Official MOU

DUC has an official memorandum of understanding with the Council to help deliver BMPs that benefit waterfowl and wetland habitat. That help takes the form of technical advice, financial support and partnerships, says Ian Barnett, director of regional operations of DUC’s Pacific Region. “We’re shifting about 20 per cent of our staff and resources to help deliver BMPs,” says Barnett. “This has the potential to deliver an important part of future conservation programs.”

In the B.C. Interior BMPs take the form of fencing cattle from riparian areas and dispersing stock watering areas more widely. That might mean installing a system to pump from a wetland so cattle have better quality water and minimal impact on habitat, Barnett says.

In the lower Fraser River, DUC provides technical support for improved nutrient management and other practices that improve the health of wetland habitat. Some of these have long been part of DUC programs but with the additional federal and provincial support more landowners than ever are signing up, he says.

“We have multiple levels of involvement including hiring an agrologist to provide on-farm technical advice and conduct workshops for landowners.”

Both Barnett and Thomson agree that producers are interested in being greener if they have financial support.

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