All posts by grasslands

CEC Supported Pilots, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Sustainable Economic Management, Sustainable Energy Management, Water Resource Management

Rancho El Gorguz

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Ejido Casa de Janos
Country Mexico
Region Municipality of Janos, Chihuahua
Grass Type Open tussock grassland
# of head of cattle 45 cows, 60 heifers, 6 bulls, 18 calves
Hectares 958
Language Spanish
Date modified August 2015

The purpose of the adoption of sound management practices at Rancho El Gorguz was to strengthen ranch infrastructure to improve the grazing system and grassland conditions, thereby enriching the habitat for fauna. For these sound management practices, both the load capacity and soil cover of the pastures were considered, and thus making projections on the infrastructure and grazing system.

At first, the cattle grazed in areas of between 15 and 30 hectares, and for 50 days cattle were given nutritional supplements in order that they not lose body condition after being moved to much smaller paddocks. They are currently grazing on larger pastures, as the rains produced green grass, which will improve the animals’ body conditions. As soon as the current bloom of brush dries out, the herd will return to grazing on smaller temporary paddocks (these paddocks were built with electrical fencing, requiring the installation of solar panels). To improve water distribution, a ditch was dug to bury the PVC pipes that currently carry water from the middle of a central irrigation pivot to a metallic storage basin where the cattle troughs are located.

The ranch’s ground cover is 56.4% humus, 12.4% rock, and 28.4% completely bare. Plant cover consists of 40.4% [of the total area] brush and perennial grasses and 0.4% annuals. As for load capacity, forage production averages 2,310 kilograms per hectare, which means that 2.15 hectares are required to keep one animal unit per year using half of available forage. Note that one of the samples exceeded the others’ weight by far, affecting the overall forage output.

CEC Supported Pilots, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Sustainable Economic Management, Sustainable Energy Management, Water Resource Management

Rancho Lujo Barato

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Rancho Lujo Barato
Country Mexico
Region Municipality of Ascensión, Chihuahua
Grass Type Semiarid scrubland and halophyte grassland
# of head of cattle 220
Hectares 6,762
Language Spanish
Date modified August 2015

The purpose of adopting sound management practices at Rancho Lujo Barato was to strengthen ranch infrastructure to improve the grazing system and grassland conditions, thereby enriching the fauna habitat. After touring the ranch, it was decided to carry out the project at the El Sapo pasture, as it is very visible from the highway and easily accessed. This pasture had sufficient forage for three months and water in a lagoon and two reservoirs. However, the water and forage ran out, and it was necessary to move the project to another pasture, El Águila, where better results could be obtained.

Having determined its load capacity and soil cover, and with appropriate infrastructure and grazing system projections, grazing was planned at El Águila. This required the construction of new paddocks: one 25-hectare paddock and another 24 permanent paddocks of 100 x 860 meters (for an area of approximately 8.6 hectares each), which were subsequently subdivided with movable electric fences to increase the grazing density. Currently, the rancher invests his own resources to distribute water to the new paddocks using hoses. Solar panels were installed to power the electric fence that subdivides the paddocks.

As regards soil cover, 44.8% was found to be covered by humus, 29.6% by rocks and 25.6% is completely bare. Plants (brush) cover 34.8% of the land and there is no grass-covered area. Forage production is 276.6 kilograms per hectare and if an animal unit consumed 50% forage, it will require 35.94 hectares to keep an animal for an entire year.

CEC Supported Pilots, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Invasive Species and Pest Management, Sustainable Economic Management, Water Resource Management

Rancho Plan de Álamos

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Rancho Plan de Álamos
Country Mexico
Region Municipalities of Villa Ahumada and Chihuahua, Chihuahua
Grass Type Tussock grassland and halophyte grassland
# of head of cattle 800
Hectares 12,000
Language Spanish
Date modified August 2015

Rancho Plan de Álamos is located in the priority land region known as the Flores Magón and Sierra del Nido Grasslands in the central valley region of Chihuahua, where the state’s last uncultivated valleys are located. As part of the grassland conservation collaboration initiative launched by the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory and IMC Vida Silvestre, the ranch receives support from the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) and the US National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

The ranch’s main activity is cattle raising: 800 head of cattle are raised, 120 of which are Hereford and the rest are commercial cattle. In addition to stockbreeding, a 30-hectare field of pecan trees is grown at Plan de Álamos, along with a small vineyard, and a 100-hectare alfalfa prairie for fattening.

The owner of Plan de Álamos, Alberto Terrazas, belongs to a family with more than 100 years of stockbreeding experience. Enthusiastic and very active, at his ranch Terrazas is constantly implementing grassland management and water and soil conservation projects. His priority is grassland conservation, especially of the native scrub species, but he has also conducted several of his own experiments on shrub control and replanting and bunchgrass seed banks, such as blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis).

A semi-permanent creek runs through the ranch, which has diverse topography and is located in a region of great importance for grassland biodiversity. There are six different habitat types: swampland, riverland, halophyte grassland, bunchgrass with mesquite and acacia, desert scrub and bunchgrass with live oak. Besides providing a habitat for a diversity of bird species, the ranch is an ecological corridor for other species of interest in the region, such as the jaguarundi and black bear.

There are three main threats to the ecology of the grasslands at Rancho Plan de Álamos: 1) the invasion of mesquite and other shrubs, such as the whitethorn acacia (Acacia constricta); the invasion of Lehmann lovegrass; and 3) the lack of true native perennial bunchgrasses. These three conditions affect cattle production, as they lead to poor-quality forage and fragment the habitat of native fauna species.

Three groups of cattle are subject to management on 40 paddocks at the ranch, whose activities are currently changing to rotational grazing. With a moderate load of 14 hectares per animal unit (ha/AU), the objective is to institute rotational grazing on 61 paddocks, managing a single herd.

As part of the comprehensive grassland management plan agreed upon with the ranch, 13 escape ramps have been placed in water basins to prevent birds from drowning; three artificial nests were installed for the aplomado falcon; and six kilometers of fencing were installed (respecting wildlife) to divide paddocks. Dams are also being excluded, and two font troughs have already been built, each with a capacity of 20,000 liters. In addition, three kilometers of tubing have been installed (1.5 km of 2” and the rest 1”). To control invasive vegetation, 180 hectares of mesquite and 70 hectares of whitethorn acacia have been managed via mechanical means, reducing the invasive shrub cover by 80 percent.

The mesquite and other invasive brush management strategy involves expanding open grassland areas to create a connection between the open areas in order to expand the grassland bird habitat for such species as the golden eagle, the aplomado falcon and the Swainson’s hawk. Clearing mesquite will also help to retain rainwater and aid the spread of beneficial grass and scrub.

CEC Supported Pilots, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Sustainable Economic Management, Sustainable Energy Management, Water Resource Management

Rancho San Blas

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Rancho San Blas
Country Mexico
Region Municipality of Ascensión, Chihuahua
Grass Type Semiarid scrubland and halophyte grassland
# of head of cattle 420
Hectares 9,566
Language Spanish
Date modified August 2015

The implementation of sound management practices at Rancho San Blas was intended to improve the grazing plan and the grassland conditions to benefit the habitat for area fauna. Prior to the project, the ranch had 10 paddocks, although their size, as well as the lack of water in some of them, made adequate cattle rotation difficult. Therefore, an infrastructure investment was made to build new paddocks and install more troughs. The El Vallecillo paddock, with an area of 2,962 hectares, was selected for these sound management practices. As part of the grazing plan, the load capacity and soil cover were estimated and the required improvements in infrastructure and the grazing system were proposed.

The ranch was toured to select the area where paddock division would be most effective. Finally, a grazing system was planned for 13 paddocks with electrical fencing, including the installation of solar panels, and construction began. El Vallecillo has a cattle reservoir and, in March 2015, with resources contributed by the rancher, well digging began to supply water to 80 percent of the ranch’s area. After drilling more than 120 meters down, no water was found and the reservoir water dried up. The brushy vegetation on El Vallecillo likewise could not be used.

For this reason, the project and cattle had to be moved again to a neighboring paddock and another pasture—El 70— which does have water. El Vallecillo will not be grazed until the reservoir holds water again or water can be pumped from a second well, which was drilled after the first one failed to find water. The paddocks that were built, each containing some 400 hectares, have been grazed from seven to 14 days. Cattle troughs were also installed. The plan intends to gradually reduce paddock size with a movable fence, purchased with CEC support.

CEC Supported Pilots, Community Management, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Invasive Species and Pest Management, Sustainable Economic Management

Rancho San Luis

 

Type CEC-supported Ranch Pilot
Organization Rancho San Luis
Country Mexico
Region Municipality of Villa Ahumada, Chihuahua
Grass Type Open tussock grassland and halophyte grassland
# of head of cattle 450
Hectares 7,500
Language Spanish
Date modified August 2015

Rancho San Luis forms part of the grassland conservation collaboration initiative between the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) and the non-profit organizations, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory and IMC Vida Silvestre, financed with funds from the CEC, the USFWS-NMBCA Program, and Mexico’s National Commission for Protected Natural Areas(Conanp). Actions have focused on the specific improvement of the habitat and landscape structure in the grasslands.

At Rancho San Luis, located in the central valley region of Chihuahua, one of the last open grasslands in the Chihuahuan Desert, the main activity is cattle raising: 450 head of cattle are raised, divided into two different herds, one of registered Red Angus and another with commercial cattle. In addition to stockbreeding, a 100-hectare field of pecan trees is grown.

The ranch owner, Luis Enrique Terrazas, comes from a family with more than 100 years of stockbreeding tradition. An enthusiastic and very active rancher, his management style is noted for the inclusion of ranch personnel, as he gives special importance to the well-being of the foreman, the cowhands and their families. For Terrazas, grassland conservation is a priority, and in general his cattle are kept in good physical condition. He is also particularly proud of the wildlife on his land.

Most grassland birds of common interest winter in the region where Rancho San Luis is located, which is of great international importance for grassland conservation. These species include the chestnut-collared longspur (Calcarius ornatus), Sprague’s pipit (Anthus spragueii), Baird’s sparrow (Ammodramus bairdii), and the grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum). In addition to being the habitat of one of the last herds of Mexican pronghorn (Antilocapra americana mexicana), the ranch is a potential habitat for the aplomado falcon (Falco femoralis) and the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).

There are three main threats to the ecology of the grasslands at Rancho San Luis: 1) the invasion of Lehmann lovegrass; 2) the lack of true native perennial bunchgrasses, and 3) the invasive expansion of mesquite. These three factors affect cattle production, as they lead to poor quality forage and fragmentation of the habitat for native fauna species. The lack of true perennial native grass limits the availability of winter nutrition for many grassland birds, and the expansion of mesquite fragments the cover for pronghorn transit and escape.

Ranch management involves the rotational grazing of two groups of cattle in 11 paddocks, with a moderate load of 16 hectares per animal unit (ha/AU). This management has resulted in a grassland cover of more than 65 percent of the area, in addition to always having available forage to maintain cattle with minimum use of supplements.

As regards direct management actions, escape ramps have been placed in water basins to prevent birds from drowning; two artificial nests were installed for the aplomado falcon; fences were adapted to facilitate the passage of pronghorn, and mechanical control of mesquite on 168 hectares has been conducted to reduce this shrub cover by 80 percent.

The management of mesquite is intended to create a connection between open grassland areas in order to expand the grassland bird habitat, such as the golden eagle, the aplomado falcon and the Swainson’s hawk, and to create pronghorn corridors. The clearing of mesquite also helps retain rainwater and aids the sprouting of beneficial grass and scrub.

CEC Supported Pilots, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Water Resource Management

South 7 Ranches

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization South 7 Ranches
Country Canada
Region Barrhead, Alberta
Grass Type Mixed-grass
# of head of cattle 600 cow/calf pairs and custom grazing operation with 1,000 yearlings
Hectares 1,619
Language English
Date modified August 2015

Chad and Stacey Meunier have owned and operated South 7 Ranches for seven years and have been farming for 20 years. Stacey has taken the Ranching for Profit School twice and her family farm was managed under Holistic Management principles. Stacey holds an agriculture business degree from the University of Alberta and Chad has diplomas from Olds College. Both Chad and Stacey work off-farm at Paul Meunier and Sons Farm, where they calve out 3,000 cows and have a feedlot, so they have vast expertise in the cattle industry. Stacey and Chad have also participated in a couple of industry projects demonstrating beneficial management practices in the areas of traceability and data management.

South 7 Ranches has a combination of 600 cow/calf pairs and custom grazing operation with 1,000 yearlings. The ranch is located south of Lisburn, Alberta, in Lac Ste. Anne County, and is composed of about 4,000 acres (1,617 hectares) of deeded and rented land. All of the ranchland has been put into permanent rangeland.

South 7 Ranches have been implementing some changes to management as the ranch grows, including fencing off riparian areas and installing pump out water systems and extensive cross-fencing. Management-intensive grazing practices have been implemented and bale grazing is the sole winter-feeding practice that is used in an aim to reclaim the land. Pastures are fenced to separate them based on topography and soil types in order to manage them in a manner best suited to the land. Most of the land that the Meuniers have rented was previously managed on a conventional continual grazing basis.

Three quarter sections within the South & Ranches land base, comprising a land unit of 480 acres (194 ha.), will be monitored over a long-term period, working from benchmark numbers documented in 2014. Two sites were chosen in each of the three quarters for a range health inventory of general site plant species’ diversity, site-specific plant species’ composition, percentage of ground cover and invasive weed species. Land EKGTM protocols (see <www.landekg.com/>) were used to develop the inventories.  General site descriptions were also noted. Multiple photo points were taken at each of the six sites. Permanent marking points were put in place and GPS coordinates recorded so the sites can be revisited in the future. Water sampling was done on the dugouts, soil samples were taken, and forage clippings were taken to monitor forage yields and quality. A 16 by 16 foot (4.9 m by 4.9 m) exclusion cage will be set up at the site for long-term monitoring. Grazing was monitored by the landowner for the duration of the summer in 2014 and will be into the future as well.

An offsite watering system was installed in late fall 2014. The site was not grazed during the winter months and spring growth in 2015 has been very slow due to cold temperatures and lack of precipitation so cattle have not yet been turned in. Grazing will be monitored once growth is sufficient and water samples will be taken periodically during the growing season.

CEC Supported Pilots, Community Management, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Invasive Species and Pest Management

Veno Ranch

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Veno Ranch
Country Canada
Region Hanna, Alberta
Grass Type Mixed-grass
# of head of cattle 600 cow/calf pairs
Hectares 5,050
Language English
Date modified August 2015

 

With her husband Murray McArthur, Marj Veno’s operation has grown from a 120-head commercial cow herd to 300 purebred and 300 commercial Angus cows on 5,050 hectares, the majority of which is native range. The focus of the operation is grazing with limited time on feed, utilizing fields of native range along with some reseeded forage. Native range is an important component of late fall and winter grazing.

Unfortunately, absinth has become established in pastures near the home yard (native and reseeded areas) since the local roadway was re-done several years ago. Marj has battled the weed with mowing and limited spot spraying but it continues to thrive and is moving into more and more hectares each year. She is concerned further spread of this competitive plant will reduce the quality and amount of edible forage in her pastures.

Marj has kept track of the methods used in attempts to control the absinth during the past few years. She and Murray maintain excellent records within their operation, including cattle numbers and turn-in and out dates for each pasture. They are good land stewards and manage for long-term sustainability.

The purpose of this project was to demonstrate the benefits of controlling absinth by mowing and vigilant use of a selective herbicide, RestoreTM II—chosen because it has proven effective in controling absinth (Saskatchewan ADOPT Project #20110289) and will not harm either the native or re-seeded grass.

A small demonstration of RestoreTM II and ReclaimTM (a broad spectrum herbicide) was established in Veno Ranch pastures by the Chinook Applied Research Association in partnership with Dow Agrisciences. RestoreTM II was purchased by Marj Veno and applied with a quad-mounted sprayer to targeted absinth growth in native and reseeded pasture. Headland areas as well as fencelines were also sprayed to prevent further spread of the invasive weed. Large areas of absinth growth within the pastures were mowed with a 3-point hitch flail mower. Ditches along a road that runs through the Veno property were also mowed.

Growth of both the desired native and reseeded grasses as well as the growth and spread of the absinth and other weeds were monitored at the end of the 2014 growing season as well as in late spring 2015. Pictures of target areas were compared to photos taken prior to treatments in 2014. Stocking rates for the pastures were also monitored, taking into account annual changes in weather (precipitation and temperature).

The areas treated will be monitored over several years, as the site will contain a good supply of seed and absinth is a persistent plant.

Marj Veno participated in a Producer Panel at the Western Canadian Grazing Conference in Edmonton in December 2014, discussing the project and describing her struggle with the absinth and control progress to date. Further spot spraying and monitoring will be conducted in 2015. A Field Day was also conducted during summer 2015 to share the results with other local producers.

CEC Supported Pilots, Community Management, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Invasive Species and Pest Management

Veno Ranch (2)

 

Type CEC-support Ranch Pilot
Organization Veno Ranch
Country Canada
Region Hanna, Alberta
Grass Type Mixed-grass
# of head of cattle 600 cow/calf pairs
Hectares 5,050
Language English
Date modified August 2015

 

With her husband Murray McArthur, Marj Veno’s operation has grown from a 120-head commercial cow herd to 300 purebred and 300 commercial Angus cows on 5,050 hectares, the majority of which is native range. The focus of the operation is grazing with limited time on feed, utilizing fields of native range along with some reseeded forage. Native range is an important component of late fall and winter grazing.

Unfortunately, absinth has become established in pastures near the home yard (native and reseeded areas) since the local roadway was re-done several years ago. Marj has battled the weed with mowing and limited spot spraying but it continues to thrive and is moving into more and more hectares each year. She is concerned further spread of this competitive plant will reduce the quality and amount of edible forage in her pastures.

Marj has kept track of the methods used in attempts to control the absinth during the past few years. She and Murray maintain excellent records within their operation, including cattle numbers and turn-in and out dates for each pasture. They are good land stewards and manage for long-term sustainability.

The purpose of this project was to demonstrate the benefits of controlling absinth by mowing and vigilant use of a selective herbicide, RestoreTM II—chosen because it has proven effective in controling absinth (Saskatchewan ADOPT Project #20110289) and will not harm either the native or re-seeded grass.

A small demonstration of RestoreTM II and ReclaimTM (a broad spectrum herbicide) was established in Veno Ranch pastures by the Chinook Applied Research Association in partnership with Dow Agrisciences. RestoreTM II was purchased by Marj Veno and applied with a quad-mounted sprayer to targeted absinth growth in native and reseeded pasture. Headland areas as well as fencelines were also sprayed to prevent further spread of the invasive weed. Large areas of absinth growth within the pastures were mowed with a 3-point hitch flail mower. Ditches along a road that runs through the Veno property were also mowed.

Growth of both the desired native and reseeded grasses as well as the growth and spread of the absinth and other weeds were monitored at the end of the 2014 growing season as well as in late spring 2015. Pictures of target areas were compared to photos taken prior to treatments in 2014. Stocking rates for the pastures were also monitored, taking into account annual changes in weather (precipitation and temperature).

The areas treated will be monitored over several years, as the site will contain a good supply of seed and absinth is a persistent plant.

Marj Veno participated in a Producer Panel at the Western Canadian Grazing Conference in Edmonton in December 2014, discussing the project and describing her struggle with the absinth and control progress to date. Further spot spraying and monitoring will be conducted in 2015. A Field Day was also conducted during summer 2015 to share the results with other local producers.

CEC Supported Pilots, Community Management, Ecosystem Management, Grass/Pasture Management, Grazing Management, Invasive Species and Pest Management, Sustainable Economic Management, Sustainable Energy Management, Water Resource Management

Z-BAR RANCH LLC

 

Type CEC-supported Ranch Pilot
Organization Z-Bar Ranch
Country USA
Region Barber County, Kansas
Grass Type Tall, mixed-grass and sand sagebrush native prairie
# of head of cattle 2,000
Hectares 17,190
Language English
Date modified August 2016

This project was designed to improve rangeland health for livestock, manage grazing distribution, control invasive trees, improve wetland management, and enhance habitat for aquatic and grassland-dependent wildlife species. This project encompassed a total of 1,230 upland hectares and 24 wetland hectares within the Red Hills in southwestern Kansas.

The Z-Bar Ranch is a 17,190-hectare operating ranch, raising grass with bison as the primary grazers. Additionally, commercial hunting is managed on the ranch for white-tailed deer, turkey and upland birds. The ranch mimics historical grazing regimes with a strategy to allow 80% rest of warm-season grasses during the growing season and provide enough residual forage to overwinter the animals without relying on hay. Currently, the ranch practices rotational grazing with one group rotated through 16 pastures during the growing season. Patch-burn grazing is also used to influence grazing distribution within pastures and improve native prairie habitat by creating a mosaic of heavily grazed and lightly grazed areas, which diversifies structure and plant composition. Several riparian areas have exclusion fencing for controlled grazing to protect watershed functions and maintain wildlife habitat. Another example of the ranch’s dedication to rangeland conservation was the restoration of 2,500 acres of cropland, present when the ranch was purchased, back to native grass. Furthermore, the ranch restores and maintains native prairie through control of invasive species, such as eastern red cedar, chinaberry, tamarisk, Japanese brome, musk thistle and other introduced species.

The current resource concerns addressed by this project were grazing management, wetland enhancement, and encroachment of invasive trees within native prairie ecological sites. Solar-powered (1,600 watt) water wells to support a new livestock watering facility and a 24-hectare wetland were installed. The additional livestock watering facility will support prescribed grazing management by improving forage utilization, providing rangeland rest and recovery, building fuels as needed for prescribed burns and managing habitat for grassland birds and a prairie dog management area. Installation of the new water tank will allow more grazing within and adjacent to prairie dog colonies, promoting colony health and expansion. In the absence of grazing or mowing, tall grass encroachment will shrink colonies and increase predation. Bison will selectively graze prairie dog colonies if water is present. Integrating colony management into livestock grazing will benefit numerous species associated with prairie dogs, a keystone species. Over 130 species benefit from the colonies (e.g., preying on prairie-dogs as a food source, using prairie-dog holes as shelter, providing soil conditions for improved plant community and structure) and some species are highly dependent upon them, such as burrowing owls.

The solar water wells also provide supplemental water to the wetland for beneficial moist soil plant production and foraging habitat for migratory birds. A levee and independent water control structure allow for controlled drawdowns and flooding for wetland management. The wetland area provides stopover and breeding habitat for shorebirds, wading birds and waterfowl within the bottleneck of the central flyway. The wetland project should have relatively high use by migratory wetland birds due to proximity to Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Networks and RAMSAR Wetland of International Importance sites. The wetland is in the center of the Whooping Crane migration corridor for the last wild population that travels between their breeding grounds in Canada and wintering areas along the US Gulf Coast. Additionally, numerous artic breeding birds rely on the region, such as semipalmated sandpiper, Baird’s sandpiper, buff-breasted sandpiper, stilt sandpiper and many others.

Similar to other ranches in this region of Kansas, Z Bar’s grasslands are being challenged by invasive trees, especially eastern red cedar. These trees negatively impact forage production, groundwater, wildlife habitat and increase the risk of catastrophic wildfire. As part of this project, Z Bar will conduct prescribed burns to control this tree encroachment.

It is not only what the Z-Bar Ranch achieves on their property, but also the influence they have within the surrounding counties, state and multi-state area. Eva and Keith Yearout, Z-Bar ranch managers, are leaders within the Gyp Hills Prescribe Burn Association. In fact, Eva has served as the president of the PBA, spearheading and coordinating their efforts with local ranchers. She also serves as president of the Kansas PBA. They have provided equipment and served as burn bosses for prescribed burns on local properties in order to control the eastern red cedar invasion. The Yearouts also coordinate with neighboring state’s PBAs, particularly through the Alliance of Prescribed Burning Associations, a four-state group that includes Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. Furthermore, the ranch offers public outreach and education opportunities.

Partners contributing to this project included the KGLC, CEC, KS PFC, GH PBA, Z-Bar Ranch LLC, NRCS, Ducks Unlimited (DU) and the USFWS PFW.