Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: South Dakota
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

South Dakota Project

Evaluation of the James River Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

January 2013 - December 2016

Personnel

Participating Agencies

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks - State Wildife Grants

This project will evaluate potential benefits of the James River CREP program to environmental quality and flora and fauna of South Dakota.

Research Publications

Research Publications	Publication Date
Pfrimmer, J., Gigliotti, L., Stafford, J., Schumann, D., & Bertrand, K. (2017). Motivations for enrollment into the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in the James River Basin of South Dakota. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 22(4):382-389. \| Abstract	July 2017	Landowner perceptions of conservation programs are highly complex, which complicates recruitment to and satisfaction with available programs. The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) targets high-priority conservation needs (e.g., water quality, wildlife habitat) by paying landowners an annual rental rate to remove environmentally sensitive or agriculturally unproductive lands from rowcrop production and to implement conservation practices on these lands. Herein, we describe the motivations of South Dakota landowners in the James River Basin for enrolling in the CREP. All 517 newly-enrolled landowners were mailed a questionnaire in 2014, measuring participant demographics, behaviors, opinions and motivations (60% response rate). We evaluated ten motivations for enrollment in CREP and used a cluster analysis to identify three unique respondent orientations (wildlife enhancement, financial incentive, and environmental concern). Understanding landowner enrollment decision criteria will advance strategies to increase participation and satisfaction in future platforms.

Presentations

Presentations	Presentation Date
Pfrimmer, J. D. and J. D. Stafford. Avian use of Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program lands in the James River Watershed – Project Update. South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks Fall Wildlife Staff Meeting, Madison, South Dakota. 19 September 2013.	September 2013
Pfrimmer, J.D., D. Schumann, J.D. Stafford, and K. Bertrand. Learning from Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program research in South Dakota: Where do we go from here? Izaak Walton League of America Mike Williams Lecture Series, Watertown, SD. 3 March 2015	March 2015
Pfrimmer, J.D., L. Gigiliotti, J.D. Stafford, D. Schumann, and K. Bertrand. Motivations for enrollment into the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in the James River Watershed. Human Dimensions Seminar, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota. 22 April 2015	April 2015
Pfrimmer, J.D., L. Gigiliotti, J.D. Stafford, D. Schumann, and K. Bertrand. Motivations for enrollment into the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in the James River Watershed. Human Dimensions Seminar, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota. 22 April 2015.	April 2015
Pfrimmer, J.D., L. Gigiliotti, J.D. Stafford, D. Schumann, and K. Bertrand. Motivations for enrollment into the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in the James River Watershed. South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society Conference, Oacoma, SD. 24 February 2015	February 2015
Prfimmer, J., L. Gigliotti, J. Stafford, D. Schumann, K, Bertrand. 2015. Motivations for enrollment into the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in the James River Watershed of South Dakota. Presented at: The Wildlife Society South Dakota Chapter Annual Meeting, Oacoma, SD.	February 2015

Theses and Dissertations

Theses and Dissertations	Publication Date
PFRIMMER, J.D. 2017. An Integrated Evaluation of the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program in South Dakota. Ph.D. Dissertation. South Dakota State University. 131 pp.	May 2017