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South Dakota Wetlands Reserve Program

Overview

The main focus of the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) in South Dakota is to provide habitat for wildlife and migratory birds including threatened and endangered species. Photograph of Wetlands South Dakota is a major player in the production of ducks and Canada geese in the United States.

The types of WRP projects can be broken down into three categories. These categories are pothole restoration, floodplain restoration, and riparian corridors. All three categories have their own unique characteristics. The main function of pothole restoration is for waterfowl production, for floodplain restoration it is to contain flood flows and to improve or protect water quality, and for riparian corridors it is to connect protected areas which provide a safe corridor for wildlife.

There are 29,561 acres enrolled in WRP permanent and 30-year easements from fiscal year 1994 through February 1999. This total enrollment level resulted from 347 applications. To date, a total of 178 applications have been approved for 15,094 acres and 125 easements are perfected on 9,776 acres. The current backlog of unfunded offers is 33.

The level of landowners interest is the greatest along the eastern one third of the state. Photograph The highest number of WRP easements in any county is 50.

The main restoration activities include filling in drainage ditches, breaking tile, and planting native vegetation. Other restoration activities include constructing small dams across draws to hold additional water on the sites.

Interested landowners have several reasons why they seek to participate in the program, but the main two are:

  • It is a good thing to do for wildlife and conservation.
  • It is wise to do economically.

Participating landowners often comment that the enrolled acres "should never have been farmed."

Photograph of ducks

Benefits

The South Dakota WRP provides the following ecological benefits:

  • Habitat for wildlife and migratory birds;
  • Habitat for threatened and endangered species. Examples of threatened and endangered species benefiting from WRP include the bald eagle, Topeka shiner and Peregrine falcon.
  • Protection and improvement of water/quality;
  • Attenuation of water flows due to flooding;
  • Recharge of ground water;
  • Protection and enhancement of open space and aesthetic quality; and
  • Protection of native flora and fauna.

In addition, WRP contributes to educational and scientific scholarship.


Photograph

WRP contributes to helping the family farm. The easement payment can be used to reduce debt or invest back into the farm. Communities also benefit. The Communities depend on agriculture and WRP has helped strengthen the financial situation of individual farmers. It has also helped to improve natural resource concerns and develop recreational opportunities.

Partners

The public and private sectors have partnered with NRCS to help landowners provide and improve habitat for wildlife and migratory birds. Photograph Partners include local conservation districts, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks; Ducks Unlimited, Prairie Partners, the James River Water Development District and Pheasants Forever.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Ducks Unlimited have helped financially and technically. They have borne some of the costs for the filling drainage ditches, breaking drainage tile, and  constructing small dams. Since fiscal year 1993, Ducks Unlimited has contributed funds equaling $12,384 and $88,850 worth of technical assistance. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has contributed funds equaling $12,000, $15,504 worth of technical assistance, and supplies worth $4,675 (fiberglass posts and steel posts).

 

Contact

Leroy Holtsclaw


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