PRIVATE LANDS PROGRAM- WMD – Private Lands Section

“Helping Landowners Improve and Manage their Lands for

Wildlife”

David LongPrivate Lands Supervisor

PLBs cover anaverage of8 counties

Visit with landowners and view their property in order to make necessary recommendations

Create easy to follow management plans in order to meet the habitat/wildlife goals of the landowner

What does a Private Lands Biologist Do?

TECHNCIAL ASSISTANCE- Work one-on-one with private landowners to promote wildlife habitat

Provide Landowner Maps and written Wildlife Management Plan

Provide Program Information to Landowners

• Farm Bill-CRP, WRE, EQIP • Partners for Fish & Wildlife • Acres for Wildlife • Equipment Loan- Quail Habitat• Nuisance Animal Assistance• DMAP• Non-program Assistance

PROGRAM TOOLS IN TOOLBOX-

$ Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (FSA)

$ State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (FSA)

$ Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)

$ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (NRCS)

$ Partners for Wildlife (FWS)

$ Acres for Wildlife (AGFC)

$ Others- see handout.

Tree

Planting

Strip

Disking

Wildlife

Watering

Holes

Prescribed

Burning

FSI

Firebreak

Establishme

nt

Wetland

s

FARM BILL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS- MILLIONS $ AVAILABLE FOR HABITAT-

ARKANSAS- USDA NRCS- $160 MILLION+ FSA- $40M in federal

conservation funding each year

We promote these with landowners to help them with financial assistance, install thousands of acres of wildlife practices through these programs.

Continuous Conservation Reserve Program:

Technical Assistance-provided by:

Continuous CRP-12- PRACTICES Row-crop & Pastureland

CP9 Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife- (569 acres)May/2012CP21- Filter Strips- (5,704 acres)CP22- Riparian Forest Buffers- (61,800 acres)CP23/CP23A- Wetland Restoration- (45,273 acres)CP29- Marginal Pastureland Wildlife Habitat Buffer- (509)CP30- Marginal Pastureland Wetland Buffer- (3,389 acres)CP31- Bottomland Timber Establishment on

Wetlands- (14,837 acres)CP33 Wildlife Habitat for Upland Birds- (5,572 acres) CP38 SAFE SERIES- 3 practices (16,962 acres)CP40 Aquaculture Wetland Restoration- (2,191 acres)CP42 Pollinator Habitat- (32 acres)

So what are the Continuous CRP Financial Incentives for me to enroll?

10-15 years rental payments for each acre enrolled.

20% added to soil rental payment.

50% cost-share

Practice Incentive Payment(PIP)- 40%

Signing Incentive Payment (SIP)- $100 / acre one time payment. (CP23,CP23a, CP33, & CP42 receive $150 per acre SIP)

CP22 RIPARIAN FOREST BUFFERS-

PRACTICE SPECIFICS: Minimum width- 35 ft. Maximum width- UNLIMITED.

Wider is better for WILDLIFE !

Croplands- can have 20 foot (Zone 3) outer strip of native grasses and legumes- QUAIL ! ! !

15 X15 tree spacing best for wildlife!

OVERLAND OUT-OF-BANK FLOW THAT SHOWS EVIDENCE OF SCOUR EROSION, DEBRIS DEPOSITS, OR SEDIMENT DEPOSITION.

CP33 next to CP22 if does not have a Zone 3- 20 foot grass buffer.

AWESOME WETLAND WILDLIFE HABITAT OPPORTUNITIES!

CP23- Wetland Restoration-

Trees,

Native Grass (where historically found),

Shallowwater

CROSS CO. CP23-

Built it & they will come!

CP23A Wetland Restoration, Non-floodplain:

Can do same practice components as CP23.

Does not have to be in 100-year floodplain.

Does not have to have 51% hydric soils.

Can enroll 4 to 1 ratio of buffers to wetlands.

Can establish wetlands on any cropland that does not meet CP23 requirements.

CP31 Bottomland Timber Establishment on Wetlands

AWESOME WILDLIFE HABITAT OPPORTUNITIES!

CP31- Bottomland Timber Establishment on Wetlands-

Hardwood trees planted

Does not allow shallow water or native grass as CP23 or CP23A.

Law of the Sower

CRP requires selection and establishment of cover. This is the “Single” most important decision

affecting long-term wildlife habitat value of a CRP contract.

Factors that influence producer decisions: FSA/NRCS/AGFC Cost Ease of establishment Wildlife habitat value Landowners wildlife objectives

We can affect this decision. What does landowner want to reap? Field

mice/coyotes or something much better?

“…whatever a man sows, that shall he reap” Gal. 6:7

Show landowners the Money!

Poinsett County Example- CP23 Wetlands (Hardwoods tree planting and shallow water habitat)

Average soil rental around $92 per acre in Poinsett CountyAdd 20% incentive bring up to $116 per acreAdd $150 SIP over 15 years ($10/ acre/ yr.) bring per acre value to $126 per year over the 15 year contract.

150 ac. X $110 per ac. per yr. X 15 yrs. = $ 247,500

150 ac. X $150/ ac. SIP = $22,500

SUBTOTAL= $ 270,000

Landowner out-of pocket 10% c/ s -$3,000

TOTAL OVER 15 YRS = $267,000

Contract value per acre- ~ $1,780 per acre over length of contract.CP21,22,31,40,42 pay close to the same for this soil payment.)

Law of the Sower

CRP requires selection and establishment of cover. This is the “Single” most important decision

affecting long-term wildlife habitat value of a CRP contract.

The producer makes this decision up to a point. Factors that influence producer decisions:

FSA/NRCS/AGFC Cost Ease of establishment Wildlife habitat value Landowners objectives

We can affect this decision. What does landowners want to reap? Field

mice/coyotes or something much better?

“…whatever a man sows, that shall he reap” Gal. 6:7

Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE)

Establish bottomland Hardwoods

Shallow-water Habitat

Primary Objectives of WRE

Provide habitat for migratory birds and other wetland dependent wildlife including threatened and endangered species.

Improvement of water quality

Flood water storage Recharge ground water Protect and enhance open

space and aesthetic quality Protection of native flora and

fauna

What Lands Are Eligible For WRE Farmed wetlands or converted wetlands Lands substantially altered by flooding Former or degraded wetlands Riparian Areas CRP tracts where trees were not planted Adjacent Lands

Permanent Easement- NRCS pays 100% of easement value and 100% of restoration costs

30 Year EasementNRCS pay 75% of easement value and 75% of restoration costs

$1,800-$2,400 per acre for Cropland

$750 per acre for forestland part of contract

See map for rates

Existing wetland forest!

WRP (now WRE) Restoration

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVE PROGRAM (EQIP)

Cost-Share/Payment (~60%)

Field Borders Native Warm Season

Grasses Prescribed Burning Hardwoods/shrubs

planting Forest Stand

Improvement Fire Breaks Wetland Restoration

Technical assistance is available when a landowner:

Wants to restore habitat for a unique species or group of species and additionalinformation or assistance is needed. Wants technical assistance regarding Farm Bill and other private land programs that arebest suited for their goals and objectives. Wants information regarding fisheries and wildlife habitat.

Financial Assistance:

Cost-share ranging from 50% up to 100%, depending on project. Limited funding but many landowners use this program to restore wetland and other habitat types.

Contacts: Joe Krystofik, State Coordinator, 501/513-4479, joe_krystofik@fws.govJon Wessman, Private Lands Biologist - NE Arkansas, 501/676-3122, jon_wessman@fws.govMichael Budd, Private Lands Biologist - South Arkansas, 870/473-2869, michael_budd@fws.gov Christina Hacker, Farm Bill Biologist – 501/513-4477, christina_hacker@fws.gov

PROGRAM PRACTICES-

NATIVE GRASS/FORB MIX- seed bags

Cost-share- 50% NATIVE GRASS ESTABLISHMENT WITH DISKING

ONLY HERBICIDE APPLICATION PRESCRIBED BURNING TRAVEL CORRIDOR ESTABLISHMENT-

trees/shrubs

Equipment Loan 5-year agreement required C/S capped at $2,000 Limited funding each year September 1st enrollment deadline www.agfc.com- click on- Species & Habitats /

Conservation Programs for application 

Wetland restoration- CRP(CP23 or

CP31 or WRP, what

does it pay?

Native Grass-CP38E, WRP, EQIP

ProgramsAvailable?

CRP buffers- CP21 or

CP22

PFW

PFW

CP22

CP40

PFW

Questions?