Bruce Barber and Terry Long are outdoorsmen on a mission. Their goal is to return the Leon County land they co-own back to its natural state.
The Wetlands Reserve Program, administered by the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, has provided the landowners with the financial and technical assistance needed to accomplish their dream.
"We felt this area was such a unique area. It deserved the time and effort," said Barber of Bullard. "Our long-term goal is to turn it back into what it looked like."
Barber and Long, of Grapeland, own more than 500 acres in Leon County. An estimated 142 acres of that land has been restored to wetlands using water control structures such as dikes. The landowners plan to restore an additional 188 acres under the wetlands restoration program.
They already are realizing benefits to the wildlife populations in the area. Barber said they consistently see bald eagles soaring over the area.
"If it pertains to wildlife, we'll do it," Long said. "One thing we're thankful for is nobody can come in here and take it down and destroy it. It's here to stay. That is what I like about [the wetlands program]."
Wetlands can provide habitat for wildlife, improve water quality, reduce flooding and recharge groundwater. These lands also help to restore and protect plant and wildlife diversity.
The men spend countless hours enjoying the restored wetland's aesthetic value and recreational opportunities.
"They have the first [program] land in Leon County. It was a learning experience for myself, as well as the landowners," said Floyd Nauls, a Natural Resources Conservation Service district conservationist, who has worked closely with Barber and Long.
Nauls said interest in the Wetlands Reserve Program, along with the conservation service's Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, has increased since the wetland restoration of Barber's and Long's land.
"In Leon County you have quite a few absentee landowners. The Wetlands Reserve Program is a program they can enroll their land in and enjoy the wildlife benefits, along with the aesthetic value and hunting opportunities," Nauls said.
The Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program. Its intended use is to restore, protect and enhance wetlands.
Landowners enrolled in the program are asked to retire eligible land from production agriculture.
The 2008 Farm Bill determines the easement value. This value is based on the lowest of the fair market value of the land, the geographic area rate cap or the landowner's offer.
The program offers three easement options:
* A permanent conservation easement that lasts into perpetuity. The Natural Resources Conservation Service will pay for the easement and 100 percent of the costs of restoring the wetland.
* A 30-year conservation easement. These payments are 75 percent of the value of a permanent easement.
* A restoration cost-share agreement. The landowner enters into a minimum
10-year agreement to restore degraded or lost wetland habitat. The Natural Resources Conservation Service will pay the landowner
75 percent of the restoration costs.
There are restrictions to Wetlands Reserve Program land use. Nauls said these can include grazing capabilities, as well as harvesting timber.
He added that compatible-use agreements can be obtained to possibly implement other practices on the land.
The enrollment process can take longer than other Farm Bill programs, Nauls said, adding that "the landowner needs to be aware of that and have patience."
The Natural Resources Conservation Service has field offices located in almost every county in Texas. Landowners can find contact information on these offices, along with information on the Wetlands Reserve Pro-gram, at www.tx.nrcs.
usda.gov.
"The door is always open at the [Natural Resources Conservation Service] office to inquire about any Farm Bill program, especially [the Wetlands Reserve Program]," Nauls said. "This program could be one that landowners might want to explore."
Bruce Barber and Terry Long co-own more than
500 acres in Leon County. An estimated 142 acres of that land has been restored back into wetlands using water control structures such as dikes.
The landowners plan to restore an additional 188 acres under the Wetlands Reserve Program administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
* Beverly Moseley is a former Eagle staff writer who works for the National Resources Conservation Service in Bryan.
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