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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 98-1348

PENNSYLVANIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION

WILD RESOURCE CONSERVATION FUND

1998 Annual Report

[28 Pa.B. 4057]

   The Wild Resource Conservation Act (32 P. S. §§ 5301--5314), signed June 23, 1982 by Governor Thornburgh, was the outgrowth of a realization that Pennsylvanians must take a more active role in protecting their rare and endangered species of flora and fauna and those habitats which are critical to their survival.

   The act provides for the protection of protected wildlife and native wild plants. The act also established the Wild Resource Conservation Fund as the sole means of financing management work to be carried out under this program. The monies to support the program may only be raised through private contributions, as no general fund revenues from the State Treasury may be used for any purposes of this act. A seven-member Wild Resource Conservation Board was established to administer the conservation program and select the projects and studies which are to be funded.

   The Board's members represent those State government agencies which are responsible for managing the Commonwealth's flora and fauna. The members are: Secretary, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; Executive Director, PA Fish and Boat Commission; Executive Director, PA Game Commission; Majority and Minority Chairpersons of the House Committee on Environmental Resources and Energy and the Minority and Majority Chairpersons of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee. The Chairmanship of the Board rotates on an annual basis between the members.

   The centerpiece of the legislation is the establishment of a special fund which, for the first time, enables Pennsylvania's citizens to support the protection of wild plants and protected wildlife through voluntary, tax deductible contributions. The most creative source of funding is the opportunity for Pennsylvania's taxpayers to donate all or a portion of their State income tax refund to the Wild Resource Conservation Fund. Those who do not receive a State tax refund may also support this conservation program with a direct contribution.

   Pennsylvania was 18th on the growing list of states providing tax checkoff funding for protected wildlife programs. While the list now numbers 34 states, Pennsylvania's law is unique in that it also focuses on protecting the Commonwealth's native wild plants. Tax checkoffs are a relatively new concept in raising funds for wildlife, with Colorado being the first to initiate such a program in 1977.

Program Objectives

   The research and management programs funded and authorized by the Wild Resource Conservation Board will be carried out by Pennsylvania's three natural resource agencies: the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR); the PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC); and the PA Game Commission (PGC). Professional and technical staff members from each of the agencies are responsible for developing comprehensive management programs to ensure the future welfare of wild plants and nongame wildlife. Previously, monies for this area of wildlife management were either nonexistent or very limited. The fund represents a major source of revenue focused on this specific area of long neglected wildlife management.

   Among the Wild Resource Conservation Board's activities will be programs dealing with those species of nongame wildlife and wild plants which are classified as being either endangered or threatened. The three agencies have combined their efforts in a program to identify all such species found in Pennsylvania. The DCNR, PFBC and PGC have been working with the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, The Nature Conservancy, Morris Arboretum and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History on this study entitled, Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI). The species of flora and fauna found to be endangered or threatened have been classified as special concern and it is this special concern group which will receive the immediate attention of the Board.

   The Wild Resource Conservation Act requires the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to conduct investigations on wild plants in order to ascertain information relating to populations, distribution, habitat needs, limiting factors and other biological and ecological data to classify plants and to determine management measures necessary for their continued ability to sustain themselves successfully.

   The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, through the PNDI, has developed a computerized database containing location and ecological information about Pennsylvania's rare native plants; unique plant communities; special concern animals, reptiles, amphibians and fish; and significant geologic features. The system can be quickly and precisely queried to show the number and location of significant biological resources.

   The plant information contained in the PNDI will be of great assistance in classifying plants as endangered, threatened or vulnerable as outlined in the Wild Resource Conservation Act. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has promulgated regulations based on the PNDI findings. The regulations established limitations relating to taking, possessing, transporting, exporting, processing, sale or offer for sale, or shipment of endangered, threatened or vulnerable classified native wild plants.

   The Game Commission has always been involved, either directly or indirectly, with protected wildlife management. Game management practices, game land holdings, regulated hunting seasons and other factors have aided Pennsylvania's protected wildlife species. The Game Commission has, historically, aimed the greater majority of its management programs at game species to meet the desires and needs of sportsmen who support these programs through license fees. The Game Commission is broadening its protected wildlife management involvement through its Working Together for Wildlife Program and with monies available from the Wild Resource Conservation Fund.

   The Fish and Boat Commission is charged with managing Pennsylvania's reptiles and amphibians in addition to its work with game fish and the protection of our waterways. The Fish and Boat Commission has organized itself to address the needs of this group of animals which have not received the attention shown other nongame animals such as raptors and song birds. Reptiles and amphibians, too, have seen drastic changes in their environment which have led to their decreasing numbers. The continual loss of wetland habitat is the factor most responsible. To help solve this problem, the Board has the authority to allocate monies from the Wild Resource Conservation Fund to purchase habitat deemed critical to the survival of any endangered or threatened species.

Wild Resource Conservation Fund
1997--1998 Projects

   The Wild Resource Conservation Board met for its annual meeting on November 12, 1996 and approved funding for 56 projects in the amount of $707,081. A total of 84 applications were received requesting $1,308,863.31 in funding. The money allocated was received from taxpayers donating their tax refunds to the Wild Resource Conservation Fund and wildlife license plate sales. The following projects will protect and help manage the Commonwealth's non-game and wild plant species:

*  Ecology & Distribution of Endangered Sedge, Scirpus ancistrochaetus
   Penn State--Dr. William Dunson
$7,464

*  Production of Outreach Tools
   Rodale Institute--Cyane Gresham
$9,950

*  Herbarium & Field Studies of PA Plants of Special Concern
   Carnegie Museum--Sue Thompson
$17,310

*  Development of Educational Materials of PA Native Wild Plants
   Carnegie Museum--Sue Thompson
$23,000

*  Field, Herbarium & Literature Surveys, Work on the Field Manual of PA Plants and Environmental Review
   Morris Arboretum--Ann Rhoads
$35,000

*  Herbarium Studies of Plant Species of Concern in Eastern PA
   The Nature Conservancy--John Kunsman
$20,000

*  Investigation into the historic and extant distribution of Amelanchier canadensis
   Carnegie Mellon--W. Ann Robinson
$928.00

*  Field Studies of PA Plants of Special Concern
   Shippensburg Univ.--Larry Klotz
$4,500

*  Field Surveys for Aster radula, Solidago speciosa and other rare Aster and Solidago species
   Dickinson College--Carol Loeffler
$1,044

*  Rare Plant and Natural Community Inventories of Northwestern PA
   Cleveland Museum of Natural History--
Kathy Fouts
$15,000

*  An allozymal study laurentian bladdar fern from
Centre Co., PA
   Millersville Univ.--James C. Parks
$550

*  Public Wild Plant Sanctuary Network
   Western PA Conservancy
$42,000

*  Continuation of Field Surveys of Plants of Special Concern
   Western PA Conservancy
$22,385

*  Herptological Educational Curriculum
   Carnegie Museum of Natural History/Powdermill    Nature Reserve--Terri Kromel
$6,100

*  Writing of Publication of the Freshwater Bivalves of PA
   Arthur Bogan
$15,000

*  Status survey of Rare Fishes of Special Concern in the Delaware River Drainage of PA
   Robert Criswell
$1,595

*  Aquatic Craneflies of PA: A preliminary checklist & database development
   Carnegie Museum/Academy of Natural Science
   Chen W. Young/Jon Gelhaus
$17,050

*  Status of Indigenous Lampreys in PA
   Penn State--Jay Stauffer
$40,705

*  Conservation and management of fish, herptiles and aquatic species special projects
   PA Fish & Boat Commission/The Nature Conser   vancy--Andy Shiels
$40,000

*  PA Herpetological Atlas Project
   Indiana Univ.--Arthur E. Hulse
$13,000

*  In Situ Video of PA's Fresh Water Fish Fauna
   Penn State--Jay Stauffer
$17,607

*  GIS Mapping of Trichoptera (caddisfly) and Plecoptera (stonefly) distribution in PA
   Behrend College--E C Masteller
$5,670

*  Application of Geographical Information System Technology to Fish Conservation in PA
   Penn State--Robert Carline
$24,723

*  Wild Action Grant
   PA Game Commission--Theresa Alberici
$2,500

*  Status and Distribution Study of the Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher
   Ecology III--Douglas Gross
$4,000

*  Monitor Populations of Louisiana Waterthrush in acidified and unpolluted stream habitats
   Carnegie Museum of Natural History/Powderwmill    Nature Reserve.--Robert S. Mulvihill
$9,000

*  Protection of significant bat maternal site and restoration of adjacent farm fields
   Allegheny National Forest--Brad Nelson
$10,000

*  Small mammal community structure and dynamics in old growth forests: A long term ecological study
   Shippensburg University--Dr. Gordon
   Kirkland
$7,000

*  Endangered Mammal Species Research and Management
   The Nature Conservancy--Jim Hart
$20,000

*  Survey of bats at Canoe Creek State Park with Special Emphasis on the ''Little Brown Bat''
   Penn State--Dr. Michael Gannon
$4,500

*  Northern flying squirrels and northern water shrews as indicators of habitat quality in sensitive ecosystems of northeast PA
    Wilkes Univ.--Michael Steele
$8,500

*  Long-term ecological research: Small mammals as indicators of the health of PA Forest Ecosystems
   Powdermill Environmental Station--
   Dr. Joseph Merritt
$7,000

*  Maintenance of the Official List of the Birds of PA
   PA Ornithological Records Committee--
   Paul Schwalbe
$1,500

*  Young Ornithologists--research that educates
   Academy of Natural Science--
      Dr. Robert Ridgeley/Sally Conyne
$10,000

*  An adopt-a-kestrel-nestbox program of PA school children
   Hawk Mt.--Keith Bildstein
Bill Hilton
$14,000

*  Preparation and Curation of special concern mammals and bird specimens generated by PA Game Commission & Wild Resource Conservation Fund research
   Shippensburg Univ.--Dr. Gordon Kirkland
$2,000

*  Stabilization of bat nursery church
   Canoe Creek State Park--Terry Wentz
$4,000

*  Wildlife Biodiversity associated with a new forestry practice in PA
   Penn State--Richard Yahner
$19,000

*  Radiotelemetry study of experimental recolonization of an allgeheny woodrat
   Dickinson College--Janet Wright
$3,500

*  Biodiversity Conservation of Butterflies & Skippers in PA
   Richard Yahner
$5,000

*  Avian nesting success, species, diversity, and guild composition in fenced and unfenced riparian habitats in southwest PA
   California Univ.--Gary Popotnik
$8,000

*  Status and Distribution of Reintroduced River Otter and Fisher Populations in PA
   Penn State--Tom Serfass
$13,000

*  Reintroduction of Fishers to the Allegheny National Forest in Northwestern PA
   Penn State--Tom Serfass
$20,000

*  PA Important Bird Areas
   Mid-Atlantic Region National Audubon
   Society--Walter Pomeroy
$19,000

*  Landscaping for Wildlife in PA
   Sweet Arrow Communications--
   Marcus Schneck
$19,000

*  Osprey Monitoring
   East Stroudsburg University--Larry Rymon
$3,500

*  Birds: Special Areas Project
   Ecology III, Doug Gross
$9,000

*  Promote Awareness of Wild Resource Conservation Fund
   Robert & Thelma Clark
$15,000

*  Public Relations Tool: New York & Pennsylvania Joint Otter Reintroduction in Allegheny Drainage
   Penn State--Tom Serfass
$10,000

The WRCF will match local contributions up to $10,000

Private Sector donations from Scrubgrass Generating Plant
$5,000
   Ducks Unlimited
$850
   Audubon Bartramian Chapter
$800

*  Interpretative Exhibit at the Elk Viewing Area
   PA Game Commission--Theresa Alberici
$4,000

*  Schoolyard Habitat Facilitator Training Workshops
   Audubon Council of PA--Marci Mowery
$12,500

*  Biodiversity in PA: A curriculum supplement for PA Middle Schools
   PA Biological Survey--Theresa Alberici
$12,500

*  Completion & Implementation of a Comprehensive Wildlife Management Plan
   PA Fish & Boat Commission--Brian Barner
$12,500

*  Wild Resource Elementary Workshop
   Slippery Rock--Paulette Johnson
$4,000

*  Natural Community (Habitat) Classification for Caves in PA
   The Nature Conservancy--
   Barbara Barton-Aldrich
$8,000

*  Barrens Habitat Survey--PA Invertebrate Inventory Project
   Carnegie Museum of Natural History--

   John Rawlins
$25,000

Wild Resource Conservation Board Members

John Oliver, Secretary
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Honorable Peter A. Colangelo, Executive Director
PA Fish and Boat Commission

Honorable Donald C. Madl, Executive Director
PA Game Commission

Honorable Raphael J Musto
Majority Chairperson
Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee

Honorable Roger A. Madigan
Minority Chairperson
Senate Environmental Resources & Energy Committee

Honorable Robert Reber
Majority Chairperson
House Committee on Environmental Resources & Energy

Honorable Camille ''Bud'' George
Minority Chairperson
House Committee on Environmental Resources & Energy

   The Balance Sheet and Statement of Unreserved Fund Balance provided were prepared by the Comptroller's Office on a cash basis of accounting, combined with an encumbrance budgetary system. They were not prepared in accordance with General Accepted Accounting Principles.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Wild Resource Conservation Fund
Statement of Unreserved Fund Balance
for the period ended June 30, 1998

Unreserved Fund Balance, Beginning $1,380,878.02
Revenue Received:
Income Tax Check-offs $308,909.36
Voluntary Donations 19,743.09
Income from ''Osprey'' Film 6,153.70
Wild Plants License/Permits 3,395.00
Sale of Publications 8,913.60
Wild Resource License Plate 63,671.87
Wild Resource Tee Shirts 1,138.88
Interest on Securities 114,872.15
Total Revenue Received $526,797.65
Prior Year Commitment Liquidation's $689,264.60
Total Funds Available
$2,596,940.27
Deductions:
Administrative Expenses $319,704.08
Administrative
   Commitments (1)
30,484.50
Project Expenses (2) 855,330.41
Project Commitments (3) 593.477.79
Total Deductions $1,798,996.78
Unreserved Fund Balance, Ending $   797,943.49

(1)  This figure does not include administrative commitments of $33,354.63 contingently committed against future years spending authorizations.

(2)  This figure does include $292,440.16 in expenses from special projects approved by the WRCF Board.

(3)  This figure does not include project commitments of $252,624.63 (of which $46,399.50 are special projects) contingently committed against future years spending authorizations. This figure does include $84,543.79 in special projects approved by the WRCF Board.

(PREPARED BY COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE)

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Wild Resource Conservation Fund
Balance Sheet
June 30, 1998

ASSET
Cash $           30.33
Temporary Investments $1,423,000.00
Total Assets $1,423,030.33
LIABILITIES AND FUND EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Vouchers Payable $1,124.55
Total Liabilities $1,124.55
FUND EQUITY
Unreserved Fund Equity $   797,943.49
(1)  Reserved for Administrative
      Commitments
30,484.50
(2)  Reserved for Wild Resource Projects 593,477.79
Total Fund Equity $1,421,905.78
Total Liabilities and Fund Equity $1,423,030.33

(1)  This figure does not include administrative commitments of $33,354.63 contingently committed against future years spending authorizations

(2)  This figure does not include project commitments of $252,624.63 (of which $46,399.50 are special projects) contingently committed against future years spending authorizations. This figure does include $84,543.79 in special projects by the WRCF Board.

(PREPARED BY COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE)

Public Hearing

   The Wild Resource Conservation Board has scheduled a public hearing for Wednesday, September 16, 1998 1:00 PM at the Game Commission Office, 2001 Elmerton Ave., Harrisburg. The purpose of the hearing is to provide individuals and organizations the opportunity to comment on the recommendations and programs funded with monies from the Wild Resource Conservation Fund. The Wild Resource Conservation Board is interested in hearing from any individual or organization that wishes to make comment on the projects submitted for funding to the agencies, Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission or the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources list published in this issue of the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Agencies project recommendations for funding will be presented at the public hearing.

   Only comments from the general public regarding the projects received will be heard at the September 16, 1998 Public Hearing.

   The Board will then evaluate all recommendations submitted for its consideration and final funding decisions will be approved at the annual meeting on November 18, 1998.

Annual Meeting

   The Wild Resource Conservation Board will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, November 18, 1998 1 p.m. at the Game Commission Office, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA providing funds are available for distribution, if no funds are available a meeting will be called at the discretion of the Chairmanship. A full report will be presented on the allocation of monies from the Wild Resource Conservation Fund. The Board will consider all presentations made at the public hearing and the plans outlined by the professional technical staffs of the Fish and Boat Commission, Game Commission and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

   The recommendations funded by the Board will be administered by the Fish and Boat Commission, the Game Commission and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The recommendation selections will be based on their individual contribution to the management goals of three agencies and those outlined in the Wild Resource Conservation Act.

   The following list includes the project recommendations requesting funding for 1998--1999 received by the Wild Resource Conservation Board. The public is invited to offer comment at the public hearing on September 16, 1998. The public hearing will be held at the Game Commission Headquarters, 2001 Elmerton Ave. at 1 p.m. Please limit comments to 5 minutes and provide eight copies for the Wild Resource Conservation Board.

Project Submissions to DCNR for WRCF Funding in 1998

*  Title: Development and Testing of Educational Materials on PA Native Wild Plants
Objective: Conduct additional field tests and evaluations of prototype developed in 1998 utilizing a broad array of both informal and formal educational settings, and revise the prototype based on the results of these assessments.
Justification: Given the paucity of educational materials on PA native plants there is an immediate need for at least one initial product.
Sponsor: Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Cost: $23,750

*  Title: Databasing the PA Vascular Collection at Youngs- town State University
Objective: To make available for use by PNDI and POSCIP and others the vascular collection at YUO. The database will be in Paradox 4.0.
Justification: When the PA Flora was written, Rhoads and Klein did not respond to an invitation to use YUO. With approximately 11,750 vascular specimens from PA there are important records in the collection.
Sponsor: Youngstown State University
Cost: $5,875

*  Title: Field and Office Studies of Plant Species of Special Concern in Eastern PA
Objective: Conduct field surveys in eastern PA to attempt to locate denovo populations and confirm extant or historical populations of plant species of special concern having state suggested status of endangered, threatened, rare or undetermined. The surveys will involve a minimum of 25 species on the Plants of Special Concern in PA (POSCIP) list.
Justification: Field work is necessary for the proper conservation of wild plant resources in PA without the new and revised data that field surveys provide the completeness and reliability of the PNDI database, and therefore plant conservation, would be compromised.
Sponsor: The Nature Conservancy
Cost: $20,000

*  Title: Upgrades and Modifications to the data management system for the PA Natural Diversity Inventory - East
Objective: Develop new procedures to map and record data on sub-populations within a larger population to better reflect spatial extent and population dynamics.
Justification: Our Geographic Information System (GIS) represents new capabilities for storing, retrieving, and displaying data. Currently our conversion to GIS capability goes beyond our stated objectives for providing information to DCNR. We are in the process of developing improved methods for spatial representation of our data.
Sponsor: The Nature Conservancy
Cost: $25,400

*  Title: Field, Herbarium and Literature Surveys, Taxonomic Studies, PA Flora Project Web Site and Environmental Review
Objective: The field, herbarium and literature surveys are intended to continue to collect the information necessary to refine the classification of plants currently listed as temporarily undetermined (TU) on the POSCIP list and other plants recommended for consideration for listing by the Vascular Plants Technical Committee. Funding to support updates at website of PA Flora Database, provide environmental review services to Bureau of Forestry.
Justification: The Plants of Special Concern list is still being reviewed and updated to assure that the status of each listed plant is well documented and justified, and that all plants that require protection are appropriately classified.
Sponsor: Morris Arboretum
Cost: $25,000

*  Title: Refining the Classification of Natural Communities on PA Through Zoological Studies on State Forest Lands
Objective: Bureau of Forestry and PNDI staff review the classification of natural communities and select a list of several types for which zoological data would be most useful. Determine which groups of animals are the most useful in terms of adding relevant descriptive information to the classification system.
Justification: The classification of PA's natural communities is an important endeavor for science and conservation. Resource management and regulatory agencies in PA recognize the need for ecological classification, including natural communities.
Sponsor: Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Cost: $12,000

PROJECT SUBMISSIONS TO THE PA FISH AND BOAT COMMISSION FOR FUNDING IN 1998

*  Title: Effects of the non-native banded darter (Etheostoma zonale) on the growth, survival, and behavior of the tessellated darter (Etheostoma olmstedi): Implications for freshwater mussels
Objective: Examine the growth, survival, and behavior of the tessellated darter in the presence of the banded darter, examine the effects of banded darter removal on tessellated darters in situ, determine mussel host relationships for the two darters.
Justification: The introduction, establishment, and proliferation of non-native fishes has become a global problem. Non-native fishes have been linked to the decline, extirpation and extinction of many of the world's native fish species.
Sponsor: U S Geological Survey
Cost: $9,048

*  Title: Assessment of Genetic Variation and Gene Flow Among Populations of the Timber Rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus, in Eastern and Northcentral Pennsylvania
Objective: Assessing the level of genetic variation present in populations of timber rattlesnake, Crotalus homidus, in eastern and northcentral Pennsylvania. Collect tissue samples which will allow us to expand our analysis of genetic variation of timber rattlesnakes to six populations in the Northeastern, Southeastern, and Northcentral regions of PA.
Justification: This project will provide information about the gene flow among these populations of timber rattlesnakes in PA.
Sponsor: Beaver College
Cost: $16,445

PROJECT SUBMISSIONS TO THE PA GAME COMMISSION FOR FUNDING IN 1998

*  Title: Wild Action Grant Program
Objective: Provide financial support for 25 schools and/or youth groups to improve habitat for wildlife on school and community grounds and incorporate these habitats into classroom curriculum and club programming.
Justification: To ensure habitat conservation for native plants and wildlife both now and in the future, it is essential that habitat conservation education programs be implemented in our schools and youth organizations.
Sponsor: PA Game Commission
Cost: $4,000

*  Title: Selection of Denning and Resting Habitats by Reintroduced Fishers
Objective: Study and evaluate fishers reintroduced to the Allegheny National Forest in northwestern PA. Determining aspect of fisher resting and denning habitats in the ANF. Results of ongoing research indicates that fishers are surviving and appear to be establishing home ranges in the ANF.
Justification: Unregulated trapping and destruction of forest habitats caused fishers to suffer extensive population declines throughout large portions of their historical range in North America. Improved wildlife and forest management techniques have enable state wildlife agencies to successfully reintroduce fishers to their former range.
Sponsor: Frostburg State University
Cost: $11,500

*  Title: Special Concern Mammal Species Research and Management
Justification: Continue research on the least shrew in Franklin, Lebanon and Schuylkill Counties, coordinate all summer bat maternity concentration survey programs, research in Wyoming State Forest concerning the rock vole, and rock shrew, coordinate the important mammal areas project for the PA Biological Survey's Mammal Committee
Justification: The continuation of inventories of the various special concern species coupled with long term research of communities and populations will result in the information needed by wildlife management professionals as the formulate strategies. These continued inventories will also permit us to create a picture for future referral in assessing the success of our wildlife management programs.
Sponsor: The Nature Conservancy/Shippensburg University
Cost: $25,000

*  Title: Fact Sheets on PA Wildlife
Objective: Develop a minimum of two additional fact sheets within the Wildlife Damage Control series. Including ''Controlling Birds on Fruit Crops'' and ''Snakes''. Develop a minimum of three additional fact sheets within the Pennsylvania Wildlife series on managing backyards as well as larger properties for wildlife.
Justification: A needs assessment survey sent out to natural rescue professionals in agencies within PA and to licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators documented the interest in and need for accurate informative fact sheets written for the general public both on methods of dealing with problem wildlife and on habitat management for wildlife.
Sponsor: Penn State
Cost: $11,013

*  Title: Habitat Use and Selection by Neotropical Migratory Birds During Migration
Objective: Examine spatial and temporal patterns of habitat use by Neotropical migrant songbirds during migration. Examine habitat structure, plant species composition and resource availability are associated with patterns of habitat use by species and guilds of migrating birds.
Justification: Studies of habitat use by animals are numerous and have generated a considerable body of ecological theory. The habitat used by an organism must provide food, water and protection from predators. A given migratory species one habitat may be used on the breeding grounds, another on wintering grounds, and possibly several types during migration.
Sponsor: Penn State
Cost: $13,740

*  Title: Maintenance of the Official List of Birds of Pennsylvania
Objective: To maintain the official list, review status of all species, archive copies of slides, review new records, publish results, to hold committee meetings.
Justification: Until recently no formalized system of reviewing current and historical bird records in PA had been established. Published historical records, were usually accepted without question by the ornithological and birding communities. To achieve a system of review and records the PA Ornithological Records Committee was founded and a system established.
Sponsor: PA Ornithological Records Committee
Cost: $2,000

*  Title: Eagle Flight Complex at the PA Wildlife Center
Objective: Construction of and Eagle Flight Complex by the PA Wildlife Center to aid in the successful rehabilitation of PA's injured raptors.
Justification: The reduction of stress in wild patients is one of the key factors to decrease mortality. The Eagle Flight Complex will provide a critical tool to rehabilitate injured birds-of-prey, in addition to providing a centralized resource for western PA communities, Rehabilitators, veterinarians, and wildlife professionals.
Sponsor: Animal Rescue League of Western PA
Cost: $29,300

PROJECT SUBMISSIONS TO THE WRCF FOR FUNDING IN 1998

*  Title: Promote Awareness of Wild Resource Conservation Fund
Objective: Continue promotion and awareness of PA's Wild Resource Conservation Fund. Make items available such as videos, T-shirts, posters, ''Keystone Wild Notes''-- newsletter, and other sale items and education materials directly to the citizens of PA.
Justification: With a limited staff and funds keeping the WRCF in the public awareness has been difficult. This project will allow the general public to learn of the Fund's accomplishments and past and future projects directly with minimal costs.
Sponsor: Robert & Thelma Clark
Cost: $11,375

Project Submissions Which Cover Multi-Agencies for Funding in 1998

*  Title: Re-establish the American Chestnut Tree as a Dependable Food Source
Objective: Provide genetic germ plasm to our parent organization so that the tree they are developing will have the necessary genetic material to thrive in our woodlands.
Justification: The American Chestnut was once a valuable resource to our forest by not only supplying a dependable food source but also because as a lumber tree there was none equal. Bringing this tree back to the Pennsylvania forest would be a tremendous resource in helping to maintain a bio-diverse healthy self-sustaining forest.
Sponsor: PA Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation
Cost: $4,850

ROBERT D. REBER, Jr.,   
Chairperson

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 98-1348. Filed for public inspection August 14, 1998, 9:00 a.m.]



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