EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Iowa NWTF State Chapter is helping take habitat management to the next level in southern Iowa. The chapter recently provided funding to the Ringgold County Conservation Board for the purchase of a high-pressure spray unit, a much-needed tool for enhancing public lands that support both wildlife and outdoor recreation.
Ringgold County’s Conservation Board, operated by a single full-time employee, manages a remarkable amount of land and programming — including three public hunting areas, three campgrounds, three cabins, two trails and an active conservation education program. With such a wide scope and limited staffing, the new equipment will significantly improve efficiency and effectiveness in habitat management department.
“Historically, the Iowa State Chapter has put most of their money towards land acquisitions and contracted projects on public land,” said John Burk, NWTF district biologist for Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. “The general opinion related to equipment purchases for public land managers is that, ‘if they need the equipment to do their job, their employer ought to budget for it.’ Shrinking budgets at the state level and the fact that county conservation boards usually have limited budgets changes the equation some, and the annual RFP was adjusted in 2022 to encourage equipment purchases as a viable project.
“I am a strong proponent of using NWTF funding to get necessary equipment in the right hands. If I pay a contractor to treat invasives or execute a prescribed fire, I spend the same money for a one-and-done. If I help managers buy the equipment that they need, I conserve hundreds and even thousands of acres every year for as long as that equipment lasts, and this water unit will likely last 10-20 years with minimal repairs.”
The slide-in spray unit can be used for both prescribed fire and chemical applications. For chemical applications, it will primarily be used to reduce invasive species, particularly honeysuckle, along timber edges and trails — helping native plants and trees reclaim their place in the ecosystem. Healthier, more diverse plant life in turn creates better nesting, foraging and cover for wild turkeys, deer, upland birds and a host of nongame species.
As a water source for conducting prescribed burns, the spray unit has already been put to work on 1,150 acres during late winter and early spring this year. Designed to fit in the bed of a pickup truck, UTV, ATV or trailer, this compact system offers fast, flexible fire suppression, particularly in remote or hard-to-access areas.
The NWTF remains committed to working with local agencies and land managers to ensure public lands thrive and continue to provide opportunities for wildlife and recreationists alike.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.
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