Private Lands Biologists work with private landowners to improve wildlife habitat on their lands through various technical assistance and financial incentive programs. They provide recommendations and management plans tailored to landowner goals. Key programs include Continuous CRP which pays rent for enrolled acres, Farm Bill programs like EQIP that provide cost-share, and Partners for Wildlife which offers technical and financial assistance for habitat restoration projects. Wetland and riparian restoration are emphasized as they provide high quality habitat for many species.

1. PRIVATE LANDS PROGRAM-
WMD – Private Lands Section
David Long
Private Lands Supervisor
“Helping Landowners Improve and
Manage their Lands for Wildlife”

2. PLBs cover an
average of
8 counties

3. What does a Private Lands Biologist Do?
TECHNCIAL ASSISTANCE- Work one-on-one with
private landowners to promote wildlife habitat
 Visit with landowners and view their
property in order to make necessary
recommendations
 Create easy to follow management
plans in order to meet the
habitat/wildlife goals of the landowner

4. Provide Landowner Maps and
written Wildlife Management
Plan

5. Provide Program Information to
Landowners
• Farm Bill-CRP, WRE, EQIP
• Partners for Fish & Wildlife
• Acres for Wildlife
• Equipment Loan- Quail Habitat
• Nuisance Animal Assistance
• DMAP
• Non-program Assistance

6. PROGRAM TOOLS IN TOOLBOX-
$ Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (FSA)
$ State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (FSA)
$ Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
$ Environmental Quality Incentives Program (NRCS)
$ Partners for Wildlife (FWS)
$ Acres for Wildlife (AGFC)
$ Others- see handout.

7. FARM BILL CONSERVATION PROGRAMS-MILLIONS
$ AVAILABLE FOR HABITAT-
 ARKANSAS- USDA
 NRCS- $160 MILLION+
 FSA- $40M in federal
conservation funding
each year
 We promote these with
landowners to help
them with financial
assistance, install
thousands of acres of
wildlife practices
through these
programs.

8. Continuous Conservation
Reserve Program:
Technical Assistance-provided
by:

9. Continuous CRP-12- PRACTICES
Row-crop & Pastureland
CP9 Shallow Water Areas for Wildlife- (569 acres)May/2012
CP21- Filter Strips- (5,704 acres)
CP22- Riparian Forest Buffers- (61,800 acres)
CP23/CP23A- Wetland Restoration- (45,273 acres)
CP29- Marginal Pastureland Wildlife Habitat Buffer- (509)
CP30- Marginal Pastureland Wetland Buffer- (3,389 acres)
CP31- Bottomland Timber Establishment on
Wetlands- (14,837 acres)
CP33 Wildlife Habitat for Upland Birds- (5,572 acres)
CP38 SAFE SERIES- 3 practices (16,962 acres)
CP40 Aquaculture Wetland Restoration- (2,191 acres)
CP42 Pollinator Habitat- (32 acres)

10. So what are the Continuous CRP Financial
Incentives for me to enroll?
 10-15 years rental payments for each acre enrolled.
 20% added to soil rental payment.
 50% cost-share
 Practice Incentive Payment(PIP)- 40%
 Signing Incentive Payment (SIP)- $100 / acre one time
payment. (CP23,CP23a, CP33, & CP42 receive $150 per
acre SIP)

11. CP22 RIPARIAN FOREST
BUFFERS-PRACTICE
SPECIFICS:
 Minimum width- 35 ft.
 Maximum width- UNLIMITED.
 Wider is better for WILDLIFE !
 Croplands- can have 20 foot (Zone 3) outer
strip of native grasses and legumes- QUAIL ! !
!
 15 X15 tree spacing best for wildlife!
 OVERLAND OUT-OF-BANK FLOW
THAT SHOWS EVIDENCE OF SCOUR
EROSION, DEBRIS DEPOSITS, OR
SEDIMENT DEPOSITION.
 CP33 next to CP22 if does not have
a Zone 3- 20 foot grass buffer.

12. AWESOME WETLAND
WILDLIFE HABITAT
OPPORTUNITIES!
CP23-Wetland Restoration-
Trees,
Native Grass
(where
historically found),
Shallow
water
CROSS CO. CP23-
Built it & they will come!

13. CP23A Wetland Restoration,
Non-floodplain:
 Can do same practice components as CP23.
 Does not have to be in 100-year floodplain.
 Does not have to have 51% hydric soils.
 Can enroll 4 to 1 ratio of buffers to wetlands.
 Can establish wetlands on any cropland that
does not meet CP23 requirements.


14. CP31 Bottomland Timber
Establishment on Wetlands

15. AWESOME WILDLIFE
HABITAT OPPORTUNITIES!
CP31- Bottomland Timber
Establishment on Wetlands-
 Hardwood trees planted
 Does not allow shallow water or native grass
as CP23 or CP23A.

17. Law of the Sower
“…whatever a man sows, that shall he reap” Gal. 6:7
 CRP requires selection and establishment of cover.
 This is the “Single” most important decision affecting
long-term wildlife habitat value of a CRP contract.
 Factors that influence producer decisions:
 FSA/NRCS/AGFC
 Cost
 Ease of establishment
 Wildlife habitat value
 Landowners wildlife objectives
 We can affect this decision.
 What does landowner want to reap? Field mice/coyotes
or something much better?

18. Show landowners the Money!
Poinsett County Example- CP23 Wetlands
(Hardwoods tree planting and shallow water habitat)
Average soil rental around $92 per acre in Poinsett County
Add 20% incentive bring up to $116 per acre
Add $150 SIP over 15 years ($10/acre/yr.) bring per acre value to $126 per year over the 15 year contract.
150 ac. X $110 per ac. per yr. X 15 yrs. = $ 247,500
150 ac. X $150/ ac. SIP = $22,500
SUBTOTAL= $ 270,000
Landowner out-of pocket 10% c/s -$3,000
TOTAL OVER 15 YRS = $267,000
Contract value per acre- ~ $1,780 per acre over length of contract.
CP21,22,31,40,42 pay close to the same for this soil payment.)

19. Law of the Sower
“…whatever a man sows, that shall he reap” Gal. 6:7
 CRP requires selection and establishment of cover.
 This is the “Single” most important decision affecting
long-term wildlife habitat value of a CRP contract.
 The producer makes this decision up to a point.
 Factors that influence producer decisions:
 FSA/NRCS/AGFC
 Cost
 Ease of establishment
 Wildlife habitat value
 Landowners objectives
 We can affect this decision.
 What does landowners want to reap? Field
mice/coyotes or something much better?

20. Wetland Reserve Easement
(WRE)
Establish bottomland Hardwoods
Shallow-water Habitat

21. Primary Objectives of WRE
 Provide habitat for migratory
birds and other wetland
dependent wildlife including
threatened and endangered
species.
 Improvement of water quality
 Flood water storage
 Recharge ground water
 Protect and enhance open
space and aesthetic quality
 Protection of native flora and
fauna

22. What Lands Are Eligible For WRE
 Farmed wetlands or converted wetlands
 Lands substantially altered by flooding
 Former or degraded wetlands
 Riparian Areas
 CRP tracts where trees were not planted
 Adjacent Lands

23. Permanent
Easement- NRCS
pays 100% of
easement value
and 100% of
restoration costs
30 Year Easement
NRCS pay 75% of
easement value
and 75% of
restoration costs
$1,800-$2,400 per
acre for Cropland
$750 per acre for
forestland part of
contract
See map for rates
Existing wetland forest!

24. WRP (now WRE) Restoration

25. ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
INCENTIVE PROGRAM (EQIP)
Cost-Share/Payment
(~60%)
 Field Borders
 Native Warm Season
Grasses
 Prescribed Burning
 Hardwoods/shrubs planting
 Forest Stand Improvement
 Fire Breaks
 Wetland Restoration

26. Technical assistance is available when
a landowner:
Wants to restore habitat for a unique
species or group of species and additional
information or assistance is needed.
Wants technical assistance regarding
Farm Bill and other private land programs
that are
best suited for their goals and objectives.
Wants information regarding fisheries
and wildlife habitat.
Financial Assistance:
 Cost-share ranging from 50% up to
100%, depending on project. Limited
funding but many landowners use this
program to restore wetland and other
habitat types.

27. Contacts: Joe Krystofik, State Coordinator, 501/513-4479, joe_krystofik@fws.gov
Jon Wessman, Private Lands Biologist - NE Arkansas, 501/676-3122,
jon_wessman@fws.gov
Michael Budd, Private Lands Biologist - South Arkansas, 870/473-2869,
michael_budd@fws.gov Christina Hacker, Farm Bill Biologist – 501/513-4477,
christina_hacker@fws.gov

28. PROGRAM PRACTICES-
 NATIVE GRASS/FORB MIX- seed bags
Cost-share- 50%
 NATIVE GRASS ESTABLISHMENT WITH DISKING ONLY
 HERBICIDE APPLICATION
 PRESCRIBED BURNING
 TRAVEL CORRIDOR ESTABLISHMENT- trees/shrubs
 Equipment Loan
 5-year agreement required
 C/S capped at $2,000
 Limited funding each year
 September 1st enrollment deadline
 www.agfc.com- click on- Species & Habitats / Conservation
Programs for application

29. Wetland
restoration-
CRP(CP23 or
CP31 or WRP,
what does it
pay?
PFW
Programs
Available?
Native
Grass-
CP38E,
WRP,
EQIP
CRP
buffers-
CP21 or
CP22
PFW
CP22
CP40
PFW

30. Questions?