Land Donation and Federal Grant to Help Waterfowl Conservation in Louisiana

A donation of 71,300 acres by British Petroleum and an additional grant of more than $1 million will conserve coastal wetlands and prairie in southwest Louisiana.

Funding of nearly $1 million was awarded to Ducks Unlimited through the North American Waterfowl Conservation Act, sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with an additional $2.1 million - including a $2 million land donation from BP America Production Company - in matching funds provided by Stream Companies and a private land-owner.

The BP grant is based on a donation of 71,300 acres of habitat, that will be managed by the Louisiana Department of Fish and Wildlife.

There will be 850 acres restored and 1,487 acres enhanced, according to the NAWCA grant summary, to provide "dependable, seasonal habitat for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent wildlife" by:

1) enhancing 1,458 acres of moist-soil / agricultural wetlands;

2) enhancing 29 acres of coastal freshwater marsh; and

3) restoring 850 acres of coastal prairie uplands that provide critical nesting habitat for breeding Mottled Ducks.

Management efforts will be completed at several locales:

White Lake Wetland Conservation Area - 71,300 donated acres.

Lacassine National Wildlife Refuge - wetland enhancement on 570 acres of moist-soil / agricultural wetlands (primarily rice) via replacement of existing pumping station with a new surface pump and renovation of 3,900 linear feet of existing levee.

Goose Lake Site

* upland restoration on 361 acres of prairie habitat, using aerial application of herbicide to control expansion of noxious Chinese tallow trees;

* wetland enhancement on 375 acres of moist-soil / agricultural wetlands (primarily rice), with the installation of a groundwater well and renovation of 16,250 linear feet of existing levee;

* wetland enhancement on 177 acres of moist-soil / agricultural wetlands (primarily rice) by refurbishment of an existing surface water pumping station;

* upland restoration on 148 acres of prairie habitat, with an application of herbicide spray to control expansion of noxious Chinese tallow trees; and

* wetland enhancement on 29 acres of freshwater marsh wetlands via installation of two water control structures.

Ranch Site

* upland restoration on 90 acres of prairie habitat be mechanical clearing of vegetation to control expansion of noxious Chinese tallow trees;

* wetland enhancement on 182 acres of moist-soil / agricultural wetlands (primarily rice), with the installation of a groundwater well and renovation of 13,000 linear feet of existing levee; and

* upland restoration on 251 acres of prairie habitat by an aerial application of herbicide to control expansion of noxious Chinese tallow trees.

"This proposal represents a continuation of long-term efforts to protect, restore and enhance important wetland habitats in the Gulf Coastal Prairies," according to the NAWCA grant summary. "The coastal prairie region within southwestern Louisiana has lost more than 99% of its native grasslands due to intensive agricultural practices and urban development."

"These native prairie grasslands are critical habitat for several priority species of grassland birds. Grassland restoration herein should specifically benefit Short-eared Owls, Northern Harriers, assorted other raptors, Loggerhead Shrikes, several species of wintering sparrows, and perhaps Sprague's Pipit which occurs in southwestern Louisiana in winter on grazed wet prairies. In addition, resident Mottled Ducks will directly benefit from improved nesting opportunities within restored prairie upland habitat. Wet and/or flooded areas within these grasslands offer foraging habitat for a host of other landbirds, shorebirds, wading birds, and waterfowl.

"Conservation projects included in this proposal will partially compensate for the region's loss of emergent wetlands and coastal prairie grasslands and will maximize waterfowl and other migratory bird values by increasing breeding, migration and wintering habitat. This proposal will provide breeding habitat primarily for Mottled Ducks, as well as wintering/migration habitat for Northern Pintails, Mallards, Gadwalls, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, and other waterfowl, shorebirds, wading birds, and grassland dependent landbirds.

"Ten priority waterfowl species and an additional ten wetland-dependent migratory bird species were identified as benefiting from the habitat conservation results. Other birds that utilize the coastal wetlands and prairie area will also benefit."

The project will restore "wetland functions and values on private lands that make the Louisiana coastal wetlands a sustainable ecosystem that provides economically valuable and ecologically significant goods and services to humans, including improvements to water quality, storage and/or reduction of flooding associated with tropical storms and hurricanes, and a host of fish and wildlife habitat-related aspects. All of these goods and services are beneficial to the general public."