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Wetlands Reserve Program
Program Features
Spotlights, Stories & more
Wetland Team Contracts
Features
Program Purpose
The Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program offering landowners the
opportunity to protect, restore, enhance, and protect wetlands on their
property. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides
technical and financial support to help landowners with their wetland
restoration efforts. The NRCS goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions
and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the
program. This program offers landowners an opportunity to establish long-term
conservation and wildlife practices and protection.
Program Accomplishments
During fiscal year 2009, NRCS obligated about $3 million for WRP applicants.
Wetlands were created on 191 acres; wetlands were enhanced on 2,810 acres; and
wetlands were restored on 2,961 acres. Funds to be obligated in 2010 are about
$11 million.
Program Focus
Illinois focuses WRP efforts in areas of historical wetlands importance.
Significant restoration has been made along the Cache River. The Emiquon project
made a significant contribution to the wetland restoration efforts in the
Illinois River watershed. Currently, IL NRCS is pursuing a renewed emphasis on
the enhancement and restoration of wetlands of ALL sizes on Illinois’ private
lands statewide. For the last two years, weather and wet conditions have
revealed the true “wetland nature” of the land on many agricultural operations.
For this reason, producers who have battled to keep production agriculture
profitable on wet areas are encouraged to consider both the ecological and
financial benefits wetland easements could offer on these acres. Wetlands can
successfully benefit that land and can secure the future of productive Illinois
farmland. Let NRCS staff and the Wetland Reserve Program help.
Program Options
Landowners who choose to participate in WRP may sell a conservation easement or
enter into a cost-share restoration agreement with USDA to restore and protect
wetlands. The program offers landowners three options: permanent easements,
30-year easements, and restoration cost-share agreements of a minimum 10-year
duration. Landowners and NRCS develop a plan for the restoration and maintenance
of the wetland.
As a requirement of the program, landowners voluntarily limit future use of the
land, yet retain private ownership. Landowners continue to control access to the
land--and may lease the land--for hunting, fishing, and other undeveloped
recreational activities. At any time, landowners may request that additional
activities be evaluated to determine if they are compatible use for the site.
This request may include such items as permission to cut hay, graze livestock or
harvest wood products. Compatible uses are allowed if they are fully consistent
with the protection and enhancement of the wetland.
Spotlights, Stories & more
Wetlands Reserve Program
“Benefit the Land, Secure your Future”
WRP is not just for large farms or large tracts of land. WRP works on any
kind of operation. WRP can work for YOUR operation!
Regardless of size, wetlands are a sensible solution and addition to your
operation. Even small or medium-sized sites from 20-200 acres that are “meant to
be” wetlands offer benefits and value.
The following
documents require either
Adobe Acrobat 6.0 or higher, and
Microsoft
WORD.
WRP Brochure (PDF, 1.3MB)
WRP Fact Sheet (PDF, 753kb)
WRP Testimonial (PDF, 673kb)
FY13 WRP IL CAP map (PDF, 153kb)
Stories of interest
Floodplains + Recovery Act = Community Benefits
(PDF, 1788kb)
Fledgling Floodplain Attracts Endangered Crane
(PDF, 154kb)
The Cranes! Let’s Celebrate the REAL Wetland Story (PDF,
1054kb)
Wetlands Reserve Program: “Benefit the Land, Secure your Future” (html)
Dave Hiatt, State WRP Coordinator/Biologist
1001 N. York
Martinsville, Illinois 62442
(217) 382.4123 ext. 3
dave.hiatt@il.usda.gov
Updated 10/17/2011
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