. Klute, G. Beauprez, D. Schoeling, A. Janus, J. Haufler. 2013. The Lesser Prairie-Chicken Range-wide Conservation Plan. Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Cheyenne, Wyoming. Pp.367.</SPAN></SPAN></P><P><SPAN><SPAN>Interstate Working Group Members include: Kent Fricke, chair (Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism), Liza Rossi (Colorado Parks and Wildlife), Brett Cooper (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation), Grant Beauprez (New Mexico Department of Game and Fish), and Russell Martin (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department).</SPAN></SPAN></P><P STYLE="margin:0 0 11 0;"><SPAN /></P><P /></DIV></DIV></DIV> |