Partners For Fish and Wildlife

Congress passed the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, which gave the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) broad statutory authority to enter into voluntary agreements with non-Federal government entities, including private landowners, to restore and enhance habitat for Federal trust fish and wildlife resources. In 1987, the USFWS began a voluntary partnership program with landowners interested in restoring wetlands and other important fish and wildlife habitats on their own lands. The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (Partners Program) provides financial and technical assistance to private landowners through voluntary cooperative agreements.

The restoration of degraded wetlands, native grasslands, streams, riparian areas and other habitat to conditions as close to natural is emphasized. The program's philosophy is to work proactively with private landowners for the mutual benefit of declining Federal trust species and the interests of the landowners involved.

Usually, a dollar-for-dollar cost-share is achieved by working with landowners and a host of nationally based and local entities (e.g., Federal, State and local agencies, soil and water conservation districts and private conservation organizations). Landowners sign an agreement to restore the habitat for the life of the agreement (at least 10 years) and otherwise retain full control of the land.

The Partners Program has had many accomplishments since it was started in 1987. From 1987 to 2000, the program worked with private landowners to restore 526,000 acres of wetlands, 550,000 acres of prairie, native grassland and other uplands and 3,200 miles of riparian and in-stream habitat. This involved over 24,000 landowner agreements. Mississippi has been a leader in this program, with over 14 percent of the nationwide acreage being in the state.

Activities of the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program typically include, but are not limited to:

(1) Upland Wildlife Habitat: planting field borders and filter strips to grass/legume mixtures; establishing openings; planting, fertilizing and seed bed preparation for food, cover and nesting; establishing native prairie and grassland; brush management and rangeland seeding; fencing for habitat protection; prescribed burning, strip disking and mowing; flushing bars; restoration of wildlife habitat and corridors; forest stand improvement to include site preparation, tree planting, direct seeding, firebreaks, release and site preparation for natural regeneration.

(2) Wetland Wildlife Habitat: installation of water control structures in agricultural fields, moist soil areas and forested wetlands to provide beneficial habitat for wetland wildlife; installation of nesting structures; restoration of hydrology; restoration of wildlife habitat and corridors; fencing for habitat protection; forest stand improvement to include site preparation, tree planting, direct seeding, firebreaks, release and site preparation for natural regeneration; strip disking and mowing; establishing openings; planting, fertilizing and seed bed preparation for food, cover and nesting.

(3) Threatened and Endangered Species Habitat: removal of barriers for aquatic species; establishment, management, maintenance, enhancement and restoration of grassed waterways and riparian areas; fencing for habitat protection; stream bank stabilization; installation of instream deflectors; restoration of threatened and endangered species habitat and corridors; placement of fish screens; control or eradication of invasive exotic or competing animal and plant species; forest stand improvement to include site preparation, tree planting, direct seeding, firebreaks, prescribed burning, release and site preparation for natural regeneration.

(4) Fisheries Habitat: restoration of rivers and streams; development and placement of fish structure and gravel spawning beds; removal of fish barriers; placement of fish screens; establishment, management, maintenance, enhancement and restoration of grassed waterways and riparian areas; stream bank stabilization; installation of low water weirs and instream deflectors; fencing for habitat protection; augmentation of flows.

(5) Other activities approved by the USFWS.

To learn more about Partners For Fish and Wildlife Program, contact your local office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Photos by Michael Kelly