Drainage Device Helps Create New Wetlands

Drainage Device Helps Create New Wetlands TILLAGE EUIPMENT Miscellaneous 29-6-34 "We've been in the drainage tile business since 1887," says Skip Short of Hancor, Inc. "We're not only helping drain wetlands, but building them back up, too." The new Water Control Structure (WCS) grew out of work Hancor does with Ducks Unlimited. It's basically a giant adjustable float that fits over the end of field tile outlets. It lets you control the water level retained in a field or wetland in 1-in. increments. Originally designed to allow wetland managers to control water levels in nesting areas, Hancor has found other uses for the WCS. Short notes that while it is important to get water off fields early in the year, the rest of the year, water retention may be preferred. "One avenue we are looking at is hooking it onto the end of drainage systems to pull nitrates out of field runoff," says Short. "Instead of the leachate running out through the pipes and into a drainage ditch, the unit backs it up, and the nitrates stay in the field." The WCS could in some instances offer new income opportunities for landowners who can rent out duck blinds on post harvest fields turned into temporary wetlands. For others, it may provide new personal hunting or wildlife viewing opportunities. "A lot of people are into hunting waterfowl and want to create wetlands to attract ducks for hunting," says Short. "This will do it." Units range in size from 4 to 8 ft. tall and will fit any size drainage tile. Price for an 8-ft. unit is $1,500. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Customer Service, Hancor, Inc., 401 Olive St., Findlay, Ohio 45840 (888 367-7473; fax 888 329-7473; sshort@hancor.com; www.hancor .com/product/water_control.html).

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