Ecostudies Institute: Conservation and Research Programs

Freshwater and estuarine wetlands once
occupied over 18,000 hectares of the
Skagit River Delta of northwestern
Washington State. These wetlands
provided critical habitat for many species of
fish and wildlife, and were an important
wintering and resting area for migratory
shorebirds. However, these wetlands were
also highly productive when converted to
farm fields. As a consequence nearly all of
the original wetlands were diked, ditched,
and drained, and then used for agricultural
production. Not surprisingly, many of the
species that relied on these wetlands
declined in abundance.

Maintaining agricultural production and
quality wildlife habitat need not be mutually
exclusive goals. For example, on the Tule
Lake National Wildlife Refuge in California,
farmers have allowed periodic flooding on
their leased lands, which has not only
created outstanding wildlife habitat but has
also helped reduce the abundance of
parasitic plant nematodes and other soil
pathogens that can reduce crop yields. By
naturally controlling pests through periodic
flooding, farmers can avoid the use of
expensive and potentially harmful
pesticides (read more about Wetlands and
Sustainable Agriculture)

The Farming for Wildlife project is a new initiative by The Nature
Conservancy that is designed to identify agricultural practices that are
cost effective for farmers and provide habitat for wildlife, especially
migrating shorebirds. The Nature Conservancy, in cooperation with its
partners in the local farming community, will test three different
treatments. One will be a traditional approach, with sod planted in the
spring and harvested in the fall. In the second treatment, fields will be
planted to sod in the spring and grazed throughout the summer, and in
the final treatment fields will be planted to sod and then flooded
throughout the year (with at least 50% of the field covered by standing
water). After three years, all fields will be planted to the primary crop, at
which point the treatments will be evaluated for their effect on crop yield.

Ecostudies Institute will play a major role in this initiative. We will monitor
the response of migratory and wintering shorebirds to the three
treatments, and will also provide science oversight and assistance with
data management. Treatments will be applied in the summer of 2006, so
be sure to check back in early 2007 for a progress report!

If you have any questions about this project, please contact us.