Assessing Pollinator and Vegetation Response to the USDA State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program in Eau Claire County, WI

Abstract

In 2009, a 10-year study of the effectiveness of State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE), a new program managed by the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) was begun. In Eau Claire County, SAFE was created to provide suitable habitat for the federally endangered Karner Blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis). In July-August, 2009 and 2010, surveys were conducted of the butterflies and vegetation along a 200-m transect on each of eight CRP-SAFE sites and two native prairie sites.