WRP Land

[crow]

Lake George was purchased by COE as mitigation for some of its dredging projects. They owned the land and gave it to the state to run, but with some restrictions. They wanted to restore some hardwood bottomland that had been cleared. They will never stand for any of that reforestation land to stay flooded. I believe they have redone all the drainage ditches that used to be stopped up to flood the property. There is a huge difference in a pure WMA and one that is governed by the COE.

And, by the way, it is the Conservation RESERVE Program and the Wetlands RESERVE Program. It ain't about Restoration, I'll tell you that.

crow

[jwarwick]

Can you back me up on this SB?
I heard that the MWFP is trying to convince the Corps to put in water control pipes for The Basin over there at the Lake George WMA, and there are some positive vibes goin' on...

Anybody got late info on that?

[SB]

You are right, John. I can't say for certain how "positive" it is right now, but it is closer than it probably ever has been. Or, at least I think so.

Oh M Mallard needs to speak up. He can shed some light on the Lake George project.

I hope it can happen in my career.

[Panther]

SB,you are the MAN!You interested in movin' to th East Coast?

[SB]

I appreciate the invite, Panther, but if I move it will be more west. Where they have more liberal seasons and higher bag limits. I could handle a 107 day season! You ought to move more west too.

[SB]

Good discussion guys. I wish more people would get involved by making phone calls and writing letters. There is always room for improvement.

[jwarwick]

Hey SB
I can rit reel gud!
Who do I write to about bringing water to Lake George WMA?

[crow]

Scott, the wife letting you out of the house these days? You been by Nelumbo lately?

crow

[Panther]

I would have made that move a long time ago if I could talk my wife into.She dosen't want no part of anything in the Delta.She dosen't understand what she(or better yet me)is missing.We would love to have a guy like you working for our DNR.It would definitly be a move in the right direction.

[George Dickel]

nrcs knows everything about some rich folks huntin land.......jack

[mudsucker]

I uderstand that one goal of the usfws is to hav a continous stand of hardwoods grow back in the Delta to mimic what was once there for the La. black bear and other specis to use as a "highway' noth and south. To that end I think CRP is encouraged to fill in the weak spots in the over all plan. They are not thinking "ducks". Maybe we need to get the farmers of beans, corn, and the likes to go to "no till" or some simular practice that would benefit us as duck hunters. If I had some land to put in one of the programs and it was NOT marginal wetlands or the like, I would go with hardwoods as we have lost way too many acres of oaks etc. to farming cotton and such that the farmer now gets paid to NOT plant! It sits there as the "dirt farm' as mentioned above.

[MMallard]

Fellas, The Lake George property was purchased for terrestrial mitigation. As you can see, we have done a fine job of reestablishing BLHD in the area and you are correct there was no plans for establishing waterfowl habitat in the basin. With all that said, times are a changing. With help of folks like yall bending the States ear and now the Corps getting back in the game we have developed a management plan for the property to open back up over 200 acres of 1-5 acres openings for planting, 24 miles of access trails and 2 water control structures to flood the basin during hunting season. Lord willing and the creek dont rise the work will begin in Summer 07. Having personally crawled through that thicket many a day last August, I can tell you it will be a WMA worth hunting again for duck, deer, rabbit and believe it or not quail, best partridge pea crop i have seen in the MS and i shat myself more than a few times busting up coveys. Keep pounding on the State and the Corps will slowly form into shape.

[bigwater]

some real good info here guys..

where can we find more info about the wrep program.?

[Hailcall]

Bigwater - just sent you a pm. Give me a holler.

I can't help but comment on the Lake George topic. If I have heard it once I have heard it a million times - this area being called "the basin". All the locals call it by the same name and if you look at a topo map it's pretty plain to see, yet the Corp has remained firm on managing it as a terretrial site all these years.

The place is really diverse and has the potential to be a tremendous waterfowl area and STILL produce deer, quail and hardwood timber - just takes a little management and hands on. The Area Manager there is top notch and I know people have been pushing for change there in the management scheme.

I am glad to see there is a chance for some change.

[jwarwick]

I believe that Lake George WMA is a diamond in the rough. It is situated between Panther Swamp NWR(38,000 acres) and Delta National Forest (60,000 acres), and right between the Sunflower River and the Yazoo River. The Basin, a huge low spot with a great history of duck usage is within the WMA, and as to duck hunting nowadays it is very hit or miss. When the Sunflower backs up the basin has water, when it drops the basin drops. I believe it would be a small task to implement the physical things necessary for water control and habitat management, but the larger task is convincing the US Army Corps of Engineers to change their plans for the property.
Could one of you government types out there find us The Man in the Corps and his address, so we can get some letters flying?