United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 South Dakota Go to Accessibility Information
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Wetlands Reserve Program

The Wetlands Reserve Program is a voluntary program offering landowners the opportunity to protect, restore, and enhance wetlands on their property.  The 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, or restoration cost-share agreements.  The program is offered on a continuous sign-up basis and is available Statewide.  This program offers landowners an opportunity to establish, at minimal cost, long-term conservation and wildlife habitat  enhancement 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 2010 Program Information

FY2010 Easement Compensation Methodology (includes attachments) (PDF; 1.23 MB)
FY2010 Easement Values (PDF; 65.6 KB)

Fiscal Year 2009 Program Information

Farm Bill 2008 At a Glance:  Wetlands Reserve Program (PDF, 53KB)
2008 Farm Bill WRP Interim Final Rule, amended (PDF, 64KB) is available.
Application for Long-Term Contracted Assistance (AD-1153) (PDF; 60.3 KB) - due by May 1, 2009
WRP Eligibility and Ranking Worksheet (SD-LTP-26) (XLS; 204 KB)
Interim Final Rule (PDF; 135 KB) - published January 15, 2009

Program Information from the 2002 Farm Bill

These documents require Adobe Acrobat.

Adobe Acrobat DocumentFact Sheet (50.57 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentQuestions and Answers (51.72 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentKey Points (46.09 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentProgram Description (56.19 KB)
Adobe Acrobat DocumentFinal Rule, 2002 Farm Bill - 7 CFR Part 1467 - June 7, 2002
Adobe Acrobat DocumentTotal Acres Enrolled from 1992 - 2007
Adobe Acrobat DocumentContracts Enrolled from 1992 - 2007

State WRP Signup Information

Program Contacts

Michael Kuck, Assistant State Conservationist for Programs, (605) 352-1206
Sara Thompson, Interdisciplinary Biologist, (605) 352-1281

 

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