Washington WRP Success Story

Barker Ranch Wetland Restoration Project

Story Courtesy of Ivan Lines, Biologist, Ducks Unlimited and Andrea Mann, Wetland Specialist, USDA-NRCS

Contrary to popular belief, wetlands provide more than a home for ducks. Native Peoples, bird watchers, hunters, local communities and many others have realized wetland restoration benefits. This is true for one Benton County property located near West Richland Washington on a floodplain of the Yakima River.

Historically, this property has been a highly productive piece of flood irrigated, agricultural land, which supported cropping, haying and grazing over the years. This property is inhabited by various species of ducks and geese in the fall, pheasants, whitetail deer, coyote, beaver and various species of songbirds and small mammals. This indigo bunting, a rare visitor from the mid-western U.S., was sited and photographed on the property in the past year.

In current times, the property has been home to a progressive group of sportsmen, who believe in managing the property for the benefit of fish and wildlife. The long-term goal is to restore the native bottomland forest of cottonwoods and willow to create the best habitat possible along the Yakima River, and within the numerous wetlands within the interior of the property. Traditional methods of restoring wetlands such as building dikes and water control structures are used, as well as an intensely managed livestock grazing program which helps to maintain an interspersion of open water and wetland vegetation which is favored by wetland wildlife.

"The Barker Ranch, Ltd. is a group of shareholders drawn together through their common enjoyment of waterfowl hunting and the associated environment. Along with the pride of ownership of this great property, is the strong realization and commitment to our responsibilities for the stewardship of the land. We, along with most other Americans have been alarmed at the enormous loss of wetlands and the profound impact that this has had on waterfowl populations, water quality and wildlife habitat.

The knowledge combined with the locally reported information about the environmental damage being done to the Yakima River, led us to the conscious decision to avoid agricultural activities that could lead to further damage. Therefore, our commitment is to wetland restoration and non-consumptive uses of the land. This in turn has led to our partnership with NRCS and Ducks Unlimited and many other State and Federal agencies.

We think that together, we have made remarkable progress and take satisfaction in knowing that the water we take out of the river returns back to it in about the same quantity and substantially purer. We are now reviewing various options to allow more public enjoyment of the property and hopefully will make some decisions this year that will come to fruition in the next." Jerry Bartlett, President, Barker Ranch, Ltd.

In recent years, the Barker Ranch, Ltd., became interested in and was successful in securing funding for wetland restoration and enhancement projects on the property with the use of Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) funding administered by the USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Moneys provided by the WRP program funded water control structures, brush control measures, and fencing. The plan developed, includes grazing and wildlife management techniques that enhance the diversity of wetland habitats found on the unit. Streamside riparian and woody vegetation management and planting are proposed for future restoration plans.

Technical design and management assistance was provided by Ducks Unlimited, engineer Brian Heck and biologist Ivan Lines. Jerry Rouse, NRCS State Range Specialist, provided technical assistance in developing and reviewing the grazing plan on the unit.

The grazing plan in an integral part of the over all plan for the unit. Grazing is being used to maintain and restore a vegetative mosaic of diverse plant species historically found on the floodplain of the Yakima River in this area. The addition of water to designated marsh units renewed life and improved productivity of wetland plants that had gone dormant as the dried out. This has been a significant contribution to the forage needs of wildlife and livestock frequenting the unit.

"We continue to closely monitor the cattle grazing impact upon wetland and upland wildlife habitats here on The Barker Ranch. In consultation with NRCS Representatives and the livestock owner, Rocky Robbins, cattle numbers, grazing season duration and grazing periods are adjusted to ensure the best possible achievement of common objectives.

The controlled grazing of livestock has proven to be both compatible with, and essential to, the success of our overall Wetland Restoration Plan. The maintenance of vegetation diversity and interspersion in wetlands and the restoration of herbaceous growth uplands is very much dependent upon the continued influence of livestock grazing. Also, in season wetland areas, soil disturbance resulting from livestock grazing, with associated natural fertilization, continues, following moist soil management, to result in vigorous annual growths of naturally occurring waterfowl plant food." Greg Dunn, General Manager, Barker Ranch, Ltd.

The club has diversified its management plan to incorporate cultural and community uses of their property as well. In the past year, the club hosted Wanapum Tribal members who collected bulrushes for use in assembling tulle mats, used to construct a lodge at the Cultural Center associated with Wanapum Dam. The local Audubon chapter is working with the ranch to complete bird inventories on the unit this spring.

What was once solely an agricultural operation, now provides a place for wetland wildlife, livestock, hunters, birders and Native Americans to share in the varied and valuable resources of the restored wetlands. This is due largely to the land ethics on the property owners and manager working in cooperation with the livestock operator, local irrigation district, local pest control board, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Ducks Unlimited and NRCS all working as "Partners in Conservation".

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