The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) recently reported that California farmers and ranchers have now enrolled more than 100,000 acres in the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP).

This milestone was announced during a celebration and wetland tour of Joe Kalfsbeek's farm in Colusa County. 
 
"As we've seen on Joe Kalfsbeek's rice farm today, incorporating wetlands on a working landscape can be an asset," said Ed Burton, NRCS State Conservationist for California. "Land that continually floods is now habitat, holding water and providing recharge for Joe's most productive fields.

"We are commemorating the voluntary conservation work of over 240 private landowners and recognizing those on-the-ground folks from partner organizations who made this milestone happen. With over 100,000 acres enrolled in the Wetlands Reserve Program, you have made California a national conservation leader."

WRP was first authorized in the 1992 Farm Bill. Since then the program, administered by the NRCS, has helped farmers and ranchers restore wetland habitat on their property and protect it in perpetuity via conservation easements. WRP also offers farmers and ranchers an economic alternative for land that is too wet to profitably farm. While the restoration of 100,000 wetland acres is a significant accomplishment, it represents only a small percentage of the historical wetland base that once existed in California. About 95 percent of the wetlands once found in the state's vast Central Valley have been drained or modified. 

As part of the celebration, NRCS recognized several partner organizations that have helped the agency work with landowners to restore wetlands. Those recognized included DU, represented by regional biologist Chris Hildebrandt.