Project summary the purpose of this agreement is to award ramos and ramos ranch, DBA LA junta land company, LLC funds for a wildlife habitat improvement project

The funds will be used to improve habitat on an additional 76 acres on the property, which are adjacent to an ongoing partners for fish and wildlife program project. Resource concerns:juniper brush affects the ecosystem and degrades the landscape with dense foliage and expansive root systems. The juniper brush creates an environmental and ecosystem disaster due to its compounding effects on the soil. The removal of juniper brush is key to restoring a healthy ecosystem with natural grasslands. Project purpose: the purpose of this project is to provide financial and technical assistance to a private landowner to implement habitat management practices, which will restore and enhance native grasslands on 76 acres of their private property. Project goals: the goal for this project is to improve native habitat for migratory bird species and other wildlife by managing invasive woody plant species, and restoring native plants to increase biological diversity on the property using proven restoration methods. In particular, this projects goal will be to improve native grassland habitat for migratory bird species on the ranch, while also improving range conditions. Project objective: the objective of the project is to reverse the trend of juniper invasion within the short-grass prairie ecosystem. Planned work and improvements: the landowners will plan for removal of juniper trees in an area with heavy density encroachment between 275 trees per acre. The practice entails the removal of trees by mechanical means, either chainsaw or heavy equipment (e.g. d-6 bulldozer, skid steer, mulcher, etc) or a combination as appropriate in order to reduce fuel loading and improve ecological site condition. The tree density has exceeded desired levels based on ecological site potential and field observations. This practice will be implemented on approximately 76 acres. In some areas, the landowner will remove juniper trees to a desirable density. The juniper trees on this portion of the pasture are of moderate size but will still be mechanically removed. This project will be performed in a remote area where machinery is already on site. Juniper trees within the treatment area will be removed to achieve the desirable plant community based on species composition, structure, density, and canopy cover or height. Any brush removed or piled for wildlife structure and decomposition over time. Once the project has been completed the ecological site condition should progress in an upward trend, hydrology and plant health and vigor should move towards normal levels, and wildlife habitat will improve. In the treated areas the landowner will SOW in approximately 20-25 LBS. Of showy plains and juniper hills forb pollinator seed mix provided by the partners program. Seed will be planted in and around the divets left by the removal of juniper trees. This practice will improve habitat for pollinator species within the project area.