Kyra Clark-Wolf and Imtiaz Rangwala from NC CASC were accompanied by Orien Richmond (Deputy Assistant Regional Director, Migratory Birds & Science Applications, US Fish & Wildlife Service Region 6) to visit three refuges in the Nebraska Sandhills: Valentine, Lacreek, and Ft. Niobrara. The visit, between November 7-9, built upon ongoing conversations with refuge managers and biologists in the Sandhills. The purpose of this visit was to better understand their management challenges associated with climate change and other stressors, as well as the diverse ecological systems on these refuges, how they are being transformed and managed, and where the uncertainties and gaps in our understanding are. This visit expanded on work by the Ecological Scenarios Working Group, which originally met in August 2023. For more information about scenario planning in the Sandhills region, see the Sandhills One-Pager (attached on the left).

Photo: Kyra Clark-Wolf and Imtiaz Rangwala with Juancarlos Giese, Refuge Manager for the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge