Partnering with the SCS on a wetlands restoration project.

Hi Tim and Gang,

I have a large pasture above a creek. The pasture is primarily water logged or snow covered until July-October. My goals for the acreage are to be able to slowly move into a hugelbed, food forest type of environment for several of the acres. This would necessitate the diversion and channeling of some of the surface runoff into a holding pond. I have spoken to the Soil Conservation Service and he suggested a WRP (wetlands restoration project) could be established and there could also be some cost sharing to undertake the project. I was forthright in sharing my goals for the land and stated I didn't want to "shake hands with the devil" and establish an agreement that would lock me into a commitment with a federal or state agency contrary to those goals. He stated he didn't see the goals as mutually exclusive. My question: Has anyone partnered with the SCS or any gov't agency and had either a beneficial or negative experience? I would like to be prepared before I research further.

Jason K. : I personally know of more than one farmer that has had a nasty shock, when he tried to improve the drainage on a field that the Feds, had declared a wet-land
and one story of a farmer who was able to swap making a small area of his land wetter by re-inforcing an existing Beaver Dam, he gained the right to build and maintain
a short road through wet land to get better access to another plot of his Land !

Did the agent you talk to show you a map of Areas already designated wetlands !?! A lot of where you go from here depends on how you feel about the people you have
to work with ! Good Luck !

For the Future / Good of the Crafts ! Be safe, keep warm ! As always, your comment and questions are solicited and are welcome ! PYRO - LOGICALLY Big AL !

Thanks Al, that's the kind of information for which I search. The land is designated wetland by state; it is not designated wetland by federal. Grey area. I will continue to ask more questions before I engage. But would like to know all I can.

Yet if you attract the gaze of Sauron...
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