Wetlands Restoration and Conservation Plan
We are participating the the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The WRP works with landowners to protect, restore, and enhance natural wetlands. NRCS provides technical and financial support for the 80+ acres that we have set aside to restore as natural wetlands habitat.
Researching the history of our property, we found that the low lying portions of our farm were logged during World War II; in fact, there was an operating saw mill on the property into the 1950s. Once the lowlands were logged, it was an obvious next step to drain, tile, and cultivate the area. An elderly neighbor recalls leasing the land upon his return from the War and planted corn for a number of years. Even with the draining and tiling, the area required special management for cultivated crops and the yields were poor. Over time, the tiles silted in and once again the land became too wet for field crops. During the drier summer months, the area was used for pasturing dairy cows until 2002.
By the time we purchased the property, most of the subject area was choked in six foot high scrub brush.