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THE CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM

© Fred J. Kane

THE CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM

Duck production in the Prairie Pothole Region of the United States has soared to new heights in the past few years because of habitat conservation programs and a series of wet years during the breeding season. The Prairie Pothole Region, also know as "the duck factory" produces approximately 55% of North America's ducks. The location of the majority of the Prairie Pothole Region is in South Central Canada and the remainder in the North Central United States.

The Prairie Pothole Region includes parts of Montana, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming, Minnesota, Iowa and Kansas in the United States. In Canada this region includes parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba Provinces in Canada. Historically, most ducks produced likely came from Canada, but recently more and more ducks are breeding and producing ducklings that survive in the United States. Waterfowl biologists attribute this to a combination of ideal water conditions and upland cover in the north central United States.

When ducks migrate north in the spring there are three main factors that determine where they breed and survive. The factors are: History, water and upland cover. Most ducks will instinctively return to the female's old breeding grounds but won't breed unless they see an abundance of water. In the past five years Mother Nature has been generous with precipitation on the U.S.Prairies so the ducks keep coming back. Water is only part of the equation. The birds need upland cover to nest in, and the more cover they have the better chances of surviving and successfully hatching a nest. The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) provided the cover and duck production increased in the U.S. prairies.

The CRP was authorized in 1985 under the Food Security Act to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality and provide wildlife habitat. CRP provide financial incentives to farmers to convert croplands to grasslands or other wildlife habitat for ten to fifteen years. Since 1986 ten million acres in the U.S. Prairie Pothole Region have been converted to undisturbed grassland under CRP. Studies show that CRP in Montana, North and South Dakota added about 10 1/2 million duck recruits to the fall flight.

This year wildlife mangers estimate a record high 10.4 million ducks in the Eastern Dakotas, about 170% above long term average for the region. This is most certainly the result of excellent wetland conditions and the increased production seen is a result of upland habitat provided by CRP. This emphasizes the importance of effective conservation work on the parries both in Canada and the United States.

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