SOMERSET, N.J. — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is now accepting applications from New Jersey farmers and landowners interested in installing conservation practices to help restore critical wildlife habitat of the American Black Duck in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Once the most abundant dabbling duck in eastern North America, the American Black Duck is now facing a significant decline due to habitat loss and degradation. NRCS is offering financial and technical assistance to restore tidal and floodplain wetland habitats, non-tidal wetlands on crop and forestland, and manage healthy riparian areas and streams in targeted areas in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.
Black ducks thrive in the brackish pools between salt and fresh waters with adjacent croplands — sites traditionally found along coastlines. Funding is available for developing tidal marsh habitat on lands affected by saltwater intrusion and planting salt tolerant species to create ideal black duck habitat. Other available practices include developing shallow water areas for wildlife, restoring forested wetlands and controlling invasive Phragmites to restore salt tidal marsh habitat.
“Saltwater intrusion is a very real problem for New Jersey’s coastal ag lands. Enhancing this area for Black ducks can be one alternative for lands that are no longer available for crop production,” said Carrie Lindig, New Jersey State Conservationist. “This targeted habitat restoration will benefit additional waterfowl species like the northern pintail, mallard, teal and many other wildlife species.”
The American Black Duck is a state-identified target species for the Working Lands for Wildlife partnership, a collaborative approach to conserving habitat for declining species on farms and working forests. NRCS staff worked with Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and state wildlife agencies to identify priority areas and develop strategies to address habitat loss.
Parts of Ocean, Burlington, Salem, Cumberland, Cape May and Atlantic counties are in the targeted area. A map and description of the project focal areas is available on the NJ NRCS website at www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov. Eligibility requirements for NRCS programs set forth in the 2014 Farm Bill will apply.
NRCS accepts applications on a continuous basis but makes funding selections at specific times. For funding consideration in 2017, please visit your local USDA service center and submit an application before April 21. To learn more, please contact your local USDA service center. In Ocean County and Burlington County, call NRCS at the Columbus Service Center at 609-267-1639, ext. 3; in Salem County, call NRCS at the Woodstown Service Center at 856-769-1126; and in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties, call NRCS at the Vineland Service Center at 856-205-1225, ext. 3.
— USDA