Intermountain West Joint Venture

Intermountain West Joint Venture
Name	Intermountain West Joint Venture
Formation	1994
Type	Conservation partnership
Headquarters	Salt Lake City, Utah
Region served	Western United States
Leader title	Coordinating Entity

Intermountain West Joint Venture

The Intermountain West Joint Venture is a cooperative partnership focused on conservation of migratory bird habitats across the western interior of the United States. Established as part of the network of North American Bird Conservation Initiative partner initiatives, it coordinates planning, science, and on-the-ground restoration across federal, state, tribal, non-profit, and private sectors. The Joint Venture integrates species-focused planning with landscape-scale habitat delivery to address threats to wetlands, riparian corridors, sagebrush steppe, and playa ecosystems important to waterfowl, shorebirds, and passerines.

History

The initiative grew from discussions among stakeholders engaged in the development of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and regional efforts such as the Pacific Flyway Council and the Central Flyway Council. Early collaborators included the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and state agencies like Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Idaho Department of Fish and Game. The formal Joint Venture structure followed models used by the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture, Prairie Pothole Joint Venture, and Gulf Coast Joint Venture, adopting comparable strategic plans and science frameworks. Over successive implementation plans the partnership expanded to include tribal governments such as the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and non-governmental organizations including Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, and Audubon Society chapters, adapting to emerging challenges like water allocation disputes, climate change projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and invasive species management informed by research at institutions like Brigham Young University and Utah State University.

Mission and Objectives

The Joint Venture’s mission aligns with continental goals articulated by the North American Bird Conservation Initiative and regional priorities emphasized by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act frameworks. Core objectives include conserving breeding and migratory habitat for waterfowl species such as mallard, canvasback, and lesser scaup, supporting shorebird populations like snowy plover and long-billed dowitcher, and preserving sagebrush-dependent species such as the greater sage-grouse. Objectives emphasize strategic habitat protection, restoration, enhancement, and public engagement activities consistent with guidance from entities like the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The partnership sets measurable targets for acres conserved, wetland hydrology restored, and population outcomes tied to monitoring protocols used by the Breeding Bird Survey and the International Waterbird Census.

Geographic Scope and Habitat Programs

The geographic scope spans the intermountain basins and ranges between the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains, encompassing portions of states including Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Habitat programs target playas and alkali wetlands like those in the Great Basin, riparian corridors along rivers such as the Snake River and the Colorado River, high-elevation wetlands in basins like the Bear River Basin, and sagebrush steppe across the Columbia Plateau. Programs address seasonal habitats used by migratory species tracked by efforts such as the Motus Wildlife Tracking System and ringing studies coordinated with the North American Bird Banding Program. Restoration techniques include wetland reestablishment modeled on work at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, saline meadow rehabilitation informed by research from University of Nevada, Reno, and invasive species removal coordinated with NatureServe assessments.

Conservation and Research Initiatives

Initiatives combine applied research and habitat delivery: landscape conservation plans incorporate spatial prioritization methods similar to those used by the Conservation Biology Institute and the Ecosystem Management Decision Support system. Research projects evaluate hydrologic restoration outcomes, nesting success monitoring for species such as the Canada goose and piping plover, and population modeling using tools from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Division of Migratory Birds and academic partners like University of Wyoming. The Joint Venture participates in monitoring networks including the Sagebrush Ecosystem Monitoring Project and collaborates on climate vulnerability assessments with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and regional climate centers. Adaptive management experiments test grazing regimes, prescribed fire strategies informed by Bureau of Land Management protocols, and managed wetlands water regimes to optimize outcomes for multi-species conservation.

Partnerships and Funding

The partnership model leverages contributions from federal agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service, state wildlife agencies, tribal governments, NGOs including Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy, and private landowners. Funding sources include grants from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act programs administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, support from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, mitigation funds associated with agencies like the Bureau of Reclamation, and philanthropic contributions from foundations such as the Rockefeller Foundation and regional donors. Cooperative conservation agreements and conservation easements use mechanisms similar to those promoted by the Land Trust Alliance and regional conservation districts.

Organizational Structure and Governance

Governance relies on a steering committee of representatives from major partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state fish and wildlife agencies, tribal representatives, and non-governmental organizations. A coordinating entity housed in Salt Lake City facilitates planning, reporting, and technical support, drawing on science advice from academic institutions like Utah State University and advisory committees reflecting stakeholders such as agricultural interests represented by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and irrigation districts. Strategic plans are updated through collaborative processes mirroring those used by other Joint Ventures and are evaluated against performance metrics established with input from the North American Bird Conservation Initiative and monitoring partners.

Category:Bird conservation organizations