Kentucky NRCS Front Page Stories

Updated 08/05/2008

WRP Tours

Many people may not realize that May is American Wetlands Month.  In honor of this, Area 2 held three tours to showcase different Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) projects that have been completed throughout Area 2.  The objective of the tours was to inform and educate our agency as well as partnering agencies and the public about WRP and the benefits of creating and restoring wetlands. 

The first tour hosted by District Conservationist Bo Renfro was held May 8 in Lincoln County at a site that is still under development.  The Dix River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) site was formerly a 400 acre farm near the community of Crab Orchard.  It was purchased in 2004 by Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR).  KDFWR became interested in restoring the property to its natural habitat and decided the Wetlands Reserve Program might be a beneficial asset. 

On May 10, the second and third tours hosted by District Conservationists Suzanne Harris and Herb Davis were held in Nelson and Marion Counties.  The site in Nelson County is unique because it is made up of three adjoining landowners that decided to enroll their land into a WRP project.  The three tracts of land total 118 acres of converted wetlands.  Four dikes were constructed to create shallow water areas for wetland wildlife habitat and approximately 63 acres of hardwood trees have been planted.

The site in Marion County is located near the community of Raywick.  Here, 110 acres of pastureland were converted to a wetland.  A dike was constructed to impound 33 acres of shallow water with two inline water control structures installed to allow management of the water level.  In the Spring of 2006, 35 acres of hardwood trees were planted.  To complete the restoration, 1.6 acres of native warm season grasses will be planted. 

Presenters included:  Doug Hines and Mason Howell discussed eligible land and legal issues that are involved with the WRP easement process.   The engineers Don Canary, Eric Phillips and Keith Reed with the help of John Benson, Joe Carpenter and Tom Gullion talked about design of the dikes and how they go about planning the pool areas on each site.  KDFWR biologist Wes Little and NRCS biologist Ray Toor talked about the species of trees and native grasses  planted at each of the sites as well as how the vegetation would benefit wildlife.

Everyone who participated left the tour with a greater knowledge of WRP and the benefits of creating and restoring wetlands.  Special thanks to John Overing and Heritage RC&D for all their help from start to finish with these WRP projects and to everyone who had a part in making the Area 2 WRP Tours a success!