NRCS Part Two: Conservation Reserve Program - Wisconsin Waterfowl Association

By Anna Rzchowski, Public Lands Ecologist – arzchowski@wisducks.org

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s June, 2024 Newsletter edition.

In addition to monitoring NRCS Wetland Reserve Easements, WWA ecologists will be monitoring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) properties in Grant County. In exchange for annual rental payments, producers agree to remove acres from agriculture and plant continuous cover beneficial for conservation. These plantings range from introduced cool season grass to native prairie plantings.

CRP helps to achieve a variety of goals that benefit wetlands indirectly and conservation more broadly. These plantings provide valuable wildlife habitat (on our first visit, meadowlark songs could be heard in all directions), reduce nutrient runoff in our wetlands and waterways, and limit soil erosion.

This CRP is in the early establishment phase. The hilltop soils in driftless northern Grant County are highly erodible, and maintaining vegetation year-round helps keep these upland soils on the hilltops, rather than in our wetlands and waterways.

WWA initially entered into contract with NRCS with the intention of monitoring Wetland Reserve Easements, but they have just as much need for assistance in monitoring CRP contracts as well. We are happy to support the many conservation programs available to private landowners. If you are passing through Grant County, keep an eye out for WWA staff out monitoring!

Interested in CRP? More information can be found here.