OutdoorNebraska

25 GUIDE TO NEBRASKA'S WETLANDS altered, the wetlands there still provide many benefi ts, and the altered ones can be restored. Delivering conservation in this area requires the ability to work in partnership with agriculture and private landowners and numerous agencies and organizations. A major success story was the development of a partnership called the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture in 1992. The joint venture was established as part of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, but a unique feature is that it was a homegrown partnership that developed locally. The joint venture has continued to grow and evolve, and current partners on the board include: landowners, Nebraska Natural Resource Districts, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, The Nature Conservancy, Lindsay Corporation, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA Farm Services Agency, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The joint venture's goals, objectives, targets, and strategies are listed in the implementation plan (RWBJV 2013a). A variety of conservation programs are available from the joint venture partners, and all are voluntary. Improvements have been made to many thousands of acres on public and private lands. Many studies have been done that provide information on how to improve what the joint venture does and to document the responses by wildlife and the other benefi ts provided. Those responses have been very positive by the wetland wildlife, improvements in water quality and groundwater recharge, and to the people who benefi t. Website: rwbjv.org. Contacts Rainwater Basin Joint Venture — Contact the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture coordinator, 2550 N. Diers Ave., Suite G, Grand Island, NE 68803, (308) 382- 8112. Other contacts include the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission offi ce in Kearney, (308) 865-531, or in Lincoln, (402) 471-5561; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offi ce in Funk, (308) 263-3000; and the Ducks Unlimited offi ce in Grand Island, (517) 242-6207. Select Public Use Areas This is not a complete listing of public areas but instead is a list of representative areas that are geographically dispersed and accessible. • Eckhardt Waterfowl Production Area (WPA), 4 miles north, 3 miles west of Ong, Clay County • Harvard WPA, 3 miles west of Harvard, Clay County • Hultine WPA, 6 miles east of Harvard, Clay County • Kissinger Wildlife Management Area (WMA), 1 mile north of Fairfi eld, Clay County • Massie WPA, 3 miles south of Clay Center, Clay County • Verona Ducks Unlimited property, 2 miles north, 3 miles east of Clay Center, Clay County • Mallard Haven WPA, 2 miles north of Shickley, Fillmore County • Rauscher WPA 1 miles south, 4 miles east of Sutton, Fillmore County • Pintail WMA, 5 miles south, 2 miles east of Aurora, Hamilton County • Springer WPA, 2 miles south, 7 mlies west of Aurora, Hamilton County • Teal View Wetland Education Area owned by Upper Big Blue NRD, 5 miles north of Hampton, Hamilton County • Gleason WPA, 4 miles south, 4 mlies west of Minden, Kearney County • Jensen WPA, 6 miles north of Campbell, Kearney County • Cottonwood WPA, 2 miles west, 1 mile north of Bertrand, Phelps County • Funk WPA, 1 mile north of Funk, Phelps County • Lake Seldom, 0.5 miles south of Holdrege, Phelps County • Sacramento WMA, 2 miles west of Wilcox, Phelps County • North Lake Basin WMA, 1 mile north of Utica, Seward County • Straightwater WMA, 1 mile south, 1 mile west of Tamora, Seward County • Father Hupp WMA, 2 miles west of Bruning, Thayer County • Kirkpatrick Basin North WMA, 4 miles west, 2 miles south of York, York County • Marsh Duck WMA, 3 miles west, 2 miles south of Utica, York County • Sinninger WPA, 2 miles south, 3 miles east of McCool Junction, York County The Rainwater Basin is designated as a site of hemispheric importance to shorebirds, such as the red-necked phalarope, Wilson's phalarope, dunlins, semipalmated sandpipers, and white-rumped sandpipers pictured here using a Rainwater Basin wetland during spring migration. These birds are long-distance migrants, with some species wintering in South America and nesting in the arctic. JOEL JORGENSEN, NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION

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