Marshall County, Alabama, land that was drained and used for crops

Chris Clay, a Marshall County, Alabama, landowner, enrolled 144 acres on a floodplain adjacent to the Paint Rock River in the Wetlands Reserve Program. As a result, 75 acres that were drained to produce crops have been restored to wetlands with the remaining 69 acres to serving as protection. In order to restore the original hydrology of the land, a dike was constructed during the fall of 2003 along with two water control to enhance waterfowl habitat. At full pool, approximately 40 acres will be covered by shallow water.

Marshall County, Alabama, land that was once drained to produce row crops has been restored to enhance waterfowl

Eighty-five acres have been planted with a mixed species of hardwood trees that are adaptable to wetland sites. Fourteen acres of native grasses and
6 acres of wildlife food plots will also be planted later on this year. This area will provide a habitat for fish and wildlife, improve water quality, and provide educational and recreational opportunities for residents Marshall County and the surrounding area.
 

Georgia
Lamar County

New wetlands nature trail being developed at the Barnesville Expo Center in Lamar County, Georgia

NRCS district conservationist, Carmen Westerfield is lending a hand with the first phase of installation of a new wetlands nature trail being developed at the Barnesville Expo Center in Lamar County, Georgia by the Lamar County Agricultural Authority. This Nature Center is unique in that it is adjacent to the Lamar County Schools, and incorporates many different features including, but not limited to the wetlands, the natural and cultural history, evidence of old farm fields, and upland areas. The wetland area at the school, along with the wetland trail provides physical examples of the different types of wetlands in the Piedmont. The examples show a constructed wetland, a bottomland hardwood wetland typical along middle Georgia streams and naturally occurring wetlands as well as naturally "made" wetlands such as beaver ponds.

 

Indiana
Muscatatuck Bottoms

Muscatatuck wetland wet herbaceous layer consisting of forbs and a snag layer

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) and NRCS have come to the rescue of Indiana farmers in the “Muscatatuck Bottoms.” For decades, farmers in Scott, Jackson, and Washington Counties cleared the fertile land along Muscatatuck River in the hopes that the fertile sediments deposited by the waterway would help produce crops well. Unfortunately the river also removed soils, washed-out access roads, and made fields too wet to farm. But now, thanks to WRP, 65 landowners have sold easements on over 4,000 acres to restore wetlands. In addition to WRP easements, NRCS provides the technical assistance to restore the original wetland conditions. A 15-mile stretch of the river known as the “corridor of restorations,” is expanding wildlife habitat resources adjoining several thousand acres of wildlife management area operated by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Now, in addition to waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, migratory songbirds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals; several species-of-special-concern are now seen on these WRP sites including bald eagle, American bittern, yellow-crowned night heron, great egret, river otter, and copperbelly water snake. Other notable species visiting the Muscatatuck sites include sandhill cranes, whooping cranes, green and great-blue herons.
Your contact is Mike McGovern, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 317-290-3222 ext. 324, or mike.mcgern@in.usda.gov.
 

NEBRASKA
May 19, York
In York, the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture is sponsoring a luncheon for local landowners in recognition of their significant contribution to the preservation and restoration of America's Wetlands, through the Wetlands Reserve Program. The landowners will be presented a personalized sign to display at their restored wetland. The Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, formed in 1992, provides partnership structure for agencies, non-governmental organizations, landowners, and farmers to address natural resource issues through projects that also improve migratory habitat.
Your contact is Richard Hayes, NRCS, biologist, at 402-362-5700, ex 3, email: richard.hayes@ne.usda.gov

May, Lincoln
NRCS in Nebraska is working with the Lincoln Journal Star on a Wetlands Reserve Program story as part of American Wetlands Month. The Journal Star serves 23 counties, including the city of Lincoln.
Contact: Pat McGrane, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 402-437-5328, e-mail: pat.mcgrane@ne.usda.gov


NEW JERSEY
Pinelands Area
Fifty acres of a 150-acre blueberry farm in the heart of the Pinelands of New Jersey the farm were enrolled into a permanent easement under WRP. NRCS prepared plans for ditch plugs, low berms, water control structures and creation of vernal pools on drained blueberry fields. These practices were implemented in 2000. Subsequent monitoring of the property in 2001 revealed breeding Pine Barrens tree frogs (Hyla andersoni) were using the restored wetlands site. NRCS has identified multiple species of herptiles using the newly restored wetlands, as well as the state endangered Pine Barrens tree frog.

Survey and designs for additional vernal pools have been completed and will be constructed in the summer of 2003. This project, nominated for the 2003 National Wetlands Award, is important to Burlington County, the entire Pinelands National Reserve and southern New Jersey.
Contact: Barbara Phillips, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 732-537-6044


VIRIGNIA
Eastern Shore
Last summer, Ducks Unlimited, Inc. and NRCS signed a cooperative agreement to construct two large wetland projects on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Both are located on farms in Accomac County. One is a 13-acre restoration just outside the town of Accomac, and the other is a 63-acre restoration located in Bloxom. Both projects will use the Ducks Unlimited Malsam Terracer, a low-level dike building machine. NRCS has planted oaks and other mast producing hardwoods in the higher areas to provide important forested wetland cover for waterfowl and wildlife.
Contact: Ken Carter, NRCS resource conservationist, at phone: 804-287-1663

Charles City County
Waterfowl heading south found a new stopover on their route this year – a shallow water pond in Charles City County, Virginia. The five-acre winter flooded cropland was created with help from NRCS. The water table in the field can be controlled to allow flooding in the winter for waterfowl and migratory birds, and for cropping during the growing season. The pond was created by installing a low profile dam with flashboard riser. The riser flashboards can be removed to control the water level.
Contact: Kilby Majette, NRCS district conservationist, at  804-932-4376, x3.


WISCONSIN
May 16, near Portage
The wetland restoration celebration in conjunction with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and Ducks Unlimited will occur on May 16. FWS is also celebrating their 100th anniversary at this event. The site is an 800 acre Wetlands Reserve Program 30 year easement, that has now been purchased by FWS and will be called the Baraboo River waterfowl production area. The event will include a program, lunch, music and tours. It is a unique, highly visible location at the interchange of two interstate highways - I-90 and I-39.  Contact: Renae Anderson, NRCS public affairs specialist, at 608-276-8732 x227, or renae.anderson@wi.usda.gov