North Carolina Wetlands Reserve Program

Programs

North Carolina Wetlands Reserve Program

North Carolina Wetlands Information

Overview

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) in North Carolina is providing agricultural producers a way of turning their poorest cropland and pasture into valuable wildlife habitat. Since its inception in 1992, the WRP has been the conservation tool that has facilitated restoration of more than 16,000 acres of wetlands. There are currently 10,300 acres offered by landowners in North Carolina awaiting enrollment. "The WRP fills a gap in the NRCS conservation programs. We find a majority of applications for WRP come from communities that are not targeted by some of the other leading conservation programs," observed Mary Kollstedt, NRCS State Conservationist.

"We have seen landowner interest in WRP grow steadily year after year", said Jacob Crandall, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist. "Public demand for the program continually exceeds the available funding. To make sure WRP produces the best results possible, we carefully evaluate landowner offers and select the projects that provide the greatest environmental benefit at the least cost to taxpayers."

Benefits

The program has particular appeal in specific regions of the state, such as the Albemarle-Pamlico peninsula and the French Broad River valley. "Targeting focus areas in the state allows the program to make a positive impact on water resources and wildlife in those regions," said Stem. "We believe that the greatest benefits from WRP can be realized by steering it to compliment the activities of our conservation partners in the private sector such as Ducks Unlimited, state wildlife and water quality agencies, and other federal agencies to maximize the benefits of WRP."

Everywhere WRP projects are located wildlife habitat development is a leading concern. "We focus WRP efforts on helping private landowners restore wetlands to provide outstanding wildlife habitat", said Matt Flint NRCS Biologist. "WRP participants often seek our assistance in developing wetland habitats that support wild game such as waterfowl, wild turkey, bobwhite quail, rabbit, and even black bear. These animals add recreational and aesthetic value to property, plus game management can generate the highest income from leased hunting rights", said Flint. "Of course, the wildlife benefit of WRP extends beyond game animals. Our restoration technical assistance is geared toward restoring the whole suite of wetland ecosystem functions - that includes non-game, aquatic species, plants, and even the soil."

WRP restoration projects also provide substantial water quality benefits for adjoining streams and estuaries by reducing non-point source pollution, re-establishing natural stream flows, and lowering water temperature. Improved water quality is beneficial to commercial and sport fisheries that are produced in the watershed where WRP projects are located.

NRCS believes that, in a matter of a few years, some of our participants will produce potential recovery habitat for federally protected wildlife like red wolf and the tiny mountain bog turtle; and plants like Mountain sweet pitcher plant and Bunched arrowhead", said Flint. On these unique projects, NRCS helps landowners obtain special assistance from leading state and federal conservation biologists.

Wetlands are restored using a variety of techniques to re-establish natural water table fluctuations and native vegetation. Fields that have been carefully graded to improve drainage are re-shaped to cause greater water detention. In most cases a farm tractor and plow can rough the land surface enough to create shallow pools of water. If subsurface drains have been installed, they are disabled. Drainage ditches are filled with soil, or fitted with water control structures to completely close the drainage outlets. Sometimes it is necessary to build low dikes to contain pooled surface water. Native wetland vegetation is often re-established by relying on volunteering plants. If a wetland forest is to be restored, the site may be prepared and hand planted with trees selected for their wildlife value. Landowners are receiving technical assistance from NRCS concerning best management of their wetland's vegetation to maximize wildlife habitat. Many landowners take advantage of the program's flexibility options to establish permanent waterfowl management areas and wildlife openings.

Landowner Interest

WRP appeals to landowners for a host of economic and social reasons. For example, a row-crop farmer, wildlife enthusiast, and WRP participant from Fairfield, North Carolina explains the program's appeal, "WRP helps my farming operation by removing the burden of keeping up marginal cropland. Instead of sinking money into land that won't make a crop, I can generate income to support the rest of the farm."

Other attractions of the program include potential income and property tax advantages available to conservation easement holders, improved recreational enjoyment of wildlife resources, income from leased hunting rights, even improved landscape aesthetics. As proof of WRP's broad appeal the WRP participant proudly said, "People see what we've done to conserve wetlands, or they hear about all of our wildlife. They call me up to learn about what we're doing. I tell them about WRP. Its word of mouth that sells the program best in our community."

Another participant, in Halifax County, owns farmland in a floodplain right off of Fishing Creek. Before enrolling into WRP, his land flooded continuously with heavy rain. Many farmers, like this one have enrolled in WRP for the wildlife habitat benefits. "WRP was a grand opportunity to enhance wildlife habitat on my land", says the participant.

In Watauga County, a WRP participant believes WRP has helped his farm more environmentally than anything. NRCS and the Watauga SWCD have worked on drainage reversal on this land to improve water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and stop stream bank erosion. Allen Childers, NRCS district conservationist in Watauga County says, "This WRP project has had more impact on a broader level. We worked with the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Extension Service to apply the best conservation practices to the land that will not only benefit the farmer, but other members of the community." This farm was nominated nationally out of 100 farms for the National Wetlands Awards Program.

Partnerships

The North Carolina Wetlands Partnership (NCWP) develops cooperation and coordination among individuals and organizations involved in wetlands and watershed conservation projects. The NCWP was a direct result of the collaboration efforts of NRCS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the North Carolina Wetland Restoration Program. Four work groups have been established to address land management, planning and GIS, education and outreach, and restoration technology under the overall leadership of the NCWP Steering Committee. The combination of funds for different resource agencies, combined with matching funds from the private sector and landowner participation, provide the greatest benefits for landowners.

Contact

Jacob Crandall, Assistant State Conservationist for Water Resources, 919-873-2103

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