Plan looks to increase state wetlands

A new state plan calls for renewed action to preserve Iowa wetland areas. Jim Gulliford, director of the Iowa soil conservation bureau, says newcost-share incentives are available to farmers and organizations whichrestore wetlands or stabilize streambanks.Gulliford says there are all sorts of wetland areas in Iowa.The wetland preservation plan suggests better coordination among governmentagencies and calls for more money to be spent on wetland preservation andrestoration.Gulliford says wetlands perform a broad array of functions.Iowa once had four million acres of wetlands, but that number was reduced asfarmers drained land to plant crops. There’s about a half million acres ofwetlands today. May, by the way, is National Wetlands Month.