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Protection, restoration, and management of grasslands will ensure public values such as wildlife habitat, reduction of soil erosion, increased water quality, and recreational opportunities.

Grassland Protection

      Grassland Acquisition (Easements or Fee Title)

Remnant native grassland and select CRP lands will be acquired by fee title from willing sellers.

The objective of grassland easements is to maintain these areas by preventing conversion to cropland. Currently the Service's Realty Division is administering an easement program and is in the process of developing criteria. Haying is delayed on grassland easements until after July 15, buy there are no restrictions on grazing. With the exception of delaying hay operations, grassland easements do not provide benefits greater than those currently in place on grasslands. Easements may be taken on cropland with provisions to reestablish grassland cover. In this case, advantages to duck recruitment potential may be realized.

   Location

• Target areas with high density of wetlands, especially in temporary, seasonal, and semipermanent classes (wetlands can be on areas adjacent to the easement).
• Avoid areas with trees or tall shrubs >1.5 m.
• Recent studies are demonstrating that nest success on coyote dominated areas in generally higher than on those areas dominated by red fox. Give priority to coyote dominated areas vs. fox dominated.
• Give priority to native pasture vs. introduced grasses.

   Size

• Target relatively large blocks ≥640 acres. The larger the better.

   Management

• Some grasslands and cropland will need to be reseeded/seeded to be beneficial or meet the requirements for taking an easement. This may cause the price to be prohibitive if cost is to be borne by the agency obtaining easement.

For more information contact the Service Realty Office in your state.

Grassland Restoration

Restoration of native grasses or enhancement of uplands with dense nesting cover should provide a mosaic of vegetative types from short, sparse vegetation to dense cover for the various species of birds, including waterfowl, that will utilize the area.

Planted cover and idle grass cover, such as that planted on land enrolled in the USDA CRP, and native grasslands provide attractive nesting cover with high nest success for upland nesting birds. Idle grass uplands adjacent to wetlands or wetland corridors, such as waterways or drainage ditches, provide essential nesting cover for wetland-associated species. Similar benefits may be realized from nesting cover established on state, Federal, and private lands specifically managed for upland nesting birds. Cropland (which has generally low attractiveness and nest success) converted to one of these habitat types may be the most beneficial method of improving the overall biodiversity of an area.

Conservation Reserve Program

Maintain 6-7 million acres of CRP in the PPR to provide critical wetland and grassland habitat for waterfowl and other wetland-associated wildlife.

Various studies have indicated that taking the land out of agricultural production and establishing perennial cover (CRP) has increased waterfowl nesting success and benefited many other non-waterfowl species. The attractiveness and availability of CRP has increased potential for wildlife production by providing nesting habitat and protection from predators.

Maintain and expand CRP (in larger block sizes (> 160 acres) with multiple contracts to create 1000-2000-acre blocks) in areas of high natural resource value such as riparian areas, wetlands, floodplains, uplands associated with wetlands and habitat for threatened or endangered species.

Convert CRP land with high environmental priority such as wetlands to perpetual easements based on fair market value.

Increase involvement of landowners in resource conservation goals by providing adequate technical and educational assistance for preparing and implementing conservation plans.

Grassland Management

      Native grass

Maintain in healthy state by using fire, grazing, or mowing treatments. Mismanaged native grasslands tend to succeed to blue grass dominated cover that is of little value to nesting ducks.

      Planted cover

Planted cover needs to be renewed occasionally. The technique will vary and may include mowing and grazing, but disturbing soil or complete reseeding may be necessary.

      Delayed Haying

Hay fields, especially alfalfa, can provide attractive nesting cover that is relatively secure from nest predators. Most hayland provides little residual cover in early spring and thus does not attract ducks until later when new growth occurs.

Subsequent haying takes place prior to when most nests hatch, destroying the potential benefits of this cover type. In some circumstances delayed haying may provide the extra time needed for nests to hatch.

Benefits from delayed haying operations must be assessed annually.

   Location

• Target areas with currently high numbers of wet ponds (wet years) and high duck numbers.
• Target blocks of hayland (not narrow strips) with uniform, monotypic vegetative stands and terrain.
• Avoid fields with trails, vehicle tracks, debris, dugouts, windmills, buildings, etc. These features attract predators to venture into the field.
• Target areas with low amounts of competing cover. The idea is to pay for delayed haying only on fields that will have a high number of nests.
• Avoid fields < 20 acres.

   When

• Delay haying until July 15

NOTE:

Checking fields by dragging or other means will allow you to determine the value of that field, possibly prior to setting up an agreement.

      Minimum-Till Spring Wheat

Residual cover from standing stubble can provide limited nesting cover which is attractive to early nesting species, particularly pintails. Fields with such limited cover are preferable to aggressively tilled fields. Additionally, the residual cover may provide moisture and soil conservation benefits.

   Location

• Target areas near wetlands and where soil erosion is most severe.
• Avoid sunflower fields. Predators in the spring are attracted to fields that were planted to sunflowers the previous year.

      No-Till Winter Wheat

Winter wheat sown in standing stubble provides moderate residual cover in the form of stubble and vegetation. Winter wheat often gets a head start on spring sown small grain and provides a better cover for nesting ducks and other birds. Nest success in winter wheat has been found to be acceptable (about 30 percent "Mayfield").

   Location

• Recommended for any area, but especially in intensive agricultural areas.
• Avoid fields with rock piles, junk piles, etc.
• Target large, uniform blocks of land.
• Target areas with high number of wetlands.

   Other

• Stubble should be tall (12 inches) to trap snow. This is important for seedling survival.
• Rotate to flax every third year, especially if weeds are a problem.

      Sweet Clover Underseeding with Small Grain

This practice is recommended for spring seeded small grain fields that will be fallowed the following spring. The sweet clover protects soil during the fallow period, adds nutrients, and traps snow during the winter. No nest success data is available, but it is expected to be comparable to other cover with similar height and density. Benefits of this practice are reduced substantially if haying takes place earlier than July 10, so incentive payments are usually necessary for delayed haying.

   Location

• Areas scheduled for fallow the following spring.
• Target areas with high numbers of wetlands.
• Select areas with limited acres of CRP or other highly attractive cover (to avoid competing with this type of more stable cover).

   Size

• ≥20 acres (larger is better).

      Grazing Programs

The benefits of grazing systems are mutual, providing increased forage for cattle and enhanced cover for nesting ducks. The WPAs may be included in grazing programs to manage vegetation.

   Location

• Any pasture area is appropriate for a grazing system, but coyote dominated areas should result in a higher duck yield than areas dominated by red fox.
• Select areas with high numbers and acreage of wetlands (high pair potential).

   Size

• The larger the better. Target for areas ≥320 acres, with no maximum size limit.

      Reduced Mowing on Highway Rights-of-Way

Highway and Railroad Rights of Way (ROW) often provide the only substantial area of cover in some landscapes. Nest success on some of these areas has been found to be relatively high. Competing interests such as haying, weed control, safety and aesthetic appeal all tend to compromise the value of ROW for nesting ducks. For example, if all unimproved section lines were maintained in grass cover, this would provide 1.5 million acres of habitat in North Dakota. Other states could benefit similarly depending on laws governing the use of these areas. However, not all ROWs are equally valuable as nesting areas for ducks. In fact some ROW areas are extremely attractive to predators.

   Location

• Select wide Rights of Way along well traveled hard surfaced roads (divided highways and Interstate highways are best).
• Target areas with numerous wetlands.

   Management

• Mow every second year after July 15. Alternate mowing by area.
• Determine which areas have high nest success and target these for management.

      Tree Removal

Trees provide nesting sites and perches for aerial predators such as hawks, owls, and crows. Trees also provide den sites for mammalian predators, primarily raccoons. Felling and removal of tree remains may substantially reduce predation of duck nests and hens in some areas.

   Location

• Where areas have been established specifically for waterfowl production such as WPAs.
• Nearer areas where intensive treatments are being applied (e.g. predator exclosures, nest structures).

NOTE:

Remove all slash and debris. Otherwise predators such as skunks and fox may be attracted to the site.