Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
2007 Accomplishments
 

The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program that encourages creation of high quality wildlife habitats that support wildlife populations of National, State, Tribal, and local significance.  Through WHIP, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance to landowners and others to develop upland, wetland, riparian, and aquatic habitat areas on their property.

In 2007, more than $975,000 funded 16 fish passage projects in Maine.

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Nadeau Pond WHIP Project in Partnership with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Nadeau Pond was originally drained to mine “marl” Limestone for use in commercial agriculture.  Only the small remnants of a pond were left after the mining operation was abandoned.  Nadeau Pond feeds into Limestone Stream.  It had been inhabited by native brook trout, but also by invasive “trash fish” such as bass and carp.  The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) acquired the site in 2003 and planned to restore the pond for the purposes of native brook trout spawning habitat.  Construction to rehabilitate the pond was completed in 2007.  NRCS Engineers provided a survey and design for the new embankment and spillway.  Financial assistance to cover the cost of construction was also provided by NRCS through the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP).

All non-native fish species were removed from the original pond area. The new design of the embankment and spillway is such that invasive species can now no longer access the pond thus leaving it available exclusively for spawning of native brook tout.   MDIFW will manage the pond and surrounding area for wildlife habitat. 

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Atlantic Salmon to Benefit from Cooperative Efforts

Maine NRCS is working with Project SHARE in the Dennys, Machias, East Machias, Pleasant, and Narraguagus River watersheds to restore fish passage and to reduce stream habitat degradation from poorly designed stream crossings.  Project SHARE (Salmon Habitat and River Enhancement) is a non-profit organization located in Washington County.  This organization consists of a partnership of local landowners, government agencies, businesses and local watershed councils focused on recovery efforts of the federally-endangered Atlantic salmon listed in the five rivers to reduce stream habitat degradation from poorly designed stream crossings. 

NRCS and Project SHARE are working together to replace undersized, hung, and damaged culverts.  Existing culverts are replaced with oversized open-arch culverts, bridges, or removable crossing structures.  Four arch culverts were installed in 2006 for 13.2 miles of fish passage.  In 2007, 25 sites were planned which resulted in 14 WHIP contracts totaling $818,673.  These 25 sites will restore another 56 miles of fish passage.  Twelve of the 25 planned arch culverts were installed in 2007.

These projects are designed primarily to benefit the recovery of Atlantic salmon; however, other diadromous species and native aquatics such as mussels will greatly benefit. 

Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) National Web Site 

Maine Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program 
 

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