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Louisiana Waterfowl Project - North
The objective of the Louisiana Waterfowl Project is to return waterfowl to
the breeding grounds physically conditioned for maximum reproductive success.
Managing off-season agricultural fields as waterfowl habitat offers good
food resources for migrating and wintering birds with direct benefits to landowners.
Technical assistance and financial incentives are available to landowners
interested in improving the status of waterfowl and the quality of wetlands
on their property. Project sponsors include: Ducks Unlimited, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Louisiana Department
of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Private Landowners.
Accomplishments
To meet the ever-growing demand for assistance in managing private lands,
the Louisiana Waterfowl Project was initiated in 1992. Since that time, Ducks
Unlimited and its partners have restored and enhanced over 48,300
acres of waterfowl habitat.
Habitat Projects
Winter Flooding of Croplands
Harvested croplands provide waste grain and other natural foods for waterfowl.
Crops such as rice, soybeans, corn, and other seed crops become especially
attractive to waterfowl when flooded with 1 to 15 inches of water. Rice fields
provide ready-made impoundments, and other fields can often be inexpensively
flooded after harvest.
Natural Foods on Fallow Areas
Croplands or fields not planted often provide a wide variety of natural
moist soil plants and an abundance of associated invertebrates that are high
quality waterfowl foods. When shallow water can be held on such fields throughout
the fall and winter, these highly attractive foods become readily available
for waterfowl.
Wetland Development Agreements
Landowners interested in restoration or enhancement of wetlands on
their property may receive assistance in exchange for a commitment to maintain
their wetland for a minimum of 10 years.
Guidelines under the Agreement:
• Projects may include management of croplands, moist soil areas,
forested wetlands, and other created or natural wetlands that provide habitat
for waterfowl, other migratory birds, and related wetland dependant wildlife.
• Project agreements will be for a period of not less than 10
years, with longer agreement periods a consideration for project funding.
• Projects must maintain appropriate water levels for waterfowl
for a minimum of four months, with no maximum, between the months of November
and March.
Parishes targeted for the Louisiana Waterfowl Project include: Avoyelles,
Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Franklin, Grant,
Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland,
Tensas, and West Carroll.
For more information contact:
Nick Smith
Regional Biologist
Ducks Unlimited
4974 Central Ave., Suite A
Monroe, LA 71203-6106
(318) 340-1020
nsmith@ducks.org
Louisiana Habitat Projects
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