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.