Winter Water for Wildlife Project Now Accepting Applications

[SB]

JACKSON - The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP), Wildlife Mississippi, and other partners are pleased to announce the Winter Water for Wildlife project. This project will assist private landowners in the Mississippi Delta by offering incentive payments to flood crop fields and manage wetland areas to provide habitat for migrating water birds. This includes existing Wetlands Reserve Program areas.

The goal of the Winter Water for Wildlife project is to raise awareness among Delta landowners about the importance of winter water in flooded agricultural areas and conservation program lands to provide habitat for priority wildlife species.

The three project focal areas are Bolivar – lands north of Hwy 82, east of Hwy 1, south of Hwy 32, west of Hwy 61; Sunflower – lands north of Hwy 82, east of Hwy 3, and west of Hwy 49E; and Tunica – lands in Tunica County, east of Hwy 61. Landowners in the Sunflower focal area will not be required to pump ground water to flood fields to participate in the program, but will receive a lower incentive rate.

Landowners must submit an application before June 1, 2014, for project consideration, and all applications will be competitively ranked based on potential habitat benefits. For more information, contact Brian Ballinger with Wildlife Mississippi at (662)686-3375, ext. 107, or bballinger@wildlifemiss.org; or John Gruchy with MDWFP at johng@mdwfp.state.ms.us. To learn more about the Winter Water for Wildlife project, visit www.mdwfp.com/winterwater.

[JaMak84]

I assume they meant north of hwy 8 in bolivar county

[msoutdoors]

"Bolivar" is one of the 3 regions, but the region does start north of 82 and includes some of Washington County.

[hntrpat1]

why are tax dollars being wasted on this? It's not like every field around there isn't flooded already. Great, now T Bob can get his fields flooded for him and lease those fields out. How about the state use that money to purchase more public lands.

[the doctor]

why are tax dollars being wasted on this? It's not like every field around there isn't flooded already. Great, now T Bob can get his fields flooded for him and lease those fields out. How about the state use that money to purchase more public lands.

Not true anymore...ever since commodity prices went up, especially corn, lots of land goes unflooded so as to allow the farmer to prepare as early as possible for planting season. Lots of ground gets "hipped" now in the fall and doesnt get flooded.

the doc

[hntrpat1]

why are tax dollars being wasted on this? It's not like every field around there isn't flooded already. Great, now T Bob can get his fields flooded for him and lease those fields out. How about the state use that money to purchase more public lands.

Not true anymore...ever since commodity prices went up, especially corn, lots of land goes unflooded so as to allow the farmer to prepare as early as possible for planting season. Lots of ground gets "hipped" now in the fall and doesnt get flooded.

the doc

There are still plenty of wintering grounds in the South.

[duckter]

These farmers need to understand waterfowl spend more time in the south than up north on an annual basis. Prevent erosion, preserve nutrients, and contribute to the success of migratory birds - all at once. Would like to see more no- till farming post harvest!

[litlhitch]

When driving home to MS during winter, it looks like a desert over there compared to Arkansas...just a buncha mud fields...even if they were flooded, all you'd have was some mud for shovelers to dig for bugs in...not real hard to figure out why there are more ducks wintering in Arkansas than MS..

[DanP]

When driving home to MS during winter, it looks like a desert over there compared to Arkansas...just a buncha mud fields...even if they were flooded, all you'd have was some mud for shovelers to dig for bugs in...not real hard to figure out why there are more ducks wintering in Arkansas than MS..

Looks even worse from the air… Kinda like going to a Chinese restraunt. Would you pick a restraunt with 50 buffet tables or 5???

[JaMak84]

When driving home to MS during winter, it looks like a desert over there compared to Arkansas...just a buncha mud fields...even if they were flooded, all you'd have was some mud for shovelers to dig for bugs in...not real hard to figure out why there are more ducks wintering in Arkansas than MS..

Looks even worse from the air… Kinda like going to a Chinese restraunt. Would you pick a restraunt with 50 buffet tables or 5???

What's thr over/under on lands capable of flooding vs actually flooded 15%?

[DanP]

Good question.. You probably close at 15%

[hntrpat1]

I still don't like the fact that state money is being used to flood private land.

[dukluk]

Doesn't one of the MDWFP commissioners own a big chunk of land, smack dab in the middle of the Bolivar proposed area for flooding???....hmmmm, just wondering.

I stand corrected, if I'm wrong about that.

[hntrpat1]

Doesn't one of the MDWFP commissioners own a big chunk of land, smack dab in the middle of the Bolivar proposed area for flooding???....hmmmm, just wondering.

wouldn't surprise me

[chopper30]

You really think Deviney really needs any help from the state to finance his flooding? That area is a desert compared to what it was when I was at Delta State.

I like the proposed plan and have zero interests in the proposed areas. More water, means more habitat and ducks.

What I didn't understand when I read the regulations last week is the proposed time. I haven't read it in a week or so and definetly didn't memorize it, but in the press release on the MDWFP website I saw that you were supposed to flood it in September and hold it till April? Is that correct? If so, I don't see 1% flooding.