In the year 2000, Long Lake Refuge embarked on a program of establishing native grasses on fields with cropping history. In 2002, approximately 180 acres of native grasses were seeded on the refuge.

A-1 Fall 1997 tilled, volunteer cover, access problems prevent renovation.
Would be an excellent candidate for native seeding.

A-2 Approximately 160 acres; 30 broke in 2001, 30 more acres broke in 2002.
In 2005, natives are planned to be seeded in the field broke in 2001.

A-3 Fields 1, 2 DNC seeded in 1997, Fields 3, 4 seeded to a cover crop in 2001 and planned for a native seeding in 2002, this did not get seeded; however, this seeding was not accomplished.

A-4 All old DNC or “go back." Future renovation planned

A-5 96 acres of cropland until 2003, then seed to natives

A-6 102 acres; individual fields of approximately 40 acres to begin renovation to natives in 2003

A-10 50 acres; 20 acres seeded to native grass, more planned later.

A-11 35 acres, about one half seeded to natives, more planned later.

A-12 66 acres, 22 corn, 22 alfalfa, 22 sweet clover, this will be continued to be cropped

A-13 26 acres small grain, force account farmed in 2003, seed to natives in 2004

A-14 40 acres small grain, plan to seed to grass in 2004

A-15 37 acres DNC; renovate as stands deteriorate, 10 acres to be farmed in 2003

In 2000, the Refuge began an effort to establish native grass stands. In the first year of the program on Long Lake NWR, six acres were seeded to natives. In 2001, the program was expanded to the two units mentioned above for a total of 166 acres. The native grass mixture includes the following species: green-needle grass, western wheatgrass, blue gramma, side-oats gramma, big bluestem, little bluestem, switch grass, and prairie sandreed.

Approximately 4 percent of the Waterfowl Production Area acreage is classified as cropland in any given year. In reality, cropland rotates in and out of cover or is established for a somewhat longer period to provide consistent winter food for resident wildlife on larger areas. Except for a small amount of force account farming on the WPAs, all work is done by cooperators. General direction of management is to re-establish native grass on prior farmed and tamegrass which will reduce and eventually eliminate cropland fields on WPAs.