Click
on map to enlargeHultine Waterfowl Production Area
Location: 6 miles east of Harvard, Nebraska
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on map to enlarge
Size: 1000 acres: 583 acres of wetland, 417 acres of upland
Recent Management: The first tract of property purchased on Hultine WPA occurred in 1990. Since then, additional purchases has brought the total acreage up to 1000. Since its purchase, cropland has been reseeded to native grassland species. An old farm site was removed, trees were cleared and a large concentration pit was filled. The north wetland receives heavy use by snow geese in the spring and wading birds as the waterline recedes in late spring, early summer. A pair of Black-neck stilts were discovered nesting in 2008.
With the help of Ducks Unlimited and funding from the North American Wetland Conservation program, a water delivery pipeline was installed from the existing well to the edge of the wetland. Prior to the pipeline being installed, all water pumped to the wetland had to pass through an open ditch, causing considerable water loss before reaching the wetland. The pipeline has increased our water utilization dramatically.
Reed canarygrass is a problem on this large, flat wetland basin. Heavy grazing has been done to weaken, and reduce the canarygrass and allow other aquatic annuals to become established. After a few years of grazing, sharptail grouse have been observed booming on the property.
In 2002, the existing well was rebuilt and is now one of our more productive wells.
Hultine WPA looking east-northeast
Last updated: September 25, 2008
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