The National Wild Turkey Federation and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) celebrated a significant investment in habitat restoration and outdoor education during the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission’s monthly meeting in Oklahoma City, where NWTF district biologist Annie Farrell presented a $42,975 check in support of the NWTF’s Waterways for Wildlife Initiative and other mission-related actions.
The funds will support timber stand improvement, invasive species removal and riparian restoration efforts across Sans Bois, Okmulgee and Black Kettle Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), while also contributing to youth shooting sports programs across the state. All funds will be matched 3-to-1 by ODWC, greatly amplifying the on-the-ground conservation impact.
“Through our longstanding partnership with ODWC, we’ve made consistent, dedicated investments for riparian and forest health across Oklahoma,” said Annie Farrell, NWTF district biologist for Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. “Together, we’re implementing projects that deliver meaningful, landscape-scale conservation benefits for wildlife, expanding opportunities for youth and demonstrating what’s possible when strong partners work toward a shared conservation vision.”
Funding allocations include:
- $2,475 from the Oklahoma NWTF Super Fund for firebreak construction and timber stand improvement on Okmulgee WMA, supporting prescribed fire across 5,340 acres of Cross Timbers habitat.
- $10,500 from the Super Fund for timber stand improvement and mechanical removal of eastern red cedar on 500 acres of Sans Bois WMA.
- $10,000 to support conservation-focused youth programs, with $5,000 each dedicated to the National Archery in the Schools Program and the Scholastic Shooting Sports Program.
- $20,000 in NWTF Waterways for Wildlife funding for eastern red cedar removal on Black Kettle WMA, improving 299.8 acres of riparian habitat and 1,749 associated upland acres.
The Oklahoma NWTF State Chapter has been a strong supporter of the NWTF’s Waterways for Wildlife Initiative, contributing annually through the chapter’s Super Fund. Since the initiative launched in 2022, the chapter has invested more than $48,000 to support conservation projects across the initiative’s 10-state region.
Since the initiative launched in 2022, more than $27 million has been invested by the NWTF and its partners, with an ambitious 10-year goal to enhance 1,500 stream miles of critical waterways and improve 75,000 acres of riparian-related habitat within 10 Great Plains states. Going into its fifth year, the initiative and its partners are making significant progress toward the goal, enhancing 211 stream miles of waterways and impacting more than 45,000 acres of adjacent habitat between completed and ongoing projects.
The newly awarded projects build on a strong record of success in Oklahoma. Over the past four years, Waterways for Wildlife has positively impacted more than 2,900 acres and enhanced over 24 miles of streams statewide, not including the newly announced projects.
Launched in 2022, the Waterways for Wildlife Initiative was jumpstarted in part by a generous contribution from Ovintiv and spans a 10-state region. The initiative focuses on improving riparian systems, restoring adjacent upland habitats and building long-term resilience across working landscapes.
Learn more about the NWTF’s Waterways for Wildlife.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 25 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. Since 2022, the NWTF has also invested over $2.3 million in critical wild turkey research that, when leveraged with partner contributions, has resulted in more than $22 million to guide the management of the wild turkey and to ensure sustainable populations. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale to deliver healthy forests and wildlife habitats, clean and abundant water, resilient communities and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues to unite a nation through the life-changing power of the outdoors.
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