Wetlands Reserve Program

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property.  The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides technical and financial assistance to eligible landowners.

Landowners have the opportunity of enrolling eligible lands through permanent easements, 30-year easements, 30-year Tribal contracts, or restoration cost-share agreements.  The program is offered on a continuous signup basis and is available statewide.  This program offers landowners an opportunity to establish, at minimal cost, long-term conservation and wildlife habitat restoration practices and protection.

The NRCS goal is to achieve the greatest wetland functions and values, along with optimum wildlife habitat, on every acre enrolled in the program.  Long regarded as wastelands, wetlands are now recognized as important features in the landscape that provide numerous beneficial services for people and for fish and wildlife.  Some of these services, or functions, include protecting and improving water quality, providing fish and wildlife habitats, storing floodwaters, and maintaining surface water flow during dry periods.  These beneficial services, considered valuable to societies worldwide, are the result of the inherent and unique natural characteristics of wetlands.

Fiscal Year 2013 Additional Program Information for the General Signup

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

FY2013 Easement Compensation Methodology (PDF; 554 KB)
FY2013 Easement Values (XLS; 34 KB)

Farm Bill 2008 At a Glance:  Wetlands Reserve Program (PDF, 53KB)
2008 Farm Bill WRP Interim Final Rule, amended (PDF, 64KB) is available.
Interim Final Rule (PDF; 135 KB) - published January 15, 2009

Program Contacts

Jeff Vander Wilt, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, (605) 352-1226
Sara Thompson, Interdisciplinary Biologist, (605) 352-1281

< Back to Programs