Summary

Description

The focus for this project will primarily be on high quality grasslands not only for waterfowl, but also for the myriad of other bird species, plants, and mammals that rely on this habitat, as well as the overall protection of the critically declining mixedgrass prairie ecosystem. In order to do this, the Service plans to establish an easement program under the National Wildlife Refuge System System called the North Dakota Wildlife Management Area WMA. A conservation easement program was chosen because it is generally more efficient and effective to protect areas of remaining high quality habitat than to restore areas of degraded habitat. Furthermore, since over 95 percent of the Missouri Coteau is privately owned, success will require cooperation with landowners. Fortunately, many of the current land management practices, i.e. grazing, are compatible with the goals of this project.