THE PURPOSE OF MODIFICATION 000001 IS TO CHANGE THE END DATE FROM 31 JULY TO 20 APRIL 2016ALL OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS REMAIN UNCHANGED Description of Program and/or Project a. Background: The Challenge Cost Share (CCS) Program was started 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 Arizona, 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. Our goal in Arizona BLM is to have a diverse CCS program based on partnerships primarily developed with the field office or district staffs. In 2016 we will manage the program to implement a variety of important projects that include resource inventory, monitoring and research, environmental education, habitat and plant community restoration, cultural site protection, special status species management, recreation and OHV management. The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network is a national consortium of federal agencies, academic institutions, tribal, state, and local governments, nongovernmental conservation organizations (300 partners). The Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) is a cooperative network, transcending political and institutional boundaries, which creates innovative opportunities for research, education, and technical assistance in support of the management and stewardship by partner agencies of the Desert Southwestâ¿¿s natural, cultural, and social resources.The CESU has a unique collaborative relationship with research scientists, end users of research products, the public, and educators who are trained to bridge the gap between researchers, science users and educators. b. Objectives: The objective of the Arizona CCS program is to have a cost effective, local-level cost share program with non-federal partners to implement conservation or other public land management projects for the good of the general public and public resources, including but not limited to, recreation, fish, wildlife, special status plants, water quality, cultural sites and historical trails. Cost-share projects submitted under this program are to be developed in coordination with local BLM office Staff. Potential partners interested in a wildlife habitat project should contact the wildlife biologist in the appropriate field office or district.Potential partners interested in protecting a local cultural site then the appropriate field office or district archeologist should be contacted. Potential partners interested in a project with statewide implications, than the appropriate program leaders at the Arizona State Office should be contacted.FY 2016 Approved Projects1 â¿¿ AZ-Arizona Strip, Wildlife Water Reconstruction $20,000 Jeff Young 435-688-3373
[email protected] -- AZ930-Arizona State Office, Travel Management Implementation $49,000 Bill Gibson 602-417-425
[email protected] â¿¿ AZ-Gila District Office, Watershed Partnership $25,000 Karen Simms 520-258-7233
[email protected] 4 â¿¿ AZ-Phoenix District Office, 21CSC Youth Initiative $50,000 Lawrence Harper 623-580-5535
[email protected] -- AZ932 Arizona State Office, Paleontological Survey Cascabel $16,000 Matt Basham 602-417-9216
[email protected] â¿¿ AZ-Colorado District Office, CESU, Silver Creek Catchment $24,000 Rebecca Peck 928-718-3732
[email protected] 7 â¿¿ AZ-Gila District Office Friends of San Pedro $20,000 Catie Fenn 520-258-7201
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