2021 Year in Review
2021 Year in Review
With over 300 volunteer members the Friends of the Wichitas (FOW) logged more than 20,000 hours in 2021 assisting the Wichita Mountains NWR staff in their efforts to fulfill the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service mission “… working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people”.
This past year was a challenge for everyone, including the Friends of the Wichitas, but despite the constraints the organization made significant strides in support of our Partnership Agreement with the US Fish and Wildlife Service managing the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge including:
Friends of the Wichitas:
• Purchased and placed an engraved monument completing the Ferguson House restoration.
• Opened an online Nature Store. https://shop.friendsofthewichitas.org
• Assisted Refuge biologists in preparation fora pollinator meadow.
• Produced a 2022 WMWR Calendar, which is now on sale in the online Nature Store.
• Provided volunteers for the operation and maintenance of Camp Doris.
• Funded WiFi for Camp Doris for recreation.gov reservations and payments.
• Assisted with Search and Rescue operations.
• Renewed our partnership with the Leave No Trace Foundation.
• Assisted with the controlled White-Tailed Deer and Elk hunts.
• Funded aerial wildlife surveys to aid Refuge biologists in Elk herd management.
• Advocated for full funding of the USFWS Operations budget through our partnerships with the National Wildlife Refuge Association and the Coalition of Refuge Friends and Advocates.
• Removed and recycled tons of trash from the Refuge.
• Assisted regional Trail Maintenance crews.
• Eradicated nearly 100 thousand invasive flora species.
• Assisted the Fire Crew with traffic control during prescribed burns.
• Removed graffiti in an environmentally sensitive manner.
• Cleaned and repaired picnic grills and fire rings.
• Continued outreach on our updated social media platforms.
• Assisted Refuge Biologists with Bison and Longhorn herd management.
• Purchased a Turbo Saw Forestry Attachment for the Refuge.
• Continued landscape maintenance of all picnic areas.
• Funded re-plumbing and repair of Camp Doris facilities.
• Assisted in repurposing a storage shed abandoned by Job Corps.
• Repurposed residential area carport as an equipment shelter.