When Kansas farmer Kevin Melvin bought a piece of ground in Stafford County with several troublesome wet spots, his plan was simple: drain them. Instead, a visit to his local NRCS office introduced him to another option.
Those wet spots are part of a seasonal, interannual depressional wetland, specifically an interdunal wetland. The area cycles between wet and dry periods, making those acres difficult and inefficient to farm.
In this episode, Kevin shares why he decided to pursue a Wetland Reserve Easement, how the economics factored into his decision, and what the process with NRCS has actually been like. He also talks about retaining ownership and control of the property while creating better habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife.
What started as an effort to drain difficult ground became an opportunity to rethink how those acres fit into his operation — improving farm efficiency while giving the wetland and its habitat a chance to return.
17 Aug 2026
Episode 23: Farming for the Future
For Bo and Dru Stevens of Pleasure Lake Farms, farming for the future means adapting to a changing water reality.
In this episode, the Stevens share how declining groundwater levels and prolonged drought in eastern New Mexico pushed their family to think differently about the future of their operation. Rather than simply preserving the way things have always been done, they began looking for ways to use water more efficiently, improve the land, and leave something sustainable for the next generation.
They discuss their decision to restore playas, the role these wetlands can play in groundwater recharge and landscape resilience, and why conservation has become an important part of their farm’s legacy. For the Stevens family, protecting water today is about ensuring the land — and the opportunity to farm it — remains for generations to come.
8 Jul 2026
Episode 22: A Different Kind of Ranching
Willard Heck has dedicated his career to conservation and now manages approximately 35,000 acres of rangeland in eastern New Mexico.
In this episode, Heck explains why healthy land, not cattle, is the foundation of a successful ranching operation and how playa restoration helps improve grasslands, wildlife habitat, water quality, and overall landscape resilience.
He shares why conservation is an ongoing process of making the land function a little better every year.Heck also discusses the value of strong conservation partnerships, and why functioning wetlands become even more important during prolonged drought. Although restoring a single playa won't solve all water issues, he believes each project contributes to a healthier, more resilient landscape that will benefit both people and wildlife for years to come.
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