Developing a management plan for The Nature Conservancy’s Whitney Preserve through coordinated resource management. Beutler, Martin^*,1, Keffeler, Mark², Elaine, Ebbert², Paulson, Bob², ¹ South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, USA² The Nature Conservancy, Rapid City, SD, USA

ABSTRACT- Beginning in 1997, The Nature Conservancy began a series of land acquisitions, which have become known as the Nathaniel and Mary Whitney Preserve at Cascade Creek located 8 miles south of Hot Springs, SD. The Whitney Preserve is very diverse including a warm water riparian system and upland grass/pine lands. It is the home to several rare plant species including the Stream Orchid and the Southern maidenhair-fern. The preserve also has a working cow/calf grazing permit issued to a local rancher. The desire of The Nature Conservancy is to manage the property as a model for land stewardship strategies and research while continuing to provide for human use and appreciation. Using Coordinate Resource Management (CRM) The Nature Conservancy hopes to use this proven conflict resolution and management tool to bring a diverse group together in order to draft a long range management plan for the preserve and mitigate any conflicts that may arise. CRM meetings began in April of 2003. Areas of primary interested (as outlined by the CRM group) include: weed control, grazing practices, conservation-preservation-restoration, education, water development, fire, self-sufficiency, biodiversity (plant and animal), land use (conservation easements, regulations), recreation, building asset use/removal, and history. Work to date includes: plans for a water distribution system to increase forage utilization of livestock and provide water for wildlife; monitoring plans focused on rare plant species and changes that occur due to grazing disturbance; and the beginning of a long term management plan for the preserve. ©

KEY WORDS: rangeland planning, coordinated resource management, multiple uses, the nature conservancy