Cooperative Weed Management Area Operations through GLRI Funding

United States Department of Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (UFWS) NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS. This funding announcement is to provide public notice that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will fund the following project activities to the Ottawa County Soil and Water Conservation District (OCSWCD) without full and open competition: Implementation of Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in cooperation and partnership with Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Ottawa County, Ohio. The purpose of this funding is to provide the resources to OCSWCD to continue administering the Lake Erie Cooperative Weed Management Area (CWMA) in and around Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge within Ottawa, Sandusky, Lucas, and Erie Counties, Ohio. Ottawa County Soil and Water Conservation District (OSWCD) was the principal partnering organization that would assist the Service in establishing a Cooperative Weed Management Area in 2010. The Service outlined two priority GLRI Focus Areas that would be addressed by the program: Invasive Species and Habitat and Wildlife Protection and Restoration. The OSWCD was identified as the single source organization within Ottawa County, Ohio with the technical expertise and resources to effectively establish and maintain a CWMA in partnership with Ottawa NWR. The District has a staff which includes a Nonpoint Source Education Specialist, Agricultural Technician, and Wildlife Specialist who have the local expertise essential to the program. The OSWCD has the knowledge of the local watershed, partners, and stakeholders necessary to effectively and successfully implement the program. Projects will include education and outreach regarding invasive plant species, provide area landowners with treatment assistance for areas with invasive plants, develop BMP¿s that will be effective in controlling invasive plant species, and conduct invasive species workshops for area residents and organizations. The Service has determined this single source opportunity under the department policy and no other applications are anticipated.