Conservation in Nebraska

Nebraska is part of the Central Flyway and provides important migration and wintering habitat for waterfowl produced in the Prairie Pothole Region and other important waterfowl breeding habitats in North America. The Rainwater Basin and Platte River regions of Nebraska provide critical migration habitat to millions of waterfowl, shorebirds and other migratory birds that depend on these shallow wetland habitats to “rest and refuel” prior to continuing their northward migration each spring. These two regions are perhaps the most important migration habitat in the entire Central Flyway. Other important waterfowl areas in Nebraska include the Sandhills and the Missouri River floodplain. While most waterfowl migrate to wintering habitats further south each fall, large numbers of mallards and Canada geese do remain in Nebraska during the winter, particularly along the Platte River. DU’s highest priority in Nebraska is to protect and restore critical migration habitat in the Rainwater Basin and along the Platte River. It is important that waterfowl arrive in their northern breeding habitats in the Prairie Pothole region in good physical condition, ready to undergo the physically demanding reproductive period. This will be accomplished by providing high quality migration habitat in Nebraska’s Rainwater Basin and along the Platte River corridor. Nebraska State Report

Nebraska Habitat Projects

According to Ducks Unlimited (DU) Regional Engineer Mitch Messmer, DU has already completed six wetland restoration and enhancement projects in Nebraska during 2006. These projects will all provide excellent migration and breeding habitat for waterfowl.

A new water diversion structure was installed on the Spotted Tail Project west of Scottsbluff. This new structure will allow irrigation water to be used to manage several hundred acres of seasonal wetland habitat on land owned by the Platte River Basin Environments, Inc, an important partner of DU’s. The enhanced wetlands will provide both migration and breeding habitat for waterfowl and other wetland birds.

The Greenhead Wildlife Management Area project in Clay County was completed in May. The wetland on this state-owned wildlife area had become choked with bulrush and cattail, greatly limiting the value of this site as waterfowl habitat. The project included using large scrapers to remove approximately six inches of material from the wetland, including the undesirable plants and sediment. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will now be able to better manage the site and improve habitat conditions for waterfowl and other wildlife.

A large wetland restoration project was completed on the Elk Point Bend Wildlife Management Area near Ponca. Several wetlands were restored, two wells dug and pipelines installed to deliver water to the restored wetlands. This project will provide ideal migration and wintering habitat for waterfowl along the Missouri River and additional opportunities for waterfowl hunting.

The Holmes Farm Project was completed in early June. This privately owned wetland is located just a couple miles east of DU’s flagship Verona Project. This wetland restoration project included filling an old irrigation pit and removing sediment from within the wetland basin. The restored wetland will provide excellent migration habitat and serves to improve the expansive wetland complex being completed by DU in the Verona Project area.

Finally, DU assisted with two wetland enhancement projects on the Bassway Strip and Bluehole Wildlife Management Areas along the Platte River. DU provided engineering services and cash to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to complete these projects. Old riverine channels were excavated and encroaching trees and brush removed in order to restore side channel and backwater wetland habitats. The restored wetland will provide migration and wintering habitat for waterfowl and improved hunting opportunities on these state-owned lands