Wetland management application
Your farm contains wetland areas. Naturally you would like to reap the greatest economic benefits from your land.  As you are evaluating your options, what can you do to get the most out of your land ?
	Wetlands needn't be viewed as a hindrance. There are many alternatives to draining or filling wetlands. Utilization of wetlands for waterfowl production, fur harvest, hay and forage production, hunting and trapping leases, and selective timber harvest can be enjoyable and profitable. Consider selecting upland rather than wetlands sites for development projects to avoid wetland alteration or degradation during project construction. Read the document (Hunting Lease Enterprise) from Maryland Cooperative Extension for things to consider when starting a hunting lease and the document Economic and Legal Considerations for Waterfowl Management on Private Lands by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For further information on economics of wetlands view the entire report by the Worldwide Fund for Nature entitled Living Waters: Conserving the Source of Life—The Economic Values of the World’s Wetlands. back
You just bought a 200 acre farm that contains a number of wetland areas. You would like to be sure that you are managing those areas in a manner consistent with federal and state laws. Where can you go to find help?
	There are many resources available. The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a voluntary program that offers landowners the means and the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property. The NRCS manages the program and provides technical and financial support to help landowners who participate in WRP. Landowners who participate in WRP may sell a conservation easement or enter into a cost-share restoration agreement with USDA. To learn more about WRP and other USDA programs designed to enable landowners to restore, protect or enhance wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas visit the NRCS website. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service program Partners for Fish and Wildlife also provides financial and technical assistance to protect, enhance, and restore wetlands and riparian areas. For more information visit their website. back
There are a few wetland areas on your farm including some ponds and a stream. You enjoy hunting and have always wondered why so few ducks and geese are attracted to your water. You want to attract more waterfowl -what are your options?
	Some of the most productive wetlands for foraging ducks are seasonally flooded. The periodic drying encourages annual plants to germinate and grow. These plants in turn, attract ducks. Landowners can mimic nature, and manage their wetlands for increased waterfowl forage through a process called moist-soil management. Farm ponds and small lakes generally are not well suited for successful marsh management. When drainage of these areas is possible, a slow l - 2 foot drawdown in early June usually will stimulate the growth of beneficial plants on the exposed mud flats. Fall and early winter rains will refill these ponds and lakes, making food and cover available to marsh dwellers until the next drawdown. Protecting the shoreline from livestock is essential for ponds to remain valuable to waterfowl. For more information see the moist-soil management page. back
You are considering constructing a green tree reservoir in a low lying acreage on your property. In addition, you are planning a timber harvest on some areas of your property. What are some considerations you should make before proceeding? Is there a place to go for assistance?
	Attracting waterfowl to a GTR can only be successful with sufficient mast. Timber management that encourages quality mast producing trees like oaks, bald cypress, blackgum, hackberry, honey locust, water locust, sweet pecan, water tupelo, and elm are best. (Even when a timber harvest is not taking place, tree species composition can be manipulated with girdling or by selective firewood cutting.) Timber management should be conducted to:   -Optimize mast production -Maintain a variety of mast producers -Remove or kill low value trees to make room for better mast producers -Create or retain large den trees and snags that might be suitable for nesting by wood ducks and other wildlife   back