The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI FWS) Region 6 awarded the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) a $1.0 million formula grant under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) effective July 1, 2025, with completion targeted for June 30, 2029. This award funds critical infrastructure repairs and enhancements across three bison ranges managed by KDWP: Big Basin Prairie Reserve, Sandsage Bison Range and Wildlife Area, and Maxwell Wildlife Refuge.
The grant supports ecosystem restoration and public safety improvements by enabling KDWP to upgrade rangeland management infrastructure, thereby enhancing habitat quality for native flora and fauna that depend on properly maintained prairie ecosystems. Bison, recognized as keystone species whose grazing patterns, hoof action, and manure significantly contribute to soil health and plant diversity, will benefit from improved management capabilities. Additionally, the funding enables safer handling of bison by KDWP staff and permittees and provides enhanced public access and educational opportunities across the three wildlife areas.