Cottonwood_Waterfowl_Production

IMPORTANT!

On October 27, two whooping cranes were observed in Phelps County. The birds will be monitored daily and Waterfowl Production Areas may be closed without notice to protect the birds from public disturbance.

Whooping cranes are an endangered species and it is illegal to disturb or harass these birds in any manner, including hunting of game species. Whooping cranes found in close proximity to a Waterfowl Production Area will cause that area to be closed until the birds have migrated on. Closed areas will be posted with bright orange signs designating the closure.

Recent Management: The eastern half (lower portion in photograph) has been publicly owned for many years while the other half has been in private ownership. In 2000, the private portion of the wetland was sold to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Restoration work included the removal of the fence line/dike between the two halves, and reseeding the cultivated area back to native grasses. Reseeding was done in stages over three years. The final cropland area was reseeded during the winter of 2003-2004.

Approval was received from Phelps County to remove a dirt road that was impassable and dissected the wetland. Two pits were filled and some silt was removed from the wetland. Scattered volunteer trees were removed from the eastern portion of the property. An underground pipeline was buried extending from a well on the west portion of the property to the wetland. The pipeline allows the well to be used to deliver water directly to the wetland. A submersible pump was installed in 2005 to replace the old diesel engine.

In 2004, Phelps County Road Department replaced a box culvert on the road north of the property. The old culvert had silted in, along with ditch that delivered water from the northern portion of the watershed. The new waterway that delivered runoff to the wetland was widened and graded.

We were experiencing water quality problems from runoff coming from a livestock confinement (feedlot) north of the WPA. The Department of Environmental Quality took legal actions against the owners. The court ruled in favor of the plaintive.

Photo is taken looking toward the southwest. Trees scattered throughout the WPA have been removed since this photo was taken.