BIM AND JANAS STRAUSER of the Sixty Six Ranch in northern Hill County are stewards of a unique property in the expansive glaciated prairie landscape near the Canadian border. The Strausers working with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Ducks Unlimited have made great strides toward conserving not only soil, water, and wildlife habitat, but also enhancing wetlands and reestablishing native uplands.
BEFORE THE STRAUSERS TOOK OWNERSHIP of the property, NRCS purchased a perpetual conservation easement from the previous landowners through its Wetland Reserve Program (WRP). Once the Strausers took ownership of the ranch, they assumed responsibility for the conservation easement and got to work conserving additional wildlife habitat. As model land stewards, the Strausers now have approximately 3,200 acres under perpetual conservation easement and are enjoying the fruits of their conservation efforts.
THE 66 RANCH PROJECT has restored or enhanced nearly 514 acres of wetlands that has included construction or rehabilitation of four miles of dikes, installing five water control structures, and creating ten shallow water impoundments. Upland enhancements have included establishing over 900 acres of native vegetation. Their continued management of these uplands has maintained the health and vigor of native grasses for the benefit of wildlife.
“IT'S BEEN VERY EXCITING watching the project develop and the wildlife increase,” Bim says of their project. Bim and Janas are grateful for the assistance they received from NRCS and Ducks Unlimited personnel who worked hard to get the project lined out and working as designed.
SINCE THE WETLAND RESTORATION was completed in 2005, the area has become home to a diverse array of wetland and upland wildlife with major increases seen in the number of species using the area. According to the Strausers, there has been an increase in many major bird groups, including ducks, geese, shorebirds, songbirds, and upland game birds. They also report seeing an increase in deer and antelope in the area. In their words, “Our project has improved wildlife in all of the surrounding area.”
THE RESTORED WETLANDS on the Strauser property are part of a large wetland known locally as Wild Horse Lake. The lake has suffered from decreased wetland hydrology after a water-spreading project was implemented years ago through a series of canals and dikes to distribute water for irrigation. These manipulations altered natural surface water flow and essentially dried the wetland. Completed restoration practices offset these impacts such that the wetland hydrology and wildlife have responded favorably.
