[Stegall Tx]

My farm has a pond on it and one of my coworkers suggested that I check into a program his grandparents used where the Agriculture Department paid for part of the expense of developing a “wetland” on their property. He thought it was a great way to get some cash from the government.

I thought it was probably just a way to get thrown off my land some day. Between the “wetland” (the pond that fills up once every 10 years or so) and the prairie dogs, I’m sure I’ll never get to spend my retirement years on land that has been in my family for three generations.

[holyscroller]

The last thing you want on your property is a wetland! Get a list of all "wetland weeds" in your county, and pull and dispose of them (off site) at night. Also, slowly start filling in that pond. In my state, we have 150-200 foot setbacks from wetlands and ponds. They can end up stopping you from using your entire property.

It's similar to finding a spotted owl has taken up residence in one of your trees. You can kiss any property and property rights good bye.

[Tammy8]

I think you were wise. I remember a rancher many years ago that cooperated with the government in setting up a wilderness area on his ranch. He thought he was doing a good thing- after his cattle grazing rights were cut to nothing he went broke and lost his ranch. Then the government starting creating more wilderness areas on his neighbors. From what I hear some of these wilderness areas are now popular places for drug farmers to plant their marijuana.

I don’t know all the details but am told some ranchers in my area have signed away their water rights to an environmental protection group, since this is the desert I can imagine what the end result of that will be.