Oklahoma’s six ecological regions range from bald cypress swamps to the Rocky Mountain foothills. Its moderate climate supports a great biological and ecological diversity. This in turn helps to support an essential economy of resource-based activities like hunting and fishing, which generates more than a million dollars in taxes each year. To ensure that both the ecological and economic health of the state continues to thrive, the Oklahoma wildlife action plan has identified 240 priority wildlife species and will focus on conserving them by applying a habitat-based approach and using incentive-based partnerships.
Oklahoma State Wildlife Action Plan
More about conservation in Oklahoma
SARP Contact: Bill Wentroth, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES (ANS)
OKLAHOMA ANS Management Project
Current Status of ANS Management Plan: Completed and in implementation stage.
SARP ANS Contact: Curtis Tackett, Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation
For more information: http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/nuisancespecies.htm
SARP ANS Coordinator: Jeffrey Herod
SOUTHEASTERN INSTREAM FLOW NETWORK (SIFN)
Oklahoma Instream Flow Project
Current Instream Flow Policy: None other than 7Q10 for instream flow
SIFN State Team participant organizations:
SARP Contact: Paul Balkenbush, Oklahoma dept of Wildlife Conservation
SIFN Coordinator: Marilyn Barrett-O’Leary
Instream Flow Update:
The Nature Conservancy, the USGS, USFWS, and the Oklahoma Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit presented a proposal to the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to assist the state in developing a comprehensive water management plan that incorporates instream flow protection. It outlines the research that must be conducted to provide data for scientifically managing water quantity for ecological purposes. No action has been taken as of February 2009.