Creating wildlife habitat through the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)

In the Lower Chehalis Watershed near the town of Montesano in Grays Harbor County


Planting riparian wildlife habitat and forest wetlands along nearly 15 miles of the Chehalis River in Grays Harbor County.


Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), US Fish and Wildlife, Grays Harbor Conservation District, Ducks Unlimited, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).


Resource concerns of soil erosion of the Chehalis River banks during flood events, lack of wetland and riparian forest wildlife habitat and soil conditions were unsuitable for farming practices due to flooding.


Wetland Reserve Program (WRP)


Over 350 acres of trees needed to be established in the Chehalis River valley involving 14 landowners within 27 miles of the river. To implement this planting, a contract was developed to treat these plantings as one project with 14 sites. Hygrotilling is the quickest and most efficient way to plant this many trees; one hygrotill head can drill 1,500 holes a day. This project has 117,735 holes to drill by October, 2006 (or before the rains start). Many of these acres will be maintained as elk habitat with local farmers mowing to maintain short grass habitat.


117,735 trees will be planted next spring, for a total of 351 acres of woody forest riparian wildlife habitat and buffers, totaling about 13 miles along the river. Objectives of these plants are to provide a more diverse woodland wildlife habitat adjacent to sloughs and rivers. This will benefit neotropical migrant birds, amphibians, and other wildlife species. Annual food plots will help waterfowl and other wildlife, while pastures will be managed as short grass habitat for elk. Riparian forest buffers will assist in nutrient uptake and lessen the impact to farmland from the river floods.


Bari Williams, Montesano Field Office, (360) 249-5900

NRCS, Spring 2007
 

< Back to... Washington Success Stories