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Playas work for Kansas

Category: Conservation Programs

Restoring Playas on Dryland Acres Photo by Ryan Barnhardt

Restoring Playas on Dryland Acres

In northwest Kearny County, farmer Ryan Barnhardt realized the low pockets in his dryland fields, called playas, weren’t helping his operation. Those temporary wetlands either burned up or flooded out, leaving bare ground and no real production.

About a decade ago, Ryan enrolled those areas in a playa restoration program through the USDA Conservation Reserve Program Migratory Birds, Butterflies and Pollinators State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) practice. The program restored the playas and added surrounding grass buffers.

“Those acres were never productive,” he said. “Putting them into grass made sense.”

Restored playas now catch rainfall, reduce erosion, and help water soak back into the Ogallala Aquifer. Wildlife quickly returned. Pheasants, quail, geese, and other birds now use the grass and wetland basins throughout the year. “It’s great to see the bird life out there,” Ryan said.

Financially, he says the conservation payments are far more reliable than trying to farm those acres. “You get a more consistent income stream than what those spots ever produced,” he said.

For other producers considering playa conservation, his advice is simple: look into it. “The recharge and the wildlife alone make it worth it,” he said.

By turning marginal acres into habitat and recharge zones, Ryan Barnhardt is proving conservation can benefit both the land and the operation.

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Learn more about Ryan’s story. Read how conservation pays off on his unproductive ground.

Restoring Playas After a Lifetime on the Land Photo by Brian Slobe

Restoring Playas After a Lifetime on the Land

Western Kansas farmer Mike O’Brate has known the low, flood-prone playa lakes on his fields his entire life. After decades of trying to farm them and watching wells decline, he enrolled about 600 acres of playas and buffer habitat in the USDA Conservation Reserve Program Migratory Birds, Butterflies and Pollinators State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) practice.

“The payment was $125 an acre,” Mike said. “I can’t farm them for that. Those acres take too much water.”

Restoring the playas means less fertilizer and seed on ground that rarely paid off, and more wildlife. Antelope, deer, pheasants and ducks now use the restored areas. “My wildlife is coming back,” he said.

As a longtime board member of Kansas Groundwater Management District 3, Mike sees playa restoration as one way to help the Ogallala Aquifer. “It may take years for the water to soak in, but you’ve got to start somewhere,” he said.

At 73, he’s proud of the acres he’s enrolled in conservation programs and hopes more producers consider doing the same.

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Learn more as Mike reflects on conserving playas after decades of farming through them.

Preserving Wetlands for the Long Haul Photo by Dan Pace

Preserving Wetlands for the Long Haul

Nearly 25 years ago, Dan and Brenda Pace enrolled two Kansas properties — a river corridor in Kingman County and a shallow playa in Meade County — into the USDA Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) program. He wanted to conserve both places “as close to their original condition as possible.”

Today, beavers, ducks, shorebirds, and native wetland plants thrive on the restored acres. The Meade site, once a mud-prone irrigated circle, now functions as a healthy playa that helps recharge the Ogallala Aquifer.

“Just seeing the wildlife and knowing it will stay that way is very satisfying,” Dan said.

Managing the easements takes some work, especially keeping invasive brush under control, but new tools like herbicide-spraying drones help him stay ahead of it. Dan says the program has been flexible and easy to work with. “The restrictions are very few,” he said.

His advice to other landowners considering WRE? “Do it. It’s good for native species, and it’s not hard if you enjoy working on the land.”

By restoring both wetlands, Dan and Brenda Pace are preserving two unique Kansas landscapes for generations to come.

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Read more about how Dan and Brenda committed to protecting their wetlands.

Bringing a Small Wetland Back to Life Photo by Christopher Rustay

Bringing a Small Wetland Back to Life

Nearly 40 years ago, Greg Meador bought a 35-acre wetland in Rice County after first leasing it for duck hunting. Over time, sediment filled the shallow basins and the birds stopped coming. After a rainy weekend camping there with his son and hearing ducks overhead again, Greg decided to restore the wetland instead of letting it fade away.

He enrolled the property in the USDA Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) program and took on much of the work himself, from paperwork to managing the dirt work. Partners like NRCS, Ducks Unlimited, and a NAWCA grant helped move the project forward.

The restored basins now hold water longer, provide habitat, and even reduce flooding on a neighboring farm. Wildlife has returned as well. “Seeing that kind of wildlife again has made it worthwhile,” Greg said.

He plans more improvements, including tree removal and pollinator seeding. But the biggest motivation is family. “I’ve got two grandsons,” he said. “This is something I can pass on to them.”

For Greg, restoring the wetland is about stewardship and making sure the landscape is healthier for the next generation.

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Learn more about Greg’s story. Read how he restored his wetland for wildlife, water and future generations.

Kansas’ First Wetland Reserve Easement Photo by Max Good

Kansas’ First Wetland Reserve Easement

In 1994, Max and Eweleen Good enrolled the first Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) in Kansas on their Labette County property. Max discovered the new program through an Audubon newsletter and signed up immediately.

Their 10-acre wetland quickly transformed the landscape. Water stayed on the property longer, and wildlife doubled — ducks, geese, reptiles, amphibians, and new plant species they had never seen before. Schools and visitors now tour the site by appointment to learn about wetlands and biodiversity.

The project led to more conservation. With help from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Goods restored additional acres of native prairie, now home to more than 200 species. They even documented their work in a 308-page book filled with hundreds of photos.

For Max and Eweleen, the goal has always been simple: create habitat, share it with others, and leave the land better for the future.

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Learn more about the first Wetland Reserve Easement in Kansas. Read how Max and Eweleen restored their wetland and continue to share it with others.

Protecting a Wildlife Corridor in Miami County Photo by Brian Slobe

Protecting a Wildlife Corridor in Miami County

In Miami County, Kansas, Eric Howell is conserving 77 acres along Pottawatomie Creek through the USDA Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) program. A lifelong outdoorsman, he saw the property’s potential the moment he bought it.

“I’ve always had a passion for wildlife and habitat,” Eric said.

His land sits on a major wildlife corridor where bald eagles, turkey, deer, and migrating ducks already pass through. Once the wetland restoration is finished, he expects even more waterfowl and native species to use the site.

The process hasn’t been quick. He enrolled in 2020, and construction is only now beginning, but he says the outcome is worth the wait. While the paperwork moved slowly, Eric planted native grasses and wildflowers on the non-easement acres, building a diverse landscape that will benefit wildlife long-term.

His goal is simple: protect the land permanently. “Other than a couple acres around the house, I want the whole property locked in as habitat,” he said.

Some neighbors are wary of federal programs, but Eric encourages others to look into WRE. “It took longer than I wished, but I’d still say do it,” he said.

For Eric Howell, the easement is a commitment to leave the land better, and wilder, for the next generation.

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Learn more about Eric’s story. Read about how this young Kansas landowner conserves wetlands.

Shutting Off Wells to Save Water

Shutting Off Wells to Save Water

In western Kansas, farmer Joe Zellner Jr. made a major shift in how he manages his land. He shut off every irrigation well he owned. After decades of pumping, declining well levels and rising fuel and labor costs convinced him it was time for a new approach.

“I felt like we were just pulling more water out and the table kept going down,” he said. “I want to have drinking water in the future.”

Joe also restored the playas on his farm, wet spots that rarely produced a crop, by enrolling them in the conservation programs. He planted them to grass and stopped trying to farm through them.

“I was losing money on those acres,” he said. “Putting them into grass just made sense.”

Restoring the playas helps capture rainfall, protect topsoil, and add water back to the Ogallala Aquifer. It also saves Joe time and inputs. “You’re not spending money on seed, chemical and fertilizer in a place that isn’t productive,” he said.

Joe believes conservation practices like no-till and playa restoration will shape the future of farming in his region. “Your yield may be less, but your profit may be more,” he said. “And long-term, land managed with conservation will hold more value.”

For Joe, turning off the wells and restoring his playas isn’t just about today. It’s about keeping western Kansas farmable for the next generation.

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Learn more about Joe’s story. Read how he prioritized conservation and halted irrigation to preserve water.

Conserving Playas for the Future of Western Kansas Photo by Matt Smith

Conserving Playas for the Future of Western Kansas

When Alicia Allen returned to her family’s farm near Tribune, her dad showed her a small piece of ground he’d long believed shouldn’t be farmed. The soil looked different, wildlife used it constantly, and it flooded after big rains. Neither of them knew it at the time, but it was a playa wetland, one of the natural basins that help recharge the Ogallala Aquifer.

Alicia’s family hoped to protect the area through the USDA Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) program, but half the mineral rights belonged to ExxonMobil. What followed was more than a year of phone calls and paperwork before Alicia finally reached someone who could sign off. With that, the playa and 100 surrounding acres were enrolled and restored.

Since then, the family has added another playa they’d admired for years. For Alicia, it’s a practical choice as much as a conservation one. “Why farm a piece of ground that floods half the time?” she said. “It’s just good, common sense.”

With groundwater declines affecting the whole region, she believes playas matter now more than ever. “If we can cut back our pumping and also help recharge, that’s a win,” she said.

Alicia encourages other landowners to stick with the WRE process. “It takes time, but it’s worth it,” she said. “It’s the right thing for the land and for future generations.”

For her, conserving playas is a way to make sure western Kansas stays livable for the long run, a legacy she hopes will carry forward long after she’s gone.

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Learn more about Alicia’s story. In Rooted in the Land, she talks about legacy, stewardship, and the power of playas. Or watch a video where Alicia and her dad talk about Making a Difference for Future Generations.

Landowner Restores Wetland for Wildlife, Water, and Future Generations Photo by Christopher Rustay

Landowner Restores Wetland for Wildlife, Water, and Future Generations

RICE COUNTY, KS – Back in 1987, Greg Meador spotted a newspaper ad for a duck hunting property while working in central Kansas. That led him to a 35-acre parcel in Rice County — surrounded by farmland and tucked near Cow Creek — where he leased the land for a couple of years before deciding to buy it outright.

“I leased it for maybe two years and then asked the people if I could buy it,” Meador recalled. “Back then it was $125 an acre, which still felt like a lot.”

“I’ve got two grandsons, five and three. Maybe they’ll be into wildlife, maybe this land will mean something to them.”

The wetland on Greg’s land is a riverine wetland, part of the floodplain near Cow Creek. These wetlands form in low areas that collect water during rains or when the creek overflows. Even though it had been filled in over time, the area still had the potential to provide wetland habitat and hold water again — it just needed a little help.

Though Greg and his family eventually moved to the East Coast, he never let go of the land. Over time, however, he noticed changes. Sediment from neighboring farms and Cow Creek filled in the shallow depressions that once held water. The birds he once hunted grew scarce.

Then came the spark that reignited his stewardship vision. “One year, maybe five or six years ago, my son and I camped out there,” he said. “Every morning, we must’ve heard 70 ducks fly over our tent. That’s when I decided to do something to bring the wetland back.”

That decision led Greg to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). Greg submitted his application for a Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) in January 2022 — just weeks after learning about the opportunity.

The process was rigorous and detailed, especially for someone managing the land remotely.

“There was a lot of paperwork, and it wasn’t always easy — especially since we travel a lot,” Greg said. “I’d be in Quebec, Canada, trying to get wet signatures on documents that could’ve been done digitally. If they streamlined that, I think more people would go for it.”

Despite those hurdles, Greg stayed on top of every step in the process, nudging when needed, reading through every policy and document. “I didn’t want to be 75 by the time this was done. I’m 66 and wanted to enjoy it now,” he said.

He even took the uncommon route of becoming his own contractor for the dirt work to speed up the timeline, coordinating bids himself when local contacts were hard to find. The effort paid off: the restoration wrapped up in December 2024, a remarkably quick turnaround for a federal easement project.

The results came quickly. “Mike Coleman from Ducks Unlimited came out and spotted eight deer, some Eastern turkey, a rooster pheasant, and even put up some quail,” Greg said. “Just seeing that kind of wildlife again — or in some cases for the first time — made the whole thing worth it.”

What used to hold water only after extreme rain now supports shallow wetland habitat again.

“Originally, with a good rain, we’d get 25 to 30 acres of water. Over time it filled in and stopped holding. Now it’s coming back.”

“I really believe we’re just going to keep shrinking wetlands, whether it’s for farming or subdivisions,” he said. “This is my little part to push back against that.”

The project gave Greg more than a restored landscape — it gave him a renewed sense of purpose in retirement.

“It was something to focus on, something to build toward. That meant a lot,” he said. “I’ve got two grandsons, five and three. Maybe they’ll be into wildlife, maybe this land will mean something to them.”

And to anyone considering a Wetland Reserve Easement through NRCS?

“I’d tell them it’s worth the effort. You just have to understand what it is — and what it isn’t. Once I realized it didn’t have to be some big managed impoundment — that it could just be a good, shallow habitat — it made sense,” he said. “It’s not just about hunting. It’s about doing something bigger.”

Learn more about Greg’s story. Hear him talk about bringing his small wetland back to life.

Explore Wetland Reserve Easements

For more information about the program and how it can support your conservation goals, contact us.

Abe Lollar, Ducks Unlimited
620-214-2693
alollar@ducks.org

Matt Carey, NRCS
785-545-7081
Matt.Carey@usda.gov

Young Kansas Landowner Conserves Wetlands Photo by Christopher Rustay

Young Kansas Landowner Conserves Wetlands

MIAMI COUNTY, KS – While many landowners wait until later in life to begin thinking about legacy, Eric Howell is already making moves to preserve his land — starting in his 30s.

A lifelong outdoorsman who grew up in the Boy Scouts, learning early on about conservation and stewardship, Howell recently enrolled 77 acres into a Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). Though the restoration hasn’t yet begun, Howell is firmly committed to seeing it through.

“It’s not about what I can take from the land — it’s about what I can give back to it.”

Eric’s land includes a riverine wetland that runs along Pottawatomie Creek. These types of wetlands form next to streams and creeks and are great for wildlife. They help keep water clean, prevent erosion, and support a wide mix of plants and animals. With restoration coming soon, the area will provide even better habitat.

“I’m just getting started, but I know what I want this place to become,” Howell said. “It’s not about what I can take from the land — it’s about what I can give back to it.”

Howell first learned about WRE from the real estate agent who helped him purchase his property south of Osawatomie. Intrigued by the opportunity to build long-term wildlife habitat, he began the application process in 2020.

What followed was a multi-year journey of paperwork, meetings, and waiting.

“Everyone I worked with was great — professional and helpful — but the process itself takes a long time,” Howell said. “I had to learn a lot of patience. If I’d known that going in, I think I would’ve been mentally more prepared.”

Though his official WRE restoration is still pending — expected to begin this summer — Howell didn’t let the delays slow him down. He’s already restored more than 25 additional acres with native grasses and wildflowers, including 18 acres he funded himself.

“I couldn’t just sit on my hands,” he said. “This land means something to me. I want it to be wild and diverse, not farmed to death.”

Howell’s land includes the Pottawatomie Creek, a natural corridor for wildlife that cuts through dense timber and brush. It’s home to bald eagles, deer, turkey, migrating ducks, and a wide variety of birds.

“This is just a really special piece of land,” he said. “It’s got everything — creek, timber, grassland, and soon, wetland. I want it to stay that way forever.”

As a younger landowner, Howell knows his story stands out — but he hopes it inspires others to start early.

“I’ve talked to a lot of older landowners who say, ‘I wish I’d done this 30 years ago,’” he said. “So why wait?”

Still, Howell doesn’t shy away from the concerns others have — particularly when it comes to working with the federal government.

“There’s a lot of hesitation,” he said. “People are scared the government’s going to control their land. But that hasn’t been my experience. The people I’ve worked with care about habitat, just like I do.”

For Howell, the decision to enroll in a Wetland Reserve Easement came down to values — and vision.

“This isn’t land I plan to sell. I want to pass it on,” he said. “Some people say I’ve devalued it by putting it into a permanent easement. But to me, it’s worth more now. It’s not about dollars — it’s about habitat.”

His advice for others considering the program?

“Start early, ask a lot of questions, and don’t get discouraged,” Howell said. “It takes time, but it’s worth it. If you care about your land and what it becomes, this is a powerful way to shape that future.”

Learn more about Eric’s story. Hear him talk about protecting a major wildlife corridor.

Explore Wetland Reserve Easements

For more information about the program and how it can support your conservation goals, contact us.

Abe Lollar, Ducks Unlimited
620-214-2693
alollar@ducks.org

Matt Carey, NRCS
785-545-7081
Matt.Carey@usda.gov