Rainwater Basin Joint Venture History
Just 100 years ago, there were ten times as many Rainwater Basin wetlands as there are today (map). During much of the 20th century, most of this region’s wetlands were drained – often with help from government programs – and converted to agricultural use. Many of the remaining wetlands became silted in and weed-choked, and thus of limited value to migrating birds (map).
The result is that waterfowl must crowd into an ever-smaller number of wetlands. Food supply is increasingly limited, rendering birds less fit for their long migration and their first weeks on the breeding grounds. Overcrowded areas also become ripe for the spread of diseases, such as avian cholera.
By the late 1980’s, the combined consequences of habitat loss in the Rainwater Basin and throughout North America had led to significant declines in waterfowl populations.
Determined to halt the decline of waterfowl populations and confront the underlying problem of habitat loss, representatives of the United States and Canada in 1986 created the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP). Mexico became a signatory as well in 1994.
NAWMP revolutionized conservation in North America in three ways: first, it recognized that wild creatures are oblivious to man-made borders, and that success therefore depends on interstate and international cooperation.
Secondly, because most wildlife habitat is on private land, the plan promotes financial incentives for landowners to participate voluntarily in conservation projects.
Finally, NAWMP introduced the concept of the “Joint Venture,” a framework for partnerships, through which government agencies, conservation organizations, and other groups and landowners cooperate on conservation projects, each contributing different resources and expertise.
The Plan initially identified 34 Waterfowl Habitat Areas of Major Concern in the United States and Canada, including the Rainwater Basin region. In response, the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture was formed in 1992.