WASHINGTON, D.C. (MPG) - Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) and Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) re-introduced the Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act. This bill allows the Secretary of Agriculture to enroll additional agricultural lands in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program as long as it is necessary to address wetland habitat concerns. Additionally, it encourages farmers to manage their working croplands in ways that support wetland-dependent species by permitting seasonal flooding of these fields.

“Drought is always just around the corner, and we have to make the most of the water we get to benefit farms, people, and wildlife. Even in a better water year, poor water policies hurt both farmers and wildlife,” said LaMalfa. “This bill helps protect both by supporting agriculture and the hundreds of species that rely on the Pacific Flyway. It's a common-sense, bipartisan approach to keeping habitats intact and land productive.”

Said Thompson, “Many wildlife species rely on wetland habitat created by California's farmers, including our rice growers. With the Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act, we can expand USDA support for our local growers, offering resources so qualified farmers can flood their fields in the off-season to both improve soil conditions and support the Pacific Flyway ecosystem. Thank you to Rep. LaMalfa for his partnership on this legislation.” 

Said Kellis Moss, Ducks Unlimited managing director of Federal Affairs, “The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is a valuable tool that incentivizes producers to seasonally flood croplands, providing habitat and nutrients for the benefit of waterfowl and other wildlife. Pacific Flyway waterfowl rely on these seasonally flooded agricultural lands, and the Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act ensures continued availability of this vital habitat. We're happy to see Rep. LaMalfa and Rep. Thompson introduce this important legislation to support landowners and waterfowl habitat.”

Said John Devney, chief policy officer at Delta Waterfowl, “We appreciate Rep. LaMalfa and Rep. Thompson's Pacific Flyway Habitat Enhancement Act as an additional tool in the toolbox to reward the stewardship of producers to conserve and enhance waterfowl habitat on their working lands. We look forward to this being part of the conversation as Congress presses forward with continuing work on the Farm Bill and the myriad of ways we can work with private landowners to conserve, restore and enhance duck habitat.”

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California's First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba counties.

Congressman Mike Thompson represents California’s 4th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means. Thompson is chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He is also co-chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus and is a member of the fiscally-responsible Blue Dog Coalition.