Cooperative Agreement F24AC02766

THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HAS EXECUTED FUNDS TO FISH WILDLIFE SERVICE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE PROJECTS ON ARMY INSTALLATIONS NATIONWIDE, INCLUDING INTERN CREWS TO ASSIST IN VARIOUS PROJECTS, INCLUDING HABITAT RESTORATION, RECREATION ENHANCEMENT, WILDFIRE REMEDIATION, INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, POLLINATOR PROTECTION, AND URBAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION. ONE OF THE INSTALLATIONS THAT IS IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE IS FORT MCCOY.FORT MCCOY IS ACTIVELY MANAGING OVER 40 INVASIVE SPECIES, INTENDING TO ERADICATE THOSE NOT YET WELL-ESTABLISHED. FOR ALREADY WELL-ESTABLISHED SPECIES, THE FOCUS IS ON REDUCING THEIR POPULATIONS TO A MINOR COMPONENT OF THE VEGETATIVE COMMUNITY. THIS APPROACH ENSURES THAT THE ECOSYSTEM IS PRESERVED WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY DEGRADING MILITARY TRAINING. IF AWARDED, THIS ONE-YEAR PROJECT WILL FEATURE A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE FISH WILDLIFE SERVICE AND WISCORPS AND BETTER ASSEMBLE A LABOR FORCE CAPABLE OF EXPANDING CAPACITY NEEDS ON INVASIVE SPECIES PROJECTS AT FORT MCCOY. NINE INVASIVE SPECIES PROJECTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. DURING THIS ONE-YEAR PROJECT, THE FISH WILDLIFE SERVICE AND WISCORPS EXPECT TO START AS MANY AS THREE OF THE LISTED PROJECTS, WITH A FOCUS ON THE HIGHEST PRIORITY FIRST. WISCORPS WILL RECRUIT, HIRE, TRAIN, AND STATION YOUNG ADULT (18-30-YEAR-OLDS) AMERICORPS FIELD CREWS AT FORT MCCOY CERTIFIED FOR HERBICIDE APPLICATION AND CHAINSAW USE FOR EIGHT WEEKS. FIELDWORK IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN THE FALL OF 2024 AND CONCLUDE IN THE SUMMER OF 2025, ASSUMING FUTURE EXTENSIONS, MODIFICATIONS, OR AWARDS ARE NOT ISSUED.WISCORPS, INC., ESTABLISHED IN 2009, IS A 501(C)(3) CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERED IN LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN, WITH A MISSION TO DEVELOP LEADERSHIP, SELF-CONFIDENCE, AND A STRONG WORK ETHIC IN YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS THROUGH THE ACTIVE STEWARDSHIP OF WISCONSIN S COMMUNITIES AND NATURAL RESOURCES. WISCORPS ENGAGES YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS IN HANDS-ON CONSERVATION AND COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION PROJECTS ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST THROUGH ITS WISCONSIN CONSERVATION CORPS. IT PROVIDES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION TO CHILDREN AND ADULTS AND IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE CURRENT AND FUTURE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE NATURE PLACE. WISCORPS HAS OVER 14 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE RUNNING CONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAMMING AND IS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC LANDS SERVICE COALITION, THE CORPS NETWORK, AND A 21ST CENTURY CONSERVATION SERVICE CORPS. THE ORGANIZATION HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH OPERATING EDUCATIONAL AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS. WISCORPS HAS BEEN AN AMERICORPS PROGRAM SINCE 2013 AND A FORMULA-FUNDED PROGRAM THROUGH SERVE WISCONSIN SINCE 2018. IN ADDITION, WISCORPS WAS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITIES ACT YOUTH PROGRAM FROM 2011 TO 2019 WITH THE WESTERN WISCONSIN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD. ALL WISCONSIN CONSERVATION CORPS AMERICORPS MEMBERS, AGES 18-30 (UP TO 35 FOR VETERANS), PARTICIPATE IN MEANINGFUL SERVICE EXPERIENCES THAT ADDRESS THE IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY PROBLEM. COMPLETING HIGH-PRIORITY CONSERVATION PROJECTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS ALLOWS MEMBERS TO SEE TANGIBLE RESULTS FROM THEIR SERVICE IMMEDIATELY AND PROVIDES THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP AS LEADERS. LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, MUNICIPAL PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS, AND THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE, ROUTINELY HIRE AMERICORPS ALUMS FROM WISCORPS PROGRAMS.AFTER THE FISH WILDLIFE SERVICE AND WISCORPS COMPLETE PROJECTS AT FORT MCCOY, THE AREAS WILL BE MAINTAINED THROUGH ON-GOING INVASIVE SPECIES MANAGEMENT CONDUCTED BY COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES THROUGH A COOPERATIVE ECOSYSTEM STUDIES UNIT (CESU) AGREEMENT.