Lucky landowners might find water retention and distribution systems already in place. The plan could include building levees or irrigation canals and adding pumps, water control structures, piping, wells, and other infrastructure to move water onto the property, hold it, and then drain the land. Landowners can also seek cost-share funding through several Farm Bill conservation programs.”Īfter obtaining all the technical and financial help necessary to begin, land managers need to develop a plan for what they must build or repair. “DU has some programs that can help landowners go through the process of restoring wildlife habitat. Department of Agriculture National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS “The first thing a landowner can do to get help to improve wildlife habitat is to contact the local NRCS office,” said Ed Penny, the DU director of Public Policy for the Southern Region and former MDWFP Wildlife Bureau Director. Landowners seeking technical and financial help might start with the local U.S. Other programs even pay landowners to create or conserve wildlife habitat. Some programs put critical habitat in easements so they will remain forever wild. Several federal departments offer cost-share assistance and other conservation incentives for people who want to enhance or restore wildlife habitat. At DU, (we) are always looking for opportunities to help restore wetlands for waterfowl on public or private lands." “Landowners can also get some cost-share assistance for building levees, installing water control structures, and other management projects. “Landowners can schedule a site visit for someone to come out on the property and give their thoughts on what should be done,” Callicutt advised. ![]() Frequently, technical advisors can also give landowners tips on getting financial help. Experts could visit the property, determine how water flows over it, and offer tips on how to best manage the land to create an ideal hunting spot. “People need to look at the landscape to see where water will run off during a rain.”Īfter selecting a field, landowners should seek technical advice from MDWFP biologists or private conservation organizations such as Ducks Unlimited. “In Mississippi, people can often just tap into an existing watershed with a lot of natural drainage flowing into it instead of creating a managed water source,” Havens suggested. Fortunately, on the banks of North America’s largest river with many tributaries flowing into it, Mississippi overflows, sometimes literally, with abundant water sources. If no good water source is nearby, people can drill a well. Of course, people who want to hunt waterfowl will need a nearby water source, such as a natural stream, reservoir, or canal. People who try to take advantage of the existing terrain could save themselves a lot of money in the right spot.” The next thing I would look for would be some type of natural ridge that could serve as a levee to hold in water. “The first thing I would do is try to find an already existing low spot. “Before trying to turn a field into a duck hunting spot, consider the topography,” said Houston Havens, the MDWFP waterfowl program coordinator. Imagery taken during a high water event can reveal where an area naturally floods. Land managers can also search the internet for satellite or aerial photos of the property during different seasons. For starters, look at the topography and the vegetation that grows on it, particularly plants that prefer wetter soils. But waterfowlers can’t simply dig a hole in a field, spray it with a hose, and declare it a pintail paradise. Many landowners turn old croplands into “moist soil units,” marshy fields periodically flooded and dried. “Places that might not be productive for farmland can be ideal for turning into wetland habitat for waterfowl.” “People could potentially create excellent waterfowl habitat from marginal agricultural property,” explained James Callicutt, a private lands biologist in the Ducks Unlimited (DU) Southern Regional Office in Jackson and a former waterfowl biologist for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP). ![]() Waterfowlers can turn old croplands or catfish ponds into mallard havens with planning, investment, and hard work in a state with such a rich agricultural heritage as Mississippi.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |