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Missouri Bootheel Partners Program
Assisting Landowners in Managing Waterfowl Habitat
The objective of the Missouri Bootheel Partners Program is to return waterfowl
to the breeding grounds physically conditioned for maximum reproductive success.
Managing off-season agricultural fields as waterfowl habitat offers good food
resources for migrating and wintering birds with direct benefits to landowners.
Landowners hold the key to the future for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent
wildlife. More than 70% of the remaining wetlands in North America are privately
owned. Technical assistance and financial incentives are available to landowners
interested in improving the status of waterfowl and the quality of wetlands
on their property. Project sponsors include: Ducks Unlimited, USDA Natural
Resources Conservation Service, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Private
Landowners.
Accomplishments
To meet the ever-growing demand for assistance in managing private lands, the
Missouri Bootheel Partners Program was initiated in 1997. Since that time, the
program has enhanced over 18,000 acres of waterfowl habitat.
Benefits:
The Landowner
 Reduced tillage and chemical costs
Restrains weed growth
Promotes stubble decomposition
Promotes minimum farming
Reduced soil erosion; allows sediments to settle out before being discharged
into ditches
Financial opportunities from recreational leasing (bird watching & hunting)
The Environment
Water quality is improved.
Chemicals and sediments settle out in flooded fields.
Groundwater recharge also occurs due to winter flooding
The Waterfowl
Post harvest flooding provides:
Resting and wintering area for migrating waterfowl
Waste grain and weed seeds consumed provides for successful migration
Participation:
Program participation is voluntary. If water control structures or
other materials are provided, landowners will be requested to sign an agreement.
The Waterfowl Habitat Development Agreement specifies that landowners:
Install a water control structure.
Flood fields, by catching rainwater, yearly for a period of 10 years.
Permit inspection by the Partners project biologist.
Counties targeted for the Missouri Bootheel Partners Program include: Bollinger,
Butler, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley,
Scott, Stoddard, and Wayne.
For more information contact:
Scott Manley
Director of Conservation Programs
2302 Country Park Drive
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
(573) 290-5858 * 258
smanley@ducks.org
Missouri Habitat Projects
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