Louisiana Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
Conservation Programs Annual Report
Fiscal Year 2004
Ducks Unlimited's wetland conservation program continues to grow and gain popularity. We are finding and responding to excellent opportunities for wetland conservation throughout Louisiana on both private and public lands. Our habitat conservation priorities continue to be the protection, restoration and enhancement of forested wetlands, natural moist soil vegetation, coastal wetlands, and flooded agricultural crops, with emphasis on rice. Collectively these programs have benefited in the development and protection of over 185,000 acres of various wetland habitats since conservation activities began for Louisiana with the MARSH program in 1985.
The following is a summary of the activities and accomplishments of the DU Louisiana Conservation Program for the period July 2003 through June 2004.
MARSH (Matching Aid to Restore States Habitat)
To date there are 33 completed projects that have protected or improved over 48,050 wetland acres on public lands in Louisiana. Projects completed in FY04 include funding a water control structure to facilitate management of a 250 acre scrub/shrub/moist soil complex on Attakapas WMA. Additional funding provided monetary support for a recently completed freshwater diversion impacting over 1,300 acres of marsh habitat on Pass-a-Loutre WMA. Public land projects proposed to receive MARSH support in FY05 should include the Catahoula Lake Vegetative Imagery Survey, and possibly wetland developments on Boeuf River, Grassy Lake, and Bayou Macon WMA(s). Additional projects are submitted yearly to the Conservation Committee. Informational requests on MARSH should be referred to Robbie Howard, Regional Biologist, in Monroe, LA (318-340-1020), Chad Courville, Regional Biologist, in Lafayette, LA (337-291-3068), or Hugh Bateman, Manager of Conservation Programs, Monroe, LA (318-340-1020).
Louisiana Waterfowl Project/North
In North Louisiana, 1,520 acres of private land were enrolled under multi-year management agreements for protection, restoration, or enhancement of hydrology on forested wetlands, moist soil sites, or croplands. Of these, 1091 acres were non-agricultural sites and were associated with forested wetlands and moist soil habitats. A moist soil workshop field day was held, allowing attending landowners to view the habitats provided by managed and non-managed wetland developments. Technical assistance was provided on over 50,000 acres of private lands during FY04. Waterfowl Project inquiries should be forwarded to Regional Biologists, Nick Smith or Robbie Howard, in Monroe, LA (318-340-1020).
Louisiana Waterfowl Project/South
This program, which was initiated in September 1999, targets the south Louisiana rice-growing region, as well as the coastal marshes. Well over 4,000 acres of habitat were developed and made available to waterfowl in South Louisiana through this program. In addition, technical assistance was provided to numerous landowners seeking advice on improving the waterfowl habitat value of their property. Additionally, two North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grants targeting terraces and levee/water control structure improvements at several coastal locations in Cameron and Vermillion parishes are nearing completion of their respective signatory phases. Three additional NAWCA grants have been approved and funded, targeting the development of projects at Pointe-Aux-Chenes WMA, Avoca Island, and Oyster Bayou beginning in FY05 and extending into FY06. In total, DU will administer five NAWCA Grants specifically targeting improving the foraging needs of waterfowl along the coast. Waterfowl habitat-related inquiries should be forwarded to Regional Biologists Chad Courville (337-291-3068) or Bob Dew, in Lafayette, LA (337-291-3065).
LA Wetland Reserve Program
This program, which is administered by the USDAs Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), represents opportunities for DU to be involved in the restoration of bottomland hardwood ecosystems previously altered by agricultural development. DU and NRCS biologists and engineers share ideas as they restore hydrologic features to newly established bottomland hardwood forests. Over 4,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forests were restored, and approximately 2,100 acres of functional wetlands were added to the delta landscape through this program in FY04. For the fourth year in a row, a substantial amount of marginal agriculture land in Louisiana was restored to wetlands and wildlife habitat through the NRCS/DU partnership. Regional Biologists Nick Smith and Robbie Howard, and Regional Engineer Quin Durbin, P.E., coordinate DU efforts on WRP sites in Louisiana. They can be contacted in Monroe, LA (318-340-1020).
Louisiana Conservation Easements
Louisiana obtained its first conservation easement in 2000. Collectively, easements perpetually protect well over 17,000 acres of bottomland hardwood forests and associated wetlands in the delta parishes of Tensas, Franklin, Concordia, Catahoula, LaSalle and Grant. These easements offer key linkages to state, federal and privately owned properties supporting habitat critical to the well-being of black bear and neotropical migrants, as well as resident and migrant waterfowl populations. Easement opportunities continue to expand throughout the state as both delta and coastal landowners become more aware of how to use this program as a means to protect the conservation value of their property. Currently several additional easement opportunities supporting wetlands critical to the well-being of continental waterfowl populations are being negotiated for acceptance. Contacts concerning the Conservation Easement Program should be forwarded to Jimmy Emfinger, Manager of Land Protection, at the Southern Regional office in Jackson, MS (601-206-5434).
WETLAND ACRES PROTECTED, ENHANCED, OR RESTORED IN FY04
MARSH - 1,550 acres
LWP/North - 1,520 acres
LWP/South - 4,000 acres
LA WRP - 6,100 acres
Easements - 0 acres
NAWCA - 16,000 acres
Total = 29,170 acres
Louisiana Habitat Projects
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Partnership Award Presented for Cameron Creole Terracing Project.
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Shell Pipeline Donates Product to Ducks Unlimited.
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