Description
Background: The Challenge Cost Share (CCS) Program began in 1985 when Congress appropriated money within the wildlife program for partnership conservation projects. Since then the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has expanded this cost-share program to include other resource programs with partnership opportunities. The CCS program now funds the following kinds of activities: research, monitoring and inventory of resources; implementation of habitat improvement projects, protection or documentation of cultural resources; providing for enhanced recreational experiences; development and implementation of species conservation and recovery plans; environmental education; conservation projects for native plant communities, and eradication of noxious and other weeds. In Utah, the program is managed to maintain a variety of partnerships for wildlife, recreation, cultural resources, rare plants, plant community conservation, fisheries and riparian habitat at the local level. The goal for BLM Utah is to have a diverse CCS program based on partnerships primarily developed with the field office or district staffs. In Fiscal Year 2016 Utah BLM will manage the program to implement a variety of important projects that include resource inventory, monitoring and research, education and outreach, habitat and plant community restoration, cultural site protection, recreation, development and implementation of recovery and conservations plans, OHV management, and special status species management. Objectives: The principle purpose of the CCS program is to promote cost-share partnerships with non-federal entities for the purpose of public land management of important resources such as cultural, fisheries, recreation, wildlife, listed and non-listed special status plant species and native plant communities. Non-federal partners may include state agencies, local governments, non-government organizations, private companies, and private individuals. Public Benefit: The principle purpose of the CCS program is to promote partnerships that would benefit public land management. The types of CCS projects are varied and can include, but are not limited to,studies, resource inventory and monitoring, environmental education, project construction and maintenance, special status species management, habitat restoration and weed control. The public benefits from the CCS program and projects by saving federal funds through partnerships with non-federal entities. In addition, the public benefits by being involved through partnerships in managing resources on public lands, and all data obtained will also be available to the public for their use. These resources include fish and wildlife, cultural sites, recreation sites, land values associated with healthy landscapes, and listed and non-listed plant species and their habitat.