Arkansas State Conservationist Mike Sullivan says the state may receive as much as $3.3 million to develop and enhance habitat for birds making their annual migration south toward the Gulf of Mexico.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will work with farmers, ranchers, and other landowners to meet the needs of different species. The emphasis will be on creating or enhancing habitat for shorebirds and waterfowl, including shallow water, mudflat, and sandflat habitats.
Priority areas in Arkansas are in Arkansas, Ashley, Chicot, Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Cross, Desha, Drew, Greene, Independence, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Lincoln, Little River, Lonoke, Miller, Mississippi, Monroe, Phillips, Poinsett, Prairie, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Francis, White and Woodruff counties.
The signup for the initiative will run from June 28 to August 1.