WASHINGTON and DES MOINES, Iowa – Between 14,000 and 12,000 years ago, much of north-central Iowa was under a glacier. As that glacier melted, massive pieces of ice fell from it in a process called “calving.” Those ice chunks made vast depressions in the ground as you might expect, and as they melted they became “glacial potholes.” They’re responsible for places like West Okoboji Lake or Barringer Slough in the image above, and also responsible for the larger Prairie Pothole Region.
USDA says prairie potholes are home to about 60% of migratory waterfowl in the U.S.; the wetlands and grasslands prevalent in the area also provide water storage, which reduces regional flooding. Those same lands can store carbon in their soils, which results in a reduction in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. That, in turn, could have a positive effect on climate change.
To help landowners in the region conserve their wetlands and grasslands, USDA has announced it will dispense $35 million over the next three years. The news comes from USDA Under Secretary For Natural Resources and Environment Robert Bonnie, who adds that the funding, at least in part, addresses the conversion of sensitive lands to production ground.
“We’ve seen a loss in many of these areas as crop prices have risen over time,” Bonnie says. “The opportunity here is to create some voluntary incentives; we can work cooperatives with sportsman, with other groups, with states, to protect these areas.”
Funding for the Iowan region will come primarily through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Producers with expiring Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts will be able to maintain working grasslands or haylands through practices like prescribed grazing. Bonnie believes the benefits of USDA’s effort will extend into other economic areas as well.
“We think it will create economic opportunities because hunting is so important to this part of the country,” says Bonnie. “It creates opportunities for local restaurants and for local hotels, whether it’s ducks or pheasants. So, we think there’s a lot in here that folks are going to support, and we look forward to working with our partners on the ground as we roll this out.”
