Working Lands for Wildlife

May 2012
Page 2 | Working Lands for Wildlife

Working Lands for Wildlife WLFW Table of Contents Executive Summary ..................... 2

Species Selection Criteria .......... 3

Bog Turtle ........................................ 5

Golden-Winged Warbler ............ 7

Gopher Tortoise ............................ 9

Greater Sage-Grouse .................11

Lesser Prairie Chicken ...............13

New England Cottontail ...........15

Southwestern Willow

Flycatcher ......................................17

Contact Information ..................20

Restoring populations of 

declining wildlife species.

Providing farmers, ranchers, 

and forest managers with 

regulatory certainty.

Strengthening and sustaining 

rural economies.

Executive Summary

The nation’s rural landowners—its farmers, 

ranchers, and forest owners—provide not 

only food and fi ber for the world, but also 

a host of environmental benefi ts, including 

habitat for wildlife. 

Nearly two thirds of all species federally 

listed as threatened or endangered exist 

on private lands. Conservation eff orts on 

these lands generate outdoor recreation 

and economic activity that result in 

sustained growth for local communities and 

landowners. 

Through Working Lands for Wildlife —a 

voluntary, incentive-based eff ort—the 

Natural Resources Conservation Service 

(NRCS) and its conservation partners will 

provide landowners with technical and 

fi nancial assistance to:

• Restore populations of declining 

wildlife species.

• Provide farmers, ranchers, and 

forest managers with regulatory 

certainty that conservation 

investments they make today help 

sustain their operations over the 

long term.

• Strengthen and sustain rural 

economies by restoring and 

protecting the productive capacity 

of working lands.

The project will target species whose 

decline can be reversed and will benefi t 

other species with similar habitat needs. 

Several mechanisms are being used to 

provide regulatory certainty to landowners 

regarding their implementation of NRCS 

conservation practices for species that 

are protected by the Endangered Species 

Act or likely candidates for such action. 

The mechanisms can include informal 

agreements, conference opinions, biological 

opinions, Candidate Conservation 

Agreements, Safe Harbor Agreements, and 

Habitat Conservation Plans. 

The mechanisms provide regulatory 

certainty for landowners and they lessen 

confusion or confl ict around species legal 

protection. The mechanisms ensure 

landowner that the conservation practices 

they volunteer to implement will not harm 

the species or its habitat. By taking action 

now to prevent a species from declining, the 

potential for future land use limitations and 

substantial conservation expenses can be 

avoided. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) along 

with state fi sh and wildlife agencies played a 

key role in providing expertise to determine 

the management needs of species and the 

priority areas to focus the work.

Productive working lands are compatible 

with the needs of wildlife, and through 

innovative use of existing tools and 

resources, government can assist private 

landowners to protect the environment and 

rural communities. 

Working Lands for Wildlife

The Economics of Wildlife and Habitat Conservation

• The 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and 

Wildlife-Associated Recreation found that 87.5 million U.S. 

residents 16 years old and older participated in wildliferelated recreation that year. 

• These wildlife enthusiasts, including hunters, anglers and 

wildlife-watchers, spent $122.3 billion on their activities. 

• A 2006 report prepared for the Outdoor Industry 

Foundation found that wildlife-based recreation 

supported 1.4 million jobs, generated $9 billion in tax 

revenues, and $139 billion in economic activity. 
WLFW

Working Lands for Wildlife

Working Lands for Wildlife | Page 3

Working Lands for Wildlife Focus Species 

Species Status Range

Bog Turtle Threatened

Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, 

New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania

Golden-Winged Warbler At-Risk

Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, 

North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, 

West Virginia

Gopher Tortoise

Western Populations: 

Threatened

Eastern Populations: 

Candidate

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, 

South Carolina

Greater Sage-Grouse Candidate

California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, 

South Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Lesser Prairie Chicken Candidate Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas

New England Cottontail Candidate

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, 

New York, Rhode Island

Southwestern Willow 

Flycatcher Endangered Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah

Species Selection Criteria

The Working Lands for Wildlife project will target species whose decline can be reversed and will benefi t other species with similar habitat 

needs. Seven species were identifi ed during a collaborative process with partners for inclusion in the project: bog turtle, golden-winged 

warbler, gopher tortoise, greater sage-grouse, lesser prairie chicken, New England cottontail, and southwestern willow fl ycatcher. Selection 

criteria included the following considerations: conservation on private lands can infl uence species’ outcomes; needs of the selected species 

are compatible with agricultural practices and rural land management; viable core habitat areas can be protected and habitat recovery 

opportunities exist; partnership opportunities exist to produce more effi cient conservation delivery; Endangered Species Act (ESA) tools are 

in place to provide regulatory certainty; and habitat improvements benefi t a host of other species.

Focal Areas

by Species
Page 4 | Working Lands for Wildlife

Working Lands for Wildlife WLFW Focus Species

Bog Turtle ................................................5

Golden-Winged Warbler .....................7

Gopher Tortoise .....................................9

Greater Sage-Grouse ..........................11

Lesser Prairie Chicken ........................13

New England Cottontail ....................15

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher ...17

Top to bottom: Lesser Prairie Chicken, Gopher Tortoise, Southwester Willow Flycatcher, New England Cottontail
Working Lands for Wildlife | Page 5

Bog Turtle

Resource Concern 

Total Acres 

Needing 

Treatment 

Fish and Wildlife 

Inadequate Habitat; Food and Cover; 

Habitat Degradation 

TBD 

Degraded Plant Condition 

Excessive plant pest pressure 

TBD 

Water Quality Degradation

Excessive nutrients and pesticides

TBD 

Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, 

Massachusetts, New Jersey, 

New York, Pennsylvania 

Bog

Turtle

Background

The bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii), America’s 

smallest turtle, is federally listed as Threatened under the 

Endangered Species Act. Bog turtles depend upon a 

habitat mosaic of open, sunny, spring fed wetlands and 

scattered dry areas. Bog turtles can be an indicator of 

water quality and wetland function; the wetland habitats 

that they require provide important ecosystem services, 

including purifying water, recharging underground 

aquifers and absorbing floodwaters. The wetlands also 

support many rare plants and animals. 

The greatest threats to bog turtles include habitat 

degradation and fragmentation from land conversion, 

habitat succession due to invasive exotic and native 

plants, and illegal trade and collecting. Changes in land 

use or alterations in water flow reduce a wetland’s ability 

to function. Wetland habitats have been drained and 

filled for development, agriculture, road construction and 

impoundments have severely fragmented the remaining 

habitat and have created physical barriers, isolating 

existing bog turtle populations. 

Private landowners control the majority of bog turtle 

habitat remaining in the northeast. Many of the wetlands 

are located in agricultural areas that are subject to 

frequent livestock grazing. Proper grazing management 

conserves habitat by slowing natural plant succession and 

minimizing the encroachment of invasive native and 

exotic plant species. However, heavy grazing may destroy 

bog turtle habitat that is necessary for turtle nesting, 

basking, foraging and cover. 

NRCS has worked with the USFWS to initiate a range-wide 

Biological Opinion for bog turtle habitat restoration 

activities. Working Lands for Wildlife will provide financial 

and technical support to increase conservation efforts. Goals / Objectives 

Through Working Lands for Wildlife, NRCS will assist 

private landowners combat habitat fragmentation and 

degradation to restore bog turtle populations in seven 

states, and increase landowner confidence that the 

conservation practices they volunteer to implement will 

not harm the species or its habitat. Restoration activities 

will complement the existing NRCS Wetland Reserve 

Program effort to protect bog turtle habitat.

Listing Status: Threatened 
Page 6 | Working Lands for Wildlife

Bog Turtle

Outcomes and 

Impacts 

Landowners will enhance, 

restore and protect habitat for 

bog turtle, aiding in the 

implementation of its 

recovery plan and increase 

landowner confidence that 

the conservation practices 

they implement will not harm 

the species or its habitat. 

Additional species benefiting 

in this focal area are: wild 

turkey, northern bobwhite, 

mourning dove, bass, and 

trout. 

Actions x Protect, maintain, and restore bog turtle habitat. 

x Increase connectivity of existing bog turtle habitat. 

x Improve weed and invasive species management. 

x Support sustainable grazing management that supports native plant 

communities. 

x Promote use of government programs that provide incentives for 

development or restoration of habitat on private lands. 

Core Practices 

643 Restoration and 

Management of Rare and 

Declining Habitats 

644 Wetland Wildlife Habitat 

Management 

645 Upland Wildlife Habitat 

Management 

647 Early Successional 

Habitat Development 

and Management 

Supporting Practices 

314 Brush Management 

315 Herbaceous Weed Control 

327 Conservation Cover 

338 Prescribed Burning 

382 Fence 

390 Riparian Herbaceous Cover 

391 Riparian Forest Buffer 

393 Filter Strip 

394 Firebreak 

395 Stream Habitat Improvement 

410 Grade Stabilization 

472 Access Control 

516 Livestock Pipeline 

528 Prescribed Grazing 

578 Stream Crossing 

580 Streambank and Shoreline 

Protection 

587 Structure for Water Control 

614 Watering Facility 

642 Water Well 

657 Wetland Restoration 

659 Wetland Enhancement
Working Lands for Wildlife | Page 7

Resource Concern 

Total Acres 

Needing 

Treatment 

Fish and Wildlife 

Upland Wildlife Habitat Management 

9,500 

Plant Condition 

Restoration and Management of Rare and 

Declining Habitats 

500 

Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, 

New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, 

Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia 

Golden-Winged 

Warbler

Background

The vast forested lands, grasslands and forb-rich 

landscape of the Appalachian Mountains was once 

considered a population stronghold for the goldenwinged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera). Today, the 

species in the Appalachian region is considered to be atrisk, however has not been recognized as a candidate 

species. 

The most common explanations point to the loss and 

degradation of early successional habitat. Golden-winged 

warblers and many other species depend upon shrubby, 

vegetated areas like forest clear-cuts, alder swamps, utility 

rights-of way and other similar habitats for breeding. 

Several factors have contributed to the decline of these 

habitats including direct losses to development, reforestation of farmland, fire suppression, and changes in 

agricultural and forestry practices. 

The Appalachian region offers a tremendous opportunity 

to improve habitat for golden-winged warbler and other 

neotropical migratory birds. These high elevation forests 

provide structurally diverse vegetation for breeding and 

foraging, and offer the greatest opportunity to combat 

declines in golden-winged warbler. 

Working Lands for Wildlife will assist private land owners 

create and maintain the habitat necessary to sustain 

breeding populations of golden-winged warbler within 

and adjacent to their current range. It focuses on the 

creation, management and maintenance of early 

successional habitat in close association with forested 

landscapes, or adjacent to active agriculture or 

pastureland. Conservation efforts in support of the 

golden-winged warbler will benefit several other species 

that depend on similar habitat. 

Goals / Objectives 

Working Lands for Wildlife will enable private landowners 

to create and enhance approximately 10,000 acres of early 

successional forest habitat over five years through actions 

that are designed to remove threats and reverse species 

declines. 

Photo: Greg Lavaty Listing Status: At-Risk 

Golden-Winged Warbler
Page 8 | Working Lands for Wildlife

Outcomes and 

Impacts 

Working Lands for Wildlife will 

increase improve early 

successional habitat, 

decreasing habitat 

fragmentation and reducing 

isolation of golden-winged 

warbler populations. The 

result will be an expansion of 

Appalachian breeding habitat 

and an increase in 

reproducing golden-winged 

warbler populations, 

increasing the success of 

conservation of the species. 

Additional species benefiting 

in this focal area are: wild 

turkey, ruffled grouse, 

mourning dove, rabbit, bass, 

and trout. 

Actions x Restoration and maintenance of habitat supporting healthy, reproducing 

populations of golden-winged warbler in targeted areas in eight States. 

x Increase cooperation with state wildlife agencies and bird conservation 

partnerships. 

x Develop timber harvest technologies and forestry management strategies to 

support golden-winged warbler and other species sensitive to canopy 

closure. 

Core Practices 

643 Restoration and 

Management of Rare and 

Declining Habitats 

645 Upland Wildlife Habitat 

Management 

647 Early Successional 

Habitat Development 

and Management 

Supporting Practices 

314 Brush Management 

315 Herbaceous Weed Control 

324 Deep Tillage 

327 Conservation Cover 

338 Prescribed Burning 

342 Critical Area Planting 

382 Fence 

386 Field Borders 

394 Firebreak 

472 Access Control 

484 Mulching 

490 Tree Shrub Site Preparation 

 511 Forage Harvest 

Management 

512 Forage and Biomass 

Plantings 

528 Prescribed Grazing 

612 Tree/Shrub Establishment 

655 Forest Harvest Trails and 

Landings 

666 Forest Stand Improvement 

Photo: Greg Lavaty Photo: Greg Lavaty 

Golden-Winged Warbler
Working Lands for Wildlife | Page 9

Gopher 

Tortoise 

Gopher Tortoise
Page 10 | Working Lands for Wildlife

Gopher Tortoise
Working Lands for Wildlife | Page 11

Greater Sage-Grouse

Resource Concern 

Total Acres 

Needing 

Treatment 

Fish and Wildlife

Habitat degradation, inadequate habitat

TBD 

Degraded Plant Condition 

Inadequate structure and composition 

TBD 

California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, 

Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, 

Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming 

Greater 

Sage-Grouse

Background

The greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), an 

iconic ground-dwelling bird native to the arid sagebrush 

plains of the American West, has experienced significant 

population declines over the last fifty years, making it a 

candidate for protection under the Endangered Species 

Act. The population declines have resulted from habitat 

loss and fragmentation associated with land conversion, 

energy development, urbanization, wildfire, conifer 

encroachment, and invasive species. 

Although sage-grouse occupy extremely large landscapes 

(186 million acres), a quarter of all sage-grouse live within 

4 percent of the range (7 million acres), and 75 percent of 

birds are concentrated within 27 percent (50 million acres) 

of their distribution. In 2010, the NRCS launched the SageGrouse Initiative (SGI) to strategically focus conservation 

efforts to maximize biological benefits to sage-grouse 

populations. Conservation activities include establishing 

conservation easements to prevent working ranches from 

being subdivided; implementing sustainable grazing 

systems to improve hiding cover for birds; removing 

invasive conifers from grasslands to allow birds to recolonize otherwise suitable habitat; and marking or 

moving “high-risk” fences near breeding sites to reduce 

bird collisions. The Sage-Grouse Initiative capitalizes on 

the strong link between management required to support 

healthy sage-grouse habitat and sustainable ranching 

operations. 

In August 2010, NRCS and the United States Fish and 

Wildlife Service completed a Conference Report on the 

sage-grouse. The Conference Report gives certainty to 

landowners that implementing conservation practices to 

restore and enhance sage-grouse habitat will be in 

compliance with the Endangered Species Act. NRCS is 

working to ensure that landowner contributions to sagegrouse conservation are considered in future listing 

decisions, with the hope of reducing the need to list the 

bird altogether. Working Lands for Wildlife will provide 

additional, targeted financial and technical support. 

Listing Status: Candidate 

Goals / Objectives 

Healthy working rangelands are key to conserving this 

species. Partnering with ranchers and using win-win 

conservation solutions that benefit grazing lands and 

sage-grouse habitat. Working Lands for Wildlife seeks to 

proactively conserve the species and keep populations 

healthy enough to avoid an Endangered Species Act 

listing. 
Page 12 | Working Lands for Wildlife

Greater Sage-Grouse

Core Practices 

645 Upland Wildlife Habitat 

Management 

Supporting Practices 

314 Brush Management 

315 Herbaceous Weed 

Control 

327 Conservation Cover 

328 Conservation Crop 

Rotation 

338 Prescribed Burning 

340 Cover Crop 

342 Critical Area Planting 

378 Pond 

380 Windbreak/Shelterbelt 

Establishment 

382 Fence 

384 Forest Slash Treatment 

388 Irrigation Field Ditch Irrigation 

System 

390 Riparian Herbaceous Cover 

394 Firebreak 

410 Grade Stabilization Structure 

430AA-GG Irrigation Water 

Conveyance-Pipeline 

441 Irrigation System, Micro 

Irrigation 

442 Irrigation System, Sprinkler 

System 

443 Irrigation System, Surface and 

Subsurface 

449 Irrigation Water Management 

472 Access Control 

500 Obstruction Removal 

511 Forage Harvest Management 

512 Forage and Biomass Planting 

516 Pipeline 

528 Prescribed Grazing 

533 Pumping Plant 

548 Grazing Land Mechanical 

Treatment 

550 Rangeland Planting 

560 Access Road 

574 Spring Development 

614 Watering Facility 

642 Water Well 

643 Restoration and 

Management of Rare and 

Declining Habitats 

644 Wetland Wildlife Habitat 

Management 

654 Road/Trail/Landing Closure 

and Treatment 

734 Fish and Wildlife Structure 

Outcomes and 

Impacts 

Working Lands for Wildlife will 

enhance NRCS’ ongoing 

conservation efforts to 

support sage-grouse recovery 

by strategically focusing 

resources to promote healthy 

grazing lands management. 

Anticipated long-term 

outcomes of this initiative are: 

improved rangeland health; 

greater connectivity of core 

sage-grouse habitat; and 

stabilization and recovery of 

sage-grouse populations. 

Additional species benefiting 

in this focal area are: wild 

turkey, pronghorn antelope, 

mourning dove, rabbit, trout, 

and black bear. 

Actions x Establish conservation easements to prevent large and intact 

working ranches from being converted into subdivisions. 

x Remove encroached conifers, improving habitat for sage-grouse 

and other wildlife and increasing forage availability for livestock. 

x Improve grazing systems management, increasing rangeland plant 

diversity, cover for birds and forage availability for livestock. 

x Identify and mark fences where sage-grouse collisions are likely 

reduce accidental mortality caused by fence strikes. 

x Increase connectivity of existing core habitat. 

x Improve weed and invasive species management. 

x Restore and promote healthy, productive springs and seeps. 
Working Lands for Wildlife | Page 13

Resource Concern 

Total Acres 

Needing 

Treatment 

Fish and Wildlife

Habitat degradation, inadequate habitat 

225,000 

Degraded Plant Condition 

Inadequate structure and composition 

215,000 

Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, 

New Mexico, Texas 

Lesser Prairie

Chicken

Background

The lesser prairie chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) is 

an upland bird found in mixed grass, sand-sage and 

shinnery oak prairies of western Kansas, southeast 

Colorado, northwest Oklahoma, the Texas panhandle, and 

eastern New Mexico. Once widely distributed, the bird has 

experienced dramatic reductions in population and is 

now a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species 

Act. Biologists estimate that only about 50,000 breeding 

birds remain. 

As with the other prairie grouse species, the lesser prairie 

chicken requires large, intact native grasslands and 

prairies to thrive. Population declines have been 

attributed to habitat loss, modification, degradation, and 

fragmentation within its range. 

In 2011, NRCS launched the Lesser Prairie Chicken 

Initiative (LPCI) to focus technical and financial resources 

on improving lesser prairie chicken habitat. Under the 

initiative, NRCS and its conservation partners are helping 

farmers and ranchers enhance, restore and protect habitat 

for this sensitive and reclusive bird. Many of the 

conservation practices that promote healthy grazing 

lands also benefit the lesser prairie chicken and other 

wildlife; the primary practices are: prescribed grazing, 

upland wildlife habitat management, brush management, 

prescribed burning, range plantings, and restoration and 

management of rare or declining habitats. 

Goals / Objectives 

Working Lands for Wildlife will assist ranchers voluntarily 

restore or enhance 500,000 acres of rangeland over five 

years, combating lesser prairie chicken habitat loss, 

increasing habitat connectivity, and helping to ensure the 

continued viability of midwest/western ranching. 

Listing Status: Candidate 

Lesser Prairie Chicken
Page 14 | Working Lands for Wildlife

Core Practices 

528 Prescribed Grazing (only 

a core practice where 

livestock are present) 

645 Upland Wildlife Habitat 

Management 

Supporting Practices 

314 Brush Management 

315 Herbaceous Weed Control 

338 Prescribed Burning 

340 Cover Crops 

342 Critical Area Planting 

378 Pond 

382 Fence 

394 Firebreak 

410 Grade Stabilization 

472 Access Control 

500 Obstruction Removal 

511 Forage Harvest Management 

512 Forage and Biomass 

Planting 

516 Pipeline 

533 Pumping Plant 

550 Range Planting 

574 Spring Development 

614 Watering Facility 

642 Water Well 

643 Restoration of Rare and 

Declining Habitats 

647 Early Successional Habitat 

Development and 

Management

Outcomes and 

Impacts 

Working Lands for Wildlife 

will complement the existing 

Lesser Prairie Chicken 

Initiative, by providing 

additional targeted funding 

to help farmers and ranchers 

enhance, restore and protect 

habitat for lesser prairie 

chicken, and increase 

landowner confidence that 

the conservation practices 

they volunteer to implement 

will not harm the species or 

its habitat. 

Additional species benefiting 

in this focal area are: 

northern bobwhite, scaled 

quail, pronghorn antelope, 

mule deer, Swainson’s hawk, 

and short-eared owl. 

Actions x Support sustainable grazing management that results in residual nesting 

cover and supports native plant communities. 

x Increase connectivity of existing lesser prairie chicken habitat. 

x Improve weed and invasive species management. 

x Protect, maintain, and restore large tracts of native shinnery oak/tallgrass or 

sand sagebrush grassland. 

x Maintain stability of land use, and conserve shrub-dominated habitats near 

lek sites. 

x Promote use of government programs that provide incentives for 

development or restoration of habitat on private lands. 

Lesser Prairie Chicken
Working Lands for Wildlife | Page 15

Resource Concern 

Total Acres 

Needing 

Treatment 

Fish and Wildlife

Inadequate Food; Inadequate 

Cover/Shelter; Inadequate Space; Habitat 

Fragmentation; Imbalance Among and 

Within Population; Declining species, 

Species of Concern 

5,000 

Plant Condition 

Noxious and Invasive Plants 

3,000 

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 

New Hampshire, New York, 

Rhode Island 

New England 

Cottontail

Background

In 2006, the New England Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus 

transitionalis) was listed as a candidate species under the 

Federal Endangered Species Act due to an 86 percent 

decline in its historic range. New England Cottontail is 

listed as a priority species for the states in which it occurs 

(Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, 

Connecticut, and New York), and it is listed as an 

“endangered “species by state law in Maine and New 

Hampshire. 

The primary threat to the New England cottontail is loss of 

habitat through succession. As forests mature, understory 

thins to such an extent that the habitat is no longer 

suitable for New England cottontail. Fragmentation serves 

to further degrade habitat on a larger scale. Isolation of 

occupied patches by surrounding areas of unsuitable 

habitat, coupled with high predation rates, are causing 

local extirpation of New England cottontail from small 

patches. 

In order to sustain local populations, New England 

Cottontail requires at least 25 acres of continuous early 

successional habitat intermingled with smaller suitable 

parcels that are 12 or more acres in size. These core areas 

need to be connected by dispersal corridors or be within 

the species dispersal distance. Landscape fragmentation, 

loss of habitat from succession, infestations of invasive 

plants, and alterations of hydrology, are the most 

common resource concerns affecting the New England 

Cottontail. 

Working Lands for Wildlife will develop and maintain 

habitat within priority areas, and work with landowners to 

support New England Cottontail recovery and 

conservation of the species. Goals / Objectives 

Over the next five years, Working Lands for Wildlife will 

assist private land owners to create and enhance 

approximately 2,500 acres of shrub thicket and early 

successional forest. The habitat improvements will support 

New England Cottontail recovery and conservation. 

Listing Status: Candidate 

New England Cottontail
Page 16 | Working Lands for Wildlife

Outcomes and 

Impacts 

Habitat improvements will 

remove threats and assist with 

conservation of the species. 

This work may enable 

potential down-listing from 

endangered under Maine and 

New Hampshire law. In 

addition, 59 species of 

greatest conservation need in 

New England depend on early 

successional habitats will 

benefit from this effort. 

Additional species benefiting 

in this focal area are: wild 

turkey, woodcock, deer, bass, 

trout, salmon, and black bear. 

Actions x Brush management and/or herbaceous weed control to manage invasive 

plants. 

x Reestablishment of native woody vegetation. 

x Cutting trees and shrubs to encourage dense forest regeneration and 

rehabilitation of shrublands. 

x Restoration of wetland seeps within priority areas. 

x Increase connectivity of habitat in core areas. 

x Development of Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances. 

Core Practices 

643 Restoration and 

Management of Rare and 

Declining Habitats 

644 Wetland Wildlife Habitat 

Management 

645 Upland Wildlife Habitat 

Management 

647 Early Successional 

Habitat Development 

and Management 

Supporting Practices 

314 Brush Management 

315 Herbaceous Weed Control 

327 Conservation Cover 

338 Prescribed Burning 

340 Cover Crops 

386 Field Borders 

391 Riparian Forest Buffer 

394 Firebreak 

422 Hedge Row Planting 

472 Access Control 

490 Tree Shrub Site Preparation 

528 Prescribed Grazing 

560 Access Road 

612 Tree/Shrub Establishment 

655 Forest Harvest Trails and 

Landings 

657 Wetland Restoration 

666 Forest Stand Improvement 

New England Cottontail
Working Lands for Wildlife | Page 17

Resource Concern 

Total Acres 

Needing 

Treatment 

Plant Condition 

Noxious and invasive plants

TBD 

Fish and Wildlife

Threatened and endangered species, 

declining species, species of concern

TBD 

Arizona, California, 

Colorado, Nevada, 

New Mexico, Utah 

Southwestern

Willow Flycatcher

Background

The southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii 

extimus) is a small Neotropical migratory bird that breeds 

in the arid southwestern United States. It has been 

federally listed as Endangered under the Endangered 

Species Act. 

The flycatcher’s current range is similar to its historic 

range; however, the amount of suitable habitat within the 

range is greatly reduced from historic levels. The 

flycatcher’s distribution follows that of riparian habitat. It 

depends upon dense tree and shrub communities, 

associated rivers, and other wetlands, and has become 

increasingly isolated and widely dispersed as the result of 

surface water diversion, groundwater pumping, changes 

in flood and fire regimes, and the establishment of nonnative and invasive plants. 

 

The flycatcher nests in native vegetation where available, 

but also nests in thickets dominated by the non-native 

invasive species like tamarisk and Russian olive. Efforts to 

control non-native species can be detrimental to willow 

flycatchers in mixed and exotic habitats, especially if 

control projects are implemented in the absence of 

suitable native riparian plant habitat of equal or higher 

functional value. 

Working Lands for Wildlife will assist landowners to 

restore degraded riparian ecosystems and conserve 

existing healthy riparian systems. The program will focus 

on increasing and improving occupied, suitable, and 

potential breeding habitat, supporting southwestern 

willow flycatcher recovery. 

Goals / Objectives 

Working Lands for Wildlife will assist private landowners 

protect and restore breeding habitat, combating habitat 

losses due to surface water diversion and groundwater 

pumping, changes in flood and fire regimes, and 

establishment of non-native and invasive plants. 

Listing Status: Endangered 

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
Page 18 | Working Lands for Wildlife

Outcomes and 

Impacts 

Landowners will enhance, 

restore and protect habitat for 

southwestern willow 

flycatcher, aiding in the 

implementation of its 

recovery plan and increase 

landowner confidence that 

the conservation practices 

they implement will not harm 

the species or its habitat. 

Additional species benefiting 

in this focal area are: wild 

turkey, deer, mourning dove, 

rabbit, bass, and trout. 

Actions x Protect, maintain, and restore riparian habitat. 

x Increase and improve occupied, suitable, and potential breeding habitat. 

x Manage livestock grazing to increase habitat quality and quantity. 

x Improve weed and invasive species management. 

x Increase connectivity of existing and potential habitat. 

x Provide public education and outreach. 

Core Practices 

395 Stream Habitat 

Improvement and 

Management 

643 Restoration and 

Management of Rare and 

Declining Habitats 

644 Wetland Wildlife Habitat 

Management 

645 Upland Wildlife Habitat 

Management 

647 Early Successional 

Habitat Development 

and Management 

Supporting Practices 

314 Brush Management 

315 Herbaceous Weed Control 

327 Conservation Cover 

382 Fence 

386 Field Borders 

390 Riparian Herbaceous Buffer 

391 Riparian Forest Buffer 

472 Access Control 

490 Tree Shrub Site Preparation 

511 Forage Harvest Management 

512 Forage and Biomass Plantings 

516 Livestock Pipeline 

528 Prescribed Grazing 

561 Heavy Use Area Protection 

575 Animal Trails and Walkways 

578 Stream Crossing 

580 Streambank and Shoreline 

Protection 

582 Open Channel 

584 Channel Bed Stabilization 

587 Structure for Water Control 

595 Integrated Pest 

Management 

612 Tree/Shrub Establishment 

614 Watering Facility 

642 Water Well 

655 Forest Harvest Trails and 

Landings 

657 Wetland Restoration 

659 Wetland Enhancement 

666 Forest Stand Improvement 

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
Working Lands for Wildlife | Page 19

NRCS Points of Contact

Working Lands for Wildlife

 Danielle Flynn 

 NRCS National Biologist

 (202) 690-0856 

 danielle.fl ynn@wdc.usda.gov 

Bog Turtle

 Steve Strano 

 NRCS State Biologist, Maryland

 (443) 482-2928

 steve.strano@md.usda.gov

Golden Winged Warbler 

 Casey Shrader 

 NRCS State Biologist, West Virginia

 (304) 284-7581 

 casey.shrader@wv.usda.gov

Gopher Tortoise

 Keith Wooster 

 NRCS State Biologist, Georgia

 (706) 546-2309

 keith.wooster@ga.usda.gov

Greater Sage-Grouse

 Tim Griffi ths 

 Sage-Grouse Initiative Coordinator

 (406) 587-6812

 tim.griffi ths@mt.usda.gov

Lesser Prairie Chicken

 Jon Ungerer 

 Lesser Prairie Chicken Initiative Coordinator

 (785) 776-7582 

 jon.ungerer@ks.usda.gov

New England Cottontail

 Don Keirstead 

 NRCS State Biologist, New Hampshire

 (603) 868-7581

 donald.keirstead@nh.usda.gov

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher 

 Stu Tuttle 

 NRCS State Biologist, Arizona

 (602) 280-8777

 stu.tuttle@az.usda.gov

Top to bottom: Golden-Winged Warbler, 

Bog Turtle, Greater Sage-Grouse

Photo: Jeff Nadler
Page 20 | Working Lands for Wildlife

Working Lands for Wildlife WLFW

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all of its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and

where applicable, sex (including gender identity and expression), marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, genetic

information, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET

Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To fi le a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Offi ce of the Assistant Secretary for 

Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 9410, Washington, DC 20250-9410. Or call toll-free at (866) 632-9992 (English) or (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or

(866) 377-8642 (English Federal-relay) or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish Federal-relay). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

5/21/2012