OT: Returning Farmland to Wetlands

[Guest guest]

Returning Farmland to Wetlands

Agriculture Dept. Aims to Ease Flooding, Benefit Wildlife

 

By Eric Olson

Associated Press

Tuesday, July 6, 2004; Page A17

 

UNION, Neb. -- Persistent flooding of their corn and soybean fields led

Robert and Verneel Noerrlinger to return 535 acres to wetlands. The U.S.

Department of Agriculture is urging other landowners along the Missouri

River in Nebraska to consider doing the same.

 

Last week, the Noerrlingers' property was the site chosen by the USDA to

announce a project that makes $26 million available through 2007 to

restore 18,200 acres of wetlands along the river from Ponca to Rulo,

about 200 miles running the entire length of the state.

 

The Lower Missouri River Wetland Reserve Enhancement Program is the

first of its kind approved by the Agriculture Department.

 

" This partnership brings federal, state and local resources together to

restore wetlands, provide habitat for wildlife and improve water

quality, " Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman said in a statement.

 

The project's partners include USDA's Natural Resources Conservation

Service, landowners, the Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, the

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, local natural resources districts,

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Army Corps of Engineers and the

National Park Service.

 

The project will create a continuous corridor for about 250 species of

birds and an array of fish and plants that call the Missouri River home.

 

Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey, who was at the announcement, said

the program will help continue reversing a decades-long trend of

vanishing wetlands caused by the encroachment of agriculture and industry.

 

Rey said President Bush wants to protect 3 million acres of

environmentally sensitive wetlands over the next five years.

 

" Today we're making a substantial down payment to begin redeeming that

commitment, " Rey said.

 

Besides the benefits to wildlife and the reduction of flood waters, the

project will lower disaster relief costs because of less farmland in the

floodplain as well as improve water quality because wetlands filter

runoff from farmland, said Steve Chick, state conservationist for the

Natural Resources Conservation Service.

 

Chick said landowners who participate in the program can choose from a

10-year restoration cost-share agreement, a 30-year conservation

easement or a permanent easement. Payments vary with the option selected.

 

Landowners enrolled in the program would retain ownership and control

recreational activities such as hunting or fishing, he said.

 

Robert Noerrlinger has lived on his land near Union, 33 miles south of

Omaha, since 1976. He said his fields flooded completely in 1993.

 

" In '94, we raised the best crop we ever raised, " he said. " Then came

'95, and all through the '90s, the river was so high, we got seep water

all the time. We were looking for a way to get the place paid for. "

 

© 2004 The Washington Post Company

[Guest guest]

Morning Butch,

I think this is a great idea. Great for the wildlife and the birds.

Bird watching is another thing I like to do.

Just know if I lived there, I couldn't handle all the flooding.

Smiles Nancy

 

Returning Farmland to Wetlands

Agriculture Dept. Aims to Ease Flooding, Benefit Wildlife

 

By Eric Olson

Associated Press

Tuesday, July 6, 2004; Page A17

 

UNION, Neb. -- Persistent flooding of their corn and soybean fields led

Robert and Verneel Noerrlinger to return 535 acres to wetlands. The

U.S.

Department of Agriculture is urging other landowners along the Missouri

River in Nebraska to consider doing the same.

 

Last week, the Noerrlingers' property was the site chosen by the USDA

to

announce a project that makes $26 million available through 2007 to

restore 18,200 acres of wetlands along the river from Ponca to Rulo,

about 200 miles running the entire length of the state.

 

The Lower Missouri River Wetland Reserve Enhancement Program is the

first of its kind approved by the Agriculture Department.

 

" This partnership brings federal, state and local resources together to

restore wetlands, provide habitat for wildlife and improve water

quality, " Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman said in a statement.

 

The project's partners include USDA's Natural Resources Conservation

Service, landowners, the Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, the

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, local natural resources districts,

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Army Corps of Engineers and the

National Park Service.

 

The project will create a continuous corridor for about 250 species of

birds and an array of fish and plants that call the Missouri River

home.

 

Agriculture Undersecretary Mark Rey, who was at the announcement, said

the program will help continue reversing a decades-long trend of

vanishing wetlands caused by the encroachment of agriculture and

industry.

 

Rey said President Bush wants to protect 3 million acres of

environmentally sensitive wetlands over the next five years.

 

" Today we're making a substantial down payment to begin redeeming that

commitment, " Rey said.

 

Besides the benefits to wildlife and the reduction of flood waters, the

project will lower disaster relief costs because of less farmland in

the

floodplain as well as improve water quality because wetlands filter

runoff from farmland, said Steve Chick, state conservationist for the

Natural Resources Conservation Service.

 

Chick said landowners who participate in the program can choose from a

10-year restoration cost-share agreement, a 30-year conservation

easement or a permanent easement. Payments vary with the option

selected.

 

Landowners enrolled in the program would retain ownership and control

recreational activities such as hunting or fishing, he said.

 

Robert Noerrlinger has lived on his land near Union, 33 miles south of

Omaha, since 1976. He said his fields flooded completely in 1993.

 

" In '94, we raised the best crop we ever raised, " he said. " Then came

'95, and all through the '90s, the river was so high, we got seep water

all the time. We were looking for a way to get the place paid for. "

 

© 2004 The Washington Post Company