Nearly 40 years ago, Greg Meador bought a 35-acre wetland in Rice County after first leasing it for duck hunting. Over time, sediment filled the shallow basins and the birds stopped coming. After a rainy weekend camping there with his son and hearing ducks overhead again, Meador decided to restore the wetland instead of letting it fade away.

He enrolled the property in the USDA Wetland Reserve Easement (WRE) program and took on much of the work himself, from paperwork to managing the dirt work. Partners like NRCS, Ducks Unlimited, and a NAWCA grant helped move the project forward.

The restored basins now hold water longer, provide habitat, and even reduce flooding on a neighboring farm. Wildlife has returned as well. “Seeing that kind of wildlife again has made it worthwhile,” Meador said.

He plans more improvements, including tree removal and pollinator seeding. But the biggest motivation is family. “I’ve got two grandsons,” he said. “This is something I can pass on to them.”

For Meador, restoring the wetland is about stewardship and making sure the landscape is healthier for the next generation.

This story was submitted by Brityne Rucker, wetland conservation communications specialist with Playa Lakes Joint Venture.