WILD NE

Technical and financial assistance is provided by the LPSNRD and the NG&PC for wildlife habitat development and wildlife habitat management. Payment rates for wildlife habitat activities contracted through WILD Nebraska are based on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) listing of the "County Average Costs". These rates are utilized by the USDA on a local level to govern their cost-share programs. WILD Nebraska uses this system as a foundation for cost-share rates and updates these rates periodically. USDA also maintains a listing of "Rental Rates" by soil type for each county. Rental rates are used to calculate the land-use transition payments for WILD Nebraska.

Procedure to participate in this program:

1. Cooperator obtains program and activities information from LPSNRD or NG&PC.
2. Cooperator reads through activities available for the WILD Nebraska program, completes the application form and submits it to the NRD.
3. Representatives from the NRD and NG&PC visit the site with the cooperator and prepare a management or development plan for the wildlife habitat activities.
4. Cooperator contract is prepared, reviewed and signed.
5. Cooperator then installs the habitat activities as stated in the plan.
6. Contract site is inspected after each activity is performed and is paid upon project completion. Transition payments will be paid at the end of each performance year after a successful compliance inspection.

It is the intent of the NRD to provide a program to preserve and develop habitat for both game and non-game species of wildlife. Implementation of WILD Nebraska activities are to benefit the overall environment by acting to improve wildlife resources, protect water quality and enhance land resources. In addition, WILD Nebraska offers a public access bonus incentive to allow accessible areas to be utilized for recreational purposes such as, hunting, hiking, trapping, fishing and nature conservation. Special consideration will be given to those applicants who wish to enroll lands in the Hunter, Trapper, Angler and Hiker Access Bonus Incentive activity and those whose property/tracts border public access lands (examples of public access lands include: Wildlife Management Areas, State Recreation Areas and LPSNRD public access areas). Land-use transition payments are available for those lands in which cropland is converted into native grassland or woodland communities.

Grassland Activities

1. Grazing Management for Grassland Wildlife

This activity involved planning grazing systems to maintain productive grasslands and enhance habitat grasslands for wildlife. An example includes cross-fencing large pastures to provide rested pastures and residual cover for wildlife.
Contract Term: 10 years
Minimum Pasture Size: 5 acres
Payment: Up to $5,000 per year. Cost-share is available for fencing and other grassland management practices. Fencing cost-share is $0.51 per foot. Payment is issued upon project completion.

2. Interseeding Established Grasslands with Legumes and other Forbs

The purpose of this activity is to improve plant species composition and increase diversity in native grasslands. Examples include interseeding cool season grasslands or switchgrass stands with alfalfa, sweet clover and/or red clover or interseeding native grass stands with native forbs (forbs are non-grass, non-woody herbaceous plants such as wildflowers).
Contract Term: 5 years
Minimum Pasture Size: 5 acres
Payment: Up to $5,000 per year.
Cost-share: $80.00/acre for grass and forb seed, site preparation is $7.50/acre for light disking (2-3" into soil) and $15.00/acre for heavy disking. NRD grass drill may be borrowed at no cost (subject to damage deposit).

3. Prescribed Burning

Designed to improve plant composition and structure of existing plant communities. Burning can occur in spring or fall to suppress cool season grasses and facilitate the release of warm season grasses or forbs. Burning may be used as site preparation for interseeding grasses and forbs into grasslands.
Contract Term: 5 years
Minimum plot size: 5 acres
Payment: Up to $2,000 per year. Payment is based on number of acres burned and paid upon completion of project. Rates are listed below. Drip torches may be borrowed from the NRD at no cost.

Prescribed burning rates:

4. Disking

Intended to increase plant diversity and productivity in existing grassland communities. Disking low diversity grass stands can provide a seed bed for legume or forb interseeding. Disking should occur in grasslands between July 15 and April 1.
Contract term: 5 years
Minimum plot size: 5 acres
Maximum plot size: 50% of grassland tract per year
Payment: Up to $2,000 per year. Cost-share rates are $7.50/acre for light disking (2-3" into soil) and $15.00/acre for heavy disking (site preparation for seeding or shrub or tree plantings). Payment is made upon project completion.

5. Grassland Haying and/or Shredding and/or Mowing

Consists of removing vegetative material by haying, shredding or mowing of grasslands. Altering the timing of the haying protects ground-nesting birds, encourages rare plant species growth and modifies plant diversity. Must occur between July 15 and April 1. Shredding on CRP land is not eligible.
Contract term: 5 years
Minimum plot size: 5 acres
Maximum plot size: 30% of grassland tract hayed, mowed or shredded per year.
Payment: Up to $1,000 per year. Cost-share rates are $10.00/acre for haying, $6.39/acre for shredding and $6.39/acre for mowing. Payment is issued upon completion of activity.

6. Herbicide Treatment of Grasslands

Proper use of selected herbicides can be a valuable tool in controlling invasive plants and for setting back succession of existing undesirable vegetation. May be utilized as site preparation for seeding or interseeding.
Contract term: 5 years
Minimum plot size: 5 acres
Payment: Up to $1,000 per year. Cost-share rate is $25.00/acre for the purchase and application of selected herbicides. Payment is made upon completion of the activity.

7. Conversion of Cropland to Native Grassland Species

This practice is intended to re-establish native grassland communities and to convert existing cropland into native grasslands. Seed mixtures for native grass and forb plantings should be representative of local native prairies.
Contract term: 10 years
Maximum tract size: 80 acres
Minimum plot size: 10 acres or 5 acres if expanding on a buffer strip system.

Cooperator can receive up to $5,000 per year. Land-use transition payments* (see rates below) are available for a period of 5 years. Cost-share is $80.00/acre for grass and forb seed. Site preparation cost-share rates are $7.50/acre for light disking (2-3" into soil) and $15.00/acre for heavy disking. Cost-share rates for purchase and application of herbicides are $25.00/acre. NRD grass drill may be borrowed at no cost (subject to damage deposit).

*Land-use transition payments are derived from the county average "rental rates" provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for each county. The land-use transition payment rate for WILD Nebraska is calculated by multiplying the U.S.D.A. rental rate for each county by a factor of 80%. The rates listed below represent the 80% rate per acre for each county in LPSNRD for WILD Nebraska and land-use transition payments.

Wetland Activities

Saline wetlands are a rare and disappearing resource in Nebraska. Approximately 10% of the original saline wetlands across Nebraska are all that remain. In order to facilitate in the protection of the eastern saline wetlands, the LPSNRD will prioritize those projects involving saline wetlands over those wetlands classified as freshwater. Payments for the enhancement of wetlands will be up to $1,000 per acre for saline wetlands and up to $750 per acre for freshwater wetlands.

1. Drain closure

This activity is intended to restore hydrology to wetlands that have been fully or partially drained by ditches, culverts, head-cutting gullies or tiling. The water-control structure activity will often be used in association with this activity.
Contract terms: 10 years
Payment: Up to $10,000 per year. Cost-share is up to 100%. Payment is made upon the completion of the project.

2. Water Control Structure Installation

Allows management of water levels to restore hydrology of wetland and maintain productivity of wetland. Used in conjunction with drain closure activity.
Contract term: 10 years
Payment: Up to $10,000 per year. Cost-share is up to 100%. Payment is made upon project completion.

3. Stream Weir Installation

Structure will be used to stop or reverse streambed degradation. A highly degraded stream isolates wetlands from over-bank water sources and ground water. Practice will help to reconnect ground water and over-bank water sources to wetland.
Contract term: 10 years
Payment: Up to $10,000 per year. Cost-share is up to 100%. Payment is made upon project completion.

4. Vegetation Management

Vegetation restoration and management of wetland plant communities. Examples of prescribed management techniques include: burning, grazing, haying, disking, shredding, spraying undesired vegetation, water level changes, seeding and tree removal. Due to the various techniques offered for this activity, the desired management technique will be considered on an individual basis and implemented at a time of year that will cause the least disturbance to wildlife.
Contract term: Dependent on management activity
Payment: Up to $10,000 per year. Cost-share rates are dependent upon which activities are utilized. Payment is made upon completion of each activity.

Woodland Activities

1. Wildlife Shelterbelts

Develop shelterbelts to provide winter and escape cover, nesting cover, brood rearing cover, food and loafing sites for game and non-game species of wildlife.
Contract term: 10 years
Minimum plot size: 2 acres
Payment: Up to $2,500 per year. Cost-share rates for seedlings/planting/site preparation are $75.00 per 100 trees or shrubs. Chemical cost-share rates are $25.00/acre for the purchase and application of the herbicide and include the planting year plus two years thereafter. Weed barrier fabric and installation cost-share rates are $0.52/linear foot. Replants will be provided twice in the first five years at 100% of the cost. *Land-use transition payments will apply only for conversion of cropland into wildlife habitat. (*Land-use transition payment rates are located at the end of the Grassland Activities section).

2. Wildlife Shrub Plantings

Establish woody cover to supply food and cover for game and non-game species of wildlife by planting shrubs. Examples include planting shrubs on pivot corners or irregularly shaped fields.
Contract term: 10 years
Minimum size: 100 seedlings
Payment: Up to $2,500 per year. Cost-share rates for seedlings/planting/site preparation are $75.00 per 100 shrubs. Chemical cost-share rates are $25.00/acre for the purchase and application of the herbicide and include the planting year plus two years thereafter. Weed barrier fabric and installation cost-share rates are $0.52/linear foot. Replants will be provided twice in the first five years at 100% of the seedling cost if the survival rate is less than 75%. *Land-use transition payments will apply only for conversion of cropland into wildlife habitat. (*Land-use transition payment rates are located at the end of the Grassland Activities section).

3. Native Woodland Enhancement for Wildlife

Manipulate forest communities by mechanical thinning, burning, grazing, and/or herbicide treatments to enhance wildlife habitat diversity in forest communities. Some sites may need restoration and enhancement by the planting of native woody plants within the woodland.
Contract term: 5-10 years, depending on practice.
Minimum size: 5 acres
Payment: Up to $2,500 per year. Cost-share for thinning/clearing are up to $150/acre. Cost-share is also available for prescribed burning, grassland management and herbicide treatment (see related activities for rates). Planting cost-share rates will consist of $75.00 per 100 trees or shrubs and $1.50 for each tree tube or cage to protect the plantings.

4. Riparian Forest Buffers

This activity is aimed at expanding the width of buffer strips currently enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program or Nebraska Buffer Strip Program. Extension of buffer strips will occur by restoring or establishing native trees, native shrubs and native vines along seasonal, perennial or permanent stream drainages.
Contract term: 10-15 years, concurrent with buffer strip contract
Minimum size: addition to existing buffer is to be a minimum of 66 feet wide
Payment: Up to $2,500 per year. Cost-share rates for seedlings/planting/site preparation are $75.00 per 100 trees or shrubs. Chemical cost-share rates are $25.00/acre for the purchase and application of the herbicide. Land-use transition payments apply to the conversion of cropland into riparian forest buffers.(*Land-use transition payment rates are located at the end of the Grasslands Activities section).

5. Woody Vegetation Removal

Remove invasive trees, shrubs and other woody vegetation from grasslands and prairie wetlands. An example includes the removing of red cedar or Siberian Elm from tall grass prairies.
Contract term: 10 years
Minimum size: 1 acre for wetlands and riparian corridors, 5 acres for grasslands
Payment: Up to $2,500 per year. Cost-share for removal is up to $150 per acre. Payment issued upon project completion or in portions based on the progress of the project.

General Activities

1. Food and Cover Plot Establishment

Provides a readily available winter food source and cover for wildlife. Plots should be adjacent or within 200 yards of winter cover.
Contract term: 2 year minimum
Plot size: 3 to 10 acres
Payment: Cost of materials (seed)

2. Rare/Unique Community Management Incentive

To protect and enhance habitats that possess rare or unique plant communities and/or animal species. This activity will be used to protect native plant communities in Nebraska that have been reduced to fragmented remnants scattered throughout the state.
Contract term: Dependent upon associated activities
Payment: Up to $10,000 per year. Cost-share is up to 100% of materials associated with the management activity. Payment is made upon individual activity completion.

Bonus Incentive Activity

Hunter, Trapper, Angler and Hiker Access Bonus Incentive

Activity provides year-round access to hunt, trap, fish and hike on improved wildlife habitat areas enrolled in WILD Nebraska. Access is allowed by foot traffic only and motorized vehicles are not permitted. Year-round posting of public access tracts is required. Special consideration will be given to those applicants who wish to enroll lands in this activity.
Contract term: Coincides with related activity
Minimum tract size: 10 acres
Payment: $10 per acre per year.

Payment Rates for Program Activities

Grassland Activities

Fencing for grazing management: $0.51 per foot
Grass and forb seed: $80.00 per acre
Prescribed burning:

Disking: Light disking (2-3 inches of soil): $7.50/acre, Heavy disking (>3" of soil): $15.00/acre
Haying: $10.00/acre
Shredding: $6.39/acre
Mowing: $6.39/acre
Herbicides: $25.00/acre for the purchase and application of herbicide

Land-use transition payments (Cropland Conversion):

Wetland Activities

Drain closure, water control structure installation and stream weir installation: Payments will be up to 100% of costs, not to exceed $10,000 per year.
Water level changes: Enhancement payments for wetlands are up to $1,000 per acre for wetlands classified as saline and up to $750 per acre for those classified as freshwater wetlands.
Vegetation Management: Payments will be dependent on the activity for the wetland.

Woodland Activities

Seedlings/planting/site preparation: $75.00 per 100 trees or shrubs
Herbicides: $25.00 per acre for the purchase and application of the herbicide
Weed barrier fabric and installation: $0.52 per linear foot
Tree tubes or cages to protect plantings: $1.50 each
Woody Vegetation Removal: Up to $150.00/acre

General Activities

Food and Cover Plot Establishment: Cost of materials (seed)
Rare and Unique Community Management Incentive: Cost-share rate(s) dependent on activity

Bonus Incentive

Hunter, Trapper, Angler and Hiker Access Bonus Incentive: $10/acre per year

For more information, contact Ariana Kennedy at 476-2729 or akennedy@lpsnrd.org