Through the voluntary cooperation of thousands of private landowners, the Partners for Fish and Wildlife (PFW) program continued to grow and flourish during 1998. This popular U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) program assists landowners with restoring important fish and wildlife habitats throughout the United States.
Since 1987, the PFW program has worked with private landowners who have voluntarily offered their drained, degraded and marginal waters and soils to restore for fish and wildlife habitats.
The PFW program has:
Restored important wetlands, associated uplands and stream corridors for the benefit of migratory birds, endangered species and native fish and wildlife species on private, non federal and tribal lands.
Encouraged the cooperation of non-federal partners to cost-share the expenses of many restoration projects. Among those partners are state fish and wildlife agencies, other local and state government agencies, soil and water conservation districts, individuals, communities and private conservation organizations.
Since its inception, more than 19,000 landowners have voluntarily participated nation-wide in PFW. Over 400,000 acres of important wetlands, 300,000 acres of associated uplands and 2,000 miles of riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian and in-stream aquatic habitat have been restored. During 1998, approximately 46,000 acres of wetlands, 51,000 acres of associated uplands and 430 miles of riparian and in-stream aquatic habitat were restored.
In the Upper Midwest, biologists for the Services Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region were responsible for restoring almost 9,000 acres of wetlands and associated uplands, predominantly native grasslands, and approximately one mile of riparian and in-stream aquatic habitat for private landowners.
"In our Region, professional fish and wildlife biologists provide technical assistance to hundreds of private landowners during the year. In turn, many of these private landowners unselfishly allow the Service to restore important fish and wildlife habitats, some of which have been missing from the local landscape for the past 50 to 100 years," said Regional Director Bill Hartwig.
"In order to accomplish these restorations, we have the support of a great variety of agencies, organizations and individuals, who cost-share numerous restoration projects through their generous contributions. Without that support, many of our cooperative projects would be significantly delayed," Hartwig emphasized.
Through the PFW program, the Service provides funds, technical assistance and equipment to conduct habitat-restoration projects throughout the Region. Since 1987 almost 75,000 acres of wetlands have been restored in the Region's eight states.
Wetland Restoration Summary 1987-1998
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Since the PFW program became operational in the Region, more than 3,800 landowners have voluntarily signed development agreements with the Service. These agreements allow landowners to receive free cost-share assistance for their restoration projects from the Service. The agreements also protect the restored habitats for not less than 10 years, thereby securing the financial investments collectively shared by the Service and its partners.
Voluntary participation allows the private landowners to retain all previous ownership rights and responsibilities, including the right to limit public access on their restored habitats.
Contributions from partners during 1998, including funds and in-kind services such as labor and equipment, resulted in the restoration of upland acreage nearly equal to the number of wetland acres restored. Of the upland acreage restored, more than 4,200 acres were planted with native grasses and wildflowers on 175 private sites.
Since 1987, the Region has restored almost 75,000 acres of wetlands, or more than 18 percent of the total wetland acreage restored nationally. During 1998, nearly 1,100 wetland basins amounting to more than 4,400 wetland acres were restored in the Region.
Although PFW is generally noted for restoring important fish and wildlife habitats, additional soil and water conservation values associated with this program include the improvement of groundwater quality by reducing runoff and soil erosion; water retention in wetland basins to reduce flooding and recharge groundwater supplies; enhanced recreational opportunities; conservation education; and improved economic opportunities for local communities, units of government and individuals.
For specific information on the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, landowners in the Upper Midwest should contact their local Service field station.
Landowners and partners may also receive information through the Services Branch of Private Lands in the Regional Office by contacting Steve Kufrin at 612-713-5447.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 93-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System comprising more than 500 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 66 national fish hatcheries and 78 ecological services field stations.
The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state wildlife agencies. For further information about the programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, please visit our home page at: http://www.fws.gov/r3pao/
